deejammin'

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The OM lookalike is Jack Bell, I agree he looks worth a go. Many of the Casey watchers in the KC thread tend to agree. I had seen the other solidly built bloke but I hadn’t heard his name, nor do I think he is a great ruck option at the moment.

This weekend in the VFL vs Gold Coast. JVR played second ruck to Jack Bell as first, Mitch Brown as the stay at home forward. He took at least 5 centre bounces that I remember and quite a few boundary throw ins, did ok. Sam is the normal backup ruck option for the VFL if one of Majak and Jack hasn’t been there but obviously he was playing AFL this week. Sam will get a lot of backup ruck time in Majak and Gawny’s absence but I like the club taking the opportunity to add another string to JVR’s bow and give us another contingency in the case of a ruck emergency.

I think he may have, he looks taller, he was played as second ruck this weekend in the VFL and did pretty well. I’d say he’s more of a Weideman/TMac emergency backup ruck than a true ruck option.

Through a mixture of wisdom and necessity the club had Weid doing ruck work all pre-season and he’s been ok as 2nd ruck/forward in the two games he’s had to do it this year. But as a first ruck Sam would worry me, Brisbane got two goals directly from Oscar McInnerny muscling him out of forward boundary throw ins and taking the ball, or punching it 10 metres. We are one, two once Gawny gets back, injuries from Sam being number 1 ruck and that would be trouble for us. We are ok for backup ruck forward options, Luke is one of the best in the league as he is a pure ruck who can go forward, Sam does a decent job, TMac did it well in 2018, BBB takes occasional forward hit outs and does ok and the club has even started giving JVR time in the ruck to have him as another forward/ruck option. What we are light on for us pure rucks. The AFL average is four on a list, with Majak retiring we join Adelaide as the only two teams with only two pure rucks on our list. We need to draft at least one for the future and one for now this off-season. More if Luke leaves. Those are both great options, I rate Flynn, he was great against Max last year, what about Max Lynch from Hawthorn also?

With Majak Daw retiring and us going into this season light on for developing rucks on our list (with the great development of Taj, Bedford, the excitement around Howes, Disco and JVR in the VFL I think the formerly thin wing and KP stocks now look ok, leaving back-up ruck our biggest weakness). Regardless of LJ’s decision, which would leave us even lighter obviously should he opt to leave. I think we need to draft in two possibly 3 rucks regardless. I would be getting a ruck through the national draft, a developing speculative rookie (Jack Bell has looked good at VFL level perhaps he sneaks through as a rookie or gets drafted?). And importantly, an AFL level backup, like a Majak, who is starved for opportunity or a bit speculative but will play well at Casey, I’m not sure who this would be, any ideas? This is our greatest area of need, thought I’d get the ball rolling on who might be available?

This is where the rating system gets bizarre, back in the good old days they would at least consider a player’s intention with the action, now it’s a meaningless grading that very rarely gets trotted out. The only question should be, “what was Stewart’s ACTUAL intention?” Was it to get the ball? No Did Prestia have the ball? No it’s well gone when Stewart opts to bump. EDIT: Thinking more about this if Prestia took possession Stewart would’ve tackled, a bump would be stupid and if Prestia missed the ball most likely Stewart would’ve changed direction to get the ball. Prestia tapping the ball away and leaving himself vulnerable is the only course of action that gets this response from Stewart, I think this makes it far worse. Was he blocking or shepparding for one of his players? No, Prestia is airborne, out of the play having passed the ball not pressuring. Was it too late for Stewart to not make contact? No, he clearly could’ve stopped, changed direction or at the least not jumped with his shoulder. So what was Stewart trying to do? He was clearly trying to hit Dion Prestia, hard, behind the play. Did he mean to knock him out in a VERY dangerous way. Probably not, I doubt any AFL player truly wants to damage a player like that. But this is as close to that as it gets, his only intention is front-on contact on a defenceless player, it’s not something that has been acceptable in AFL footy for quite a while. Scott and co can talk about how remorseful and apologetic Stewart was, but actions define the man, if you genuinely care for your opposition players, don’t intentionally jump into them behind the play. Even if genuine the Scott description and Stewart being apologetic could be more about the penalty than the action itself, Chris Scott’s Cats are guilty of more of these kind of actions than most teams from what I can see, they certainly don’t like getting suspended, but do they genuinely show care for the opposition? Even if Stewart doesn’t hit the head there’s potential for broken ribs, internal damage and Prestia has no way to brace while Stewart has no reason to hit him hard. And he did hit the head, there were some truly horrific potential consequences here, some in the media (Geelong types) say Stewart is unlucky Prestia was knocked out, I’d say he’s lucky Prestia doesn’t have severe ongoing, life changing spinal or brain injury. This is not embellishment, this wasn’t an accident, Stewart is totally and wholly responsible and didn’t take any action to protect Prestia. I think a statement must be made. 6+ weeks. Any less is inviting this kind of thuggery to creep back in. As others have said Gawn or Oliver are in Prestia’s position in the GF, is 3-4 weeks enough to discourage this happening again? It’s Geelong, so the penalty will be shockingly mild. But if the AFL is serious about protecting players playing the ball and stamping out thuggery, they have to go hard. This is far worse than Toby Greene’s umpire contact.

