Doggo

Bartram BOG for mine. 100% effort and endeavour, as always, and disposal still poor at times, but overall a lot more comfortable backing his skills in at this level. Impressed with Watts before he went off injured. Fluffed a couple of kicks early, but overall a classy performance on the wing. Hughes was good again, looks a lot more versatile and well-rounded as a footballer these days. Gathered touches around the ground, good defensive pressure, and took some nice marks. Hurt his shoulder at one stage but came back on fine. Debut soon i think. Whelan was just great, especially in the 2nd half. Way too good for this level. PJ absolutely dominated the ruck duels; must have had at least 50+ hitouts (and i'm not exaggerating, he had around 20 at 1/4 time), but didn't get a whole lot of footy around the ground and had no influence when up forward. To be fair, very tough conditions for big guys. McKenzie has great hands in close. A bit one-paced though, but shows promise. Had over 20 disposals today. Bad luck for Valenti, hope he pulls up ok. Thought Miller and Newton were just average against far inferior opposition, until their last quarter junk time goals, although conditions didnt suit them. Newton still makes some shocking brain-farts at times, and despite his 4 goals, doesn't look like an AFL player at this level. Disappointed with Rohan Bail. Although he found more footy than usual today, was more often than not sub-par by both hand and foot. Misses lots of targets and doesn't stand out at this level at all. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if he was moved on at seasons end to be honest. Another honest battler at best.

Exactly. As an aside, Valenti, Hughes (both rookies), and Bail (underwhelming mature-aged recruit), you'd think, will all get one final chance at some stage to consolidate their spot on the list before the year is out. Even if it's just for one or two games, the pressure will be huge for those 3.

That is huuuge!!!!!

Awesome news! Get well Jim, we're all behind ya!

Just one change for me: OUT: Sylvia (susp) IN: Dunn I'd really like for Watts to come straight back in, but i honestly can't see it happening. Had Hughes not missed last week, i'd have thrown his name in the mix too, but again very doubtful. Like titan_uranus, i'd also rather see a youngster than a 'has-been' get a gig, but i think now's the time for the FD to start weeding out those guys and giving final opportunities, so i can definitely see a Dunn, Bell or even Newton playing. Bell would be unlucky to miss after his BOG performances recently, but Dunn for Sylvia is more of a like-for-like selection as mid/forwards, and Dunn has been consistently as good as Bell in the VFL. Not sure what role we'd have for Belly if he were selected. Not that i rate Dunn, but i think he's more likely to stay on next year than Bell. Agree with those who think Morton looks like he could use a rest, but also can't see that happening. I know i'll be alone on this one, but i wouldn't mind seeing PJ come back in for the 2nd ruck spot, so we can settle Martin in the forward line for 4 quarters. Doubt it will happen, PJ would probably need to string a few great games together before coming back.

Good call GTB.

Option 3 for me.

Just saw this now. So let me get this straight Rhino, you doubt that the Cat's fans I know rate him as "one that got away"? Aren't you clever, knowing what my Cat supporter mates think? You really do "know it all". Right... LOL. Thanks DA. What they said ^

Kyle Matthews for mine. He has an intesity level that AFL recruiters dream of. Like the Energizer bunny on Speed! Just a tad too short and light for AFL, but all guts. And l don't mind the look of Stockdale. A little nugget of a bloke, he looks like he would've got the nickname "Stocky" even if his surname wasn't Stockdale. Goes hard and uses the ball well. Not AFL material IMO, but great value in the VFL.

Thanks for that Roger.

I've been a big advocate of Danny getting a game soon. Knowing that he was a MFC supporter prior to being drafted, now i really really hope, more than ever, that he gets his chance to don the red and blue before the season is out. He's been on the rookie list for 3 of the last 4 years, c'mon Bail's... give him his debut! Even if he doesn't make it, at least he'll be able to say he played a game for the club he's always loved! A story for the grandkids...

So Danny Hughes should be set for a return from an adductor strain for Casey this week then? Time is running out fast for young Dan, hope he gets his chance soon.

Could probably add another 4 or 5 cm with that hair!

Same. It's been such a long time since we had that many great long goals in a game, was really fantastic. We kicked incredibly straight too, only 2 or 3 behinds to 3/4 time i think. How good was Green's first goal??? I went bezerk after that, 4 (or was it 5?) bounces, with a man hot on his tail, and the classy finish. And an awesome fist-pumping celbration... shivers down the spine!

