DeeSpencer

Elevations - No one over number 25 deserves one besides those who surely would've been offered before. So it's a matter of placing the new guys. Lumumba: 8 - same as his Pies number Garlett: 36 - Davey's old number Frost and Newton - take your picks of 17, 19 or 30 Pick 2 (Brayshaw): 10 Pick 3: 15 Stretch and pick 40: 26 and 28 Rookies: 41, 49 and 50 unless they are current players back on the list where they keep the same number 11 definitely not used. Let's wait and see if after a big year Max Gawn can step up and grab it. We know he's loyal and passionate about the club. It's just whether he's good enough to wear it.

Mentioned him earlier in my first post. Absolutely miles behind Hogan, Kent and Hunt in repeat 200's. By the second one he was 50+ behind. Yeah he looks a little more solid. Wont be a bean pole. But he'll need all preseason working on endurance (and likely a few more). Definitely a project player type.

http://instagram.com/p/vHvqodgDC-/

From the 1.5km mark footage: McDonald, Howe, Hogan, Viney, Evans, Salem, M Jones, Michie, Tyson, Hunt, Kent, Harmes Which probably makes sense. Hogan gets overtaken by Viney at least towards the end I guess but it's great to know that he's running right up there not far from McDonald because that's the standard of the best key defender runners he'll have to play on. The more young midfielders get up to AFL standard the more chance we have of winning games. Only strange one is that Toumpas didn't feature up the front there but possibly he didn't do the run.

Yep, an unfortunate reality. Time to draft and develop our young players correctly then add recruits in where needed. And instead of losing free agents we can sign our own guys and hopefully bring in one when we need to. Hawthorn's and Richmond's mature recruits are much different propositions. I hope we move from Richmond style bringing in guys to make us competitive to topping up with bargains like Hawthorn.

Richmond: 6 best 25: Grigg, Petterd, Chaplin, Houli, Miles, Maric 3 more on the list from last year: Knights, Matt Thomas, Hampson Plus Taylor Hunt could make 10. Last year they had that red head from Brissy, plus Orren Stephenson, Aaron Edwards and have had more recently

Jack Watts already has the most popular with the kiddies role down. Whenever I've seen him he's been undersized/not athletic enough for a shut down defender. Always competing but too often beaten and he doesn't have a lot of skill to provide rebound. Maybe he'd be ok as a forward but we have enough options there. Really if he was any good Adelaide surely would've kept him instead of recruiting Kyle Cheney. He's the perfect age to take over now from Rutten but he just hasn't been up to it.

Hopefully Burgs does a report of the time trial. He (or one of the papers) usually put up a few more photos and a description of who won and the usual 'x amount of players set PBs'.

I agree. I don't really like the PSD, but maybe for players in their first 4 or 5 years they should be subjected to a waiver wire, which is a similar prospect. If you walk out of a club before you've reached a relevant free agency period then name your price of contract and be subjected to a process where the lowest clubs have first pick. Don't like it, then organise a trade. It's just another mixed up version of the current system. Anyway maybe it's all a conspiracy. Port say they aren't letting him go. Melbourne say we'll take him in the PSD. Port say ok then sucked in you're going to Melbourne we may as well let you go now. In some ways it helps Port as we are committed to him now. If we waited until the PSD he could've been injured or otherwise and instead of taking him we might have plucked the guy Port wanted with pick 53. If he said he was going to Hawthorn or Sydney then Port might've said, no thanks, you can go the PSD.

You'll have your opinion I'll have mine. No doubt he's a couple of kilos heavier. That's the point of the holiday period. Keep the legs ticking over and do a bit of weights but without the grueling energy sapping games that often make young players lose condition. There was carry on based on your post and from one picture that Salem is all of a sudden significantly bulked up like he's the build of an experienced player (or Jack Viney) and he's not. I'm keen to see them do some more running or even better a time trial to see if he's up there with the midfielders. He's a hard kid so I'm not bothered by strength anyway, he'll build that up, if he has a good preseason on track his fitness will build that's the most important.

