big tuna

Thats 3 different threads you have bagged Sylvia. I don't want these guys to get over-exposed or ahead of themselves either but I doubt appearing on a TV show 2 days earlier would effect how he played. He didn't get enough of the ball & missed a set shot but took some good grabs and was serviceable.

Bruce was better today than in previous weeks & still deserves his spot in the side at the moment for his running and getting to contests. Having said that he still (and always will) gives that floaty little handball up in the air so that he still has time to protect himself with his arms. Has a light frame so i can understand to an extent, but it then puts the next bloke under more pressure and usually ends in a turnover. Today the worst thing he did was in the 4th qtr 10 mins in and we had just kicked 1 to give us a sniff. Bruce got it 40m out from their goals running across goals and had Sylvia another 5m outside him clear... Sylvia is a goal kicker and had already snapped 1 earlier on his left... Bruce decided to snap at goal himself on his left under pressure and the ball floated barely through for a behind. That is just an example of the poor/expensive decisions he sometimes makes. Many others were worse today but there is a reason people continue to get frustrated with him.

I have never been inclined to boo anyone... especially players that the MFC has traded or cut loose for whatever reason. But I cant help feeling satisfied when I see players that have left us (no matter what their reason) struggle at their new club either individually or as a team. Hopefully in a few years time there are some Blues players with big regrets about not choosing the MFC path.

Yep spot on. Its all about the context of the game. That freekick and subsequent goal close to 3 qtr time could have given them all the momentum going into the last quarter. I was pretty concerned at the time that they would come home strong in a close one. Just imagine if a free like that was paid last quarter of the Pies game against them ... they would still be squealing about it & I would still be laughing. Most costly free against us that I can recall was the Neitz too high on Farmer vs the Dockers... Farmer kicks the winning goal after the siren. It was there but still gut-wrenching.

Nice call. Nice picture too 45HG16... looks like Browny is about to get some very unwanted attention from Chippa.

Agree with what most are saying here. Garland started slowly and was outmarked a few times by Staker (who was 1 of their best players on the night) and gave a freekick but improved as the game went on. Took some strong marks himself and gave some rebound out of defence. He will keep getting better each game as he regains confidence. Martin gives plenty of flexibility. Eventually we will get an injury during a game to a key defender/forward/Jamar and we will be glad he is there to cover.

These are impressive figures... however it also highlights our lack of goal power. In the last 3 games we had all the play in the fourth quarter but could not convert that dominance into goals on the board. Last night with 10 minutes left the Lions had all but stopped running and the floodgates should have opened up. Hopefully this will improve with experience and confidence and the inclusion of a few natural finishers in LJ and Wonna.

Off the top of my head ... Daisy Thomas. That is all.

Don't worry too much Harcourt... most of the general public will use Brown's fitness as an excuse for the Lions performance. Anyone who watched the game and has half a clue about footy know better... that rules most of the media out.

He is just so freakin talented. But its his footy smarts which will see him become a champion. Might not need to trade him out of my supercoach team for a profit if he keeps posting those numbers

Mate you didn't even watch or listen to the game going by your earlier posts. Just looking at the disposal count at the end of a game doesn't tell you anything. 1st half Bruce's first 5 handballs missed targets resulting in turnovers or stopping our forward thrust. He improved 2nd half but would not say he was anywhere near the best players. Yes Bate played very well. Great team effort from the mighty Dees and great footy to watch.

Umpires didn't do us any favours in that 3rd quarter ... Grimes was crucified right in front of goal. On ballers looked tired. Its gunna get tight here people. 1st goal is gunna be massive.

Beamer has been probably BOG at this stage with plenty of hard work and imporatant touches but the big Russian is right there with him. Reckon Sylvia is gunna turn it on 2nd half and could bust this open. If we can stop Rich gettin on his left boot we are half way there.

Best half of footy i've seen from the Dees for years. Midfield right on top and moving it on quick... great to watch. Petterd is on tonight & Scullgove are having big ones. Everyone looks switched on for this one. Keep attacking boys and don't try to sit on the lead. Mate just said to me Bruce & Travis are fighting it out for worst on ground... and I can't argue with that.

If the FD feel the need to squeeze Rivers into the backline when he recovers perhaps Garland will be asked to play small in a shut down role on the Milne/Le Cras types. Once Garland gets some touch/fitness back he should have the closing speed and agility to go with those small forwards while providing better skills and rebound than Bartram currently does.

