DeeSpencer

The midfield were belted today and that's both our strength and probably the area where we can find the most natural improvement. Harmes showed what a big summer can do. Time for Brayshaw, Oliver, Petracca to do the same. And Viney and Vanders getting healthy. Those 6 guys I named can probably get 140 touches a game pretty easily. They had 141 combined today. If they improve their 2 way running and clean up their skills it will make the life a lot easier for the rest of the side. For Clarry it's finding room to kick the ball more. For Brayshaw it's finding the kicking efficiency he badly needs to improve. Petracca it's two way effort and being cleaner under pressure, plus his goal kicking.

I think we need reinforcements on all 3 lines. A gun key defender would be nice but probably won't happen. So at least adding more flanker depth would be handy. Forward line needs to work out the plan for Hogan and then find some crumbing and pressure players. Go get a Rioli!!! Midfield just add some depth ball winners and then find the solutions on the wing. The wing desperately needs changes.

I'll update this as the list changes come in. And after trade week. But I thought I'd get some things down on paper and see where we are at and what we need to bring in. FB: Hibberd Oscar Jetta HB: Lever Frost Salem C; Fritsch Brayshaw ##### HF: Spargo ?Hogan Petracca FF: ##### T Mc Melksham Foll: Gawn Oliver Viney Int: ?HBF, ?Forward/Wing, Harmes, Vanders I've left Frost and Oscar in because I don't think we are getting May and we have to back them in. Depth: ANB, Hannan, Stretch, Baker, Maynard, Wagner, Jones, Lewis, Hunt, J Smith, ?Garlett, ?Tyson Key defenders: Frost, Oscar, Petty, ??Keilty 3rd tall: Lever, J Smith Back pockets: Jetta Flankers: Hibberd, Salem,Hunt, ?? Lewis, Wagner Inside mids: Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes, Maynard Outside mids: Fritsch, ??Tyson, ??Jones, Stretch, Baker Ruck: Gawn, ??Preuss Mid/forward: Petracca, Vanders Key forwards: T Mc, ??Hogan, Weideman 3rd tall: Melksham Flankers: Spargo, ANB, Hannan Crumbers: ???Garlett

I have no issue with Joel Smith in. They just got the wrong out. Interestingly though when Smith went forward despite some moments of poor skill and getting in the way he looked like our most athletic forward. That shows you how much work we need to do in upping our forward pressure and really just getting some speed and real pressure in to the mix. Melksham does absolutely nothing at ground level, he's awful in that regard. Petracca runs out of puff. ANB doesn't have great agility or power to stick tackles. Hannan has poor agility for a modern foward. Spargo has a bit of movement but is only small and young. We need to get guys who can really bend, twist and lay tackles. The focus on forward pressure this year was excellent. The execution of that focus was poor.

They'll push out Lobb and Finlayson. That's if they don't get what they want for Shiel. They'd be mad to trade Kelly a year early, he's vital for them to win the flag and won't lose value in a years time.

I watched the last few minutes of the 2nd quarter and the 2nd half. Seemed to rotate between the midfield - where he was involved in play - and full forward - where the ball largely avoided him but he'd go in chasing runs. Had a nice clearance in the 2nd quarter. In the 2nd half he had a lovely crumb about 40m out but missed the goal. Went on some big blistering chases to get from a long way to the contest. Nailed a big tackle which gave away a free but was worth it. Was involved with a few link up handballs. Skirted the packs a bit and I thought there were chances for him to jump in a get the ball. I'd say he looks like a draft prospect because he can get the ball in a pack and he loves to chase and tackle, but I'd also be concerned he's pretty limited in his involvement otherwise.

Game plan is pretty good. Pressure based field position attacking defensive set up. Aggressive ball movement with fast playing on and getting the ball in quickly. What we need to do is get the balance right between skills and ball winning, and develop the team and list so we have more players with better skills under pressure without sacrificing the ability to win the ball. We have a lot of the pieces but we need to round out the side. To win a prelim on the road without: - A reliable key defender - A reliable dangerous pressure forward - A quality outside runner Would've been a massive effort even if the side had turned up!

