DeeSpencer

Don't underrate McCarthy, he can play. Isn't a big solid type yet but he's very dangerous. Cameron, McCarthy and Smith are the goal kickers. They can be 60, 40 and 40 goal forwards, or 7 a week between them types. After that Tomlinson and Palmer are role players, 2nd ruck and defensive forwards. Then they rely on midfielders. Is Hoskin-Elliott playing? He's a freaky type who can play wing but also go deep forward and take a bunch of marks, there's a lot of Fyfe about him. Griffen, Shiel, Treloar particularly are good for a goal a game at least. Classy mids usually find a way to score. We've got Jonesy and Dom Tyson who hit the scoreboard a fair bit. Bernie Vince as well and Newton at SANFL level was scoring regularly.

McDonald has the endurance, size and strength. Garland has a bit more speed but is better off in a versatile role. Dunn is the backline general who plays closest to goal and lines the team up. It would surprise me if it's not McDonald with first crack at Cameron.

He did have 2 terrible play ons though. One in the 1st quarter, one in the last. It's not his go and it's a silly silly decision. I'm all for guys running the lines and joining in the attack but you don't start the attack if you don't have the skills for it. Turnovers under big pressure are the fault of the teams for not provide the pressure relief. Turnovers when you've taken a mark at half back and decide to play on with an opponent right on you or decide to dance round the man on the mark are on you. We've got Howe, Salem, Lumumba even Dunn, Jetta and Garland to be creative from half back. Tommy Mc just needs to play within himself now.

Think he bought a house up there not too long ago, plus with Boyd leaving and Patton injured he's got a decent amount of job security in the foward/ruck role. Probably a good spot for him to stay as that midfield keeps improving.

There's a lot of talk about Brayshaw for the sub, Richie might be the better option. That said he was sub against Freo, injured v Dogs then played the game against Ess then a Casey game, so he's played a fair bit but didn't have the full run of 3 big NAB challenge games. I'm not convinced he's got silky skills or a great tank just yet, so this might not be the best idea, but if he does run out of steam at half forward and in the midfield mix then I'd gladly give him a run down back if one of our current back 6 get injured or suspended.

Yep forgot that one. So Kent had a big hand in goals to Tyson, Watts, Lumumba and Hogan, that's not bad for a half forward in 3/4's. JKH had the 2 clean assists I can remember and vandenBerg kicked 1, missed a couple of others, set up the Garlett shot on goal early, set up the other Newton goal and his smothers and grunt coming in off the wing had a role in a couple of other goals .What a novel concept, forwards who score or create goals! Brayshaw had the assist to Jones and the assist to Watts a couple of times (the miss set shot and the dropped mark).

I agree with that. JKH is a bit cleaner with the footy than Kent so his goal assists stand out for the Tyson and late Newton goal. But considering the time on ground difference the possession totals were similar. Kent was credited for 2 tackles compared to JKH's 1 but I think he had a more significant defensive and physical impact than that highlights. His work set up the Toumpas missed handball which still turned in to the Lumumba goal and it also set up an easy chance for Frost from a stoppage. He kicked it to Garlett who got it to Hogan and he won the ball and got it going forward on a number of occasions. He also dropped a couple of tough chances for marks inside 50 that he might've taken on another day. Plus he gets the assist on the first Tyson goal for sure!

Jamar dominating the second quarter. The brilliant play of Howe to Garland to JKH to Tyson was a little fluky I think. The Howe kick was ridiculous, should've just rushed it! The Tyson candy sell a bit fancy as well when he had open numbers all around him. But oh well. Liking this quarter a lot more than the first! Newton hasn't got in to the game with attack yet, but his contested work has been great. Poor defensive effort from JKH on Saad costs a goal. Just in love with the way Vandenberg moves around the contest, using his frame and his legs to get the ball to the next option as soon as he's got it. Only mistake he's made so far was pass to a 1 on 1 when he was on the run inside 50 and could've just pulled the trigger.

Just watching the replay now. Crossy has had a shocking first quarter with the ball. Hacking it around. The first quarter in general has been pretty terrible. Watts with a couple of errors. Tommy McDonald playing on under pressure. Newton with a terrible kick. Plenty more. For us to be up at quarter time showed our defensive effort was good but Gold Coast were pretty dreadful. I'm excited for 3 better quarters to come!

