DeeSpencer

There was not even a mention of him until his dominant start to the NAB league season. Usually we've heard of academy players years in advance. He also has yet to play for Casey. I don't think we've really got much to complain about here.

There was a run in the early round where that was absolutely the case, but I'm willing to give the guys some slack on the road on a 5 day break. They took the heat out of the last quarter, kicked a couple of sealers and ran the clock down pretty much perfectly until the last 10 seconds or so. The worst error we made last week in terms of costing us percentage and a bit of pain in the game was the goal right before half time. We kicked out with 30 seconds left and instead of sharing the ball around for 3 uncontested marks we immediately went long and then let Boak get an easy clearance from the throw in. A soft Dixon free and a 4 goal lead becomes 3 goals. There's still work to be done on building a tempo kicking game.

He's always going to be a chance to give away a soft 50 but when he's fired up he looks a better player. No surprise he got to play on young talls in Marshall and Georgiades with good midfield support and that saw him back himself to be far more assertive. Hopefully he can keep it going against more seasoned opponents.

He ran under a few early. He simply can’t be doing that too often. But if he commits to a redefined role that mixes lead up forward, contest maker and even a bit of ground ball footy he’ll stay in. Mason Cox was a genuine weapon for the Pies when he used to tap the ball from marking contests. The worst thing that ever happened to him was he played a blinder in a prelim and thought he was good. Obviously Brown’s good enough to mark it a fair bit but if he realises that he doesn’t have a lot of power in the legs or mobility and can sometimes be content to tap or spoil the ball he’ll be more valuable to the team.

Brayshaw might’ve taken a spell there but from what I saw last night it was Harmes taking some wing minutes too. Harmes just wasn’t working at half forward, we saw that against the Giants. Gus got shredded by the Giants proper wingmen too, he was killed. It was well and truly time to make the adjustment giving JJ the main job and mixing those other guys in other areas. Gus’ slow reactions in tight make him a poor centre square option but he’s still got great value with clean quick hands as a pure on baller. Swapping him in with Petracca makes sense to me. And he can always go back to the wing if it’s a slow game and we need that defensive aerial game.

Eddie has some technical chops and a decent grasp of the English language, he threatens to be a good commentator. But then you notice he’s red lining it 12 minutes in to the first quarter. Then he’ll be barracking for one side for an odd reason. And then tops it off with reading texts from his famous mates on air.

And Petracca?

That was baffling. Obviously our 50 was a more important reward but it was the same circumstances one after another and they acted like it just hadn’t happened.

I thought after a total stinker last week ANB was better. Got out of a few tackles. Laced out Tommy Mc for a crucial goal. There will always be Nibbler moments but overall I thought he was solid. Unless Bowey is a very good pressure player - and that's unlikely because he's a first year kid sent back to add to his defensive game - I can't see him taking a pressure forward spot. It's more whether we take out one of the bash and crash players for that extra class. Until we see him play that role at Casey it's impossible to know where he can pressure and win the ball in the middle or forward. I'd like to get him a game as well just so we've got the option of using him if needed and not just fresh on debut and the option of using him as a sub. Mitch Duncan was absolutely vital to the Cats in the 2011 grand final as the sub. That's a really high bar for Bowey to clear but I'd like to have him as an option and I'm totally against a sub on debut.

JJ earnt the number 2 wing spot, especially after Gus' ordinary performance against the Giants. The move of Brayshaw to the high half forward role and playing as the extra on baller at stoppages then even switching with Petracca was a very good decision. That's a better role for Gus than the wing against a fast running side like the Power.

We really need to stop playing Bowey at half back at Casey and give him a look in a different position at VFL level so he can push for AFL level. I just can't see them changing the back 7. Rivers and especially Hunt are just too important to the defensive system to be replaced by a small defender who just won't provide the same defensive work. Play Bowey on the wing, half forward or even on ball for Casey and see if he can play well in those roles because that's where we have a need for a classy ball user.

Limited Wines at the contest but he had 33. Viney has to get his spread running back and has to do something that resembles AFL footy with the ball otherwise we won’t get far. The combination with Harmes is particularly concerning. Both absolutely butchering it.

The no reason is he knew Jackson would smash Marshall in the ruck and our defenders were killing them in the air. The way we play without a lot of uncontested ball use and flooding numbers up and back makes the talls so important and Port’s talls just didn’t have to. So they had to mix and move Aliir. For us it’s a matter of whether we can get the same control in the air on the mcg where there’s more space to cover and it’s harder to get pressure.

Brown’s first half was awful, his second half was much better. I think he needs at least 1 more against better VFL opposition to find match fitness. Then if he comes in he stays in for a good stretch. Everyone else is waiting for more of an opportunity than players having 1 or 2 down games.

Very solid debut, handled the step up in intensity and looks a natural at reading the play. One piece of play impressed me a lot where he actually stuffed up, got caught trying to play on but then dished a long safe handball back to a team mate. Anything he does this year is a bonus but I like that our draft class is now at 4 and has a tall to go with the 2 skilled users and the outside runner.

I don't understand the Fritsch negativity. I thought he made a couple of nice spoils on switches and his pressure was about as good as it has been. Including putting Hind in to the post. His work to get in to space on the counter and some of his ball use was good. He had bad kicking for goal night as did Tom McDonald, as did the whole side really. I actually think most of the forward struggles from Saturday night were on the midfield lacking any drive. Oliver got going in the 2nd quarter but that was about it. Petracca and Harmes were adjusting to more time forward. Viney was paddling in 2nd gear, away from the contests he provided nothing. Our game plan relies on that midfield run taking the space that our forwards spread to leave for them. I don't think if we added the All Australian key forwards they'd matter as much as getting that midfield part right.

Jones might be a better on baller at Casey than Sparrow but when it comes to someone playing reduced burst minutes at half forward I’d take Sparrow. Jones just doesn’t have the speed to lay tackles in that role. If Jones comes in he’d have to get some midfield time on the wing or on ball to add value.

Pickett kicked 3.3 against the form team of the comp in Brisbane just 2 games ago. Teams are putting a lot of effort in to him defensively, he’s going to have quiet games especially if the forward line isn’t functioning. To replace him with a player like Melksham who has zero defensive intensity would be madness. Pickett isn’t playing for his spot every week because he earns his spot every week with defensive actions.

Bowey’s defensive work has been the best I’ve seen from him. That’s been what’s holding him back. But it’s hard to see him getting a gig in the back 7 as is. Do we need to move him to half forward at Casey to see if he can push for a game in that role?

Oskar Baker has come in to it in the last 10 minutes. He’s been the driving force of the momentum changing back

30 out, 30 degree angle. Then doubles back and crumbs one in the square after a Rosman long kick sailed over all the players.

Brown had a dreadful first half and is playing on Bomber Thompson’s fat son who hasn’t played a VFL game since 2013. Pump the brakes on his return

Rosman is handy in space but a deer in the headlights with anything contested. Can’t give off quick handballs. Doesn’t know how to win the ball on the deck. He’s going to need a whole lot of coaching and time

Melksham, I’d delist him tomorrow.

Jones, Bowey, Weid and Turner the highlights of the first half. A lot of guys look like they haven’t played in a month and rightly so. Would like to see Chandler, Bedford and Laurie on ball rather than so much of Munro and the 3 experienced guys.