MadAsHell

For selfish reasons I'm happy for the club to stick with Casey. I only live 20 min drive from Casey Fields so it's really convinient for me. Also with MFC having a 30 year agreement with the City of Casey and Casey being a growth area I see the affiliation doing MFC a lot of good. Also don't forget Hawthorn, Carlton and West Coast don't have stand alone teams in the VFL/WAFL so it doesn't automatically equal success. Also St. Kilda have a rather rocky relationship with Sandringham yet they should have won the AFL premiership in 09' and were a ball bounce away from winning it last year so I'm not to concerened about the affiliation as yet. Edit: Changed St. Kilda's VFL team to Sandringham instead of Casey.

Was out at Casey Fields today and saw the Resies and seniors and here were my thougts. Reserves: Cook: Didn't play which was a shame as he was the one I was looking forward to watching the most. Johnson: Played a pretty solid game. Nothing outstanding but covred a lot of ground and was certainly amongst the best. Will be vying for Casey seniors selection come finals time. Wonaemirri: Was lively early and gave off the handballs that directly resulted in our first & third goals. Did his ankle early in the 2nd term when running down a Werribee player. Was down for some time, tried to get up but then went straight back down again. Didn't look good and I wouldn't be suprised if that's his season but fingers crossed! Seniors: Bail: For is first game back was really good and I fogot how much we're missing him. Seemed to be mainly playing across half back and was behing a lot of Casey's counter attacks when running the ball out of defence. Would think he'd play at least one more game at this level before coming back into the AFL but he's certainly put his name up for consideration. Bate: Was good today Bate playing across half forward. Kicked one really nice goal on the run in the 1st and took some really good strong contested marks which I find frustrating as he can never do it with Melbourne. I still think he may have some (but not much) currency on the trade market. Campbell: Combined well with big Maxy Gawn in the ruck to have the better of McIntosh, although I still think Werribee won the clearances. Think he'll probably end up on an AFL senior list next year but not ours. Davis: Didn't see a lot of him but what he did he seemed to do well. Moves really well for a guy his size. Fitzpatrick: One of my favourites. Didn't have the impact I was hoping for bit I still like what I see. He's lightning quick for a guy his size. Kicked a really nice goal in the 2nd term and twice in the last he turned his opponent inside out near the boundary line in our forward 50 resulting in 1 poster and 1 out of bounds on the full. Another pre-season and watch out. Took a couple of nice marks around the ground. Gawn: Played well I thought and again combined with Campbell they had the better of McIntosh. Out of the three ruckmen I thought big Maxy did the most around the ground. Although on one bad note he missed a sitter of a set shot in the 3rd term and on a lighter note at one stage in the last term when I'm sure he was having a snap from our pocket the ball ended up being marked by another Casey player about 40m out on the opposite flank.. How he kicked it there I have no idea, haha. Jetta: Was very good rotating through the midfield and forward line. Kicked 2 really nice goals and hit fev on the cheast a couple of times which looked really good. Again his tackling was great and how he isn't in Melbourne's team this week I don't know? Lawrence: Had a fantastic 1st quarter kicking two goals and laying plenty of tackles and putting on a lot of pressure. I reckon he'll certainly stay on the rookie list next year and could be a roughy to land our roving forward pocket role. Needs to improve his fitness base to run out games but I like what I see with him. Just needs to keep himself involved throughout the game. Maric: Was good. Seemed to rotate between the forward line and midfield . Again he's frustrating cause you can see he has the ability to be as good as someone like Stephen Milne but I just don't know if he wants it that badly. McDonald: Started poorly, made a couple of mistakes and looked like Daw was going to run him around in Werribee's forward line. Was taken off Daw and then played solid game playing across half back. Did well after a poor start. McNamara: One of our best today in the midfield. Used the ball well and went in hard. Was probably our leading clearance player. I reckon he has the tools to make it at AFL level, if it's with us it'd be in Cale Morton's role, although McNamara uses it better then Morton and goes harder also. I'm concerned another team might snatch him though and capitalise where we'll miss out. Highlight for me today was Tommy Mac running down Majak Daw in the middle of the ground in the last quarter and catching him holding the ball when it looked like he was about to have one of his customary run and bounce goals. Nicholson: Was good today I thought and still reckon was unlucky to get dropped. Had a couple of really good runs where he left his opponent for dead setting up some attacking plays. His defensive efforts were good and I reckon he'll be a good player for us. Warnock: Played a good solid game at FB as he always seems to. Think he was on McKinley and I have no doubt he'll be picked up by someone next year. Some Casey Players: Fevola: Kicked 6 and I would of said until the last quarter played the good team game. Had given off some good handballs and created space for other forwards for most of the game. However late in the match (when 50+ points up) he seemed to get very agitated. Gave away a couple of silly free kicks and swore quite adamantly after missing a shot and then after having a ball kicked into him where the delivery was poor. Was a bit of the Fevola of old which was concerning, as I hadn't seen it all season and being 50 odd points up I didn't see the point in it. Was in the process of being dragged when the final siren sounded which was good to see that Gotch had seen enough. I'd still like to see Melbourne take a punt on him, although I wont lie, there were some alarm bells going off inside my head when I saw his last few minutes. Wall: Played a good game today I thought. But more importantly is that I met his girlfriend before the game today and she's really hot!!! Just thought I'd throw that one in there.

