Demon Dynasty

That was a 100 point thrashing of a very poor Tiger team. He was given the ball on a platter a few times and kicked some lovely goals from various angles and a couple were from distance with the breeze. However, for all matches prior till then, he was horribly out of form and looked lost in his first Casey game against a much more competitive and serious VFL team in the Giants. We needed to see how he went over a decent body of work against a few other reasonable or better VFL teams before deciding to bring him back. Even some ppl close to him admitted that he was a mile off it and in bad form. But the fact that the Coach & FD couldn't see that and pulled the trigger too soon is on them. I hope he turns it around but the chopping and changing of out-of-form players that don't really find true form at Casey and then are brought straight back in, only to be clobbered again at AFL level, is again, all on the coaches and the SC. SHIITEHOUSE player management imv.

Yes to Laurie but only as a short term sub for Kolt and only if he performs on match day. Otherwise back he goes. There is no one on the present list that stands out as a 'knocking on the door' option for that 23rd spot. Was hoping it might be Brown dog but he doesn't appear to be coming on either (to date anyway....shows glimpses). Didn't see any of the Casey game today though but sounds like most were pretty average.

We also need a quality mid who can use the ball better coming inside and occasionally drift forward for the odd goal. Which we might have found in Langers although most likely will need a few more pre-seasons to be a consistent impact player here. Great start though. But we'll also then need to replace Vines & Sparrow. Sparrow is too slow and has no other weapons except defensive effort. And no, Rivers aint gonna make it as a mid i'm afraid. He needs to see the ball in front of him and plays so much better as a HBer. Then there's the Maximus factor OD. He just isn't replaceable so we'll just have to aim for someone reasonable. And that aint coming from Casey either with Verral another bust alongside Jeffo. We are at least a mini rebuild of significant proportions away from fixing the forward woes and the above. I'm thinking around 3 to 5 seasons plus a new forward line coach. And who knows who else will still be there from the present FD by then.

Simon is not smart enough at selection. JVR, Jeffo and Fritta all horribly out of form yet plays all three. The one dangerous tall that performed last week he moves down back for Petty. Another zero goal game from Spargo and pretty sure same for Chandler. When the heat comes on and we're struggling the only small forward that stands up (when he's playing as a small forward) is Koz and he's probably gone at years end. Kolt & Jeffo aren't ready for AFL and Jeffo is barely VFL level at this point.

Dogs plus umpire blitz by the sounds of it

✅️ Kolt on for Jeffo ✅️ Swap Turner & JVR

Adams for Jeffo = Turner forward Massive SC blunder

First half....The Hawks were ordinary but we were worse forward of centre. Bar Langers & Koz our kicking at goal would have to go down as some of the worst you could ever wish to see from any team to have ever played the game.

Warple constantly running off Fritta as soon as the turnover comes. Fritta nowhere in sight. Giving them an extra number / outlet on occasions Not sure if that's the team defence instruction or not

Spargs can't kick over a jam jar

Same old forward woes Robbing Peter to pay Paul with Turner down back and Scicily on Spargo. That we have players actually looking for Spargo coming inside is laughable. Adams for Petty was a massive blunder. And now no Turner forward

Melksham is a huge out. He's our best ball user bringing the ball into 50. And by a long way. Adams should have been brought in to cover Petty to keep Turner forward. With Jeffo in i'm assuming we lose Turner who'll be covering for Petty down back? While Turner will be fine in that position, not having him play mostly forward is a big win for the Hawks.

The Petty one is strange. I would have thought Adams in (not Jeffo) and do everything in your power to keep Turner forward playing as second string alongside JVR. Jeffo did absolute didly squat in Casey's last massacre and we need to find a solid structure up forward & convert to post a potential winning score.

It does seem like a weird call but i would guess if he was right to go he'd be playing Poita. Could be the knee gash has arced up or maybe a hammy / other soft tissue niggle that they don't wanna risk this week. Playing the long game?

The pile on is (was?) quite incredible from so many journos 58. Although surprisingly Morris did back it off a little last week. That's a first. However, most still manage to bring it up somewhere in their general narrative. Even if it's an update to say "nothing to see here". If the filth were doing this 'managed' scenario with DeGoey the media would be falling over themselves to applaud fly and the club and what a great job they're doing managing their playing group. Cutting edge etc!

I'm not saying take him out of the mid entirely. Just shift his split between mid / forward a little more to the forward side to compensate. He seems to play his best footy and impacts the most when not playing super heavy mid minutes anyway a la his stellar BOG against Flagmantle.

Which allows Koz to play more time forward. In the past (when playing significantly more minutes forward) he has been our best F50 pressure player.

Spazz?

Well with those two out our chances of winning just dropped substantially imv

Hey Uncle B. Long time no see (in other threads). Was wondering how you were fairing. What a small world. I hope you told his granny that she just met one of the most legendary characters on DL! P.S. where the hec is Lancefield?

As an aside... where is Steve?

According to Hoyne of C.D. they are rated the worst post clearance contested possession team in the comp. Let's hope they don't change their style. Working a treat.

And then can't handle the blow back when Greeny gives em' a serve. Poor things

Team & Player Ratings to Rnd 8, 2025 vs H&A Season 2024 Big Max takes over the No.1 spot from an absent Clazz. Tracc breaks into the top 5 for the first time in 2025 but still a bit of work ahead if he wants to catch Bowey. Maysie dropping away in his last few matches. Zero contested stats vs the Eagles! An indication that he's struggling with the foot and/or other problems? Sparrow & Koz dropping away somewhat from their early form in the last few matches. Turner steps up and is now ranked as our highest rated tall forward in 2025 and by a fair margin. Vines, Spargo and Windsor climbing back towards their 2023 / 24 form. Need to get Maysie and Koz up and about again. Hopefully Clazz back in this week and Lever not too far away either... * Played less than two full matches < Subbed out at least once or more > Subbed in at least once or more Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com