DeeSpencer

He's not going to become Wayne Carey overnight. He's an ordinary footballer. All the coaching in the world isn't going to make Pedersen fast, skilled or smart enough to be a gun key forward. But I agree a good preseason of effort and some coaching can make him capable of doing a job. He did the job against Richmond, failed against the Hawks (but so did most of our forwards). He had Astbury on him against the Tigers and Gibson against the Hawks, that's a gap in class there. I'm not sure who the saints have for him, probably one of Delaney, Gwilt, Simpkin or Bruce. Sam Fisher's unlikely to play and Dempster probably takes Howe. He's got a reasonably simple job in running to space or towards the kicker depending on circumstance. Take 5 marks on the lead, bring the ball to ground if it's a pack or long kick to a contest (no one is expecting strong grabs), compete when the ball is in dispute, pick up your man when they have it and when you get the ball use it wisely. If he produces that without the easy dropped marks that plague him and silly free kicks then he can contribute. I'm just as worried about Fitzpatrick getting on the end of good work and taking some marks inside 50 and converting than I am Pedersen beng the work horse at CHF.

If I was having a bet I'd be on Roughead or Gunston from Hawthorn against Brisbane or Josh Kennedy at West Coast against the dogs. I'd love Howe to kick a bag but a realistic return is 3 goals and hopefully by drawing the ball that some of the other forwards can get in on the action as well against the saints.

FB: Georgiou Frawley Dunn HB: Grimes McDonald Terlich/Clisby/Strauss/Jetta C: Watts N. Jones Trengove HF: Michie Pedersen Toumpas FF: Howe Fitzpatrick JKH Foll: Spencer Vince Tyson Int; Cross, McKenzie Choice of: 2 from Bail/Byrnes/Blease/Matt Jones for last bench/sub spot That's my guess. Hope they play JKH for a full game. He brings energy that we need at the start of the game. Can't decide who I'd go with for the 6th defender but at least against the saints compared to against Hawthorn they should have a rotating midfielder who's a questionable forward more than a very good forward. If we win the clearances and use the ball smartly and quickly we can win. That can definitely be high possession and sharing it around but we have to do it quickly and confidently.

Fitzy and Pedersen between them - 2.5 Howe - 2.5 JHK/Byrnes/Blease/Bail/Toumpas between who ever plays as small forwards - 4 Midfield - Watts/Vince/Trengove/N. Jones/Michie/Tyson/Cross - 4 Fitzy last year showed he can be good for a goal a game at least when he's in form. He got one most games and kicked a few multiple efforts. Pedersen as a key forward might be just ok enough to get a goal a game if the midfield and backline provide something. Howe has the ability to have a 50 goal season if used close to goal in a team with solid ball movement. The small forwards and midfield goals will depend entirely on how well the team is playing. Play well and the goals will take care of themselves.

Watts has straightened up a side all of about 2 maybe 3 times in the best part of 50 games as a forward. I hate to say it but Pedersen is a better option in terms of a guy who can make a contest down the line. Fitzy as the close to goal forward. Howe as the guy who hopefully gets a lot of ball. Bail, Toumpas, Byrnes, JKH whoever the half forwards are will have to be leading well, kicked to accurately and mark strongly. If the midfield can't over come a saints midfield minus 3 of their best 4 players then we don't deserve to win regardless of who is forward.

I've never played in a thunderstorm. Nor can I remember the last game I went to that was postponed by lightning. Makes the young giants efforts even better I think considering that added distraction. But also seeing them being so horrendous for 2 years just so they could get every maximum benefit from the draft and then they pick up Addison and Hunt for free, Heath Shaw for Taylor Adams who was a first round midfielder of which they have a surplus and Mumford for a pick they were never going to use. It's inexcusable the AFL let them go in to 2012 and 2013 with just a few last legs veterans on their list in McDonald, Power, Cornes and O'Hailpin. They should've had some more decent depth players from the start so they didn't have to be some completely bad.

