Older demon

The unanswered question is "What if Freo cannot produce 2 high first round draft picks". ? Does Jacko hang around for another 2 seasons?

Yes, Simon has stated the obvious and it is disappointing that despite the awareness the coaching staff seemed unable to rectify it. Rather than be critical I would like to know what impediments there were to making change because it was repeat, start, repeat start and entirely predictable. Perhaps the match committee didn't think we could change things late in the season. In the last 2 years, it has been clear to win we need 3 marking targets up forward. Two has never worked. Maybe the powers that be didn't believe that in McDonald's absence we didn't have the cattle. JVR is too raw, Weir has shone as a 2nd ruck and I doubt will ever be a forward while Mitch Brown is a good VFL player. Look at Geelong, Sydney, Pies and even Brisbane and Freo all have running half-backs who deliver the ball. Our back six in the finals were panicky, quick kick-out or bomb artists. Bowey in-form must play next year. His run and dash in the VFL prelim was elite. What was adequate in the season failed badly in the finals. Rivers, Hibbo & Jayden all had bad finals and their kicking and run was not good under finals pressure. 3 defensive forwards aren't going to win finals, you need goal kicking half forwards. ANB, Spargo and Melk play a role but don't kick enough goals and often don't lay enough tackles. There is a spot for one such player. It is mini rebuild time just like Geelong did last year. To improve Melk, Hibbo, Hunt, cannot be in our best 22. Jacko will be gone and we need more class, pace, run and creativity and the extra effort needed to develop some of the young talent at Casey.

Our ruck stocks are thin and have no potential at Casey. Weid has shown he isn't a key forward but has shown he can ruck. Play him there in the last year of his contract. As for depth look no further than Sydney who has Hayden Mclean 197 cm, Sam Naismith 205 cm, Callum Sinclair 199 cm, Peter Ladhams 202 cm, Sam Reid 196 cm, Tom Hickey 202 cm, Joel Amartey 197 and Lachlan McAndrew 209 cm. it is a veritable land of the giants with 8 players who could lay claim to being a ruckman.

For those interested in history and coincidence and debuts in finals.. In 1982, 40 years ago on September 11th in the 2nd week of the finals, Hawthorn debuted a young forward named Dermott Brereton who kicked 5 goals on debut against North, leading the Hawks to victory. There is certain synchronicity if JVR debuts on Friday night. Sadly the tale didn't end well. Hawthorn had been defeated by Carlton in the first week of the final and after defeating North were again beaten by the blues in the prelim. Carlton going then went on to beat the favourites, Richmond, in the grand final. Augurs well for the Swans doesn't it? The 82 final is remembered for Malthouse having a dislocated shoulder but passing all tests at the final training until coach Francis Burke caught him unawares as training finished and dislocated his shoulder again. Also notable that Brian Taylor was left out of the grand final team with a sore knee

The medical report states that Spargo has bruised vocal cords and cannot talk. I don't think you can be considered to play if you cannot talk, there is only so much pointing and sign language one can do. A friend who knows TMac has told me TMac has put his hand up to playing he believes he is right to go. I believe we definitely need another tall marking target up forward. My left-field selection would be to play Jackson on the wing a la Mathew Richardson in his day and similar to Blicavs. Indeed Geelong are happy for both ruckman, Stanley & Blicavs to be at the contest!

Here's one to get your knickers in a knot. My son supports North ( I know what can I say, my late father recruited him) and came home angry believing North will trade their pick 1. His North connection (unnamed) tells him that North will get Lobbe and Acres and possibly a future first-rounder for their pick 1 which will be traded to Freo who will then use it to trade for Jackson. That would mean MFC get to pick 1. I immediately called bulltish but he is adamant that his mate always gets good mail. North need players not first-year recruits in his opinion.

In case no-one noticed, many players were fumbling today due to the intense pressure and slipping at crucial times on the lush MCG surface. I believe T-Mac will play as long as he gets thru training this week. Lots of sore players with milk & Fritter both having knee scans. Spargo in the hospital unable to talk and Trac we all know about. The side may need freshening up a bit.

The form says the changes will be minimal. For the finals the structure was shown tonight to be flawed. You need marking targets up forward. Reid was the match winner taking marks. If we persist in bombing it into the forward line you have to have bigger targets than spurge, picket & Melksham. Finals pressure doesn't allow many lace out passes to a good lead. I would remind everyone that Hawthorn debuted Bremerton in a final with great success. Jackson is not yet a marking forward who kicks goals and neither is Max. If Harmes is suspended Melk can play the wing and JVR, TMac or Weid can come in and frankly Weid is a better bet as the backup ruck.