Well last time we got involved in a player leaving Brisbane it looked like the deal of a century for 10 weeks before costing us badly. Aish would be a really nice complement to the ball winners - Brayshaw, Petracca, Tyson, Viney, Neal-Bullen - that we have drafted to be the backbone of our midfield. Aish, Stretch and Toumpas competing for outside roles, we can dream I guess. 1 game in and we are looking like a club that talented players would have some interest in joining. But it's a long season. Also if Dangerfield leaves Adelaide then I can't see anyway Aish doesn't go there or stay at Brisbane. They'll have draft picks to make the trade, salary to spend and the natives in South Australia will be desperate for a big signing.

Not sure about Jamar and Viney in the team of the week. Both were good, but not amazing. Happy for Watts to get recognition and McDonald is very well deserved.

Mumford can't ruck all day either. He'll get a chop out by Tomlinson at times as well who Frost will match up well on. When Frost is up against Mumford he has to try to impact the game around the ground using his superior speed and we'd be wise to use 3rd man ups and other tactics where possible to nullify the ruck duels. However they shouldn't be against each other for too much of the game. Spencer got towelled by Mummy in the first game last year. In the second edition the hitouts read: Jamar - 20 Mumford - 21 Gawn - 22 Boyd - 4 I'm not sure what the split in time in the ruck was between our 2 big guys and we were brained in the game so Mummy might have been taking it easy or not at his best. Either way I expect Jamar to serve it up to Mumford. I'm more worried about GWS' mids regardless of how much good service they get.

The dropping Toumpas/dropping the sub does mesh with a theory I've had for a while in whether we'd be better off having a near permanent sub and therefore playing our talented younger players for full games either at AFL or VFL level. I think first and second year players getting their fitness and strength up are suited to the sub role semi regularly. Salem and JKH last year, Brayshaw this year and probably a few others. But 3rd year or beyond it's robbing them of 80 minutes they could be playing at AFL or VFL level. Done any more frequently than occasionally it's a waste. Right now there's no obvious 'super sub' on our list. But maybe we'd be better off dedicated one of the 44 for spots on an AFL list, possibly a rookie spot, for a super sub and then we get maximum value from the other 43 spots. I think Gia did a nice job for the Dogs. Matt Jones or Bail could be options, particularly later in the season.

I get the feeling both Roosy and Eade love their half back flankers and would be impressed by Howe but at the same time Garlett gave us something we didn't have last year and hurt the Suns. Have to think Roosy recognises Viney's game and who knows which GC player they went for. I liked Rischitelli's game for the goals, but Prestia played a very solid midfield game as well.

I'd genuinely consider dropping him for Bail, Matt Jones or even Billy Stretch. Because it's damn hard to play your way in to the side from the sub role and that's all he'd be, he's clearly 22nd picked from the side that ran out on Saturday.

We cuddled Watts for so long never dropping him and all it did was up the pressure on him, the angst in the fan base and back the coaches in to a corner. Plus the other players had no confidence in him. If draft pick number is irrelevant and all players are treated the same then Toumpas is dropped just as any other player. The good news is I'm sure there was a talented young player at Geel or the Dogs just like Toumpas that McCartney knows how to work with. Unless it was Liam Jones he'll sort him out.

They paid him 2 mil the first year I think and probably a bunch load more frontloaded in the first 3. 6 years 6 mil. He's probably down a much lower level now and will probably justify his wage with one good game against us! I think they've got a few out, or have at least traded a few out over the way so he keeps his spot on some form of merit. They do have 2 top 6 midfielders who they haven't even got close to playing yet. Compare that to Gold Coast who had their first 2 midfield type picks playing against us.

The easy option is the right option. The other players would be very confused if Toumpas stayed, as would he himself would be. Think about it, you wouldn't be confident you'd be even more worried about letting your team down. The only thing in my life I can think about as the same pressure as an AFL game would be a uni exams I've done. And if I failed any I didn't just front up the next week with more confidence I went back and did more preparation to get confidence. I like certain aspects of his overall game and I like that he cares so much it hurts, because eventually that kind of dedication if it can be harnessed will be something. After the botched handball in the forward line he busted his gut chasing Malceski to pressure the Lumumba turnover, so I see the care is there. He had something like 6 touches and gave up 1 goal and messed up another certain crucial goal with 2 of them. It's hard not to say that's a shocker even with all the difficulties of being the sub. But more than that at no stage did he seem confident around the play. Time at Casey has to be the right thing. He's fitter and stronger than ever, so with that he'll do well at Casey and will come back in to AFL feeling much more confident than Roosy keeping him in next week would make him feel.

