DeeSpencer

Ahh yes, it’s definitely the mostly premiership winning role players that are the problem.

Goes missing is just wrong. All small forwards go missing. Look at the Pies guys last night. McCreery nothing for a half. Ginnivan wasn’t even playing. My issue with Koz is his inconsistent efforts at the contest. Would love to stamp that out of his game. Like Fritsch’s defending or selfishness, best to get on to it early. But when the alternatives are just far inferior players I can’t see why we’d do it now.

The results have been different but a lot of what we're doing right now is very similar to 2020 under Burgo.

1. The midfield in particularly isn't at peak fitness and isn't deep, and obviously we don't have key forwards at peak fitness to draw the ball and encourage opening the game up. 2. The game plan requires a lot of energy, physical and mental. 3. Some valid excuses: Alice Springs 6 day break, Perth trip, backline injuries in earlier games

Good 3km time, but no speed. Needs to build repeat speed, repeat efforts and size to go on ball where endurance comes in to play. If he could start playing midfield at Casey he’d really offer our midfield something, but as a half forward he’s just an inferior version of Spargo, we can’t carry 2 of those types

Also can’t outrun his shadow. Punxsatawny Phil ain’t the answer

Sure. But if you replace ANB with JVR you’re effectively asking Melksham to go back to playing as a half forward flanker. You’ll get all the errors Nibbler makes, maybe 1 good kick a game and none of the defensive running. I can see a Melk and Nibbler out, JVR and Harmes in double change. But I don’t think things are that drastic.

We aren’t replacing our fitness player with a teenage tall. Just not going to happen

There’s some of that, but plenty of his using it well and drawing runners. We also rarely kick or handball to him early or quickly. If we used him quickly it would encourage his next disposal to be quick too. So often he’s the last resort after inside options get shut down. Then the next kick in the change is shut down too

Because that’s our game plan and Darcy Moore exists. The worst ones are when we go slow, position the talls and still shank it not even getting it deep in the pocket. Is the plan flawed? Are the personnel flawed. Hard to say which, or if plan B is better. But it’s hard to watch right now

He played well. The only reason to drop him would be if they want to go back to Gus on the wing. Our midfield badly needs more speed, but I doubt it will be with JJ out to make it happen

If inside 50 speed of delivery and inside 50 numbers of defenders were measured there’s would’ve been twice as fast with half as many defenders. There’s issues with the defensive stuff but we’re so slow to move it in there defenders are so rarely under pressure.

Have to think about moving Gus back to half back again. But then you’ve got the same issue of a slow backline that can’t kick or push aggressively up the ground and the ball sits in our backline. Otherwise it’s Harmes for Sparrow. Maybe JvR for Melk. Maybe. Maybe Bowey for Riv.

If Gus stays on ball it’s a toss up between Harmes and Sparrow. ANB and Melk are doing their roles and I can’t see them being moved from them. If Gus goes back it’s a toss up between Hunt and Rivers. Goody rarely changes winning combinations, which makes me think Gus stays on ball. Gus also fills in as the third winger which takes that role away from Harmes. Harmes: Versatility, speed, experience, perhaps a slight edge in forward craft (marking, crumbing) Sparrow: Healthy, defensive motor, built like a brick, makes things happen with his power out of contests

He’s just the perfect vice captain is he not? The Sergeant Major. The attack dog. He could take over from Gawn for a couple of years. I’m not quite convinced by Petracca, Lever or any other option just yet, but hopefully they have time. And when they do take the job they should have Viney as 21C

Targets: - McStay - don’t want to debate this again but he’s a good afl player and off to Coll - Gunston - Logue - probably a defender, could be a value buy and swing man with Petty - Lobb Worth a look: Grundy Meek E. Himmelberg - has the size and athleticism, has threatened to become an afl player James Stewart - awful injury run, has skills but probably a defender these days Caleb Marchbank - defender and a huge gamble but you never know Wade Derksen - just a great name Emerson Jeka Could get a train on run: Frampton - back up ruck Oscar Mc - the return! Aaron Francis Chris Burgess - probably a good state leaguer Schache - 3rd time lucky?

