DeeSpencer

He was our only midfielder running back for the first quarter. Busting his backside to pressure and then be an outlet option whilst the rest coasted. He set up the saints first quarter as well. Interestingly his kicking has been ok but he's become indecisive by hand which shouldn't be hard to fix.

Garlett has to go. Tackles and pressure numbers way down. No desire to win a contested ball and therefore burning chances left right and centre. Taking 2 chances isn't hard when you burn 10. Wagner wasn't good, but the wing is a new role for him and a very difficult one given the way we play, stacking numbers around the ball and overusing it. He's not a good tackler or a quick chaser but I think you'll find his work rate was good. Not good enough to stick in the team but still a decent work rate. Looked more comfortable when switched to half back. Stretch has to stay for his work rate as well. Constantly running to open up the far side of the ground, without it we don't get the kicks coming back in through the corridor. He was hesitant to take the game on (again, game plan) but most of his ball and use and contested stuff wasn't ok. Let him build a bit of form until maybe Viney comes back and we reshuffle the midfield. Out: Wagner, Garlett In: Salem, Watts. Salem half back, Vince to Wags spot on the wing, let him tag Sidebottom. Watts playing a versatile forward role and moving on to the wing.

His tackle numbers have dropped away since mid year. The clangers are rising. And the physical play has been non existent for most of the year. Yeah the worst of the weeks have been the last two but that doesn't mean you get a free pass. If he's flying back and forward across the country that's more reason not to play him. Small forwards who don't lay tackles and don't play with physicality have been found out in finals over and over again. Garlett has two weeks to show he won't be one of them and I'd rather he earned his spot back to do it. Just like Watts should be/is doing.

Maybe, but I can all but guarantee he doesn't touch it in a final. His efforts have been insipid of late. Absolutely no interest in winning the ball under any physical pressure.

Out: Garlett - can't possibly just keep playing how he has been. Not attacking the ball. Making horrendous decisions with it. Missing simple shots. You can't take a small forward down on confidence and impact in to finals. Has to go back and get right in the 2's. Out: Viney (rested/injured) In: Stretch, JKH Melksham goes in to the midfield to tag Zorko so we need the extra half forward in JKH. Stretch plays wing and Harmes/Hannan/Petracca move closer to goal. If Hogan isn't all that far off I'd stick with the Weid. Give him a go against younger opponents. If not I'd bring Frost in and decide based on match ups if Frost should play forward or back. He's not a forward but I think he can offer something in the 2nd tall forward role as a pressure and physicality player. That's all we want from the second tall.

Did some nice defensive work at times, his ability to close space quickly is so dangerous, but didn't get the ball in space a lot that's for sure. Took a few flying shots at goal early that weren't really the right call and then became too handball happy after that. He looked on in the first quarter. Wasn't efficient but was a big part in being around the ball in the forward line threatening. Didn't go his way but he easily could've had the 3 goals Harmes did to starts us off, that was good to see. If he needs a rest next week to right for round 23 then that's fine with me. Otherwise just get him through to the bye and/or end of year depending what it will be!

Did his job in the first half, particularly in the first quarter where he got on the lead a bit, brought the ball to ground and tackled well. Yeah he ran out of puff in the 3rd and couldn't do too much in the last but it's not easy being the 2nd or even 3rd option in this side. Look at the quiet games Pedersen, Watts, Hannan etc have had when the game has gone around them not through them. I'm glad he had another run at the top level and even if it isn't much he's made improvements in tackling and I think his leading is decent. Our forwards start so bunched and run at unusual angles. It's not an easy system for any forward yet alone a young tall. Especially when the service dries up. It's a system designed to create pockets of space to kick the ball in to and to lock the ball in.

Clearly wasn't the same player in 2016 that he was in 2015, especially given he'd done a full preseason to strip fitter and developed more of a professional footballers body than the local footballer who played in 2015. Don't know or really care if he's best 22 or best 30, having those numbers let's you breed competition. I think Vanders would've been very handy today in the Weideman role given he's big enough to play as a small line up CHF (so would Tim Smith).

