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DeeSpencer

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Everything posted by DeeSpencer

  1. He's at that age that players sometimes stagnate as expectation outweighs production and a new club can really benefit them. Remember how much Nath Jones was floundering under Bailey, reduced to being a tagger and not using the ball well at all. A coaching change and big preseason later he was our best player. That's the best result with Melksham and might not happen but it is possible he improves quickly. Personally I think the team would improve quicker with a more natural outside mid or half back than another depth midfielder who probably needs to play in the centre square to be at his best. But with the interchange cap dropping adding depth isn't a bad idea. Adding another mature mid might send the message that we aren't a young side any more and expectations are real. Having a deeper midfield rotation might also facilitate better development conditions for our youngsters playing forward and back.
  2. NFL

    DeeSpencer replied to Dappa Dan's post in a topic in Other Sports
    I think it will be the white O linemen (not to make this a race thing they just happen to be white!) that will hurt Kelly. They had an amazing running game and he got rid of the 2 guards in Mathis and Herremans who powered a lot of that run game. And now they are spending money on expensive running backs who can't make any running yards because the line isn't blocking for them. And then the QB can't complete deep passes (partly because he's not great) because he's worried about getting sacked. You can't have everything in the NFL and be under the salary cap but I'd rather have a good O line and average running backs with 1 or 2 receiving weapons than a bad o line and whatever backs or receivers you want. Then you at least get a running game and from there you can help your defense.
  3. NFL

    DeeSpencer replied to Dappa Dan's post in a topic in Other Sports
    As for the Bears. Well, it's a dumpster fire. I hope they keep pouring petrol on and ride out a lowly season to the number 1 pick. Tanking baby! It might work in the NFL if you're LUCK-y. The defense just can't make a play. No sacks. Dreadful secondary. Confused LB's. They aren't as bad as last year yet but they aren't much better and things probably won't improve for the rest of the year unless the D line which actually has some level of talent can make some plays. Cutler is spending most of the time being highly efficient and capable before throwing the costly pick. No bears fan will be disappointed if he's out, even if he gets unfairly blamed for every thing he just makes the killer mistakes all too consistently.
  4. NFL

    DeeSpencer replied to Dappa Dan's post in a topic in Other Sports
    It's the American equivalent of liking Collingwood but I was very high on the Cowboys this year. For some reason I've gone from loathing Jerry Jones, Garrett and Romo to respecting the way they back each other. Will always be a fan of Marinelli's defense. So now I'm a bit sad that their season might be in big trouble. I wouldn't give up on the Eagles yet. Bradford's missed so much time it's going to take him a while to get to whatever his best might be (even if that's rubbish). The one thing I haven't liked with the Eagles is the way Chip has weakened what was a great O Line 2 years ago. I get him letting skill position players go and changing up the defense but if you have a great O Line and play hurry up running offense then why would you wreck that by not paying guys? Good to see the Bucs, Browns and Raiders (costing me the tip) bounce back with wins. 3 young QB's with interesting futures.
  5. NFL

