DeeSpencer

Wandered passed for a coffee and quick look for about an hour this morning. Boys hit the track at warmed up at about 10-10:15. Absent: Trengove, Lumumba, Vanders, Bail, Frost, Kent, Fitzpatrick, Howe, Hunt Dawes came out late with a huge compression stocking on his right leg to above the knee. Did some work with a staff member on the next door oval. Jetta and Tyson trained fully from what I saw. I'd love to know where Frost is at. Missing from the injury report. No news is usually bad news. Petracca was doing plenty of sprint and take off work under the watchful eye of about 4 staff. Then jogged a lap and slotted through a torp on the run from the boundary about 40 out. Had a kick to kick with one of the staff members then kicked the ball up, had it knocked on, gather and kick a goal. Pedersen did most of the non contact parts of training, marking and kicking with only a moderate amount of taping on the wrist. I'd save if there was something left to play for he'd be ramping it up to play soon. Training as usual divided in to about 3 or 4 interchanging groups for the most part. None of Macca, Rawlings or Goodwin are backwards in giving some criticism. But I don't get a negative vibe. Rucks (Gawn, Jamar, Spencer, King) doing a lot of work with Stafford. So much of the focus there is on following up the tap. Macca presided over a drill where 4 players formed a square and kicked a footy around either 2 or 3 token defenders. Good crisp kicking for most part. Goodwin took a mainly midfield group and pretty much formed 2 lines 20m apart running up the corridor inside 50. He'd have Pedo lob a kick in and then call out either the blue or yellow team to handball the ball around under pretty strong tackling pressure before handballing or kicking a goal. Riley's tackling was fierce. JKH with a nice tackle as well. Someone fumbled and was then tackled hard and Ben Matthews was loudly encouraging with a statement along the lines of 'fumble kill'. The notion being to cause fumbles and capitalise on them and conversely to avoid fumbles. The last drill I saw involved set up the kick out zone and then attempting quick movement from a kick in. One series of play so a pinpoint kick out followed by a series of sharp handballs, a switch kick followed by another handball to Newton who hit up Jetta back in the corridor at CHF before the inside 50 kick. Goodwin was pumped and yelling to Rawlings "that's good ball movement". The take aways from the session was that: - Goodwin has a major role at trainings - We are training skills under pressure - The coaching staff notice the terrible things from the weekend - uncompetitive contested ball effort, lack of communication in set ups and are doing drills to improve them

Backline talent is a huge hole even before whatever happens with Garland and Howe. But I'd back Salem and Jetta in for better years next year. With some development I hope Stretch can play half back flank. Grimes will be Grimes, not pretty or really AFL standard but he's who we've got for now. Terlich, do we pay him out or not? White is young and raw. Then there's the talls. I think we'd be better off sticking with Crossy for 1 more year and if we get improvement from the young midfielders (Tyson, Viney, Vanders, Brayshaw etc) then we can use Vince more at half back. I think we'll probably come down to a spot to use with a delisted free agent again and I'd consider Adcock but I'd much rather picking up another younger guy for a 2nd chance.

You're missing Sydney and GWS who are every chance to jump above our selections There's a player from Geelong Falcons, Charlie Curnow, who might be similar to Lynch and might be around our first pick. We could take him as best available instead of Lynch.

He's paid enough that he can hire a nanny or make some other arrangements if that was the case. I think he's really just struggling with a hard tag as he often has when the rest of the midfield isn't functioning. Moving him forward was a smart idea, but he has to start around the ball each week.

Be silly to drop him now and leave him 1 or 2 short. I think we are playing him because his best games still contribute heavily to us winning. A couple of times this year it's been forward. Most of the time it's been by taking a lot of intercept marks and providing good rebound from down back. He had a huge impact in several of our games this year. Unfortunately about every 2nd week he's been completely useless, making terrible decisions and weak efforts.

3rd round picks in this draft apparently are barely worth taking. 2nd rd pick for Garland like Sylvia, sure thing. I'd do that. So I'd sign him up for a 2 year deal on decent money (league average is 340k so at least more than that) rather than see him walk, but if we are the under bidders and he goes on 3 year big money deal that fetches us a 2nd round pick I can live with that. I'll be annoyed if we let him go and don't get the good return. Bit unfair on Col but the club is more important.