I don't know of any others, but it's likely there might be one or two more on the list. It's a romantic notion, but i love the idea of kids who grew up barracking for the team they're eventually drafted to. I suppose, it's very much a way of living vicariously through them. The three guys you listed above are literally living my dream! Call me sentimental, but that in itself is enough for me to support them just that little bit harder, and feel for them that much more when things aren't going their way. For this reason, i hope Buck's can get his body right and have a good year next year, or at least a red-hot crack, and not die wondering. How shattered would u be, getting drafted to the club that you've supported your whole life, only to not make it because of a horror run with injury? That's almost as bad as when the Hawks traded Trent Croad, who grew up a passionate Hawks supporter, to Freo. Actually, that's like my ultimate dream (playing for the club u grew up supporting) mixed with my worst nightmare (playing for Freo). Luckily for him, they got him back and he won a flag with them... Some stories are just meant to be i guess

Sorry BB59 to hijack this thread into another Newton discussion, but, I've been doing a lot of thinking about Newton recently, and had a great discussion with a mate the other day about him, and what it takes to make it as a key forward in modern footy. I don't think Newton does have all the attributes. He has some 'nice' parts to his game, but is lacking the major fundamentals to being a good AFL key forward. He's the icing and the cherry on top, minus the cake. He's tall, he can jump (boy, can he), and can take a big pack mark as long as he gets a clear run at the footy. He's got good hands. He's shown his goal sense is generally good. He's at his best when he's 10-15m behind a pack, running at full pace toward it, with some space on his man, i.e. no-one blocking his run. But what else has he got? Well, he's improved his defensive side, which he copped a lot of criticism for in the past. And his attitude and team-play has also improved out of sight this year. So why isn't he cracking a game, considering all the improvements he's made, plus the fact that he consistently kicks goals for Casey, and that we're crying out for another key position forward to take the reigns from Robbo? Brad Miller has gone backwards in that regard, so why no love from the FD for Juice? IMO, the areas most lacking in his overall package, and basically that which is stopping him from having the same impact at AFL level that he has at VFL level, are: lack of speed and endurance (or perhaps work-ethic?) on the lead, and a lack of upper body strength in one-on-one contested situations. Now i'm no expert, but if i know one thing about modern AFL footy, it's this: as a forward, you need to be able to do more than just take a pack mark with an unimpeded run and jump, and get the occassional ground level goal. At VFL level, where the game is slower and the bodies not as strong, it might work a treat. But at AFL level that style of play is largely hit-and-miss. Good forwards in the AFL need to be able to get on their bikes and make several, hard and intelligent repeat leads. Think Riewoldt, Richo, Franklin. I've never seen Newton, in my time watching for Melbourne, Casey and Sandy, display any sort of real speed on the lead, or the work-ethic and endurance to make several, hard, repeat leads. Often these leads aren't just about getting the ball, but about moving defenders and opening space for your fellow forwards. More often than not, Newton prefers to be the old-style 'stay-at-home' forward, calling for the ball to be kicked long, high and on his head, despite being outnumbered by zoning defenders. Might have worked in the 80's and 90's, but that style of play isn't going to cut it these days. The most effective way to beat numbers and find space inside the crowded forward 50's of the modern game is to be constantly on the move. Robbo, despite all his defensive flaws (and like Newton, his love for the ball to be kicked on his head), is actually a great exponent of this part of forward line movement. He's constantly moving in and out of dangerous spaces, presenting up and doubling back, creating doubt in his defenders mind, and space for others, drawing defenders to and from the footy. Newton hasn't shown any great ability or forward smarts to do that yet. But hard, repeat leading is just one (important) aspect of modern forwardline play. To be fair, not every KPF needs to have the speed and endurance of a Nick Riewoldt, Richo or Buddy on the lead to be effective. There are other ways to succeed as a key forward at the highest level. If, like Newton, you aren't the greatest 'lead-up' forward, then you need to excel in another important area; one-on-one/body-on-body, contested marking. In other words, you need to be strong! Guys like Daniel Bradshaw, J Roughead or Kurt Tippett, not the quickest or best lead-up forwards, but exceptionally strong in the upper body, are perfect examples of this. They thrive on the physical side of marking contests and the "tests of strength". Newton struggles with this side of AFL footy more than any other area IMO. After 4 seasons on an AFL list, his body still looks immature and he's nowhere near strong enough to play as the body-on-body type. Yet he calls for the ball in contested situations more than he leads out to present. I know we'd all hope that Jack Watts' body is more developed by that stage of his career (age 21-22). The real 'elite' forwards have the ability to do both; lead hard and repeatedly, AND use their body strength in one-on-one situations: Riewoldt, Richo, Fev, Lloyd, J Brown, Buddy, Roughead etc. The 'good' forwards generally can do one of the two really well, and the other at least adequately. Newton is barely adequate in both areas. Add to that his erratic kicking, and the lack of opportunity he's been given at the top level suddenly looks a lot more justified. Unfortunately for Juice, unless he can put some serious muscle on in the next pre-season, or can gain an extra yard in pace and a bigger engine, he's always going to be too limited a player to succeed at AFL level, IMO. Everyone wants a 194cm key forward who jumps on the head of packs and takes huge screamers. But what good is that if he can't lead well, isn't strong or fast, and is about as reliable a shot for goal as Richo on a bad day? Not much if you ask me. Newton--> a classic case of 'good @VFL, wanting @AFL'.

