DeeSpencer

This is Melbourne we are talking about. There hasn't been consistent structure or cohesion to our play for a long time, so it wouldn't surprise me if players have been second guessing their team mates. Either way, you brought up Dawes and I mentioned it, I don't think he's been leading or directing the forward line well enough for over 2 years. If he gets himself fit then maybe he'll get a chance to prove me wrong. But aside from the midfield and half backs playing better I'd like to see Hogan, Watts, Vanders and the smalls take control of the forward line set ups and movement and not look for anyone else to give them direction. Hogan has a lot on his plate but he's a natural. Watts has always shown ability to get the ball to the right spot and is starting to find more of it leading up as well. Time for those 2 to take control as they did in the last quarter.

We might go in smaller down back and up forward, but if we don't and someone like Brayshaw is fit then it's one Roos project making way for another. As much as I like Harmes I think half forward is our most competitive spot right now. Watts, Kennedy, Kent, Vanders, Brayshaw is a fair group, with Petracca getting closer to a debut as well. I wouldn't mind Harmes going back to Casey and playing on a wing and really developing his outside game. Half back as well. If we he can develop there he might face less competition for spots.

There's a spot I usually sit in the members about 70m out from goal and about 10m in from the boundary is often where Dawes sits as well. Calling for the ball to be kicked over the back or up to him to contest. Didn't happen his first year but has regularly since. If Dawes is such a great leader then Hogan will have followed him to some extent. I didn't suggest Dawes has told Hogan to sook, but that Dawes very often sits and asks for the ball to be kicked to him. If you don't believe me that's fine but I'm not going to forget what I've seen. Contesting down the line is a job for a tall forward, but Dawes' timing to get down the line at the right time and repeat leads have been off for a while.

Dawes played in both the Carlton and Essendon losses that featured abysmal bombing of the ball in to a crowded forward line last year. I wouldn't be surprised if Hogan learnt some of his 'arm up, kick it long to me' behaviour from Dawes who has noticeably reduced his desire to lead up at the ball over the last few years. Even the way Jesse wasn't jumping at the ball was very Dawes like. I'm hoping Frost, Watts, Hogan and Vanders can create a forward line together where each uses their considerable pace to create space and we aren't forced to revert to Dawes or Pedersen.

Watts, Vanders and Petracca can provide the marking and goal kicking. Frost can bring the defensive pressure and he found a few marks late in the game on Saturday. He's 22, played 25 career games and missed most of last year. I'm not saying he should be an automatic pick each week but zone defending will suit the McDonald's to a tee and if Frost can make it as a consistent forward he'll do some special things with his pace. There's no point being a young developing team if you aren't going to roll the dice with some high risk/high reward talent! I think the biggest threat to his spot in the team is needing Pedersen to take some of the ruck duty against teams with 2 strong rucks. McKernan goes ok as a 2nd ruck but isn't really a true ruckman and is of similar height to Frost. So this week I'd leave Pedersen out and give Frost a go in the ruck as well as letting him loose forward. Vanders takes Pedersen's spot. Frost keeps his. We then bring in an extra midfielder - Stretch or Brayshaw - to fill the wing spot that Vanders was playing and isn't really suited to.

You don't pass up the chance to get top shelf quality but I think there are a few reasons this won't happen 1. Our lack of first round pick - I expect the AFL to demand Essendon players be traded for even if they are declared as some type of free agents 2. The FD seem to have a lot of faith in Oscar Mc 3. It's still probably a little earlier than perfect to add a big fish in the list build stakes 4. We really could do with a pacy wingman, continual addition of players who can run and kick as well as ruck/ruck forward depth. The best shot of getting them is probably holding our draft picks.

Should note for those not at the ground that it was swirly as always but the breeze favoured the city end by a couple of goals IMO. Made our first quarter look better. Explained to some extent why we had a lot of play in the 2nd but couldn't convert with a packed forward line - we had to open the game up more whilst not being burnt on the over lap. Similarly the 3rd quarter was partially about holding on and staying in the game given we couldn't get the same run on as the first. Once we get up and running in the last I did feel a bit of wind at our backs physically as well as metaphorically. Conditions don't excuse a poor middle half of the game, but might explain some of why the game looked as it did.

Also we still need to work on our last minute game close out. Gawn hit it forward did he not? GWS had 3 coming through the middle opposed to Kent who peeled off from a flanking spot, no on was at half forward coming through with them. It just wasn't quite right. I'd have 3 extra behind the ball but you got to have one at CHF coming through with the runners. And have to do all that you can to kill the centre bounce and/or get a clearance out to a wing and get a kick backwards for a mark or fight for a throw in. Anyway, we did enough. No one was out marking Hogan down in the backline under that high ball. Strong punch. Game over

Not to bag Roos-Goodwin and to note they came up with some great moves today.... But does anyone think our 2nd and 3rd quarter malaise was contributed to by putting BOTH Hogan and Watts behind the ball for the last 3 or so minutes of the first quarter when it was 5 goals to 1 since about the first 10 minutes and we had all the play? 1 man back I can live with. But seems silly to me. We ended up defending and not moving the ball for a few minutes instead of maybe getting another goal.

