Slartibartfast

I'm like all supporters, I've got my favourites and I've got players I don't like. But Spencer wasn't horrible today. Nice mark on the wing and a really good kick forward to a running player hitting him lace out as he was running away from Pencil (it was on the other side of the ground and I don't know who it was). He competed and gets involved around the ground. You didn't mention that. I get you don't like him and that's fine but you should at least give a full picture and not a singular example of a mistake. As for the ball rarely getting from one end to the other without a skill mistake have a look at last nights game and again tonight. It's a competitive game where the ball rarely does go from one end to the other without an "error". Today was competitive with as much focus on defense as attack. The idea of defense is to make it difficult for the attacker. They did and we saw a contest. That's all. It wasn't silly skill errors where simple mistakes were made. It was pretty normal preseason competitive footy. And having read all the reports I'd agree that Kent was very good as was Grimes. Anyone who thinks he's not a lock for the team if fit is well off the mark IMO. Newton is one of those players who I just don't notice. I reckon I'll pick up the paper having not noticed him in a game and see he had it 26 times. Does have nice balance and a very good kick but like GRRM I don't see him get it much. Thanks to Saty for info on Salem. I feared he'd done his calf muscle but if it's just a cork that's great. Believe me, if you'd seen him today you'd be excited! And Dawes is a real worry I reckon. He's not that good in a contest because his hands are iffy and he gets angry and reported which doesn't do anything for the team. Time for a bit of reflection I reckon. Having said that I didn't see the Jetta incident.

And I reckon they are quite wrong. We'll see. I hope you're right Wrecker!

I wouldn't think so but what would I know. I reckon Roos will put mature bodies on the field first and let the kids earn their spots. Unlike others I reckon Grimes, M Jones, Bail and a couple of others are in Roos best 22 at the moment because he wants as many players as possible that can genuinely compete at AFL level. On that basis I can't see Stretch, Brayshaw or other first year players getting a run early. NAB Challenge could change that or I might be quite wrong.

I reckon this concept of "depth" is very overstated here. We've got depth in developing talent and footballers with potential but we don't have 30 players who have proven they can play consistent AFL footy. When I try and put my best 22 together there are 10 or so vying for the last 5 spots but none of them would get much of a look in at the top clubs. I'm not saying we aren't on the improve, just that we have potential that people are interpreting as depth. It's the same "depth" that Blease, Strauss, Tappy and a host of others have provided in previous years.

Had a look this morning. Normal training drills until about 11.00 when they played match practice with about 16 per team. Injuries: King, Howe, Vince, ANB (not sighted Petracca and Trengove). All others seemed to be there. Observations: As the tempo of training increases so do the mistakes - understandable. Salem playing back, dominated match simulation and looked fantastic until he appeared to hurt his left calf. He didn't look happy and it was strapped straight away. Lets hope for the best. Tommy Mac was very good, killed Dawes who really struggles with ball handling. Jordie McKenzie seems to be playing off the back flank. His opponent gets very little of it. Gawn mainly forward ruck, some good work at times. Stretch just knows how to get involved, impressed again today. Tyson, Jones and Viney did very well. First look at White today and was impressed. Good size, competitive and kicks well. Brayshaw got another hit to the head and left the field. Salem was leading him a merry dance at that stage. Hogan was involved and kicked goals. Garlett will be a gun if he can keep focused. Clean, fast, skilled and can find it. Oscar Mac played forward and got it a few times. Dunn wacked Gawn in the guts behind play. All the players played their part but the flowing skills of a month ago under little pressure were replaced today with some more contested "normal" footy. JKH found a little of it when McKenzie didn't pick him up. He played in the midfield a bit and was involved. Watts only played about half the match sim but didn't seem to be in any discomfort when off so I assume it was just a load thing. In one drill he was playing a lead up forward role but in the match sim he was high half forward again. Toump seems to have made progress to me. Not the huge leap many will hope for but he was involved all day and by todays standards one of the better disposers of the ball. There is no doubt they are trying to move the ball quicker but are still struggling at times finding a target. As ever I'm very interested to get others impressions. I'm just hoping for the best with Salem. Hopefully just cramp or something but he was terrific and he'll be in my fantasy footy team as first picked. His ball handling, contested work, kicking and ability to find it were just great.

