deelusions from afar

Bit harsh on Laurie - pretty sure it was his first game back after a broken jaw. Will be better for the run.

Rosman seems to get to the right spots but his kicking seems to let him down compared to most other players - If Williams and co can improve this, I think he could be a special player. Did the commentary say that Williams sees a bit of Wanganeen in Deakyn Smith? High praise. Jones has turned back the clock with his performance so far - I thought he was done but maybe he will get another crack at senior level yet.

Will be interesting next year - If Thomlinson comes back and is in similar form to early this year and we haven't locked in our forward line, would Petty be thrown forward?

Surely we'd be mad to cut either Chandler or Bedford at this point - both now showing they are too good for VFL level (when its on). An injury to Spargo, Kozzie or ANB and they would be holding a spot in the top team in the league.

Haven't seen the kid live but what I've seen in clips suggests he has lots of potential but would be a risky pickup esp if clubs are looking at him as a top 20 pick. Other than teams with multiple picks in the top 20, I can't see clubs putting all their eggs in that basket. I reckon the likes of Twomey say these sorts of things to get some clicks etc and we fall for it every time. Other than Grundy and Jackson, I can't think of many ruckmen that have gone in the top 20 in recent times. Surely Andrew would have to have a massive 2nd half of the year to make the top 20 as he looks as if he'll need a few years to put on some size before playing in the big league?

Reading between the lines with Goody's interview on the radio a bit earlier I'd say: Weid will stay - Goody mentioned something along the lines of we're starting to see what happens when we have the same players playing together in developing chemistry. Melksham is on the edge. Goody was asked whether Melksham was playing a specific role last night which explained why he wasn't involved so much. Goody said he wasn't and that he had a quiet game... and then went on to say that he had been building his performances prior to last night. Given Jordon mostly played on Langdon's wing, I'd say with Langdon back, he'll go back to the role that was largely filled by Sparrow last night. Sparrow was good last night but I think Jordon's got more runs on the board - the fact that they were able to ask him to play the wing shows he's got a bit more versatility. So I'd say Sparrow out for Langdon. If Viney is fit then Melksham might be next (can't see them dropping Harmes or Jordon)

Thought Weid was very close to being in a position to get 4-5 goals last week. Got his hands to the ball lots of times and competed strongly - he could be very close to hitting top form. Brown on the other hand looks to be a bit off the pace - if not for the covid situation it would make sense for him to get his form and fitness back at casey so that if Weid doesn't get it together he's a viable option.

Getting to 50k in the covid era is a huge achievement... obviously most due to the onfield success but also so many people that work tireless off field.

I think it's a great time to bring in a young key defender - he has the best individuals and team defenders to learn off. Also think this might be the writing on the wall for Hore and Smith - like them both as players but from memory both OOC at the end of the year?

We're having a great season (obviously) but won't put too much weight on Robbo's opinions. His interview of Rivers tonight was cringeworthy "last year you played forward a bit... how did you get to the backline" Rivers politely said he's played halfback the last four years! Robbo's team is good - but it's made up of almost exclusively dees, lions and dogs (with a couple from his own team). Very unlikely to end up like this.

I don't entirely disagree with the sentiment - I think it's a case of small tweaks each week. Mostly because injuries will happen in the second half of the year and we need the side to be able to adapt to them. An example this week was giving Harmes and Jordon important run with roles. Harmes has done it before to good effect although it was a bit of a surprise he went to Libba. We learnt some things that can be up our sleeve in big games in future. This week (assuming it goes ahead) will be interesting because Langdon is such an important player - I don't think we have anyone who can play his role. Do we fill his spot with Baker who is prob the next winger? I don't think he is really up to it (but would love to be proven wrong). Or do we go for something left field like TMac / Fritsch / Jackson or a combination? Or is there someone else that could have a go eg Bedford, Chandler, Bowey? I'm almost certain Baker will get the gig (and its safer against a good side) but will be interesting. Brisbane have great wingers so it will be a focus for us this week.

I think Narkle is more of a contested ball player than people realise - does he play on the wing?

Agree - they won't be taken seriously in those terms without premiership success. And really if they are that good (and with Max) then we should be dominating the comp. It's good to know we've got many years ahead of them playing together!

Who would have thought that at the end of the trade period last year when we just picked up BBB that we would be 9-0 and he would not be in the side... not due to injury but due to the form of TMac! Wow! Feel a bit sorry for Chandler - reckon he's a player and will offer more than Melkshem.. but clearly the coaches are hoping Melkshem can find his 2018 form. Who knows, maybe realising his spot is not safe anymore might be enough to kick him into action!

