DeeSpencer

Seattle Baltimore Green Bay Really wish I did the tips earlier and took the Jets. The Bills are a dumpster fire. They scored 31 and lost then sacked the offense??!

Yeah handy up forward and nearly took a screamer! Bit of a shame we didn't see him in his more suited spot down back or get him running in the ruck as the ball was just bombed forward a lot but he did look athletic and physical.

Essendon being Essendon will probably ask for the world. No point in going overboard if you're Goodwin. Given he was talking about being appointed the senior coach I thought it was more important to get the headlines on the club and current players instead of talking too much about a recruit.

Fair enough. I guess just being 195cm it's a fair effort to go against the 2nd rucks that are mostly 200cm plus these days. I'm sure he'd give it a go and probably be better than Pedda or Watts but I wouldn't recruit him for it unless he leaps like Nic Nat! Sounds like he's more of a power athlete so could be a full back a bit like Frost instead of a running CHB like one of the McDonald's. Might suit an Etihad team where he can camp back inside defensive 50 and then pick off contests. Could really suit North at FB whilst Tarrant does the running at CHB.

Feel free to correct any/all of this as I go but from what I've seen and heard: He's not big enough or athletic enough to ruck at AFL level. Nor does he have the talent to play forward - very few do. So we are looking at a key defender. To be a key defender I think you need: - Endurance: ok for a young VFL player but not amazing from the running I saw in preseason where he was a fair way down the pack - Athleticism: think he's pretty good in that regard, moves nicely considering he'll fill out in to a pretty strong lad - Speed: pretty solid but not Frost level fast - Good mark: yep - Competitiveness: yep, is willing to spoil and use his body - Kicking skills: doesn't make many mistakes at VFL but probably isn't his strong suit at the next level I think with good AFL development he could play a few games but in the few times I've watched Casey I haven't seen anything that really blows me away like a big game of intercept marks or a game where he's rebounded, broke lines and kicked like an AFL flanker. If we move on one of Dunn or Garland we probably need to add another young key defender, I guess time will tell who that will be. I certainly wish him well. It will be a big tick for the Casey program and help both the Dees and Casey to have someone drafted. The more players drafted from your VFL club the more incentive for young players to go there and as that talent develops the stronger your VFL team and the more entrenched your AFL players get with winning and winning culture.

I think whatever value there was to take from Hird and Thompson's time at Essendon we've got covered with Goodwin and McCartney. That said, the small group of banned bombers have been training with Sean Wellman who coached our backline better than anyone I can remember and it's been a select group featuring some pretty classy players in Watson, Hurley, Heppell and Hooker.

I don't know about that. I'm cautiously optimistic, although I would've preferred him playing this year. There's a few reasons: 1. He was very promising in his first few years and then seemed to hit a snag the last couple. Who knows how much the ASADA stuff played on his mind. 2. Then there's the chance that like many players they hit a bit of a wall around the 60-80 game mark where expectations have overshot performances and they have to fight through a bit of a dry spell to really become fully formed players. Nath Jones the best example of that. 3. The change of role to half back might see a lift in output. He can run, he plays well overhead for his size and he has kicking penetration. In our game style that is based upon defenders coming up to win the ball back and then attacking out to space and overlapping he might be valuable.

What are they? 24 and 26, with 100 and 80 games experience respectively. They'd increase the average but hardly send it sky rocketing. The youth thing does get overplayed but in some regards it's right. The midfield starting to get some continuity with Gawn, Jones, Viney, Tyson, despite a young average age/games they are entering/in their prime. But up forward it was often Hogan, Petracca, Brayshaw, Kent with only Watts and Garlett/Pedda as experience and those last two aren't exactly Luke Hodge style leaders. Then down back it was Tommy Mc, Jetta and a bunch of kids. To have Frost, Oscar, Hunt, Harmes, Wagner all with 30 games and under 22 or whatever they are in the same side there's definitely an inexperience factor there. Especially if trying to play a zone defensive system that relies on players making aggressive decisions on when to come up, when to drop back, when to fly for marks etc. It might take some time to mesh but I'm sure the hope is that a couple of experienced players being added to the backline group solidifies the unit.

I tipped the Lions. Indy have some bad injuries and suspensions, so I thought Stafford could make plenty of plays. They tried to lose it with the missed extra point at the end but got the job done. I don't think either of those teams will be good, but I like the Lions more because they were bad last year and got better, where as Indy are a mess outside of Luck. It seems the Bears were good for a half, but against a decent Houston defense the offense just ground to a halt. They double teamed Jeffery and with no Forte or Bennett there's no one else to make a play. The defense dug in for a half but with a weak secondary they can't get too creative and get after the QB. The Texans rookie WR Fuller was great and scorched the Bears. And if the Bears can't run the ball this year they won't win many games. If they do establish the run then they have enough in other places to test teams

Fantastic burn from Del Rio. I know they might've had some momentum but with Drew Brees at home I think the Raiders win < 50 % in overtime. If you lose the coin toss then it's probably < 40%. By going for it you put the other team on the back foot and have a controlled situation. Given the Saints defensive weakness I think it was an inspired decision.

