Everything posted by DeeSpencer
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
We got vintage Tommy Mc and Jackson’s best forward work but we did go 6-0 with Fritsch as the second tall to start 2021. Not like it’s never worked. Heck we beat Sydney this year with 1 ruck and BBB subbed off for Melk and a smaller line up. Again, not saying it’s the perfect outcome for Fritsch but if Toby Greene or Ollie Henry or some other medium gun suddenly turned up we could go smaller. Fritsch would lose a few contests but win plenty on the deck or on the lead against a key defender too. We’ve been flexible in trying to solve it this year. Petty forward, Schache a run, trying to get the last drop from Melk. I doubt it will work but Joel Smith just about has to be next in line. It’s all hands (and shapes and sizes) on deck.
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
I’m thinking more just little improvements without completely changing his game style. More to do with beating his direct opponent and halving a contest than the idea he’ll ever be a physical presence.
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
It’s definite a concern and I don’t think having a variety of options - whilst important for health - really means we have a solution. Fritsch and Gawn means we don’t need consistent 60+ goal kickers, but we need a pair of talls who can bob up and kick 2 or 3 when it’s their week. Just as JVR did against Richmond. There’s 2 big issues; 1. At least one of those guys is likely 30+ and not healthy in BBB, McDonald or even Melk OR is JVR who’s a kid. 2. There’s every chance one of them is Petty who is probably still a vital part of our backline if we could spare him. If JVR was 23 and Petty wasn’t our premiership CHB I’d actually be ok with them as a combination. They have the right traits.
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
I wouldn’t say he’s soft or not a competitor but the reality is Fritsch is still below what he could be as player when the ball is in dispute on the ground or defensively. And if he could add more crash and bash he could play as the second key forward, allowing us to use another medium rather than hunt for 2 big keys. But we aren’t exactly loaded with medium options either. I also think he could and should be used in short bursts on the wing to round out his game and give us a different attacking path. But that’s even more of an aside. Either way, Jefferson is definitely low intensity but there have been some signs with his tackling and pack marking efforts that he’s working on it. For the first year you just want to see a players strengths look like strengths. I’ve seen enough to say Jeffo’s class is absolutely as advertised.
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Andrew Dillon is the Next AFL CEO
Concussions are the big challenge, and my guess is the AFL Commission wanted someone fresh with no legal entanglement in the concussion history. A woman would’ve been nice as well as the league attempts to sell itself as the worlds most holier than thou diversity organisation. That said, Goyder has kept Alan Joyce around for years at Qantas so he clearly doesn’t mind selling out employees for profits. Maybe they’ve checked Dills legal letters and found no huge red flags on the concussion front. 20 teams will be a challenge, might require a fall guy as head of footy to move teams to 16 a side. AFLW being an over bloated mess with far too many teams for the skill level or interest isn’t a fun thing to deal with. But the broadcast money is locked in for now and there’s no team that really at imminent risk like the 90’s. ALP Governments across the country are mad for AFL footy (apart from funding our clubs redevelopment). And the only Coalition government just paid up for Tassie. The job is to negotiate a new TV deal every 5 or so years, a new CBA when that occurs and to get a new stadium once a decade. Plus as many club and ‘community’ facilities. Then to spin to fans that you’re on their side whilst slowly pushing the game as more and more of a tv product. You need someone who connects with politicians on both sides of the aisle and media execs. Somehow AFL execs have framed this as far more difficult than managing businesses that deal with fickle consumers, complex supply chains or products and very competitive markets. But I guess the money is for a lot of fans hating you and the risk of what happens if you stuff the job up.
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
He had a very good first season and looks stronger and even more capable on a wing in his first 2 games back this year. Played more on ball today and forward for a couple of goals. It's unlikely he's ever going to be a star and his kicking needs work but he's pretty similar to a young Eddie Langdon and I imagine he'll be seen as very solid wing depth. I'd be pretty confident he'll get a contract based on merit but also because we'll be pretty keen to keep our little WA squad from that draft year.
