DeeSpencer

They could ask for a better apology. Or someone at the Age could ring up Eddie Betts or Charlie Cameron and ask them about the camp again.

Not entirely convinced we put more time in to Macrae. More so the game just went up a notch and his style didn’t really fit in. There was a shift later in the year to using the big 3 mids more, with Harmes a limited 4th and taking some wing minutes and Sparrow a very limited 5th. The start of the year we used a lot of JJ, as well as Sparrow and Harmes at times. Plus the Nibbler and kossie minutes. The coaches early priorities were to cut out the awful clean clearances against us and stop fighting for the same ball. Once that was sorted the aim got back to winning it. The crucial factor in the 3rd quarter blitz was our balance around the stoppage and ability to pressure the dogs in to errors. It wasn’t all out attack or ruck dominance. If the coaches aim to start back to basics then I don’t expect we’ll see dominant clearance numbers early. It will be the same process of rotating players in and being fundamentally sound.

Should we have made finals in 2017 and 2020 - well, I can see the clear argument for yes. We lost games against lowly sides that were clear cut opportunities to get in. We probably used those losses to fuel us to the success of 2018 and 2021 though, so just how much can you mark a guy down for finishing 9th compared to finishing 8th and losing early in finals? 12 wins in 2017 was still a good achievement as was bouncing back in 2020 from such a horror year previous. Fans got emotional about missing finals rather than understanding the win-loss record in both those years were solid achievements given the talent available. 2019 I can barely attribute to Goodwin. In fact a large part of 2019 was due to the success coming too soon in 2018 masking failings in the fitness department, deficiencies and immaturity in the list and yes, issues with the game plan. But I don't think there's a coach around who could've done much better with the healthy and quality of the 2019 list. They couldn't have changed the game plan without any fit players to train up over summer. And the club had made the choice to give Misson the year to finish up and look for a replacement. A decision I thought was ridiculous at the time that now appears to be an absolute genius move. 6 years for any coach would be silly, 5 would be a stretch, but really it depends on buy out clauses and the level of discount multiple years gets us with the soft cap. If anything, the long term successful coaches have highlighted how much list management, fitness and other factors influence winning. Chris Scott's the only long term coach who hasn't had a let down and most actually think Geelong are worse for it!

The footy cap does make it tricky. I’d imagine for that reason they’ll go a long deal rather than more money over less years. We’ve done that with all our senior players. But then it’s the pay out number that really matters. Clubs without good financial positions can only guarantee 6 month deals payouts at any time I believe. Goodwin’s manager probably wants it all guaranteed, I sure would! Not sure we can rely on the afl stepping in to employ him like they have with Clarkson and possibly Brad Scott too. Anyway, Goody should get a long term deal which really sets him up financially (if he isn’t already) and hopefully that means he can continue to be at his best. It’s one less thing to stress about in an unhealthily stressful job.

I agree, but they did the same thing in each of the first 3 weeks. Too corridor focused and very stifled run and carry game that doesn’t get any overlap.

The most frustrating thing is we are a fit running side but our kicking game is all based on corridor short kicks. Use the ball quickly with switches and take the wide options and we can run teams down and open it up in the middle later. Particular with Harris dangerous inside 50 we don’t have to be so worried about going wide across half forward or wing. Fast through the middle is a recipe for turnovers. By hand as much as foot. We need to be more Eddie Langdon and use the wide flowing running. Cutting it back inside is trying to be Oliver and Petracca with small women who can’t break tackles. We ran or panicked kicked right to where the Crows were!

Good fight in the last. Showed we can mix it we just have to get on the same page. And our fitness should help us late in games.

It’s not a day to judge the forwards too much, she’s had a good start of the year. But she only likes to chase if she can nail someone in a tackle which is the wrong attitude.

We are. Playing way too fast. Need to slow down and get numbers around the drop. The lack of coordination from our forwards and mids is alarming

Zanker has to back up ruck and Parry stay at CHF because we are absolute a mess there

Some of these crows women will put a fortune through the canteen after the game too

Looks like we spent all summer practicing nice uncontested footy and forgot how to win and use the ball under pressure. We haven’t been able to string together anything remotely decent. The lack of coordination between the player giving and receiving a handball is particularly poor. There’s no point being a hard running fit side if you can’t give a handball to a runner who then gets in to space.

Anyone willing to join me on the Paxy is overcooked train?