Gawn’s on a lot of money. Rucks don’t matter. We must keep LJ? Seems like conflicting points there. Ottens was vital for the Cats in their flags. Hale and McEvoy both important for Hawthorn. Nankervis is sometimes the poster boy for rucks don’t matter but he’s actually a very impactful player. And if Geelong go all the way this year it will likely be because Stanley or Ceglar at least break even and Blicavs is a great back up. In a perfect world I’d have a cheap ruck but good enough ruck. But that’s true of 2nd talls at each end, wings, defensive mids and so many positions.

The cost of housing isn’t really a factor for established AFL players making 500k plus a year. They can and do easily afford houses in excellent Melbourne suburbs. Which is really what Geelong players should be buying too unless they’re really committed to the Geelong region and it’s property market. Rent in share houses somewhere like Richmond isn’t the end of the world for young players either. I wouldn’t be surprised if clubs provide some help here by pairing players with agreeable landlords (such as older players) if needed. Even $200 extra on rent a week is only 10k, not really a game changer if you’re good enough to get a proper afl contract. Where I’m suspicious with the Cats is the farms and exploding property market on the Bellarine and the investment opportunities. That’s the kind of stuff that could change someone’s finances by hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

He’s really not. Not in a top side anyway. He knew what he was in for when he came to us

I don’t see Bedford’s rate of improvement going past Nibbler any time soon. He’s got the same flaws that need a lot of work. A touch faster but less ball winning. Laurie’s nothing like those guys, he’s an attacking small with limited defensive game so far. He should improve quickly as he gets midfield time and is full of class, but they aren’t even ready to give him VFL midfield time, yet alone an AFL debut. It’s worth asking if Harmes and Sparrow can cover ANB’s pressure whilst offering midfield minutes and more size. It’s possible. But I doubt Goody pulls that trigger.

His decision making and skills will come and go, not too worried about that. The fumbles and not bodying the ball v Freo and at other times has worried me, looked a bit like the old Nibbler. But can’t blame him too much for fumbling in the wet against Freo. Hope to see him sort that out in the next few weeks.

I’m certainly in favour of trading for quality talls, I meant more with late picks particularly for rucks and tall defenders. Disco’s a nice player to have on the list, we could do with a similar prospect as a ruck and even a utility.

It also resulted in him living In WA from early September when we went across before the prelim all way until the new year. I’m guessing it was about 4 months in WA. In a normal year he might’ve had a quick pit stop home in early October, gone overseas for a few weeks after that as footballers generally do, back to Melbourne for Nov/Dec preseason and then really only home for 2 weeks or so at Xmas.

To be fair to JT and the crew Weid used to really fly at the ball. And we’ll forever have the Geelong final which included big marks and huge tackles. Weid is now a mess but it’s lack of confidence and lack of athleticism that impact as much as mongrel. Fritsch has no mongrel, but he reads the play and has the speed to get the ball. Harry McKay was in that draft and he was fairly soft as a junior. All skill and athletic potential. Curnow was the easy pick IMO, but he had off field misdemeanours and I think they thought he was a bit similar to Hogan. When it came to Luke Jackson the recruiters saw a tall with incredible athleticism and the right physicality and had to grab him. I don’t think we’ve drafted enough talls in general. They’re lottery tickets and it’s best to just keep buying them.

Weid - who’s never really established himself as an AFL footballer - is better than McStay, who crashes packs and tackles very well for a tall, hence the price tag (with a 20% free agency tax). That might be the dumbest thing Carey has said since he suggested Carlton trade pick 1 for Tyson, Frost and Bugg Weid stays in until Ben Brown is right to go. Which is likely Friday.