Loved his game on the weekend, and have really appreciated his efforts so far this year. I honestly hope he pushes Daniel Rich right to the finish for it.

Walked past Garlo at the U18 Championships last week. Didn't get a chance to speak to him, so i can't really comment on how his rehab is going, but i did notice that he's still wearing a moon-boot on his injured foot. I'm not really in the know regarding rehabilitation for stress fractures, would anyone who might be better informed have any idea when that moon-boot would be/is due to come off? Considering he had surgery on it after round 1, some 13 or so weeks ago, am i right in assuming it would be soon?

Great post H, spot on.

Great news for Dee's supporters who can't/don't/won't make the trip down to Cranbourne to watch them play.

Bulldogs might bite, maybe. Their lack of a true power KPF has held them back from really threatening in finals for a few years now. I wouldn't be surprised if they showed interest. Although i wouldn't be surprised if they (or anyone else) didn't. He's a nut. Great footballer, but absolute lunatic, and on the wrong side of 30. I'm not sure how clubs will react. I guess i'm just glad he won't be considered by us, Bail's has done a great job getting the culture at our club back on track.

I'm not a fan of Dunn at all, but i think it would be fair to give him a go in the role Sylvia's been playing for the next 3 weeks. His form at VFL level has been consistently good, but he's never even shown a shadow of that form in the AFL; he's the classic VFL-AFL in-betweener. Give him 3 weeks and let him know, it's a "now-or-never" scenario for him. If he's good enough, he'll step up during that time and bridge the gap between his VFL and AFL form. Statistically speaking, an average of around 20 disposals, 6 marks and a goal a game (numbers we've rarely seen from him at AFL level) during those 3 weeks would probably be enough for him to get a final chance next year as a 22(?) year old. Anything less, and it's time to start planning for life after footy for Lynden.

I think you make some great points. I'm still very much sitting on the fence regarding whether Robbo should play on next year or not. Part of me is in agreeance with the keeping Robbo as "protection" for JW, LJ and Stef stance. If he's taking the best defender every week, then that's a huge plus to having him around, and i think it will definitely aid in the development of those young fellas. As long as he can continue playing decent footy this year and finish with around 35+ goals, then you'd think he'd get an extra year. Obviously, how well he plays will dictate the quality of his opponent. The other part of me is in the "retiring gracefully" camp, as outlined by Jaded (quoted above). As it stands, i'm 50/50 on the whole situation. Whether or not Robbo gets a gig next year, to me, is totally dependant on him being able to play regular decent footy for the remainder of this season. More games like Saturdays will sway me towards keeping him on. More games like his performances against Collingwood and Essendon, and i'm all for farewelling old Russ. Funnily enough, i think Brad Miller (and to a lesser extent, Newton) plays a big part in Robbo's future too. If he can step up and hold down the FF position deep in the attacking 50, then the need for Robbo in 2010/11 is greatly lessened. Unfortunately, Millsy hasn't been in the best of form and is currently out of favour, and playing him deep is something we've tried in the past with mixed results. After 100+ games, he's at the stage of his career where he'll take over from Robbo, if he's good enough. That seems doubtful at this stage though. If he only he were a natural goalkicker...

Like me, I know you're not his biggest fan, but you'd think Bruce would get an invite, wouldn't he?

Agree. At his rate of improvement, by his mid-late 20's we could have a real superstar on our hands! Very smart and adaptable, i've said it many times before, but he could be anything! Even his ruckwork has improved over the last 2 weeks, and he's spent very little time on that. Like the look of him up forward, but his kicking is really a concern. He has no particular set routine for his set shots; sometimes he stutters in, other times he pokes, sometimes his run-up is long, other times he only takes about 5 steps, etc etc. It's definitely something i'd like to see the coaching staff spending a lot of time with him on. You can generally tell when a player is being coached in goal kicking as they'll be consistent with their routine. Stef's routine suggests to me that they haven't spent a long time working on it with him. Watch all the good forwards in the league and you'll see they all have a solid routine. Josh Mahoney & co, spend some time teaching the man how to kick for goal!!!!! Once he gets that down pat, he'll be a very dangerous target.