Redleg

Whately has said Hocking has no choice for the good of the game at all levels but to appeal.

Carlton will go the man and will try and intimidate us. I hope we don’t get sucked in and have players reported.

The AFL has bowed to Hawk’s coach and Umpires will enforce blocking frees in marking contests from this week.

I know the sarcasm is turned up high in relation to some posters, but this was about our list and future and is worth some current enthusiasm.

Report post #178 Posted 22 hours ago Vogon Poetry I ventured to Casey yesterday against my better judgement because when you get a chance to see 17 Demons running around and the weather is good the lure is just too strong. Here's how I thought our blokes went. As always when making these comments remember that the ground is big and it's very hard to see exactly what's happening on the other side. There was a slight breeze blowing to the forward pocket at the northern end so that's where I stood. Jack Viney: First clearance of the match and first kick was just great to see. He was harder and faster around the stoppages than everyone else and did a lot of the grunt stuff. Looked in good touch and was generally very clean and kicked the ball well when he got the opportunity. But he was heavily tagged for 3 quarters so he didn't find much space. I'd be stunned if he wasn't back next week. Billy Stretch: I was a huge fan but was frustrated by his lack of improvement but yesterday I saw another side of Billy because instead of playing wing he played on ball, centre square and inside mid as well as outside. And he did it very well. He found the ball regularly, he had clean hands and pretty good decision making. Initially he found his kicks and handballs smothered but as the game went on and he got his confidence he got better and better. He's not as small as you might think and he's starting to use his body well in contested situations. Finished with a lovely goal and was one of, if not, the best on the ground. It is hard to see where he fits into the team though but will remain with us or in the AFL system based on yesterdays performace. His challange is to back it up. Promising signs but a way to go. Frost: Played a solid game with some good contested marking at times and a bit of dash and continued to do what he does. He's a tweener at the moment, probably a bit too good for VFL but not good enough for AFL. Still prone to silly mistakes like letting the ball go over the back of packs when he's last up but was a good contributor on the day. Pedersen: Full of fumbles I thought in the first half and not much of a contributor but stuck at it and played better as the game went on. A great mark in the second quarter and a good contributor. He played KPF and relief ruck. JKH: Played mainly forward and didn't really get into the game much. Kicked the first goal of the match and I thought he might be in for a good one but faded and whilst he was far from poor he wasn't a major contributor. It's hard to see where he goes from here. Harley Balic: He's an interesting player and one that if and when he plays senior footy for us will do it competently. Played mainly high forward and was very clean with the ball, found it well and kicked it well. Is capable above his head and knows where to run to provide options and find space. It was his first game back for a while and he'd be pretty pleased with it. It's hard to see where he fits in and will need some injuries to get a chance you'd think but when he plays he may well make it hard for whoever he replaces to get back in. I like him and think at present he's a terrific 23 to 30 player on the list but he might improve significantly over time. One to watch. Jayden Hunt: Poor old Jayden. Looks bereft of confidence and really struggled to find the ball and get involved. He just needs to start to try and enjoy his footy again and concentrate on the basics. We all know what he can do but he didn't do it yesterday. Tomas Bugg: I'm not a fan but there's no doubt he can play at this level. Started quite slowly but fought his way into the game and then really dominated it for a period where he kicked 3 goals quickly. They were at the other end to me so I can't really judge them but he was a good contributor in the typical Buggy way. It's really nice to see he's left the fake toughness behind and is just playing footy. Oscar Baker: Played wing and did it well. I've seen him three time now live and yesterday was the best of them. In the past the major knock is a lack of composure and an inability to see options and take them. But yesterday was much better and he used the ball quite well. He runs hard and takes the game on and has clean hands. He goes hard for the ball too. My view is he's still a long way from senior selection but moving in the right direction. He certainly has some great attributes and he's great to watch and improving. Harrison Petty: I love this kid and that's what he is, a kid. He reads the play really well, he reads the ball in the air really well and he's got sure hands above his head. And when he gets it he has good vision and executes really well. He was far from dominant yesterday but you can just tell he knows how to play footy and is a great prospect. Two more preseasons I reckon and we'll all be happy. Jeff Garlett: It's hard to appreciate how quick he is unless you see it close hand. And it's hard to understand how he can see options in a sea of players as quickly as he does. But he does and was a clear cut above this level yesterday although he didn't get a lot of it. He applied pressure and provided options yesterday as well as spending some time on ball. Reality is he's a cut above Spargo at the moment (no criticism of Spargo) so I guess his selection will come down to how he's playing his role and whether Goody wants him back. But he will get back and he is in our best 22 when he's going. Dion Johnstone: I think he's struggling at the moment and he played mainly back yesterday in what for me was a new role for him (I can't remember where he played against Richmond when I last saw him). He's tough and he has a go but he's struggling to find the ball and get involved. Hope he picks up but at the moment he's miles away. Josh Wagner: Solid and hard at it and a very good VFL player who did his bit yesterday in a very good team effort. But he won't be pressing for a call up given yesterday's performance and that of the seniors. Joel Smith: He's getting back if he isn't back already. I loved his game yesterday. He was involved, he was clean, he did things faster than almost everyone else, he ran well and he provided options and got into space as well as being strong in the air. His kicking is a weakness but I'd be very surprised if he doesn't press very hard for a game in the next month or so on that form. He's great to watch. Tim Smith: I've watched Tim over a long period now and although he's played some good games I've never thought he had AFL attributes - until yesterday. He was fantastic I thought. Strong in the air, strong on the ground and found plenty of it. He's not called Bull for nothing and for the first time yesterday I thought he really could play AFL footy. Great game. Dec Keilty: He played a really solid strong game without dominating. I didn't see him make a mistake and he took some solid marks. He was one of our three talls who, against good opposition, played their role well. Lachlin Filipovic: I like this kid. He had to play against Ceglar who is a good near quality AFL ruckman and would replace McEvoy very competently. Flipper did well in the ruck but struggled around the ground and in the air against a much more mature player. But he does get involved and he has surprisingly good skills for a ruckman of his height and appears to make pretty good decisions. I'd be amazed if he's not retained as a long term development project because he's showing good attributes. This was Vogon Poetry's post on the Casey match day thread and I thought it would be good to post it here for those who might have missed it. If you want to get excited, please feel free to do so, as we are building a very good and deep list.

