MadAsHell

Surely the club will make Chip see out the last year of his contract....... I don't know why people keep saying he'll leave at the end of this year?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/india-board-president-n-srinivasan-may-be-crickets-most-destructive-figure/story-fn67wltq-1226636632524 The BCCI really are staring to get out of hand! Kerry Packer stood up to the ICC back in the 70's, not only for his own good but for what was in the best interests of the game. And I reckon it's time that someone with the financial backing and balls came out and stood up to the BCCI. I'd love to see a 6 nations breakaway from the BCCI led ICC. Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and I'd love West Indies (but doubt as their financially tied to the ICC) so maybe USA (shorter forms of the game only) to start their own cricket calender comp. Something needs to happen to get the balance of power right, India are calling all the shots and this isn't good for the game, all nations need to have equal say in how the game is run and clearly this doesn't happen. Australia, England, New Zealand & South Africa have shown that their willing to vote against India in many matters already so they're the 4 most obvious nations to lead this breakaway. Ireland are clearly at least equal to, if not better then either of Bangladesh or Zimbabwe they we should get them involved and the USA should be looked at also at least for the short formats of the game to try and generate revenue through TV over there with their market. I have no doubt this would be a very difficult thing to attempt and pull off, but something has to give as Tim May says himself, there is a clear cancer currently in the ICC. I just wonder who the white knight could be or if there ever will be one?

If Pickles makes it to 196 games, has kicked 116 goals, averages 22.5 disposals and 4.1 tackles a game I think we'd all be pretty happy.

If you were to make Punt Rd Oval that big a stadium, the stands would have to be as tall as the MCG as half the ground is to close to Punt Road to build a stand there. Also it wouldn't make a heap of sense as Richmond aren't even one of the clubs that would be looking to play games there.

2017 is the year I'm hanging for BBB, so it's 4 years for mine. Although I still hold hope finals could be as soon as 2015. 2017 is when I think we could snare a flag!

Thanks rpfc, I did a search for this topic on the search engine but couldn't see anything.... I reckon you make a good point, if we could turn Casey Fields into our own version of Kardinia Park and maybe allow say St Kilda to play a few games there also then we could be onto a winner.

I know there's plans to extend the rail out there already to have a Cranbourne East Station which would help and the parkings not to bad. As has been mentioned though you would be shutting out AFL supporters on the other side of the city and the country supporters apart from those in Gippsland. Also apart from Melbourne and St Kilda (strong supporter base on the near by peninsula) you wonder who else could play games as I'm not sure North or the Bulldogs would want to play in the east? It's a difficult one. Princess Park is a hassle to get to, The cost to upgrade Punt Road I'd imagine would be huge and boundary on the Punt rd side is to close to the road to build a stand there. I would have thought personally that Victoria Park would have been the most suitable to upgrade but there seems to be no mention anywhere of that?

Was going through some articles recently on this topic and came across this: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-03-29/tigers-on-the-prowl This line caught my eye: "A third option for a boutique stadium could be Casey Fields at Cranbourne.' Wonder what peoples thoughts of this would be if it meant for instance we played 3 home games a year there but didn't have to play in Darwin or Etihad? Personally I'd be all for it. Especially as I'm building opposite the ground!

Most Improved: Got to be Michael Evans or Luke Tapscott I reckon, they're both showing what they're bringing to the table. Nathan Jones, Colin Garland & Jack Grimes have all improved also but we already knew what they were capable of. Evans and Tapscott have made the biggest strides IMO. Gone Backwards: Chip and Trenners have both struggled a little, but at the same time Chips last few games have been improved performances and I thought Trenners was pretty good in rounds 3 & 4 considering his pre-season so I'd have to say Sammy Blease as I thought he showed some glimpses last year that he was ready to play consistent footy this year. Hopefully he can produce some good footy in the coming weeks. Suprise Packets: Matt Jones has been far better then I was expecting and Michael Evans has also shown he could be a much better player then I expected of him. I thought he'd be a depth player at best but I can see a little bit of Leigh Montagna about the way Pickles plays, I now think we have a beauty on our hands!

You have to be at a club 8 years to qualify as a free agent. Watts has been with us for 5 by seasons end.

He hasn't spent to much time in the stands this year. I know there's no guarentees in football but who's to say that if we somehow recruited Daisy Thomas that he might not snap his leg in half in his first game and never play again? I know Cooney's had a history, but we've shown the last few years we're getting better and getting players through their injury troubles. Grimes had his first full year last year and was going well this year until the weekend. Rivers had 3 full seasons uninterupted after 3 seasons that were ruined. There's always risks no matter who you recruit.

Totally understnd the concerns about 2.5mill. Not saying it has to be that much, hopefully we could land him for a fair bit less. I guess by using a figure like that I was just expressing that it would no doubt need to be an offer to good to refuse. Maybe 1.5 - 1.8 range would be a bit more realistic, I probably over shot a little......

