DeeSpencer

I bet they’ll blame the clubs for the scheduling of unofficial practice matches.

I like how Cal calls it a quirk rather than complete and utter balls up

A strong grab, a beautiful pick up and dish off, numerous well timed leads. If it was year 1 for him we'd be ecstatic. If it was year 2 we'd be really happy. It's year 3 so I think the correct opinion is to be just a fraction underwhelmed but at the same time he did show things.

Reverse ladder order at the time of the draft. If we have a list spot and want to use it then no doubt Culley and Roy will both be in consideration but no guarantees.

He’s bouncing

He got better the longer the game went and does stick to his task. But mostly the 2 main competitors for his job got injured today (plus McVee is already out).

Confirmed Kynan Brown and assume AJ as they were subbed on for the first match. Jed Adams would’ve but he was subbed on for Hore early in the first game. The others named in the 29 man squad were Sestan, Mentha, Verrall and Fullarton so I’d expect they’d be playing

I’d say we sat fairly deep especially against the wind, but half backs were getting forward. Bowey narrowly missed a goal and AMW had at least one inside 50. Hore came off early for Adams so we were bigger than we wanted inside d50. With so many first choice backs out it probably hampered our ball movement but there was a plan to use corridor and we saw some targeted kick outs to Petty. Midfield seemed to focus on cutting off the corridor but weren’t exactly busting it both ways. That said, I expected LDU, Powell and especially Sheezel to get us in space more. Forward spacing (as much as it can be seen from tv) seemed drastically different. The wind incentivised long and strong but we did have plenty of kicks to JVR, Disco and Jeffo leading up. Rivers, Pickett and Clarry all looked to run the ball and especially as the game opened up they found space.

AJ came on fresh in the ruck against a teenager and looked great but that doesn’t mean we need him for the 15% of game time Max will rest. Jeffo was chosen because he replaced Fritsch which allowed Turner and JVR to play their roles as they will round 1. Im yet to see anything that changes my mind that we will just play the 2 talls, Fritsch, Tracc and Langford.

FB: Petty May Howes HB: Salem Lever Bowey C; Billings Rivers Lindsay/Woey HF: Sharp Turner Langford FF: Chandler JVR Fritsch Foll: Gawn Oliver Langdon Int: Windsor, Viney, Tracc, Sparrow S: Lindsay/Woey Smokies: AJ, Henderson, AMW (if healthy), Jeffo, T Mc, Brown, Laurie Out: T Mc In: May Out: AMW In: Windsor Out: Hore/Adams In: Salem Out: Pickett In: Langdon Out: Jeffo In: Fritsch Out: Woey/Lindsay In: Tracc Out: Laurie In: Viney Out: Campbell In: Gawn

That was my suspicion, often hurts more than acl. Hoping for the best

Looks like AJ and Kynan Brown running out to warm up, suspect they’ll sub a couple more off (perhaps JVR and Oliver)?

Nice ball movement they’re going side to side through the middle but the Laurie inside 50 kick was not great and the free kick was fortunate. Hope we use the last quarter to keep the ball rolling

I’m worried about Hore getting subbed off for Adams. Anyone got an update on Marty?

The class of el Jefe! (Nice finish from Sharp too)

North got the rub if the first half but wow that’s a decision. Save those for round 1

Picket fence said put it over the fence!

Adam just got out marked but he had first hands on the ball in a pack for the third time since he’s come on. Really good start

Not as concerning as his lack of separation and hands on the lead

Frisco Turner

Jed Adams on? Hope our key backs are ok

It’s free kick north in the back line for sure but we have some dumb footballers down there

FB: Archer Logue Corr HB: McDonald Comben Daniel C; Scott Sheezel O’Sullivan HF: McKercher Darling Simpkin FF: Zurhaar Larkey Curtis Foll: Xerri Parker LDU Int: Tucker, Powell, Pink, Hansen Jnr E: Phillips, Konstanty, Stephens, Maley, Goad Although no idea what they’ll do with the bench if they go an extra tall or use Parker and Zurhaar as talls. A much stiffer backline than North have rolled out in recent years. Super talented young midfield and some weapons up forward.

Ease up on the negativity in February. A healthy Spargs has plenty to contribute

How I'd line them up: FB: Petty McDonald Howes HB: Bowey Lever Hore C; Billings Rivers Lindsay HF: Sharp JVR Sparrow FF: Chandler Turner Langford Foll: Campbell Oliver Pickett Int: Laurie, AMW (Sestan), Woey, AJ E: Verrall, Fullarton, Adams, Jeffo, Brown, Mentha, Sestan Maybe sub a few off at half time. Missing many of our best backline rebounders will hurt but hopefully the midfield can win enough of the pill to at least give the forwards a crack at it.