Dee*ceiving

Petty only missed one game if I am not mistaken?

Which is great, but in fairness Woey only got it 7 times. His time will come... Agree, interesting week for selection with Hibberd and Petty available. I wouldn't be against sticking with Brown and Smith as sub. It's a good EW bet, if Brown doens't have much influence Goody can swap him with Joel in the second half.

We are definitely building some great depth and flexibility in many ways accellerated by the Petty, Fritsch & Oliver injuries and to a lesser extent the limitations of Brown and McDonald. Melksham's opportunities in Fritsch's role has lead to good outcomes and a definite confidence boost. Viney has had a career best season. We've seen the value of Smith forward and as the sub. JVR has played ~15 games, mostly held his own and will be better placed to make an impact in September than he would be if he'd only played a handful. JJ, Sparrow & Rivers have been exposed to significant midfield minutes they otherwise wouldn't have with Oliver in the team and Tracc not needed forward. Plus we've got Hibberd to come back in, potentially Gus relocating to the half back line (his best position IMV), a top 10 ruckman in the twos & proven capable key position backups in McDonald and Tomlinson. Whilst clearly a plan off the back of last year, the 'squad' based approach was further enforced by injuy, and there is no doubt it has delivered significant benefits.

Pig's history on dusty and form last week is too good to ignore. If Petty is fit I can't see him being left out and it will be in his defensive role. My read is they prefer the Gawn/Grundy ruck/forward combo in finals with BBB and TMac as fall back options. Grundy will play another at Casey as planned, will come in to give Max a rest at some point and then we'll trial them together again just before September. Tomlinson is purely a backup for May, Lever and Petty. Based on that I'd guess Out; Brown, Tomlinson, Woey In; Petty, Hibberd, Smith Sub; Harmes

Not quite... He kicked 4 🤦🤷

I think you're onto it Jimmy. Fatigue always a factor but shouldn't be moreso for us than other clubs over the full duration of the season. We've got 8 games to see how/if that averages out. Realistically, the game plan is our biggest problem. The front half turnover game plan can and has worked. Particularly on a fast deck, thank you for Perth finals in 2021. On a wet deck repeat entries lead to a persistently clogged and sloppy forwardline resulting in multiple fumbles, lots of tackles, ratty shots on goal and defensive rebounds where opposition teams have 1 on 1s forward of centre on the rare occassion they manage to gather the quick clearing kick from their D50. Regarding personnel, comparing to 2021 the forward line stands out as having gone backwards, considerably. If you break it down it's glaring... 2021 Brown > 2023 Brown 2021 McDonald > 2023 McDonald 2021 ANB > 2023 ANB 2021 Spargo > 2023 Spargo 2021 Gawn > 2023 Gawn 2021 Melksham > 2023 Melksham Fritsch and Pickett you could argue are the same or possibly slightly better than they were in 2021. Since then we've added Chandler & JVR. Chandler is a work in progress at best and JVR has potential but isn't yet up to the class of 2021 McDonald or Brown. What's kept us in the positive is that since 2021 our backline has actually improved, this year markedly thanks to Judd McVee and improved output from Salem, Lever and more recently May. Sadly this is slipping through our fingers. Those players listed are unlikely to reach their 2021 form again (save Spargo, maybe). If that's true our best hope is some strategic tweaks whether positional or system. A fit Clarrie will be a big boost, but unfortunately there are no pots of gold at Casey.

We are top 4 from the defensive goal line to 15 metres forward of the centre circle. From there to the goals we are bottom 4...

WH-E might think twice about laying another tackle, anywhere ever again after that hit!

Re: Brayshaw maybe he'd benefit from a week off? With Bowey and Oliver due to return perhaps now is a good time for him to have an extended freshen up?

In line with some other comments/questions here I feel experimenting with Smith in what has been a traditionally 'smalls' role might be worthwhile. Could Joel Smith play in Charlie's role v Geelong?

It was reported by the club so would take it to be true

Even if they can, they won't

Can't see Tomlinson going out if there isn't another tall to bring in, Petty really the only option. Our backline looked the most inpenetrable it has in weeks with the three tall defenders. We gave up 44 points to a team with 2 Coleman medallists and Lever took 12 intercept marks

Out Bowey and Harmes (suspended) Chandler sub?

Gents, love the show. My question is regarding our clearance work against the Blues. Whilst not entirely clean we performed much better in this space than previous weeks. Is that a result of a tactical adjustment, greater work rate, the Blues not being very good or something else?

Moore is no dummy. If Smith is playing decoy he will recognise that in seconds and peel off to create out numbers. Will only work if Smith runs hard to make space, in dangerous positions and we actually kick the ball to him. Melksham would be a risk but he may actually be a better option as a decoy because he knows where to run and can bullet the ball 55m.

We are good enough defesively to keep sides under 12 goals, even good ones. Question is can we score more than 12 goals ourselves. On recent form we are: being beaten in clearances displaying poor connection going forward by hand and foot finishing poorly in front of goals and taking fewer marks in the backline and through the middle of the ground than we used to Lifting in 2 of these areas might be enough to bridge the gap though...remaining optimistic Go dees!

Kept Carlton to 44 points and really only 1 of their forwards looked likely to hit the scoreboard. We butchered enough finishes to cost us 3 goals and sloppiness through the midfield 3 more. We had to win and found a way. Defense was rock solid and midfield connection can and must improve. Carlton didn't make us pay for several howling turnovers. Turn the ball over in the corridor against the pies and our backline will be watching the ball go back over their heads through the big sticks.

Just a tease, hold him back then burst onto the scene

Great point. Might be a swing option when Salem comes back. Riv to spend more time in the middle, Sparrow relegated to sub?

Throwing gets a blind eye because it keeps the game moving and often, it's the slickest of questionable handballs that breaks a deadlock and opens play leading to a score

Angus??!!

I don't agree. It's Collingwood coming from behind that captures those reactions. We never trailed, which is actually more impressive

Brisbane at the gabba is the hardest test in football ATM and we lost gawn in the first ten minutes. No face lost there. Bombers loss was disappointing but even then we had our chances and they had the pies on ice a week later before running out of gas.

Pies and cats the only real threats. Finish top 4 and hope were hurting less than last year and we'll be a big chance. Hard work and a big chunk of luck involved.