bing181

Maybe ... not sure what you're basing that on. "beaten" is difficult to agree with without knowing the context. From the few brief mentions on the GC game, he also showed some flashes of class. From Whispering Jack: " he came back well when he showed some great composure kicking a vital goal and also having a hand in another. Late in the quarter when pressed up against the boundary line on the wing he didn't panic but took his time and gave off a nice goal." I just don't get what people were actually expecting with Jack at this early stage of his career.

Could be some easy choices at the selection table for next week ...

And what would a good defensive outfit do a VFL-level Watts?

2 months older than Scully, but what's your point? Everyone who's older than Scully should automatically be playing in the seniors because Scully is? Not all players mature at the same rate. Look at Jamar.

Eurosport 2 (in Europe at least, not sure about the UK), has a 1 hour highlights package that runs from Tuesday afternoon (of the previous week), plus they have the Friday night game live (on Friday morning/afternoon). Though also other games it seems, for example, Anzac day Maggies/Bombers this week. Also, look round the net, I think even the AFL are offering some kind of streaming for around $6 a game.

Depends on how long he can keep playing ... if it's only 2 or 3 years, might help get us closer to a flag, but perhaps not win one!

Well, the whole thing is stuffed, it's not just what has happened recently. It's ridiculous that there are streams and torrents that apparently work perfectly fine, but the AFL can't get it together to provide even a dodgy version. And don't start me on problems for Mac users. I'd encourage everyone to email the MFC, and get them to complain on our behalf. No point having followers in China if they can't watch the game. B

No point talking about how many years they've been at a club, without looking at how old they are. Jack's second year does NOT equal Riewoldt's second year, because JW was taken a year younger. Same with NN. Or to put this another way ... if our Jack plays less than 10 games beforehand, he would still be eligible for the Rising Star in 2011 .... AND in 2012. He's still a kid. Let's just leave him alone. For a few years at least. B

Just to correct, Watts is effectively in his first year, he's basically in the same age group as Scully etc.. The second year you speak of ... well, that would be 2011. If you want to compare Jack to Riewoldt based on age, then you would be looking across the 2011-2012 seasons. My take on it, FWIW, is that we took Jack because out of he and NN, Jack was the one more likely to become a future Melbourne captain. We have had a chronic lack of leadership in the past few years, on-field and off, and my guess it that they thought that Jack seemed the more likely candidate. There are no crystal balls, and even if NN turns out to be the greatest player the world has ever seen, and Jack becomes another Travis J, it still doesn't mean the footy department got it wrong.

But is he 100% - not carrying something? He missed those couple of pre-season games, and except against Collingwood, has seemed proppy and in/out of games. Still brilliant when he turns it on though.

.... and no sign of Rivers. B

What he said ...

I assumed the opposite .... that the players who were closest to being ready were NOT played at Casey, and that the players in the scratch match were the ones furthest away. Having Watts, Garland, Gysberts and co in/amongst the main team and training with them through this period was maybe more important in the longer term than sending them to play a (meaningless?) scratch match against an Amateurs side. I would imagine that they'll all turn out for Casey this week, and then be considered for senior selection ... if they earn their places. However, this weekend, Casey play Saturday night while we play Sunday, so would imagine that any emergencies that don't make it into the seniors, will miss playing. B

Surprised no-one has mentioned Rivers. Presumably he'll be right, not even on the injured list. Not sure about Bate. i supported him being given a chance to play himself into fitness and form, but he just seemed well wide of it today. As people have commented with him, there's such a gulf between his best and his worse. Bennel and Strauss should be kept in. They're still young and they'll both learn from what went wrong - and what went right. Juice should be given another chance, I can't imagine the constant in/out helps him. Finally ... Scully? I just wonder whether a couple of games at Casey mightn't help. He's going to be a gun, but you can see the difference with Trengove who has played senior footy. Just need Watts and Garland to get some games, plus the likes of Blease and Gysberts, plus Wonna and the other injured players coming back ... could be interesting times at the selection table! Really looking forward to the year again! B

25 posessions and 8 tackles .... B

Yes, but the thread is about what happened in the practise match on Thursday night. You posted about what had happened in the previous practise match on the Saturday. Newton didn't play Thursday night so ....?? B

I don't know, great to see Gysberts get a mention there. Would be good to get a Casey report (practise match tonight I believe) ... Watts, Blease, Garland, Gysberts etc. B

The key to it all IMHO. We lack on-field leadership, and have done for years. Good post. B

I have a couple of young(er) kids, and my son follows the Dees. We live OS, so only get to see a game or two every couple of years, so I envy you even being able to take your daughter to the footy, win or loose. She may or may not go on with it, and support the Dees or not, but she'll never forget those afternoons at the G, just as I'll never forget standing in the outer at Princess Park with my dad to watch Carlton back in the 60's. Some great suggestions here about how to handle winning/losing, but just being there together is what it's all about. For all of us. It's a grand old flag. B

FWIW, I emailed them after the Freemantle game wih a few pithy suggestions, and they emailed back to thank me, and to say that my mail had been forwarded to the football department. These mails DO get read ... and nicely put Pitty. Great that you wrote to the club, and also that you were up-front enough to put it up here with your name on it. B

It would appear to be more an example of sloppy journalism than anything else. Reading through the whole article it's clear he meant "the opening 5 minutes". Sheesh. B

Well, given that he hasn't even selected a team for next week yet, hard to see how you're concluding "looks like Bailey won't either". Let's wait a few games to see what, if any, patterns emerge. FWIW, Bailey is already on record as saying that players would have to earn their places. Though that was before we got hit with injuries, which clearly limits options, no matter what the selection panel would/wouldn't like to do. B

Let's not forget, Bruce, Davey and Bate have all had injuries and minimal or interrupted pre-seasons and game time. But this wasn't the game to be under-done, and they got found out. Will be better next week, and Bruce and Davey are both better than that. B

Absolutely. Connolly mentions Davey and Bruce, but they've both had limited pre-season game time because of injuries. As has Bate. And it shows. Something to remember for everyone wanting to rush Garland, Watts, Wonna etc. back into the side. B

Give the guy a break. He's been injured, and played just 6 quarters of footy since just over mid-way through last season. Based on that limited game time, very hard to say whether he has been "struggling at Casey" or not. Let him at least get up to match fitness before you write him off. B