alpha33

I think you might find that modern methods of training and preparation of players has advanced in the past decade or so. He will be rested and ready for Friday night’s game if required.

Don’t look now but we could well be out of the top 4 at the end of the round.

He hardly had a touch last time until Turner got injured and we lost Petty for a large slab of time late in the second quarter. He should get more attention tonight.

Don’t think so given that he’s played just one VFL game since recovering after a long time out.

Anyone know if Kade Chandler and the emergency(s) who went to WA managed to get back here for today’s game?

6. Kysaiah Pickett 5. Christian Petracca 4. Jack Viney 3. Ed Langdon 2. James Jordon 1. James Harmes

The pressure’s right back on today in the absence of our two ruckmen.

The Vic Metro vs WA game is listed as showing live today at 12:15pm on Fox 503.

6. Jack Viney 5. Clayton Oliver 4. Jake Lever 3. James Jordon 2. Christian Petracca 1. Angus Brayshaw

Strangely enough, Collingwood who sit second on the ladder and have already had one bye this year, are having their second bye this round as well.

Most likely Kade Chandler will be the MFC sub tomorrow. Almost like for like replacement for Toby Bedford who needs the game time at Casey. My guess is that Jake Melksham will be the other traveling emergency although Mitch Brown and Adam Tomlinson would have their supporters for a place on the flight.

It’s 3rd v 4th on the ladder so why not?

I’m confident about Casey this week although it’s a pity that the fixturing won’t allow Melbourne fans to get down and watch this historic game between the clubs. Whoever dreamt up a clash game between AFL and VFL affiliates should have their heads read. Anyhow, full of admiration for Casey who beat Box Hill on their own dung hill last week with a reduced number of MFC players due to the Covid situation and with four local boys making their debut with the club.

It will be interesting to see how the club handles players recovering from Covid. Much will depend on the severity of the symptoms. Some people get it only in a mild form and can still exercise and do things to maintain their fitness.

Neville Jetta who was in the back pocket in last year’s game is now working for the Magpies and played for their VFL team yesterday. By all accounts, he did very well.

6. Max Gawn 5 Clayton Oliver 4. Christian Petracca 3. Angus Brayshaw 2. Ben Brown 1. Jack Viney

Taj Woewodin came off late in the Casey game after taking a big hit. Hopefully, he’s all right - not included in the Round 7 report above.

As sure as the sun rises in the east, King will kick straight when they play us in a few week’s time.

Richmond are complaining about being on the wrong end of the free kick ledger in Adelaide. Now watch out. They will get the world against us on Sunday night.

Would be interested to find out if Howes is being rested or if he’s this week’s mystery injury? Also what’s the story with Matt Buntine who is Casey’s #1 recruit for 2022?

Hmmm, could well be the reason for the subtle placement of Tom Sparrow on the ball in the selected side. Luke Dunstan to come into the side to replace Trac if the fitness test goes wrong.

The Giants have a few elite players who could give us a hard time if they’re on tonight. Beware the sleeping giants.

Looking forward to this regular series on Rookie Me Central AFL Draft | Caught the Eye – Week 1