I heard that one as well but I hope not. He's very ordinary. Would be for a rookie spot you'd think and even then I'd say it was a waste. We can survive a game here or there without key defenders if we have an unprecedented injury list so I'd rather use the spots on more outside run and carry or on an untried tall.

Wright (second ruck), McCartin (FF), Hogan (CHF) could all play together in a 3 prong modern attack. Wright obviously goes to the ruck and Hogan and McCartin would play as modern forwards do with McCartin still playing more close to goal on average. But Dawes would likely hold his spot for a while given how long big guys take. And in the mean time we get little improvement and in the end we likely dump Dawes who's a pretty honest footballer. We'd then get 3 gun forwards if we developed them correctly but what good is that? There's only so many inside 50's a team has with a gun midfield. With a poor midfield these guys would end up fighting for marking contests. If I really was convinced they were the best 2 in the draft I'd take them, but barring that you're almost asking for one to fail through lack of development opportunity.

6 defenders - 2 talls, 2 mediums, 2 smalls 1 wing/half back - (Lumumba) 2 rucks (or 1 ruck/1fwd/ruck) 2 tall forwards Maybe 4 other forwards - Howe, Garlett, Kent, JKH, Salem or Bail (the sub as well as some midfield rotations in this group) Leaves room for 7 midfielders 3 centre square: Jones, Tyson, Vince Bench - Viney Tagger - Cross 2 more spots for Newton OR Brayshaw, Watts, Matt Jones, Michie, Toumpas, Riley, McKenzie, Barry, Evans, Stretch Well there should at least be competition for spots and if we have a good run with injury then Casey wont be short on ball winning players. If Lumumba plays off one wing with some time at half back and we get some rotations from the forwards then there's 1 genuine wing spot that probably doesn't suit Newton. I think we will all be hoping for Watts to make it his own or Toumpas, with Matt Jones the fall back. The other spot will come down to a versatile mid who can play forward, wing, in the centre etc. Newton's in with a shot if he has a good preseason as he does seem reasonably versatile.

With Tappy gone Kent is probably our biggest weight/height ratio. I wouldn't say he's fully trimmed down looking at him live but he's progressively getting their and for November he's in good condition. Come March with no interruptions he'll be good. All those AFL photo's are chosen to be impressive. Salem is still very thin in the upper body. Photo's flatter him. He was working hard to finish the boxing and push ups. As soon as the footies came out he was a class above though. As I said earlier Toumpas live is the most impressive in terms of more muscle than what you are used to seeing. Frost is more lean and athletic in person than the photos. But broad. He and Tom McDonald are certainly much taller and longer than Dunn and much bulkier than Garland. I wonder if the twin towers will work. Glad for JKH. He was amazing in last years preseason. Just showed everyone up with his enthusiasm for training. I hope he can keep it up now it's not new and now he'll be doing more of it. If today was anything to go by they will be literally and figuratively belted by the boxing trainer.

Casey Players and Their AFL Opportunity From my limited knowledge of Casey: Gent - Good solid VFL player, not sure if he's up to AFL grade Morris - had a great first year at Casey, can find the footy, bit small though Rutherford - no idea but he's a bit bigger than the other guys Munro - 99% sure I thought this guy was Newton. Such a similar build - 182cm, solid but fit. Was just reading about him. Former hockey player who got a chance with Sandy Dragons then Zebras as an 19 year old and played really well in the VFL towards the end of 2013. Then had a solid but not spectacular year this year and sounds like if he isn't drafted he's off to Casey to hook up with Justin Plapp. DISCOVERING THE ZEBRAS: JAMES MUNRO Of the lot I'd be keen on Munro for a rookie spot. We need endurance freak types and he hasn't played much footy. He could have some scope. At worst we get another Nicholson!