Start the interview process now but tell all aplicants that a decision wont be made until after the GF. Also as part of their application you ask them to assess the list and ask what changes they'd be looking to make. This way if Malthouse decides he wants to coach Melbourne he can accept the job 48 hours after the GF. If not then we make our announcement 48 hours after the GF of who the coach will be and they'll already know what changes they'd be looking to make.

Certainly not my first choice but I wouldn't be shattered if we got him. However if we did pick up an experienced coach who hadn't won a premiership I'd prefer Laidley or even bring Northey back!

After the AFL, VFL is clearly the next best comp going around and experience there shouldn't be any less relevant to coaching anywhere else unless as a senior coach at AFL level. Gavin Brown's been mentioned as a possible candidate who was coaching Collingwood's VFL team last year and Jade Rawlings and Shane Woewodin who are assistants at Brisbane were coaching in the VFL and WAFL last year. Bottom line is I don't care if our coach next year is Ron Barassi or the current head coach of Frankston Bombers Under 12's as long as it's the right person for the job!

My top 7 preferences would go: 1. Mick Malthouse - Says he wont coach next year but until he makes that comment when Collingwood's season is over I wont believe him. 2. Alaister Clarkson - Perfect for the job, took the Chicken Hawks into a tough physical team to wina flag with an impressive game style. I know people are saying t why would you leave Hawthorn, but if they were to win the flag this year he might like the idea of the challenege of rebuilding another club. 3. Dean Laidley - Like his no nonsense attitude and he's proven to get good results with weaker lists then ours. 4. Peter German - Really rate his work in the VFL, first of all with Casey and now with Williamstown. Not affraid to give an old fashioned spray either. 5. Mark Neeld - From all reports probably the best of the assistants going around, not sure if he's the type of person that will immediatly demand the players respect however which I think we need. 6. Brenton Sanderson - Had great results at Geelong and knows what it takes to go from a talented list to a dominat list. 7. Brett Lovett - Apparently a brilliant tactical coach. Had some fantastic results with a Frankston list a few years ago with no money and no resources, they were a kick away from playing in a prelim final and have never been the same since he left. In his first year as coach of Sandringham now with some mixed results. Edit: By the way CK you can tell Timmy Walsh I said hi!

