DeeSpencer

Salem deserves praise for an overall good game and a kick up the backside for 3 times attempting one step kicks in congestion in to dangerous areas that resulted in crappy turnovers. All 3 times he could've reset and used a lateral option with a team mate. It was all a bit hollywood and I hope he got them out of his system. Richmond's pressure is another level up and they punish teams on turnover, he can't repeat those mistakes. The whole team was a bit off and we played a bit like the first half of last year where we forgot Eddie Langdon existed, he was wide open for the easy kick or handball but was repeatedly ignored. The next step for the team is to realise moving the ball quickly doesn't have to mean moving the ball directly, particularly using the numbers when we have them around half forward and the middle of the ground rather than kicking in to out numbers forward.

I’m not convinced of that. Bedford has some good defensive pressure traits and speed but we’re already playing 3 small pressure forwards in ANB, Spargo and Koz. Jones’ value right now is that he gets to the right place as a high half forward and 3rd wingman. Bedford can’t do that job better than Jones from what I’ve seen, he just isn’t all that smart with positioning or strong in the contest. It will take a reshuffle of Melk, JJ or Fritsch’s role to fit in another pressure forward and cover the wing minutes. A healthy Harmes, Chandler, Bowey or this weeks mystery injury candidate in Laurie probably have better attributes if you were doing a straight swap.

Do you remember Neitz’s last season? Jones wasn’t gifted games in year 1, he fought through a period under Bailey then became a star up until his role shifted. Probably got some easy games in 2019 when everyone was injured but they made him work for his spot last year. Has earned his spot until probably this week. I reckon he’s deserving of 300 easily as much as any player to get to that milestone. He’s not Sam Newman riding the pine at Geelong. Whether he finishes on 300 or 315 doesn’t change the milestone.

It's absolutely horrendous and does nothing for the atmosphere. The quiet moments at the quarter time breaks improve the atmosphere as everyone reflects on the game and gets that nervous tension going. It's ruined by blaring music. And if they want to put on some music then every Australian artist had a terrible year last year and can't leave the country. Wheel out a stage and let someone play a 15 minute set at 1/2 time if you want. You'd be doing the music industry a huge favour and providing something different for fans who want to listen to something to fill the break.

The left footed pass to Jones was nice, but apart from that kick to Jones and the kick to Gawn 1/3rd of the way through the last I noticed a lot of Melksham sub par efforts and not a lot of positives until the last 10 minutes. He has to do more to stay involved in the game. Attacking the ball with conviction would be a good start. 69% game time is about right for a mid/forward rotation player, I don't think that means anything.

The reality is they've set this game up for Jones by playing him the first 5. They'd now make it a bigger scandal dropping him than the benefit of whoever comes in to the side. It's ANZAC Eve + Jones' 300th + a 5-0 side taking on the 3 time champs. There's enough motivation to go around.

There's only so far you can push up until you're on the wing - which means stoppages and congestion - or playing down back. I can't see Jackson, T Mc, Weid and B Brown in the same side. In fact I can't see 3 of those without Jackson either unless Tom is a full time wingman and I'm not convinced of that. Tom is running his backside off to get the ball and doing a decent enough job defensively, so I can't see him being dropped right now for Weid and Brown who didn't have a tackle between them at Casey. But one of those will come in to the side then it's about Tom playing consistently well enough to keep his spot from the other option. I do wonder if we drop Tom relatively early (ie. 2 weeks time not 4 weeks time) to give him more time at Casey to play on the wing. If he dominates on the wing at Casey then he's a different proposition.

His first quarter stank. Missed tackles, bodied off the ball, kicking out on the full, and generally just messy. But much like Rivers and several team mates he didn't drop his head and rallied well. Anyone dropping him after the first 3 weeks has no idea and whilst today wasn't great he's still surely very unlikely to be dropped.

May for Petty if he's right. If not we have a decision to make on whether Petty stays for the structure or if we roll the dice with Lever on Riewoldt and bring in Jetta (or total smokey D Smith). Or Brayshaw to half back and bring in another wingman (Vanders?). I kind of like the idea of sneaking Vanders back in for a special guest appearance and just inviting him to take as many bodies as he can. Mitch Brown out for B Brown or Weid. Good luck to selectors making that decision. Fritsch I doubt we be right. If he is then we've got a tough choice to make. Possibly Melksham goes to the sub role, otherwise Jones, Jordon, Melk, Fritsch and Jackson can share minutes on the wing and Gus can go to half back as above.

