DeeSpencer

So it seems our game will start at 8:30pm Melbourne time on Sunday, which I think is just down right rediculous. I understand that Victorian sides often have to travel west in the NAB cup/challenge to compensate WA teams who have a heavy travel burden during the regular season, I also understand that it's best to start games late - ie. 5:30 Perth time to avoid the heat. I don't want our players ending up dehydrated for the sake of the NAB cup. But come on AFL, we're a club trying to attract supporters (especially young supporters) so I don't see why we get hidden away at a time that restricts young viewers and old viewers as well with the game likely to finish after 11pm. Hardly ideal to see Trengove and Scully in action for the first time. How many parents are going to allow their kids to stay up late when they have school the next day. Plus it is a foxtel game so I don't see a family outing to the local pub as being a popular option. Would a 1 hour earlier start really make a major difference to player welfare? I hope that the management of the club have voiced their concerns over this fixture as it puts us at a disadvantage to the other 15 AFL clubs (the game works out nicely for Freo who last time I checked have a predominantly WA supporter base). I would expect certain advantages in other fixtures and/or financial compensation for this matter. The only benefit is that at least if we're getting pumped Richmond style it won't attract so much attention!

It's been up for ages, so I presume the club know all about it. It's a lame video. But I actually rate this one as pretty good -

As a forward - has some potential but will only ever be a back up plan As a defender - maybe not quite up to it. Pace is great on long leads but can be caught out not reading the play. Still a great back up to others As a ruckmen - I'm excited. He has a good leap and I think he'll really learn how and where to palm the ball. I'd like to see some more aggression from him. He certainly isn't soft, but he's a big guy who doesn't lumber along, he can really cover the ground, so I want to see him use that in whatever position he plays.

The Scotch scholarships for football largely go to indigenous kids - Junior Rioli, Nathan Djerkurra are 2 of them - and do raise some publicity which I doubt Scotch cares much for as well as improving the team. But the main reason for them is to give something back to this country and try to help the indigenous people. I believe rightly or wrong Scotch believes that their education will produce better role models and leaders out of young indigenous men than if they stayed at home. In particular, Scotch has a strong link with the Tiwi islands (home of Rioli). I think giving a bunch of well to do kids a closer experience with indigenous Australians is also a positive. Other scholarships go to boys who wouldn't be able to afford the fees. No doubt a lot of the other APS schools hand them out along a similar line (Melbourne Grammar have adopted a similar tactic of scholarships to indigenous players - Stephen May who will end up at the gold coast is one of them). Haileybury received widespread criticism as their scholarships were more of a recruiting drive and did steal talented young footballers from other schools - often very good and expensive schools. I'm not sure whether they still have this practice in place, I would hope not.

Firstly, I did VCE in 2006 so I know exactly what it means, and I hope its a while until I'm an idiot parent! Scully might well have been able to work really hard and to the best of his ability in getting 59, but I have my concerns. It is just my opinion that everyone should be given a fair crack at VCE without having to train like a part time elite athlete. Because to get drafted unless you are Buddy Franklin like talent you have to commit a great deal to your TAC team, and I believe it would hinder their VCE performaces. It doesn't affect Scully so much, he has a great shot at setting himself up for life with a footy career. But what about the guys who poured a massive amount of effort into their footy and didn't get drafted. They now have less chance of doing what they want to do. That said kids out there, a lot of my friends who didn't get what they wanted in 2006 are exactly where they want to be now. And yes Hayliebury give out sporting scholarships. They bought a good chunk of their first XVIII over the last few years, and I believe its a ploy that hasn't been as successful as they hoped it would.

59 isn't reasonably well. 59 for a Hayliebury student is probably in their bottom 10% of students. Scully getting 59 is an argument for raising the drafting age so guys don't have as much work to do for footy in such an important year.

Healey appears to be a big bodied clearance midfielder. According to reports he was playing some good footy for Casey reserves before a long injury ruined the second half of the season. He seems to be at the end of the list of strong clearance midfielders behind probably Moloney, Jones, Mackenzie and Scully, Trengove, Gysberts. I'm not sure what else he brings to his game. But at the top level I think you only need 1-2 clearance mids in your 22 with others capable of winning their own ball. As he is on the rookie list he will have to really impress to get a game, but a lot can happen in a season. If Healey becomes a best 22 player in the future then I will see it as a bonus. Hughes is a very interesting type. He looks good at VFL level and if he could contribute what he does there at AFL level he would be a very good player. His problem is to me at least is that he has never really knocked the door down to get senior selection. I'm not sure what he is up to in his preseason, but he I think he's had a lot of injuries in the past. A massive preseason could see him become an AFL level player. Again he is another that seems worth persisting with and would be a bonus if he made it at AFL level.

Being picked up by Freo is awesome! Just look at Croad, McPhee, Brodie Holland, James Clement, Peter Bell, Jess Sinclair the list goes. All you have to do is stay a couple of years and get traded to a victorian club and you will have a great career.