Fair enough. I recall Scully trying to say the same thing but having the President having him to dinner and pounding him for information and insisting he sign. Anyway water under the bridge. Ablett ran out on Geelong and Scully ran out on Melbourne. We got the better end of the deal.

Is this the same G. Ablett that lied to the Cats about leaving and then accepted a huge contract from a development club? And are these the same people who continually bag Tom Scully for doing the same by going to the Giants (and delivering a huge bonus to us in the process). Bob Murphy, Paddy Dangerfield and Nathan Fyfe for me. I like watching Sculls too and thank him every time I do.

Stretch was never involved in Hollywood boulevard, that was more the precinct of Lovett G, Stynes and Tingay along with the others you mention. The people involved were very good players but I hope we never see The Boulevard again.

McKenzie had Kent most of the time. Interesting to see him play as a half back as I thought after his 3 km trial he would certainly compete for a mid spot. Also impossible to see how he fits in the backline.

My view is GRRM is being far to critical of what one might call "the usual suspects". Reality is all players made mistakes and if you want to find example to back up previously held views it wouldn't have been hard. Hogan dropped marks, NJones missed targets when under no pressure and Lumumba fumbled on occasions. McKenzie for example is never going to kick breathtaking passes and today was no exception. But nobody was "horrible" today other than Dawes double grabs. First praccy match. Keep it in mind.

Where were the hysterical comments? I think you're overreacting.

Just back: Some comments: Hogan: Simply an asset. Aggressive, quick, strong hands, awkward but reliable kick. N Jones: Busy. Just Jones Salem: Will be a lock for 22 on this form. Played down back and had a lot of it and kicked very well. Toumpas: Made the odd mistake but found plenty of it and kicked well. Dawes: Can't get a clean mark, they were all two grabbers. Not that impressive but worked hard. Viney: Aggressive, plenty of the ball and linked up well. Brayshaw looked taken aback by Viney's attack on the ball. He'll learn. Lumumba: As you'd expect. Just blowing the cobwebs away. Brayshaw: Pretty much unsighted by me. Gawn: Did ok competing up forward and rucked well but was beaten by Jamar who will be no 1 on todays form. Tyson: Not prolific but classy. McKenzie: Prolific but not classy. Pity he can't do more with the ball but he cut Kent right out of the play coming off half back. Dunn: Solid workout BILLY STRETCH: What did we pay for this bloke? Well it was a bargain. Plenty of the ball, ran well, clean hands, kicked well. I loved his father and I'll love watching Billy. Frost: Solid at both ends. I really like this bloke. Kent: Rarely sighted. I was disappointed as I love this bloke. Cross: Just gets it but made some awful disposal clangers. Newton: Didn't notice him much. I think he's that sort of player as I noticed another poster praised him. Garland: Solid Pedersen: Good competitive hitout. Competed well in the ruck and around the ground. Michie: Started really well and I thought was one of our better players but died out a little. Found a lot of the ball. T Mac: Solid Riley: Solid O Mac: Was involved in a bit but a project player I'd have thought. Grimes: Solid. No kicking clangers that I saw. Garlett: On this form he'll be the recruit of the season and Malthouse will just look silly. Class above. Jamar: Best ruckman. Took a good grab but little involvement other than that. Spencer: A game to forget for Jake. Bail: Played very well early with plenty of the ball and played centre square a bit. Great run, clean with the ball. M Jones: Played well. Kicked well and has pace. In best 22 on todays form I'd have thought. Terlich: Lots of the ball and played as Terlich plays. Harmes: Aggressive at the ball but not pressing ahead of the other "competing" mids for a spot. It seemed to me to be a day where the "definite" 22 just went through the paces, got a bit of the ball and looked to find some touch. The other players had something to prove and some took their chances. I don't think Stretch is ready but was impressive, Toump and Salem were good and Salem in particular has stepped up significantly as you'd expect. There were times when there was no flow in the game with multiple kicks across half back but there did seem to be a more attacking flavor to the game plan. Pity that a few missed but shyte happens. I'll be interested to compare my impressions with others.

