DeeSpencer

Two kids from the AFL academy I assume (don't look like Casey players). 1 in rehab wearing 31, the other in the main group wearing the vacant 8. King, Viney, T Mac (in compression socks and shorts), Wagner, Hannan, Vanders, JKH, Pedersen, Flippers, Trengove, Maynard, unknown 31 in rehab. Lewis back in the main group. Hogan on deck

The Arrivals Lounge piece on Hannan on the club website is quite interesting. He seems articulate and affable. His personality matches his new hair more than the long blonde locks that he had going for Footscray this year! Interesting that he'd be up at 6, working and straight in to Dogs training before getting home by 10. They are full on days so the change to full time probably means a fair scope for improvement. Which I guess is true for most state league players but some of them probably had easier and more flexible jobs compared to full time in an architectural office. He's open to the idea of midfield time as well as forward and I get the feeling that was part of why we drafted him. I'm hoping he gets a good run at preseason because I'm keen to see him play in the preseason games.

Well this is a very strange and specific complaint. I think they'll beat us in round 1 because they've had better coaching for longer, match up well against us and play their home ground particularly well. I also think they've recruited very well through the draft rounds to create a nice balanced list that probably has more depth than ours does, although I do favour our top end talent. I don't take particular notice in recruits looks so all I'll say on that is I'd never be adverse to drafting a footballer because they look too much like a footballer. I'd recruit a neanderthal if they could play.

Listeners to his Sounding Board podcast will know the real Hutchy does appear to be a understandingly flawed person, a loyal friend, a cunning and eager businessman and a savvy media mind. The footy classified Hutchy is largely an act and he suffered this year from no Garry Lyon and Lloyd battling along in the 4th chair. He could do well on the footy show. Bec Maddern has proven herself to be a pretty decent host. The issue with the show is that it's Sam Newman's show. Everything revolves around him. And he hasn't changed his act in 20 years and it's more than worn thin with most of the viewers. Given that he's the centre of the show, the show also has struggled to adapt to the change in AFL media circumstances and technology. There's no need to watch the footy show for the teams anymore. There's little need to watch it for news or opinion on footy stories besides the occasional interesting Damo news break. If I were in charge I'd probably just carry on with Sam as the show whilst enough idiots watched it but it must be getting close to having to really reinvent itself and not just shuffle hosts in around Sam.

I think the small group drills have an even more physical edge if that's possible. Lots of pressure and tackling. But that might just be me not recalling how they were last year. Otherwise the biggest change is a greater focus on opposite foot kicking. Whether it's the warm up, kicking drills, small group or large drills there seems to be a lot more of it.

Got there closer to 10 and no Hogan and I didn't see Hannan, Maynard or Flippers. Rehab group as standard; Viney, T Mc, Pedda, JKH, Vanders, Trenners, Mitch King. Restricted group pulled out of the main drill for running and skills; Lewis, Oliver, DJ, T Smith, Keilty, Wagner I'm interested in how long Lewis is staying out of the main stuff. They seem to be really pumping the work in to him with the rehab group. Maybe management after years of finals footy, maybe a change of role to an outside player and they just want him fit. One for Saty. Oliver (who had been in the main group) and Lewis were running repeat sprints when the rest of the rehab group had finished up, with Oliver a slightly lesser distance. Working hard. DJ impresses me. Kicks low and hard. Leaps for marks and takes it out in front. Reminds me a bit of Jamie Elliott from the Pies. Keilty has some spring to his movement and a neat kick. Smith isn't overly tall (obviously can play above his height) but does move well enough and can kick on both sides. There was a drill where the 6 in the restricted group paired up and took a few reps before swapping over of leading out from the square whilst the other gathered a loose ball and kicked to the lead. It was really nice to see mostly well placed and penetrating kicks hitting leading targets. No pressure but still good to see. Tyson hopped off at one stage but it appeared it was just to get what I assume are blisters tended to and then he was back in. Seems a very common ailment with others doing the same. The main group went from multiple series of in tight drills to full ground team ball movement. Ben Kennedy slid in with a perfect bump above knees to skittle Frostly who jumped back up and kept competing. Was very willing. I'm often critical of him but Spencer was starting to resemble an AFL footballer today. I'd say after a long build he's now got the right AFL body that resembles Gawny. Plenty of strength without looking heavy and appears balanced. He was presenting for the ball and moving it on nicely in the main drill. Doesn't always come off but Watts receives the ball in drills looking towards the corridor, when so many others focus first on going wide. In the main drill McKenna doesn't panic and backs himself to kick on both sides. Joel Smith impressed with his leap for aerial contests and a perfectly timed sprint up the middle to intercept an attack. Hibberd is powerful and calm but also one of the first to have hands on hips and sucking in the big ones. To be a big negative: Jeffy Garlett was getting out in space and running with the ball but a lot of kicks keep bouncing in front of the intended target, in match simulation and smaller drills. It's just laziness that needs to stop. ANB has a habit of just rushing to give or receive the footy, he induces fumbles, just needs more timing, he was better as it went on. Petracca is a little but unsure when in the back half. He wants to move everything on. Watts kicked to him at half forward and the ball was touched and then play on. Tracc did his best to avoid tackles but about 3 of them got him down and piled on him! There was plenty to like and it was a high intensity fast paced session for December.

