deeko

It wasn't all that long ago that Russian had the nickname donuts on here and then he started to clunk a few marks and win a swag of hit outs, even then he was criticised for not directing the ball to the mids.

Unfortunately over the last 10 years Russian has had a heap of injuries and even the year before he was in AA form he missed a heap of games and he still is. I'm concerned that he will be injured again this year and if he is number one, how long for?

Spencer is able to get to a lot of contests because of his speed and if he can hold a few, he could be an invaluable option in our new game plan. He is pretty raw and does some incredibly stupid things, but he's a real goer, is hard at it and still young so I think that he will probably hold the spot until someone shows they can do better.

All good points Robbie but I just shutter when the pill ends up in big Spencer's hands I think at least Jamar is more comfortable knowing his limitations when Spence might get a bit excited sometimes.

I just think a lot of people have written Jamar off here already for the upcoming season. He definitely won't be the man in 5 years (my $$$ is on Maximus) but I still believe he can become a force again if he wants to. People were critical of his one dimensional tap work but for a while with Beamer it was working. I don't necessarily blame him here but wonder what the hell the midfield coach was doing only having a Plan A (Jamar to Moloney) and no Plan B.

Spence reminds me of a country footballer reserves full back. Not blessed with skill, footy smarts or any swag but is loved by his team mates for running in straight lines, cleaning opposition players up and being just a brute of a man.

On fitness I agree at the moment that Spence will be the man for a while and I wish him the best.

Just an honest appraisal.

And some insight into the reality of the situation.

It's ok if you don't like to hear it.

Nobody liked hearing that the sun didn't revolve around the earth.

Hahahah throwing in some heliocentrism while discussing Rivers, god I love some of the comments by posters on this site! Thats gold

Yeah, no problem, I'll take that bet.

And while I don't rate Dunn as a better footballer, he has qualities that Rivers doesn't have, that make him a better fit for our backline at this point in time.

**shakes head in disbelief***

Dunn??? Stop it! The one quality he has is that he can kick the pill 60m long and 35m in the air to nobody. He plays on nobody's. He can't take a mark when the pill is anywhere other than on his chest, he isn't mobile, can't defend a tall and is not agile enough for a small.

I don't actually know what he is meant to be.

But back on to Sylvia, I was always supporting him here and sticking up for him (probably another one of those 'this will be his year' posters). I honestly thought he had more of a crack last year but lacks the ball winning ability of a quality mid. He is a true HFF and should never have been played anywhere else.

I think it was the best option for both parties to part ways here and now I really couldn't care less about him. Don't wish him success or failure, completely apathetic about him going as he's know longer a Dee

Dunn was rested. Clisby was poor, Jetta so so, Strauss and Terlich ahead of those two.

Thanks big red, you're a good egg

Did anybody have a good look at the BP/HBF's?

Just curious on peoples thoughts on who looked best out of Nev, Dunny, Strauss,Clis and Terls.

Cheers

We are going nowhere if Spencer is our number 1. FCS cease the Spencer experiment.

Agreed. I simply can't have him at all.

I would have Jamar over Spencer everyday of the week as at least he can make a contest for a grab around the ground. Not saying he will take it but he does present and makes defenders/other ruckman worry. As for Spencer, he doesn't have the skills to take an uncontested grab let alone a big pack mark.

Jamar also has the potential to be a really good player again (as he has proved before he can be) and I have faith, under Roos, he will get back to at least a decent level of work where Spencer simply has no potential and no ability.

People get excited by the occasional chase he does, some token pressure or a bit of push and shove with some opposition dust buster.

We have way more injuries than other clubs. This was just an intraclub hit out at low pace. Stynes and yze had multiple games without a break even playing when injured...

I don't think we do have more injuries at all. It's a case of the grass always being greener.

Unfortunately for us last year it seemed we had more as we were so desperate to get Clark, Dawes & Viney on the park as we sucked so much.

Yze was a great player but if Grimes played as outside as Yze did he would have hardly missed a game as well.

Well, then you're as stupid as mjt then.

But I tell you this - Rivers will not play even half of Geelong's matches this year, and it won't be because of injury.

Even he knows this.

Bookmark this post.