At this stage - no. We had a terrible period against the Saints. We started dreadfully against the Giants before they ran out of players, and we started awfully today and a big reason why the Hawks folded was because they're a young side coming back from Perth. We've had the absolute dream draw. We're playing better and playing in much the right style but too much of the ball movement lacks polish and we still need more system going inside 50. That's not to say I don't trust that players to give strong efforts more weeks than not (no team is ever perfect) and it's not to say we aren't making good progress but at this stage I think we just lack the polish to really be reliable. And I'm a bit doubtful on whether we can play top line pressure footy against the best sides when we're probably a couple of mid/forward rotation players short who can both pressure and provide quality with the ball. We'll see what happens with the big forwards if they straighten us up in a good way (and don't just encourage long bombs). Overall though I think Petracca and Oliver in particular need to become capable of the Pendlebury or Dusty type moments just cutting through congestion with beautiful skills not just power.

I reckon he’s gone from running under the ball in the preseason and the first 2 weeks to starting to time his leaps nicely. Next step is holding them. He does some sneaky clever things though. He gathered the ball at half forward after Pickett caught Selwood and he deliberately waited until the tackler engaged him before releasing the handball. He rarely gives short handballs either, he takes his time to find the right option. He’s not a natural forward but there’s more than enough natural footballer in him.

He’ll likely get it downgraded to a fine but it’s a clearly unnecessary bump and from the other angle it’s high. Making it a week is the only way to stamp it out.

No tribunal was ever finding Hawkins guilty. Too much doubt. Daniel easily worth a week. Jetta maybe not a fine but whatever. Cunnington the same as Zac Williams. A week for stupidity.

https://www.triplem.com.au/story/tom-stewart-undergoes-successful-surgery-41692 Tom Stewart had surgery in 2017 and missed 3 weeks. If it isn't as major as that it's possible it could just be 2 weeks.

I'd give Petty first go, but I also hope they use this as a chance to move Majak down to CHB at Casey given we've got the forwards back. He played his best footy in that role and I reckon he could be a wildcard at some stage of the season

So he's played well so now we have to put work in to him to make sure he's keen to come to us and also developing well. Yet at the same time we can't have him do too well because if he goes in the top 20 we'll lose access to him! Great system..

2:37 train from Laburnum gets you to Richmond at 3:03. In theory you could catch the 2:47 to 3:13 and sprint to the G if you've got seats closer to Richmond and just catch the bounce. Same question about whether you can sprint from the South East corner of Box Hill if that gate is open across Whitehorse road to Laburnum to cut that time down too! Overall I think the likely answer is if the quarters drag on over 30 minutes and the game takes 2 hours and 40 minutes you might have to either skip the last 10 minutes or be slightly late for the bounce at the G.

The lack of suspension to King will annoy me forever because there's just no reason to throw a boot above waist high, was beyond reckless. I think there's enough benefit of the doubt in this one because Hawkins is legitimately handballing and May is dragging him down in the tackle. The MRO seems to only issue penalties or statements that incidents were assessed. I wonder if they can go somewhere between on this one and offer some kind of official caution.

A) Tom's kicking. B) Tom's limited lateral mobility. C) Tom's marking runs very hot and cold. D-Z) Tom's kicking. He's a forward and will stay in the side until Brown and/or Weid have earned their spots. After that we might try him on a wing where his tank creates mismatches, but not the backline.

I don’t always love the shoulder dip move, it can abandon you if you the umps catch on. Spargo’s positioning is what makes his game. Watch as we turn the ball over he’ll always be the first to move to get out to space. He understands how to stretch backlines. He gets front and centre. Add in the strength at the contest and with tackling and that’s a proper AFL player.

Probably his best game for the club today. Passed one off. Dropped one just outside the square too. The mark and goal in the last was all class

They used Jordon on a wing against Blicavs after Gus went down back, but ended up preferring Jones and then had a full midfield rotation with Sparrow. Melksham wasn’t good but I still think until Brown or Weid come in we need a proper forward more than extra mids. I think it will be 2 out of 3 of Melk, Sparrow and Jordon with the 3rd the sub. Petty or Hibberd depending on conditions and opponents to replace May.

6. Viney 5. Petracca 4. Gawn 3. Fitsch 2. Lever 1. Oliver Last week was a team effort with almost everyone being solid. This week was about our best players being the best on the ground. Any of the 6 could’ve got the votes in any order. I thought Viney had the most vital moments.

From previous years when a player at my club was a VFL player they’d do all their training at Casey apart from the occasional captains run type session on Thursday night at the local club if they were playing with us. But it might depend what grade their local club is in and how much VFL footy they’re actually playing

I think it was either going to happen for him 2-3 years ago or not at all. He’s off to a super star line up at St Kilda City