Out: Watts (carrying injuries), Oscar McDonald, Maynard (unlucky), Harmes In: Weeds, Hannan, Stretch, JKH FB: Jetta Frost Hibberd HB: Salem Tom Mc Vince C: Stretch Viney Jones HF: Hannan Pedersen ANB FF: Garlett Weeds Petracca Foll: Gawn Oliver Tyson Int: Hunt Lewis Melksham JKH Time for Tom McDonald to go back for one last game against Riewoldt. Fresh legs in on the wings and half forward. Big jobs for Weeds and Pedda to do but they've played together at Casey quite a bit and they might thrive with responsibility.

I'd be fairly confident he'd rank the teams Sydney, GWS, Geel, Bulldogs then Richmond, And list Adelaide (controversially), Port, Essendon and West Coast in the non contested group.

There's very few AFL midfielders with the elite endurance required and more speed than Stretch. The Hill brothers, Isaac Smith, not too many more. Lewis Jetta but he doesn't have the work rate any more. Gaff is similar speed with a little more take off but is also completely one sided. It's not really a matter of speed. It's a matter of run. It's putting the foot down and spreading away from contests at enough pace to get a break on an opponent. Hunt, Hibberd, Garlett, Hannan, we can find pace through the flanks, but we need the game open and that means mids who's first instinct is to push to space. I like Goodwin's philosophy that outside players have to win the ball and inside players have to run the ball too. It's the same kind of theory that should be for forwards or backs have the ability to defend and attack in equal measure. And if we can rotate mids inside and out that gives greater flexibility in selection. That said, I think guys like Jones and Tyson aren't going to become natural outside players overnight and Stretch has it naturally. Yeah I wish he was faster and more damaging but he peels from contests perfectly and reliably hits targets. Or he did until this year when they've put so much focus on him being stronger inside. I think a lot of the reason he goes backwards is because they are instructed to keep the ball in the congestion if there's not a good option forward as we so often have a spare at the contest whilst the opposition have the spare behind the ball. Either we even up forward and then kick it more or we find more spread so the ball can maintain attacking momentum and not go back in to congestion. Add more natural outside runners and every player at the stoppage will be encouraged to get the ball moving faster.

I like McCartney and I like that we are based on contested footy but I also think the outside game matters and skills matter and just rolling numbers around the ball leads to a lot of space for the opposition to work in. See GWS being out the back all day. Yesterday I think we had the following in the midfield: Viney, Oliver, Tyson, Jones, Lewis, Maynard, Harmes. They are all contested ball winners and nominal inside midfielders. Lewis and Jones are the only 2 who are good kicks. Harmes and Jones the only two likely to repeatedly break the lines and they aren't exactly super quick. Jones the only elite runner. Now with more discipline we might've got away with playing stoppage footy and killing the game in the first quarter but we lost a bit of hardness and discipline and panicked and we didn't have nearly the run in the legs to go and chase down the Giants. As soon as it got outside the contest we were done. The questions I'd like asked of the coaches is where is the outside run and how do we expect to play in tight every week and not have some versatility to run with the ball in attack and run back to defend. With more outside run I think we'd capitalise on our inside ball winning better - Oliver is dying to dish his handballs off to someone actually on the move - and we'd defend better the other way with more balance across the ground.

