PeterJames

Valenti has strained his quad, mcnamara has groin trouble. Not sure how serious.

Bennel is emergency for monday so didn't play. This always happens when the afl team plays after the vfl. Just in case something happens. Doesn't mean someone will pull out.

Dunn was ok, turned the ball over a few times. He was good in the centre clearances though... Still not really imposing himself on a game yet..

Jurrah should have been in the best. Clearly the best forward on the ground. Miller still has a very average kick.

Just reading the herald sun and the leading possesion getters were..

Dunn 23

Mckenzie 22

hughes 20

Petterd 18

Pretty good effort for hughes to get 20 on a hff. Took some strong marks as well. The one thing i did like was his physicality, hit bodies pretty hard, copped a few as well. Especially late in the last when he was about to be crunched and he just went in hard for the ball. The other guy went of with a cut head and a bit dizzy. he went to the next contest and got the clearing handball off.

Interesting that a lot of names have been brought up which was good!

I'll through in the big russian!! good angry unit!

have a feeling robbo would sneak out the back and try and get on the end of a goal... and bruce would run to the bench! ha joke

Clearly it's not completely about form. Firstly, Hughes is a rookie and secondly Watts would be considered in the top 2 valuable players on our list. The ability to get some games into him is invaluable for his development. So it's reasonable to expect that decisions to play him now won't be entirely predicated on form, but with one eye firmly fixed to the future. And a little bit of hype surrounding QB doesn't go astray.

That said, Watts has racked up 20+ possessions from a wing the last two weeks with ease. He's done it in such a way that it hasn't looked outstanding, just languid and professional.

Yeah i do agree with you. But hughes can be promoted for blease and he has only this year to prove himself as its his last year. All aside they might play together on monday!!.

I think jack is going to be an awesome player and the last couple of week she has played very well.

I can't quite understand why you wouldn't want Watts debuting in a big game when Melbourne is centre stage in front of a captive audience. If he's ready he should be play and what better place than the G in a significant match. Have a bit of faith that this mature kid is special in many ways and not just on the footy field. Brereton made his debut in a Final and later revealed he had a mindset that he was born for the biggest stage. Most champions do. I'm sure that there were many Hawthorn supporters at the time that would never have considered making a 17 year olds first game a Final.

I don't expect Watts to star and have modest expectations, but I don't have the precious and conservative attitude of some that post on here. And I also don't want to coincide his debut with a match renowned for poor attendances in an attempt to boost crowd numbers.

Big stage or crap game versus interstate side ? I'm staggered people would suggest the latter.

The only reason i wouldn't want him to debut is because other players are playing better footy at casey than. WHat does this say to a few of th guys that are playing good footy but aren't being played. That because he is jack watts and that he was a top draft pick he gets a game ahead of you. I wouldn't be happy. MAybe thats the reason why they put him in the best on the weekend, even though he was prob between the 10-15 best player on the ground!

i also heard watts is a certainty to play on monday. There might be a press conference today or tomoro about it....

Interesting because i thought hughes and newton had better form in the past month at casey...

One good thing is it might be a monday game but we will know the team pretty much saturday at 1pm because of the casey game, which is live on ABC.... The sides are finalised or named until 5 on saturday i think!

Oh my god I just remembered this! What about that Geelong fan behind the goals that didn't shut up all game LOL

haha i know. he was keen as. Only in footy jumper and shorts when it felt like -2 out there.

After every goal chanting geelong followed by whoever kicked the goal. even with the last couple they kicked the game was well and truly over!!!!

Scariest thing was he parked next to us!! how he got a driver licence is scary!!

@ anyone who saw the game - is Newton ready for the call up? I hope so. He seems to have some upside to look forward to once he believes that he can play at the top level.

Yeah i would have thought so, especially after our forward line last night. Probably a couple that could. Newton, hughes.

Jurrah a outside chance. Highly doubtful

Not sure robbo did enough chasing and team things to get back

Just got back, thought Jack did ok. Good skills looks like he has plenty of time...

Cheney was also very good. Very solid.

Valenti was also in the best. works very hard nad is strong in close.

Packed forward line with everyone trying to snag one.

robbo kicked about 3.5, having pot shots form the boundary even though i thought he could have given a few off.

Jurrah looks like he could be anything. some very clever taps and chase downs. Kicked a couple late when the game was over.

