Slartibartfast

Was Baker injured? I didn't notice him in the second half.

The coaches agreed with my first three! Was that where your quibble was?

Gawn Salem TMac Lever #PositiveLingers Oliver

Petracca Oliver Tmac Langdon Gawn Lever

Arriving at 11.05 in pouring rain at Casey Fields is never a great start but that is exactly what Casey got off to in the first quarter. The rain stopped a few minutes before the game started and it was dry for the duration but the wind howled and it was slippery. The ground was in great condition and the wind blew across to the outer side and favoured the northern end. That's where I headed. It's nice to win any match but it was the young kids and one old kid I wanted to see and I didn't have to wait long. BBB was dominant early holding two contested chest marks and kicking one goal with the other falling just short. He presented well and judged the ball better than others in the windy conditions and I started to get excited about seeing him next week on the G. He moved all over the ground and was involved in the play regularly but sadly only played a half. He ran along the outer boundary at half time with Burgo looking over him doing multiple sprints and frankly looked pretty stuffed! But he was a class above and something to look forward to when he does get to the G. Weid on the other hand couldn't get close to it. He couldn't judge the wind nor could he find any space and apart from playing a half and a bit had a forgettable day. He ran the outer boundary for much of the third under the supervision of a physio and while he struggled on the field he looked very fit off it. I wanted to play particular attention to Bowey, Laurie and Rosman not having seen them live before. Bowey was the first to catch the eye. He's easy to pick out with his red hair and although the wasn't involved much in the first half what his did do he did well. He's small and slight and struggled in contested situations against bigger bodies but when he got the ball he delivered well and took good options. He got more involved as the game went on but there is nothing there yet pushing for a spot in the seniors. Laurie started in the midfield and moved forward later in the game and worked his way into it a bit but wasn't in the better players. He clearly has class but needs time and experience. He'd be behind Bedford and Chandler for a spot at this stage. Rosman played a lot of the game on the other side of the ground so I found it harder to judge his game but in the last he was on my wing and was involved. He's not a "smooth mover" but very effective with a few rough edges. He's got a much more AFL ready body than the other two but I suspect all three to play most of the season at Casey and learn their game. The one who did surprise was DSmith. He's slight but he's nimble with clean hands and good skills. He held his own against bigger bodies and had no trouble being involved in the game. He's brave and seemed to make good decisions with the ball. He played as a small back and I was impressed with this game. Again, he's not pushing for a spot but he's got some really good attributes to develop. JSmith played full back and did a servicable job but the pick of the tall backs was Harry Petty until he was sub'd out after half time. I've always been impressed with this kid and he could slot straight into the AFL side and hold his own. Jay Lockhart was good in patches and Hibbo grew into the game without dominating. MBrown took some good marks and kicked a few goals but was overshadowed by Majak who took multiple marks in defence and attack while running in the ruck. His ruckwork wasn't all that good but he was good around the ground. I think he could play AFL and be relied on to do a job. Chandler had patches and Bedford was busy. They appeared to me to be just off the pace of Charlie but if they are called on they wouldn't be out of their depth at AFL level. Oscar was a disappointment and for a bigger body didn't play as strongly as I'd have liked. Austin Bradtke is a long way off. He was poor in the ruck and didn't do much around the ground. He seems like he's been around for ages but he's only 20 but at some stage he'll have to show some more AFL attributes for my liking. Having said that it was awful conditions for big blokes so perhaps I'm being a little harsh. All in all it was a good hit out. Willy are a mature team and while they don't have the class of AFl lists they have and even contribution from all players and are no easybeats. READ PICKET FENCE'S REPORT HERE READ ROY BOY'S REPORT HERE

Petty not sighted after half time.

Laurie on ball as far as I can tell. Hasn’t done much. DSmith has been very impressive. Clean, involved, tackles hard and makes good decisions. Bowey struggled to get into it but has a beautiful foot. BBrown running laps. Won’t play next week.

Pouring with rain here.

But they play matches just not for points. I don't see the issue. Practice matches might actually be better because they will have more flexibility. I'd understand if there were no matches but there are. We played an intra club with the Casey boys last week. All the players would have a good hit out. We play Willy this week. It's no different from a VFL match for points. It's a non issue as long as there are matches. The real issue is byes during the season. That's rubbish.

What's the issue? We still get a game which is all we really want. That it doesn't count for VFL points doesn't really matter does it?

Gawn Viney Pickett Hunt Langdon Salem Apologies to half a dozen.

Eden Zanker very stiff.

Imagine every club not wanting him when he was on the market.

No, the mods should censor “Jordan”.

I'm a Trident Member and couldn't get a seat using my barcode but got GA seats. Did anyone else who is a Trident member have the same issue?

I still can't get through. Says no entitlements for my barcode. I'm a trident member.

ticketmaster but I can't get on

I'm the same

In the votes given in The Age neither May or Lever received votes. Unbelievable.

You're a fish flapping in the shallows Steve. You said he wasn't AFL standard. He is. You were wrong. It's time for you to move on and stop flogging a dead horse.

I would like to suggest to the moderators that the word “spud” is banned. For some reason it seems so disrespectful.

On you Stevie. You were canning him back in 2017 and he's still on an AFL list. You got it wrong. Nobody was saying he's the second coming of David Dench, just a fair role player. 81 games and perhaps more to come. Back when you were canning him he'd only played a handful. You got it wrong bud. MFC delisted him because we had better backs and another AFL club picked him up. He's AFL standard, AFL clubs have said so. Why don't you have a go with Oliver. Start saying he finished now and in about 10 years you can beat your chest and say you were the first to see it.

Chandler.

I was basically supportive of the Board until I learned the lengths they went to to stop a fair election. Their approach to others offering their candidacy was plainly hostile which is not the way it should be and seeds distrust from members. I think they treat us, the members, with disrespect. They are not open about the new facility nor do I trust them with our finances. If they are getting nowhere on the facility they will just turn around in 12 months and say "that idea fell through but we've got another one on the go". And frankly I don't think they've done much during their tenure other than ride on the success of Peter Jackson. But a Board spill with a partition would be a disaster IMO. I agree with BDA. In the end I'd just like some honesty from this lot. Asking us to vote for candidates based on a 150 work muzzling is an utter disgrace. It goes to the honesty and quality of this Board. Surely it's time for Bartlett to step down and give someone else a go. He's clearly lost the confidence of many members.

Did anyone see the question and answer section. What was said (if anything) about the muzzling of Peter Lawrence?