DeeSpencer

That's true, I wouldn't have rated ANB in 2020, but he got a 2 year deal previous on the back of being a good AFL footballer. Baker is not a good AFL footballer, never will be. Mitch Brown having a list spot is some kind of sick joke. Melksham should've been paid out if we were fair dinkum. That's 3 who are offering nothing. All those guys are in the best 22 apart from Melksham and Laurie! They can't be depth when they're in the side. Melk is finished. Laurie is an ok prospect as a midfielder, doesn't have the speed or size to do much at half forward for the time being. Bedford and Chandler aren't it either, so where's the turnover of options? I'm not talking long term, we've seen these guys win a flag. I'm talking about round 1 and the early games of the season. Last year we went smaller due to Brown and Weid's injuries and Tom did a very good job at CHF competing. It also allowed Jackson a lot of game time as a forward and whilst he was hit and miss he settled more in that role. Brown dropped a few he would've usually swallowed last night and moved pretty well, so I hope that was just an off night. But I do wonder how we best use Jackson and Gawn when the forward line doesn't really need them. Max goes deep forward with Brown and they can work together but if they don't mark it we are in trouble on the way out. And Jackson can get lost if he's not rucking and not getting asked to play more as a CHF. Especially early in the year where big guys often don't hold as many marks as they do once they've got their eye in. Tom's not asked to do as much grunt work in a taller line up so he has to be holding marks and contributing on the ground when he's effectively a forward flanker at times. Weid - he's really only back up for Ben Brown or perhaps the rucks. We can't have another tall who gets beaten to the ball or run off by smaller defenders when we're already overloaded for height. And no matter how many goals he kicks in the VFL he just doesn't hold his marks in the AFL and we should stop pretending he ever will by this stage.

FB: Hibberd May Lever HB: Salem Tomlinson Bowey C: Brayshaw Petracca Langdon HF: ANB T Mc? Spargo FF: Fritsch Brown Pickett Foll: Gawn Oliver Viney Int: Jackson, Sparrow?, Harmes?, Hunt/J Smith? I guess that's the team if the sore guys recover and everyone pulls up well from tonight. I do wonder if we're a bit tall for early season footy. Generally the key forwards struggle to mark it early in the year and games can be won/loss on work rate and pressure. But there's no one really in the frame to replace T Mc if we went smaller, unless we go JJ in and use Harmes/Petracca forward more. The 7th defender is a worry. Could be Brayshaw and go JJ on a wing, but neither of those moves worked tonight. Like most of our games against the Dogs in recent years it will be a big clash of styles and vital to get the game on our terms and likely goals will come in waves. Not grand final waves, but often 2-3 goals each way. We need our mids and half forwards a lot more switched on to get the game on our terms than they were tonight.

I'd even suggest Bowey did do it in the second half when they replaced Baker with Turner, and then moved Lever, Hunt and particularly Bowey up the ground more.

Harsh on Bowey, he was a bit rusty early but finished with 22 touches and 10 intercepts. I thought the longer it went the better he went, and even though they weren't good players Carlton did replace 4 half forwards with 4 fresh players. There's every indication Bowey will grow in to a very good player in the Salem role, he's just a second year kid. Similarly Tommo looked much better when not against McKay, and he's missed a year. He'll be at his best when allowed to play CHB on the less dangerous talls. Which is the same as Petty. Petty v a full fit and in form Tomlinson, I lean Petty but it's a discussion not a clear choice. At least that's one position where the choices are both solid, rather than a choice between guys we have no confidence in at AFL level. Brayshaw got better with the pace out of the game too, but if he's used at half back he has to be told to stick to a man like glue until a kick comes in. Was giving huge amounts of space. Think that's just a break glass if needed role for him. We definitely need more 22-25 year old midfield and flanker depth though, particularly some guys with some size.

I doubt it's tapering. I hope it's mostly mental, knowing we had a great hit out the first week, then a few players out opening a deficiency (last year it was no Viney, Gus or Oliver killing our midfield v Dogs). The concern is last year we started the reason without playing great footy but with a lot of desire to grind out wins. This year there's pressure to play well AND to win. The players have to all focus on not putting the cart before the horse and knowing what we need to do to win games rather than to expect champagne footy.

I'm annoyed that we've knowingly kept 3+ list cloggers on our list rather than gone and chased midfield, half back and half forward depth. Players that you can find in the state leagues and players that other teams have found in the SPP period. Not much we can do about that now though. Game plan wise I maintain that we just aren't sharing and running with the ball to full capacity. Everything is too straight lines and bomb it. That worked last year, but you have to adapt and build. Bowey, Lever and Tomlinson started to settle down in the 2nd half, that was good to see. With more quality back in against the Dogs the backline should be far better. Midfield probably couldn't play much worse. Oliver and Petracca do play such a physical style though so I can see why if they're a little bit off they kind of drop away. Just not convinced by our depth though. JJ was a great story last year but he's kind of meh. And Sparrow unfortunately doesn't look to really have made a big leap. And Harmes in Harmes, useful, but not exactly getting any better. Forward line is the real worry though. Ben Brown fell back down to earth after a great effort last week. Jackson hasn't made a lot of progress in terms of clunking marks and it can't be easy having to switch positions so much. And Tom McDonald is so feast or famine from contest to contest. You just don't know if he'll clunk a mark or hit a target or if he'll let his man gallop away from him with ease.

Think this one is against Peanut McDonald and not Tracc.

Kind of funny that Fritsch is one of our better players on their non preferred

He’s not being impartial he’s been overly negative. It’s unprofessional.

Turner on, wonder who’s off

We play so direct it really exposes the backline if the forwards and mids aren’t on. If this was a real game I’d hope the message from Goody would be tempo and spread. Bomb bomb bomb is such bad footy

Joel Smith has talent and a potential role but it’s got to be being used in space and on smaller opponents. He has elite athleticism and movement. He doesn’t have any idea how to use his body to shift bigger forwards who can out reach him. As a 7th defender who does a bit of everything he’s interesting. As a full back he’s hopeless

Not having another mid sized marking forward on the list is an oversight. Not counting the super collectors in Melk and Brown

Our big guns are a bit off and we’re mucking around with it inside 50. Plus the backline is the backline. Nothing too concerning so far, really it’s the result of winning a game by 80 points. Advice for the inside 50’s is take the easy ones. Advice for the backline is stick more defensive then worry about rebound or intercepting.

Sure but it’s a new rule and preseason, someone has to stuff up so the others have seen it

Baker in a different role was worth a go but the backline isn’t it. Half forward next (at Casey)

Jordon stiff. Free kick was rubbish and we’ve got away with walking up as we returned the ball for years. Viney is Viney.

Not a great start for the ‘Fritsch is a top 50 player in the game’ fans

I’d give him a run in the last quarter with a few stints in the ruck. Otherwise the first choice guys need 3/4’s of solid work

Who you taking out from Jackson, McDonald and Fritsch?

Laurie and Dunstan sightings

Carlton fans would've been elated to see Juddy back kicking goals at Princes Park.

Yes, but they pretty clearly just slotted players in to open spots to fill 26. Would've been very weird to see him actually play given the tall forwards and rucks are all settled. Unless they were finally going to roll the dice on him down back. Can rule out Bedford too by the sounds of things. So down to 24. One of Baker, Chandler or Turner plays, the other 2 are probably the emergencies who might come on late or for injuries.

It’s very Geelong for their new CEO to have started a scheme that pays women outside the soft cap then to sign up the best available (by a mile) woman. I see works are underway at the stadium but they must nearly be due to announce another phase to the upgrade there.

You’re correct, I was just keeping it brief. Protocols is all I know