Older demon

Just a note on Nick Larkey he was taken at pick 73, I repeat pick 73 in 2016. Go back and look at our 2016 trades, Lewis, Hibbo, Hannah at 46 Pat McKenna Later on then Dion Johnstone at 64 all before Larkey at pick 73. There is a lot of luck involved and hindsight is a beautiful thing. Larkey is also on record as saying he will stay a Rood for life not interested in free agency etc

A friend asked me the same question about our list last night. In my opinion, our list is pretty good but the one player we lack is a Pendlebury clone. He is always composed, moves through traffic hits targets and directs traffic. Consider playing up forward to Pendlebury's delivery. He doesn't bomb it on your head to the left-hand pocket. He kicks it so that it draws the forward to the ball. He is also a ball carrier running off half-back and hitting targets. Last week we dropped intersect marks and couldn't hit a target coming off half-back turning the ball over continually. Not a list problem but who on the list can rise to this role?

Welcome back to the cold Luci!

I spoke with an insider Saturday at lunch. Clarrie has a strain not a tear. We compared notes too in our day and it has all changed. Rehab starts with immediate exercise gradually increasing the load till certain goals are achieved, remember he didn't tear the muscle. The downside is it is less predictable when he will have rehabbed to the point where they let him play. Thanks, Kev for the update. Did Schache train with the defenders? I suspect Hibbo due for a rest and an extra tall down back to mimic Petty. With De Koening playing as third tall Tomlinson or Schache will be needed to support May and Lever (the latter who cannot hold onto his marks atm)

There is some truth to this from what I see, and some of our selfless attitude has faded. Selfish play today cost us, twice in a marking contest close to goal when 2 players went for the same ball and spoilt each other. Happy to point downfield and get someone else to cover a free player than do the gut running to cover. Freo showed us up with their transfer and side run. Poor finishing in front of goal killed us, how many out on the full did we kick and sometimes we had to stop and wait because we didn't gut run to make the play. Dropped marks in critical spots and times also crueller us. It is a team game and whilst some individuals are out of form the whole collective is not doin the team thing IMO

Must be a slow news week if that is the best Ralph can come up with. Another half a season to go and I wouldn't be selling the Farm for Reid. Elite foot skilled outside run midfielder and more talls. Only 2 ruckman on the list and 2 key forwards in their declining years

😆 and of course you must have dainty little feet, Cinderella and her golden slipper. Hope your foot gets better soon.

A clue the culprit has a big hoof

Dear WCW sorry to hear your foot is still troubling you. Interesting Combo as the cause surely it was the sandals. Are you still in rehab and on a no alcohol diet (asking for a friend).

I suspect today is just a stretch and skills set. If they break into groups it would be interesting to see who from Casey is in the seniors group. Thanks

A very good point. One of the things lost since pre-season is how the club have been planning for this season. As a result of the post-season review last year each player has been prepped to play an additional or secondary role this season in the event of an injury or form loss. I remember Richardson detailing this in a communication or briefing. I will be interested to see the club contingency plan for Oliver's role

Clarrie is a generational player and he is one of the best I have seen. Teams manage to find a way to win and we are not a 1 man team. Port beat us in the midfield because Butters & Rozee are runners not bulls. They kick short and find targets as well as kick goals. I hope it is a 1-2 week injury and we look at the roles Port used and Collingwood and Brisbane have used successfully and that is small running midfields. Freemantle have improved on the back of Serong & Brayshaw finding some form, small running mids. I had hoped that Kossie & Chandler would fill this role as they have the speed and smarts. We don't need another bull we need some run and pace and ability to hit targets in the midfield and get on the outside. Note sure who we have at Casey that fits that mould. I had hope Bowie may step up into the midfield or that Woewodin would step up this year to complement our mids. Friday was cold wet and miserable in Adelaide, perfect hamstring weather

I know he has some issues at the moment but Harmes has often been called on to play that run with role. He and occasionally Viney will play that role. The same against Gold Coast, Anderson ran riot and no one could run with him. Port played man-on-man footy and broke up our defence with precise short chip kicks. Our disposal was ordinary at times.

Yes they had names out but in any game ask would they have played better than their replacement? Would Lord who kicked 2 valuable goals have played if Dixon & Marshall were playing? Would the wet weather have suited the latter 2? I doubt it. Would Butters have had 40 touches if Rioli was playing? Fantasia struggles to get into their best team. Who would have thought that St Kilda with their injury list would have won as many game? Over the course of the season, Melbourne will have players unavailable and I hope the players we bring in will play their role and minimise the impact of their absence. We know May, Clarry, Trac & Max are indispensable but one hopes someone will step up in their absence.

Good thread, he and Hibbo are the only run and carry players down back. Get the ball put it under their arm and run and break the lines

We lost by 4 points and it is the middle of May. We have JVR, Chandler and McGee whose games tally is barely in double figures. We have come off a short break and our 5th interstate trip in 10 games. Rember it is how you finish the season. Trac didn't look 100 % and despite his detractors the midfield missed Sparrow. Yes I am surprised that Butters was allowed to run rampant and to a lesser extent Rozee, we don't appear to have any run with players. We gave away soft goals from free kicks which cost us the game and in tonights condition no Marshall or Dixon may have actually helped. It was a coaching master stroke to put Burton, a defender on Lever and he scored. And twice Lord marked because he played in front of Lever. Let's wait and see how we develop the season particularly our forward structure as 2 rucks, JVR and Mac didn't really work tonight. There is lots of room for improvement

Has everyone forgotten about Schache, he was the preferred tall not that long ago!

6 Viney 5 Gawn 4 Sparrow 3 Brayshaw 2. Rivers 1. Oliver

Turner is possible late in for Hibberd who has been battling an Achilles issue

TMac listed as injured! I wonder what is the issue?

Need I remind everyone they beat Geelong up there earlier on.

Riv was certainly cramping up and was subbed out Larkey was subbed out for North with an ankle maybe he will be missing. Harmes and Dunstan have earned a place and the extra run will help on the short break. JVR had a great last quarter but I think this was helped by Richmond subbing out a ruck and putting Balta into the ruck instead of minding JVR. That is when he cut loose. We are susceptible to teams that bring the ball forward low. Maybe it is time to bring in Turner, there is a spot waiting for Salem when he is ready Spargo is still not right and won't play and Melksham didn't play in the VFL so assume he is in cured. It will be a light week on the track with minimal change

Cannot get a game, maybe they know he is going and have left him to languish in the SANFL.

Confirmed by Cal Twomey on SEN this morning. The Dandenong Stingrays are one of the pathways to Casey Demons, he may have been invited to train with Casey and may be pushing for a VFL game. Twomey also commented that he is a highly talented cricketer and has yet to decide which sport he would choose. Described as a potential top-20 pick

Yes, Tom was there and he was signing autographs and taking selfies. His group started near the pavilion so I suspect they signed and left the track before the others, no delayed concussion