DeeSpencer

JJ could somewhat fill in at half back, he did a job on the wing but he’s not a true winger and the Swans don’t let him remotely near CBA’s. Even when tagging he starts at half forward. They use more skilled and explosive players at centre bounces, something we’re trying too. He is a defensive running half forward/tagging mid. The same as Sparrow but with a bit more off ball discipline but without some of the power and overhead ability of Sparrow. The big difference between them is one is playing in a top of the ladder team with elite ball movement, the other is playing in a team with a shallow midfield. I was one of very few on here saying we should keep JJ for his elite running and not seeing the best of him yet as a big bodied mid who takes time to develop his craft. Sparrow no different. He’ll do a job for us for plenty of games to come if we want him to, we just need more quality and he needs a freshen up.

Sure, but if he was playing for Sydney he’d probably be doing the job JJ was doing and everyone would say we need him back, he’s a damn hard worker and all 18 clubs would love to have him, he’s just not a true mid.

I thought Oliver shouldn’t have played round 0 but he was best on the next week against the Dogs and had played 2 practice vfl games. Sydney played all sorts of duds last year when injured including Ladhams straight in to their side. The continued poor list management has forced the coaches hand.

It was, but you have to have belief in the guys available. There’s far more available chances at the end of the year, we just have to be serious about the deficiencies and turning the list over

The fundamental problem is the number of players on our list who can reliably run (both speed and endurance), win contests and use the ball at the standard required has dwindled. Especially the number who can do it in multiple roles that gives the coaches flexibility and depth. Windsor and Kolt was a step to help things in coming years. They should start to really pay off in 2-3 years. But we need to get creative to find more fixes and fast. And we need to decide which parts of this new game make sense - both short and long term. Because right now, I have big questions.

That’s a bit harsh, he’s one of our hardest runners and crazy brave. He earns every one of his dollars. I was howled down after the flag for saying this is probably all he is. But the thing is I think he can still improve and can certainly get back in form, but he’ll do it with 30+ touches at Casey. That’s how you build a player back in to touch. Whether we can do it this week or not depends on the strength of the rest of the players available, but generally a freshen up at Casey to work on his skills would have him better for it.

You were certainly strongly against Fullarton. I thought he had enough athleticism to give something forward (and in fairness he almost has at Casey) and that his ruck craft, like a lot of big guys when they hit mid 20’s would develop out of necessity. Simply rucking against VFL big goobers should develop anyone of 200cm at Casey. The opposite has been true. He hasn’t improved basic ruck craft at all and was pushed around with ease by Coburg’s rucks. Our key forwards are so out of form that you’d almost consider picking him just for the sake of it now, but it would be purely forward with JVR in the ruck. And he was so bad in the ruck I’m not sure he deserves a game as a forward.

Our midfield can’t get even run with the ball to turn it over half the time and our backline could do with less turnovers. So I’m not sure why moving Rivers because his kicking is bad would be a ‘BIG NO’.

Tracc’s work rate as a mid and turnovers have made him somewhat a liability in a lot of games on ball. He’s a forward because we need run on the ball nearly as much as because we need a forward. We almost have to use Tracc and Kossie in centre bounces then swap them for around the ground mids, not that we really have any of those!

Still probably an improvement on 2022!

When Darren Burgess says you aren’t fit enough son - listen. I hope McAdam has more in him next year, the talent is clear. But we paid overs for a lemon right now

And next week JVR and Jefferson will be worst on and people will say bring back Turner and Petty We have to stop blaming our key forwards for not getting a kick. We’ve tried half the list and it’s abundantly clear no one can get a kick as a tall in this team.

He has size, speed, clean hands and the ability to kick even if he doesn’t hit targets as often as he should. I get the reluctance to rob from the backline but against this version of the Pies we have to try to own territory and live with the reality that they’ll get us on transition at times. Thats what the Dogs did

Persevered with Billings for as long as possible and BBB is just a shuffle with a lower ceiling than what Petty can actually do if he ever gets out of his own head fog, let’s not pretend there was some great option out there. All we can do is keep shuffling.

There’s no evidence that Oliver can get the ball yet alone do anything with it forward. We need to understand his limitations with ball in hand as a mid but recognise his legs and reading of the play still seem powerful - even if he’s not using them. In that respect, he should be given the responsibility of a team first tag on Daicos. Does he have the discipline and work ethic - I think he does if he’s coached how to do it.

Agree, but we have lost our edge. I hope we pick Kolt because he has some, and I’d love to see some of our players stop being scared to tackle or crunch a player in a contest.

Turner back.

FB: McVee May Bowey HB: Salem McDonald Turner C: Woey Oliver Windsor HF: ANB Tracc Langdon FF:Chandler JVR Pickett Foll: Gawn Rivers Viney Int: AMW Kolt Sparrow Brown S: Fritsch Out: Hunter - see ya Tomlinson - any pressure and he goes to water Petty - I still want to like him but no McAdam - come on now In: AMW Kolt BBB JVR

Casey were awful. Young backline and forwards struggled, hardly a surprise there. Down back Howes and AMW had moments but both were too loose too often. Adams is nowhere. Forwards weren’t terrible all things considered but couldn’t lock it in. Sestan spent the first half deep forward doing nothing. Jeffo ok I guess. Midfield got smacked. They were slightly more effective with Verrall, Fullarton rucked a lot and was awful. Kolt was fine, his willingness to run and tackle is much better than the rest of the Casey players. Laurie was very poor at the stoppages. Just no grunt in his game. And too many mistakes when he gets the ball in space. Kynan Brown also played his worst game playing a heap of midfield. Just offered no ball winning, no tackling and butchered it. Lost his talent with his hair! Hopefully he bounces back.

Gawn: he’s getting old, he doesn’t jump in the middle and pushed around at boundary, he has to be given proper help. We knew this, so we got Grundy, then traded Grundy for no one. Viney: playing injured? Looking slow. Struggling to adapt to the game plan of Oliver: he’s a mess, obviously not at peak fitness but just moving sloppy. Another who isn’t adapting to the game plan Tracc; defensive spread has been awful Sparrow: just a role player. Role players struggle when teams struggle. ANB: having a good go but lacks power to be a true mid

Nibbler stick a tackle please

The injury list is what is is. BBB - won us a flag Billings - desperate attempt to find a wing/forward with skills in the hope we could fix him Fullarton - no good Laurie, Howes - NQR draft picks who aren’t far off but just lacking enough to really be afl footballers at the moment Kolt, Brown, AMW, Jefferson, Adams, Sestan, Verrall - kids developing You got to get list management right and find contributors each year, especially when up the ladder as you can’t rely on the draft. Sadly. Since the flag our list management has been dreadful.

He should refuse to come. The only thing that can happen to him is he gets injured

Found himself in front for the first time ever and had no idea what to do!

T Mc and Tomlinson keep running to the same spots the big dumb oafs. Seriously, it cant be that hard to go man on man