DeeSpencer

Bate Not sure of the Hawthorn model of having left footers all over the park but I feel we could do with a left footer off half back. Grimes likes to kick on his left and is decent at it, but one more could do. Blease I pretty sure is a right footer but was drafted as a player who can also use his left well.

He played about half a season of competent footy at CHB in 08, was even keeping Frawley out of the team.But: Can't play fullback - doesn't read the game well enough Can't play full forward - can't kick straight As a CHB type he is decent back up. His best shot at making it is as a back up ruck, so thats where I think we play him. He obviously had most of this season ruined by injury, but his start of season form was rubbish and soft. My mail from the club is - "he takes a lot of work" - direct quote from towards the top. He is competing with Spencer, Newton, Fitzpatrick for a game each week, based on that alone he must be some chance.

Can see it going to our first draft pick, and if thats a ruckmen or Tom Lynch it would make sense. If it's not then I say leave it on ice and see who out of Spencer, Gawn or Fitzpatrick can make a play for it.

Can we put Nathan O'Keefe in this thread as well. Another from the 2008 draft. 193cm currently lightly built tall forward, played 2 games this year for North. Some guy on North Bigfooty board says he has a rubbish attitude, but most North supporters are pretty keen on his ability. Not a big guy key forward but with out lack of depth in this position he may be worth a look for a rookie spot.

That's such crap. Ablett goes just as hard as Sylvia and works much harder round the ground. He might not tackle with the ferocity but he still lays his tackles.

Grandpa/Son rule - Travis Johnstone Ben Sinclair - pick 62 in the 2009 draft, drafted by the pies. His old man played for the dees I believe. Will be an addition to the list if he can crack a game for the pies (or if we can draft him over at the end of next year and give him a game). Didn't Tom Scully's bioligical father play for Richmond. (bigfooty rumour that doesn't need to be brought up again).

His 08 and 09 were fine. Some how after his best preseason his VFL form was rubbish and he couldn't get in the team. Obviously the team was stronger and it was harder to get a game, but his VFL form just didn't show any progression. I feel we will no very early next year whether he has any chance or not, because for a player of his height and skill set if you can't play consistent good VFL footy in your 4th year what hope do you have.

Surely in the days of bigger lists and reserves Newton would have lasted plenty of years. But these days its more of a miracle - except its not a miracle just an indication of our lack of key position stocks over the last few years.

Has all the attributes to be......a complete spud. Seriously if we are down to Newton or no one he could do an ok job, he has some speed and a good leap to spoil. But what would happen if the ball hit the deck. I've seen little agility and can't imagine him hitting the targets under pressure required. I think Juice is best served trying to establish himself as a forward/ruck prospect. If Leigh Brown can do it he must stand some chance.

Agree on both points. Rivers kicking in the second half of this year was impressive. I think the amount of footy he missed was only just been caught up. If we are to be successful then Rivers will be in the Maxwell role, he needs to improve in it - give more rebound, kill more contests etc, but the Maxwell role is his role.

Spencer seems to save up his best kicking for obscure practice/nab cup games.How has he played?

Well Cheney and Scully for 2 but that was before the game.

I think the only game you watched this year is Melbourne v West Coast.Garland isn't slow. His biggest problem is when he plays on smalls who are elusive and dangerously agile he can be grabby and give away holding the mans. He doesn't have that great ability to know exactly where a man is like Bartram and Frawley seem to. I agree on Rivers though, he lacks a yard and can be unaccountable at times, but really we want him to play the Maxwell role so its ok.

SEN reporting Scott. The fact that the players wanted Sanderson might be enough for Sanderson to walk as him staying may cause problems for Scott getting hold of the playing group.

Apparently was very good in the bits of Casey reserves he played which is a good sign. Then he did a medial didn't he? Hopefully his knee comes good and then he can break into a few Casey senior games. From the tweets he seems to be well regarded as a fun bloke around the club which is a good thing probably.

2007 21 - Maric 2008 17 - Blease 19 - Strauss 2009 11 - Gysberts 18 - Tapscott There's a fab 5 for you. I've got a feeling that getting success out of these 5 will either make or break Bailey.

All the highlights video did was remind me how much I'd like Day, Gorringe, Lycett, Polec and Wingard. I'd take Smith as well. He would break my rule on drafting anyone by the name of Brodie though, so I'd be reluctant at pick 12.

Sandilands is the only ruck who dominates regularly, and Cox was the only one before that. I'd love a ruckman to dominate most weeks but just because he doesn't has nothing to do with how good or important they are. Jolly had a slow start to the year, dominated a few games and then really stood up in the finals That's all I'd want for Jamar. I think ruck is now like full back it's hard to be very influential, but that doesn't make you very good.

You have to teach defenders both defence and attack. That's what I liked about Wellman. I'd worry that Presti would just teach stoppers and we'd end up with a backline free of run.

I agree we should use 4 picks in the ND.So for that to happen we need to drop 2 more players. I'd say it could be any of PJ, McNamara, Maric or Martin. Whichever 2 it is I'd put them on the rookie list (obviously if they are contracted they have to be put there). The first 2 would be my preference. Meesen I believe has retired. I'd delist Healey and Hughes. They both have some level of talent but can't bring it consistently to VFL level yet alone AFL. Then I'd keep Newton on the rookie list and add the 2 delisted guys. That will give us 3 "live" picks in the rookie draft. Obviously best available but I'd be keen for one mature ager.

4 year deal last year. Freo came in big late, forced us into 4 year deal and if you believe the rumours putting the captaincy in the contract (which I think is pure bs).Alwyn was reported as very close to leaving, then committed to staying, everyone probably just decided that meant Aaron was going there. If Aaron really wanted to go I'd be absolutely shocked.

Watts - He needs the games Morton - If he's played 22 games it shows he's most likely got a position and played good footy. It's not fair to be concerned about Morton, but I think its fair to say if he's going to be a very good player he'd need a strong year next year Blease - I was going to go Davey here, and for the teams purposes Davey is more important, but if we are going to make it as a really top team we need more Davey's. Blease is our best chance of doing that. Maybe he doesn't need 22 games at AFL level, but 22 games with some being at AFL level and strong improvement would be very nice. Sylvia - To show he can, and can play them well Grimes - To show he can Jamar - Because we will need him to Next 6: Davey, Frawley, Jurrah, Moloney, Scully, Green.

Things I like about our game plan: 1. Defensive first 2. Quick ball movement 3. Down the guts Things I don't like: Not enough forward pressure. We don't seem to have an effective tight zone, and so we give up I50's and lose that stat more weeks than we should. In this was we are StKilda like. How the saints played the pies in GF 1 was very like how we've played them this year. Interestingly though you have to concede something whilst you are losing games (ie. there is a hidden aspect of a game plan that only comes together when you win). StKilda are a low scoring side atm, but really they do score, remember when Lyon first took them over - they could barely score. Geelong were different, they were regarded as too handball happy. Collingwood were written off as never been able to win a flag as they went via the boundary. Hawthorn - well no one really had a clue what they were doing until it worked.

We ended 4-18 for the year in 2009. We lost a game to Richmond after the siren from Jordie McMahon, late in the season where Frawley played CHF and Warnock FF. We tanked. But hey Hawthorn did it, they won a flag. Collingwood did it, they won a flag. StKilda did it, they've lost in a drawn GF and by a Matthew Scarlett toe poke.

What did Jones do, and what does he do now?