MadAsHell

With Joel Smith & Marty Hore both out with long term injuries as well as no obvious replacement for Bailey Fritsch available last week, our lack of depth at the moment seems to be in mid sized players. Those 186-190cm types who can are good in the air, but also good at ground level and are ideal 3rd tall options. Ideally we need someone who can play either end and can slot into our system seamlessly, whichis why I would nominate Mitch White at Casey. He's only 25, spent three years on our list previously, can play at either end and is about 188cm tall. Given he captain's Casey, we should be able to delist him at seasons end without issue also. My thoughts anyway.

IN: B. Brown, Fritsch, May, Weideman OUT: M. Brown, Jordan, Melksham, Petty FB: Lever, May, Salem HB: Hunt, Tomlinson, Hibberd C: McDonald, Petracca, Langdon HF: Neal-Bullen, Weideman, Spargo FF: Fritsch, B. Brown, Pickett FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney INT: Brayshaw, Jackson, Jones, Rivers SUB: Melksham McDonald to the wing and Jackson to play as part of the midfield rotation and forward if Brown, Weideman or Fritsch ever come off. Jones and Melksham to start rotating the sub role each week.

So was watching the Knicks play the Grizzlies this morning on the NBA app and were getting soundly beaten so I took to Demonland and saw that today's match was on. So at half time in the NBA, I turned it off and took the drive from the Golden Mile in Frankston to a cold, wet and windy Casey to watch a winning team. Thankfully we got there in the end, despite a few concerns along the way with certain elements (skill errors were a killer!). But here is my break down of what I thought of our players. 12. Toby Bedford: Showed a bit today, especially in the 2nd half and was a factor in us wrestling back control from Williamstown. Kicked a nice goal, provided plenty of forward pressure and also gave us some run when we were lacking it for a good quarter and a half in the middle part of the game. 14. Michael Hibberd: Probably our best and most consistent player across the 4 quarters. Used the ball well, spoilt strongly and was safe as houses one on one while generating drive from defense. I can't see anyway he can stay out of the seniors any longer. One of Jetta, Hunt or Rivers will have to make way. 16. Bailey Laurie: Started the game quite lively and also kicked the opening goal of the match. I also thought he showed a bit in the 3rd term when Willy were getting on top. But I barely noticed him in the 2nd or 4th terms. Maybe he got more of it on the other side of the field to where I was? But what I did see I thought looked promising. 17. Jake Bowey: Played in defense and early on I wasn't overly impressed. Fumbled a bit, ran over the ball a few times and got pushed off the contest a little too easily as well. However he was always cracking in and getting involved in the game. So much that after half time I thought he was arguably our best and a big part of why we won. The mistakes dried up and he looked a lot more assured of himself. After what was a nervous start, I thought Jake showed a lot of maturity in his performance. 19. Fraser Rosman: Couple of mistakes here and there, but overall I thought it was a pretty solid game from Fraser. He showed his running ability and used the ball pretty well. I thought he really lifted in the last term also. Probably only had about 14 touches, but I reckon at least half would have been in the final term. 22. Aaron Vandenberg: Classic Vanders game today. Tough in the contest, won plenty of the ball, but some coach killer skill errors also. I think when it comes to Vanders you just need to take the bad with the good, but there's a lot worse midfield depth options then this guy should we need him. 26. Sam Weideman: Had a shocker. Couldn't get near the ball, couldn't seem to time or fly for his Mark's and I think only had one kick which went nowhere. Got pulled halfwaythrough the 3rd and I think you can lock him in at FF for Round 1 of the VFL next week. 28. Majak Daw: He played a good game and got better as it went. Mainly shared ruck duties 50% with Bradtke, but also played sometime forward in the final term where he kicked a goal. Outside of the ruck contests early he seemed to struggle getting involved in general play, though at least his tap work was very good. However after halftime, he seemed to improve there and started taking more marks around the ground. Based on today's game, it wouldn't shock me to see him play seniors at some point