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
Our forwards kept getting called for holding in one on one contests which is baffling and not something you see all that often
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
Tommy does some good things but then refuses to use first options. He had his man turned around there. Had smith on his outside, not hard to tap it on or flick it up. Yet he tries to go down and fend around or whatever it is. And he does it consistently. If he took simple options every time he got it he’d start playing with more confidence. Has to be moved to the backline to get more easy ball IMO. A few weeks down back will help his form more than battling away at half forward
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
I don’t mean to be unkind but is Jefferson’s kyphosis getting more pronounced? Hunchback of Notre-Demon
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
The score line is flattering Casey who are getting well and truly beaten in the middle and struggling to hold the ball forward. Joel Smith has been the stand out with his ability to lead up and mark and his forward pressure. Harmes is trying to get in to it but has been very fumbly. Laurie has had a number of excellent tap ons and baulks but hasn’t found the space or enough if the ball to really cause damage.
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
Melksham my lord. Incredible
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CASEY: Rd 06 vs Box Hill Hawks
The chase down tackle earlier then the mark and goal, please don’t tease me like that Joel Smith
- POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
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Underground handballs
Prime Lachie Hunter was absolutely a line breaker. Could still be if we gave him the ball first option when he was in space - not by leg speed but by the speed of his brain creating overlap by switching from defence to attack. We make life very hard for him by mucking around with it before it gets to him when his space is closed. But the reality is he’s not getting the ball in space, not trusting himself to kick more than 30 on the run and is now a defensive positioning, slow safe kicks and handball player. That’s still useful, but isn’t a complete wingman at all. He’s providing little more than what JJ did last year and the attacking spark he gave us in preseason isn’t there. He hasn’t had many actually effective kicks in weeks. Not the Champion Data version but the real version. Quick, accurate, corridor or zone breaking.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
Because his intensity to start the Eagles game was absolutely awful. And we could’ve beat them with 16 on the field so I suggested (not seriously) that Goodwin sub him off and let someone else have a go. The poor intensity for most of the team in the Eagles game was reflected by getting our pants pulled down by the Bombers. Last night we were on from the start. If that wasn’t a reflection of Goodwin not wanting a repeat of the Eagles game I’d be shocked.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
Cross (great to see him running for the Roos last night), Vince, Dommy Tyson and others Roosy got just about spot on. Missed on Lumumba. Lewis was a Goodwin decision and Goody was far too enamoured with the Hawks resume and not the player he was by 2016. He thought Lewis was going to show Oliver, Petracca and so on the ropes. All he showed them was shirking contests and giving away 50m penalties was acceptable. Took until 20/21 for our guys to find their own path. Clarko tipped out legends and bought in big ticket flops, had to balance the staged exits of the veterans with draft picks or true A graders the way Geelong have. Sam Mitchell’s possibly cut it too thin now but that’s a different argument, I watch the Hawks young mids and think he’s actually almost got it right.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
I’m a big Spargo fan but are we sure it’s zero? Not even 10%? To me it’s very simple, JJ or Spargo, and whilst overwhelmingly the evidence is for Spargo we get a 3rd winger, 5th on baller and a big bodied hard working flanker with JJ. Chandler and Pickett get to stay closer to goal. Tracc plays forward more. Hunter and Langdon get more rest. We get more prime beef around the footy. Spargo is super valuable for his inside 50’s and he’s a major zone organiser and generally just super switched on with positioning. He’ll find his way back to the 22 quickly, but a week at Casey could sharpen him up coming back from injury. I wouldn’t be against it. Has to be considered.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
Pretty sure I was almost immediately on board with T Mc as a forward in 17 and 18. Was more than happy trading Hogan because Tom was an excellent CHF for a while there. Not a fan of anything he’s done since outside a brief patch of form to start 2021. Lewis, best thing he did was retire. Set our standards of accountability, attack on the contest and leadership back 3 years. I’m aware of Gus’ role and I’ve said he’s a very decent interceptor. But he’s not a good back flanker and I’ve said Lever and Gus were playing the same role last year for disastrous results. Interestingly they’ve made Lever the second tall and used Hibbo to recalibrate the skill, run/carry and defensive manning balance down back. I just don’t value playing spare across half back unless you’re winning a lot of intercepts (peak Lever) against quality opposition and/or using the ball with speed and precision. And I think it’s a role that requires leg speed and change of direction to drive up at the contest too, rather than always being over the back.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