    DeeSpencer replied to Dappa Dan's post in a topic in Other Sports
    Arizona Baltimore Edit: Late change at 1am. Going for Atlanta for the 3rd tip.
  6. DeeSpencer replied to MadAsHell's post in a topic in Melbourne Demons
    His lack of progress this year has frustrated me. Freo seem reluctant to pinch hit him in the ruck and/or play him Pav and 2nd ruck. He'd probably still be part of their future alongside McCarthy. Michael Apeness is a 201cm ruck/forward who I'd be keen on of the Freo back ups.
  7. If we have to give out 4 year deals to attract mediocre players then I'd rather we kept Toumpas, Watts, Garland and Howe. There's no point having a bunch of 2nd or 3rd picks if you can't deal them for anyone and the draft isn't good.
  8. DeeSpencer replied to MadAsHell's post in a topic in Melbourne Demons
    Was just reading a bit of Port discussion about him. A fair few Port fans seem to favour the other tall forward they've delisted in Mitch Harvey. Similar build. Similar concerns over lack of athleticism. I'd consider both for a rookie spot.
  9. Presumably Viney, the coaches and recruiting staff evaluate players. Mahoney helps grade the finances. 400k isn't excessive. The AFL player earns 340 and in 4 years time 400k with be basement rates. But someone has to be responsible for the 4 year deal and whatever we trade (likely overs) and they better realise they are putting their balls on the line.
  10. So I watched his highlights. His TAC grand final highlights (in a game featuring Prestia, Wallace, Libba, Mega-head on his side and Parker, Casboult for Dandy). And the cut of his 2013 Essendon made for their B+F Pro's: Burst speed and cat like agility Solid left foot Seems to cover the ground Can leap at the ball and mark when out in space Cons: Bad decisions under pressure Kicking goes astray under heat Tentative in some contests I do think there's a role for him as part of the midfield mix, especially as he brings a burst of speed that some of our mids don't. But if we expect him to help our ball movement at all then we are kidding ourselves. He can win a bit of the ball, tag a speedy opponent and cover some ground. It's going to take drafting or some different trades to find more skilled players to move the footy.
  11. If we are going to pay him so much maybe we can walk him in to the PSD. Would Carl/Bris/GC/Ess/StKilda give out the 4 year 1.6 mil deal for him? 3rd round pick or lets find out.
  12. 1/2 Bancroft and Burns 3 - Smith 4 - Khawaja 5 - Voges 6 - M Marsh 7 - Nevill 8 - O'Keefe 9 - Starc 10 - Siddle 11 - Lyon
  13. AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR QANTAS TOUR OF BANGLADESH Steve Smith ©, Adam Voges (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Patrick Cummins, Andrew Fekete, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Stephen O’Keefe, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc Interesting squad. 10 thoughts: 1. Nathan Lyon stiff not to be VC 2. Just the one keeper, selectors seem confident in Nevill 3. Usman is back 4. Shaun Marsh never dies 5. Johnson rightfully rested 6. Maxwell and O'Keffe are both interesting players, batting allrounder, bowling allrounder 7. Bancroft and Burns the first youngsters to get a chance 8. Not sure what to make of Cummins, I really think he needs to play first class cricket before his next test cap 9. Shocked that Fekete gets the nod over Sandhu 10. No Agar, shame, still think he has a future as a test spinner, just in the long term not short
  14. NFL

    DeeSpencer replied to Dappa Dan's post in a topic in Other Sports
    I can understand clock management mistakes from some players but they are inexcusable for coaches and for starting QB's on 20 mil a year. Didn't matter if they ran or passed, all Eli had to do was take a sack instead of throwing it away. I guess that's easier if you run the ball and takes out the problem. But feeding in 2 plays and allowing Eli to run the correct one based on the coverage and seeing if he gets an open receiver makes some sense to me. I have no idea how much they can communicate via the QB headsets but the coach really had to say 'if there's no one open then take the sack' and Eli had to know that anyway.
  15. NFL

