DeeSpencer

http://demonwiki.org/Russell+Robertson They created the rookie list so he delisted and then re-drafted in Feb for the new rookie list

I don't think he was ever that fast. He's an endurance athlete. Used to be right at the front of our time trials. I think high half forward/wing (on a slower opponent than say Stretch or Hunt on the other wing) and just running all day is the go. Works for his sister. Getting lean without overloading his foot will be the secret. Last year when he first started running Brendan McCartney said 'you'll get that arse off the ground'. I think the idea is to get fitness in to his legs and I think it's happening.

Might be a bit of Doggies recency bias involved but I think he can play. We needed more goal kickers on the list so suits a need. Think his forward pressure and speed should allow him to play multiple roles as well. Not unhappy.

I'm not expert but I think Trenners best chance is as a Steele Sidebottom type outside runner who just goes all day, endurance is in his family after all. He's got the strength and smarts to get out of trouble in close, if he can just run the wings with enough of a motor to get the ball in space that might be enough.

Jeff looked a little stronger to me this year than last. I hope he's back on the right track. We could draft his long term replacement shortly.

I don't really agree with this. He moves wonderfully. He handballs to space. But his kicking is all hip action and every second kick goes spraying passed the target. When he nails a kick it's a thing of beauty - hard, fast, straight, but it doesn't always go that way for him.

Most of it's been covered today and I just had a quick look. But the more I see of Mitch King the more I think he'll get there in a few years. Looks much stronger already and big across the shoulders. He tires after a bit but when they are doing kick to kick he starts off moving and kicking nicely for a tall man. He's got to be 202+ by now. Trenners doesn't have the definition of some other guys but he looks lighter in the glutes. I think he's literally working his butt off so there's hope there. A large rehab group today and a lot of players going in and out of drills. Frost and Hunt haven't fixed their kicking yet so it will be important to get them in space where their speed is still as impressive. Watts in team drills where he can duck out on a lead and then spin and kick is deadly. If the backline skills pick up and he can start finding space and being hit up he's got another level in him. Salem seems to have lightened off a little since the first week back, or maybe just got more of a tan, he looks very good. He took a set shot from the pocket that was as sure a kid as you'll ever see. Hoges nailed one from the right forward pocket which is the side he struggles with. Just has to back himself and his straight routine and he'll get more confidence on that side. If he stays fit all preseason and his tank is vastly improved I think Dom Tyson's going to rack up some 40 touch games. We know he gets the ball in tight but he just seems to bob up in creative areas on the outside as well.

I've never believed they can be that specific a year out, but there weren't talls in this years batch and there were quite a few other talls available last year which is why I came round to liking that move. I'm sure Taylor would've preferred to hold on to this years 2nd round pick given there's a strong bunch in the late 20's/early 30's. If one of those guys drops it might be the best of both worlds. Shame there's not live draft trading yet. We could offer our 2nd rounder next year for a pick in the low 30's if a kid had fallen that far and we wanted them.

According to this: http://www.topendsports.com/sport/afl/testing-draft-results-best.htm Only 10 guys have run sub 9:50 3km at the draft camps and that's when they are skinny 18 year olds often with 10+kg to put on to hit peak footballing condition. Our inside midfielders probably aren't top of the league but they can run. Jones - yes. Viney - just on willpower alone. Tyson - improving and yet to do back to back preseasons. Vince, Lewis - solid veterans. Brayshaw - seemed to run in low 10 minutes and improving big time this year. Petracca and Oliver are going to take some time, which is why we've got a guy like ANB I guess. Our backline has plenty of guys who can run - McDonald's, White, Wagner, Hunt. Salem improving. Probably the most important position in terms of 3km running is for the outside mids. Bugg won it. Looks like Stretch didn't compete after being in rehab, the 4kg of muscle might have temporarily slowed him down but he's a very good runner. Melksham is another who can play wing or half back and is solid. Harmes the same. Adding other players who can run the lines outside should be a priority for the draft.

Sadly I think I got this one right. Said there was something fishy going on with the media asking about H's return date during the trade period and then even more so on Monday when he didn't turn up. He doesn't seem at all interested in fighting for his spot and/or helping the next wave through at Casey. So it's time Mahoney straps on his big boy pants and sorts this mess out in a professional but powerful manner. I've got no doubt Goodwin and PJ will support him.

Tombstone: Hanrahan, LeBois, Stengle. No to Oscar Mac BA: 48 - LeBois 67 - Tim Smith

2 national draft picks, 3 rookie picks and McKenna counts like a draft pick really. That said he'd certainly be nervously awaiting his first pick of the night. Funny business recruiting. The better you do the worse the picks you get for the years after.

