DeeSpencer

I think burst is more important for a footballer given the lack of space and Kade did a 3.06 20m in his draft year. I'm not entirely convinced by a one off GPS number, especially at the SCG in opening round, but if he truly does have that elite top end speed I hope we see it more often. I can't remember a time when Chandler was in a foot race and completely burnt his opponent, where as Windsor and Pickett it comes through in their games.

For every other pro sports team I agree, it’s disgraceful how they’ve taken over prime inner city green space (and funding) for their own interest. But when it’s the Dees I’m willing to let it slide!

The only area where there’s any room to expand width (can’t build an oval on a road or race track) is the proposed Dees wedge. So maybe they can do a land swap with the Crown. Their current campus has one skinny oval though. So maybe they don’t need full sized ovals. Not a lot of Jewish interschool sports as far as I know! They aren’t churning out footballers like the APS schools (aside from Harry Sheezel)

I really like Chandler as a rock solid role player and probably our best young leader. To me he just lacks that burst or high end speed to really zoom away from defenders, he can be a little fumbly and he's just not a really quick creative ball user. He impressed me with stints on the wing at the end of the year and I wish they'd just let him have a few centre bounce attendances, his tackling should hold him in good stint and he'd give a difference mix than usual

Find me 120m width anywhere on that site, best I can do is 105m and that's right up against the track. You can measure distance on google maps. There's obviously enough space for some grass fields for the kids to do PE and run around at lunch and recess but in terms of a genuine sized footy oval she's very tight.

You can find it here. https://www.crrt.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/CRRT-Strategic-Management-Plan-December-2023.pdf That area is called Precinct 5. The plans are pretty clearly for an Indoor sports facility and with the rise of basketball, soccer and other indoor sports I'd imagine that's just about a lock once someone finds the cash to get it done. Precinct 5 - Indoor Recreation Precinct (Neerim Stables) This precinct is based at the former “Neerim Stables” site at the southern end of the Reserve, adjoining Glenhuntly Park. This precinct has unrestricted access and can operate independently of events within the Reserve, including racing, and therefore provides a unique opportunity to provide recreation facilities for regular and consistent use. The existing Land Management Plan proposals for this area remain unchanged and will continue to be developed. However, due to the unique nature of this Precinct outside of the racing impacts, and the removal of the proposed “Neerim Road Tunnel” due to cost/benefit reasons, a strong focus is to house facilities unrelated to the racecourse area and in-field operations. Precinct 6 is the Proposed site for the Demons and is in many ways chosen because it's a tricky site that can't be used for much as is. Precinct 6 - Recreation Support Precinct This precinct is located outside the racetrack area on a triangular shaped site that was previously used for horse training. This precinct is “wedged” between the racetrack and private land on Booran Road, with limited access and constrained interfaces. While not directly impacted by racing, the activities and access to this precinct will be impacted by people and traffic movements. This precinct also abuts existing and future built form areas, including the three storey Glen Eira College and a number of sites subject to future planning applications. This existing and future built form is likely to create overshadowing, constrain access and make it unsuitable for open space community infrastructure. To support the heritage goals, particularly the aim to keep The Flat infield of the racecourse open, along with the existing built form on site and adjacent sites, this precinct is proposed to house support buildings for the operations and management of the Reserve. This will include Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust, recreation and sport organisations using the Reserve, and other related bodies who require administration and support facilities relating to the activities in the Reserve.

Their land isn't wide enough for ovals. Maybe a soccer pitch or a basketball gym. But I suspect they'll have their eyes on the ovals for community sporting access which is what I've heard since January. I don't think our admin building would be an issue. In fact, now we know who the Caulfield land is selling to we might even be able to buy or rent a small chunk of it to get easily access for construction as well as come up with mutually beneficial design plans. I actually thought it would all go to housing and we'd have to deal with dodgy developers for neighbours chucking up the cheapest possible apartments. The Scopus blue and the Dees slither of brown don't overlap (although there's perhaps a little question of access from the road in). But I suspect the fight will truly be on for the ovals - as it has always likely been. Dees will say let us control them and stump up some initial finance in return for exclusive use during AFL/W training times and perhaps only the bare minimum community footy use - maybe no trainings and 2 games a weekend. Scopus will say let us be involved in the development and have Ajax training their 4 nights a week and half a dozen games each weekend. There's room for compromise but we can't be spending a fortune on a training base only to have ovals torn up by 1000's of kids every weekend.

Do you mean wedge as in the narrow piece of Government trust last - because that isn’t being sold. Or do you mean wedge as in leverage to development the ovals? Because I do imagine there’s going to be fierce competition to use them as exclusively as an afl club would like to.

