DeeSpencer

Petty was very good in preseason and I thought very solid against the Dogs and one of the best forwards in the game in Naughton. Everything went wrong last week, but it's 1 week. So I'm not buying the idea he's struggling. Nor do I suddenly have a great opinion on Tomlinson who did a great job v Rory Lobb but didn't set the world on fire last week IMO. That said, our key forwards didn't fill me with confidence even with Gawn/Grundy helping out. BBB is in decent nick but chances are he'll have rough patches through the year. Tommy Mc is battling away. JVR hopefully gets his chance this week but his Casey game wasn't all that flash. His best period was late in the game when he got an extended run in the ruck. We'll know more after Sundays game but I still think Petty forward has to be a genuine consideration if things don't stabilise over the next few weeks.

Goodwin did what he thought was the right thing by not faking a sub. Of course Geelong had no such issues a year later and now the rule has changed. But JJ was a valued member of that side, he has nothing to worry about.

Grand Prix crowd might be 130,000 people. Let’s say 50% of them are footy fans, and 10% of that number are Melb or Swans fans. Suddenly you’ve lost 6,500 from the Sunday crowd. Not to mention people will choose to stay home so they have 2 screens going. Its a stitch up of a fixture.

The impact on Gawn I’m most worried about is when he goes to CHF and provides a magnet for quick long kicks. We should be able to cover him in the ruck and it’s about time our backline stood up without him too. The point I’m making is I think it’s a ‘must play well’ and I want to see our system hold up. If we come up a few goals short but play the right well I won’t be too worried because we’re missing a couple and it’s April. If we play stodgy defensive [censored] and fall short I’ll be worried nothing has changed from last year.

I don’t 100% agree because I think Gawn and Pickett are 2 huge inclusions that both make us a lot better and help us play the way we want to play. That said, Sydney move it fast and spread teams out. If we look completely incapable of defending against that style of play as we did at times late last year it’s a bad sign. We also have to be able, or at least willing, to take the game on and move the ball. Funnily enough if we flame out playing the right way I’ll be more confident about our future than if we grind out a narrow loss.

Was emergency last week and took 8 marks and consistently hit up well at Casey. It’s unlikely but the point remains we need athleticism in the front half and JVR will have his plate full if he’s in the ruck even 5 mins a quarter

The little plane is a nice touch, the rest is gimmicky rubbish really.

I hope we slide this one in under the radar but geez he really is incredibly stupid. Exhausting all your demerits takes a decent run of bad driving, especially when you're an AFL player who only has to get to training on time and one game a week. Maybe this is a case against Casey! The silver lining is he can split the ubers with Lachie Hunter.

FB: Hibberd May McVee HB: Bowey Petty Lever C; Brayshaw Oliver Hunter HF: Langdon J. Smith ANB FF: Fritsch Brown Chandler Foll: Grundy Petracca Sparrow Int: Rivers, Viney, JVR, Spargo S: Harmes Do I except Tommy Mc to be dropped - no. But geez I’m sick of watching him and we need athleticism. Smith doesn’t have talent or forward craft but he hits up hard on a lead and chases with intensity. I’d love a look at him across half forward to see if he can be a viable option. I’d keep it simple for JVR, some ruck minutes, some time deep and not too much work as the down the line target up against a pair of McCartin’s. Midfield really need to crack in properly and just get the balance right between handballing and kicking to advantage. Don’t panic, find the runners and kick to advantage and things will look better. Gus back to wing/5th on baller, mostly to get him out of the backline but also to use his ability to find possessions between the arcs. Backline needs Hibbo’s defensive ability and his willingness to run to the fat side and take the game on. Our defenders don’t trust each other or themselves to actually run and take the game on. Hibbo has never had that problem.

2019: Jackson, Pickett, Rivers ✅✅✅ 2020 Bowey✅ Laurie❔Rosman❌ 2021: JVR - probably debuts this week. Howes - has the talent to put a run of good form together. Woey - showed a bit in preseason McVee - a genuine nomination chance AMW - debut not entirely out of the question. Without a lot of good picks I like this draft class. It might be 0 from 5 in rising star noms any time soon but all could be part of the side from next year or the year after. 2022: 4 developmental talls and Sestan We only took the 3 picks in 19 and 20 as list sizes shrunk, with no rookies. Then we’ve had both a good team and a pretty young team for a contender over the last 2 years. It’s time for Laurie and the second year kids to start pushing for games and they are. Drafting a pair of key forwards was an investment in the future more than present too.

Bummer for Fitzmagic2.0 getting in to the mystery injuries. Hopefully Disco just misses the one week, would like to see him build some great form

Playing on Brayshaw, an absolute gift for any decent forward flanker

Hibbo had a field day across half back. The 4 primary Casey on ballers were Dunstan (29), JJ (28), Laurie (29) and Munro (12 with 16 tackles). Everyone else roughly lines up with the disposals you’d probably expect on a day you’re controlling more of the play. Defenders had good numbers and forwards all got involved. JJ had more handballs than kicks but Dunstan and Laurie both kicked the ball more than handballed. I think in previous years with Mitch White being a kick first player and a dominant tap ruck in Daw they’ve played fairly direct footy. Otherwise I didn’t really notice much of a change in game plan.

Yes. Or at least there was. Coates Talent league app.