If I knew how to Machsy I'd bookmark it. A couple sharpies on him playing 11+ games if un-injured.

Nothing wrong with how you are presenting your opinion of JR but I just don't agree (also don't agree with our little chat last week about where people at the club rated his leadership but thats cool).

He is better than a lot here realise, but once again, thats only my opinion against others and I can't be bothered arguing my reasoning.

The only thing I will argue is when someone rates Dunn or Pedo as being better footballers. I can't have that

If I were Dimma I'd be very very worried.

Ha! True but also Bucks should be worried as from seeing Dusty out and about a few times he's just as dodgey

Yep I take what you're saying on board - maybe he's not a "wow" moments player.Someone like Hodge can pick up 20 odd possession in a game, but with half a dozen that really stick out.

This is where Vince, Cross & Tyson are adding value in different degrees. Maybe this type of info on the NAB games is out there somewhere.

On the first point, I have confidence he will get there and maybe start adding some treats to his highlights realm once he gets all his confidence back. As for now, if he is doing what he did against the Tiges each week for this season then I will be stoked!!

As for your second point about adding value, spot on. Great recruiting of players.

Watched the game a few times and still don't understand why people are getting excited about Trengove again.

I wouldn't consider myself a knocker - I've been really looking for the outstanding on ground qualities for some time.

I wish I had more time to do my own summary of every time he was near the ball, but watching the NAB game again, I saw a dropped mark, running past a pack when the ball was very much still being contested, saw him get his hand on the ball in a contested situation only for it to get cleared by Richmond 5 seconds later.

I know he kicked a goal, got the odd clearance, but a number of his early possessions were won from strategically won free kicks rather than playing in front and taking off to attack, (as I noticed Grimes did a few times during the game and looked great).

I suspect there's a significant gap between Trengove and a host of other players' influence on the game. Know he was injured last year, but by all accounts he's had a full pre-season.

Happy for someone to convince me otherwise by providing examples (quoting quarter & time of the Melb v Rich NAB game) of where he had a really significant impact.

Is he wearing a few more scars than others from the last 2-3 years that he needs to dispose of to become a really good player again?

Not trying to bag the guy, just trying to figure out where he's really at.

There wasn't any "wow" moments that players like Danger, Ablett, Hodge do etc but I don't think thats his game.

It was just a good, solid game.

I find it odd that you seem to be saying it was just an average game. If he continues to produce 29 touches, a few clearances and a goal each game this year we will be a hell of lot more competitive then previous years.

I was very happy with his game and I think he will get cleaner with his skills as the year goes on.

The problem with a straight percentage to each player is that the players earning the most receive the most allowance. I think it should be means tested. If you are buying a property no allowance. If you rent and are on a lower income say under $150,000 you get a rent allowance paid direct to the player from the AFL.

Good points ManDee.

I think the salary cap should just be the same for all clubs but continue the COLA if it's that pricey there.

Just make it the $x amount of funds available from COLA is simply divided by the amount of players on the list and then paid in even amounts. That way they all an extra say $20k p.a. to cover the so called higher costs.

The club shouldn't even get the option to use it on players contracts or to entice other players.

I'm thinking for most improved of someone who was useless last year and has the wider scope for improvement. Players like Bail, Jamar, Tappy, Blease, Strauss, Nicho, Pedo.

In this case my money is on Tappy.

God knows why, I continually rant on about players being ordinary such as Blease, Dunn, Strauss & Nicho but for some reason I just have a soft spot for Tappy and backing him in for a really good year.

edit: I also say Tappy as he couldn't be any worse than he was last season, so it should be a pretty safe guess for 'most improved'

Im happy to stick by it.

I hope you're spot on Al, would love nothing more

Throw in Salem and Tyson along with Viney and Toumpas and we have our own Fab Four.

These sort of comments scare me as it wasn't to long ago when our 'fab four' were Scully, Morton, Gysberts and Trengove.

Geees.....All this after a win in the NAB practise game.....God help the players when we lose one.......

All the footy club "experts" on this site will go into melt down

The football dept know what they want for all the players....us mug punter don't have a clue though some will disagree with me.....

I do agree with all of this but in fairness, it just shows how much we miss watching it, miss debating it and miss over-analysing the crap out of it.