In terms of guys who played significant games last year its: Frawley out. Frost, Garlett, Lumumba, Newton, pick 2 and pick 3 (wait and see what they can do) and Hogan in. Really it's Frost and Hogan to replace what Frawley did at either end, then adding some pieces to positions we are very weak in a crumbing forward and outside runner. If those additions play a decent amount of games at a reasonable level and we don't have a lot of others drop off then we can't help but to be better. Whether that translates to wins is another question as despite some close losses with still had a fair few blow outs. I'm also not sure if those ins are as good as Tyson, Vince and Cross who combined for a real spike in performance. We might be able to get some mature help out of the ready to go guys, but we will need the draft picks or Hogan to burst on to the scene to get the same impact of Tyson. I agree we couldn't go too hard for kids right now. We need to build something like a best 22 and solid 30 players so the club has a foundation. At the same time I don't think we added too many kids in 2010 and 2011 (plus they all failed anyway), nor really 2007. We had a definite plan in 2008-2009 and it worked for a while in 2010 but then it came crashing down. In some ways I think we are almost back to where we were in 2010 in terms of just having two top picks in the draft. Having had some high picks in the years before. This time though we have a coaching plan to see it out and a more stable array of kids instead of just a bunch picked up in the two previous drafts and thrown in.

It's not who you are tipping that's unoriginal so much as who you are tipping against! Jacksonville, Oakland and the Jets with a combined 1 win and what 20+ losses! I'll wait a bit longer before tipping but I think that will be a pretty standard 3 this week. That said the Jags might get a chance against the Cowboys. I just can't believe they'd play Romo off only 2 weeks rest with 2 fractured vertebra even if they are on TP fractures. And Oakland are playing ever so much better since they sacked the coach. I'll stay with P Manning off a loss to seek vengeance but Oakland surely get a win soon.

I'm trying to remember what happened with Viney. I'd say he might be if he wasn't at school but it would still require AFL approval. But if he's finishing school exams it will be a no and even after that given Roos' thoughts on draftees they'd probably be happy for him to chill out, go to schoolies and come in like every other kid after the draft. I'm sure the club has a program laid out for him leading up to when he joins the club.

Got there at 10:15 so obviously had missed a bit. Unsighted: Jamar, Spencer, Vince, Trengove, Lumumba, Garlett, Stretch, McKenzie, Riley, Grimes, Jetta. * Big Maxy Gawn doing his customary exit back to the rooms but didn't appear to be a problem * Dom Barry going off as well, did come back briefly later * Terlich just kicking a tennis ball around * Dawes, Garland, Dunn, Fitzy doing some kick to kick and a bit of one on one marking * Watts doing light running * Cross, Tyson, Jones, Bail doing some light clearance work, pretty much just roving a fake tap and hand balling off The rest of the lads were doing boxing. Standard rep stuff but also with the boxing coach and Brad Miller walking passed and giving them taps in the guts as they are boxing, short jabs from the coach, whacks with a spare glove from Miller. Then in the last of the reps it was jabs straight in to your partners abs. The coach instructing them to hit harder and faster. Roos seemed to be enjoying it. Pedersen (looking fit), Howe, Matt Jones mixed in with this group along with the young guys. Newton and Frost part of it. Evans in the group, looking fit but thin. 3 extras - think one was Ed Morris from Casey. Didn't look like Tyler Roos but might have been, not sure. Frost has a reasonable kicking action and it comes out ok, bit mechanical but you expect that from an athletic type. And he certainly looks the build and an athlete. Newton isn't overly tall or built, but he looks solid. Fit as well. Was kicking a lot on his right which is nice to see from a lefty. They did some light skills work before another rep of boxing. Then at 11 headed over to the tan. I went that way myself and it looked like they were going to do some running along the flat alexandra ave section not full laps. Jones, Bail, Garland and Cross were doing some repeat runs along the oval. Garland clear of Crossy but all keeping a similar pace which was good. Garland seems fitter than last year. Dawes, Watts, Dunny doing some as well. Dawes is certainly a different body to shape to the lump who played for Collingwood. Watts is thin. Anyone expecting him to magically bulk up after all these years, it's not going to happen. He'll have a body to suit the style of game he (hopefully) will play. Hogan, Kent,,,, Hunt,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,King stayed to do some running on the oval as well. 1 minute running, 1 minute walking possibly. Fair to say young Kingy is a long way off. Each comma in that ordering represents about 3 metres. Toumpas seems much heavier in the upper body. But not big bulky arms. It was noticeable last year that he came back looking very lean and put in some good efforts in the running. This year it might be that he's filled out a bit and so if he keeps improving his fitness he hopefully he plays with more power. Pedersen looks fit. Harmes looks stronger and more mature in the body, but has a horrible surfer style haircut. Frost is a big athletic unit. Hogan looks good and it's great to have him out there. Overall everyone looked fit really. We have a crazy number of coaches and support personnel. Roos in charge but not pushing anything too hard for the first day. Goodwin taking it all in. Involved with Benny Matthews for some of the midfielders stuff. They look pretty similar. He looks good in red! Brad Miller looking enthusiastic. Toilet watch and Crowd watch can be filled out later. I'll await feedback to see if the demand is there.

