DeeSpencer

We don’t have the midfield depth to lose anyone yet alone Koz. But aside from that if he gets weeks it’s 2+ not 1.

Bad missed tackle on Charlie in the last playing half back but I actually really like what Windsor gives us at centre bounces and either around the ground stoppages. I think he gives great defensive cover to Steele and Pickett. He’s playing fairly low TOG most week (usually around 70%) so hopefully we aren’t overloading him.

3 talls was a good call especially Andrews, Gallop and Lester aren’t counter attacking players, so attempting to nullify Harris and take advantage of the other 2 was a good call. And Fritsch on the wing early was worth a look to buy some rotations and make sure we can still pressure up forward. I agree the second efforts and tackling aren’t natural to Jeffo but unlike JVR he has the light feet to do it. Mihocek is such a great role model because he does his absolute best to pressure, if Jeffo can give half the effort on the ground of Checkers he’ll make a big impact on the deck.

2 contested marks is the same as Roo, same as Logan Morris, 2 more than Oscar Allen and only 1 less than Harris Andrews (the best mark in the league). The talent is all there, just a matter of finding the belief and intensity. And he’s a gorgeous field kick and good decision maker. Biggest weakness is set shots, he can help fix some of that from going the snap more inside 35 but he’s too good a field kick to not sort it with the right coaching and mental work.

Footy police are trying to suspend Kozzie but let’s not hope that happens or we are in trouble. X Taylor is unlucky to get dropped but he was only picked because we’re down 5 half back flankers. His ball use, contest and ball winning weren’t ready to debut, and all things considered he fought really hard to make an impact. Some big tackles and he has the athleticism. But nothing wrong with sending him back to Casey to really earn a debut on form.

Out: Petty, X Taylor, Heath In: T Mc, CJ, Lindsay 5 day break and we need run, run, run to keep playing this style. Would love to get Lindsay back on the wing or can swap down with Langdon if that’s not helping.

The split was 28, 53, 17, 14. I suspect he was set to play 40% until the game was winnable and they decided to ride Max in the final quarter especially. I’d rather play another runner and keep Fritsch and Jeffo closer to goal. But it depends on how Max is feeling on the short back up.

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