DeeSpencer

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.

PRO's: Fantastic trainer, senior experience in a successful team, great tackler, quality state league player Would mostly be an investment for Casey and in culture, with the slight possibility he comes in and plays as a pressure forward if we need a big kick along in that spot. Whilst he wouldn't fill a need as a best 22 player he'd at least provide the pressure to our younger forwards to chase and tackle or be replaced. I guess if we've taken 4 young kids (2 national draft, 2 rookies, maybe even 5 with a cat B rookie) and then don't think there's much else in way of talent out there we could add him to the rookie list. All things going to plan we don't need to add more than 4 young kids in because by the time they do a few preseasons we should have a strong side and be trading to fill gaps and not be blooding fresh speculative talent. Drafting speculative youth unlikely to ever get near a senior game probably weighs down development coaches and training standards. CON's: Skills are ordinary and doesn't hold a spot in the midfield, outside or forward. Isn't quick. Lewis has come in to give us another leader. Trengove is already one player who's mainly on the list as that experienced culture guy who's going to do all the right things at Casey. Garland and Lumumba are guys with leadership ability who seem more likely than not to be at Casey. ANB, Bugg, Vanders, Harmes, JKH, Kennedy, Joel Smith, Wagner, probably McKenna maybe Maynard, there's more than a few youngish guys who aren't best 22 but are very good VFL players with mature bodies.

Good for him. Hoping he gets his life back on track and can be rightfully inducted to the AFL hall of fame.

Silly boy. I like everything about Clarry but I hope the message gets through on this one even if it means a harsh penalty. Whilst in the scheme of things he hasn't really done anything whilst representing the club so I understand the argument that says it shouldn't involve any club penalty I think young guys need to learn how fortunate they are to be Melbourne footballers. Any punishment should be for their sake and not for ours.

Whilst I prefer last years I don't think there's all that much difference. This one has more red and blue in the right spots. Yes I'd rather the monogram than the logo but I'm not overly worried. Isn't popular on demonland but i think the kids will like it. Compare to last year:

I think it's a more than valid point that you made and I was a bit disappointed as well. We know Weid's didn't have a huge tank before being draft and he was running well and put a gap to Clarry and never ended up too far from Salem. The trade off for Oliver battling is that big Sam is running well. We also know Oliver had a long season starting the first NAB challenge game and going all the way through until being our best in the Casey VFL grand final in late September. So he's only had about 6 weeks and he deserves a mental and physical break in that time. He can do a lot between now and March to improve and it may have just been an off day. Last year Brayshaw came off a big first year injured and then struggled with more injuries and his weight and lost most of the season really. This off season he got things together and seems to be in far better condition. Hogan is looking fit. Petracca is training instead of rehabbing a foot/knee injury. I think these kids are on the right track and Oliver will get there too.

Yep I was planning to post that for Steve's benefit.

ASADA are also a Government agency. So whilst sporting integrity is important I have no issue with them accepting 1 year bans for officials and 6 month bans for a young athlete in a team sport and moving on. The Essendon saga would've cost us all millions as tax payers. I would rather they not run up another huge legal bill lining the pockets of lawyers in this situation. Too many other more important things for the Government to spend the cash on. Things that will actually affect our day to day lives!

People who test positive don't even get the full 4 year ban. Sharapova anyone? Laughable that Whitfield and co would get such a lengthy ban for dodging a test that never happened after taking a substance that was specifically against the WADA code. The penalties are harsh enough. ASADA should thank the AFL for doing their job for them and save their resources for finding actual cheats.

Weideman and Oscar both look a bit stronger to me, not a heap but a difference. ANB is in ripping knick, he definitely looks stronger. Brayshaw looks a lot leaner. Hunt a little bigger but he made a big transformation last summer. Wagner a bit more cut. Hogan looks great, so does Dom. Mitch King is more defined and looks like a young colt now. Stretch was very fit and presumably isn't growing taller. Any muscle added to his skinny frame would stand out. Otherwise going through the list we just don't have a lot of skinny kids who need to add muscle. There might be some impatience with fans towards Oscar and Weid but I think they are making progress. Weid's about to do his first preseason and fitness and core strength is more important that bulk. Oscar could do with a few more kilos but Tom doesn't get pushed around and he isn't a heavy key defender, assuming similar strength with a similar body type the McDonald's might be the strong lean type of athlete. Given the way footy is going and our game plan for zone defending I think the coaches would be happy with Oscar getting fitter and stronger in the core than too worried about bulk.

Garlett's done short bursts there but yeah I think his tank is the issue. I think Goodwin will favour versatility and rotate a lot of players around.

Didn't stay for all that long. Later start to let the ground dry out a bit. Tyson back. In the rehab group doing run throughs with Viney (brief appearance), Vanders, Melksham, Hibberd, Mitch King, JKH, Tom McDonald. Kent and Petracca joined them after the warm up with the main group. Casey young boys back training. They did what looked like a 10 minute run time trial. ANB (in ripping shape) pulled away from Mitch White late. With a decent gap to Smith ahead of Salem. Then Weideman who isn't exactly bulked up but might be a little more solid and has a big frame to fill, he stuck on well. Then another 30m or so to Oliver who batted around unfortunately. Then the same to Hulett. Vince was back and in the main group and moving beautifully. They were doing a lot of in close ball movement drills as always. Gathering the ball under pressure then 6 on 3 getting the ball in a 40 by 40 square over to another coach. Brayshaw looked like a standout, clean below his knees and making quick decisions. Maynard impressed with some basketball style vision on a long looping handball. Watts, Gawn, Garlett, Garland, Pedersen, Lumumba, Trengove the only guys I've yet to see on deck at some stage. Nath Jones the only other who wasn't there today. Edit: And some mature recruit bloke by the name of Lewis. Yet to see him either.

KC Dallas Cincy Nightmare week for tips. People tipping the Bears shows how bonkers it is.