Forget about the falling over under pressure, kicks off the ground to avoid picking the ball up, fumbles, yelling at team mates going harder at the ball than him and dodgy hospital disposals. What position does everyone expect him to play? Loose man back seems to be his best spot, but we can't carry a player just for that role unless there's a predicted breeze. He's yet to play half forward at the Dees. I'd like to try it but now isn't the time to be trying a new position. Half back - against the likes of Deledio and Dev Smith (both too quick) or maybe Stevie J (too skilled a forward). Wing - against Scully and Whitfield - both running machines who do huge km's at speed, that won't end well, they'll over lap off him all game. On ball - against Kelly, Shiel, Coniglio and Ward - all 4 are running machines and strong contested ball players, plus the first 2 especially have great pace. I can't see him sticking with them. Lewis has been and will be of tremendous value to us but I just can't see a role for him against the Giants. Most sides have weak spots that will let us blend him in on ball, wing, half back and spare defender, but I just don't think the Giants are like that. Goodwin backs in his style and system against most sides which is fair enough but I think a lot of beating the Giants is having the run to go with them. If we let them charge forward as they like to do the result won't go our way.

FB: Jetta Oscar Hibberd HB: Hunt Frost Salem C: JKH Oliver Jones HF: Hannan Petracca ANB FF: Watts Tom Mc Garlett Foll: Gawn Viney Tyson Int: Maynard, Vince/Wagner, Melksham, Harmes Out: Hogan (inj), Lewis (rested), Trengove (retired) In: Jones, Maynard, Vince/Wagner I'd back Hannan in to bounce back unless he's really sore and then maybe bring in Stretch or DJ. Up to Goody if he wants to give Vince his spot back or punish his stupidity. There's no room for Lewis this week. The Giants are too quick in the midfield and run far too hard on the wings. We don't need a loose man back and we can't carry a midfielder with no pace or run, not one who is afraid of putting their head over it either. Petracca has to go forward and be a creative link player. Bring Maynard in to crash and bash around the packs.

Kicking and game sense will be the concern, but no doubt he's got the ball winning, aggression and athleticism to be a very good AFL stoppage player. I think the issue with giving him a debut a few weeks ago was that he wasn't quite at his best after missing a couple of weeks with concussion a month or so before that. He seems to have gone to another level in the last few weeks if the match reports are any guide. I'm not sure there's much point in giving him a debut if he's to play half forward. That won't suit him. But if he's thrown the challenge of going on ball I think he's worth a go. The biggest question might be whether he's got the tank to play AFL midfield especially given Oliver, Petracca etc aren't great runners either, same with an underdone Viney who surely couldn't be covering the same km's as at full fitness.

You named 4 guys who were dominant ball winners at their best and now should probably all be in the last year of their careers, maybe 1 more for Lewis. Seb Ross has added a superb sidestep and burst to his game to allow him to avoid or chase down opponents. He's not slow anymore. The reality is Trenners was getting destroyed out the back in the last quarter by Boak and S Gray. He was level with Boak on a back flank who then sprinted 5+m clear of him to mark uncontested. They sent the runner out to drag him off and then added Lewis as the 7th defender to stop Port getting over the top (which Impey did after Lewis dropped a chest mark). Now the hope surely is that Trengove improves his positioning with more game time at half back and might even get AFL match fitness improvements to keep whatever sprint he has in him late in games. If he does he's a chance to hang in there. If not he's done.

1. We are young and still have quite a few guys each week who haven't reached anything near peak endurance 2. We've played a lot on the road and and Etihad and when we have played at the G we've struggled, especially early in the year. Most teams big wins come at home 3. We've had injuries in several games, especially the ones where we've build leads. Joel Smith round 1. Hunt v Adel. Watts, Jones v the Dogs. Similar to this is the Port game second half came post Darwin when we are just trying to kill the game. 4. The forward line has been chopped and changed regularly with Hogan and Gawn out as well as Hannan and Petracca spending more time in the middle. I'm sure the coaches would like to get the Hogan/T Mc/Watts combination settled in for the next 5 weeks plus Garlett and half forwards all working together. My biggest regret in not having big wins is that the coaches haven't had a lot of chances to do some experimenting and resting of players in game. The counter to that is we've often had such poor starts that Goodwin has made a heap of moves during games so its not like we haven't tried a few things.

