rjay

I think we will see a change 'Leoncelli'...I just hope they don't take the easy way and make it a Gawn/Viney co captain situation. It's Max time...sole captain. Make the hard call club...

Maybe some players think it but I doubt it is the reality. I just think handing him the captaincy was very poor judgement on Goodwin's behalf. My opinion here from observation & 2nd hand information is that he is extremely focussed & a lot of players don't relate to that. He may not have the emotional IQ that good leaders need.

He's been playing like it 'dazzle', that and the continued whinging to the umpires. He's got a big AA head after last year... I don't blame him, how can he be playing ruck. At least he gave a f....

Take him off at half time and straight into surgery. Seriously, I hope he doesn't miss any preseason...

We hear the word culture thrown around a lot in football circles. This club has a great culture, this club doesn't, this is a real culture changer. I've probably been guilty in using it myself in these terms. I reality, well my reality at least football is a big part of my culture, I like many grew up with it, played it and love it. Culture is the game itself and it's place in society - it's kicking the ball on the street for hours on end with your mates. - it's playing kick to kick at school during lunch breaks with 20 up each end and everyone trying to take a hanger. - it's community footy, playing with your mates at the local club. - it's watching your heroes in the big league and if your lucky and talented enough it's getting to play there yourself. - it's the stories of past glory; at any level these stories exist not just the big league. Go to any past players event at any club and the history is so rich. - it's the mates you make along the way, lifetime friendships. - it's standing in the rain, it's playing in the mud. It's sometimes hard to explain to others but for many it brings our country together. Australian rules is such a unique game, it's our game and we all experience it in our own way. Seeing the film clip attached today really brought it home to me. Look at the joy these men experience in running out to play the game on foreign soil, some never to play again. Please excuse my indulgence... Cheers, Rjay

Bedford, Bradtke & Jordon the only ones left at Casey yet to get the call up... The cupboard really is bare 'Pennant'. A lot complaining about selection & for the life of me the in's don't make a lot of sense. That is until you look at who's available.

You are misreading me by a long way if you think I believe injury was our issue this year. I think it's one issue. I think the list balance and coaching has been as big if not more an issue. These things can be fixed, and hopefully will be. Fitter list, better balanced list and a more experienced coach with back up of a good FD... The foundation is there.

As of this day they are. I still think we're better placed next year, dependent of course on injury, the coach and the draft/trade period. We still have the good foundations of a list.

Bolton made the mistake of coaching for the future...and he forgot about the now. He fell for the party line. Don't listen to the board, they will stab you in the back when it suits their purpose. In the end it's all about winning games. Teague came in with no expectations and put players in their best positions, to hell with development. The biggest example was Curnow senior who was played as a permanent forward this year under Bolton. Teague put him straight back in as a tagger, which is where he excels. ...and surprise, Carlton started to win some games.

I can't see it but hey, good luck to the kid. Maybe we're just trying to see if we have any small forwards that will offer something at AFL level before the draft/trade period. ...but me, I would be looking for at least 2 from other clubs and not the also rans. Targeted offers.

Said this mid year and a couple agreed, most couldn't see it. This was around the time of the Bolton sacking... They are well placed and now they seem to have the right coach. ...so of course they will rise up the ladder, they've already started.

I am one of Viney's biggest critics. My criticism is based on what I see is him trying to do too much at times when he should be bringing teammates into the game, not getting in the way, clearing space, understanding his limitations. I don't think he should have been made captain and said so at the time. I believe he should step down and concentrate on his game. However, you would think he can't play, doesn't deserve to be on the list, the worst player to pull on a boot for the club....etc...if you read a lot of the posts on this thread. Jack can play, he's obviously hampered by injury and that's effecting his game. If we can get Jack fit, harness his ferocity at the ball, get him to play as part of a team and use him in bursts then he will be a valuable team member. Currently I think Goody and the FD are not helping him by not using his strengths...they also didn't seem to learn from the errors made with the other Jack (Trengove), let's hope it's not too late.

You're pushing it a bit here 'picket'... O'Loughlin was a sublime, natural footballer who knew where to find the ball, Lefua is raw prospect who still struggles to find it. Lefua has some great athletic attributes but I'm not sure he will be anything more than a VFL level player.

I would back May personally... Much better player and one on one defender.

No more Wagners 'dexter', please...

I find this the most interesting part of the story... "Josh Mahoney is conducting a review, sources linked to Melbourne confident the highly regarded football manager is sufficiently independent to identify the issues and make tough decisions." How can he be sufficiently independent, he runs the department he's reviewing? What if he's the issue? Anyway, I sure hope we get this right...couldn't stand another season of irrelevance finishing early again.

Jennings wants to be a senior coach some day... The word has been he would leave at the end of this year. It makes sense for him career wise to take on a senior VFL job. I wouldn't read any more into it than this. Of course with the year we're having many will read too much into his departure.

Good to remind the AFL so we can get a priority pick...

Nice premise for a book but not the answer. There are a myriad of things that bring us to where we are now. I would think choice of captain is a fair way down that list.

He struggles to get a kick at Casey, what makes you think things would change in the AFL?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder... Roos, last game v Geelong. Geelong 24:11 Melbourne 6:8 Roos did his job, it was time to move on. If he did his job well then he picked the right successor...

Get's a game at any club...A- to A

I think sometimes the talk of culture is overblown...and can be used as an excuse. In the end winning is everything. If Watts went when it was his turn & played consistent football then I think he would still be at the club.

Why do we keep blaming Neeld for this? It might have been Viney...Jack was certainly in the Toumpas camp. ...but whatever, I would love to know the true story on it and not the Neeld narrative that is continually thrown around here.

Not many of them want to put their body in line with the ball. In the first half when conditions were tough they would put a hand out and the Hawks ran in straight lines. It was some of their stars like Cameron & particularly Whitfield that were the biggest culprits. Surprisingly I would also add Mumford to the list, not committing himself at the contest. He's playing for his super and very little else...tip toeing around like a baby elephant. Davis, Hayne, Shaw & Green the only ones having a go.