Jaded No More

I love Dean Bailey!!! He is one of the most focused, determined, strong coaches I have ever seen in my life and is definitely a great player developer. You wait until we start climbing up the ladder and I reckon he'll start going absolutely nuts. Looks like the type to tell you the honest truth to your face then slap you for good measure.

Great article, very interesting. I think I maintained for a very long time, even though I do not know Col personally, that he had issues relating to expectations. He himself admitted that everything was easy for him at Under 18 level. He was the star, he led the way, he did things on his terms. He simply didn't know how to cope with being on the bottom of the pecking order, and the more he tried to prove to himself that he was still a big star (not doing enough rehab, going out drinking and partying, picking up bar tabs, spending thousands of dollars at the casino and on clothes*), the worse it got. Do I think he can mature into the star his talent can enable him to be? no. But I do have some respect for him now, understanding where his head was for the last 5 years and what he is doing to make things right. To come out and put that on public record means he is serious about following through, and if he doesn't, the fallout for him will be enormous and will no doubt end his career prematurely. I hope he succeeds, because the talent is there, but more than anything I hope he gets himself right because to live a life full of regrets is not to live at all. *We can both be seen at Shopaholics Annonymous these days

The only gaping hole we have is at FF, and this is where I think we need to groom Martin. He is big, already is a good size but can obviously do with some muscle definition and strength. He has a good leap and can take a mark. Kicking is so-so, but the closer he plays to goal, the easier it will be to teach him a goal-kicking technique. He can surely learn to kick from 30m out! Having him develop into a FF, playing out of the square, virtually solves all of our forward issues (if it comes off that is). FF: Aussie Martin Jurrah CHF: Miller Watts Bate I would play Maric further up field personally, especially since Jurrah and Watts would be just as handy off the deck as they would be on the lead. In reality, we have a number of medium/small forward options available. I didn't even consider Green or Sylvia but both can play up forward (and will push Bate and Miller out of the side if they are struggling), and there is always Morton who, assuming he puts on a kilo or two (but hopefully 15) could certainly play a key attacking role.

So would I. Collingwood dropped Wood in the end, so in reality we really could have had Jamar vs. Fraser. Hopefully PJ does a great job outplaying Fraser around the ground, although if it was my choice, I would have dropped PJ and kept Martin in the side for that purpose. On the other hand, we might actually beat a side in the ruck for once! True. But I hate the [censored] and hope for the best :D

Stop trading away our backline. It is the only solid thing we have going for us, and the one area we can actually build around. Garland and Frawley can both play small, Rivers is more suited to a third man up role, leaving Warnock and Martin as big key defenders. What is so wrong with having 5 defensive options to pick from, when in reality, one is likely to be out injured at any one time, and two of the five can possibly be played up forward? There is no way we are trading Warnock or Martin or Rivers, especially if we get picks 1 & 2. Other clubs can shove their under-valued draft picks. If you want to trade, look at trading someone like Dunn. An early draft pick, can play midfield or forward and might attract some value. Buckley is another one that may attract interest. You won't get much for either player, but you probably won't get a whole lot more for Martin or Warnock either. So lets get rid of those who can't break into the 22, as opposed to those who have the talent to play in a premiership side. Or we can always trade Juice

You would be crazy trading him unless someone offered you a first round pick. He is 22 with virtually one pre-season under him, 196cm, agile, a great contested mark and the potential for growth is enormous. The scope for development in Martin is hard to measure in value, and even though we might be lucky with our plethora of defenders now, injuries happen, form drops, and keep in mind that Warnock and Rivers are both 25, and Rivers has a long history of injuries. You trade surplus players if you have a few who are all the same, but Martin is the only truly big defender capable of playing on someone like a resting ruckman, he is the only one who can potentially develop into a secondary ruckman himself, he is one of the few talls who can be played both down back and up forward if given time to learn. Of course if a club came to you said and "we'll give you pick 18 for Martin" you would seriously consider it, but I would not be actively putting him on the table, when in reality we won't get what he is worth to us on the open market (which means you only get him upset, and the entire exercise is pointless). People forget that Martin has played as much football as Watts has, in fact, maybe even less. He never played in a proper under 18 side, he has completed one pre-season and before playing an AFL game spent probably 9 or 10 weeks learning to be a defender with Sandy. That is pretty remarkable when you think how far he has come. Think of him as a second year recruit, and not as a 22 year old. Now would you trade a KPP in his second season? No you wouldn't. To summarise, no f'ing way! Edit: Can we for once enjoy having a decent backline where the problem is having too many, as opposed to no options? Why trade them away... so we can pick up yet another small HBF/HFF? No thanks.

Nobody deserves that final spot on the bench more than Cheney, so I'm very happy that he is in. One player cannot possibly be so close to selection and miss out that many weeks in a row (particularly when he didn't deserve to get dropped). And Bailey never drops players after a single game in the seniors, particularly if they are returning from injury. Still a strong chance Bennell will play if Junior doesn't pull up. Thank god Medhurst isn't playing.