I'd be surprised. The Weed is looking good on the track so far and last year did the typical new draftee preseason after missing most of the year. He could make big improvements to his body which carry him in to the year, even if he then needs a fair bit of management after the early rounds. Smith would have to do a fair bit more than Weed in preseason games to get the nod. The advantage Smith might have is the match up v the Saints and the game being at Etihad. At the G I'm sure Hogan is our CHF and we'd be looking at Weed to be that 2nd tall marking/contesting option with his own space to work in. At Etihad and especially against the Saints Hogan has been deployed as an inside 50 target and Smith's versatility and tackling pressure might be a better fit with Hogan playing deeper. Etihad is very much a ground for 1 power forward playing 30-70m from goal and the other talls to move around.

I call this Schwabermetrics. The analysis of unimportant minutiae instead of focusing on core business. Hawthorn wear trash jumpers. Clash, away, even their traditional home strip that seems to change every year with different coloured numbers or stripe patterns. They win football games because they invest in people and facilities.

I saw him train early in that block at thought his endurance was poor and skills were ordinary. I actually thought Moncrieff was the far better prospect of the 2. So I was very surprised with his Casey form this year. I get the feeling big raw country lads would be Macca's specialty.

Only the Ox's mind could put those 2 sentences together.

Clarry has an ability to raise his fitness, speed and footskills to high levels when needed and then to look like he can barely run a lap or kick a drop punt when its not a competitive endeavour.

It's amazing that Petracca has lost 6kg because he's still noticeably thicker in the legs than almost every other player. I'd like to hire Byron Pickett as his personal bumping coaches because whilst it might cost him a few weeks on the sidelines if he can lay a few shepherds with his size and power he could make everyone walk taller.

Last year Hogan was noticeably heavy, not running as well as he had previously and spent a lot of the time scowling. Saty told me he was fine but I think it's now clear he wasn't. I wouldn't be making comments about his overall happiness but hardly a shock that being fitter and running on top of the ground would have you enjoying training more.

Probably silly. But there's 22 games in a season and I'm a big believer in picking a very fit side for round 1. So often in recent years (at least before the Roos times) we'd pick a side for round 1 and then drop 3 guys and bring in 3 runners for round 2! He'll probably play his was in to the round 1 in the preseason side just as he did this year and unfortunately there's always injuries. I hope he's healthy to run the post Christmas time trial, because obviously if he's running up to scratch he's an automatic inclusion.

I agree Dunn could be the most missed and was the best player moved on. The drop off from Dunn to Keilty is a far greater unknown and more important than the change in running players. Because if injuries strike to key defenders and Garland hasn't recovered form then Keilty has to play. If we have injuries to running players then our list of guys outside the best 22 is at least pretty long and varied. Bugg, Trengove, Kennedy, Wagner, White, Smith, Harmes, ANB, Vanders, JKH, Hannan, McKenna. I didn't rate Grimes so my bias is never going to see it that way, but for those who did want to keep him (or Matt Jones, Michie or otherwise) who's spot would you take out? I think we need the tall depth on the rookie list and McKenna and DJ are important developing players to have as well, we need that next wave of youth coming through. The only spots I'd give up on the senior list are Lumumba's and Trengove's. And Lumumba had a contract and they chose to give Trengove another chance. Mitch White's senior games chances don't look all that great but he's very fit and can kick, he's a better half back option than Grimes and Michie.

You aren't familiar with Knightmare? He posts a bucketload on bigfooty and has turned that in to an ESPN gig. Seems to know a bit about drafting but who knows if he's reliable. D+ seems a harsh rating for 2 late picks. Personally I think he's looked too much at stats with Hannan instead of investigating the different parts to his game. And DJ was drafted for his attributes but I think he should reassess the benefits of a small who will really launch in to tackles and can kick long and straight. A lot of the other small forwards have kicked more goals and shown more moves but come finals those types of smalls can very often get beaten.

Main listed draftee gets 80k+ and very decent match payments now I think, play all 22 games and they can be banking more than 150 and even close to 200. Rookie list guys I think is 55k plus match payments. I think Hannan said he had further study to do if he wasn't drafted so who knows, he might do that part time now or maybe wait a year to get sorted. Tim Smith might want to keep his plumbing skills up to date in some spare time but otherwise will have to be full time footy so he can't exactly be working weekdays! Should be some fitness improvements with going full time. And definitely some strength and recovery. But it's the little things like having/being able to focus on diet and sleep and training in regular hours instead of fitting in training after doing a full work day that all add up. Smith's 25 and has a strong and fit body so he might not make huge inroads, but Hannan hasn't been playing VFL all that long and is young enough to probably make quite a bit of physical improvement.