Warnock - Trade to Carlton or Hawthorn for a 2nd round pick. GWS may even be interested if Scully stays. Bate - Trade to Richmond or St. Kilda for a 3rd round pick. Morton - I like the idea of trading to Port for Kane Cornes. Wonaemirri - Delist but to be re-drafted in the rookie draft I suspect. Scully, Sylvia, Green, MacDonald, Martin, Fitzpatrick & Maric - Will all hopefully sign new contracts. If we were to get Malthouse as coach I can actually see him making Maric a pet project given his comments about Addam earlier this year. Dunn - Still contracted and will play out next season with Casey most likely. Bartram - There may be interest from St. Kilda for a trade but I suspect he'll stay on our list next season hopefully to play out with Casey. Campbell, Johnston, McNamara & Newton - To all go the way of the dodo. Evans, Lawrence & Nicholson - All be given another year on the rookie list. I would have expected at least Nicholson and possibley he and Evans to be promoted. However if this was to be the case I'd of expected them to sign on for longer then 1 year.

Don't like our chances of landing Boak. I'd give Morton for Kane Cornes happily though. Reckon it would be a win win for both clubs and Cornes would have a role to play with us for a few years in the midfield. He'd be good with the clearances and it's always handy to have a tagger in the team despite the press making it harder for them.

Yes on a very small financial contract with clauses we can sack him with any breach of behaviour clauses.

There's pros & cons on both sides of the fence but for me I reckon the pros out weight the cons. From all reports he's been really well behaved and a great influence down at Casey, and I don't see why we shouldn't take a punt. Neither Cook or Fitzpatrick will be ready to hold down FF for us next year but will have have the position open at Casey for them to develop as Fev would no longer be there. Green can always move to half back where I reckon he could play a Nick Maxwell type role with good effect. Would mean we may have Jurrah & Howe battling it out for 1 sport but competition is good! Also once injuries come into it I have no doubt they'll both get a lot of games still. We're always complaining that Melbourne aren't bold enough. Well what could be more bold then two huge signings in the off season. Malthouse as coach and Fev taken with our 3rd or 4th pick in teh draft! Imagine the line up next year FB: Garland, Frawley, Nicholson HB: Grimes, Rivers, Green C: Trengove, Moloney, Scully??? HF: Howe, Watts, Petterd FF: Martin, Fevola, Davey FOLL: Jamar, Gysberts, McKenzie INT: Jones, Sylvia, Tapscott SUB: Bail EMERG: Blease, Fitzpatrick, Jurrah

Funnily enough he may be of some value to someone like St. Kilda who'll be looking to replace Baker who I'm expecting will retire at seasons end. Not sure what we'd get for him though, maybe a goal sneak like Jamie Cripps???

Cause the opposition don't rate him they allow him to be the one with ball in hand, just don't cover him when we spread. This is why it's important we develop the likes of Strauss, Blease, Bail, Nicholson, Bennell & Tapscott. The more of them that develop and the quicker they do, the quicker Bartram wont be in the team.

Frawley, Rivers & MacDonald having the better of Kennedy, Lynch & Darling Jamar & Martin winning the ruck duel versus Cox & Natinui Howe at FF with 3 goals & 10 marks Watts despit not having a great game continuing to work hard all match and work himself into the game. All his touches were good touches Nathan Jones absolutely bust a gut. Thought he was very good today, made some mistakes but worked hard to get the ball back when mistakes were made The team show some fight & heart after half time. Last 10min was disapointing but otherwise I was very pleased with the 2nd half.

This is where I've been calling for us to recruit Myles Sewell from North Ballarat. Not only is he a clearance specialist but he's shown he can perform a run with role very well. Should be seriously looked at!

I can see your suprise for now. However Scully's is the ultimate professional, trains as hard as anyone and his preporation is second to none. He also expects the most out of himself and would be the type to expect it from others. IMO this is just the type of person you want in your leadership team.

For me I'd remove Green from the leadership group altogether along with Davey. I'd add Trengove, Watts, McKenzie and (assuming he stays) Scully to the leadership group. Appoint Grimes & Trengove vice captains. Appoint Rivers captain under the understanding that it is for a period of two years before he hands it over to either Trengove, Grimes, Watts or Scully. This allows a few more years for our young stars to develop without the burden of captaincy but still develop their leadership skills. Will also show who wants it more over those 2 years.

