MadAsHell

Cook definatly has the makeup to turn into the hulking monster (David Neitz type) FF that we're after IMO, whether or not he does, time will tell. As for Fitzpatrick I see him more of a Paddy Ryder/Justin Longmuire type forwar/ruck. More of a lead up player who can use their pace rather then the hulking type. As his upper body strength improves though I'm more then confident he'd be able to hold his own in pack mark situations. He's listed as being a 'test' with his ankle for this week so fingers crossed he plays for Casey reserves. Give it a couple of weeks and he'll be back in the Casey seniors very quickly IMO. Although having said that with Casey having Fevola, Dunn, Bate, Cook, Gawn and Campbell all available also it'll be difficult to get in. Starting to see the issues of Fevola being a Casey listed player.

I saw one of his first games for the year with Casey reserves v Frankston reserves earlier on. He kicked 6 but could have easily been 8 or 9, was a class above that level. Was called into the Casey seniors the following week where he kicked an early goal before he got injured in that openning term. I'm a really big wrap for Jack and reckon he and Cook will be battling it out for our FF position in the next 2 years.

IN: MacDonald, Tapscott OUT: Bennell, Morton If we weren't playing in Darwin Jurrah would be added to that list also.

6. Petterd 5. Watts 4. Trengove 3. Frawley 2. McKenzie 1. Nicholson I thought Gysberts was ok in the first half also and that's about it!

I reckon Morton will go to Gia, he might be of some use in a lock down role. I'm really excited about Sam's debut tonight. It's time to unleash the Blease!

Say we stay 9th by the end of the season and no one uses any compensation picks in the draft this year, that would leave our 2nd round pick at 36. Bate still seems to have some sort of currency (in the media anyway). I would have thought maybe Bate plus pick 36 and maybe some swapping of other picks could get us close. Otherwise I don't think we have any SA players that want to go home.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/116833/default.aspx Out of contract at the end of the season and considering returning home. He could be our gorilla type defender at his height & weight, 197cm & 97kg. Maybe a Bate or Dunn plus a 2nd round pick may get it done?

IN: Gysberts, Jamar OUT: Bartram, Gawn FB: Garland, Farwley, Nicholson HB: MacDonald, Rivers, Strauss C: Trengove, McKenzie, Jones HF: Petterd, Watts, Green FF: Howe, Martin, Jurrah FOLL: Jamar, Moloney, Scully INT: Gysberts, Morton, Sylvia SUB: Bennell EMERG: Bartram, Gawn, Maric Bartram plays if Garland fails to get up. Gawn plays if Jamar fails to get up. And Maric plays if Green fails to get up.

Have to give Joel credit, I thought he was gone at the start of the year but he's been fantastic. Grimes getting injured has given Joel the opportunity he's needed. Playing himself into a contract extention at the moment.

I agree, either Nicholson or Bail will have Bartram dislodged from this role by the end of the season IMO, long term Bartram's not an option for us because of his poor disposal, just like Warnock. Both Dunn and Bate are contracted for next year, they'd have to be traded.

6. Scully 5. Watts 4. Green 3. McKenzie 2. Martin 1. Gawn - something happened every time he went near it. * Appologise to Howe and Nicholson who both had great games, Moloney could have easily got in there also.

I don't have any issue if the club offers Scully the 2.7 or 2.8 million over 4 years, as long as Scully never expects a wage increase in future contracts with the club unless the salary cap is significantly increased.

Gawn had 8 possessions, 1 mark, 23 hit outs and 4 tackles on monday playing as our 2nd ruck, not bad for a 2nd gamer in my opinion, especially when Hille was playing as Essendon's 1st ruck. Got to agree with that, have to love the principal making his son school sports prefect after the crash incident. Didn't mind his sister Stef though!

As mentioned Campbell had been injured and has now only had 2 games back with Casey. Gave Casey's midfield an armchair ride against Collingwood on Saturday. As for your question as to why he hasn't played ahaead of Gawn? Even if he was fit we couldn't of played him. Newton was our designated rookie promotion at the start of the season and Evans and Nicholson were elevated for Grimes & Spencers injuries, as Campbell's still on the rookie list, and was still injured when Grimes & Spencer went down we can't play him unless there's another long term injury. I agree Hille's a decent player, but personally I don't like him and don't think he fits any needs that we have. Edit: Missed a word in last sentence.

First of all I went to school with David Hille and can't stand the guy and would be shattered if he ended up at Melbourne. Secondly I'd suggest we do have good cover for Jamar, if Campbell's given another year on the rookie list, plus another pre-season into the likes of Martin, Gawn, Fitzpatrick and Spencer I'm really starting to like the look of our ruck depth personally. I'd be more on the look out for either a pacy midfielder or a key position forward if I was to be trading for anyone.

I went with Beamer. Longer term I'm liking either Trengove or Grimes, but think it's still a little early for either of them. I'd like the 2012 leadership group to be Moloney, Grimes, Trengove, Scully, Jones, Rivers. Moloney captain for 2 or 3 years (Sam Mitchell like) and then we should have a really good field of potential leaders to pick from after that.