LUKE TEAL (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS) Defender, 188cm, 81kg A talented halfback or wingman, the Oakleigh ace is the son of Robert Teal, who played 18 games for Sydney across the 1989 and 1990 seasons after being selected at pick 8 in the 1989 pre-season draft. Teal likes to attack the game with his run and carry and is good in the air with his ability to intercept mark or create a contest and bring the ball to ground. The Glen Iris junior is a Hawks fan who looked up to Luke Hodge, but has more recently tried to add elements of Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale to his own game. A student at Trinity Grammar, Teal trained with Richmond during pre-season as part of the AFL Academy program but was unable to be put through his paces at the NAB League testing day in March due to a slight ankle injury. Teal had 12 disposals, two marks and three spoils for Vic Metro in its under-17s clash with Vic Country last year. JHYE CLARK (GEELONG FALCONS) Midfielder, 181cm, 77kg A hardworking midfielder with strong aerobic capacity, Clark is the son of well-known Geelong local footy coach Steve Clark. The Saint Ignatius College Geelong student thrives on the contest. He loves to win the hard ball and clearances in tight and is also a tackling machine. Clark looks up to Melbourne’s Christian Petracca and has been working to add more breakaway speed from the contest to his game over the off-season. Clark is also highly capable in the air with his marking ability. Clark was named Vic Country’s best player at last year’s under-17 championships and logged 17 disposals (10 contested), five clearances and four tackles against Vic Metro. He also played three games of senior football for Queenscliffe in the Bellarine Football League last year. The Collingwood supporter trained with Geelong during pre-season as part of the AFL Academy program. MITCH SZYBKOWSKI (DANDENONG STINGRAYS) Midfielder, 186cm, 84kg A big-bodied inside midfielder, Szybkowski is renowned for his hardworking attitude on the field and on the training track. A Beaconsfield junior, the Caulfield Grammar student is composed around stoppages and can use the ball well by hand of foot. Szybkowski is a Collingwood supporter and has long looked up to captain Scott Pendlebury. However, he trained with Melbourne during pre-season as part of the AFL Academy program and also took plenty away from watching the likes of Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca go about their work on the track. Szybkowski had 17 disposals and three clearances for Vic Country in its under-17s match with Vic Metro last year. HARLEY REID (BENDIGO PIONEERS) Forward, 185cm, 82cm Recruiters are already getting excited about Reid, who is draft eligible next year but was included as a bottom-age player in this year’s AFL Academy program. Reid is a tough midfielder-forward who hails from Tongala in the Goulburn Valley and attends school at St Joseph’s College in Echuca where he is in Year 11 this year He has explosive pace, can take a contested mark and knows how to find the goals Reid had 11 disposals (seven contested) and three tackles as a bottom-age player in Vic Country’s under-17s clash with Vic Metro last year and also impressed in five games for the Bendigo Pioneers in the NAB League. Reid is set to train with Carlton in April as part of the AFL Academy program.

ELIJAH TSATAS (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS) Midfielder, 186cm, 79kg An athletic midfielder with speed to burn, Tsatas has an ability to impact both on the inside of the contest and the outside. A co-captain of Oakleigh Chargers last year, the former Surrey Park junior has an athletics background and has competed in the 400m and 100m hurdles at national level. It was therefore little surprise that Tsatas finished equal-ninth in the running vertical jump at the NAB League testing day in March, clocking up a score of 93. Tsatas also has good foot skills and looks up to Greater Western Sydney’s Josh Kelly. He trained with Collingwood during January as part of the AFL Academy program, but is a Richmond fan who was in the stands for the Tigers’ drought-breaking premiership in 2017. Tsatas had 25 disposals, six marks, four score assists and kicked one goal for Vic Metro in its under-17s clash with Vic Country last year, finishing as the fourth-ranked player on the ground. MATTHEW JEFFERSON (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS) Forward, 194cm, 79kg One of the top key position prospects in this year’s draft pool, Jefferson is a lead-up key forward with the ability to take contested marks. A versatile player, Jefferson spent much of his juniors playing a 50-50 split between forward and back and would also have a run through the midfield at times. However, the Wesley College student now feels settled in attack and looks up to AFL players like brothers Max and Ben King and Essendon’s Harry Jones. A former under-16 Victorian championship winner in representative basketball for Waverley Falcons, Jefferson trained with Richmond during pre-season in January as part of the AFL Academy program. ELIJAH HOLLANDS (MURRAY BUSHRANGERS) Midfielder, 184cm, 71kg Hollands’ football links run deep. His great-grandfather Martin Cross Snr played 36 games for Carlton in the 1960s, his father Ben played eight games for Richmond in 1999 and his older brother Elijah was a top-10 draft pick for Gold Coast Suns in 2020. Like Elijah, Oliver is now on track to be a first-round draft pick himself. Oliver grew up playing for the Wodonga Bulldogs and has gone through the Murray Bushrangers program but is now also playing school football in his third year boarding at Geelong Grammar. The Carlton supporter, who also has a soft spot for Gold Coast, trained with the Geelong during pre-season and is seen as a crafty midfielder with a good balance between his inside and outside game who has a big tank. He finished equal-fourth in the Yo Yo test at the NAB League testing day in March with a level of 21.8. Hollands had 23 disposals and three clearances for Vic Country in its under-17s clash with Vic Metro last year.