FB: Hibberd Oscar Mc Jetta HB: Hunt T Mc Salem C: Stretch Viney Lewis HF: Kent Hogan Petracca FF: Watts Weideman Hannan Foll: Gawn Tyson Jones Int: Harmes Brayshaw Vince Melksham I've left out Clarry which seems very silly, but I just wonder whether he'll be a better player with more time at Casey developing his tank and made to earn his spot. In time he'll be our best midfielder but the way the game is going especially early in the season teams are super fit and it's hard to carry guys who are underdone and don't have a lot of positional flexibility. He can be good forward, but he's even better on ball. Harmes and Brayshaw could be our best forward tacklers and can start forward and go through the midfield and the wings. Vince and Melksham can go through half back and wings/on ball. Lewis can obviously move on ball, as can Vince. I want the extra goal kicker and proper forward so Hannan comes in. Garlett misses out for the pressure guys listed above due to their flexibility. I want the extra running defender so Frost misses out and Hibberd plays as the 3rd tall and hopefully the zone defending provides cover. Weideman gets the nod over Pedersen because I think he'll be fitter for the start of the season. A lot of my best 22 is based upon Goodwin ramping up the game plan with zone defending and fast ball movement. Plus also trying to copy the Dogs model of multiple positional changes. If we want a more traditional game plan I'd go with Frost down back, Garlett in a forward pocket and Oliver rotating from the bench to the midfield.

Yep that's fair. Just saying the new guys don't have to do much at all to equal the AFL output and both can perform at VFL level. If the ranking is based on projected AFL output I don't mind it and I don't really care about VFL output really. I don't care if our players are dominating in the VFL as long as they are doing ok and progressing towards becoming AFL players.

Grimes - 2 games, 1 good, 1 bad, never factored again. 2 mediocre games. From an AFL perspective the bar is very low to replace their output. Both were good players at VFL level but so was Hannan - despite limited training, and McKenna had a solid season in the NEAFL and should be above average in the VFL.

Not sure about that. If you use the above from Dee-licious: Jordan Lewis > Michie . Michael Hibberd > Dean Terlich Pat McKenna = GrimesMitch Hannan > Ben Newton Melksham > Matt JonesLachlan Filipovic = Max King Declan Keilty < DunnTim Smith - Chris Dawes Plus Dion Johnstone The addition of Hannan, McKenna, Keilty and Smith instead of a bunch of kids means Casey will have a really good group of AFL listed players each week. They'll now have to go out and replace Smith, Keilty and to a lesser extent McInerny (he only played seniors at the end of the year) but that can be done. Jordan Moncrief was playing well in the VFL 2's, he could replace Keilty. Mitch King being fit could replace McInerny and another year of development in to Hullett and Weid could cover Smith. I assume Casey now have some shopping money and an increase in reputation to go find some mature VFL players. Could be mids or smalls at either end instead of talls, as long as they get quality to go alongside the AFL guys they'll be in a good spot.

Listed as 194cm but has a good leap on him and an athletic powerful frame that should fill out. Oscar will be stronger next year and Frost is being trained up as a defender now. So that's 3 options other than Tom to take on the big boys. Cloke got him once or twice in that absolute wet bog of a game at Casey but he was more beaten for smarts by an experienced player than for sheer strength.

I wonder if the change from 2 more Cat A rookies to 3 more relegated the plans to take another cat B. Or if securing DJ meant Allsop was unlikely. Would be nice to get the kid out to Casey maybe. Could be a nice way to further the Indigenous/Multicultural academy by linking in the players who don't make it with Casey and seeing if they can get a 2nd chance that way.

In his defence (which goes against everything I just wrote) the VFL grand final was a terrible match up for Spencil. Minson is still as crafty as any AFL ruck and Spencil is still as dumb as a post. At AFL level Spencer could run him around and blow him up and lessen his influence, but the slower speed of the game at VFL level allowed Minson to stay with him. Plus he had Tom Campbell as back up where as Casey had young Oscar who was playing in by far the biggest game he'd played in and against by far the best opponent.

West Coast - Giles. Freo - Griffin. Adelaide - O'Brien. Port - Lobbe (just). St Kilda - Holmes and Longer. Hawthorn - Pittonet. Gold Coast - Witts (just). North - Daw. That's off the top of my head. Spencer has flashed moments of competence but neither his skills nor his smarts have improved significantly in a long time on the list. I have very little confidence in him with just a slight hope that a full preseason improves him. He should be able to play a fair share of the Preseason games as well this year because surely there's no need to play Max for any more than a bit of conditioning.