Nasher

The quotes getting stuck in the text box between posts is definitely a software issue. This upgrade won't fix that - that'll happen in some future version of the software.

Hi all, Tonight our server will go down for 10 mins or so (not sure what time) while our hosts up-spec our server and restart it. Hopefully this puts an end to the crashing on game-day - interested in your feedback if you experience issues on Sunday night. On another note, I haven't seen any of those errors on posting or double posts in a little while; is it just me or has this seem to have magically gone away?

Hey, everyone else is allowed to skim-read and misinterpret mosts, why can't I? :D (Apologies if I did indeed do this.)

I love the wild imagination of some on here. One photo of Garland's arm around him and it's "he can sook off in to the VFL...", "he's probably ripping apart a yelliw pages" (?!) and even "his whole generation are sooks"! More likely: he was told yesterday that he wouldn't play, Jeffy is fit, and ANB is the resting emergency, and all his attention and focus goes to the Casey game tomorrow night, just as it has every week so far. I know that probably isn't as exciting though.

The Richmond supporters over at PRE have totally thrown in the towel. Gods, if we Essendon this...

We get it. You think Petracca should be in.

Pedersen, Garlett, Hunt, Kennedy for mine. Petracca if Garlett doesn't play.

In: Garlett, ANB, Petracca, Garland, Vince. Out: Jones M, Oliver

As if you wouldn't post the teams if you've seen them.

Or to the dev league? I'd prefer him to play in the dev league as a forward than in the Casey seniors as a defender. He's a developing forward.

You've forgotten what he looks like at his best.

By the way, does anyone know who coined the term "don't argue"? And what's the proper name for it - "fend off"?

It's just such a dumb comment. You can imagine the type of dribbling oaf that would listen to his show nodding and grunting their agreement. Just be thankful you don't operate at that level and move on with life.

Regarding Hunt,a demotion need not mean being a confidence sapper. I reckon it'd be the easiest "you're dropped" speech Roos ever gave: "Sit down Hunty. Look, with Bernie back this week, we're going to have you back at Casey for the time being. It's nothing you did wrong - we thought you acquitted yourself really well for your first game. I know it's disappointing, but we hope you got some confidence out of it that you can take back to the VFL - keep working hard there and keep your form up, and you'll be in our minds again when opportunities come up as we were very happy with how you went." He'll already be well aware that he was filling in for the club's best player and reigning B&F winner, so coming back out for Vince won't shock him. If the conversation is done the right way, instead of being too bummed, he could walk out of the room ready to rip Williamstown a new one with his new "I can play AFL footy" confidence.

I also suggested resting Oliver, but in hindsight I think I was just taking the soft option to avoid making the call on a player I don't want to drop. I think it'll be Hunt and one of Brayshaw or Matt Jones. Tough though. Can't remember an the last time players in decent form were being forced out of the side.

Before Viney, I had never seen anyone catch a don't argue, nor have I seen it since. Watching the footage again (for the 100th time - it really is a beautiful thing), it was a split second, reflex thing - I think Viney has introduced a brand new skill. I'd love to see him attempt it against the best don't arguer in the business.

I like letting the Casey players retain the low numbers. Give the MFC players their MFC number+50 (so Petracca 55, Trengove 59 and so on). It means doing a quick subtraction in your head, but it's better than total randomness. Besides, who *wouldn't* want to see Terlich running around in number 96?

24 touches, with 3:1 kicks to handballs as a minimum? Not one player in our side has achieved anything close to that even once this year. The only players to have more than 24 touches in a game are Viney x3, Jones N x2, Vince x2, Oliver and Bugg - and in all cases other than Vince, the ratio of kicks to handballs was either close to square, or heavily favoured handballs. To really spell it out, these are the players who have had 18 kicks in a game this year: Vince in round 2, and Vince in round 3. That's it. It'd be nice if we could check that what we're demanding as a par performance was at least semi-reasonable, especially when applying it to a developing 20 year old playing off half back. Sheesh.

Probably my favourite aspect is that he seems to play at the same standard every week. He'll rarely get the 6 in the Demonland POTY, but always seems in the thoughts of people for the low votes. Underrated ball user too for mine. Rarely wastes it when he gets it.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for him to "explode". What we're seeing is what he is - a defender who gives a contest, and is a very reliable user of the ball. I think with confidence in himself as a defender and his teammates he'll increase he'll slowly increase his rate of attack, but I can't see him ever being a 30 possession a game ball magnet. As others have said though, he's incredibly dependable with ball in hand.

Harsh, I reckon. It was disappointing, but I just put it down to trying to get going quickly knowing he was chasing someone with serious pace. He might have avoided it by going half a notch slower, but I doubt the chase would have much impact if he went at anything but full pace against Varcoe.

It's a long season, players will tire and get injured. ANB will get his chance, just needs to keep playing as he is to ensure he remains at the head of the queue.

I don't think anyone thinks if you just wait for all your players to turn 27, they'll magically be good. Age is still a good indicator though; if your side is full of 27+ year olds, as you allude to, you've probably got a list that is in its peak. Those players who are 27+ are all going to be better than they were when they were 22-24, which most of our players are. You haven't really disproven the link between success and age at all. I would have thought most people understand that the key ingredient to contending for a flag is having lots of good players on your list.

Players recruited as mature age players are always going to be the exception to the rule. Generally age correlates with experience; if you sort our side from the weekend in order of matches played, Jones and Pedersen the only two in the under 70 games bracket (which comprised of 18 players) that aren't in the 18-22 year old age bracket. Even if you exclude them, it is still without a doubt an inexperienced side. Our median player had 55 games. Tom McDonald also seems to be experienced beyond his years with 86 games up his sleeve at 23; he is easily on 250 game pace and is a chance for 300 if his body continues to hold up.

Not sure if joking, or just failed to read the thread, including the three posts directly before this one...