DeeSpencer

It's no defensive in terms of tagging or not hunting the ball, but more so in terms of positioning they've asked 1 midfielder most of the time to hold out from forward 50 stoppages and to set up in general player closer to the backs in more of a sweeping role. Collingwood do it with Pendles. Richmond did it with Cotchin. The point is you have an extra defensive sided player if you turn the ball over (taking more risk going forward) and you have someone in the corridor ready to counter when you do win the ball back. It wasn't going to be Tracc, it wasn't going to be Viney (has been at times but generally he's better with the freedom to follow the ball). It's been Salem at times and was Rivers on the weekend which is more logical. But if we don't have a defender spare because Howes isn't trusted or injuries it's reasonable to use Clarry - particularly from the big 3. Saves his legs a bit too. And sets him up to charge the ball back the other way which has always been his greatest strength along with winning the ball. Almost all the moves the coaches have made this year can be explained by the lack of any kind of options and the adjustment to a new game plan that will ask different things from different players.

He was the 3rd best mid (Laurie 4th) behind Rowell and Anderson (pick 1, pick 2) as an underaged but then was covid impacted in his draft year. He was meant to be really strong at the coalface and then neat and solid as an outsider. He’s not a strong clearance player, he’s not great on the outside and he’s short and slow. He’s pretty much a mildly bigger and better version of Laurie. So he can tag, and maybe there’s room to improve with a rock solid preseason or two. But I’d imagine he has a good work ethic to go that high in an unknown draft so he’s probably done the work? (Minus a delay for glandular in 2022). He just looks very Trengove-y to me. Slow. Big bottom. No power. Might be worth a one year flyer but that’s it.

Transition defending/work rate/positioning and at times ball use. He gets caught in between the lines defending at times. But his contested ball winning and run and carry were both A+ today.

Grundy’s at worst 2nd in the AA ruck race with 2.4 marks a game. Verrall doesn’t have to be a marking player as long as he’s not being outmarked. But as an undersized ruck he needs to be dominating at ground level sooner rather than later at VFL. More tackles, more handballs, more throwing his body around at stoppages. But there’s still enough to like for a second year kid.

How about a retroactive one for Rozee in-front of goal? Or about 100 other players. Lets be honest, May did it to reverse what would’ve been a heinous holding the ball free. Now, why Steven May is a deer in the headlights and can’t run with the footy I don’t know but it’s been an escalating problem for a while. The big fella doesn’t like being tackled.

Greenwood is such a cheat, surely something in his bible about thou shall not lower yourself in to every tackle

Much like last night it’s ‘free kick North’ time

Bill Laurie giveth, Bill Laurie taketh

That time might be another summer, but they’re both promising. Verrall’s decision making is bugging me, does too many dumb ruck things for a shorter mobile ruck who needs to be another mid to be useful. But he is a competitor.

Correct. Jeffo might have a taste this year if his Casey form is more consistent. But it will just be a taste and it won’t be against Brisbane at the Gabba KB has so far only had a taste and I’d be surprised if he plays too often unless there’s more injuries.

He’s out there, but the Casey coach would be asking the same question

Poor Biggie Talls is getting such a bath you’d almost think Casey will sign him Woey putting in some better efforts this quarter

To me the must tag for ANB is McCluggage. Rotate half forwards through Zorko and get them to hit him at every chance

Petty just played his best game in weeks and I’m nowhere near as down on him as most but I genuinely wonder if you just sit him out and throw BBB to the wolves against Harris. We know Petty v Brisbane doesn’t end well. Windsor needs a rest, but watching Woey and Billings it’s hard to know if either are worth picking. Fritsch absolutely needs a run at Casey, but McAdam is doing little to inspire confidence. I’d probably make the swap tho, Fritsch needs the rocket up him so badly. Honestly I expect Lever for Tomlinson and that’s about it.

Started the quarter playing great footy then ended up hopeless. Awful down field free by McAdam to concede a goal, a few dreadful Schache moments and Laurie invisible in the middle. Should’ve dug in and had a lead or at least be right with North

A couple of dropped marks in prime position that could’ve resulted in more scores. But it’s a familiar tale of getting smashed in the midfield and a very porous backline. The ball did seem to be holding up in to the Casey goals so they might have an advantage in the second term

Nibbler played 11 games in his first year! He was made to work in year 2 but I suspect a lot of coaches are happy to give first year guys a taste and then make them work to tidy up parts of their game that don’t stack up. Sesto and AMW haven’t had that taste yet but unless we shift a half back on ball there’s no backline spot and Fritsch and McAdam are both way ahead of Sestan. Brown’s also been in the Oakleigh system, Vic Metro system, father son system, has a coach/former player as a dad. I can see a case that he’s more ready than we might think.

Sestan hasn’t shown he’s got the tank for afl footy. That’s why Brown has played more midfield at Casey than he has. AMW might be the same thing, but they also seem very keen to leave him at half back. I’d have played him last week, but I understand this week they’re going tall again in the back half. Kolt wasn’t ready but he was picked for a certain role. I’m sure Kynan is in for the same. None of the young guys have really shown they are ready for any AFL role

He’s been consistently solid until a poor game against Coburg, but I think more than anything he’s probably getting picked to do a role with his tackling, pace and possibly his ability to rotate on a wing. Ie. The job he did in preseason games where he looked surprisingly decent for a first year rookie. If the plan is back to doing basics I can see why they’ve picked him.

Interesting, Brown played his worst vfl game against Coburg and then was the holdover emergency before the bye. I guess they want him for a specific role but I’d be surprised if he’s in ahead of Kolt.

Fullarton? 7 goals? He’s kicked 6 goals in 18 career games. He’s getting closer to a game on merit and certainly on the basis of having nothing to lose but has been mostly been underwhelming and awful in the ruck.

You think the correct technique to elevate in the air, hold balance and spoil is wrong and makes it harder to spoil? And instead players should throw themselves in to the air like salmon and not only will they spoil better but they’ll prevent injuries to themselves and others? Get that info down to the Demons urgently because we keep training with coaches with bags on their back and our players leap and put knees in to the bag. Including the games best contested mark and some of the best key defenders. Actually email that to all clubs and the AFL because they’ll be very keen on this new and improved way to fly in marking contests. Given it will be supposedly be more effective and won’t result in guys busting knees on landing or crashing in to heads and necks as they fly with no balance or protection

I barely no what that means but all I see is Moore jumping to get height and reach over the top of Tracc and potentially Gawn and executing a textbook spoil. Something Lever, May, McDonald do all the time. You can go watch netball or basketball if you want non contact sports.

A defender spoiling - necessary Jumping - necessary Raising the knee to jump - necessary Keeping the knee in a natural position so you don’t just fall in to the back or head of an opponent - necessary Retroactively analysing a normal part of the game - junk

Load of junk. Moore spoils the ball. He’s jumped to spoil the ball. He can’t detach his knee from his body. It’s always going to go up as he jumps and stay up for protection. More injuries don’t happen because afl footballers do a heap of weights to build strength and protection. And generally the rounded knees go to the muscles and around the spine and don’t cause any trouble. Sometimes it will be the ribs and usually that’s either no injury or a week or so out. This kind of injury is rare and that’s all there is too it.