this year. 33. Oskar Baker: I thought he was one of our best players in the first quarter and a half, but then he really seemed to drift out of the game and his early run disappeared. Not sure if Willy deployed a tagger (I didn't notice one) or if he only touched the ball on the other side of the ground? But that was just how I saw his game. 34. Deakyn Smith: First time I've seen him play and I really liked the look of this kid. Has some toe, spoils well and has a touch of class how he goes about it. Needs to tidy up a couple of little things, but I was really impressed. Between this kid, Bowey and Rivers we don't have anything to worry about with Jetta and Hibberd getting older. 35. Harrison Petty: Safe as houses in defense. Was looking strong and marking everything in the first half. Was then pulled, likely so he can be the sub. I really like Petty, but I fear whether we can hold onto him given our current tall stocks. Don't want another Matthew Bishop scenario! 37. Kade Chandler: Played a solid game without starring. Didn't trouble the scoreboard, but he seemed to rotate between half forward and midfield. I think his development is coming along pretty good. 38. Mitch Brown: Looked really good in the first quarter, then disappeared for two whole quarters, but then stood up in the final term with some telling marks and booting another 2 goals to finish with 3 for the game. Smoky to win the goal kicking award in the VFL this season maybe? 41. Jay Lockhart: After Hibberd, I thought Lockhart was our next best. Made a couple more mistakes, but he defended really well and provided plenty of run from our backline. No doubt he'll find his way back into the seniors at some point. 44. Joel Smith: Very solid game from Smith. Really had to Marshall the backline after Petty went off, but he did this without much issue. Don't recall him being beaten in a one on one and you can see there's plenty of talent there. Just don't know if he'll ever fully realize that talent? 46. Angus Bradtke: The good news is I think his ruck craft has come a long way. A lot of the taps he got I thought were very well directed. The bad news is he was physically bullied by the Williamstown ruck and he still doesn't do much around the ground. Not sure he'll make it? 50. Ben Brown: He'll play next week. Could have had 3 goals in the first term, but one hit the post and another that was online fell short (misread the breeze). Took some very good marks and got his hands to a lot of contests. Didn't get as much of it in the 2nd term, though Casey barely got it forward to center then. So a most encouraging performance. And a few Casey players. James Munro: As consistent as ever. Got plenty of it and was more than handy. Mitch White: Has turned into a very good VFL player. Kicked 2 goals, but spent time forward and back. Never realized how good his hands were when he was on our list. Zac Foot: The big signing coming from Sydney Swans. I didn't notice him once in the first half. But he worked his way into the game in the 2nd half playing in the forward line a nd kicked a goal. Freeman: Not 100% sure of his first name, but I thought this kid looked really good. Probably the most consistent for providing run through the middle (more than Baker or Rosman) and could be one to keep an eye on. So while there were concerns with basic skill errors, Weideman not getting near it, getting outmarked in the 2nd term despite having both Brown's, Weideman, Daw and Petty on the field and nearly losing to an ameature team despite us having 17 AFL players, there were certainly positive. Outside of what I've already listed above as individual positive, Williamstown are a very strong and well ran VFL club. Plus once again we were headed and got the game back on our terms. Winning when kicking into a strong breeze in the final quarter when only having a 2 point lead. Our brand seems to be an ability to absorb hits and then re-assert the way we want to play the game. And as far as brands go, I could think of a few worse... Edit: Oh and on a final note, I found out the Knicks ended up winning after all!? READ BAGHDAD BOB'S REPORT HERE READ PICKET FENCE'S REPORT HERE READ ROY BOY'S REPORT HERE

A win is a win is a win. I'll provide my view on our players a little later once I get home.

Weideman now also doing laps.

Brown now running the boundary at half time.

Yes, I have discovered that since my post!? Haven't been to Casey since early 2019, so when they weren't where they used to be I conceded defeat without looking elsewhere.

