DeeSpencer

Earliest we could have traded was at the end of 2007, to claim end of 2006 is very keen. Yze wouldn't have been worth much then. Bruce might have been worth trading but he's helped develop a backline. Green is our only forward who beats his opponent each week and therefore is important. Both have been fantastic professional footballers who have performed at a solid level and given good off field leadership without any incidents. You wouldn't be calling for this if Jack Grimes was another Addam Maric.

***Early after the game rant***** F*** honourable losses, lets go back to the future (and the skip). 2 ruckmen may as well develop them. Play the guys of the future. In: McDonald, Sylvia, Strauss, MacNamara, Spencer Out: Macdonald, Dunn, Bartram, Rivers, Miller

What concerned me today was our midfield was smashed without McDonald and Sylvia (with heavy tags to Moloney and Davey). What got rid of that concern was that Morton, Scully, Trengove, McKenzie and Gysberts should be around the mark for years together. Jones, Moloney, Davey, Sylvia still plenty of footy left. We got a taste of Grimes in the middle. Plus Blease, Tapscott and others haven't got started yet. The midfield is the most important area on the ground. Just look at Geelong v StKilda on Friday night. I hope we take it to the saints in the middle next week.

He's a tool.

Maybe we can have In: Wheatley, Out: Bruce. (please people don't overreact).I swear Wheatley kicked a goal from 60 against the saints in his final game with his hamstring torn in half, loved it.

Would be thinking its just a standard rest, in line with the AFL guys. That said don't Casey have a bye this week so I'm surprised both of them weren't playing last week in order to push their chances of getting into the senior team.

Thanks to twitter: So it depends how much they offer him. I really hope Petterd stays though.

Here's one for you: Aaron Cornelius from Brisbane, listed at 192cm. Pick 57 of the 2008 draft from Tassie. Might want to come somewhere closer to home and where he can get a game instead of being stuck behind Fev and Brown. Is definitely a goal kicker who could make it as a full forward with Watts and medium forward around him.

Are you sure Cheney, McNamara and Bartram all resigned for 2 years? When resigned last year their length of contract was not specified so I believed at least 1 of them would only get a 1 year deal.Also why the hell is Dunn contracted to 2011, when was that done. What about retirements, Bruce could easily go, he doesn't offer a heap more than the guys in the VFL. McDonald must only be a couple of injuries away from giving it up.

I'm happy to play Green, Bate, Sylvia, Jetta and Watts every week in the forward line. If Hughes wants to get into the side he has to get in front of Dunn and Miller, and do it before Jurrah is back. As he will never be a backup ruck that means he probably needs to star at VFL level as well as develop something in his game. At the moment he looks a nice undersized lead up forward, he needs either good forward pressure, goal kicking ability or something else like sublime skills. I don't like his chances for a game against Adelaide, but any chance of a recall will need dominant performances in the VFL, starting against Williamstown. Hughes' problem is his similarity with Green, Bate, Jurrah,Petterd and Dunn. We've got the mid size goal kicking and lead up talls covered. I'm no drafting expert but I'd actually recommend Hughes to another club at the end of the year, for example St Kilda who have Kosi and Roo, and Milne and Schneider but could benefit with Hughes on their books. Could step into a side for a finals campaign like Josh Mahoney did for Port.

One of the guys (JB?) asked about Frawley going forward as Danny Frawley always fancied himself up front and could therefore could feel some justification if his nephew kicked a few up forward.Bailey said what you said above - if the game situation suited it they could move Frawley or Garland up forward. I think what that really means is that they are definitely aware that Garland has some ability as a forward, and just like Brian Lake, Adam Hunter, Dustin Fletcher and many of others Garland could be the guy who gets moved forward when you need a goal or two to win a game, or when injuries to forwards during games happen. But by the fact they keep playing him as a defender I really think that's where they will keep him as long as he holds his spot there. Cheney will have to take another spot in the starting 7 defenders.

Morton started down back this season but on Monday was moved to wing after being the lose man in defence and I think that is where he excels. I like the way he dropped back to help out but also got on the end of a few pieces of play (with the goal and beautiful kick to Bate in particular). Cale probably played a tough a game I've seen him play and hopefully that improvement will continue. Bruce has really been a pillar on which this backline was built. He held the group together many times last year and in 08 and I think has been instrumental in helping Grimes, Frawley, Warnock and others. But now his disposal especially under immense pressure is leaving a lot to be desired and I even thought there were times on Monday the players didn't want to give him the ball. I'm happy with him in the side at the moment. I'm not a massive fan of Macdonald or Cheney and I'd like to see Strauss have a couple of more good games first. However I'd be very disappointed if either Cam or the club made a decision to keep him around when he was past it. Retiring on a high would be nice, we've seen some imperfect ends to careers of late and thinking back to the Daniher years we've seen veteran players block the development of youngsters.

Even those 3 were hard bodied more contested ball winners than outside players.Guess it all changes next year when Longmire starts coaching. As for the votes, I wonder if Bailey gave the 1 vote to Beams or Dick. I would have to presume Dick and can see why he got a vote, can't see what Beams did more than Davey or others.

I agree with that. I think there was tweak which was the moving men behind the ball early in the 1st quarter. The plan was to slow the play and stop the bleeding which worked very well. We then attacked for the rest of the day, including at one stage going with 7 forwards.Also guys just realised how lucky we were with Maxwell getting injured. That was a big benefit for us.

It's too early to be talking about trades, price and spots on the list, but we could certainly do with more ruck options. As part of that Hampson is one I'd be happy to have. He's a combination of old school size and new age athleticism.

