DeeSpencer

Come of it. That's not a swinging arm. Stop watching slow mo replays. You have to swing your arm to reach round and tackle a player in that position and you want to hit them hard so you tackle properly. If it were a Melbourne player on the receiving end I'd say thanks for the free kick from the crude tackle, but lets move on.

Because we need speed, run and creativity forward of the ball and that's what they provide. JKH also has clean hands out of traffic and Kent bursts his way through. Neither finish their work every time yet but they're hardly alone in red and blue in that role. Michie was solid in the last few rounds last year tagging or from half back. He deserves consideration for that. But I didn't see anything in preseason to suggest his game is more suited to half forward than 2 young half forwards who might not be perfect but are playing their role as it should be played. Brayshaw and vandenBerg can take a spot of Kent/JKH as a predominant half forward. But to leave out either of Kent/JKH for Michie would be weakening the side.

So he'll be suspended for what? A crude tackle? Wasn't striking. Wasn't a high bump. The guy ducked and weaved. Kent collected him high. Even our own fans think whenever a Melbourne player does something it should be a suspension. It must shock the MRP seeing a Melbourne player having a bit of physical aggression and tempt them in to a report. Come on.

He's a good VFL player forward. He'll be a good VFL player back. The issue is at some stage he's going to need the opportunity at AFL level otherwise the list managers will be making a tough call on his future viability if all he does is play well at VFL level. Jetta did that and got the 1 late game, then rookie deal then so on. To be honest I'm pretty nervous about seeing Fitzy in an AFL backline, but hey who knows? Something more to worry about for later in the year I guess.

Come to think of it the 1 situation where a mid comes in to the side and starts is probably where vandenBerg goes back to a more permanent marking forward alongside Watts and Hogan, Dawes second rucks. But then I'm still thinking if it's Michie he's the sub because we still need the pace and outside run more than the ball winner. The big question is can the 193cm Chris Dawes without a great leap be trusted to do 20% of the game in the ruck, whilst at the same time can Hogan/Watts/vanders hold up the forward line and Jamar do the other 80% in the ruck. Ben Griffith's isn't much of a ruckman but he is 200cm. Gawn and Pedersen must both be in the frame. I don't know what the right answer is.

The question I have with bringing any midfielders in is are they better than: Jones, Tyson, Vince, vandenBerg or Brayshaw in the middle? OR Cross, Lumumba, Newton on the outside? OR Watts, JKH or Kent as half forwards. Personally I was impressed by what seemed like vandenBerg's first trial with more midfield minutes. I definitely think he's worth another run in that role. It's definitely time for Brayshaw to have another full game. I don't think it's time for Toump yet so I don't think anyone will come in for a wing role. Nor do I think anyone at Casey would provide more than Watts, JKH and Kent do in terms of giving us speed, creativity and skill up forward. So the presumably forced change for Frost would have to be the player who gives us the most as either a 2nd ruck, 2nd ruck/forward or as the sub. I can live with Pedo or Gawn, although my preference is probably throwing Dawes in for 1 game. Then I'd have Michie as sub. It's not that I don't want to see Michie/Riley/Toumpas etc picked, it's just I don't think anyone in their corresponding positions and roles are worthy to be dropped.

I'm fine with him getting some confidence on a wing right now but if he's still in the VFL as the season goes on then he has to be put on the ball. Even if he's a wingman he should learn how to win contested footy. McKenzie/Riley/Michie etc can be moved on to a wing, forward or back. We might've over done it with the shuffling of players last year but the idea was right.

First time he's suspended. Chapman's a [censored]. Yarran probably hates losing and is sick of this Carlton slops. Doesn't change my opinion of him at all which is that he's exactly the type of linebreaker that we need.

Kent missed a difficult snap. Then had a last q set shot with a heavy ball from 45 on an angle touched on the line. Looked like Jamar the big oath touched it as much as anyone. Hogan and Garlett missed easier ones. For a team with not much attacking flowing play 12-15 touches is about right for a half forward. 20 would be better but 20 is elite half forward numbers.

I can't even deal with this. Seriously. Can you find the footage. All I saw from Jetta was him keeping Betts to 1 goal and winning a heap of contested possessions. Are you one of the clowns who think Jetta took a dive in the first game? Kent???? For Michie. Laughable. Yeah he misses some chances. But seriously. He's not going anywhere.

Canberra and Adelaide. 1 hour flights. Interstate means little to me. Richmond are on a shorter turn around and coming back from Queensland. Any chance it will be 35 up there tonight? Unless guys are sore and need a full rest I'll take those who played today over those who will play VFL tomorrow.

For what and why? It's just irrelevant not poor form. Got not problem with critique of Bailey's coaching. He's dead. It's sad. Don't attack him as a person but you can critique his job. No problem with Watts having played 98 games. Don't think Bailey did the recruiting either. The issue with Watts is Watts. He's had all the coaches, all the positions, all the roles. All the preseasons. It's up to him to show he really wants to be an AFL player. Which means not dropping simple marks.

Dom Tyson is up against some of the best mids in the AFL and was working on being more defensive this week. He was fine. Vanders - 3 games. Kent never went missing, his probably is only a lack of polish, hopefully it will come. Salem...his man was subbed off after 3/4 with 3 touches. That's why he went missing. Garlett and (to a lesser extent) Hogan missed simple chances. Watts gifted a goal and messed up a simple chance but being weak when Hogan kicked long to a 2-1 and both Watts and Garlett stood and looked at Talia. The umpire paid a non 15 that went close to 20 because he's a nong. Some simple skill errors. Some simple defensive decision making errors (blokes running to the wrong spots). Drift in concentration sure. Younger players going missing. Nope. Particularly some that you pointed out.