Herald Sun is calling us the best "tinkerers" in the AFL because we have created another mid in Harmes.

Charlie's problem is that Stevic is actually pushed back a couple of steps. That is not a touch. If Hawkins got off they would too, but now they have to stop Chris Scott's head from exploding.

Wouldn't hurt us if the two Curnows go tonight.

My thoughts exactly. Weid is not getting a lot of the ball, but is doing some nice things with it when he does. Those possessions will increase with games, confidence and development,

Based on Hawkins Ed will cop a week. Charlie was lighter but still forced Stevic back a couple of steps.

I am sure a blood test is far more thorough.

There is something wrong with this procedure, when because of nature a player is unable to fully comply and is then forced to stay in another city overnight and miss a flight home. His recovery is compromised and then a place to stay has to be arranged, extra costs for the player and an official from the club etc. Surely the test could be completed the next morning in Melbourne. Would 6-7 hours delay destroy the test? Probably not. I would have thought there could be some discretion applied for interstate tests.

Tracc is safe until he puts in a few shockers in a row and that is unlikely.

We have 2 unskilled players in ANB and Tyson already and you want to add another in Bugg.

Me too, I am turning it off.

Question: How do you think Jones felt beating 4-5 players and then delivering the ball perfectly to Tyson on hbf, who was on his own and dropped the mark, then picked the ball up from where he dropped it, then kicked it straight to a Sun's player who went towards goal, where Tyson again got involved, fumbling the ball and leading to a Suns' goal? Answer:

Isn't it great that we don't have to rely on him to win games. He is going to be a large amount of icing on the cake. He will tear games apart in the future.

I said over the summer that these teams bringing in multiple players from other clubs on good money can lead to disaster. Stringer is troubled and Smith and Saad have limitations and at Port, Watts has been only fair and Rockliff is just starting to get going with JT and Barry unlikely to have a big impact.

5-3 and back to the G to play the super confident Blues, hopefully without their main tagger and umpire toucher Ed Curnow. The worry is that we will be hot favourites.

Oliver 's ball handling is nothing short of freakish, I just can't recall anyone other than the great Robbie who compares to him. The other things in his favour are his height and strength and his toughness. Have I told you all I just love this kid and am so thrilled we traded up to get him.

Disagree. This kid is part of the future. He has exceeded expectations and plays. I thought they might rest Vince but now there is a 7 day break. I am not an ANB fan and he still makes some shocking mistakes, but that was his best game this year. I thought the turnover king Tyson was terrible and if Viney is ok there is the change. If wet maybe Weid goes out for a smaller player, but he is really improving and his assists fantastic. Those 2 quick little handballs were great and probably went unnoticed by many. His ruck work as I have said before is not bad and his follow up is also good.

Not sure I understand what you have said here, but as you enjoy saying, everyone is entitled to their opinion and mine is that ANB has been terrible this season. I wish he was in better form but he isn’t. He would not be in my side, but yes I am not the Coach, only a member/supporter.

They might rest Sandilands and avoid the flights as well.

Not much good if he hasn't got the ball and when he rarely gets it, turns it over straight away.

That was Hunt’s best game this year and he gets dropped, while ANB to me is just plain terrible. He offers nothing but pressure, with shocking disposal, no contest ed marking, no great pace and an inability to make ground for us. I am stunned.