rjay

I believe Howe left because he didn't feel wanted. He wasn't in our long term plans.

Makes 2 of us 'Jim'

Nothing ever gets announced at Tennis time... If he has signed on the big announcement will happen when the footy kicks into gear from next week on.

I was thinking this earlier 'Jim' ...but my thoughts went to Kyrgios and Jakovich. Both prodigious talents, freakish in fact. ...both entertainers.

I'm a big Stan fan as well 'picket'... I think the list is great but I would have him at a minimum heading up this group.

I think that narrative was for the supporters. I'm not sure it was the real driver for the players even though it was mentioned... The prelim loss to the Eagles and missing finals in 2020 would have been bigger drivers for this group. Now they know how good they are they should be up & about again...

Duryea was a 5th round selection...at that pick you are a development/spec pick. JVR will come in as you say when and if ready, but as a first round pick if he doesn't get a game in his first 3 years he's more likely to be a bust. I trust that won't be the case.

Yep, that's my thinking. I remember in the dark days when we recruited Lucas Cook. In one of his first interviews he talked of playing at Casey, developing his game. It seemed like he did assume it was some kind of passive process. There was no aspiration...I really worried about him from then on. As you say our approach has changed significantly since those days in drafting and development. He did have the skill set... ...and coming into a backline with Lever, May and Salem was also a huge advantage. The lessons he would have received from them are priceless, not to mention playing against the best...these are the things you don't get at Casey.

So you don't think he should aspire to play round 1. I'm not saying he will or he will even be looked at but surely he should be doing all in his power to play round 1. He's got to want it...that's all I'm saying. Maybe I didn't express myself correctly.

I understand what you are saying. My point is that he is not a development player...he is a player that is in development (as are all players) but expected to be a senior player going forward. When is the question as you rightly point out. ...but it's important for him to be pushing for senior selection from day one. The best development he can have is playing senior footy not at Casey. If you get stuck developing at Casey you end up out of the system sooner or later.

Nup...there was always a lot of upside in both Pickett and Jackson for sure and there still is, but they were expected to play early on and did. They were not picked as "development" players. Weid I reckon backs up my position...he hasn't wanted it enough and has spent way to much time in "development"...

I wouldn't discount it either. Taylor took him with our first round pick, we don't use that pick for development players. I trust his acumen over some knightmare. I hope JVR is pushing for it...really pushing for it. He must have the competitive spirit to say stuff that, I didn't come here to play at Casey... If he's waiting to be developed then we got the wrong man.

Looks like it had an effect on our AFLW team last weekend. I was wondering what happened to Goldrick and McNamara... Four of the six players who were unavailable under the AFL's Health and Safety Protocols will return to training and will be available for selection in the side's Round 2 match against Richmond.

I don't care anymore...it's old news. We won the 2021 Premiership. Onward we go...but I think I might have a look at the 3rd Q again tonight.

It used to be that a ground needed 12 months to settle after being re surfaced. That would mean we are not on it until May 2023. New technology might have improved the settling time but I still couldn't see it being used this year apart from community dog walking perhaps...

I think our approach from here on will have everything to do with the hospital numbers, not that it hasn't in the past. If they keep going up then we will have more restrictions and maybe go back into lockdown as a circuit breaker. I can't see how no singing is going to have a huge effect...

Did she head home for Christmas? Only that or injury would see her out in my humble opinion.

I wonder, who knows what will happen by the time the season starts. Maybe the virus will die down, maybe we won't require the amount of isolation we have now and players can play if healthy. I guess we carry on as we are, there is some inherent flexibility in this team anyway.

Sometimes KB has a way with words... Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player ever. Forget Laver, Agassi ,Federer,Sampras,Nadal,McEnroe,Connors and Borg for Novak has won 20 Grand Slams and 87 titles and a billion dollars without us knowing he had a debilitating medical problem.We have been taken for fools. Kb — Kevin Bartlett (@KevinBartlett29) January 4, 2022

Controversial with Watts....

I sure hope you are right 'DubDee'...it's been a hard few years for all of us.

No, but some countries have had significant infection/reinfection rates...South Africa I think is one.

Herd immunity has so far been a furphy with this virus....so I wouldn't be counting on it.

I believe it has been endlessly politicised by the politicians. It would have been great to have true leadership at this point in time rather than an eye at all times on the polls but I guess we make do with what we have.

You would have to think that with the increase in numbers we will get an increase in hospital admissions and this has been the case in NSW. I don't understand why you think they are flatlining. Maybe as a % but if we keep getting these increases then the hospital system is going to struggle particularly with staff already exhausted. If those beds are taken then it means no spots available for people with other issues.