bing181

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

Yes, on paper at least it looks great - and higher than Hawthorn's. But let's not forget that 25% of those tackles (21) came from just 2 players. Still, a step in the right direction, and maybe Bailey is, after all, addressing some of "the issues". B

Nice thread! Something that's also clear is how the lack of "stars" up forward is not helping the younger players. You're a young player in the middle, you get the ball, and you know that all you have to do is get it down there somehow, and a Buddy or a Roughead will probably do the rest. You don't have to think about what to do, you don't have to try and hold the ball up till someone gets there for you, you don't have to decide between a Millar (unreliable) or a Petterd (out-numbered). So, you just do what you have to, and you look efficient and decisive. Then Buddy (or whoever) gets on the end of it and slams it through, you get a big pat on the back from all and sundry. You feel great, and not only do you do the same thing next time, you're desperate to do the same thing every chance you have. Confidence breeds confidence. Most of our players would look very different in a top-4 side. B

Apparently Juice tore it up at Casey ... 4 goals, and hard at it. He and Sylvia in, maybe Garland. Not sure about the rest ... B

Ah, a "positives" thread. Thankfully ... there's only so much self-flagellation a man can stand. I only saw the second half on TV, and apart from some sloppiness at the beginning of the third quarter, the boys were starting to look OK. Of course, the horse had bolted, blah blah blah, but the problems looked to do more with nervousness and inexperience than anything else. We were over-run and overawed. We're just desperately missing a couple of Hodges, Roughheads or Abletts that would lift everyone else 200%, and make them look so much better. But ... still a lot of games to come, and they WILL start to get it together. Sylvia back next week, maybe Garland, that's already something to be positive about, but they're better than this. Let them play together for a while. B

A voice of reason. I just don't know what people were expecting.We just don't have the players or the experience, and jumping up and down about it and demanding action and looking for who to blame is just not going to help one iota. I for one am looking forward to next week. B

Brave man! B

Say it, of course, but bang on about it in every other post gets tiresome. And if you do honestly believe that a lot of our players, coaches or tactics are not up to scratch, then that doesn't leave much. You like the colours of the jumper? B

That depends on the forums. I follow a number of boards where robust exchanges take place without personal insults ... ... while remaining on-topic. Which this post isn't. My apologies. Healey/Hughes: Whatever is going to happen, it probably needs to happen this year, though that's equally true of a number of players. Could be an interesting post-season. B

It's not the same injury. Most of last year he was out with a KNEE injury. Now recovered/repaired. And even this time, the club have said it's the other hammy. Not to say there aren't injury management issues that he and the club aren't going to have to address to try and minimise a repeat, but at least let's get our facts straight. B

Says who? The club has already talked about what they're looking to get out of this year. But either it's not getting through to you, or you don't/can't accept it. B

Yes, and while we wait for the seniors to get their act together, could be a bit of excitement in the two's. B

I don't know that we can presume that it's not something they're not being taught or working on. From comments in the press and from reported discussions, it seems pretty clear that Bailey and the footy department are aware of the various shortcomings, and do work on them. This is a side that's low on experience, confidence and a settled line-up, and it shows. B