Good work ANB, as well as Bugg and it's nice to have Jones up and training hard instead of recovering from neck surgery. No doubt plenty in the rehab group didn't compete and there's a few others with work to do but the pics and video seems to show quite a few finishing in bunches not far from the winners. We are starting to get some depth in the stocks of guys who can run to AFL standard through the midfield - with the 2nd tier guys getting a lot fitter - and backline - with the McDonald's, White, Wagner, Smith, Hunt etc in particular. And if there's a spot where you'd rather speed and power athletes it's probably the forward line anyway.

I said earlier in this thread that something smells fishy and that's only more so now. If he had ongoing symptoms then that's fine, but 'gathering more information' doesn't sound legit to me. No reason why he couldn't join the rehab group for light running drills and be held out of any contact drills. There are going to be a few picks between our last pick and the first rookie pick. So it isn't at all guaranteed that we'd get the same player. I'd like an answer before the draft, even if we pass on the pick.

Steelers Pats Titans

No surprise we are getting linked to rucks, crumbers, outside run and tall defenders. Certainly think we'll stick to best available with the first pick and hopefully have someone drop through, but would be surprised if the second pick isn't looking to fill a need.

I'm excited that they have music. Just one speaker so far but it's something I think they could build on and play crowd noise during goal kicking practise, play some tunes during the warmup and maybe cut it off for the focused training. I think it's a sign that Goodwin isn't afraid to be innovative and to mix things up. So music is a tick from me. Toilets must be next. Then a sound wall and more trees to stop the toxic diesel fumes at the freeway end please.

That photo probably overstates Smith's change in body shape. It's noticeable but not crazy. The change in definition is what makes him look so impressive but it's a good change from a basketballer to a footballer's body. Having that background in pro sports and being a bit older probably helps.

I'd like to see all of those guys get a chance but if we are playing more than 5 or so of them at once we are looking at a fair few injuries. The question of how much depth we need and cost-benefit of someone like De Boer to play at Casey and make them stronger is a difficult balancing act I think. It's similar to the debate that's currently been held in criciket about shield cricket and 2nd XI state cricket and whether youngsters need more opportunities or less opportunities with a higher standard of play.

Parish's ball use is overrated. Runs well out of contests and can kick a drop punt but he's far from perfect. As for the next bolded statement where is the evidence of this? Is it something you just made up? Have you consulted with any teams yet alone close to all 18? A low range drink driving charge may see a few clubs lower their opinions a little but if by some means he was a free agent I'd expect every club would be seriously interested.

Repeated hamstrings/soft tissue injures (I think 3) to finish last season.

A brief look in today. Officially a closed session I think so no media around. Gawn back on the track look good. Lots of small group drills. Practising contested marking, forward line movement, tackling, ground balls, spoils, short kicks inside 50, long bombs deep inside 50. The lot. Different coaches doing different drills and getting to work. Probably the most interesting bit was the running. Bugg, Maynard, Joel Smith, McKenna all went back to AAMI. As did Tommy Mc, Melksham and JKH who were in the rehab group. A group of Gawn, Hunt, Weideman, Hulett, Kennedy, Frost were doing timed 200m runs down the Punt road wing. Gawn just keeps pounding as the got in to the repetitions. Frosty started to struggle. The others battled on well. Dean Kent and Nath Jones were doing the same on the city side wing. Kent stuck with Jones for a few. Then Jones sat out and Cross took over pacing Kenty, he was working hard. Meanwhile the midfielders who doing longer timed runs varying from half a lap to 1 lap to a few laps. ANB led out most of them with White towards the front. Brayshaw was really strong as they went longer with Jones especially encouraging him (and all the guys) to step it up. Wagner, Salem, Harmes, Stretch were all running well and not far from the front and mixing the order with the first few depending on the individual set. That's the good news. I guess the less positive news was that Oliver was dropped early in the quicker repeats and Petracca was gapped as well. I was impressed by Max Rooke who took it upon himself to run with Clarry and then Troy Chaplin joined in too for a few laps. They had a big long run to finish and Oliver tried pretty hard to stay up to the group and then Tracc was back behind him, they were probably 100m or so behind over the course of 3 or so laps. Both are just heavier in the legs than most of our players and they run like it. To take the glass half full approach it really was impressive what both boys did last year at AFL level coming off limited preseasons and fitness bases. They got plenty of encouragement from the coaches and both shared a high five when the running was done.

I hope Grimes gets a go somewhere, but there's no point having him back with us. Would be prolonging his pain more than a lifeline. Even if it's for a similar role I think we are better off with someone knew.

Barlow was good enough to get a senior list spot. De Boer probably isn't. He's also younger, faster, less injury prone and probably slight more effective as a defensive forward and more experienced in the role. I'd prefer De Boer as a rookie than Barlow on the main list.

Certainly times have changed and for the better. And this might be a bit unfair of a judgement but the country might still be a little bit behind. There's greater distance, less public transport, towns still revolve around the pub. It's not any more excusable but it could be more explainable if Clarry was back in the bush.