Older demon

I cannot remember the last time a player was asked to si out the season after requesting a trade so soon. Is this a refined form of tanking?

Note from Casey thread, Fitz withdrew from match with lines and 17 others crook in club including Jones and Watts...

I remember Glen more as a cricketer and maybe that is why he quit footy. He opened the bowling for Melbourne in district cricket in 75/76 they won the flag. His late dad, Geoff was an absolute MCC legend.

This shows that there is an enormous amount of spirit and camaraderie within this group. Often forgotten that Roos built that blood's culture up north and maybe it is starting to develop with us. Go Jack

Looking at the Casey team is confusing. They have not named Stretch so maybe a weekend off. But have named VanDenBurg, Harmes and Neal-Bullen in their team. Surely they won't play Saturday and Sunday...

Sorry team but I am sick of hearing about Viney's intensity and he needs to bring more to the table. He cannot kick more than 40 metres, first quarter shot did not make the distance and doesn't hit targets. he got moved off Heppel whose 3rd quarter was outstanding. He kicks at 40% efficiency, gave away 3 frees (one resulted in a goal after a crude high tackle on Heppel), ran too far with the ball and blamed the forwards. He is too one sided and predictable as he has no right foot and constantly gets caught turning back into play and keeps making the same errors. Compare the Dons midfielders to ours with Heppel, Stanton and Goddard all showing leadership today.

To many non contributors today. Blokes who cannot and will not ever be good kicks. How can you not make the distance from 35 metres out or kick out on the full from the same distance. Absolutely butchered the ball and played dumb unaccountable football.

This team sucks the life out of you and there were so many red and blue scarves there today who may never go again such was the crap dished up. They Cannot hit targets! Cannot kick straight! Play dumb footy! Bomb to forwards! Will not run! Over rate themselves! Have no composure! and constantly Break our hearts

I thought the third quarter when Hogan moved up the ground and took a few marks we looked competitive. Dawes can stay in the goal square as he doesn't take enough marks for mine. Hoges goes for too many species when he is in the goal square but plays a different style when up the ground. The worst umpiring decision of the night was in the last quarter when Nate Jones was pushed by by a cowardly Eagle into the ruck contest that made Nate collide with the 2 ruck man. Dangerous in any circumstance and completely ignored. 1 olde umpire schmidt and 2 rookies was always going to mean the higher ranked team got the 50 50's IMO. Not to mention the number of times Hogans run to the contest was impeded not blocked. That is under the new rules a free kick

I would also point out that a bloke named Cox dominated the ruck in those games, smashed the Russian with his running ability meaning Nic Nat did not have as big a role. Stats don't tell the whole story.

Note on O'kearney I know his uncle who tells me he has already been spoken to by 3 clubs, but would not tell me who. Surprised I could not find his name in the original lists posted here but he is a gun and got in the best in 2 games and is being rested. Expect hime to be drafted as Nick is a ball magnet. A Calder Cannon he is 180 cm tall and highly rated

Ouch 12 on the injury list and not many back in the near future. No Pederson means a question about who will be the relief ruckman with Frosty and Pederson out. Dawes isn't an option so do they play Gawn up forward and ruck with Jamar or Pencil and play Hogan at CHF or does Fitzy fill that role. No Grimes means another back man required. Out Pederson, Grimes Michie In Dawes, Fitzpatrick, Bail Jetta McDonald Fitz Howe Dunne Cross Toumpas Vince Lumumba Watts Dawes Garlett Viney Hogan Brayshaw Gawn Tyson Jones Stretch Bail Newton Sub Neal-Bullen

Viney undid any good will with that dumb jumper punch and not picking up Jack Steven for the last 2 clearances that resulted in that goal Vince Hogan Jones Toumpas Cross Watts

I don't care who deserved to win, when you hit the front with 40 seconds to go you don't lose. You put men behind the ball and close it down. The lack of footy smarts and discipline is unbelievable and inability to close up the game beggars belief. Twice Jack Steven runs the ball into their forward line and the ball is loose FFS. And I don't care what he did throughout the game Viney giving away that free with a jumper punch trying to be the tough man is so undisciplined his ears should be burning all week.

20011 was a stinker year too, a complete waste. I believe that the injury to Frost has shown the lack of depth we have with key position players. Casey last week had only Fitz and maybe Gawn filling key positions and while I acknowledge King and Mac junior they are a long way off senior selection. I know Roos does not like drafting key position players and would rather draft them in so I expect this year he will be looking for talls with a couple of years in the system to recruit. Most clubs are loading up with 3 balls up forward i.e. Petrie, Brown and Waite: Freo's midfield is bigger than out back line not to mention Sandi, Clarke, Taberner and Pav: Hawkins, Stanley and Clarke: while we have Hoges and Dawes!! I can only think that we keep recruiting flankers because we have such a poor success rate over the journey and keep trying.

I think Michie listed as no tackles contributed to his demotion. Jamar got monstered last week and struggles to get around the ground which I think was predictable as Mumford and Sandilands have had the wood on him in the past but he plays well against Maric and beat the young talls at Gold Coast. With Frost out and only Fitzy at Casey we are seriously short of key position players and a class ruck man. Garland, Dunn, Pederson and Howe at 191, 192, 193 and 190 are the same height as the Freo midfield. Watts at 196 will never be a key position player

I know you love giving Salem a hard time about Arsenal but he would have to be happy with them. Also is he clear of the knock last week and will he play??

In addition to the list there is an army of volunteers who assist the club each year. Handing out scarves, making the banner, assisting with membership ringing members who haven't renewed (remember that when someone rings and asks don't dump on a volunteer), selling raffle tickets and a variety of other functions. HR protocols point out volunteer responsibilities and a Working with Children check. These numbers would swell the list of staff and roles even more. AFL club management is huge and expensive and PJ is the master.

Through all the discussion no one has mentioned our lack of ruck strength. There was a bronx cheer when we actually got a clearance. It all starts in the middle and when Mumford took over in Camberra and Sandi dominated today our inexperienced mid field got thrashed. They run harder spread better and kick to position better. They played of for the flag 2 seasons ago, slipped last year and are back this year. They have a mature team not many out their in their 5th game like Vandenberg, Hogan and Brayshaw. I would like the margin to have been less and wish we had converted one of this early last quarter shots. Number 1 priority is to draft/find a quality ruckman and another key position player. Tamar lowered his colours today.

Consider that Sandilands has always had the wood on Jamar then Roos may play Russian as another tall forward depending on the weather and stretch the Freo backline. Tippet in the second half showed this last week. Spencer may well be given a job of just getting in Sandilands way or shadowing him everywhere

TDI the VFL report said that Bail had a concussion and missed the 2nd half. Did he train? If Nev is out then Ro with his concussion history would have to miss as well.

Agree worry about Bail. Last year I thought he was only 1 more concussion away from retirement, won't be seen this week.

Ralph on SEN today says that Tyson may have jarred his knee (the one he hurt at GWS) and will be doubtful for next Sunday.

We will need an extra tall as Freo monitoring Sydney with their tall strong bodies. Clarke and Taberner will be hard to cover so I hope a tall back plays a blinder tomorrow. Jamar does not have a great record against Sandilands.

I was surprised last weekend to see Gysberts playing for St Kevins old boys in premier B amateurs. Hardly looked like a player with his experience in the AFL. Slow lazy and absolutely no body definition at all. A few ex Hawks VFL players looked bigger than he did, how did we get it so wrong?