Jones deserves a year to see how he can play in a new role and a lightened work load - he carried the midfield in the first 6 weeks of the year. Lewis is playing the only position on the ground we can almost attempt to hide him and he's missing simple handballs under perceived pressure afraid of contact and giving away undisciplined free kicks. We gave him an extra year he wasn't going to get at the Hawks. Worked well for both parties. There's no need for 1 more.

Played some decent games towards the end of the year but cracks started to open in the final term against the Hawks and they busted wide open against the Eagles. Coaching or media role surely beckons.

JKH seemed to play forward quite a bit from what I saw at Casey last week. I think he's an option to come in if there's a forward flanker injury. If they seriously had him in plans for the wing I think he would've been up the ground at Casey. He looked great in the second half against GWS but I think the first half was exactly the concerns you've mentioned above. He'd be long odds to come in. I actually think Fritsch is just as likely to come straight out for Smith as Tyson is. If Goody really is all about the contest then he'll value Tyson's contested work on the wing and he'll want Smith's contested work down back over Fritsch's. That does mean we lose skill and the concern is Joel coughs it up too much but if the plan is to keep the game tight and attempt to defend very well then it's an option. Skill wise Smith would be one of our worst but I think he could easily impact as one of our better players with his run, tackles, smothers, intercept marks etc.

Fritsch looked ok as a forward at AFL level but his defensive pressure was poor, it's hard to create room for him on the lead - particularly with the way we play - and he's not going to out body or take many pack grabs against good AFL defenders. AFL footy is significantly different to VFL footy and I think Fritsch is more suited as a wingman who rotates forward or as a back flanker at AFL level. His marking and skills are best utilised in space. The only game he looked really dangerous as a forward in was the Saints game which was way too open. The conversation this week will surely be whether Fritsch has done enough to hold his spot down back, and if not whether he's the right option to slide back to the wing. Sacrificing some endurance and ball winning that Tyson has for more dash, dare, kicking skills and marking. I'm not convinced Hunt will ever have the endurance to be a wingman, he's too much of a sprinting athlete. Nor the stoppage craft. I like the wing options of Fritsch, Baker, Stretch and hopefully an even fitter and meaner Vanders plus some draft/trade additions.

I'm not a believer in tribunals altering scores. That's a slippery slope. Unless it was a deliberate ploy 19 on the field is breaking the rules just like a push in the back, a throw or a high tackle. And you can't go back through the game vision and start awarding free kicks based on the wrong decisions. There's a process to correct 19 men on the field via a count, just as there is for umpires to pay free kicks during the game. The 19th man had to line up either in the forward line, wing or back line and one of the opposition players should've worked out the opposition had a spare at the start of the quarter. They didn't. They were dumb. Bad luck. I don't think you can simply deduct the 8 points days later at the Tribunal. You have to deduct the score during the game or it's too late. The fine and suspended sentence to North Adelaide makes no sense either. Unless they deliberately cheated in which case they should be stripped of the game.

I assume you mean Lewis? Vital goal. 20 touches, 14 kicks, only 2 clangers. 4th highest supercoach score. I'm not saying he's a world beater but he's a player we better curtail.

AFL Draft 2018: Pick 1 and top 10 prospects, Jack Lukosius, Tarryn Thomas, Toby Bedford Settle down Toby. Late round pick should do it. Loving those tackle and clearance numbers.

The interesting thing is WC got on top of Collingwood by using Redden and Sheed on the wings (along with Masten) and giving themselves a big ball winning midfield with an advantage that way. The Pies were well on top and I thought the Pies midfield would go on and win that game but Redden, Sheed and Yeo in particular got on top at the contest. So Jones and Tyson actually match up well against those guys if we what to match them and beat them their and use that as the strength of our game. There's no Gaff and Jetta plays half back where ANB/Spargs will have a huge task in curtailing him. In general I'd certainly like the extra leg speed through the middle but I wonder if the Eagles achieve their quick pace via their backs and forwards and their excellent skills and not really via the wings and mids? We might stick with the same midfield purely because we want to win in our strongest area. Should we change to match up better with them or should we stay to our big jumbo midfield of ball winners?