Appologise for my flipant respose DC, been a long day. Point I want to make is that it's no sure thing that a proven coach in Malthouse will equal on field success, and may just cost us money in the long run. However as another poster mentioned Carlton were on a downward slide when Pagan came in and with draft restrictions. Personally if Bailey can equal what he did last year 8.5 wins or better I'd be willing to give him a 1 year extention with a simple finals must scenario going into 2012. If he managed to get us into the finals this year then he'd be looking at a 2+ contract. 4.5 wins already this year, he needs at least 4 more in the last 11 for me to be happy for him to stay beyond this year. Edit: Spelling

Dennis Pagan and the Carlton Football Club say hi.

Shattered that he got injured. I saw his 2nd game for the year (Casey Reserves v Frankston Reserves) where he absolutely dominated. Kicked 6 but could have easily had 8 or 9, was clearly a cut above that level. Then for his first game with Casey seniors against Northern Bullants after kicking an early goal he got injured. Has amazing mobility for such a big bloke. I've got really high hopes for him. Green's an interesting one. Ideally his best role would be Jurrah's or Howe's roles, he's to small for CHF or FF, and I don't think the defensive forward role is the best role for the captain to play. As for the small forward role do we designate that role to Jurrah and ask him to play the roving role allowing Green to play deep in the other pocket? With Wonna, Maric & Jetta all struggling to make that spot their own do we trial a medium sized forward there instead??? Either way, long term Green wont be there and with him out of contract at seasons end and struggling for form he may not be there beyond this year?

I'd be keen to go HF: Howe, Watts, Petterd FF: Jurrah, Cook, Wonna Howe and Watts I'd look to play higher, Watts for his delivery into the forward 50 and his ability to blow his opponent up through out a match (ala Nick Riewoldt) which I think Watts will develop. Howe also I'd like up higher for his mobility, marking and tackling pressure that he can bring also. Petterd I'd put on the oppositions most damaging half back, like a Heath Shaw or Chris Yarran. Try and take them away from the play but also have the ability to hurt them in our attacking 50 with his over head abilities. I like Cook deep. From what I've seen of him at Casey he's a great one grab mark and kick at goal. Looks like a young Dvid Neitz to me, although I don't want to get ahead of myself. Wonna is the perfect crumbing forward, just get front and square of Cook's contests, hopefully he comes back at his best, Maric could still be an option for this role also, same with Jetta. Then the Jurracaine is the perfect mid sized forward to cap it all off. Dangerous in the air and deadly on the ground, he can play both Cook, and Wonna's roles, and close to goal is where he'll be most dangerous. As for Jamar I'm happy for him to be rucking the whole time he's on the ground. Martin can play down back as our gorilla keeper but also chop out in the ruck when Russian needs a rest, with Rivers, Frawley & Garland all playing, they'll be able to cover Martin's ruck stints when needed. Also look out for Jack Fitzpatrick to play deep forward also whenever a Watts, Cook, Jurrah or Howe is to miss. Fitzpatrick will be able to ultinate between deep forward and ruck with Jamar while others push up higher, allowing Martin to stay permanatly in defence for those games. Edit: Spelling of Jurrah.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If you think we got it wrong in 2008 you must have nightmares about our draft in 2001. Our picks went 9. Luke Molan 25. Steven Armstrong 26. Aaron Rogers 55. Brad Miller & 70. Pass When other players who went just after those picks were 13. Nick Dal Santo 36. Sam Mitchell 37. Leigh Montagna 58. Dane Swan & 71. Brian Lake End of the day you never know how the players are going to turn out, from 2000 to the 2005 draft inclusive we didn't have a lot of success, however since then we've had our fair share of good selections in the draft IMO.

Agree about Jamar, if he isn't fit then Gawn holds his spot for sure. Jurrah I agree also, however I've heard a few people in other posts suggest he may be playing injued. If so give him a rest I say, otherwise I'd keep him in for the reasons you've given. Maric, possibly lucky to get a gig, but at the same time was probably a bit unlucky to get dropped. With no Wonna or Jetta someone has to play the role of the crumbing forward. Tapscott if fit I'd bring straight back no hesitation, his kicking and physicality will be a much needed boost, but if he's not right then I'd give him another week. Bartram, I love his competativeness and tenacity. However similar to Warnock I think his disposal hurts us, I'd like to see Nicholson given an opportunity in Bartram's role. As for Dunn he'll need to do what he did on saturday at least another 3 or 4 times to get a recall. With Howe's early form coupled with Cook coming along nicely, I have Dunn a little down the pecking order, ahead of Bate but behind a few others at this stage anyway.

IN: Garland, Jamar, Maric, Nicholson, Petterd, Tapscott OUT: Bartram (inj), Jetta (inj), Jurrah (inj/rest), Bennell, Evans, Gawn FB: Garland, Frawley, Nicholson HB: Morton, Rivers, Strauss C: Trengove, McKenzie, Jones HF: Howe, Watts, Green FF: Martin, Petterd, Maric FOLL: Jamar, Moloney, Scully INT: Gysberts, Sylvia, Tapscott SUB: MacDonald EMERG: Bennell, Cook, Gawn

Thanks for the summary SS.

But in all seriousness Jesse White is someone who I reckon we should take a look at. Possibly even a Scott Gumbleton if our medical staff are confident they could get his body right? But onto the main point of this thread sorry. I was impressed woth Howe again. One of only about 5 or 6 players who I thought could hold their heads high. Hopefully we see him play the majority of this season in the seniors. I'd be keen for him to play VFL finals also though. Edit: Thought I should mention Howe.