DeeSpencer

Jed was just ok at Casey. The usual story when he’s in great position he can mark or spoil and use it well but the moment he’s out of position he’s a non factor. Yeah he has legspeed but he doesn’t have the footy smarts to put it to work. T Mc comes back in as perhaps our best tall defender and a decent rebounder (if volatile). Petty and Lever move up the ground where they have the footy smarts to make an impact. Sure they might give up some things with pace but they’ll intercept if we can get some pressure on. I’d imagine Petty rucks a fair bit too. The coaches should take the chance to throw Max forward a little to see if he can snag a goal.

A lot of cash. But likely very little to sell in terms of winning prospects. The best thing for us would probably be the Suns holding Humphrey at least one more year.

About as good as possible news for Disco, hopefully only misses 2. Also nice to see AJ progressing, although I'm confused why what was initially reported as a hamstring injury became a knee. Jeffo and Luker making progress too. No Melky on the injury report. Hopefully he's ok.

T Mc for Disco. Petty rucks a little more. Lever takes a few more spells on the pine so he can play with actual energy across half back. Paddy Cross for Langford. This one is controversial but I want Harvey getting 30 touches at Casey and developing his strength inside and marking game as a dominant on baller. He looks to have all the hallmarks of second year syndrome and we could keep playing him through it or give him the sharpen up now. Cross comes in deeper forward. Some more half forward and wing for Windsor. Kolt released from tagging to play half forward/wing. Some more on ball and wing for Culley. Rivers, Sparrow on ball more too. Open to the idea of Matthews or Henderson for Latrelle, but I might give Latrelle one more week and those other 2 need match fitness. But if he’s running straight at goal inside 50 and doesn’t kick a drop punt he’s going to Casey for 6 weeks.

Do you really want a repeat of the Bailey, Neeld mess? We’re bad enough organically for the kids who are ready to need games to get games. Anyone who’s putting their hand up at Casey and makes us better should be given a go. The more we stay competitive the better environment for player development.

That's my doubts with Trelly. Kozzie's first season he went weeks barely touching the ball and was often a little timid at the contest, but his pressure was undeniable. Trelly has a different build, is a different athlete who seems best suited to longer sprints and slippery agility than Kozzie style ballistic change of direction. Langdon and Harry Sharp are providing some version of that kind of high half forward player. For team balance we might be better off with Paddy Cross or if he's ready Tom Matthews who both have more crash and bash and lay tackle kind of games.

He’s not a pet hate, I like him, but he’s a developmental player with a heap of work to do even before missing an entire year. People see 30 touches and think he’s ready to be a consistent AFL player. Where are you seeing 0 turnovers? The afl app has everyone listed as 0 turnovers. Otherwise disposal efficiency means little for a half back who had 3 contested possessions and a stack of kickouts.

I'll give you speed and toughness with AMW, although he generally doesn't play near anyone. Which will fit right in to our current backline. Completely disagree about his ball use. Kicks a lovely drop punt that routinely goes straight to the opposition or to complete mismatches. I'd have him forward once he gets match fitness because I just don't see him ever defending or using it well enough to not be a liability down back and god knows we could do with someone with some speed and combative style in the forward line. Also think there's a chance Jack Henderson stays on if we get him back fit, he was ok given how much preseason he's missed. He's never going to be more than depth at AFL level but if there's a team that needs some half forward depth it's us. I had it confirmed he was injured in the Essendon AFL game last year and they mucked around trying to manage him through VFL games last year until they finally gave up on it.

I'd be happy to give Kolt a run through half forward and the wing and open up the on ball time for Culley and Langford to see if those guys can get their hands on the ball. Could even swap him to half back and promote Linsday to the wing if the game needs that.

I'd rather start without a tag, we need better defensive buy in across the board and we need the 3 on ballers we do have at any stage to be providing ball winning and attacking drive too.

Yep, Steele, Sparrow and Kolt have tackled in the midfield at the contest but K Pickett looks the only guy who can lay a tackle in space

That said, I think Lever is washed but I’m not sure T Mc back in makes any difference

Levers been much better since 1/4 time. The game plan is multiple zone defenders and less one on one. We need to see some actual midfield cover and forward pressure before we cast judgment on the deep part of the zone

Think we need to play a 3rd tall (ie. have one fit) which then moves him back in to the midfield more. But then how does he play higher with an already slow midfield?

Howes, Latrelle, Salem, Petty, Sharp would all be dropped if were dropping softies, and there’s not enough at Casey to cover any of them. Coach him through it