DeeSpencer

I’d say we sat fairly deep especially against the wind, but half backs were getting forward. Bowey narrowly missed a goal and AMW had at least one inside 50. Hore came off early for Adams so we were bigger than we wanted inside d50. With so many first choice backs out it probably hampered our ball movement but there was a plan to use corridor and we saw some targeted kick outs to Petty. Midfield seemed to focus on cutting off the corridor but weren’t exactly busting it both ways. That said, I expected LDU, Powell and especially Sheezel to get us in space more. Forward spacing (as much as it can be seen from tv) seemed drastically different. The wind incentivised long and strong but we did have plenty of kicks to JVR, Disco and Jeffo leading up. Rivers, Pickett and Clarry all looked to run the ball and especially as the game opened up they found space.

AJ came on fresh in the ruck against a teenager and looked great but that doesn’t mean we need him for the 15% of game time Max will rest. Jeffo was chosen because he replaced Fritsch which allowed Turner and JVR to play their roles as they will round 1. Im yet to see anything that changes my mind that we will just play the 2 talls, Fritsch, Tracc and Langford.

FB: Petty May Howes HB: Salem Lever Bowey C; Billings Rivers Lindsay/Woey HF: Sharp Turner Langford FF: Chandler JVR Fritsch Foll: Gawn Oliver Langdon Int: Windsor, Viney, Tracc, Sparrow S: Lindsay/Woey Smokies: AJ, Henderson, AMW (if healthy), Jeffo, T Mc, Brown, Laurie Out: T Mc In: May Out: AMW In: Windsor Out: Hore/Adams In: Salem Out: Pickett In: Langdon Out: Jeffo In: Fritsch Out: Woey/Lindsay In: Tracc Out: Laurie In: Viney Out: Campbell In: Gawn

That was my suspicion, often hurts more than acl. Hoping for the best

Looks like AJ and Kynan Brown running out to warm up, suspect they’ll sub a couple more off (perhaps JVR and Oliver)?

Nice ball movement they’re going side to side through the middle but the Laurie inside 50 kick was not great and the free kick was fortunate. Hope we use the last quarter to keep the ball rolling

I’m worried about Hore getting subbed off for Adams. Anyone got an update on Marty?

The class of el Jefe! (Nice finish from Sharp too)

North got the rub if the first half but wow that’s a decision. Save those for round 1

Picket fence said put it over the fence!

Adam just got out marked but he had first hands on the ball in a pack for the third time since he’s come on. Really good start

Not as concerning as his lack of separation and hands on the lead

Frisco Turner

Jed Adams on? Hope our key backs are ok

It’s free kick north in the back line for sure but we have some dumb footballers down there

FB: Archer Logue Corr HB: McDonald Comben Daniel C; Scott Sheezel O’Sullivan HF: McKercher Darling Simpkin FF: Zurhaar Larkey Curtis Foll: Xerri Parker LDU Int: Tucker, Powell, Pink, Hansen Jnr E: Phillips, Konstanty, Stephens, Maley, Goad Although no idea what they’ll do with the bench if they go an extra tall or use Parker and Zurhaar as talls. A much stiffer backline than North have rolled out in recent years. Super talented young midfield and some weapons up forward.

Ease up on the negativity in February. A healthy Spargs has plenty to contribute

How I'd line them up: FB: Petty McDonald Howes HB: Bowey Lever Hore C; Billings Rivers Lindsay HF: Sharp JVR Sparrow FF: Chandler Turner Langford Foll: Campbell Oliver Pickett Int: Laurie, AMW (Sestan), Woey, AJ E: Verrall, Fullarton, Adams, Jeffo, Brown, Mentha, Sestan Maybe sub a few off at half time. Missing many of our best backline rebounders will hurt but hopefully the midfield can win enough of the pill to at least give the forwards a crack at it.

Played for the Eagles on Monday, a 5 day back up including travel, meeting new team mates, uprooting his life is probably a lot to ask for.

He turns like the queen Mary, will fly in the air for intercepts which goes from a good thing to a problem when 4 guys are doing it and whilst his ball use was mostly good last year (with brief dashes of very bad) he isn’t going to give the run and carry like a flanker. I feel sorry for Tom if he misses out and you’re right he was our best key back last year, but unless Petty is moved forward I just don’t see it. I’m not a big Howes fan, he has to lock down a spot this year. But I’m willing to give him first go. 4 talls isn’t totally crazy and GWS have Stringer and Toby who both provide tricky match ups - arguably you could use Petty on Stringer and May on Toby. But they’ll also have 3 quick little guys buzzing around sweating on ageing defenders.

No confidence in Fullarton, Campbell or Verrall. AJ has the practice games to earn his spot. But I don’t believe the ruck hurts JVR. I’m more keen to play 3 talls to take the load off Max, but I’m ok to go with 2 for fast paced March footy.

Done every session post Christmas. Can see him playing and being limited to say 65% game time. That said, Henderson’s addition means Sharp can move to the wing. We’ll see how the practice games go.

I like the deadline before finals for the reasons I specified earlier. I'd be more flexible in removing the pre the start of the season deadline but I do think there's something to having clubs make sure they're carrying enough depth of mature players in various roles before round 1 and that it gives state league clubs some confidence entering the year. Then the mid year draft lets you top back up and given it's a draft form it doesn't see guys camping out to join the contenders. Honestly I'd like to get back to a main list of say 40 and a supplemental list or say 10 guys who play at Casey, make more than VFL but less than full time AFL wages and are all able to be called up for medium and long term injuries. I'd be totally fine if our Supp list was our Rookies - Verrall, Hore, Sestan, AMW, Kynan Brown, Kenterfield, Mentha and Henderson, Culley, Roy George and maybe a few others too!

28, on the short side, on the slow side, doesn't hit the score board, not a dynamic athlete or good ball user. He's a great story and great club man but you look at the quality of midfielder who struggles to get a game at most clubs every week and you'll see that excellent VFL performances don't mean much. Last year the Dogs fringe mids were James Harmes, Jack Macrae and Ryley Sanders. Our midfield depth was far shakier but even if he's less consistent Bailey Laurie's best VFL games were absolutely dominant and the one game Sparrow was dropped for he completely tore up.

The clubs get $10,000. And I don't think any agent worth his accreditation allows state league clubs to ban guys going up to AFL level in the contract. Not sure a club would want the backlash either. It's unfortunate for them but mostly the mid season and SSP has been younger guys with the exception of a ruckman every now and then which is a trickier situation for those clubs to replace.