You’re right Dazzle, listening to anything Hutchy says is a bad idea. I certainly don’t believe it, I was just commenting on how bizarre his choice of scuttlebutt is in this instance. It’s very easy to make believable “Jackson is leaving stories” with this dragging out so long, but going straight to “walk to PSD” is really incredibly stupid, even by Hutchy’s low standards.

That PSD thing is totally bizarre. We paid PICK 2 for the guy 3 years ago! We’ve developed him with the best modern ruckman in the game, had him play in a premiership, given him a great environment with the Brayshaw’s and his teammates, the club deserves compensation if he leaves. I doubt Luke would want what Hutchy describes that for Melbourne, he’s given us a lot and we have given him a lot. I’d be shocked if he wanted to leave, but if he does there’s no way he’s screwing the club that has been so good to him out of a pick or player in trade. Hutchy talks total rubbish. I hope Luke stays, I think staying at least another two years makes the most sense.

No change for me. With the notable exception of last years finals series some of our best footy last year, especially in the first 8 rounds was with a two talls - four smalls forward setup. It’s easy to forget that while Weid and Brown were both injured we played TMac/Jackson-Gawn as our talls with Bailey playing third tall and Pickett, ANB and Spargo as our smalls. It was only when BBB’s form demanded it following a period where our scoring dropped and TMac had earned his place that we moved to three talls for the last four games and finals and obviously that worked a treat. Our pressure looks so much better with just the two tall forwards and there is more space for Ben and Bailey to lead to. I would be interested to see whoever is in form out of Weid and BBB stay in for Geelong with the other coming out for Gawn and keeping Bedford in the team. Bailey Fritsch also seems to play better (GF the exception) as third forward and our pressure and danger on the ground in the forwardline goes to a whole new level with Pickett, ANB, Bedford, Spargo, Trac and Harmes all rolling through there. Mitch Brown was great at VFL level but with him in at AFL level our forwardline looked slow as he, BBB and Gawn all offer very little pressure on oppo running defenders inside 50. I’d like to see the smaller forwardline for the next few games at least, until either TMac or whoever is dropped of BBB and Weid when Gawn returns or JVR truly force their way back in. Gawny should take Adelaide off regardless and get absolutely cherry ripe, not just for Geelong but for the whole end of season run.

I had hoped we might even mid-season him but thankfully/sadly no long term injuries gave us a spot.

If this is a test it’s multiple choice 😈😈😈

Would 186 get Bevo sacked? (I think the dogs will come back but they’re putrid so far)

The dogs, a team who are famous for being quick and moving the ball quickly, are looking slow and unclean while the cats, a team many were concerned about being too slow, look quick and slick.

In: Langdon (hugely important! Spargo and Bedford did their best but he’s irreplaceable), Salem, Harmes, TMac, Tomlinson. Out: May (inj), Melksham, Weideman, Dunstan, Bedford (sub) The question mark is Petty’s ankle/knee. We really can’t afford him to go down. If he does Disco Turner may get his shot?