We still need run and speed. Particularly in a substitute if we're hoping they get through to 3/4 time to make an impact. Yet I don't want to add Toumpas unless they are confident it will be a real Toumpas. Confident. Skilled. Speedy. Hard at it. Would love to drop Watts. Maybe the sub role? But if we don't play a 2nd ruck we need someone who can draw the ball. Notice I didn't say take a mark. I think he stays. But if Roos, Jones or anyone else gets the question about his play this week they better not sugar coat the answer. So someone in for Frost. I agree it's worth the risk of Dawes rucking. Don't mind the Watts rucking idea either. Yeah Michie's probably the frontrunner for the spot. But I want to see reports that he's really impacting the game and running!!! Otherwise Matt Jones, Roh Bail, James Harmes or even Billy Stretch in as the sub. Why not?

Haha so true.

Good first post. Yeah unless you have 2 rucks who are very good forward the 2nd ruck spot is hard. And even if you do then one has to play forward more than the other and often that creates a problem in terms of them getting in to games. Hale at Hawthorn is declining now but he was perfect at playing forward most of the game but lifting in the ruck when required. We chased him hard but the Hawks got him ahead of us. Then we had Clark and he didn't stay fit enough for long enough to take that role. Pedersen did ok last year. Frost is having a go. Gawn in full form could well play forward and ruck but more as a 50/50 guy than as predominant forward. However that's all secondary to the Leueny situation. Gawn and Spencer both have doubts on their ability to take the number 1 mantle. Mainly because they just haven't had long enough to test yet, but also because Jamar still beats them at training. Maybe we can try to squeeze another year out of Jamar and keep evaluating those 2, but really I think it's better to go looking for another guy at the end of this year to take the number 1 spot.

McCartin should buy Watts a beer. As should Patton, Boyd, Whitfield and probably a few others. Watts came in on the back of quite a few gun mids - Deledio and Murphy mainly who had great debut seasons. Plus Cooney, Goddard and Hodge were all looking the goods by then so people forgot their early career struggles. As well as Riewoldt who set the bar for key forwards. And Kreuzer who did really well for a young ruck. Since Watts there's only been Scully who dominated in the first year. The rest - Swallow, Patton, Whitfield and Boyd have all taken time to find their feet. Now McCartin gets the respectful treatment. I think we are stupid if we jump on his grave. Good luck to the young fella. He showed enough to suggest he'll be a good player tonight.

No way. Kreuzer is more injury prone than Leueny. He's also not as good. Very little physicality and isn't a big man.

Because I don't know who else will offer him regular first team football and I don't know many teams who have the cash around for a 2nd ruck who can't play forward. Obviously things change between now and the end of the year but right now I don't think there'd be a heap of interest for clubs paying him big money.

He's off his [censored] head. Seriously, the irony in this video is ridiculous. Girl breaks arm skateboarding. Has it fixed thanks to modern medicine. Goes on a water fast?

Wouldn't overpay him with his injury history, but would certainly be keen on an offer. Unless Sandilands retires I think most interstate teams are pretty set for rucks. Port, West Coast and GWS are surely out of the picture. And Sydney might be trade banned so unable to offer above average wage. So he might be looking towards Victoria. I think the following clubs are pretty set: North (Goldstein), Dogs (Minson), Richmond (Maric), Hawks (McEvoy/Ceglar), Saints (Longer/Hickey), Bombers (Bellchambers) Unless you think Leuny can play well in a 2 ruck system I can't see them investing in him. So that leaves: Geelong - but they might need the Danger money and have got so many injury prone big men. Collingwood - who might stick with Grundy and Witts if they have solid years this year Carlton - who have Kreuzer, Wood and Warnock all on the list but don't get much from him. Maybe not too much competition if we can convince him of the team having a solid future and him being a part of it.

Think it's a bit of reactionary BS. Jones is talented. He's not all just hard work. He's a very good kick these days and has a talent for finding the footy. Ablett might not always be at the bottom of packs but mainly because he's got brilliant balance and evasive skills. He wins as much contested footy as anyone when he's on. Tackles very well too. The current Ablett of the last two weeks is not a special player and not a good captain. Protecting your body and shying away from contact isn't a good way to lead, even if it's impressive to be even out there. Only his fellow Gold Coast players would know how injured he has been and what to make of it. I love Jonesy. He's a very good player and a very good captain. But I think Burke is getting carried away saying he's better than Ablett. I don't know if Jones is also carrying an injury or just sore but I hope he can put in a captains performance this week. We're going to need it.

He's hardly bashed down the door at VFL level though. He does give some versatility in to the ruck, but he doesn't excel in that role. Slightly better kick, maybe better field kick but shaky in front of goal just like Dawes. More likely to take a strong grab, but less likely to get to as many contests. Certainly not as good defensively as well. It's all much of a muchness, but Pedo needs a few more good weeks in the VFL to replace Dawes I think.

If we had a key forward the quality of Bernie Vince ready to come back in to the side they'd get a game. Roos is going to back Dawes in for a while because until someone else (Pedersen, Gawn, Frost, Fitzpatrick, Watts whoever) shows they are a legitimate 2nd marking and contesting option it's crazy to leave Hogan one out. It might've worked against a rubbish Gold Coast team but that's not proof it's a good long term plan.

If one zippy but not lighting half forward flanker is responsible for your run then you are screwed. Watts, Kent and Garlett are all quicker than JKH anyway! We're still going to have the 3 big men set up so JKH isn't going to be some panacea for our run.