Did you ever doubt Riewoldt. I did. Especially in a game last year when we had Clint Bartram on him (which may have been a tanking move) so Barts could just run off him.I doubted Garland, and whilst I was always impressed with Frawley there was a time in 2008 when he was in the VFL and I was concerned he would fall behind a defence constructed from Warnock, Garland and Stef Martin. I thought he make it eventually, but not be as good as he is.

Two decisions today that completely baffle me and both should have led to Melbourne scoring 1. Non holding the ball against Reid. Did the ball brush his foot or something because seriously he had a tonne of prior opportunity 2. Front on contact (to either Watts or Miller not sure) not payed against Harry O. Has been paid 100 times this year but not on this occasion. These 2 left me completely bewildered. Sadly every other decision was within the umpires normal range of error I believe. Also grow some balls the ump that didn't pay deliberate against Shaw when Dunn chased him. He kicked it straight to the boundary and 40m from a team mate. They paid one against Heath Scotland last week that was exactly the same.

We didn't do too badly after the first quarter considering how many times we actually had to kick out! Davey is a freak at kick ins. I'd suggest he does them wherever in the vicinity, otherwise continue the focus of taking quick ones.

I agree for Jetta and Trengove. I loved what Jetta did at times. Is hard at it and clever by hand and foot, linked well with Davey, seems to understand him and where to go up field. And 90% or more of the time when Trengove gets the ball or is in a tough contest he does great things.Scully just has to work on that disposal by foot. He's just going too high and too long on the left. I want to see him keep attacking with the ball though.

Was uncomfortable and average down back early, but so were most of our team. The number of times Rivers and others spoiled Morton when he was 3rd man up instead of staying down was stupid. Morton was good on the wing though, really got on top of Thomas in a good battle. I was really happy to see Garland back in from. Such an important player and dangerous player.

1. A viable back up ruck option. 2. We need a bit of luck with our goal kicking forwards. Watts to come on quickly in 2011, Jurrah, Bate, Petterd fit and firing. 3. The midfield to fulfill its potential. Need Moloney, Davey, Jones to be consistent so the young guys can blossom. Morton showed his worth off a wing today (not great as loose man back). 4. Bruce and Rivers could be superseded down back. Obviously happy with Grimes, Frawley, Garland. Warnock and Bartram do their job week in week out. Maybe a Strauss/Bennell/McNamara/Macdonald or Cheney to either take a small or midsized position.

Really, I think it assisted us. That's our style so why not live and die by it. Green did play pretty deep for most of the game. Dunn as well. You should note that the more the game flows the more we keep forwards at home. When the game stagnates we throw men back and attempt to kick over the zone.

Just from reading the Casey reports it sounds like Cheney has been the best consistently but McNamara and Maric aren't doing a whole heap wrong. Problem with Cheney is that if you count Morton as a mid sized defender we currently have Morton, Frawley, Garland, Bruce and Grimes ahead of him in the side, and Joel Mac doing as good as Cheney in the VFL. Simply for the reason Maric might sneak a game first, but I doubt it. All 3 I'd just mention probably deserve some game time, but then again we should try to get Strauss, Wona, Bail + Bennell who got dropped this week back for more games and I'd love to see Blease and Tapscott. Problem with all these mid sized/smalls on our list is that if any of them actually step up and make a mark at AFL level they will get a big chance to cement their spots, meaning others may fall by the wayside. Bell (who is being played as an inside midfielder) seems to be tracking ok as well. But surely we don't have to go back to him again. I presume he is playing out the rest of the year with Casey before being moved on. Sadly it appears he just wasn't quiet up to AFL level. Managed to ilk out nearly a decade by being part of a dud side, having what seems to be a professional attitude and playing maybe half a dozen good games one year (07 maybe).

A heap of teams are playing with 2 ruckman who offer very little up forward - for instance: Kangaroos - McIntosh and Goldstein Sydney - Mumford and Pike Bulldogs - Hudson and Minson Richmond - Graham and Vickery Geelong - Blake and West Collingwood - Jolly and Fraser It's time we give PJ 4 straight weeks as back up to Jamar. Play him 50% of time in the ruck and little time up forward and when he is forward play him deep so he doesn't get exploited. Give Jamar more time up forward as well where he actually is dangerous. At the end of the 4 weeks we then decide whether he has any future at AFL level and if he doesn't then at the end of the year we thank him for his service. He'd probably be a chance to get picked at an AFL club and if he didn't he'd get a nice state league contract somewhere as he is dominant at the level.

I'm not sure. The game I saw of him in the under 18's I thought he played a fair bit off half back but ran through the middle and kicked long and direct out in front of Watts. No doubt his kicking is his weapon so the question is where can we get the best use out of it. I think eventually the best place for a player of his skill set will be half back flank, but you are right he could be of good use on a wing.My thoughts on what the club is doing at the moment is giving him an education. I think they know he isn't ever going to be a back pocket, but are training him with stints deep to get him to tighten up his defensive side. Hopefully that means when he is knocking the door down for AFL selection he can be played on HBF and be more comfortable. It sounds like a good idea to me, as long as they give him games like this one sounded to be where he gets to play further up the ground to get more touches and keep working on his offensive game. Cheney of course is at this stage a much stronger defender. But I think aiming him to be a HBF in the future doesn't make any sense because that role will not play to his strengths but actually expose his disposal. He should be gunning for Garland's position as the mid sized close to goal defender. Unfortunately it seems Garland's combination of height and speed makes him a player who gets games compared to Cheney who can appear too small, too slow, too unskilled. Not saying that is true but it's a bit of an impression I've got from him, and considering how well he's been playing in VFL without stepping up to AFL maybe the club does as well.