Mate it looks like your favourite non-mfc player is running(slowly) around for the blues going by your profile. Might need an update

Good to see Gysberts pushing up into the emergencies. Looking forward to seeing why the recruiters rated him so highly

Agree that the MFC didn't have 5 years erased but we did breach salary cap rules about 10 years back (bit fuzzy on amounts and figures). The big difference is that we were not a powerhouse during that time... otherwise every other club would have squealed and the AFL would have handed down a bigger punishment than loss of draft picks and a fine.

Would hate to see either Watts or LJ in the ruck with their light frames (even in 2 or 3 years). Certainly could help out with boundary throw ins up forward... but in the middle with big bodies crashing into them it would be a matter of time before they were seriously injured. Either no back up ruck at all or use Martin coz he has the size, speed and jump & gives you options at both ends. Martin is the best option until Gawn develops in a few years time.

Agree with that... will cause some tough decisions to be made at selection table. But if he does get back to previous form and fitness then he will be pushing the likes of Bennell out of the side.

Relax mate he looks the goods. He was starting at half forward and roaming through the wings and even across half back a few times... would have covered plenty of territory which will help his match fitness and got 20 touches in the process. His disposal is good by hand and foot gathers the ball very cleanly below his knees. I know he can kick goals from set shots based on his goals last year at VFL/AFL level that I saw & also from the warm up at Casey he was banging them through from 40-50 out post high. All I want to see from him is some contested marking and marks out in front on the lead to know for sure he is the whole package. Also a poster in another thread mentioned that sometimes its harder to shine in the twos because its slower more conjested etc. At least wait until he plays a dozen games in the seniors back to back before writing him off.

It would be better if he could hit a target further up the ground but if its not there then I am more than happy with his short game. Better to hit the short option 100% than the longer option 60%. He is like Yze the way he(and everybody watching) knows he is great kick so would rather kick it 5 yards than handball.

If you were to pick our best 22 on form this year and not on draft number/reputation there is no way you could drop Bail. He has speed, toughness & skill and reckon he will be a valuable talent that nobody saw coming.

Posted this on other Casey thread (see High Towers link above) but here it is again if it helps. I was at Casey behind the goals at one end most of the day so may have a skewed perception of the game (plus had a few beers under the belt) but this is what I saw... Spencer was OK in ruck but was very quiet around the ground. He took 1 good pack mark from a kick out and thats about it. I wouldn't hold my breath about Maric becoming a small forward at AFL level... doesn't get much of the footy and butchered at least 2 easy shots on goal (25m on the run) in the 1st quarter. PJ was good in the ruck and got plenty of it around the ground. Played at both ends but in defence mainly and took some good marks. Strauss was solid and thought he used it pretty well hitting targets. Cheney didn't notice him get many touches but was reliable when he did. Stef Martin looked good up forward. Took some good strong marks and kicked straight. Jetta looked dangerous when ever he was involved. Kicked a few goals and involved in a few more. Clean skills & pace. Jack Watts played half forward & wing. Not very influential but helped set up a few goals with clean skills. Heard he got 24 touches which surprised me thought it might be just under 20. A few times he was good below his knees when ball in dispute and beat smaller players around him. Jack is noticeably bigger more of a Dunn build now.

I was at Casey behind the goals at one end most of the day so may have a skewed perception of the game (plus had a few beers under the belt) but this is what I saw... Spencer was OK in ruck but was very quiet around the ground. He took 1 good pack mark from a kick out and thats about it. I wouldn't hold my breath about Maric becoming a small forward at AFL level... doesn't get much of the footy and butchered at least 2 easy shots on goal (25m on the run) in the 1st quarter. PJ was good in the ruck and got plenty of it around the ground. Played at both ends but in defence mainly and took some good marks. Strauss was solid and thought he used it pretty well hitting targets. Cheney didn't notice him get many touches but was reliable when he did. Stef Martin looked good up forward. Took some good strong marks and kicked straight. Jetta looked dangerous when ever he was involved. Kicked a few goals and involved in a few more. Clean skills & pace. Jack Watts played half forward & wing. Not very influential but helped set up a few goals with clean skills. Read somewhere he got 24 touches which surprised me thought it might be just under 20. A few times he was good below his knees when ball in dispute and beat smaller players around him. Jack is noticeably bigger more of a Dunn build now.