poita

People overstate the value of ruckmen. Gawn is the exception because of his marking ability both forward and back, but he is a one in a generation type of player. We're not going to be able to replace him when he finishes up, but hopefully we can squeeze an extra year or two out of him by being sensible with how we use him. All we need is someone in the Darcy Cameron mould who can crash in hard at centre bounces and have some sort of presence around the ground. If Meek can play that role, I would gladly bring him in (with or without Jackson).

Yes. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1166931/vfl-stars-in-for-friday-night-footy

In contrast, I'm not sure that we held up Geelong on any of their kick outs last night. They seemed to be able to stroll to 40 metres without any pressure and then hit up a target near the centre.

Jackson is a good prospect, but nothing more at this stage. If the asking price is any more than $500K per season, then let him go. Unfortunately we are not in a strong bargaining position. We'll be lucky to walk away with a top 10 pick and a developing ruck / KPP. We definitely need to find a key forward in the trade period though and a backup ruck.

Playing a forward line of midgets against a team like Geelong was just plain dumb, but it didn't help that Spargo, Sparrow, Bedford and (for a half a game) Pickett were determined to position themselves in the least dangerous spots possible. We are forced into bombing the ball long down the line because our half forwards don't work hard enough to find space and make themselves a genuine option. It shouldn't be Brown's job to contesting the football in a pack situation eighty metres from goal, but it is forced upon him by our cruddy game plan and his lazy teammates. I'm glad to see that most people have finally woken up and realised that McDonald's work rate and selflessness were the best things about our forward line. He doesn't have to get a lot of the football, or kick a lot of goals, when he is creating opportunities for others. It is Weideman's inability to provide this skill set that costs him a regular game. That said, he would have been a better target last night than either ruckman. If we're not willing to play another tall, the next best option has to be a mid sized player who can lead and mark. Hunt is clearly an option, and possibly Melksham if he can ever regain his 2018 form.

In: Hunt, Rivers, Dunstan, Weideman / Van Rooyen. Out: Salem, Bowey, Sparrow, Bedford.

Really ordinary performance from start to finish, very disappointing. Final margin 28 points, but could have been 60+ if Geelong had kicked straight. Full credit to Geelong, they have improved their team since last year by bringing in new players and redeploying others, and their game plan is much improved. Meanwhile we persist with the same, tired old plan that has been worked out by every club in the competition. Further, we continue to gift games to players who are either carrying injuries or underdone, or horribly out of form. If I didn't know better I would have assumed that our game plan in the first half was to have chains of handpasses going sideways and backwards until Viney or Harmes tried to run through a wall of opponents and were caught holding the ball. After half time the only tactic seemed to be bombing the ball down the line to a pack of players where we were horribly outnumbered. On the rare occasions that we moved the ball quickly through the middle we looked quite dangerous. May - contained Hawkins reasonably well, but was fumbly, indecisive and erratic in possession. A poor game overall. Salem - has given nothing defensively or otherwise since his return. I would drop to Casey to find form. Hunt or Rivers would give more. Harmes / Viney / Neal Bullen - A for effort, but F for execution. Please take the first option and, if in doubt, clear the area instead of taking on the tackler. Jackson / Gawn - Jackson shouldn't have played, gave absolutely nothing. Gawn only marginally better. Weideman would have contributed more. Bedford - nowhere near AFL standard unless he has acres of space to operate in. Happy to delist at year end. Spargo - playing far too wide and too far from goal (again). Rarely accountable defensively. Sparrow - not sure what he is contributing at present, exceptionally poor. Any number of Casey players could replace. Langdon - showed no respect to Holmes, and allowed himself to be hemmed in against the boundary the entire game. Jordon - season worst game, and the sooner we replace him on the wing with Brayshaw, the better. I'll give a bare pass mark to Oliver, Petracca, Petty, Lever and Hibberd, but overall a very poor team and coaching performance.

Any indication given as to whether he will stay on the rookie list for another year? I'm assuming we won't have a huge number of available spots on the main list unless there is an exodus at year end.

I can't believe this competition is still a 10 week season. Don't pretend that you are providing a serious, professional competition when teams are only playing 50% of the other teams each year. Why do we only have four home games, and just one in the first six weeks? How is that fair? Late Sunday afternoon games at Casey Fields are going to reduce crowds significantly as well. It would be really nice to go to Adelaide in round 1 and get the win, otherwise the Crows become a very big hurdle for us to jump as the losing streak continues.

This has been an amazing trade / draft period for the club. To keep the core of this list together when so many other teams have been significantly affected is huge. Colvin is a big loss, but we have 3 clear best 21 players coming in to replace her. Well done to all involved. If we can keep our better players on the field, another big year awaits.

Gary Pert indicated last night that we will be using Gosch's from next week. And also that an announcement on a permanent base is getting very close.

Our first three possessions coming out of defence are generally 15 metre sideways kicks in recent works, so the forwards are completely out of position by the time we are forced to kick long. If the likes of Salem and Lever take some responsibility initially we will be able to kick to a leading forward one out.