His foot got stood on playing for Casey the night after he was our Medical-sub. Initially thought to be ok but remained sore and recent scans showed a break. It will be very difficult to get it right in 4 weeks. Horrible timing and the worst luck.

And history is littered with coaches that had a great Powerpoint presentation that swayed the selection committee. One name come to mind Mark Neeld. I remember another occasion an applicant missed out when his computer stalled and he couldn't deliver his Powerpoint presentation. I think the bells and whistles and a good audiovisual don't make you a great coach.

Exactly the same story for me as well. Not sure how many tickets have been allocated for walk up start.

And Answerth gets a week from the tribunal.

Hamish has had many mentions, but his comedy companion Ryan Shelton is a mad Melbourne supporter. Ryan shares "The Imperfects" podcast with Hugh Van Cuylenburg; their interview with Max is pure gold. Ryan in 7th heaven interviewing Max.

ANB was doubled over off the ball and I want to know who punched him in the guts. Surely there will be camera vision somewhere of the sniper attack.

My info is that Max is struggling with a knee injury and may be a very late, late out.

Casey plays Brisbane as well so the entire squad is heading north. IMO the only player out of form is Spurge and his moments on the wing have not been his finest. He could make way for Harmes, but if Harmes was a planned in why did he play 4 quarters Sunday in that slog? Ideally, I would like another tall forward marking option but who do they replace? Brisbane has already flagged that they plan to be aggressive at the contest and expect Mathieson to be crude and aggressive, probably to Clarry. I am sure he will play but couldn't help but notice how heavily strapped Max's knee was in the training photos. 1 change at the most, swap Harmes and Spargo.

I suspect that T Mac may play limited minutes for Casey. He joined the main training session this week. Boom or bust.

Yes, he was recruited as a Centre Halfback. Luke played him forward as at the time they lacked a marking target. Given the backline is suspect I am surprised he hasn't been moved back but then they haven't had many marking targets until now

Harmes in take your pick who drops out and the mobile marking forward won't be JVR I suspect Smith will come in as he and Petty can both play as swingmen if needed

Yes, we had enough of the ball and didn't convert but in my opinion, the issue is deeper than that. Since TMac went down we have been shown that we lack marking targets up forward. Our goal to goal line and key forwards are lacking. Weird hasn't risen to the occasion, JVR is in his first season and who else is capable of playing a key forward role? We have been forced to rotate Max, Jacko and Brown as the key marking target. Max missed some sitters and Jackson has absolutely no impact up forward. Similarly, we lack ruck backup as there is no one at Casey who is a backup ruckman (Weid will get the gig). This is not fixable this season Much has been said about the long kick to the goal square and its lack of success. That is due in part because the ball isn't coming to ground for the smalls to pounce, it ends up as an intercept mark to the opposition. If Max is down there he contests as does Brown but Jackson is playing like the 3rd year tall which he is and not only isn't marking he is getting out-marked. Opposition intercept marks end up transitioning deep into opposition forward lines. Weeks out from finals TMac will try and play at Casey in the last round, but will we blood JVR (I doubt it) will Tomlinson or Joel Smith play up forward or will we persist and run the risk of god teams doing what the Bulldogs and Pies did? The forward marking options are pretty thin

We are 1 tall marking target short up forward yet continually bomb it to the goal square or up forward. we got a taste of finals intensity and manic tackling and failed the test as well as being incapable of providing tackling pressure ourselves. The team did not handle the tackle pressure at all well. the worst outcome was to miss a set shot and allow a kick out which continually got slingshot out of the backline upforward Jackson is not yet a ruckman. He doesn’t take many marks, spends too much time on the ball and that is the dips in our play happen. Max is a marking target up forward but his set shot kicking is hurting us.

There was a kicking in danger again when he had his hand on the ball. Looked like it hurt. 6 Oliver 5 Gawn 4 Viney 3 Brayshaw 2 Salem 1 Brown

Agree at the moment he isn’t worth a fraction of what we hear is on offer. Is the knee injury hampering him? Maybe but Freo must be wondering if he is what they need. Ruckman take years to mature and learn the caper. He is well down on form and contributes nothing up forward

Forward line pressure was bad. Look at Pies manic tackling and pressure. We need another marking tall up forward and someone who can lay a take 5 players with no tackles. bring in Smith or play Tomlinson as a defensive forward. Milk not the answer nor is Spargo. Again a marking forward on the opposition kills us 4 goals from 6 kicks. No good Petty

His grandfather, my Dad converted him. Then when he was an impressionable youngster a mutual friend who worked at North Melbourne arranged for him to attend some training and meet Mr Carey and have his photo taken with the team. Not sure who was more excited my son or my father who also got an invite. Every letter he wrote to Mr Carey got a signed reply North marketing department did a sensational job in those days. The framed, signed photo still hangs aloe his bed