Would love to hear Martin & Sylvia sign on the dotted line before seasons end also. Any news on Fitzpatrick. I know news was a signed a few months ago but I still haven't heard anything official yet?

+1 Of the list that was provided I said Laidley as I think he's a very smart and initiative coach who got some good results with an ordinary North list. Also wont be affraid to give the players a good rev when needed. But I still think Malthouse is more then possible.

+1 I agree at the draft table this year we should focus more on mids, I think our depth through the midfeild needs a bit more building, especially given the halt in Morton & Bennell's development. Apart from Watts we still have Howe, Cook and Fitzpatrick who are very young. Then when you throw in Dunn, Bate and even Jurrah & Green who play as talls more then medium sized forwards. If we were to cull Bate & Dunn then you could look to trade for a KPF (Franklin, Cornelius etc..) but otherwise we currently have to many on the list. The midfield is the area we need to foucs on! Edit: Spelling.

I agree he's not of a big solid build, but he is a clearance specialist just like Barlow IMO. Another key forward who I forgor about who I think we could chase and wouldn't cost to much is Aaron Cornelius from Brisbane. I know he's still young (taken in same draft as Watts) but can't get a regular game at the Lions cause of Brown & Clark but has shown he's already a good contested mark and shot for goal. A Cornelius (FF) Watts (CHF) combination could look good for the years ahead.

As far as midfielders go the most keen I'd be on anyone would be Dangerfield from Adelaide but reckon we'd be more likely to find a hard nosed midfielder through the VFL then we would a power forward. Myles Sewell from North Ballarat fits the bill for us perfectly. Plays like his brother and has finished in the top 3 in VFL's B&F a couple of times in the last few years. I reckon our only chance to land a power forward would be if we landed Clarkson from Hawthorn and someone like Franklin wanted to follow his coach across to the club he barracked for as a kid. Would cost us a bundle. Like Sylvia, Morton & our first 2 draft picks for Buddy & their 5th round pick maybe? Good chance that wouldn't even get it done though.

While I saw Garry last night and that was easily the most emotional I've ever seen him about the club I missed what happened with The Ox. What happened there?

Dallas Crane - Numb All Over

Our serious lack of on field leaderrship has got me thinking. Do we go to the drastic scenario of asking Junior to come back to the club as a player to give us some leadership? I know it sounds stupid but Essendon did it with Tim Watson and Paul Salmon and with a fair bit of success also. Granted they weren't as far back as us but it may well be worth considering??? I know Sydney did it with Lockett and it was a disaster but drastic times call for drastic measures. At this stage I'm looking for new coach, new captain and some more on field leaders, Junior coming back to the club I think should at least be considered. I'd even consider getting as drastic as trying to convince Brett Kirk to come out of retirement and play a season with us if it would help us!

I agree that there was no way that many changes were going to be made. It's just what I was hoping to see, CA basically saying enough is enough and we're not going to accept mediocrity anymore. Bailey while not the best batsman in the world I have no doubt could do a better job then what Ponting & Clarke have produced recently, and unlike Clarke, Bailey has actually shown he can leade a side. O'Keefe I agree with you, however I don't think we have any spinners who are good enough at the moment, although I'd back O'Keefe in over Beer every day of the week. Disagree about Marsh being better then Cowan sorry. Over the course of their careers Cowan's first class recrd is pretty much equal of Marsh's, however IMO Cowan is a more technically correct batsman which is what you want at the top of the order when facing the new ball. Siddle right now might be better then Pattinson, but in the long run Pattinson will be a lot better then Siddle and will benefit more from being played now. Siddle is a great battler and gives it his all but will never be a great bowler. As for Johnson until he can learn how to play with some form of consistency and get his head right I don't want to see him in the team. He can go a spend a year playing Shield & County cricket to learn how to do that as far as I'm concerned, don't want to see players coasting by on what they can produce once every 10 tests. (Yes I'm talking about you Michael Clarke!)