I reckon their rucks are ok (so long as they're not injured). I think if they had May it is their only missing piece.

I too have a soft spot for Smith. Yes maybe it's just natural athleticism but I think he's been unlucky - had a lot of injuries and then been rushed into the side to play roles he has not been able to train. We all could see the benefits that Thomlinson had in training for that particular role over summer. Having said that, given his injuries, I wouldn't want to see him come in unless one of our back three go down injured or Petty is found to be not up to the level (doubt that will happen). Even though I'm a fan (more of his potential than output) it will be tough at the end of the year as I think he is out of contract. Maybe they'd give him a year?

How does it work (not saying it's going to happen but more to understand the system) if Taj and our NGA prospect Mac Andrew are both rated in the 20s? I.e. no one elects to take them or nominates them in the top 20. Do we need to choose one or is it just a matter of having enough picks (points) to cover their position if another club nominates?

Somethings in the game don't change greatly no matter the rule changes. One of those things is that most teams will look for their ruckman when kicking in - as they are normally the team's biggest player and therefore as a good a chance as anyone to take a contested mark. There's exceptions of course as for some ruckmen, contested marking isn't a big feature of their game (Grundy, Nik Nat etc). But we have the best in the game and so we kick Max's side EVERY TIME. We can be predictable because he is that good. Now that we have TMac, Weid and Brown in the team, we have some serious aerial options - and there's been a number of times in recent weeks where the focus has been on Max only to allow one of the others to chop in and take them mark. The other added benefit is that if teams traditionally kick to their ruckman, then they're likely to be kicking it in max's vicinity which is dangerous! So they either try that or have to come up with a new strategy when they play us.

I don't follow it closely but would have thought there would be a few teams looking to pickup players who did not get a lookin in last years's draft due to lack of exposed form in the covid year who are now showing they should have been drafted?

I agree - Would like to see Chandler get another run at it. Seemed a bit unlucky. Also think another week of the three headed monster up forward wouldn't be a terrible thing - this stuff is never going to click straight away.

I thought the same for a while but I feel like the way the players and coaches talk, Brayshaw won't be going anywhere. I think they've asked him to play a specific role and he is doing it. If he wasn't happy or the club wasn't happy there would have been opportunities at the end of last year. The only way I see this changing is if they are forced to play TMac further up the ground (eg the wing) when Jacko comes back and Brayshaw loses his spot. It's not inconceivable given TMac got many of his possessions in the back half last week. Although I expect they would want to do this sooner than later if they do it at all.

Trying to get my head around why this thread has popped up again. Storm are building a base in Broadmeadows. I assume they are not moving there but it's their version of having a Casey Fields of their own in the North? Would love to see us sort out our home base situation - but in the meantime I feel like the Casey situation isn't terrible. I don't think it's a coincidence that our team defence is through the roof when (for the first time) we've been able to train all preseason on a ground that is MCG size.

In terms of the football implications of this, it's very interesting. Tigers now have Cotchin, Prestia, Lambert, Edwards, Bolton from their midfield for at least this week and probably the next week. That would be something like us missing Viney, Oliver, Harmes, Brayshaw and Kozzie. Would be tough to win games like that. Although they have Dusty - his unaccountable style won't help much if they can't win the ball! They play GWS and Brisbane the next two weeks. I can't see them getting it done without their midfield. Still think they will be tough to beat in September if all their players come back but this will make things much harder for them if they're 4-6 after round 10!

I might be in the minority here but I feel like Salem hasn't improved greatly this year - I just feel like he has a better team around him so what he does comes off more / gets noticed. I feel like Salem has been doing what he is doing now for years and has been criminally underrated.

Not defending Kane but I'm not a fan of the long term contracts. In this case I think it's probably ok because right now it builds stability and adds to the good news story snowball for us and he's (reportedly) being paid much less than other clubs would be prepared to pay him. Having him locked away for life does so much for membership, for being a destination club and to put to bed the rumours that would otherwise have plagued Melbourne and Petracca his whole career. But that's probably my Melbourne Bias talking. Other than Dusty, there's not too many 7+ year deals that have worked for the club and plenty of them that have gone the other way (or at least so far) e.g. Grundy, Kelly etc. Hope to the (Demon) Gods that it works out for us / him.