The fact was that at the end of 2008, our key forward options for the future were Miller and Newton, with the likely addition of Jack Watts. We also knew Bate could play decent footy on a flank. We had no idea Liam Jurrah was going to announce himself as a highly promising 2nd/3rd tall forward. We had to stick with Newton, and for whatever reason decided a 2 year deal would be a good idea. The club was wrong in giving Newton a 2 year deal, but now it seems to only have cost us a rookie pick in a weak draft. We now have a player who has the following attributes. Defensive pressure - has improved to average for a key forward Strength - poor but should be improving Field kicking - average Goal kicking - poor Marking - sometimes reasonable, often poor Speed and Athleticism - okay Hunger, desperation, appropriately used physicality - non-existent Reading of the play - not too bad X-factor - might be hiding in their somewhere.

Backline - 2 decent games on Barry Hall in career. Forward - probably about 15 decent games including a good final against Freo. He will help with the development of Watts and co to come in and take pressure off them when required. Let's not try to abuse him personally. Miller at least gives his all for the club, if all of our more talented players did that we wouldn't be coming off consecutive wooden spoons.

I think Davey cut a lot of that out of his game last year. He still did it occassionally but so do Ablett, Boomer Harvey, Judd etc. Davey is now in the top bracket of players tagged in every single game, it's not because he's a superstar but because there is no-one else worth tagging. Hopefully very soon that changes.

Bailey contract extension would be my guess, but I would do that on the eve of next season or during it not now. What else could clarify big? I didn't want to speculate but I couldn't help myself. Maybe Jim handing over the presidency - not saying he should or he needs to but he might want to. Football department staff seem in order. Playing list seems settled. Macdonald, Meesen, Newton look set to be the final 3 on our lists. No doubt we will attempt to create a good deal of interest in revealing the numbers to our new players - but I don't think that will make much of a headline. Training venue - Casey deal looks good and can't see much changing their, maybe something to do with the rectangular stadium and everything to do with that, or even some other venue. Leadership - McDonald has been conformed as 2010 captain has he not? The rest of the leadership group would make a story but nothing amazing. Finances - AFL and MCC deals seem to be appropriate. I'd love to sign another big/good sponsor.

GH - Rohan is like a tall in that he was drafted more on potential than performance - he averages 12 possesions (I think that is in championships not TAC). Trengove's SANFL form would've put him in a lot of AFL sides late last year, so after an AFL preseason if he remains fit it seems logical for me that he will be in the side. NAB cup form will dictate. Trengove, Scully, Strauss, Blease, Tapscott must all be in with a good shot. Those 5 are more advanced than the 4 who had their debut this year - Spencer, Jetta, Bennell, Cheney. I'd be surprised if anyone else debut outside those 5. And we shouldn't forget it is more than likely that Joel Macdonald will make his debut.

I've heard Scully gets 31, Trengove 9 and Gysberts 5. I'm unsure what the other draftees get. I'm also unsure whether Blease, Strauss, Bennell and Jetta get to take up lower numbers, or if they would want to. I think the best policy on these things is to hand out the numbers as the come available, with the most deserving getting first choice. If they want to take on a highly regarded number then good luck to them. I'd say Scully and Trengove as pick 1 and 2 should get first go, then probably Bennell and Jetta for a reward for a good season, then maybe Blease and Strauss followed by Gysberts extending through the picks. But they are just numbers, you make them your own if you are good enough. If any of these young guys are upset with a dodgy number then they should have a good season because at the end of the year it is likely that the best number going around will become vacant - Junior Mac's 23!

Craig Cameron will endlessly be hurt by backluck: 1. Molan being a dud. However the rumour was Daniher pushed hard for this pick, and it will be noted that Molan was very unlucky with injuries. 2. Scott Thompson going home then Moloney going down, and Rivers as well 3. Armstrong got Bali bombed which can't help a career, and a promising Broadbridge got killed - RIP The list can go on. I don't think he was a bad recruiter - he did get Aaron Davey for a rookie pick did he not! I think his last 2 drafts were very very good. It might have been a case of not having the resources around him in that early period. The nucleus of the premiership we are setting up to win will come from CC's last 2 and BP's first 2: McNamara Frawley Bennell Grimes Garland Strauss Blease Trengove Morton Petterd Watts Maric Wonaeamirri Jurrah Tapscott Martin Scully Gysberts Gawn Jetta McKenzie Cheney Obviously you put Bate, Jones, Sylvia, Moloney, Davey, Warnock, Rivers, Green, Jamar etc and a few handy pick ups in future drafts (our Rioli or Selwood thanks) around these guys, but in terms of the sustained success it will be from when these guys go from being 22-25 to 25-29. Which should co-incide with 2013 onwards if anyone cares.

Dogs made consecutive prelims without Hall, we are yet to see how they will go with him. Hawkins is irrelevant, he just sits at full forward. Does stuff all. Unless Miller pulls his finger out he shouldn't be given the chances he has in the last 2 years. Watts, Jurrah, Bate as the talls is what we have to do to improve them. A Warnock, Garland, Stef Martin/Frawley backline for much of 2008 has paid big dividends for 2009 and that is without Garland. Speaking of Garland he is the only alternative to take pressure off Watts and Jurrah. A dud Brad Miller will get us nowhere.