So then I would spend an hour plus each way getting to the game, for less playing time? Can't imagine that is too attractive to many people, unless entry costs are being proportionately reduced.

Disappointing that Eliza West and others have been pulled from the Casey side. It basically ensures that a team that has been very strong all season will be noncompetitive in the most important games of the season.

https://www.womens.afl/news/95003?_ga=2.230637020.1198275071.1655425182-2066107958.1654472609

I think so too. Jordon has been okay on the wing, but Brayshaw's ball movement is generally much better.

Facial fracture I believe.

Not fit enough, carrying injuries/illness, or not working hard enough? I suspect all are applicable to certain individuals. I'd be interested to know how much ground Langdon has covered in the past fortnight compared with the first 9 rounds. Petracca the first 10 weeks vs the last three. Sparrow, Jackson and Pickett before and after their Covid break. It seems that being able to do the work required by this game plan is dependant on being at or near 100% fitness.

Jackson's averaging under 2.5 marks a game over the past eight weeks, and I haven't seen him impact a centre bounce in the past fortnight. He's young with some excellent characteristics, but he'll never be a key forward or a no.1 ruckman. If we can get away with paying him $500K a season for the next three years while he reaches his potential, that's great. If his price is $800K, I'd rather go and get the next Nankervis for half the price and go looking for a key forward prospect in the draft.

Spargo and Neal-Bullen have to be at 70%+ goalkicking accuracy given their roles. Neal-Bullen's inaccuracy is a real concern given where he is taking shots from. His workrate is still excellent, and I'm sure this is why he is still in the team. Spargo is playing far too wide and is getting lost on the HFF. He needs to be more central so that he can deliver the ball inside 50 to a wider area. He is also letting his opponents be used far too often coming out of defence. Pickett needs to spend way more time at the feet of Ben Brown. He is spending a lot of time where the ball isn't at present. I couldn't tell you what Sparrow's role is other than to delay the movement of the ball into the forward 50. He needs a lengthy spell at Casey to recalibrate.

In: May, Tomlinson, Hunt, Rivers, Dunstan, Weideman (ugh), man on man defending Out: Turner, Lever, Bowey, Sparrow, Spargo, M.Brown, zone defence Happy for Petracca to spend time forward to allow Dunstan to play midfield. Hunt also to spend time forward. Brayshaw back on the wing. I'd be tempted to let Weideman do some ruck work early to get him into the game.

Salem and Langdon are clearly underdone and can't run. Gawn has been carrying injuries since before the West Coast game. Petty has been carrying injuries for weeks as well. Petracca has been well down since being sick prior to the Freo game. The young kids are looking tired and beaten up. How much more evidence do we need that we can't keep carrying players who aren't anywhere near full fitness?

It's amazing how quickly things turn to [censored] as soon as Goodwin signs a new contract. First 2019, now 2022. Sure he can't run around and kick the ball for the players, but he has presided over the declining standards over the past two months, played unfit and out of form players, and failed to accept the need to change a game plan that has been worked out by every other team. Failing to rest players through rounds 9 and 10 was a horrible, horrible error of judgement. Did it matter if we beat North by 5 or 8 goals, if we were in a better position through rounds 11 - 13? I'm amazed that so many people are fixated on us are giving up quarter time leads. In recent weeks we have had 1.6, 1.5 and 0.5 kicked against us in the first quarter. If those teams had kicked straight we would have deservedly trailed on each occasion. We've plain and simply been poor for the entirety of the past three weeks. The first player I would drop is Lever. He offers no leadership, can't / won't defend his opponent, and offers nothing with ball in hand. He spends more time lying on the ground than standing next to his man. He is playing like 2019 Lever with the arrogance of someone who thinks he is untouchable because he was good in 2021. Playing Turner was the equivalent of playing Petty in 2018 - you're just hoping to fast track a player who simply isn't ready. I'm sick of players such as Sparrow, Spargo and Salem who hold the ball up for 10-15 seconds looking for the perfect kick, then dink a 15 metre kick sideways. Take responsibility yourself instead of lumping it on your teammate. By the time we are finally ready to go down the line all our forwards have led and are out of position, and the opposition have flooded back. No wonder we end up turning it over. Sparrow, Spargo, Bowey, Jackson all need a rest. Petty and Gawn injured. Langdon and Salem underdone. Harmes, Neal-Bullen, Lever MIA. Forward line abysmal. We're in a world of trouble. At the moment we look more likely to miss the 8 rather than finish top 4. Goodwin and the supposed leaders of the club have ten days to turn around this sinking ship.

I'd say this sounds like a plotline from Dumb and Dumber, but I have the feeling that there is more to play out here and that we'll be crowning someone Dumbest of all the Dumb Dumbs by the end of the week.

Absolutely disgraceful comment by May if true, and on the back of the terrible decision to drink while under concussion protocols. He clearly has issues with alcohol, and if he is serious about getting the most out of the remainder of his football career, should give up drinking during the season. Violence is never the answer, and should be punished as well, but I can certainly understand why Melksham would be upset by the comment. Nevertheless it's an awful example for him to set for his kids.