Keyser Söze

- Warnock played with flat feet tonight. He'll be back at Casey pretty quick if he keeps that up. Backline depth at best. - Bartram's inability to pick an option or read the play kills momentum. His kicking isn't the issue, it is choosing the option. He may retain possession by kicking sideways in the backline, but it destroys any drive and let's the opposition set up to hem us in. When he does choose to take the game on and run, he often reaches a point where he needs to choose a new option & still causes issues. A pure tagger (who plays in the BP pocket so we don't have him getting the ball in his hands as much as if he were in the midfield). - Strauss has some way to go, but seems to be progressing. He took a nice mark & his confidence seems to be building. - Watts does look to change his mind and find a better option sometimes. I attribute this a bit to his basketball mentality. I've done the same thing in the past. Having also played the point, I can understand the thought process. It's something the will iron out of this 19 year old kid. - Maric looked really good in pieces. He showed off his Mark LeCras-like kicking ability that we've been waiting to see. He panics less now, is prepared to take a hit and tried to find the right option. He's still a little jittery with the ball and I think he'll relax & trust his instincts as he gets more game time into him at AFL level. Overall happy with his performance. - A lot of errors in disposal were made when we were struggling to find clear options further afield under intense pressure. Once we have learnt how Hird plans to setup on gameday, we can implement ways to counter that. Last night we were playing blind. - the senior blokes treated this like what it was; a NAB Cup match. I'd be a bit worried if they came out treating it like a preliminary final. Getting through unscathed is a big tick. - Jones played his first match. He receives some lenience, as they all should do, being the first proper practice match they've played this preseason. Youth is not an excuse for them. They are AFL players and should be out there giving their all. Youth is a cause for understanding from us, the supporters. Be realistic, maintain an even keel and this ride will be a lot more enjoyable. We are not the finished article, in spite of what some would like to believe. We are a work in progress and even though we have kids with great ability to come into the team (Scully, McKenzie, Gysberts, Tapscott, Blease et al) they are all lacking in a decent amount of experience. This will mean a learning curve and there will be times when these guys are weak links. Be prepared for mistakes and frustrating losses. We are a work in progress.

Maybe because no one knows what to expect from Hird and his gameplan yet..? The whole AFL is now building an idea of what he plans to do. It's not very often you coach against the unknown. Far too critical. It's like we just lost to Freo in 2010!

Wow. These articles are usually fairly close to the mark, but that is a massive overreaction for our first proper practice match. Freo last year anyone..? edit: I'd also make a case that it's easier for Hird to plan for Bailey, having been able to observe his gameplan and setup for a few years now. Bailey had little idea of what to expect from Essendon. This does make a difference. Real coaching is making the little adjustments during a match, not being prepared for the unknown.

No, it's just that you have little idea of what you're talking about.

Blood is close to a maroon colour you twit

No, the panel consists of Shifter Sheahan & 2 others I cast recall.

do you not remember the predictions of doom after a certain loss to "hopeless" Freo? Completely agree on Garland. He had barry crocker tonight, but is still the best KPD we have after Frawley. Warnock is handy depth, but not much more. Rivers impressed at times tonight. The big difference was that they played more desperately, as if this were a final. At times we played as if it were a NAB cup match.

Hahahahaha this is what I've been talking about every time this topic comes up... People don't even know what they want, and they often have conflicting views. The club has said they are aiming for a darker red. That's what it looked like to me. There is a big difference between darker and brighter, or more intense.

I might be completely making this up, but I seem to recall that at the Future Fund event last week it was said that the plan is for Good Times Grimes to remain in the backline this season. Can anyone confirm this that was there, or am I imagining things..?

Not at all. I never said he was excused of all blame. But some of it must fall on his family because it is clear that from an early age they have not done right by him in his formative years. They had a large hand in shaping the person he became.

Mooooooooloney

Don't have a link handy, but it's pretty clear when the CEOs agreed on what they agreed upon early in the year, and then later a panel was formed to preside over the compensation, and the "formula" for compensation was kept a secret, then it was announced that after lobbying from Geelong that the formula would be altered to take into account the new contract being offered to the poached player. The goalposts shifted. Even still, they agreed to the terms without knowing for sure what the compensation would be.

It's NAB Cup -- does it really matter? If it were a regular season match, I could understand, but this is nothing...

Don't be stupid. He doesn't not want to win, but he just doesn't take it hard after a loss like some people do. It says nothing about his competitiveness.

I think from day one it has only been be utterly stupid and impatient who have questioned the ability of either Watts or Naitanui. Both of them will be great players, they just need time.

I don't believe this is correct. The panel and the presidents never decided on the terms of compensation, and since they did approve the rules for the entry of GWS and GC, the terms for compensation have been reviewed with more emphasis placed on the new contract they sign. I'm sure if we'd been told we'd receive 2 late 1st round picks in return for a number 1 pick, Schwab may not have been so quick to approve. If he'd been told we'd receive 2 top 5 picks as compensation, no doubt he'd be happy with the terms.

That one simple act speaks volumes. To ban him from Christmas at the age of 17? What led him to adopt that behaviour to begin with? Ridiculous. Either they haven't tried or they've given up too easily. Don't make weak excuses for them.

Barry Hall and Fev have vastly different issues. No comparison whatsoever.

Surely for Essendon it's quite easy to just reverse the colours? Doesn't look great, but no clash jumper does. It's good enough.

It is surprising. Well done with your feedback to them. I actually didn't bother as I felt it would largely be ignored. I even understand the point of view from the article that they want to be like any independent media outlet, but the simple fact is that they are not and therefore must be mindful of this. Their job is not to be critical, especially critical without all the facts. Phelan's opinion was offensive and uninformed, and that was my issue. Also the fact it served to push the AFL's agenda made it highly dubious of nature.

I was heartily taking the pi$$. I'm not surprised you agree, though.

I'm not advocating taking him on at Casey, but if he has cleaned his act up and can demonstrate that, then he could act as a valuable cautionary tale to our kids. Often the best way to stay on the straight and narrow is to associate yourself with a purpose that won't tolerate the abuse (hence sponsors with AA, etc). I can see Fev devoting himself to helping young blokes avoid the traps he fell into. Whether it's at Casey or not, it would be good for him. But for Casey... We have a few young developing forwards (Cook, Howe). It'd be a shame to have him take the focus in the side so that they don't develop effectively. I'm not sure how it would go.

There is a big difference between abusive alcoholic and stupid. I think he is actually quite smart in some ways. It would seem he has had a serious problem for a very very long time and his family has actually been too stupid to get help for him. Instead they shunned him. Clever and caring. That actually gives me an insight into why he is the way he is. Not much support there.

I really really like our new clash strip. I'd be happy to play in it for the remainder of the NAB cup.

God, it's like arguing with someone who speaks another language. I'm going to let it go, because you won't get it.