See no reason why any of McDonald, Davey, Bruce, Green and Moloney would be left out. Miller is always around these things, but I think it might be easier to give him a year without leadership. But if he deserves it he gets in. After that I like the idea of Grimes. I still think the next captain will come from the experienced group - with Davey firming as favourite, but if Jack's leadership is as good as it is made out to be, then football wise he has shown enough to join the group. The major problem is that he has only played 12 games! Rivers, Warnock, Sylvia, Jones, Bate, Morton are others that looking in from afar seem to show leadership.

Not sure what games you watched. I thought Sylvia played his best footy roaming the ground from HFF, like his game against the hawks. Moloney and Jones will play most games next year as they are required in that position - and half decent as well! McDonald will still spend time working the clearances. Davey is getting better at it and needs to be in the centre clearances at least. After that Sylvia should spend more time in the role. Then it is a lottery - how much can Scully and Trengove handle? Can Petterd step into the middle? Jetta? Grimes? Morton? McKenzie in the second half of the year.

Neither can Brad Miller, for different reasons. Sylvia, Bate and Green in particular have to fill the void at CHF between them whilst we wait for Watts to get stronger and Jurrah to get fitter and cover more ground. Petterd is also handy in that area. Trengove has strong hands and a good tank, the half forward line should be a nice place for him to start, in a similar role to Nev Jetta this year (who will also be pushing for a role around half forward or midfield). I doubt we will have a St Kilda set up where Riewoldt does 80% of the work around half forward. I think we will be more like the bulldogs where they rotate 6 or more through CHF with Murphy and Johnson taking most of the work. Even Geelong deliver to Chapman out infront with precise foot skills as much as Mooney.

Cheney - has to play a few good games OR improve speed OR skills otherwise will be too far down the order to persist with Bartram - has to play a few good games AND show an improved skill level to persist with Bell - has to play some good games AND show improved skill and decision making Miller - has to show improvement, particularly getting more possessions and kicking more goals Mcdonald - body will be in trouble, he'll need to stay fit and play 12 or more decent games Johnson - Alot depends on other ruck prospects, but at the very least will need to play 12 AFL games. 08 form will probably be adequate Bail - needs to show something, consisted footy for Casey and possibly at least a couple of AFL games might be needed Rookies Meesen - will need to recover from injury, a lot depends on other ruck prospects Spencer - once again depends on other ruck prospects, but will need to regularly play good VFL footy and show more at AFL Newton - needs a miracle Healey - needs to be playing Casey seniors and rivaling more highly rated midfield prospects who will be playing for Casey (ie. Gysberts, Jetta, McKenzie, Strauss) Hughes - anything short of an AFL debut will not do enough

Jack Fitzpatrick - Bruno - Might be only me and I don't want to cast assertions on his sexuality but I can see a definite likeness

Hold your horse Nasher, this draft has so so so much more to offer! 1. Melbourne (Macdonald) 2. Richmond 3. Fremantle (McPhee) 4. Sydney (Bradshaw) 5. West Coast - delisted Tyson Stenglein 6. Essendon - for losing McPhee Will Richmond pounce on McPhee or Bradshaw (not a chance in hell), but what excitement as we wait to find out!

If Garland is done and dusted we may need another tall, but I have all confidence in Frawley, Garland, Warnock and Rivers if fit and so I'm happy we didn't bother for a KPD in this draft. All 4 will be big enough to take any forward in the comp even though we will aim for Warnock and Frawley to do that. I'm expecting more improvement from Riv this year, he had good games and bad. Warnock is only serviceable but even in a terrible team in the last 2 years he has rarely been embarrassed. For the flanker roles Joel Macdonald steps in, Bruce will play there this year and after that it is whoever you want. There are just so many talented players who can fill the rest. I'd like to see Bennell given first shot on most of the crumbing indigenous forwards this year - Rioli, Neon, Alwyn Davey etc. If he adds a really strong defensive aspect to his game then we a looking at a hell of a player. The other position we might need to settle is who to play on the dangerous smaller marking types - Popyz, LeCras, Medhurst etc. We used Frawley in that role but I think he has more important things. Garland if fit excels in the position. We could try Joel Mac or Cheney and Bell if they found there best form could be handy in that role. But after giving him a good shot in the midfield it might end up being Grimes' spot.

He didn't do the testing at draft camp, I doubt they just thought oh really, thats ok. No doubt they have investigated it and come to the conclusion that it is fine. If anything they might have thought having the manage a groin injury meant he could produce even better footy that what he did this year. Sounds like a well balanced, determined kid - with a hint of personality which I think BP takes a bit of a liking too. After taking Jack and Tom you need someone with a bit of character! Reading about Big Gawn he seems the same way.

Benny is a great bloke, I was hoping in some way we could get him as a rookie. Such a shame he is at the filth, maybe he can lay low for a while and then make his way over in a couple of years. Any idea how many games his old man played for us?