I spoke to a guy who works at the club (not in fitness department but another department). Didn't ask him about Clark as I hope he would've told me to mind my own business and I believe in privacy with these types of matters. But he confirmed Hogan is still a shot for round 2 but round 3 more likely and whilst the club did hang the carrot out there of round 1 they have been pretty consistent with the information surrounding him. Dawes - he said should hopefully play at Casey this week or next. Again I don't think they are hiding things with his injury just being extra cautious with recovery. Because we've had difficult injuries with important players who need management we are all on the edge a bit. If Clark, Dawes and Hogan were 3 lessor names we really wouldn't care. The side effects of Clark's long lay off and repeat injuries seem to have taken a big effect on him, isn't that a reason why it's wise not to divulge every detail about injury to the masses? In the mean time Garland is back running although a fair way off I think, Viney was back ready to play before he k.o. himself, Gawn got good minutes at Casey, Aidan Riley is working to his time table, Kent is back playing.

That's my point. Rockliff giving them a send off on twitter and Brown referring to them as fringe non best 22 players is not culture. Culture is realising you have a majority of players from interstate and making sure you work as hard as you can to prevent homesicknesses. Especially for guys who are very talented but fringe 22. Not so much Longer and Karnezis but definitely Yeo, Docherty and Polec are going to hurt Brisbane. It's no surprise they recruited Moloney because he fits the blokey old school culture that Brisbane had up there under Voss and one that if it continues will keep costing them with 18 year olds taken from interstate.

Why? The time for those decisions is October. Just before Christmas he was running regularly and taking part in skill trainings. Since then things have obviously gone a long way astray but if things can go so bad in 3 months there's no reason that at some stage in the next 7 months things might not be a whole lot better.

I'll presume this is on the basis of it having some kind of curse of bad luck and not as a dig at Mitch?

1. He wanted to go home because he was raising a young daughter. He took the extra cash and easier trade because that was what he thought would help his family long term compared to being home in Perth 2. Brisbane players are morons. They pretty much happily sat back and watched 5 talented youngsters walk out of the place. The culture up there is nearly as bad as Melbourne's 3. If Mitch needs to be in Perth to be supported by his family on and off the field I'd gladly trade him tomorrow. Heck delist him now with full pay and let him train under guidance from a WAFL club and try to be drafted by a WA club. I've got no problem with that. But Mitch Clark played with more passion than anyone maybe besides Nath Jones and James McDonald in the last 5 or so years when he pulled on the red and blue. Until I hear otherwise I'll trust that he wants to give his all to the MFC. As far as I can tell he's having issues that are exacerbated by repeat injuries that have him questioning his commitment as an AFL player and those types of issues can't be overcome with just a click of the finger and saying ok I'm going to do it for MFC. But until I hear otherwise I have full faith that he'd really like to be out there for us.

There's no altering of running style/reconditioning after best part of 2 years out of the game are likely to create soft tissue injuries I'm not arguing with that. What I don't understand is why that would create long term soft tissue injuries that continue one after the other. At the moment it's looking shaky as he's been in the same cycle for 3 months and had a hammy and calf reported and probably some tightness and things along the way. But with a player of Mitch's ability you keep trying for 2 or so years like Gumbleton or Higgins you don't give up after 3 months. A changed running style is made to be more biometrically correct to prevent injuries, yes that and reconditioning can lead to problems but the leap from that to career threatening I don't understand. Unless your source had particular reason that I'm not aware of why it wont work.

Notice the term 'health issue' and wellbeing. Not injury issue. And doctors not surgeons or physios. Injuries are very tough. So is being a single father and planning a wedding. I hope anyone who even joked about yet alone considered the photography hindering Mitch understands it's most likely the complete opposite. Get well soon Mitch. Take care of your health, footy never lasts for ever regardless.

If we believe the club the screw coming out last year was 1 complication. A hamstring then a calf are different but 2 more. He's contracted for next year so the decision is ultimately his unless maybe you have clear evidence he will never play again. 2 soft tissues isn't clear evidence. Out of respect to a valued player let's wait some time before we start talking of ripping up his contract especially considering it's of no relevance until October and by then Clark's body will have given us much more information.

Sounds like Viney who was the only one in serious contention for round 1 won't be there. Others who might be a shot in round 2 like Gawn, Jetta and Clisby are going ok. That said Jetta will probably be unable to play without a LTI. I'll take the positive of Gawn with the negative of Viney

The problem I have with your post and your revival of this thread is you've made 2 seperate rumours1. He may never play again 2. He's suffering soft tissue injuries due to a chance of running style The second is what the club has pretty much told us and would mean he's back at some stage be it 4 weeks, 14 weeks or next year The first is a whole different proposition. That you are right on point 2 is irrelevant to point 1.