I'd love to have him. But is he the third best player in the draft? Looks like a Kade Simpson in the making, maybe a little more inside ability, but mainly a running left footer (with a decent right as well). I doubt he gets passed Richmond's first pick, they've been linked to him and some class through the midfield and half back is exactly what they need.

I remember voting for both of these guys. Right?

In this current world with the list we have. He's not getting near Jones, Vince, Tyson, Cross or Viney and you can probably add Brayshaw to that soon enough and Salem if he has any kind of preseason. Our outside runners are a distinct weakness of the list but Liam Anthony is not better than Matt Jones, Lumumba, Watts or Toumpas. He just isn't. Not over the last two years. He's practically a carbon copy of Matt Jones, but Jones is entering his 3rd year in the system and might step it up a notch. Anthony in his 3rd year got found out as not up to it.

Changing coaches would be an excuse if you went from a good player to bad player then back to good or vice versa when used different roles. But Blease came in under Dean Bailey. Broke his leg. There goes 2009 and really 2010. I can't help but think the advise to him was do your rehab, get fit, go out and get a kick. 2011 he played a bit, moved around positions. Then from 2012 under Neeld and continuing on I really can't help but think the advise to him has been the same the entire time. Play half forward. Defend first. Make better decisions than you currently do. Get fitter. I hate it when anyone says 5 or 6 coaches. Blease had Bailey, Neeld and then Roos. The caretakers in Viney and Craig were unlikely to have asked for anything significant form Blease besides from him to get a kick. Craig clearly paired back the game plan last year and tried to retain some possession and besides that just play natural football. It got a bit of results in some of the games. There was no magic about it. I'm not going to bad mouth him for having a crack at the club. It's nothing different to what Roos has said and we laud him for calling it how it is. But I will say I think it shows that he's just never got what AFL footy is about. It's probably the toughest sport in the world and no one can do anything for you when you are on the field. He might get some easy kicks down at Geelong but if he doesn't work for them they will dry up pretty quickly.

Just looking through his recent ones 2006 - Selwood and Hawkins as a father son gift 2007 - Harry Taylor, Dawson Simpson not much else 2008 - Mitch Brown, Gillies, Taylor Hunt but saved himself with Motlop in the 3rd round 2009: 17 - Menzel 28 - Duncan 40 - Christensen 42 - Vardy 56 - Cowan 3rd round rookie - Pods 2010: Smedts, Guthrie, Horlin-Smith, Schroder - not all that special 2011: Hamling, Kersten, Murdoch, McCarthy 2012: Thurlow, trade for Caddy and McIntosh So they've been punished by going down the draft order and had a few misses. But the 3 stars out of 06/07 were huge for their premierships in Hawkins, Taylor and Selwood. You don't need a high success rate per pick if you are getting multiple AA players. 08, 10 and 11 don't seem all that great in hindsight. Some good talented forwards and depth midfielders but lacking punch. 2009 was the draft that set Geelong up not only for the 2011 flag a possibility but for more and more success now. 3 of that class have long term injuries and a 4th just moved to Brisbane. The 5 player in Mitch Duncan is a gun. Still we had 4 top 20 picks and I would've loved it to go Menzel, Duncan, Christensen, Vardy even with all the injuries that's better than Scully, Trengove, Gysberts and Tapscott!

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