With Pedersen we have nothing to fall back to.

I knew we got rid of Juice to soon

Really liked his running and love his ability to hit targets. Very happy with the acquisition.

But I have to ask..... who is going to be the one to start the Vince vs Crouch argument?

I've got Gawn and Clark in the same book at the moment. Not expecting, and trying to keep my hopes down, thinking of them as a bonus if they get up and about.

I think we are all in the same boat.

Hope for the best and plan for the worst.

Talking about where someone was mentioning stats by saying "probably this" and "I think that"... Happy to talk opinions or stats, but don't get them confused.

I don't think Spencer is a star by any stretch, but modern footy demands the ruckman does more than tap it at the centre then stand around and wait. That's why, at this stage, I would much rather Spencer than Jamar in the team.

I can understand that as he definitely puts more pressure on then Jamar but I just back the Rush as I think the quality of his hit outs are of a higher quality. I think we all just hope that Gawn comes on quickly and passes them both.

I'm excited to see how he (Rush) goes under Roos. He was clearly in the offside group with Neeld (best mates with Moloney and dropped from the leadership group) and I wonder if that impacted the way he played/wanted to play.

I have faith he will return to some good form this year.

So we're making up stats now?

Not sure where people are pulling there stats from but the match centre stats on the AFL's web page has Spencer with 17. Hampson & Steff had 14 each and Griffiths 12. Melb had King and Pedro with a handful each.

Highly effective.... in say 1995.

Ruckmen need to give you more than hitouts these days.

Agree but Spencer doesn't give anything other than the occasional chase and tackle. For someone as big and strong as he is I would love him to crash a few more packs and take the occasional contested grab which I am yet to see.

Barry has had one game, give him time. As for asking Ablett, I remember Miller towelling up Hall.

Centre line - Watts jones Trengove

Foll -Cross Viney

Bench -Tyson, Michie, Toumpas, M jones , Strauss(Vince HFF)

For mine Jordie doesn't make it.

Barry will get time, but it should and will be at Casey.

Strauss over Jordie??? They get the same amount of the pill yet Jordie shuts someone else down at the same time. Also, from what I have seen there skills under pressure are similar.

He was great vs RIchmond and will be one of the first picked every week, and rightfully so

I'm not so certain he will be one of the first picked each week but he will definitely be in the squad until someone demands a call up for his place. I love him and the way he goes about it but with a lot more around him he may find it harder for a spot this season. A wonderful position for us to be in.

Add to that he can't go forward or back so it limits his appeal.

He doesn't need to, he will be a full time midfield stopper, nothing more, nothing less.

Why are people so quick to drop Barry? If Viney/Watts are good to play I would drop Jordie. We've seen for years what he has to offer and for mine it's not enough. He's not picked for elite disposal and two tackles in a game isn't enough. Whilst I also understand the need for cohesion with the core group I personally don't see him as part of it.

Although Jordie doesn't bring much he brings more than Barry who from what I saw added little to no value. Not saying one day he won't be a solid senior player, but at the moment he clearly isn't worthy of a spot and there is no way going forward players will be picked on 'potential.'

I struggle why people continually want to back Spencer in, wow he was bad. He may show some great efforts chasing and tackling but his ruck work and general skills are disgusting. Get Gawn or Jamar back asap!

I struggle with Strauss as well, thought he could do at least a Maric in the nab cup showing a bit to get us excited only to go missing in the season but he was awful as well. He is reliant on one thing in his game (this so called majestic leg of his) but that is average at best as well. He is now behind not only Terlich, Grimes & Garland for the small defender role but behind Georgiou as well.

Evans and Barry I don't think will be anything more than depth this year. Both were underwhelming.

Bail on the other hand looked back to his nippy best which is good.

Out: Spencer for Gawn/Jamar, Strauss, Evans and Barry for the others

Blease had some great leads early and I watched him pushing to space a few times for an option. Haven't seen that before from him but I really liked his efforts.

(Mooney was serviceable at best)

Slightly harsh on Mooney, believe he was an All Australian player in 2007.

the moment you realised you are p-whipped

It's strategic planning. She sees the pathetic obsession I have with the dees, I figure get in the good books early so can get out a bit more when the real stuff starts.

(AKA p-whipped)