DeeSpencer

One thing I noticed yesterday was with McVee for Hibbo, Hunter for JJ and Chandler for Fritsch we’re actually fairly short through the wings and flanks now. Especially when big bodied mids and flankers has been a core part of our plan for the last few years. With Rivers and Gus down back we still have some size but we’ll have to get the match ups right to not expose Bowey and McVee. Fritsch will give us more height up forward and with 3 talls we aren’t exactly short but it helps if more forwards can halve or win one on ones. The wing is the position where we seem to have gone from big mids to smaller runners and we just have to be sure to have a plan to make sure teams can’t exploit that.

It’s Harmes v Chandler for the last spot in the 22 right now if everyone gets through healthy the next 2 weeks. Not sure most of the young guys are pressing for spots yet but I’d like to see Woey played forward/mid in the VFL so he can push more. And for AMW to build fitness and form and get his defensive pressure more consistent. Even if Harmesy stuffs up a lot he has versatility and height which is why I’d still have him right in the frame. I don’t think a wing rotation of Langdon, Hunter and ANB is sustainable once a team rolls out a 190cm+ winger. Unless the back up plan is something like Gus and Hunter swap but then we’re short down back. Similarly the 4 small forwards in the same line up can work if Kos goes on ball and ANB in spurts to the wing but it just leaves us light on for contesting longer kicks to half forward. It’s up to Chandler to really nail that spot next week to show his skill is more important than the size and versatility of Harmes.

I don’t think it’s entirely fair to compare with a side like the Pies who are an all out attacking force. They hit up quality inside 50’s because they stream from half back and through the corridor. Do that and you’ll get open spaces to lead in to. Whilst we are clearly encouraging more risk and speed of ball movement from half back it’s not entirely how we want to pay. We’re happy to have slower build ups, to use the boundary more and to then attack in to a more crowded 50 that allows us to lock it in. I thought we showed an appropriate level of rebound and run from half back for the first game out. If we keep building on that we’ll get attacking looks inside 50

Are you upset that footy isn’t played like it’s 1994 any more or did you miss the number of times BBB and Tommy were hit or attempted to be hit on the lead inside 50? Hunter had 3 or 4 himself. Teams defend with all 18 and can’t leave someone in the square. They lead back in to that space on quick transition. It’s still a lead to the hot spot it just comes in reverse. With Grundy’s first game and no Fritsch I thought the hit up leads were fine. The lack of pressure after long kicks concerned me more.

In the ruck - yes. Although it takes Max out of his best position for longer. The trade off being we hit teams 2 different ways and get variety in the middle. Up forward - not yet. Today was not a true test but there were moments it didn’t look good. Start of the 2nd particularly and the 3rd. Grundy has a mountain of work to do on his marking - right now it’s just bad. And whilst Jacko never quite put it together as a forward he has a better leap at the ball and better ground level pressure. Today was more of a tick for the midfield and flankers and more of an incomplete grade for the talls at either end given Lever’s injury

Looked like cramp to me, think I saw him keep jogging to the bench. Sat next to Goody who gave him a pat on the back that looked more like good effort than bad luck.

He was consistently the deepest of the small backs often playing on Higgins. Obviously there’s a gap between Higgins and Charlie Cameron, but I sense the coaches will be keen to give McVee first crack on dangerous smalls. He didn’t exactly have a stack of one on ones but there was some contested ability on display.

Woey - played on ball, bursts forward whenever he gets it and used it safely. Tough++ Hibbo - too strong and smart for this level, but the legs don’t drive on rebound like they used to JVR - kicked a couple, didn’t dominate but solid after playing a half for the senior side AMW - looks fitter, stronger and really dangerous in traffic. If he’s even remotely fit enough for afl he’s good enough JJ - prolific on ball but not overly dangerous Disco - took some good marks, but didn’t use it as well as he can. Had an ankle checked at one stage, not sure he’s playing entirely to his best Verrell and KFW - both very promising, Verrell more ready as he times his leaps and has more ground ball skill. But KFW follows up and isn’t afraid of getting involved. Schache - moments of class but outbodied too often by Highmore and others Jeffo - just getting started but be clunked a couple and had a couple of nearly moments, didn’t find any easy kicks Laurie and Howes - both good and bad. Nice to see Laurie on ball. A lot of almost moments from Howes D Smith - didn’t see him much and didn’t think he did much with it either Sestan and K Turner - just getting stated

And it didn’t take long. Woey with a nice clearance

JVR had chances. Hibbo, Woey, JJ found plenty of it. VFL side kicking against the wind vs a AFL midfield. Should get some more looks this period.

They didn’t pay the boundary umps for the second half

Howes at half back is interesting. Forwards can’t halve a contest

Good start from K Turner too.

Gresham lol what’s Ross doing

We aren’t going to play 8 defenders unless one of them dominates this game so Riv will just be a rotation. Sparrow will continue playing good minutes, he was better than people think

I don’t think Cal was right, was working on the theory Humphrey is a very Melbourne player (and he is)

Phillipou is showing why I heard we offered the farm to get him. Dees recruiters not showing much emotion

JVR is 0-5 on winning contests but every single one of them has been a soft drop forward and a really hard chance to mark.

Saints definitely had the scoring end and we had Oliver at half back, plus a few ordinary turnovers. It’s not all effort

Schache, Hibbo, Verrell, Disco all warming up with the rest of the Casey squad.

Ground announcing saying 5Q’s to go. That would mean a full game for the Casey lads

If you aren’t seeing May drop his head and spill marks when going back with the flight way too often then you aren’t watching close enough

Pickett’s ball use has been poor. I get he’s keen to impress but he has to take better options and not try to reinvent the wheel

May has 3 weeks to stop [censored] himself under high kicks. That was awful.

Hunter, weighted in to the hot spot, timed up with Brown. Is that even allowed?