Due to the calls from people wanting an A grade midfielder to be recruited and not many being available that we'd have a realistic chance of landing. eg Daisy Thomas. Given at the end of this season there's a good chance we'll delist the likes of Rodan, Davey & MacDonald there'll be an experience gap again and I've got no doubt Neeld will look to bring in one or two experienced players who can add to the group, even if it's only short term. Cooney would certainly help our midfield and provide leadership, our best chance of landing him would be a big contract over a couple of years. I wouldn't expect Cooney to be at the club when we have a tilt at a flag, but he could be another key cog in turning the culture and standards of the club around. He'd certainly be a great person to have for the likes of Viney, Toumpas, Taggert and co to learn off. We may not even approach him, but I reckon if we could land him and his body could hold up for even just 2 years he'd become a very important player for us, despite the fact he's past his best.

Understand where you're coming from Satyriconhome. Fingers crossed Davis can keep improving as he seems to be, will be good to keep the heat on guys like Chip, Garland & Tommy Mc, I reckon he could have a career if he cleans that part of his game up and see him as a betetr prospect then Sellar or Pedersen. He will need a good year this year that's for sure as I believe he's out of contract at seasons end.

It's not an unruth. I went to nearly every casey home game in 2011 & 2012 and am a big fan of Troy's as he competes hard, spoils well and works hard both ways to provide some rebound from defence, but his disposal has been poor. And that's not just my opinion, one former brownlow medalist by the name of Paul Couch who I was standing next to one game made comment of Davis's questionable disposal on more then one occasion. Granted I haven't seen Troy play this season, but it does sound like his disposal is improving which is great news, because if he can get that right I reckon he does have the tools to make it. But to claim that Davis having poor/has had poor kicking skills is untrue, well that in itself is untrue as he has for the last 2 years.

I get the concerns about the knee, that would be part of the reason why I'd only want the club to give hima 2 year deal on big money, so if it did play up we wouldn't be salary strained for to long a period of time. As I said I know his best is behing hinm, but he's still a very good player as his current form shows and would provide invaluable experience and leadership. Would be good to have him show Watts how a number 1 draft pick can get the best out of himself. I'd be wrapped to see him come across. Maybe wouldn't need to pay as much as 2.5 over 2, but at least we know that would get him across the line. In our current position we need to pay big to land big names.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-07/cooney-dogs-at-stalemate Would be cheaper and more realistic then Dasiy. I know his best is past him, but he's still a very good player and would be out best midfielder by a long way. He may be willing to leave the Dogs as they wont see any success in his time there and he may now just look out for the best contract out there and we should have plenty of room. How big a splash would it make if we can land a former brownlow medalist through Free agency to show our young midfielders how to go about it and show some leadership. I reckon we should have a real crack, 2.5 mill for 2 years could get it done.

My old man picked them up, he didn't say where but he said he got them sometime between 1965-1986. By god they're coming in handy! Haha, I'd like to see Neeld see it through but it's doubtful the way things are going.

This may be my red & blue goggles talking but I still reckon that if we can keep the nucleus of this group together we could have something special on our hands and could be well and truly back playing finals by 2015 and grab a flag by about 2017. By the end of the 2017 season (along way off I know) the make up of some of our list could look like: PLAYER/AGE/GAMES PLAYED (APPROX)/ROLE J. Hogan, 22, 90, Hopefully the new Jono Brown/Wayne Carey pf the comp as our dominate CHF. N. Jones, 29, 250, I reckon he's already become as good as say Brad Sewell and is still young enough to even get better. J. Watts, 26, 170, Can still become our Brendon Goddard and be a real utility playing forward/back/wing. Question is will he? J. Toumpas, 23, 100, Midfield/Half back. I can see him playing the Heath Shaw role personally. C. Dawes, 29, 180, Big beast of a FF but to be mor a decoy to Hogan like Longmire was to Carey. J. Viney, 23, 110, In and under midfielder and clearance king, Sam Mitchell version 2.0 J. Frawley, 29, 220, We know he has the ability. Has the size, speed and agility to be one of the great Full Backs. J. Trengove, 26, 170, Midfielder/Half forward. Once he gets his match fitness and confidence back I still reckon he has the ability to be our own Jimmy Bartel. M. Clark, 29, 200, Once Hogan comes into this size Mitch could become the nest no 2 ruckman/forward in the comp. D. Terlich, 27, 110, Our own Josh Hunt but I reckon Terlich is harder. S. Blease, 26, 130, To be part of our midfield rotation and play forward and half back. Bleasey could be our real game breaker like Chris Yarran or Leon Davis of old. B. Stretch, 20, 50 (Future F/S) Obviously can't be drafter until the end of 2014 season but I'm optimistic he could become a small utility ala Chance Bateman C. Garland, 29, 200, Vital role of 3rd tall defender who can also play small. To keep the Geelong comparisons going see Andrew Mackie. T. McDonald, 25, 140, Is currently a bit out of form and needs to work on his disposal, but has the desire and ability to become a top CHB. J. Grimes, 28, 170, Love how he's coming along and will rotate through the midfield and off half back. If he can become 80% of the player Hodge is we're in good hands. M. Evans, 25, 120, Midfielder/Half forward rotation. I can see a bit of Leigh Montagna in Pickles. Could be one of those gems to come off the rookie list. D. Kent, 23, 110, Forward/Midfielder, think he'll play mainly as a forward but stints on a wing. See Adam Schneider. L. Tapscott, 26, 140, To settle as a defensive half forward in the Campbell Brown mould but with far more ability. M. Gawn, 25, 120, The new Aaron Sandilands. Need I asy more about Maxy! J. Howe, 27, 150, I can actually see Howe and Watts playing as interchanging utilities that can play anywhere and be real weapons for us. Howe will/is his own player. R. Taggert, 24, 90, I have a lot of excitment about Rory, he could be anything and will rotate through the midfield and half forward I expect. R. Bail, 29, 150, I reckon Bail will become our main midfield tagger due to his running ability and potential to hurt the other way more then McKenzie. Ala Heath Hocking. Obviously we'll draft others and could pick up other in free agency and trades, but this just shows that given enough time and enough experience to these players we should be in a position to challenge soon enough as long as we can keep them together and set up the right environment for them.