Disappointing as I was hoping to see Freo fall out of the 8. Oh well. Win the next two go into the bye 12-1, reset for an all out assault on the flag. No team in the modern AFL has ever gone undefeated, sadly neither were we. I hope it puts a rocket up the boys to beat Sydney next week, No May, No Buddy, nil all draw there. Injuries took their toll, May and Langdon are irreplaceable, Dunstan + Melksham + Bedford is one too many NQR (though Bedford’s first half was excellent). Bring back Langdon, Harmes, McDonald and eventually May and Salem. Let’s go Dees.

I think Bedford plays Ed’s wing and Melksham plays Harmes HF/mid role. Excited to see Bedford have a crack at it, he’s shown a lot this year.

He’s been playing as a back man and looking pretty good. He’s taller and bigger than I remember and looks very capable of playing 2nd or 3rd key back. He hasn’t been playing wing this year though.

The ladder when you posted was: 1. Melbourne 2. Freo 3. Brisbane 4. Carlton 5. Geelong 6. Sydney 7. St Kilda 8. Richmond History might be in trouble this year. The loser of Swans vs Richmond will drop out of the 8 to be replaced by the dogs when they annihilate WC (say what you will about the dogs but they flat track bully very well). If it’s Sydney they then play us and Port so could drop as far as 10th with their upcoming games over the bye. Meanwhile if it’s Richmond they could be dropping under Port when they play in round 13. Port’s destiny is in its own hands with Dixon coming back for their games against Essendon, Richmond and Sydney, win 2/3 and they’re well and truly back in the race. Sadly it looks like Geelong are safe but if Adelaide and the Dogs do us all a favour and beat them they’re back in the thick of the fight (with games against us, Carlton, St Kilda, Richmond, Port, GC and the Bulldogs again in the run home). From what I can see at least one change, possibly two are still likely, bizarrely, given where they sat only a few weeks ago Freo could drop out with games against us x2, Brisbane, Carlton, Sydney, Richmond, St Kilda, Dogs and Port in the run home. GC and the Pies are real wildcards here, if they continue their recent form of upsets they will shape the 6-8 positions. I hope we smash Freo and Sydney these next two weeks, not just because I always love us winning, but if both teams lose they are thrust into a HUGE fight to even make finals.

Great news on Ed, I reckon he plays, tough bugger. Viney back also is important. Good to see Salem, Harmes and Hibberd all tracking to be available for Brisbane. With a little luck we may finally get our full best 22 on the park to play just in time for our biggest challenger! This week: In: Viney Bedford Out: Dunstan Melksham (one of these twowill play sub) Viney is a no brainer, career best form and if he’s over the tightness/soreness in he comes. Bedford offered more than Melksham defensively this week (3 more tackles, 4 more pressure acts) while the rest of their games were pretty similar. Bedford just feels more dangerous to me so until Harmes comes back, Bedford should get the gig. This game just got more important to me, not because we need it, we’ve earned our break and can afford to drop one, but I hope it’s not this one as if we win in three weeks time Freo could be playing off to stay in the 8! So much for these challengers. Let’s bury them!

I still remember Frosty bombing a goal from 50 in a QB game for us. His crazy kicking looks a lot better when’s he’s kicking at goal.

Brisbane backline looks a lot less sure without Marcus Adams (who’s been in ripping form!)

Frosty!!! Looking good as a forward.

Go Benny! Congrats on your 150! Kick a bag!!

That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. How can a player who runs past the ball, chooses to bump, hits a player high be less severe than a tackle that is one motion, let’s go of the arms and is ultimately pretty unlucky. I had Ryan getting two, Chandler getting one, this is getting beyond a joke. Punish legitimate football actions that result in accidents, elbow blokes in the head (Lynch), kick blokes with your studs (Cotchin), bury blokes in a tackle (Hawkins), nothing, accidentally have a player lack awareness and be driven forward in a pretty good tackle, two weeks. Maybe Chandler deserved a week, maybe, but how is this so inconsistent and wrong so often?! And why is MFC so often on the end of the harshest rulings?!