DeeSpencer

What’s his usual? Tom had a good 2021 but despite constant attempts by the coaches to make him a midfielder or wingman he just isn’t one. Ball use and awareness are both too poor. Did an ok job tagging Holmes, got killed by Merrett last week because he just isn’t smart enough to stick with a clever mid. Today they made Viney tag Serong and limited Sparrow to purely half forward and despite some usual fumbles and decision errors he did a great team job and took some strong marks which is a key part of his game. But he’s a limited role player, he is what he is by now.

Oscar and an underdone Darcy probably the easiest back up ruck combination in the league but he was better than expected there (some of his Casey efforts in the ruck have been diabolically bad). Definitely gets at least 1 more week. Agree that his leading at the ball (and height that draws free kicks) both offer more than JVR. Although I feel for JVR because Melk and Petty are our best tall forwards to play alongside. Whoever we picked in that role had way more of a chance than some of our earlier combinations

Lumping JJ and Bedford (who both played a fair bit of footy) in with 2 non afl standard players. Fullarton is more like the latter

You’re most likely right but he’s finding a bit of the ball and laying tackles. Used in small doses he could add some much needed spark that we’re so badly lacking

Yes. Every time he's played in the last few years at his been as a tall, ideally in that disruptor role on the best interceptors. He doesn't do enough with the ball on the ground to be played as a flanker

Unless you're demoting Melk to sub then we've got a 4 tall forward line without any pressure with that line up, not that Fritsch is great in that regard but he at least offers something at ground level. He's been judged on goals and whilst his missing has been frustrating there's been signs in 3 of 4 games this year that he might make something of the new role he's been asked to play getting up the ground more. All the focus is on the talls when Geelong play Cameron as a winger half the game and I'm never sure if Shannon Neale is actually a real person. Sydney keep winning with 4 rucks. If we can get McVee, Lindsay and Kolt back over the next 2 weeks and settle Windsor down we can finally start to line up with something resembling a decent line up of flankers. I'd love an early look at Mentha. And in terms of vital players who aren't in great form the big one is Spargo who we desperately need but I don't think he comes back to his best without another 2-4 weeks minimum at Casey. Aside from Fritsch's goal kicking and JVR's concrete hands by far the biggest issue is we keep butchering the ball with bat**** crazy decision making and skill execution which leaves us vulnerable on transition. We can get some addition by subtraction if we replace the midfield butchers once we have some reinforcements available.

Except he plays like he’s 185. He’s a flanker in a 200cm body. The logical replacement for JVR is giving Aidan Johnson another run who actually has a red hot crack and does bring the ball to ground. The logical replacement for Fritsch is Jeffo but it would be madness to drop Fritsch this week when he actually responded to the threat of being dropped and played a fairly decent game against Geelong, just missed his set shots, which is an issue but should eventually start to turn.

It’s very hard to improve players as a team goes backwards and from our players drafted 2020-2023 it’s not a long list. McVee is a great player development story. Bowser is starting to turn the corner after some 2nd/3rd year blues and injuries. I’m still confident there’s a player in Disco, he’s not far from putting it together. And AMW had come a long way before injury. Howes and Laurie appear to be rare JT misses. The problems in their game don’t seem to be fixable. We’ll know more by the end of the year about Jeffo and Adams but they’ve both come from bog ordinary when they started at Casey to at a minimum good VFL players. The only talented player who’s really flat lining in terms of development is JVR.

Goals were good but he got smashed but Kreuger in any genuine aerial contest. Don’t expect him to come in.

Goodwin developed our entire premiership team and you’re upset he can’t make anything out of a bunch of guys who aren’t good? There’s a separate conversation about JJ and Bedford and lack of turnover of the team in 2022/2023. Mistakes made then that we are paying for now. Anyone who watched JJ and Toby at their first year at Casey wouldn’t be questioning the coaches ability to develop players. Those 2 were absolutely nowhere near AFL at the beginning of their careers.

So short of the Dogs plucking one from nowhere in Freijah and Geelong doing what Geelong do better than anyone in finding mature age and obscure players the draft has proven exceptionally weak after 30. I’d prefer to treat the draft as a lottery and buy more tickets than we have been in recent years but I get why we trusted JT’s Also note that only Adelaide gave up a future 2nd in the Curtin deal as part of a draft day trade, no one traded back in to 2nd round of 2023’s draft. Every club was aligned that it was no good.

