DeeSpencer

Adelaide having the most access to him and no interest is a big red flag

I’d say Hore and Purcell should be locks, with the other 2 in strong consideration at least for bench spots. Hanks very unlucky to miss the squad

Was very good down back when given more of an intercepting role, especially when Lever was out. But as the season went on his constant desire to peel off and intercept rather than man up meant we had too many fold back defenders. The ball lived in our back half. Hence why it made sense to move him back to the midfield and play someone like Hunt who would aggressively defend an opponent and cut off outlet kicks. He didn’t turn it over much down back but that’s because he would give and receive chip kicks in to the pockets. Very rarely did he take more aggressive corridor kicks and even more rarely did he run the lines - both vital attributes for a successful back flanker. He was more effective as a midfielder than I imagined. Giving him the starting position of tagging someone like Neale was wise. It minimised his defensive lapses and took away from the downside of too many ball focussed mids. But boy was he inefficient with the ball in the midfield. Overall he had a good year but I just don’t agree with the value of such a long contract and surely plenty of $$$ to a player who’s greatest attribute is versatility. There’s a downside to every position Gus moves as it throws out team balance given he doesn’t blend in as a role player nor does he have the standout attributes to be locked in any given role. I have no idea where he’ll play in 2023. I assume they’ll give him a chance to win an on ball spot but I still think our best midfield mix needs speed and skills around the big 3.

Loz Pearce clearly wasn’t right, full credit to Harris rucking so much. Hopefully the week off sorts Loz out. Our mids who have been bullied by the Crows for years really got on top. Purcell and West super in tight. Hanks and Mitho getting inside and out and Paxy in the high half forward role. I liked the use of Hore on ball if she’s struggling forward and I think they even sent her to Marinoff to clamp her late. Plenty of improvement too, with missed chances in the first and third especially and some uncharacteristic mistakes by some of the defenders.

Should’ve been Hore’s free kick and not Randall’s. Hopefully nothing silly from the MRP on that

Credit where it’s due she’s only been half as stupid as she usually is in finals. Even done some good stuff too

One of the better turnaround wins I’ve seen from a Dees side. Love that they stuck to the game plan and ran the crows ragged

Slow start not a surprise given we haven’t played a good team in weeks but geez we’ve made awful mistakes and the umps have stitched us up

Philly Buffalo Miami

Many aflw facilities are getting renovations now that were timed to finish before the January season, then got caught out with the season moving to spring. I assume that’s the case for Casey, and the cost of moving timelines with construction at the moment is monumental. The grand final was unlikely to be at Casey even if we host it. Princes’ park is designed as the leagues showpiece venue. Might as well get used to that

I suspect part of the delay is that either or both could be redrafted as rookies rather than the main list if we need spots. Say we trade 13 for a pair of picks in the 20’s and then take Finn Emile whatever his name is after pick 40 we’ve suddenly used 4 list spots and would need the veterans on the rookie list.

Mark Neeld plays for Geelong alongside the late Paul Couch Mark Neeld drafts Tom Couch to the demons from the Coll VFL program Couch becomes North Launceston coach North Launceston’s best player Jay Lockhart comes to Casey Whitford replaces Couch as North Launceston coach then eventually finds his way to Casey Casey win the flag against Lockhart’s sharks Corrigan moves home to Geelong. Whitford gets the Casey job.

I’d put this down as more of a rumour than strong mail but the latest I’ve heard is: - We have identified a target early in the draft. We’d absolutely love them to fall to 13 but given thats unlikely we’ll attempt to trade up for them. - But, as it stands it’s more likely we can’t get them and then we’ll trade down the order as it’s a pretty even crop later in the first round. No mail on how much we’d be willing to trade to get up the order but I’d expect we’d pay market value to get to a pick 6-9 range. Have to imagine a future first is involved Not sure how far we’d go backwards either, I think we’d want to stay top 25.

He’s undoubtedly a defensive coach. Possibly to a fault, but possibly because it works very well and gets results. I don’t believe that means he can’t succeed now. St Kilda’s list is a far bigger impediment to success than his game plan.

Points for St Kilda ‘09 2197 St Kilda ‘10 1935 Freo ‘13 2035 Freo ‘14 2029 Freo ‘15 1857 Goodwin ‘21 1888 Goodwin ‘22 1936

1. GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY Aaron Cadman 2. BRISBANE (MATCH NORTH BID) Will Ashcroft 3. NORTH MELBOURNE Sheezel 4. NORTH MELBOURNE Wardlaw (watch for a trade up by Sydney for Humphrey) 5. ESSENDON Humphrey 6. GOLD COAST Reuben Ginbey 7. HAWTHORN Allan/Clark 8. GEELONG Clark/Allan 9. WEST COAST Mackenzie 10. ST KILDA Tsatas 11. CARLTON Oliver Hollands 12. WESTERN BULLDOGS Mattaes Phillipou 13. WEST COAST Busslinger Hayes, George, Weddle and Burgiel stand out from what’s left to me.

I don't think it will hurt Deebo, they don't want him in the backfield too much especially until the playoffs. What they can do is line up McCaffrey and Deebo both in the backfield or motioning to the backfield and come up with a heap of route combinations. I'm more surprised they were willing to give up so much draft capital for this last desperate Jimmy G year when you have to think they need picks to support Lance in future years.

Packers, Bucs, Chiefs

If we win 40 - 10 then we end up at 248% If Brisbane win 50-35 they end up 247% Collingwood kicking a decent score (win or lose) is the key to bridging the gap

50 is from the woman on the mark, which is 15 from the top of the square. Net result should be 74m from goal which at Casey is probably 5 or so from the middle.

There’s at least one totally deranged human sitting in the crowd

I actually like Rob Harvey, he’s a huge fan of the way the Dees play. Lucy McEvoy one of the better current player commentators too. Kel’s had a long season

Zanks did the right thing, but fantastic work from Daisy and Purcell

Birch is going to be unplayable come finals. Such a fraud of a leader

Essendon have been very willing. Always feels like kicking with the wind early isn’t an advantage in aflw because it’s hard to get value for inside 50’s. Goldy needs a couple of weeks of continuity before finals. Just hasn’t found the pace of the game this year