A couple of nice plays others haven’t mentioned yet: Really nice to see the trademark Laurie sidestep and inside 50 hit up. Opens the candy store to no other than Clarry. And I really liked how Deakyn Smith bought time for himself, balanced up and backed his left foot. He has really nice defensive skills, if he can use the ball well too he’s got a good future

I don’t really agree with this. Forwards often have to come up the ground now because otherwise the opposition will set up a wall at CHB. It’s all hands on deck to get that contest halved if high kicks come in before worrying about finding an inside 50. Especially with so many teams aggressively zoning and gun intercept players. Then there’s often space created inside 50 for the forwards to lead back in to. And space is really the aim of the game. Find those one on ones with room for a forward to lead. We got much better this year at kicking out to space to a forward leading back who can hook their lead or putting air under the kick so the forward can balance up. A signature Fritsch move is him leading back towards goal. And Ben Brown would often be pushing back, body a defender who lost contact with him and then come forward to mark. In previous years we’ve expected Weid to move like Fritsch which hasn’t worked and played too fast for him. Fritsch excels at that quick back lead, and Brown excels at pushing back then out reaching a scrambling opponent. Front on contact and arm chop frees are just as likely in these situations. We certainly improved on slower plays that got to half forward and required a hard lead at the ball carrier, but that’s really plan B. Plan A for scoring is to score when the ball is in quick transition.

Might just be one photo but seems to have long arms and big buckets for hands. Handy attributes for a tall back

Harris is frustrating and often not that bright. But her skills are exceptional. She’s already done more this year than she did all of last. She could win a final in 5 minutes

Last years was on reputation. This year she’s just an ok player. Can’t find the space she used to. The players without balance or strength in congestion aren’t doing well under the heat teams can put on.

Libby Birch is a tool too. Way too keen on the dumb push and shove stuff. Needs to pull her head in.

Big call; the game has gone past Paxy. So many dodgy 1m handballs. Refuses to kick

The coaches and us as fans should also be open to players getting moved around. Not many would’ve picked Brayshaw to play a vital role on the wing in the grand final for instance. Im not a huge believer in him so far but Rosman might end up a half forward in the Tom McDonald role or how Isaac Smith played at Geelong this year. But I’d say it’s just about awful coaching if he plays anywhere but half back for Casey for the first half of the year until he develops his contested game with the ball coming at him. He needs the structure to learn the feel of the game. I think Chandler could really benefit from playing on the wing if the on ball spots at Casey are crowded and rather than being stuck forward. He’s a smart player who uses the ball well. Howes could end up back, forward or Wing. JVR back or forward. There’s plenty of guys on the list who should be given opportunities in a variety of roles.

Key back: May, Lever, Petty, Tomlinson, J. Smith*, Turner Medium back: Hibberd, J. Smith*, Hunt, Rivers* Small back: Salem, Rivers*, Bowey, Hunt, D. Smith, McVee, AMW? On ball: Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Harmes, Sparrow, JJ*, Dunstan, Woey? Wing: Langdon, Brayshaw, JJ*, Baker, Howes, Rosman Ruck: Gawn, Jackson, Daw Key forward: Brown, McDonald, Weideman, M. Brown, JVR Medium forward: Fritsch, Petracca*, Melksham Small forward: ANB, Pickett, Spargo, Chandler, Bedford, Laurie 1. Tall depth. A ruck, a ruck/forward, and another key defender would all be ideal. 2. A specialist speed machine winger. We've added Rosman and kept Baker but we might have to go again. Howes is probably more as cover for Gus than for Langdon. James Jordon probably doesn't get enough credit as being a very serviceable wing option as well but he's more in between. 3. Half forwards with some size. One of the trickiest spots to fill on the ground. Need to run like an elite mid and chase and tackle like a small. But our small forwards are exactly that - small. Ideally we'd have another 185cm+ forward with some aerial ability to provide a match up concern to the opposition. 4. A mid sized stopping defender. We do have options but a gun defender with the right mix of size, speed, athleticism would be a nice addition to take over from Hibbo.

I’m not sure why you’d particularly care. The draft is over and soon we’ll have AFL practice matches or VFL form to assess. But I’d say JVR got a top 10 ranking based on excellent bottom year form. Slipped out of the top 20 based on glandular and not being ready for wafl senior footy. Then came back in with some good colts games. The margin between 10-25 on a mock draft is just like the actual draft, it’s very thin. His prediction that he won’t play in 22 and maybe 23 is surely based on our strong side and him being a young tall who struggled with his first go at senior footy. But it’s a big guess really. If we don’t have injuries or covid he probably won’t play in 22. If he’s going to be a player he’ll probably at least get a taste in 23 but unless he’s exceptional or we have lots of injuries he still shouldn’t see a lot of footy within 2 years and that’s fine too!

One scroll through the dot points and their previous videos and absolutely no way I’m I listening to that. Anything that mentions noted scholar Andrew Bogut has me out immediately.

Smith was at 18 on our draft board. Smith, Buntine and you’d have to assume Conca would be a decent trio of experience to add to Casey. Conca in particular could be a nice break in case of emergency recruit. Lockhart might be a sneaky chance to play for the Suns if covid rages and he’s at Southport