I disagree. If you think a guy has a genuine chance of being best 22 then you have to stick by them. But if you think you’re bringing someone in just for a look then it’s ok to send them back down. People may point to someone like Chandler last year but I don’t think his VFL performances really showed a guy who was 100% ready. Not until the VFL finals which where a strong statement for him. His contested work and ball use improved in the finals and he’s bought that to the top level this year. Laurie isn’t physically ready, any taste of AFL he gets this year is a bonus. Schache, he’s been improving at Casey and he’s physically mature but I still don’t see a guy at Casey who’s completely stamping himself as an AFL player. That was franked last night, now he knows he has to do even more at Casey. Lever said post game how much Schache has improved his contested work. He’s on a journey to where it needs to be, it’s not going to improve by more AFL games until he’s really earning them.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
Played half back flank in a 100 point win against the worst collection of forward flankers you’ll ever see. You’d get 30 touches just for turning up. Probably shook hands with Turner and Tucker at the start of the game and sat back and waited for them to kick it to him. 3 score involvements, 4 pressure acts and 320m gained from 14 kicks. Not a high intensity or damaging performance. That said, he won his share of excellent contests and used the ball well, if most safely, just as he did last week when I gave him praise for a good game against a pretty decent side. But his challenge will come when he’s matched up against speedy or strong half forwards that good sides have. I’m still predicting he’ll move back to the wing if Salem can get up and going because there’s a wing spot that’s looking more open by the week.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
If you don’t go fairly long and direct against any team and especially a side like the Pies they’ll have folded 15 behind the ball and then you’re in trouble too. I thought the first half was about the perfect balance last night. Forwards were getting deep and opening up space. Mids and backs were running and then using the half forwards and corridor. Tracc, Nibbler, Pickett and Chandler were all buzzing up around half forward and getting it to leading targets.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
Brown’s final series in 2021 was supremely underrated with his contested work. Can he get form and fitness to do it again? I still think he can but it will be a matter of timing his run. And ideally having a CHF ahead of him to limit his kms. Gawn and Petty are the best CHF options. The rest of our talls aren’t remotely reliable in the contest at this stage. BBB can’t get to enough contests. Schache would make a decent lead up target but we consistently ask our key forwards to get deep or long down the line. We aren’t a lead up side.
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POSTGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
Very professional effort on a short break. Flashes of excellent ball movement and mostly the right tempo. The most pleasing part was the unselfish work of our forwards. Fritsch and Pickett clearly got the message after some of their efforts last year and it’s great to see it spread through the side.
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POSTGAME: Rd 06 vs Richmond
There’s rules and interpretations and for a long time now spoiling the ball out has been allowed in marking contests but if it’s not a marking contest you have to show sufficient intent to keep the ball in. Also ‘the what other option’ is nonsense. These are highly skilled athletes. Gus had the option of punching it forward or to the corridor. He could’ve taken possession. He could’ve not touched it at all. He punched a bouncing ball straight over the line. That might make the video for insufficient intent. It’s clear cut. Its not even a bad play by Gus. We concede possession but have time to set numbers back rather than getting caught on the back flank. It’s not nearly as much of an issue as several of the frees paid.
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PREGAME: Rd 07 vs North Melbourne
I’m not against giving Schache a go but he was primarily recruited because he can be the back up ruck. I’m sure he would’ve played against the Swans when Gawn was out. He does make some sense at CHF with JVR more FF. Although if BBB is right he probably gets the nod, just not sure what to make of his Casey game. That’s all assuming Petty is needed back or to have a rest. I’m inclined to rest him but the club might not be. Turner for Hibbo still seems the most sensible tall change. And at least one fresh runner seems necessary.