I'd probably take him as a swap for whatever we get from Howe. 4 year deal isn't unreasonable either but with his injury history I'd prefer a 3 year to be honest. He'd provide some work rate at half forward and allow Hogan to stay deeper. If he's the best we can do I guess we get him, but it probably doesn't do much for our glaring list needs: - Half back - Wing - 2nd ruck forward If we do get him I'd love to sell Dawes for a meaningful pick (ie. inside 45). Not sure we'd get one though.

What do you want? Jones, Vince, Viney, Tyson out of the centre square and Newton playing in his rightful position? He did ok in there and it was the right move after our first choice guys were getting smashed to give him a run, but I'd probably rather stick to our best mids. He should get 2 more weeks and chances in the centres square rotation. But to make a career for himself I think he'll need to show he can impact games from half forward and the wing as well. From his first training session I said he wasn't fit enough when he was battling away with Riley at the back of the group. Saty assured me he was taking it easy on his first day but come game day he just doesn't seem to run like an AFL player. Presumably he'll be out of contract after next season so he'll need a big preseason. I see him as handy depth, better than the Bail and Jones' of the world for sure, but when we have a young team without a big fitness base I get why they picked the guys who can actually cover ground at speed.

Have to play our best team (whatever that may be). But I wouldn't bother with wholesale changes. Not really in to resting guys unless they need it. Brayshaw needs it, but he can be the sub. Out: Lumumba, Dawes, Harmes In: Jetta, Jamar, Tyson FB: Garland Dunn Jetta HB: Salem McDonald Howe C: Newton Vince Stretch HF: Tyson Hogan Watts FF: ANB Jamar Garlett Foll: Gawn Viney Jones Int: Michie Grimes Cross S: Brayshaw E: Harmes, M Jones, Riley Does anyone know the VFL finals qualification rules? I'd say most of the guys down there should be qualified but I wouldn't take anyone out of Casey and force them to miss finals.

He's been better the last few weeks, cleaner with the ball, covering more ground. I still think he's only depth as he doesn't seem to have the speed or nous to do much forward and so far he hasn't held down a spot in the midfield. But hey he's far better depth than some. Once again he's another I'd love to see have a huge preseason and smash all his running times.

Our injuries haven't been too bad and we've ran out some games well, the fact is we don't run in to games so how can we tell if we run out of them! I'm worried about the lack of muscle on some of our senior guys and the lack of strength of pretty much the whole team, but I still think it's mainly mental. Not his best day today but I still think pound for pound Nathan Jones can serve it up to any AFL player with his combination of endurance, a good burst of speed and strength. Tom McDonald needs a lot of work as a player and to improve his speed off the mark and agility, but he'll keep running as much as anyone in the league. Our best are fit enough. Some of our young kids really gut run and keep providing effort (Hogan, Brayshaw, Stretch). As with all things Melbourne I worry more about why we can't get more players following the standards and stepping up.

I'm interested in Papley too. The goal totals and possesion totals for his TAC stats seem solid and the Casey twitter guy is obviously a fan. I wonder what his athleticism is like because he seems to have the skills for VFL at least. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=197796311&client=0-3020-111700-339771-20320279

Who's at full back for Coburg? Cale Morton? Glad to see my spray of Casey has lifted them

Every year we sign too many list clogging spuds who all end up slowly playing out their careers at Casey and it must be such a downer for all the Casey players and the young Demons out there. We need talented young players with freedom to go play VFL and use their skills. Injuries take their toll, the pressure steps up and Casey crumble. Nice of them to do it in the 2nd quarter this week instead of either the first or dragging it out until late in the game.

And several off them. According to a few twitter reports he's signed with Adelaide. Who were also the front runner to Alex Keath. Blicavs might be the best product of this non footy rookie rule, in fact he might be about the only good one, we will see how the US bloke goes for the Saints. On the whole though it looks like a so far small but possible decent advantage for the rich clubs who can afford to take chances with 2 of these guys. In Greenwood's case if he's giving up a professional basketball career I'm guessing he's getting paid more than an average rookie.

Could he really play both ends of the ground? Went ok forward but it wasn't his go. With Neeld preferring McDonald and Frawley he was being squeezed out. Imagine if your boss deployed you to a different job role that wasn't your preference then a rival (and better) company offered you a job in your preferred role. If Rivers stayed he would've suffered through some bad years for little. We needed Daniel Cross and Bernie Vince and something more out of Dawes and Clark and a younger better Lumumba, that's the on field leaders we needed.