People in the civilised world don't use that word any more. http://www.r-word.org/ Stevie J is a loveable larrikin. Bit like our own Bernie Vince. He also went a lot further off the tracks as a young player than you'd want but as a senior player has had a great career. I think he'd have great ideas about ball movement and skill develop and be able to convey them. History shows defense wins championships and a stout defensive game is needed but you need to attack well to defend. But I'd also doubt he's keen to retire in the next year or so which is probably the biggest reason he's not in the hunt yet someone like Lingy or Lenny Hayes would be. If Lingy got some real experience not just token stuff at North this year he becomes a candidate. I'd be accepting but a little nervous of Hayes or anyone else with just 2 years under Roos and no other coaching experience.

Maybe the tighter financial times the last few years than a decade ago made people consider their spending. But I like PJ's idea of getting people to come to games and then buy a membership. If it works it means they contribute money through the gate and then pay their membership, club ends up winning twice! Although they'd trade all that for 40,000 signed up already so they had the cash in the bank.

I'd advise every club to put in an offer. He's probably not leaving but may as well up the price they will pay him. Josh Kennedy is a legit top key forward. And they have some very nice solid midfielders in Masten, Selwood, Shuey. But so far Nic Nat is the only player on their list who really looks like a game breaker. Which isn't that amazing we don't even have one player who can claim that and a lot of clubs have one at best. But my point remains Nic Nat at this stage is their great hope. If West Coast take themselves out of future serious quality FA discussion by paying Nic Nat over 1 mil per year then that's great for everyone.

Sounds like someone took him to task over using the term 'breaching your trust'. It can be seen as a strange term and people could be offended about Jackson walking in to the club and talking about what happened in the past etc. But overall I agree with the sentiment that the club has been miles off when it came to delivering on it's basic duties the main one being winning football games. Of course true supporters will buy memberships regardless but it's a contract and we pay our money and the club delivers entertainment, enjoyment, fulfillment etc. This letter was Jackson acknowledging they've been light on in delivering their end of the deal but also saying we should back them in and we will hopefully see signs of progress.

An inform at VFL level Matt Jones/Evans etc or a battling to be consistent at afl level Michie is my point. I presume the question was raised for a super coach /dreamtime perspective and that's why I mention Id be surprised if Michie was an automatic inclusion throughout the year

Obviously. But from what I've seen of Michie he's not a lock for the entire season. Matt Jones or Evans when fit last year were locks due to no one else, Michie is better than them but not significantly right now, he hasn't played a full game yet. This year there should be proper competition for spots

In this case there's not much wrong with his article. But he's such a muppet. Look at his sliding doors segment for this week. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-14/sliding-doors-round-one Um maybe. But his just one piece of their midfield. What if he returns at week 7? Why do we have to absorb that slowly? It's not that amazing. No and highly unlikely. Fyfe after a great season all of a sudden becomes a long way better than Ablett and Pendlebury? Not to mention Dangerfield, Mitchell etc etc. And even the best small forwards with pace and quality ability to crumb goals don't kick 50. Bartel will always rotate positions but even if he didn't he'd be up the ground as a forward. 40 goals would be huge yet alone 50. I could go on and on.

I think Stafford had a word to him. But this was after he'd already had 5 or so shots. As mentioned there are 7 or more coaches supervising trainings. Miller was kicking the ball out to Fitzy to kick the goals (or in a lot of cases points). If they aren't going to correct him he may as well sit out the drill. Practising the wrong thing is just a waste of time. Maybe they've been working on his action slowly but at the moment they seem happy that this is his action and they'll accept the results. I'm not happy with that. I'd rather him kick every second ball off the side of his boot or along the ground but for him to lean forward, drop the ball with one hand and kick it with a proper trajectory not way up in the sky. If a player was throwing the ball not handballing the coaches would step in. Same if a player when to punch every time and didn't mark. Obviously that's exaggerated but I see Fitzy's goal kicking as almost the same kind of thing. It's blatant disregard for a very important skill for a key forward.

Injury aside how many games he plays will be determined by the form and fitness of Viney, Toumpas, Matt Jones, Evans, McKenzie and maybe Salem. I'm thinking Vince, Nath Jones, Cross, Tyson are locked in for most of the year and Trengove and Watts should hold their spots but if not will probably be played regardless as we have to get them right. The rest of the midfielders including Michie will be judged on form. Viv's only played half an AFL game. It's reasonable to expect at some stage he gets dropped to work on a few things. But if no one else is stepping up at Casey then he'll be hard to drop.