Hughes took a couple of really good marks going back with the flight. kicked straight and gave of a few. Best team player in the forward line!!!!!

Newton, took some good grabs and worked harder than i have seen him. good pressure caused a few turnovers.

Jetta wasn't in much but it was a packed forward line.

Dunn was ok, but the one thing we noticed that when he had the ball he wouldnt kick to petterd or hughes a few times. not sure if we read to much into that. another occasion had a pretty average attempt at goal when 55 out and he had a few guys on.. he struggled to take an overhead mark on a few occasions which was disappointing

Bruce = spud....

to many turnovers!!

Strauss surely must get a game in the one's!!! hopefully jurrah too!!!

I can tell you these are the def changes!!! robbo gone back to casey!!!

THought we could do with another forward!

While he is in the best 22 then he gets a game...

If we dropped everyone who turns the ball over we wouldn't have 10 players in there!!

He has vastly improved i think and will only get better!

Who would you replace him with???

i like the idea as long as it is say 2 home games up there... especially during indigenous round and try to make it bigger than the dreamtime game!

We can also play NAB cup games up there!!!

It will also be a awesome recruiting place!

Another poll which fails to give all possible options ?

Before the season started i have always maintained that Rohan Bail is the most likley to get a game

So where is he on the Poll ?

aarrgghh sorry!!!

I knew i would forget someone!!!! This is also after saying a few weeks ago at casey saying he should be a good chance to play seniors soon!!!

I also left out blease because he won't play this year! Also there is an extra player on the LTI so any rookie can be promoted

With Watts still a good lot of games away who will be the next first gamer??

Was trying to think who it might be..

out petterd. whelan if not fit.

in hughes, cheney

IMO, Frawley really struggled on Buddy. Buddy kicked three on him in no time at all. I'm not sure who played on him for the 3rd term, but Rivers killed him in the final quarter. We missed Garland I reckon. As for the manning up, it's frustrating to me as well, but it seems that we're playing more zonal, rather than man on man. As for Hawks taking their foot off the pedal, maybe but I think that's not giving our boys enough credit.

Stiff on frawley... one was from a free kick that had nothing to do with him! Another was a miss kick that fell into his arms, one other there was clear hands in the back twice!!!

Thought he did pretty well. Is a lot quicker than rivers who i think is better suited ot the floating back role!

Great to hear watts has played another good/promising game. Any chance this week to play infrount of a sml crowd on Sat night?

Did anyone keep an eye on how Hughes went? Kicked 2 and after a really good game last week he might be putting pressure on a mid season elevation after all?

I think Hughes should take petterds spot...

Petterd to get some form then go back to the hbf where he played so well!!!

Watts was ok but still a while off, won't be playing for at least 8 weeks i think!

I thought they figured us out a bit. really clamped down on davey morton and moloney. i think davey just might not have the tank to consistently play on the ball. Looked completely stuffed at times! But still thought he chased well, but we have to realise he cant chase that quick all the time!!

Stupid!!!

but i'll bite...

Watts is miles off AFL footy. He was pretty average for casey today and still looks like a school boy.

Valenti was just ok for casey as well. And couldn't cut it against the bulldogs, will be just making up the numbers.

Robbo should go before miller. Dont care how they are going miller plays for the team and puts them first. zrobbo is out there for himself

Sick of robbo playing for himself and thinking the game is about him! His diving for free kicks is so annoying. Fails to chase and do team things. He is lucky newton is no good. Would love bails to have some balls and drop him!

If petterd gets a game next week i'm nominating for the draft...

Great game col sylvia, was sensational. He was the sole reason it looked respectful in the end.

Bit stiff on brock, kicked a nice goal on the run. Is tough as nails, its not so much speed players need, he has quick hands and reads the play well which is more advantage than speed.

An is franklin the only one that can put his hands in the back off another player.. did it to frawley not once but twice and still was paid the mark!!!

THought grimes was pretty good on rioli... in a side that was dominating i think grimes won the battle.

Just spoke to a family friend, said that Jamar was best on ground. Took some good marks.

interesting to see valenti in the best. Had a slow start but was terrific in the last quarter. Said hughes was our best forward, kicked 2 and was lively when the delivery got better. He was a bit miffed when dunn was in the best.

Thanks Dean.. but get to the G!!!!

Any player updates?