DeeSpencer

Any evidence that Spargo played more than about 5 minutes on the wing? Langdon played 100%. Harmes 79%. At most Spargo played 21% but I’m pretty sure Nibbler had a little go there and generally Brayshaw would cover that time. Spargo having one stint on the wing is not reason enough to turn a backman (Hunt, Salem or Bowey) in to a wing or a forward. That would be a huge gamble.

Merrett seemed genuinely devastated the other night that he waited to commit to the club when they turned the corner and then they’ve gone and collapsed. Perkins, Cox, Jones and Draper can all play. Ridley’s excellent. Nic Martin’s a great find. Otherwise it’s a lot of role players and not too many disgruntled established players. They lost them when Saad, Daniher and Fantasia left Langford might leave, too expensive as a role player I’d imagine. Tom Cutler’s one of those guys who has all the skills but can’t hold a spot.

They made a mess of his end but Rutten coached the 2020 year as well and they were awful then. 2021 was all smoke and mirrors. 2022 obviously a mess. They could’ve backed him but they need wholesale change regardless. And for those who bemoan our pressure forwards and defensive mids getting a game have a look at how a team without any in Essendon defend. That’s their glaring list hole and they pay for it game after game. Rutten, Caracalla, Gia all highly rated at various times. All potentially good fits at the Dees to work on skills and offensive game.

Another coaches award and B+F and never getting near the recognition he deserves in the Brownlow would seem more on brand for Clarry. In all honesty something is badly wrong if he’s not well ahead by round 16, but he’s also been understandably off his game since Selwood hacked his thumb in half. I’m just glad he was back to something like his best against the Lions

The tackle has to be completed legally before a htb gets paid, even if it’s paid first the dangerous tackle then overrules it. Very well could be wrong but I thought the second free was high contact on a different player not dangerous tackle, in which case the first free probably stands

The only person in the crowd who might’ve been unfairly outed was the girl with Adam Goodes. She probably should’ve known better anyway, but once it was a known to be a kid everyone backed off the individual. If Petty and the club choose to deal with this privately then we have to respect that. The list of topics that you can’t go near in the crowd is really straightforward and everyone knows it. Don’t be racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist or attack peoples families covers most of it.

Not convinced there was anyone really staking a claim from the Casey side today. JJ’s the only one who’s been a first choice part of the side and he played a very JJ game. The sub role and depth spots are up for grabs I guess

I don’t love the way he plays but they really missed Jimmy Munro today. 6 day break after a slog in the wet probably a factor too. The time to win the game was the back half of the second when they had the scoring end and momentum and they gave it all back

Brown takes a clear man in front mark. Commentator: ‘good decision’ Now for 77 more mentions of how many minutes Brisbane have been ahead for

Bedford with a blistering run, nearly falls over and blazes away with team mates wide open. Tomlinson struggling to run in to the wind and the backline concede an easy goal. Sums this one up

Casey have set themselves a fair challenge but do seem to have the wind in the last. If they crack in and win some clearances and keep it simple going forward they’ll be a chance. The ball movement has been a disaster all game with forwards looking for easy kicks and backs/mids messing around with it

Would like to see Weed as the back up ruck in the second half and keep JVR forward. Casey’s midfield need to lift if the steak is going to stay alive

That was a beautiful mark given the conditions

Kenty’s going to kick the goal that secures 2nd spot for us. I can see it

6 Oliver 5 Jackson 4 Petracca 3 Rivers 2 Lever 1 Pickett

Salo for Bowey assuming Salo’s healthy and has been producing kms at training prior to this soreness. No way am I rushing McDonald back after 3/4’s of a game. I think there’s a bit of a different look we can go with in the midfield and half forward. Gus on the wing a little more, Harmes on ball and forward, Tracc on ball more. But some of that will depend on opponents and the venue.

There’s no way it’s going away, also no way the afl wouldn’t get involved. But if it can be handled quickly and without fuss it might benefit us. It’s absolutely awful that Petty has to deal with this when our players should be absolutely buzzing for the next few days

He couldn’t try very hard after Mitch smashed his head in at Casey one day.

2 wrongs don’t make a right, imagine there’s some awful stuff coming his way and we can’t even be 100% sure it’s justified yet. Still a chance it was all a misunderstanding

We should back Petty 1000% but if he’s happy to not escalate things it would be nice if we could keep the details under wraps. Doesn’t mean we excuse Zorko, but it would show we’re focused on the job and protect Petty from whatever it was that set him off to begin with

Mitch has done well at Brisbane but speak to Rohan Bail about him

He’s taller than the 2 players we took with first round picks in the same draft! Poor kid has had an awful run in his first 2 years in the system, plus the 2020 season that they all missed. With a change of fortune he’ll work his way to being a good player, I’d say more like a Darcy Parish than a Swallow.

Breust’s forward pressure at his prime was excellent, and even now it’s still at least ok. Very good tackler due to his rugby background and a top 3 crumber of the last decade, his reading of the drop of the ball is a weapon both in kicking goals and for getting in position to tackle. But I don’t like the idea of expecting that next year at 32.

Godly might go and Cunnington as you said was out pretty much the whole year. Not sure Greenwood was the right cover. And Ziebell got moved forward because they had nothing up front. A decent half back organiser and a wing/half forward defensive player - 2 roles that young players can’t do - would go a long way. Their VFL team stinks too. By far the worst of any afl aligned side. Every good AFL side of the last 15 years or so that I can think of has built a strong VFL side and developed a winning culture. They don’t have to play a much older side, they just have to have options available to stop gifting games to kids who aren’t nearly ready.

In terms of experienced talent they might be as bad if not worse than we were. They’re crying out for a Vince and Cross injection of solid professionals. In terms of quality young players we had Hogan, Viney and not much else. They’ve got plenty. Any assistance should be geared towards experience and not youth.