Made a last minute decision to head along today and got here just as the match started. Two big things already stand out so far. 1. Shattered no bar or bacon and egg rolls for the practice match! 2. Ben Brown must play next week. Get him in!

Carlton with a case of the CBF's for the Pratt trophy presentation.

From a soft free.

Also Collingwood surely have someone else they could try at FF ahead of Cox! How he keeps getting a game is unbelievable.

Agree with this. Enjoyable game to watch, but both these clubs have significant issues and I don't have either in my top 8.

Yeah there's a massive aquatic center (Casey Race) a few hundred meters down the road which the club has used in the past. Athletics track next door as well. Think they're certainly going to be set there at least until the vaccine hits next year.

Didn't expect Jordan to be demoted. In all honesty I feel he's a chance to have a break out year next year if he were given a chance on the other wing. Still he's on the list, so has every chance!

Yes for me. Slots onto the wing and he can mentor the likes of Oskar Baker or James Jordan to play the role in the near future.

Well in the initial press release they thanked the Steven Marshall state government. But then upon realization that South Australia weren't contributing anything they decided to amend it.

Matthew Parker takes my interest the most out of those available at the moment.

Agree with 58er here, I would certainly have Petty ahead of McDonald for our tall defender coverage. Personally the fact we couldn't move Tom on makes me think we'll have to pull the pin on Mitch Brown. Even though he played some solid football, I just think he's the one that will have to make way and will be delisted with Oscar. Tom will be tall forward depth, but could also become a handy utility at a pinch.

Reckon if Andrew Phillips gets delisted we'll pick him up, but that could be about it. Go to the draft with Picks 18, 19 and 28 and 1 live pick in the rookie draft. Though if we can package two of our first three National Picks together for a higher pick then we'll do that and take two rookies instead.

So I know we still have the draft and DFA period to go. But I feel we're far enough along to make some predictions in this spot now. FB: Lever, May, (one of Jetta, Lockhart, Chandler) HB: Hibberd, Tomlinson, Salem C: Langdon, Petracca, Fritsch - move to a wing HF: Melksham, Weideman, Harmes FF: Hunt, B. Brown, Pickett FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney INT: Brayshaw, Jackson, Rivers, 22nd man* *22nd spot is a hard one to decide who should get it. Would love to see Jones given 6 opportunities here, maybe try some of the kids like Sparrow, Jordan, Baker, Spargo or one of this years draft picks pending the opponent we're up against. And maybe if we're up against a tall opponents Petty or Tom McDonald could get a game.

In theory we should be able to cover the small forward issue with Spargo and Bedford as well as Chandler there. Fair concern about the wing though. I share them!

We had 6 Category A rookies Bennell, C. Wagner, Dunkley, Brown, Chandler and Lockhart plus one Category B Rookie, Bradtke. My reading is that we will be able to keep our senior list at 38, reduce our Category A rookies to 4 instead of 6 and keep Bradtke as 1 of a maximum two Category B rookies (previously 3).

So I reckon we might package 19 & 28 and offer them to Freo for Picks 12 & a future 3rd rounder maybe? Pick 12 might be high enough for us to get MacRae.

Have you looked at our list recently? If we don't need half backs, why on earth were we trying to reinvent Harmes as a half back this year? We have Salem & Rivers who can hold spots down for some time, though they may eventually want Rivers to move to a wing. Hibberd and Jetta are both the wrong side of 30 and that leaves us with either unproven or NQR options like Lockhart, Hore and Smith. Oh and as for disposal, since 2016 Williams lowest disposal efficiency in any season is 71%, a mark Lockhart is yet to hit in his two seasons.

In all honesty I haven't seen it anywhere outside of this site. I mentioned him after he was delisted and have seen one or two other posters mention his name in whispers. But he does make sense IMO. Seasoned 27 year old small defender/HB with a bit of pace and good kicking skills. Kind of what we need.