It's because Watts is almost a dead certainty to become a star and fast tracking his career is only going to help our club. Newton has done nothing at AFL level, despite numerous chances. There is no doubt that Newton's attitude is a lot better these days and his work off the ball is very good. But at the end of the day he is one of the most experienced forwards at Casey but still can't really impose himself as a key forward, and he still can't kick. He will definitely get another chance in the seniors this year, but let us never compare him to Watts. It's like comparing Scarlett to Nicholson! By the way, Newton had a chance earlier this year to really cement a spot when Robbo was out injured and Bate was struggling. He didn't. The blame lies with him, and Jack Watts has absolutely nothing to do with where he is now.

Phil Cleary really is an idiot... Phil to Brad Miller: "you're a month off your 26th birthday" *hands the microphone to Miller* Miller: "ummm yeah" It's a fact you moron, it does not require a response (nor does it have any relevance to your interview if you're not going to ask him about being dropped)! Miller only played deep in the last quarter, so no wonder he only kicked 1 until 3/4 time. He was pushing up the ground taking marks in the middle for most of the game. Going to study for exams now. I think I've procrastinated sufficiently up till now.

I just spent two minutes giving you an update and now you've decided to turn it back on?! Well it's all over Casey 17.18.120 Coburg 9.16.70

You think? He was good in the first half but has barely touched it since. Works hard off the ball, but Miller is dominating our forward 50 (he is [censored] all over Coburg now). For a 4th year KPP he should be having an influence on the score board at this level. Forgot to mention that Bartram has been good and got plenty of it, while the umps are just shocking. Some truly pathetic frees being payed to both sides. Newton just got awarded a non-goal... but he celebrated the ball bouncing off his knee after Jurrah nearly took a great mark, and sucked the goal umpire in! :D

Pfft studying <_< Nothing good happened in the third, but we're dominating the last. Miller is just way too good for this level, and has kicked 3 good long goals. Newton has disappeared. Jurrah doesn't get a lot of it but when he does, things just happen. He is a superb user of the ball. McKenzie is fantastic, continues to win the ball and Dunn is probably BOG for us. Strauss getting more of the ball and using it well. Martin playing in the backline in the second half and letting nothing past him. He is definitely more of a natural defender, but I don't get why we drop him only to give up the forward experiment at half time. Interviewed CC before, but he didn't say anything interesting. I still want to kill Phil Cleary

Yeah but how awesome was his kick to Miller?! He reminds me of Sandilands.

GET JURRAH INTO THE SENIORS! :D Martin doing well up forward, now time to start taking your chances and kicking those goals. Spencer is the single most hilarious player I have ever seen, but he is an absolute gem (and is injured for the third time this quarter )

Ricky Petterd's kicking is terrible, just terrible. Which is a shame, because he is a good player otherwise. Very good mark for his size. Great tackle from Newton, and Dunn dominating. Both seem to have found their level. McKenzie's clearance work is brilliant, and Jurrah's handball to Newton just now was pure magic.

I know, he literally bends down and places the ball on the foot. So funny. Still, it does the job and that's all that matters. He hasn't missed a target yet. Where's Valenti??

Great strength and a great handball from Martin for a Jetta goal. Spencer is clumsy but he has so much potential. His recovery after dropping that handball was impressive for someone so big.

They do actually... except the red heads! Shocking disposal all around thus far, but Jurrah's mark was impressive. What's going on with the hair though? Can someone please kill Phil Cleary? Now he is talking about swine flu and grass... oh god! Edit: show us the game and talk to people during the breaks will you. Nearly missed Jurrah's great tackle and goal!

Dunn and Newton are both in the Casey team, as is Strauss! I am guessing Cheney is the emergency for Monday, and will play if Junior doesn't come up.

I have no shadow of a doubt that Brock is captain material and I hope the club agrees. 2010 captain and beyond. Make it happen MFC!

I just bought the software too, and it is great. My laptop tends to crack the shits a lot (that's what you get for not buying a Mac), especially since I use Adobe programs regularly. But this anti-virus software doesn't seem to slow anything down, or interfere with anything. In fact, you never even notice it. Kaspersky is not seen or heard, but just seamlessly blends into the background. Now if only we can get umpires to behave in the same way

Maxwell will have a crack, and it will no doubt be behind the play because he is a pathetic snipper who thinks Josh "buttercup" Fraser is in All Australian form As for who will help protect him, I would hope anyone and everyone (except Morton, who needs to steer clear of situations where his brittle body may snap in half). I wouldn't want to have a go at Jack if Beamer, McLean, Sylvia or Jamar are around. All four could flatten someone like Maxwell in five seconds. But if you really want to protect Jack, get Whelan to play near him. A couple of skull-shattering spear tackles on Jack's opponent will do me fine! :D

He wants the BOM to say: 70% chance of JACK WATTS MAGIC 0% chance of acid rain

Where did you hear Brock's rebuttal? The media is really losing the plot lately. For Brock to even have to comment is a joke. It was a training method, Watts got mildly hurt boxing against a physically mature player. Oh no, will somebody please think of the children?!

There is no doubt they'll target him both mentally and physically (and I hope if the shoe was on the other foot that our defenders would do exactly the same). But I am sure our boys are aware of the treatment he is likely to get and I have no doubt they will protect and defend him accordingly. If he plays on the wing and pushes into the middle I'm sure Moloney, McLean and Sylvia will help him out if any Scum player decides to give him one or two bumps behind the play. If he plays up forward, well I hope Jamar is there alongside him. I would not want to mess with the Russian!