DeeSpencer

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.

I doubt we make it that far but if we do the sight of Jordan Lewis attempting to chase Richmond forwards will make plenty on here very keen on Hunt. Didn’t look fit at the start of the year. Got injured, came back and was far from terrible and then got injured again. Hopefully plays well in the VFL finals and carries some confidence in to preseason. Get him fully fit and he’s very much a required player

Linc McCarthy anyone? Not a pressure small forward but a super talent who would give us the crumber we need if we got his body right. I'd be keen for a 1 year deal and a token late pick trade.

Richmond weren't at their best that's for sure. Should've dominated in the midfield and on transition but couldn't get anything going. Essendon did have a number of really good players though particularly the talls. Aaron Francis - far too good for VFL, will intercept all day if not negated. James Stewart - more than handy key forward at this level and surely the match up for Dec Scotty Draper - very good young ruck Nick Hind - speed machine Jordan Ridley - classy half back with an AFL future, needs to be tagged Michael Hartley - very solid full back at VFL level Will be interesting to see if Casey gives King another chance in the ruck so Pedersen and Smith can stay forward.

AFC East: New England AFC North: Baltimore AFC South: Houston AFC West: Chargers WC: Jacksonville WC: Denver NFC East: Philly NFC North: GB NFC: South: New Orleans NFC West: San Francisco WC: La Rams WC: Minnesota Saints over Texans in the SB.

Rams SeaHawks Steelers If it's not too late

He's 23. I think we say to him come to us for 2-3 years when we really need a solid back up as we develop 18 year olds. You'll play at Casey but even if Max is healthy we'll at least give you a couple of games when we rest Max and maybe a couple of games together if we have key forward injuries. Plus you'll get taught by Max and Greg Stafford. By the end of the 2-3 years you'll know everything Max does. And we'll let you go to whatever club you want if you're playing like an AFL level starting ruck and have offers on the table. I don't think there's a big money contract on the table for him from any club. He's not quite good enough to get the Nankervis/Jolly/Mumford back up ruck to starting deal straight up from a team. NFL fans will be familiar with Jimmy Garoppolo who spent 3.5 years behind Tom Brady as his back up and played in all of about 2 games. He was traded to the 49ers, looked like a star and got the biggest contract extension of all time from them after 7 starts. Things are different over there but Jimmy G learnt from great coaches as the back up to the goat. Not saying Gawn is Tom Brady but he'd still be pretty handy to train against every day.

I can make it appear faster than that!

Part 2 was released at the same time as Part 1 (or close enough to), it's just over on Sal's Against All Odds Podcast and not on BS'.

Very happy with that Mack trade. Getting back a 2nd round pick makes it not much more than giving up a 1st round pick. Done. Bears D just went from solid but unspectacular to very exciting and capable of really shutting down other teams. Week 1 in GB might be too early for that but should be able to cause some trouble as the season goes on. The NFC is loaded.

Surely has the skills to play regular games. Which usually means it's a question of work rate. Liked him as a forward when he first started but he looked good down back as well but couldn't consistently perform. He's certainly worth asking the question. Right age where he could get it together quickly if you sorted him out.

Gawn coached Flip in juniors and liked him which is a natural reaction to coaching any kid with a bit of talent. But I think that's different to actually having come up against a guy at AFL level and seen his talent. Preuss has a lot of talent, but I'm not sure why he'd leave being stuck behind Goldy to be stuck behind Gawn. We could play both but not if Weeds is playing like he is now. We certainly aren't in a position to promise games.

2 open list spots now with Bernie retiring. High quality free agent signings looking unlikely, but at the same time trade outs of guys like Frost and Tyson don't seem so popular all of a sudden. Not sure what Garlett will do, probably a chance that he stays on the list for salary reasons even if he doesn't play on. 12 more to decide on. Oscar - stays unless we do a Steve May trade Vanders - stays JKH - leaning towards stays, he surely has more faith he can play at the level now than 10 weeks ago Bugg - goes Filipovic - probably goes Kent - leaves if someone else wants him, otherwise could stay Pedersen, Keilty, T Smith, King - got to keep some combination of at least 2 of these guys for tall depth. If we delist them we'll need state league or delisted player back up replacements in the ruck, key defender and forward. McKenna and Johnstone - wait and see based on other list changes

He looked ok, but not all that fit and not impressively big, skilled or quick. Add in the likelihood he does a hammy at any time and it's probably a risk we don't bother with. Taylor has shown an interest in getting in guys they liked in their draft years though. He's clearly a guy you'd try to get to train with the ground in October/Nov and see how he's going if you were at all interested.