Cranbourne golf club sold for 190M to Fraser Brown of all people. Money put in to a fund for Jewish community interests. Mt Scopus have bought the old training stables land along Kambrook Road according to the Age. We’re going to have to share or fight for these ovals.

Time trial result was excellent but otherwise I’m not sure where the positive reports are coming from. Pulled out of every training I’ve been to for rehab running. I’m glad he’s having a red hot crack and keen to see more but I need to actually see him doing some main drills before I see much reason for optimism.

That’s just because you haven’t seen much of him yet, he has all the same weaknesses of Chandler and without the overhead marking and burst power.

Postponing birthday celebrations for one night isn’t exactly a major test. The big test will be whether he gets a kick in round 2!

Some stuff about Tracc, notes the guys in the rehab group, and the following ‘players who impressed’ Harvey Langford - The No. 6 pick looks ready made for the level. Already a good size, Langford found himself in the right position on multiple occasions with space and execution to deliver inside 50. Kozzy Pickett - Pickett, who will miss the first three games in 2025 due to suspension, was playing through the middle during the full-ground drill. He put his speed to good use and also delivered a few pinpoint passes going inside 50. Tom Campbell - Now at his 3rd AFL club, the 201cm ruck seems set to be the backup ruck for Premiership captain Max Gawn alongside Will Verrall. The experienced Campbell was clean at ground level and showed some good acceleration during the full-ground drill, also showcasing impressive skills for a big man. Kynan Brown - The father-son product, who played two games in his debut season, was speedy and was brushing off tacklers with relative ease. Featured in some drills but ran laps for the majority of the session. Also looked to have put on some muscle.

Kolt, Kalani and the new boys jogging laps. Main group just doing end to end lane work with 2 vests v 3 cones at each end and a 2v1 defenders in the middle to link up. Really simple but fundamental running and decision making. Now with 2 footies so it’s getting all multi ball

He’s doing a lot of agility and very structured short running for a shoulder. Might be knee related shoulder surgery

Bowser and Salo the 2 man backline now. Moving fast with lots of diagonal stuff which is good to see. Not always connecting to the forwards - nice Kalani intercept and spoil there - but Riv, Viney, Koss have all run the ball through the middle

Match sim. Lovely mark on the lead by Dees CHF Harry Petty (they’re playing with a backline of Judd and Windsor most of the key backs are rolling through a forward line). Jed Adams nice run and receive on the next piece of play. Bad Harry Sharp turnover kicking to Bowser. Clarry and Tracc racking them up

Rando training player looks a lot like former cat Mitch Hardie

Saints, Bills. Bengals

Got to believe AJ, Big Jacob and the Rizzler will return us to goal scoring glory.

Vfl last year: McAdam: 11d, 4 tackles, 4 marks, 2 goals Roy: 10d, 1 tackle, 2 marks, 1 goal I understand we are all frustrated with Shane’s first year but he’s contracted for 2 more and at least deserves the benefit of the doubt for this year to go out and play his best. Similarly Roy has talent but he didn’t even lock himself in to the Casey team last year. Assuming he’s even worthy of a lost spot is a stretch at this stage.

I think his time trial was solid, ran with a group of talls and was behind Disco but ahead of May/Jefferson if I remember correctly.

He needs to get through preseason and play his role in practice games but he’s already appearing in media best 22’s and Petty going back is a sign they’ve bought in reinforcements forward. And it’s not like he’s competing with Franklin, Roughead and Hale. If he plays to his best vfl form last year he’ll be in round 1. The biggest deterrent might be that JVR doesn’t look ready to be the main man up forward. A lot of people think the ruck has hindered him, I’m firmly in the opposite camp.

Right now I’m sure it just experimenting but I’d like to see Bowser’s kicking on a wing both inside 50 and also to pierce the ball back in to the corridor. And he can be a defensive sweeper too. Even more than that I like Windsor providing pure counter attacking speed off half back to break down zones before they get set. Similar to Max Holmes at Geelong. Especially if we have Salem and McVee we already have 2 kicking players. And we have Lindsay as another player who should provide kicking and play half back or wing. The biggest factor though is I like genuine cross training of players for their development as well as what it offers the team.

AFLW players are paid in tiers. For 2025 Tier 1 (2 players) 110k Tier 2 (6 players) 89k Tier 3 (6 players) 76k Tier 4 (16 players) 67k We'd be struggling to fit Lil in to tier 3, where as she'd probably be tier 2 at the Suns. Potentially 22k which is worth moving for. Her podcasts with the club seemed to fizzle out but I imagine GC would have some way to get her some extra cash there. Plus perhaps a more permanent on ball role to develop her footy too? Hate to lose her but I think many of our core group sacrificed a lot longer than just about any other team and then once 4 of them left last year others have seen the writing on the wall.