Diamond_Jim

The second quarter was worrying but lets remember they kicked 5:3 in the first quarter as well. Our system (which is much bigger than our defence ) leaks goals. In the second half we tightened up but the Cat's inaccuracy did hide that we could have been easily scored against. If we are going to play this game plan it is relatively clear that we need to score heavily to win. That probably means around 120 points. Do we have the forward structure to regularly kick 18 goals 12 or thereabouts? If not we need to restructure our defensive system.

Won't happen but I would like Australia to stand out of international cricket for the year. The way we play cricket is toxic and a circuit breaker is required. To argue that everyone does it and that we are just taking the rules to their limits etc etc is just not good enough. As to those directly involved I hate to say it but two year suspensions are in order. That is light.

agree with everything you say Nasher but I don't see Brayshaw as fringe .... when on song he can be top 15 if not better

These guys are obviously taught to run certain patterns into the forward line and if we get our delivery right the two of them have the potential to cut defences to pieces. Up to the mids to learn how to deliver the ball to the advantage of these two guys.

No VFL matches makes it hard for Spargo to get a gig (one practice game I think ?). I think we could do worse than consider Bugg for someone ... perhaps Hannan Brayshaw has to come in. Frost is seeming to have his papers marked like Dunn and Garland before him.

Goodwin is not often challenged on this board but questions have been asked. So far he seems to be repeating his errors which for a coach is not good. We lost today first because of Geelong scoring easy goals on the rebound. Nothing new but that's a coaching error. Secondly our forward delivery was haphazard... okay to be quick but just banging it in so it can be rebounded is again bad coaching. Let's face it there haven't been too many games won by Goodwin's tactical genius.

That game was lost by the coaching staff in so many ways.

Geelong today were way off the best in the league

Well done to the AFL but we know that it is fundamentally dependent upon the TV deal. There are only so many times you can go to that well.

Thanks for that Cards... could not help noticing another article on that feed about Collingwood: "Collingwood has overtaken the Sydney Swans as the biggest sponsorship earner among the top sports clubs, with revenue of $18.9 million in 2017, a year in which all but four AFL clubs increased sponsorship revenue." https://www.sponsorshipnews.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?R=1&act=2&stream=1-3-1&selkey=46940&hlc=2&hlw=

Shaping up as one of those season defining games... A few months ago most of us would have written the Dees off in this one but not now. Bit worried that we are all suffering from PSO (pre season optimism) but go Dees. Fritsch's marking ability is first class ... will be interesting to see how Geelong man up on him

no... you miss the point Both last year and this we have suffered key injuries which should have given a chance to several fringe players. No one was expecting him to star either last year or this but the fact that he is not considered capable of filling a short term gap is as Dr G just said ... "underwhelming". And don't say he isn't getting a run this time because he lacked a pre-season. He wouldn't have been considered anyway. Lists require analysis and this is what we are entitled to do as followers of the team. Just accepting the mediocrity of the last fifty years got us to where we are. By the way good luck to the young man and we all hope he makes it.

boy ,,, what else would you expect from Goodwin. Don't tell me.... "he's on track"

As an aside I hope the MFC have taken multiple video examples of Ollie's handballing skills and had them cleared at AFL house. Those calls last night worry me as it did others.

Petracca and Oliver have the goods to be around the club for the next 15 years. If Hogan develops into a gun CHF dare I say they are three you can build a dynasty around. We have not had those types of players for so long I cannot recall the last elite player we had. At present it is all potential but they do give us oldies reason to dream.

The pressure on Weid perhaps comes about because he was a number 9 pick. At that level the player is expected to contribute to the senior team within a year. This includes talls. Look at Moore and Daniher. Similarly look at the pressure on McCartin. If he had been a pick 40 development player the debate today would have a different tone. Football has changed and the need to get a player from a team's first round pick is essential. I haven't written him off but this is the year where we need to see repeated signs. As an aside longer term you have to wonder if he has a role to play in the modern game even if he develops in the classic FF mode. That role seems to be going the same way as the ruckman

He needs to show this at VFL level let alone AFL level. The fact is he had one decent game for Casey last year ... Even the great Juice Newton killed it at VFL level. Unfortunately yes Dr G ... and we all want him to succeed. Finally I will make the point again that the shortened VFL season means Weid misses 3 games in which he might show development.

The boat left a long time ago on the Curnow v Weid comparisons. The only remaining quetion re the Weid is whether he will make it at all. Boy ... if we can't have Friday nights we have to get some Thursday exposure... these games will continue to grow

Maynard, Frost and Wagner out. Bugg also perhaps unlucky but he needs to repeatedly nail goals to justify his inclusion

Interesting comments by Balme on 3AW on their game plan. He agrees it was the absence of talls that drives their game plan and it revolves around bringing the ball to ground at all times. In the finals last year they were good at score conversion off the packs just like the Dogs in 2016 (Toiges were even better). Will be intersting to see what teams especailly the power marking sides like GWS and Adelaide do to challenge the game plan.

Wonderful news ... with him and Petracca ... players you can build a team around for the next decade Go Dees

A magic night for footy... wouldn't it be great if the game was between two decent sides. Funnily enough there are many Carlton diehards who think they can win judging by SEN. Carlton kept themselves in many games last year by playing completely defensive football. Will be interesting to see their game plan for 2018. Richmond by 40 easing down and Winx tomorrow ... there's sure to be a double on one of the betting agencies.

this is going to be a long year !!

This is where the ridiculous delayed start of the VFL begins to hurt. MFC seniors have completed round 3 before the first Casey VFL game begins.

Like others this really xxxxxes me off. My distress is more about the absence of T Mac. I had resigned myself to the long absence of Viney some weeks ago. For a few years people have been talking about the need to trade for a decent back up KPP who can play ruck. We are now one injury away from being in that position again. Love him or hate him Watts was not a useless pinch ruckman. The Weid needs another year at Casey to show if he has the goods. Pederson might do it once again but who knows. T Mac last week was a slight toe problem and should be fine for Round 1 or 2. Now its Round 8. At the bye our season will be over if we don't turn at 7-4 or better. Strangely enough I am less concerned about the loss of T Mac as a forward than I am at the loss of our back up ruckman.