We get a good run with interstate games (away) this year. I think a little due to the selling of games but also part of that trade off is the game in Geelong. It might be harder to win but I'd rather the Geelong game than an interstate trip. To be the best you have to beat the best and the narrow and long ground makes it a super tough ask for travelling teams.

So you expect Tomlinson to be dropped? None of their key defenders can ruck and I don't think Cameron will any time soon, nor the 192cm skinny McCarthy. Tomlinson had a few touches, a few marks, 7 hit outs which is solid in relief rucking. I didn't see his game but I doubt he was so bad they'd go in unbalanced with 1 ruck. That's asking for trouble with the possibility Mumford gets injured in round 2 against a bottom side and a huge weapon is lost for the year. Pretty sure Tomlinson will be the 2nd ruck as well as lead up CHF. Cameron will be the dominant forward target and McCarthy will be the talented, running and flying skinny kid that he is and all 3 will fit in the same forward line.

Ablett would've touched up anyone once he went in to freak mode. Howe was on Martin for at least some of his better play. Either way with the 3 talls Garland is going nowhere. Plus backlines play best as a unit, the 6 isn't getting disturbed because of one or two contests late in the game and we can't afford to take Lumumba out of the midfield, his running to space from a wing is just critical.

Agree with the first bits, but more interesting in who we choose for the tall match ups. Shame it's not Day and Gorringe each week! Tommy Mc did ok on Cameron last away game v GWS. Reckon he might get the nod. Despite him being the biggest size wise the way he leads up the ground it might be Garland or Howe on Tomlinson which would leave Dunn with McCarthy. Will be interesting. McCarthy is a super talent who's just getting started and we all know about Cameron. Tomlinson might have to ruck and isn't the most agile but I think he's handy as well mainly through is top shelf work rate, he's a bit like Dawes as a strong repeat leader. Jetta will have a fun day chasing Dev Smith. Palmer will make it hard for Salem and Howe gets whoever is left.

Garland's not getting dropped. Didn't you noticed he went to Ablett when he was forward and besides a 5 minute period when Ablett hit unstoppable level Garland had him held. GWS also have Tomlinson as well as McCarthy and Cameron, so we need Garland for another taller option. The back 6 stay the same. Injuries aside nothing is surer. Dawes comes in and I'm not worried at all about him combining with Frost and Hogan as well as Watts and Garlett. Vince comes in, he's an important part of the best midfield mix along with Jones, Tyson, Viney, Lumumba, Newton and Cross. With Lumuba taking some time at half back and all players needing to rest (forward, back or on the bench) 7 is the right number to slot in to the midfield. That way you can rotate a wingman and centre square player through the bench/forward at all times. So now we've picked our 2 key forwards, 2 rucks (Jamar obviously), goal kicking forwards, back 6 and the core midfielders. From there it's picking the sub and asking who gives us more and in what role out in 3 of the 4 from Brayshaw, Kent, vandenBerg and JKH. Brayshaw is a natural in the midfield. Great tackler, covers the ground, goes in at the contest, but Vince probably takes his midfield minutes meaning he'll play more half forward where he might not be as suited, the positive is keeping him in does give us more flexibility in rotations though, allowing Lumumba back, Jones forward etc. Kent has the most speed, a left foot (always handy) and some grunt at half forward or on the wing. JKH has good endurance and pops up in clever places to get the ball and is creative with it. vandenBerg is a beast, the best mark of the 4 (although there might be less forward target marking to be had with Dawes back) and can hold his own with contested ball wins, tackles, bumps etc. Endurance has to be a factor. Defensive work has to be a factor. And also deciding who will give us more as the sub in terms of impact, although when discussing the sub and young players you have to think work load (both too much or too little). It's a tough decision, I'm glad I'm not making it.

Haven't watched the replay yet but so maybe he was amazing and I missed it, he was certainly very good. I think I have higher expectations of him than others though because I really rated his work at half back last year. There's always a desire to see him play forward and take big hangers, but I thought last year he had several great games and displayed a lot in most games at half back and found some consistency. I really do hope that the contract negotiations are just about letting him get his value up by playing a super season now he's settled in position. I can't begrudge any player that right.

Should've been 50, that was a later hit than the Kent one!