    DeeSpencer replied to Dappa Dan's post in a topic in Other Sports
    Forgot all about tipping! Damn. Would've certainly gone GB and liked Miami and Carolina as well. Oh well. Everyones an expert in hindsight. Better start remembering for next week. Watching the highlights now, Bears did enough to show they might at least be a physical football team this year. Definite rebuild on the cards needing to draft most of a new secondary and eventually make the big call on a QB. But hopefully in the mean time we win some games. That or finish dead last and get the first pick. The same old story shaping up in the AFC I think. NE, Denver, Ravens.... Steelers don't write off San Diego. Teams with the best QB's. The Colts still way too reliant on Luck but also still in the weakest division unless....Mariota can keep having 4 touch down games. Bucs fans wouldn't be happy right now. Fix that leaky run defense and the Packers will be favourites for the NFC but I feel it's probably more wide open than the AFC if Seattle's struggles, particularly with the O Line continue. Although if your O Line is your weakness the Rams aren't a fair guide.
  16. If the bombers have offered him a 2 year deal then we'd have to do the same and I'm not too keen on that. If he gets delisted he'd probably be better than most and worth a shot at taking one of the last spots on the list. A benefit of having AFL level fit and semi skilled (ie he can kick a reliable drop punt) player finishing off the list compared to a late pick in a bad draft is probably reasonable. He's the kind of player you consider late in trade week not in early September.
  17. He's very ordinary and doesn't have a fixed position. Too short for a 2nd ruck, too slow for a key defender, not agile enough for a midfielder.
  18. FB: Garland Dunn Jetta HB: Salem McDonald Stretch C: Toumpas Jones Watts HF: Vanders Hogan Kent FF: Brayshaw Pedersen Garlett Foll: Gawn Vince Viney Int: Tyson Newton Lumumba Petracca Back: Frost, Grimes, O Mc Mids: Michie, ANB, M Jones, Trengove Fwds: Harmes, Dawes, JKH Ruck: Spencer Extend as Rookies; White, King Promote: Harmes, Vanders Delist: Jamar, McKenzie, Hunt, Bail, Riley, Fitzpatrick, Cross, Terlich Trade: Howe – pick 15-25 or equivalent player Out: 9 In: Draft: 1, 2, 2, 3, 4/PSD DLFA Rookie: 1, 2, 3 Matt Jones is very lucky, he could easily be delisted or dropped back to the rookie list. Hunt I think has to be delisted and should train on with the club in search of a rookie spot. We shouldn't be afraid to carry more than the 4 rookies this year, we should in fact aim for the 6. If the draft is weak then just use the valuable picks in the first 3 rounds and stock up on rookie spots. Especially if we are keen on guys as depth talls. I'd certainly explore the trade and free agency markets but I still think the draft is our best shot at finding the skillful hard running players we need whilst experience or role playing types can be brought cheaply.
  19. Terrible batting performance and the start with the ball not much better. We really have been stiff to lose the great Ryan Harris before this series. I don't know what the answers to our batting problems are but I'm pretty confident it's not S Marsh or Voges. We need young players who are committed to test cricket and the technique and mindset required. The hitting that works in limited overs cricket just isn't the same as proper test match batting.
  20. Better in the 2nd half but terrible first half. Agree that we can't have Jetta, Cross and Garland in the same backline. Not the current Garland who can't run the ball out as he did in 2013. Injury and resultant lack of fitness have killed him. Would let him go for a 2nd rd compo pick. Would consider it for a 3rd rounder as well but the draft is shallow.
  21. DeeSpencer replied to DeeSpencer's post in a topic in Melbourne Demons
    Needs to play forward. He's lost the plot down back. 2 of Daniher's goals were really Dunn's fault but overall Tom just can't stick with a smart opponent on the lead, he isn't making any semblance of smart decisions down back with the ball and his confidence has completely eroded.
  22. DeeSpencer replied to DeeSpencer's post in a topic in Melbourne Demons
    That kick wasn't too difficult though. It was a medium risk kick for anyone other than McDonald or Jake Spencer. Whoever it was in the corridor had room all around them and all the kick needed to do was clear Nic Nat. You can't play in the backline without attempting those kicks. Not unless you are some kind of defensive stopper made out of a combination of Scarlett, Silvagni and Glass. Burning that option kills momentum which in turn discourages team mates from running to receive the ball and eventually all you do is chip the ball nowhere or bomb it down the line. As Clarko likes to say 'If you can't kick you can't play". So McDonald has to keep trying kicks when it's that combination of risk and reward but he has to make them. It was a bread and butter switch not exactly some kind of thread of the needle. My biggest concern is he doesn't even see the field of play well enough to know what is risky and what isn't and where he has to miss the kick if he is to miss safely.
  23. DeeSpencer replied to DeeSpencer's post in a topic in Melbourne Demons
    The only problem is what to do with Dawes! McDonald 2nd ruck against Essendon would be a winner as well. Tire out their ruck until Gawn comes back and all he can cover the ground like an extra midfielder.
  24. DeeSpencer replied to DeeSpencer's post in a topic in Melbourne Demons
    Not silly at all. Think he could 2nd ruck as well. After all that was the role BP recruited him for! Might not even have to wait for Frost to come back. Fitzy, Dunn and Garland might be enough to take the Dons forwards. We could use Tom forward this week.
  25. DeeSpencer replied to DeeSpencer's post in a topic in Melbourne Demons
    Just staggering that you can be an AFL footballer and keep missing simple kicks but 20 or so metres. He picked the right option clear in the middle of the ground and left it 20m short and straight to Nic Nat. It's staggering that it keeps happening and eventually it will finish Tom's career. His defensive work rate is great but his defensive body work is sadly lacking still.