Laurie would just the sub. Langford could stay as sub but I’m not too keen on him as sub when he could play a full game at Casey. I think we need to give Rivers a proper run on ball. Get Tracc on ball more. Work out if Clarry can turn disposals in to anything decent. And the right amount of Kossie, Viney and Sparrow. Plus more speed in the forward line. If that doesn’t work and there’s really nothing to salvage then I’d play Langford more.

He offers nothing defensively in the middle and I’d rather he have fun at Casey than be subjected to this slop. At least until we get more balance in the team. Great game last week, no influence after half time this week on the back up. If he plays more than about 10 games this year it won’t be development it will be just mindlessly playing.

If all our players tried as hard as Sparrow we’d at least be a chance. He did his job tonight. Took Holmes completely out of the game. Until we get some reinforcements no way he gets dropped given we’re picking guys who have no impact and can’t even stick to a task.

Petty had a stinker, one of our key backs seem to every week. Could drop him, or could go 4 tall backs and move Rivers on ball. Sharp’s no good. Spargo should play a month at Casey so they can pick him for full games in form and match fit. JVR is just ordinary and not getting any better. I’d rather big AJ. Langford’s not ready. Viney continues to get worse. I’d probably go: Out: Sharp, Langford, JVR, Spargo In: Mentha, Lever, AJ, Laurie

Jack Henderson a beautiful kick around the ground, can’t buy a target inside 50, very funny.

Pretty much the north game. Slow start. Got on top but couldn’t capitalise in the 3rd. No legs in the last

possibly not this year but even as recently as last year Jack would run rings around him. Viney’s explosive first few steps are a big part of his game (if they still exist)

Disagree on Kentfield. I’m not high on him but he looked ok before Christmas, I’m not sure debilitating pneumonia was on the draft profile. Also willing to give Verrall at least this year. Sestan should’ve been moved to half back at Casey mid last year and then made a decision on. Fullarton was beyond dreadful at Casey last year in terms of doing anything like the basics in the ruck or forward. They’ve now largely given up on him as a ruck but if his forward game improves I hope he gets a chance, he does have the combination of athleticism and actual height we’ve been crying out for. But I’m not blaming our coaches based on what he served up at Casey last year. Fringe talls are always a gamble that you often have to be patient with. It’s recontracting unremarkable fringe mids and flankers where I think we’ve gone badly wrong.

Why? No aerial game, no speed, would be a disaster. Paul Johnson in the back pocket level stuff

Time trial and speed are completely different things. Even Sharp is only moderately quick, although he can sustain the high cruising speed for long distances. Laurie would be our slowest mid or perhaps on par with the big bodies of Langford and Culley, he can just sustain his running over 2km.

Does he dominate or does he do what is expected of a mature age midfielder? We’ve seen Dunstan, Viv Michie and JKH and many more over the years produce 30 and a goal at Casey. I’d like to see him get a real go but it’s hard to argue that our midfield needs another slow mid

FB: Petty May Adams HB: Salem T Mc Bowey C: Langdon Rivers Billings HF: Chandler Turner Tracc FF: Pickett JVR Fritsch Foll: Gawn Oliver Langford Int: Windsor, Sharp, Henderson, Viney S: Sparrow Out: Howes, Melk, Lindsay, AJ In: Adams, Turner, Pickett, Windsor 4 talls down back isn’t ideal, nor do I think Jed is truly ready, but we need someone who’s willing to defend and can’t keep picking Howes.

Geelong have been pushing that as a recruiting tool and once that stuff spreads across an industry it's hard to ignore. I don't think there's a direct relationship with training intensity and standards and more flexible hours around preparation.

That’s pretty much what I think. Coaching is a big factor, you have to use training to get players confident and drilled at making the right decisions. But it also takes time and the right players. Langford played without the same apprehension and with more skill than our experienced mids. Unfortunately his inexperience and lack of speed hurts defensively. Pickett will help. More midfield time for Tracc could help if he cuts down his turnovers. But we need more skills than we’ve got on the list!