Gun basketballer has just quit the Perth Wildcats. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/hugh-greenwood-walks-out-on-perth-wildcats-to-pursue-afl-career-20150820-gj46vy.html Is the grandson of a 3 time MFC Premiership player Peter Marquis http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/local-sport/afl-clubs-court-rising-basketball-star-hugh-greenwood-for-code-switch/story-fnj92b0f-1226927594563 Not sure who he's signed with but if he's walking away from a contract he must have something lined up. Would count outside the salary cap and the rookie list. I hope in a shallow draft it's us. Westrupp didn't work out but this guy seemingly has better credentials at 191cm and 93kgs and having played as a junior. Check out his highlight tapes: He can shoot, rebound, dunk, if he brings that athleticism with a footy background he's got to be worth a try.

Too small, not blistering, burns the footy. I think we have reasonably half forward options how it is and I don't see him as a wingman and certainly not a half back. He'd be better depth than not having any but isn't what we need.

Neeld didn't want him. Tom McDonald, Garland and Frawley (then Dunn) filled his spot. We should've got compo for him but stuffed that up. I don't begrudge him. His knee was always going to shorten his career. I'm happy he got to play some good footy. Again, stuffing the compo hurt more than Riv actually leaving.

He's got limited positional versatility, limited pace and kicks like a mule (which is good and bad). I'd be interested for the right price, but I also think Vanders and Watts can both play as 3rd tall types and have more versatility. Petracca by all reports knows how to take a grab as well. Kent back, another year in to Brayshaw and Harmes, I just wonder if giving up some valuable commodity for Lynch would be worth it. How much does another good half forward help our ball movement if we still haven't fixed the backline and outside midfield spots or found a 2nd ruck/forward who can play the role consistently. I know he'd fill the Gunston role but Gunston is quick, as is Roughy. Hogan certainly moves around the ground well but if we are trying to emulate West Coast and Hawthorn then I'd be looking for more speed to go with Hogan not a hard work rate guy.

In: Salem, Stretch, Newton Out: Lumumba, Bail, Jetta (inj) FB: Garland Dunn Grimes HB: Salem McDonald Howe C: Stretch Jones Newton HF: M Jones Hogan Watts FF: Garlett Dawes Harmes Foll: Gawn Vince Vince Int: Michie ANB Cross S: Brayshaw

At least Casey fought back and didn't get a percentage hammering. If Coburg win tomorrow then they'll move to 10th and make the Coburg v Casey match pretty much an elimination final. Hopefully some of the Melbourne boys can get up next week. Any reports on Fitzy and Toump would be appreciated.

You're crazy. Hogan has had plenty of break out games, he hasn't kicked 8 yet due to lack of service and that will continue. Either Dunn or McDonald should stop Redpath but Stringer, Crameri and Dickson are a super trio. We were too strong from them at the G but the indoor Etihad conditions will see them run all over us as they have many better sides than us. Our forward line sucks at ball retention, our backline just doesn't get the ball out with speed or skill and our inside mids might be accountable but Shaun Higgins was the latest in a long line of outside types to run all over us. If we can find this bloke and see whether he can leave the roof open we might be some chance

I think that's a bit ambitious. We just don't know where Frost, Trengove and Petracca would sit in the best 22 stakes. They could be in it, could be a fair way out of it. Our 2 biggest injuries so far have been Kent and Salem who are both best 22 IMO but in a lot of ways should've been replaceable if you are a side with good depth. Pedersen has missed a long stint as well and whilst he is probably best 25 again he should be replaceable. Overall I'd say we've had about a league average year. Obviously that changes if Frost, Trengove and Petracca were all going to be major difference makers this year but all things considered I doubt they would've been.

Got to bring Salem in. He's too good to be playing VFL. Wouldn't bring anyone else in from Casey. Not sure who the unlucky out would be. Grimes and Lumumba aren't in great form but I feel we may as well persist with Grimes for another week. Can't see Roos dropping Lumumba even if he's struggling. Matt Jones did his job on the weekend and will have Murphy this week. As much as I love him would a week off to play some fringe and kids instead hurt Crossy? Probably silly against his old side so that's a non starter. ANB and Harmes are going well. Keep them. Michie, well he just needs to play at this stage. I really think resting Brayshaw might be the smartest move. Should give him a freshen up to take on Carlton, then go across and serve it up to Freo and finally the GWS game.