Oh cool, probably before my time in being an NFL fan, either way I think it's a fun topic. I don't like pumping huge hours in to fantasy sports each week, although I probably would in America given the NFL is mostly consigned to Sunday which is half the appeal. Looking at Simmons + friends groupings probability says at least a couple if not a few of the teams in the 2nd and 3rd column of picks end up winning 8 or even 10 games and making play offs. And maybe someone in the first 10 teams falls off a cliff and finishes with 6 wins.

Cincinnati Green Bay Detroit

It might be too late to organise, maybe sometime next week before the 2nd round of games? But I wonder if we could get either 5 or 10 people to do this NFL wins pool that Bill Simmons has done. Could make it worth a point in the tipping Macca? Or just do it for fun. What do you think?

As a Bears fan I thought he was great as well. Quick and accurate release. Might only be a game manager but that's all you need with Denver's defense and their running game looked very good.

Tempted to tip the Panthers but I think I'll just enjoy watching the first game. From a better point of view the Pats with a 6 point spread seems generous even with Jimmy G. A fired up Belichick after a full offseason of preparation can work some magic there and at least keep it close.

Teddy: 65.3% 3231 yards, 14TD, 9 INT, 44 sacks, 88.7 Rtg Bradford: 65% 3725 yards 19 TD, 14 INT, 28 sacks, 86.4 Rtg I think Bradford can play as well as Teddy did last year and in a similar style. Obviously a run heavy offense takes down his number of attempts,, but with more weapons this year the Vikings might open things up a bit. The big questions will be whether he can stay healthy and whether he's good enough to do what's needed to win big games. Teddy last year was good but probably needed to improve to win play off games. That's probably the same level Bradford is at unless the Vikings defense goes to the next level or two.

After watching Hard Knocks I've got a bit more respect for Fisher. Or at least let me put it this way, I understand why he keeps his job and finishes with 7 or 8 wins. He seems competent and certainly isn't Mark Neeld level of crud. That said he must surely be running out of time very soon. Goff's preseason was rough and I think he was overdrafted by going number 1. I remember watching him against a decent Utah defense last year and they picked him off at will and he didn't play in a pro style offense. That said, I'm still a fan of his. He makes all the throws. He's got the temperament. He's physically gifted. I don't think sitting him for a few games/few months/the whole year even will do him any harm.

Welcoming myself back for a new season. And the Vikings go bang and trade something decent for Sam Bradford. Big move. Seems like they don't want to waste the year. Probably good news for the Eagles as well. Bradford made no sense on that roster.

I like him, but not convinced he's clearly better than Kennedy or Kennedy-Harris. Agree with Chaser, in that if someone went out he could come in. Otherwise for the price to get him - mid to late 2nd or early 3rd I think we'll have other priorities.

Ross Lyon doesn't take crap from anybody. It's why he's a great coach but also a potential weakness. Players take after their coaches. So Mundy is the captain as he's the senior player and leader. Fyfe is the superstar with a superstar attitude and wasn't the right choice for captain. Who knows if that's upset him, I doubt it. Plenty of time for him to captain the side later. Freo right now are rubbish. Freo next year will likely be far better. But they still need a tactical improvement and a lot more talent. Fyfe, Bennell, Johnson, McCarthy, pick 3, Sandilands (for 1 more year), that's an improvement but to rebuild it's going to take some sustained drafts and trades. I'm about 90% sure Freo will improve to at least an 7-10 win team next year and Fyfe will sign on and probably captain them in 2018. The 10% chance is that Fyfe gets injured again or Freo get a lot of injuries or Ross Lyon can't adapt at all and Freo struggle along to 5 or 6 wins and Fyfe says stuff this I'm off to join a contender.

Smart players never trust umpires. Plus you never know if someone's cheating and yelling out touched anyway. Spoil the ball through and worry about the call later. If the goal umpire called the touch 30m away then review it, but if a field umpire thought it was touched then unless they were hallucinating then I agree, just get on with the game.

He's 27, had a career best of 46 goals in an attacking side, he'll cost a lot of money and a high draft pick for a team that's traded away it's first pick already, he seems very happy at the Crows and we've invested heavily in Weideman, want to keep Hogan on a big deal and Watts is coming out of contract soon as well. Yes he'd fill a big hole. But I can't see it happening.

I was pleased to here Roos talk about the room for development but also how Clarry has won over his team mates by playing the right way. That would make me feel pretty chuffed as a young fella. You can see why Roos is well known as a players coach, he's been frustrated over the last two years but think his care for his players in genuine.

Clarry is good to go. Can't wait to see him play.

Viney, Jones, Tyson. They need to be getting 80+ disposals between them, using them well, covering the ground in attack and defending and stopping the 3 best midfielders from the other side. They'll have help from a heap of players in the rotation but if we are to afford the luxury of Vince back, Vanders forward and not overdoing young mids it will probably be these 3 doing it. Click the box in the top left of the quote and then hit delete. Will get rid of it. Bug with the new site.