Nowadays 14th = Pick 5

Pedersen, Byrnes and McKenzie are all contracted for next year and I believe Nicholson & Bail are also. And can we please stop shafting our senior players and let Jamar see out his contract, even if it is at Casey as insurance for Gawn. Any trade value Russian has was always going to vanish when the new ruck rules came in. I agree Davey, Rodan & Gillies will likely be gone and Davis will need a big 2nd half of the year to get a new contract. Other likely victims could include MacDonald, Sellar and Fitzpatrick depending on what they can produce for the rest of the year. I do like the sound of Dunstan and if we do get a priority pick either Aish or Sheed would be very nice also. But lets not go recruiting our new midfield just yet. Things can still turn around....

IN: Dawes, Fitzpatrick, Jetta, Toumpas OUT: Grimes (inj), Bail, McKenzie, Strauss FB: Garland, Frawley, Terlich HB: Howe, McDonald, Toumpas C: Dunn, N. Jones, Evans HF: Tapscott, Fitzpatrick, Kent FF: Gawn, Dawes, Byrnes FOLL: Spencer, Sylvia, Viney INT: M. Jones, Nicholson, Trengove SUB: Jetta EMERG: Bail, MacDonald, McKenzie We need a couple of key posts up forward and Dawes and Fitzpatrick provide that, especially given their VFL form. I'd bring Toumpas in and play him off half back given it's against Gold Coast, gives him a chance to get some more footy. Jetta comes straight back in also as I liked the footy he was playing before his suspension. Jamar can earn his recall through the VFL. I don't reckon Magner will get upgraded given Grimes time off will be similar to Clark's and they didn't promote him after Mitch's injury. As for the players to be dropped, Dunny showed he can be our midfield tagger and he also provides more tricks and more run then either Bail or McKenzie which puts the acid on them. Strauss possibly unlucky but he needs to get more of the ball and given it's Gold Coast this week the temptation to play some more of the kids is simply to great and that's why I'd bring Toumpas in for him. Grimes injury explains itself. Trenners gets a chance to redeem himself but he came close after the effort against the blues.

Due to Grimes injury give him the chance to make amends next week. If he fails he can spend round 8 at Casey.

I want Healy & Russell's idea of players being able to go to the club of their choice implemented. The first 6 players to walk through our doors are Franklin, Judd, Pendlebury, Gaff, Prestia & Wines Neeld guides this club to 8 Grand Finals in a row and we win all of them. I like this game! But on a ever so slightly more realistic line.... If Mark Neeld is sacked at the end of the year Brett Lovett comes back as senior coach, Shane Woewodin replaces Craig as senior assistant, Brad Green as forward coach, James McDonald midfield coach & Cameron Bruce backline coach. Todd Viney replaces Connolly as Casey ambassador, Nathan Bassett takes Viney's old role of player development Schwarz joins the board, Geoff Freeman becomes president and Eugene Arocca CEO. We develop our own stars, have a good year next year, are playing finals by 2015 and snare a premiership by 2017! Edit: Slightly

I would have thought three weeks back at VFL level would have been enough for Fitzpatrick to put his hand up as being match fit.