I don't think I said that. I mentioned that Gawn impressed me with his one on one marking when playing forward. I noted that Spencer got involved around the ground and was better than Jamar. I further noted Jamar wouldn't have it all his own way. Jamar is a good tap ruckman and can take a contested mark on occasions but is hopeless defensively and can't get involved around the ground. In his early days he was known around here as "donuts". Spencer clearly has his shortcomings but endeavor and commitment to the contest is not one of them. He is also quick. I'd suggest that Jamar's biggest weakness is that he can't influence the game other than his tap stoppage work and is a liability defensively. Gawn's main weakness is he also can't apply much defensive pressure when playing forward and doesn't appear to have much of a tank but potentially he is our best bet. All our ruckmen have quite significant weaknesses IMO. It will be interesting to see what combination we go for. Anyway it's good to hear nobody else made a simple mistake, a big improvement on previous years.

And fair enough. I'm just wondering if any other players made "local footy level" mistakes as well.

Did any other players drop a mark or fumble during ball movement drills? Thanks for your report.

Honestly Dazzle, we get you don't like TDI, give it a rest.

I'm not a huge Jones fan but I can understand how someone who comes into the system as a mature age player can improve these things. He is getting the sort of development and training that he's never had before because he's now a full time AFL footballer. He's also learning the pace of the game and adjusting to that. His development is of a third year player, not a 27 year old.

I didn't mean my comments to be read as "the leak was from a Board member" and I was in no way suggesting it was from David Thurin. My comment was to Pennant who said the current Board don't leak. We can't say that unless we know where this leak came from. I then started a new paragraph to state my desire to see all of the past Board gone from this Board for reasons that are obvious and not worth repeating but don't relate to this leak. But I can see how you could misinterpret the post the way you did. Your comments about Thurin are correct but unnecessary and your assertion that my comments are completely out of order incorrect if read in the correct context. But as I say, I understand how you could misinterpret my previous post the way you did and thank you for the opportunity to clarify. And yes Sue, I do think this is more than "made up". It might have been blown out of all proportion but something has happened in my view. You can call me paranoid if you like but this Club has a habit of working its way out of trouble and seeming to be on the up and then getting overconfident and right royally stuffing it up. Every Board from Gutnick on has this history other than Szondy who has nothing to hang his hat on. I just shudder every time I see something like this and just wish that all past Board members in this sort of history were gone. It's nothing personal against Thurin. Our last couple of years have been full of hope and this corresponds to a period where we have effectively been under AFL management. Personally I'd be happy for that to continue indefinitely but I know others would find this model very confronting. And yes, I have more confidence this time that in the past which is why this sort of situation sends a shudder down my spine.

Where did the leak come from? Unless you know you can't say it wasn't from our Board. I'd feel so much more comfortable if all the Board members from the last Board were gone.

Watts offers things most of those players don't. His success would be invaluable to our success.That's my opinion. We don't all agree.

It wasn't a full match practice and they were really only using two thirds of the ground but he appeared to be playing midfield wing to me. Didn't notice his up and under kicks either. Jamar was good in the hitouts but he just didn't get involved around the ground. Perhaps he doesn't have to impress and goes easy but given it's the main criticism of him and given that Spencer was busy I'm still not sold he's a lock. Round the ground involvement and pressure v superior tap work. Which wins?

Competitive match practice was short and sweet, sweet to see come footy again, even at this level. It wasn't a full match practice as only about 14 per side but it was full contact without the players trying to hurt each other. "Quarters" were only about 5 or 7 minutes and at times the ball would just be given to the opposition. Conditions were warm but perfect otherwise. The one that impressed me was Petracca. He looked absolutely comfortable in this company, winning contested possession and seemed to make good decisions. Kicking a little iffy but not bad. Others to do well were, apart from the regulars (Jones N, Lumumba, Grimes, Tyson etc) were M Jones who I didn't have near my 22 but today was good. He has speed, knows how to find it and disposed of it well. He's in the running for a midfield spot. Max Gawn took some took contested marks and Spencer was involved round the ground. I think Jamar, regardless of his seniority, is under pressure for his spot. The reality is that the match was short and it was hard to pick out "best" players. And half were wearing green vests covering their numbers which makes them hard to identify when they are on the other side of the ground. Oh, and special mention to the Toump who I thought was good and involved today. Of course the issue is how many can translate to match day.

Practice match! JKH with first goal!

Watts, Vince, Garlo's, ANB, Hunt, Howe, White, sitting out

Two umps here. On Friday 13th?