At their best is Rodgers because he can scramble, he can avoid rushers and throw bombs, he can do anything. That said, if I had to start from scratch with both players aged 30 and I had a good defense and special teams and enough money to buy some quality offensive players but not break bank I'd go with Brady. Here's why: Obviously any QB is reliant on their scheme and coaching, but I think it's easier to create the system Brady plays in and it's safer for the QB. This is nitpicking and most will disagree with me but I think Rodgers isn't as easy to coach as people think. I'm not saying he has a good coach, I don't think he does, but he shredded the Bears just staying in the pocket and putting his receivers to work when he had to. He should do that more often but I think he likes to scramble around and make the big plays. The knee injury could be a blessing in disguise for Rodgers because he should play more like Brady. Develop insane chemistry with a small group of receivers and receiving backs and just take what's there mechanically marching down the field. The obvious thing to say there is McCarthy isn't Josh McDaniel's so it's not that easy but I think Rodgers has played at too high a level for too long for any half decent coach to not create a system based on his timing and accuracy if he wanted it.

Carolina (falcons are missing their best 2 players on D) Houston (Tenn qb situation is less than ideal) Chargers

J Smith slow? About as quick as anyone on the list. He'd come in and Hibberd and Fritsch would be pushed in to more attacking roles. But praying Salem is ok. He's had some tightness in what looked like a groin to me over the last few weeks.

Oscar - Vardy/Lycett Frost - Josh Kennedy Smith/Hibberd/Jetta - Darling, Ryan, Rioli Salem/Lewis - Le Cras, Cripps Oscar and Frost will take the talls. Salem and Lewis will play up the ground. Jetta and Hibberd take the match ups in between, with Jetta staying closer to goal. Fritsch has been doing a little bit of everything in between but they've tried to keep him up the ground so he's not tested one on one deep. Smith would give the backline more flexibility and free Hibberd up. The question is what price is that worth when Smith won't give rebound or skill and will probably turn it over at some stage? Fritsch wasn't perfect with the ball either on Friday. And if he plays wing he's got more pace and skill than Tyson but isn't as strong at the contest. But he can also go forward instead of Vanders who can stay wing. It's all very hard to compute. Just as I did last week I think Smith is the logical man in to a 23 man squad and there's no one else really in contention. Tyson, possibly Vanders (but I think his defensive work rate was strong) and Fritsch the only 3 to consider if they miss out.

The game was awfully over umpired early. Jetta free was yuck. Picking free kicks off the ball for slight holds or contact after the ball was gone but then Clarry is getting belted in the chest and hung on to and gets nothing for the best part of 3/4's. Slide rules are mostly there, although the Brayshaw one was silly. The Lewis one was his fault. Crap rule. Messy umpiring didn't help a messy game.

Hasn't done a lot at Casey but lock down back pockets who have clean skills so don't turn the ball over aren't easy to find. I really like Lockhart from Casey but I think he's more of a rebounding flanker. I'd love to get him in the 3rd round of the draft but I don't think that means much for Dion. I think it comes down to the coaches evaluations about whether DJ can be a Jetta like player in a couple of years. Nev seems to be teaching him. He has neat skills, he has decent athleticism. I assume he's coachable and professional. If that's the case I'd probably give him another year.

Career numbers are pretty similar. I just think he's a heavier, stronger and more reliable.

I think he's faster than Hannan and a better tackler, that's why I'd want him to be a supersized version of Jeffy. Hannan's a better mark and a craftier forward. I like Mitch, but I'm also always concerned he follows a good game with a down game with minimal impact, his Eagles game was a return to the promise he showed last year and at times this year, if he can produce similar more often he'll go right up in my evaluations.

I'm in the minority here but I actually think he'd be an upgrade on Hannan, plus he can play down back as well. But I'm probably not interested because we don't need more players who are 20th best on the list, we need to spend resources trying to find more quality. We do have quite a number out of contract so maybe we replace 1 or 2 of them with a flyer on someone like Rohan but if it's going to cost anything in terms of trade or salary it's not worth it. Keep guys like JKH or Kent instead.

2 really bad mistakes - the playing on and trying to take a bunch of players on in the city end forward flank and the rushed play on to Jetta in the last quarter. Apart from that I didn't think he had too many huge mistakes. I get that we have a lot of players who were really good with their tackling but only Vanders injured an opponent in Murdoch. Along with Viney they are the meanest players in our side, they set the tone for the others to follow. The Cats started to make really uncharacteristic mistakes under pressure as the game went on, that's perceived pressure worrying about getting crunched and Vanders contributes a lot to that.