Older demon

Like everyone here I thought the last quarter was awful. Outreached again, how simple is it on a wet night to kick the ball off the ground to space and run onto the ball or move the ball forward and gain territory. We deliver the ball into the forward line the same slow way every week. Our key marking target is a 19 yo kid in his first season. So many goals came from breaking through our high press and they get us out the back. Not to mention turning it over or kicking to the intercept marking machine Tom Stewart. Sadly this team isn't good enough and has been beaten 3 times in the wet. The forward line is a mess and lacks some serious class when it comes to x-factor and kicking goals. As our coach puts it, the learnings are that we have too many average players, particularly up forward. The resting ruckman up forward isn't working. I hate naming players but the last 2 weeks Gus keeps turning it over, Nibbler Fumbles and doesn't kick goals, Chandler is off the boil and does not get enough of the pill for a small forward and Spargo is slow and gave us nothing. The evidence is plain to see that forward structure will not win any final. That was a horrible loss laying bare all our flaws

As we found last year depth is important in a marathon season. We have 2 first-year 19-year-olds making major contributions. In Brown, TMac, Bowey, Petty & Oliver we have 5 premiership players unavailable but we still manage to put a very classy team on the park. Their replacement are playing their role and contributing as much as the player they replace (except Oliver) Looking at Collingwood's seconds yesterday they wouldn't want too many injuries as they don't have the depth. Their best 6 in the seniors are very very good but I am not so sure about their bottom 6. The good news is we still have room for significant improvement and if we can start hitting targets and not turning it over as much in addition to hitting the post 4 times and missing 6 or more set shots we will scare any team. I am so pleased for Tomlinson he is showing signs of regaining his pre-knee reco form. I hope Smith can string some games together as he adds something different to the forward line. Finally I am not sure how much longer we can run with Nibbler, Spargo, Kozzie & Chandler all in the forward line. They apply pressure and lock it in but we need a more polished forward. I am not knocking any of them but my concern is their primary role is to tackle and lock it in. Do we need 4 to do this job?

All the sick and injured players were named and of their 4 emergencies, 2 of the 4 players played today. Only Markov and McInness realistically available just as JJ & Taj didn't play today. Doubt there will be any late changes.

Not to mention the emergencies required for the main game.

Out of the JVR interviews this week, last week was the first time he has taken a mark out in the open. All his marks so far have been contested. Evidence of the long bomb strategy. As Good says we are still learning maybe he is keeping the lower-your-eyes spread and hit a leading target strategy for the 2nd half of the season. I thought Casey did this really well last week with a small fast team on the park even more so when Bell was subbed out early.

5 days in hospital no doubt on a drip with a badly infected foot is way more serious than the hammy injury. Pleased that the club is managing him conservatively. Dunstan should return this week but isn't at 100% as the initial diagnosis of MCL missed the PCL injury also there. Would love him in but not this week.

Casey had an interesting team on the park, and it appeared we had many small, fast players. They moved the ball quickly and to advantage and lowering their eyes. Given the players missing it was a fantastic effort away from home.

It was an ugly game and both teams had over 70 clangers. Was it the pressure or poor skill. A lot of the turnovers weren't under pressure and sorry Sparg's do the first the ng and stop running around in circles. What has happened to our goal kicking. It cost us last week and tonight we should have buried Carlton Last but not least is there a new rule that says it is ok to push Max fair square in the back? Jackson got away with it last week and Young put both hands in Max's back and got paid the mark. Seriously

Looks like a substantial bit of bone. Not nice to have in ones ankle and may explain his lack of mobility.

Ankle surgery

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