No. People's enjoyment of his good play and like for him doesn't have to mean they 'rate' him. I enjoy watching him play and I rate him as a young prospect. His disposal picked up in the second half. Around the ground it's not too far off. Needs to nail goals more consistently. Then he needs to read the play better which he'll probably do as he gets more games especially if the team starts playing with more predictability.

I'd say hopefully he irons out a few messy disposals and covers the ground a little better. Because then he'll be B+ at least and we'll be on our way towards the 8. Not sure where we are going to find all these star midfielders to replace him any time soon given we still need plenty of talent around the ground. Brayshaw might have to play half back. Petracca will have to play forward. Who else do we have?

My defence would be to say go and get [censored]. How that is deemed a dangerous tackle is beyond me. No sling, no lift. If you can't tackle a guy to ground then the game is in trouble because there won't be a way to stop strong players. He wasn't hurt was he?

Nailed a key goal and hit quite a few quality short corridor targets (the kick in to Bugg that he dropped etc) in the 2nd half. Won a few big contests as well. If he could read the play better he'd tackle more, get more easy ball and then if he used it consistently he'd be a star of the comp. At the moment he mixes poor play with above average play (see the 2nd half). A reasonable start for a bloke who missed most of last year and is still early days in his career.

Took a number of good marks and otherwise got to the right spots down back. We needed him in the midfield after half time but we don't solve our lack of skill from half back with Lumumba. If the plan was Vince and Salem we should stick to it. The defenders will get more cohesion as they work together. Lumumba can come in and play half back and bit of wing, similar to how Bugg played, but I still think we need one of Jones and Vince back there. We need skill and smarts back there.

Nope we need skills at half back. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Add an extra mid, don't move Vince from where he is needed for Lumumba's lack of skills/smarts

This is having a laugh. Tyson turned it over and didn't exert himself of the game. But we need him in the guts to Vince can go to half back. Along with Jones and Viney he's our only mature midfielder. He isn't going anywhere. If he keeps kicking it as he is there will be a time to drop him, but it's not way!

Lumumba's experience was missing for 2015 as well. I'd like to see it before I believe it. But we certainly need another runner from wing/half back I think. So Lumumba or Stretch. I'd go Billy as he has composure. Which is what we really need.

Well all know he's a defender, but for now there's not a spot for him back there and we need competition for spots up forward. Can't have Pedersen and no one. Need Frost and Pedo fighting each other to perform. I liked his second half. Hopefully he keeps taking a few more marks. His speed is phenomenal and his work rate very good.

Dunn for O'Mac (inj) Brayshaw for Pedersen (or Frost) not really that fussed, but I'd keep Frost. Stretch for Harmes. We finished the game with O'Mac off. Pedersen at full back. So Dunn takes Pedersen and O'Mac spot down back. Stretch is the midfield runner we need. Brayshaw the forward/midfield rotation we need with Vanders playing more forward to provide the extra marking. FB: Jetta Dunn Garland HB: Vince McDonald Salem C: Stretch Jones M Jones HF: Kent Watts Vanders FF: Kennedy Hogan Garlett Foll: Gawn Viney Tyson Int: Oliver Brayshaw Bugg Frost/Pedo 3 changes is a lot after a win, with only one forced. But we need more run and skills. The extra tall isn't needed and we have to play with more dash to stop the moments when we just have no run or dash. Stretch and Brayshaw will deliver it.

Missed a ripper here. Can't get them all right but kicking goals in a terrible Casey team is probably a sign of talent. Bummer.

One good season is a bit over the top but it's fair to say he struggled to nail a regular spot for a long time, which doesn't necessarily mean all that much as some very good players in the history of the game have done that. He finished of 2013 well down back, was excellent in 2014 and solid enough in 2015. But new year, new times, new game plan means everyone has to earn their spot. Too much focus is on Dunn, not enough on Oscar. If Oscar can become a regular and Tom McDonald starts playing more like the first half of 2015 then that's exciting times for the club. I expect Dunn and Garland will push each other for a spot and keep pressure on the McDonald's to keep improving.

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Corr who is a young athletic player, he'll probably go on to Frost who is the same. Marchbank who looks very very handy as a young CHB on to Pedo. Buntine, who is a smart footballer matches up well on to Watts. Average might be fair, but we aren't exactly world beaters. So just thinking out loud I agree with your comment!

No he said he'd need 4 weeks of training, which he's now had and said he'd be close to this week. I didn't know if I'd see him today but they gave him the all clear. And it's nice to keep him under wraps and let Trenners have a moment in the sun. I expect he'll need a minimum of 2 weeks at Casey, making round 4 the earliest possible. We just have to keep being patient. Based on today I expect highs and lows to his form anyway. He might need to be dropped, rested or switched roles for his development. But there will be highs.

7, Fox Sports and Dan Cherny from the Age.