I don't think there's much difference between playing VFL Reserves and playing A grade VAFA, EFL Div 1 etc etc. The difference is that the kids playing in the Development League had an easier path to playing VFL and had (somewhat) professional development at VFL clubs. Now they'll go it alone at local clubs before getting a chance in the VFL and those chances might not be consistent. They might get a game here and there until injured players come back and they get sent back. I think they'll need a compromise and to have VFL train on squads that give a decent number of players the training they require and then maybe even have a carnival mid year of the best players under 22 who haven't played a significant number of VFL games. My understanding is clubs are reluctant to draft guys outside of the VFL system because they just haven't seen how their bodies stack up yet alone if they are good enough. There needs to be a way to make sure that the fringe VFL players are willing to give up the comfortable local footy scene to take a chance on themselves at VFL level and that's harder now.

Squandered what? He's 20 years old, in his second year of footy, dealing with a personal issue that seemingly is best dealt with back in his family home - not unusual for a 20 year old - and has had injuries. After 2 games in the WAFL he broke in to Freo's side. List spots - Spencer, Kennedy, Trengove, Garland, Lumumba, Kent, Hulett, possibly Vince don't worry we've got plenty. No idea if we want him or if he'd mentally or physically get the all clear, but he was going to be a higher pick before a nasty wrist injury, he's got midfield ball winning combined with forward line craft, I'd be very surprised if his career was done and I'd be surprised if we weren't interested if he was free to a good home (which I also doubt would be true).

Sporting Globe this year. Apparently went off during the Eagles game. Would do very nicely for a finals celebration. Otherwise social clubs aren't a thing any more.

Tyson probably comes in on a wing for Stretch who's just a bit up and down at the moment, not sure he's confident. Another stint in the VFL might get him right for the back end of the year when the ball movement flows better because I still think he's a lock and play guy on a wing. Makes us slow through the wings with Tyson and Lewis holding them down and maybe Melky and Harmes going through their but that's ok. Joel Smith gets another week, the back 7 did the job well enough and we may as well give him another go. He'll be a player, needs game time and help. Wouldn't be opposed to moving Lewis to half back and throwing Smith forward if it doesn't work out against the Crows. Question is does JKH and/or Kennedy come in for Kent (fumbly, shaky disposal and ineffective tackling) or Pedersen (limited impact forward). I'd be inclined at this stage to stay with Kent because he still has upside and we'll need to make changes post Darwin, and to stay with Pedersen because the 3 talls force Lever to defend more.

He's slow, unaccountable and bruise free. I think he has to go to half back and let the play come to him. That's where he's played his best footy this year - v Saints, v GC, v WCE. I've heard reports from players that Lewis' on field talk is valuable and that's going to be of more benefit at half back than any other spot. I'd much rather give Vince a chance on ball in the next month because you know he'll compete at the contest and work hard around the ground. Pretty obvious switch in my mind.

Hoping Lewis apologises to all of us soon for stealing our cash.

Why the hell did we use this Findlay guy? Didn't he not get Viney off a few years back? Bugg might not be a star but he's an MFC player and on that basis we should've done the best we could to get him the lightest punishment. In my mind that means hiring a decent QC who will present all of the evidence. All I heard was that Bugg had pled guilty, apologised and was remorseful. Nothing about: - No weeks suspended in 94 games - Mills started it - Boxing expert Danny Green's comments about the force and intent of the punch - No intent to cause injury This was a 4 week suspension that became 6 weeks because it was Friday night footy and the expendable Tomas Bugg and I'm disappointed our club that rolled with that.

Tom McDonald if they want to give it to one guy for the 4-6 weeks Viney and Jones are out for. Vince if they want to share it between Vince, Gawn and T Mc during the weeks. Give Vince the captaincy and get him back in the midfield to do a job. If Lewis captains this club I'll write Goodwin a letter that makes the one he got earlier in the year seem like a compliment.