DeeSpencer

All week I've thought we'd do Petty back, T Mc out and Jeffo in. But now I'm thinking there's just no use throwing Jeffo to the Lions and Petty having a bag kicked on him. So I wouldn't change the talls, not when we're also down Salem, Bowey, Rivers and CJ and really scraping for half back depth. I'd go: Out: Melksham, Salem and if needed Lindsay (rest/inj) In: Henderson (if fit, otherwise Laurie), X Taylor and if needed AMW Jeffo and Kentfield both getting closer to coming in next week after another hit out in the real VFL game.

Can't be playing T Mc forward in the year of 2026. Mihocek is in the side to compete with Harris, he'll do as well as anyone if we can actually get the ball movement above terrible. Laurie (or Henderson) aren't long term answers but the team balance was wrong with Mihocek, JVR, Petty, Melksham and Fritsch in the same forward line. It led to a half forward rotation of Fritsch, Sharp and Latrell which is a pretty diabolical defensive trio and not guys you want coming up to stoppages, winning a crucial contested ground ball at half back or closing down space in the corridor.

We’re a lot more than one draft away. We’ve got 8 over 30 veterans in the side and maybe one replacement in Bowey for Salem on the list. Perhaps Taylor for Lever in time too. And hopefully one of the young key forwards come in to cover Melk or Mihocek. And we’ve got a bunch of young guys who clearly have something to offer but they aren’t Tracc, Oliver and Viney either. We can’t rely on Steele dominating every week or on Sparrow and Windsor to be prime movers. A pure mid would be very handy. If we don’t want to go too far backwards in years to come we’re going to need to find some quality bargain finds from somewhere. We can’t have Bailey Laurie as the only remotely viable midfielder at Casey.

Agree. Windsor’s been doing his role well but had a complete non factor day today. Moved out to the wing which didn’t help. Culley on ball didn’t help Culley either. Hard to say Langford is the answer given he looks half asleep on the wing. Kolt and Windsor swap but we saw Windsor half back last year and it wasn’t pretty. Kolt’s also doing some really good things down there (mixed in with some very bad) I like Chandler on ball but he’s vital at half forward. Not sure what the answer is.

Out: T Mc, Melksham, Salem (inj) In: Jeffo, Henderson/Laurie, Rivers/X Taylor Petty back, he doesn’t really solve our lack of skill or mobility from our key backs but hopefully we can get him in some form. JVR in to the back up ruck to get some hands on the footy. The mobile Jeffo to restore our forward line to some more run and skill. Jeffo leads up, which in turn helps JVR, Mihocek and Fritsch find space Hendo or Laurie across half forward. Just to run kms and hopefully have Sharp and Trell make more impact in lesser minutes/in a deeper flanker role. Hopefully Riv is in down back because otherwise we’re in trouble.

He can’t win a contested ball at half back, what’s he meant to do on ball?

Short break and 5 weeks in and our young players and veterans hit the wall isn’t a huge surprise. First time all year King got selection wrong and it wasn’t really his fault. Laurie had to go out. Fritsch had to come in. Nothing else was ready to go. But it shows why we can’t overload on talls and non defensive mediums and need to pick as many pressure and running types as we can (which isn’t many).

Multiple players refusing to pick up the footy. Similar to the Freo game. King needs to read the riot act on the difference between playing free and fundamentals

Most of them are trying. Melk finally gets the ball and plays in when there’s no one forward.

Get Melksham off, he’s a huge liability. Freshen him up for one last quarter burst

Van Rooted

Culley can’t get beat in behind whoever that guy was. That’s just lack of defensive attention

Dreadful last 10 minutes with Gawn in hero ball mode and plenty of others following his lead.

I’m 1000% out, can’t believe you guys tried to get me back in.

Something a tad more modern and also works with our current strategy of taking some risks and getting some publicity. Ghosty can do the banner - he can teach you, but he’ll have to charge!