1. 45m kick 45 degree angle in to the breeze sails through narrowly left 2. Sharks the subsequent kick in, probably nervous about the wind and the miss, plays on and gets partially smothered. I’d imagine he would usually go back and nail this one, just a rush of blood 3. Quality quick snap in heavy traffic that doesn’t catch the breeze, not a bad effort 4. Long range set shot with the wind that probably started just left when he needed it just right of the goals. Not a bad kick, made the distance easily Not sure what the 5th was.

FB: Hibberd May McVee HB: Bowey Petty Lever C; JJ Petracca Hunter HF: Langdon J. Smith ANB FF: Chandler Brown Fritsch R: Grundy Oliver Viney Int: Rivers, Sparrow, JVR, Spargo Sub: Brayshaw Out: May, Brayshaw, Gawn, McDonald, Harmes In: Tomlinson, Hibberd, JVR, J. Smith, JJ JVR for Gawn, May back if fit and JJ in seem the most likely. But I’d consider up to 5. Smith for Tommy is very unlikely but if Tommy is purely a lead up target he’s not offering enough mobility to justify that spot. My guess is they’ll back him in to start holding some marks.

Schache had 2 stints in the ruck at Casey prior to his injury. He was used in the ruck before JVR was.

Just a guess but they might have the young talls on 15 game contracts and rotate them. They all have a heap of work to do on their bodies and don’t need to play 20+ games Not sure if they got KFW linked with a lower level. Or if he needs it

I know we got belted at the contest last night but I struggle to think a team with Oliver, Petracca and Viney need another grunt player. I’d go either Brayshaw on ball and/or JJ wing/on ball and roll the wingers through the forward flanks more. Laurie hff an option too. Dunstan remains almost purely Oliver and Viney insurance to me. Jefferson might be years away from afl footy but boy he can run and jump at the ball. When he and JVR combine its exciting.

Good quarter from our young forwards getting going in that quarter. AMW and Seston both helping to break it open. JVR does some great things as an extra mid when in the ruck. Jed Adams gave away a goal with a free kick, then the next inside 50 he took a strong grab, played on and drove the ball long to advantage that set up a goal. He hasn’t had to do much and hasn’t been perfect but I’ve liked a bit of his game on debut.

Rough end of the half losing some centre clearances and getting beat by some good efforts by the Dogs forwards. JJ’s been impressive with his ability to cover the ground and contested work in important contests. Whether he’s truly an inside mid just yet is another question but he’s certainly pushing for a spot and they can move wingers and find room for him. He’s kept it simple. Dunstan’s been Dunstan. Hibbo’s had some good moments, he’s certainly still a star at this level. Howes flashes brilliance just needs to get more playing at half back. K Turner has more work to do on his kicking than I thought previously but he’s very willing Scache’s been the best of the key forwards taking marks and drawing free kicks. JVR’s best has been enticing but he’s made a few unusual errors with his kicking. Has been involved though which is good. I’ve really liked the game of Max Gregory aka Fake Bowey.

Messy start seemingly in to the breeze. Most chances were long distance shots that are low percentage. Jeffo missed the easiest one when he played on with a rush of blood. So far in terms of key position watch if you combined; Schache’s height JVRs physicality Jefferson’s anticipation Smith’s athleticism You’d have a gun key forward. They’ve all got involved and Schache maybe the most chances at goal but no one standing out. JJ the best of the mids. Very solid defensive performance across the board but not a lot of standouts from down back

Tomlinson played on no one and had 8 disposals apart from kick ins and 4 intercept possessions. He wasn’t good. Petty had a stinker that’s for sure, but I think we all know why. If he’s not hampered by the injury he should be fine. 1 week is not form. It’s just a game. If you include preseason Petty had 3 very good weeks including a complete shut down job on Riewoldt before they subbed big Samson on fresh on a disgustingly hot game. His form has been good. Its also too early to throw Petty forward. Let’s give Tommy another week and try someone fresh alongside him (hopefully JVR) and then reassess.

Ruckman not named Nic Nat are overrated at stoppages and that includes Gawn. Our mids and coaches can adapt to Grundy. Grundy can still sit behind the ball (needs to work on his positioning and fitness) and spoil. He had some quality spoils last night. We’ll still have numbers at the drop and Grundy can chain up at ground level which is where Max has declined significantly in the last 2 years. The bigger concern to me remains forward of the ball where Max especially was meant to be our contested target. We should be running and using skills more but long down the line is a strategy every team needs at times. Max can nullify or beat 2 or even 3 opponents. Brown’s ok one on one but otherwise we’re in trouble.

All our faults got abused and none of our strengths were displayed. The mids got hammered. Oliver was mentally all at sea and back to his worst habits. Taking the ball stationary, back tracking, ineffective handballs and awful rushed kicking. Viney was rusty. Petracca bizarrely fumbly. Harmes awful. Sparrow was great after the delayed restart - displayed some high level decision making and release handballing - which makes his lack of impact for 3.5 quarters more concerning. Forward line were shown up for an inability to take a pack mark and control play and the inability to pressure. Supply was dreadful but it’s bad combination. Gawn’s height and Pickett’s speed were both badly missed. We’re really short on high level AFL athletes up forward. Backline had a stinker even up against a very talented forward line. Brisbane loaded up with talls and our talls couldn’t get set behind the ball in the right configuration. And then we didn’t use mobility as an advantage on the way out. Petty was mentally cooked from the start. Lever did some nice things but his kicking is diabolical. I can’t keep making the same point about how costly Brayshaw is. Bowey at least had a dip and McVee seemed disciplined to his job on Charlie.