Older demon

I liked the term used by Dunstall "On the Couch", clubs need distributors from the back line and this is an obvious deficiency in our back line. I suspect Salem will be earmarked for this role in seasons to come. I only hope Hawthorn get distracted by Fyfe as they cannot afford him and Frawley. We will find out just how good our recruiting team i.e. Taylor to identify excess talent at another club looking for a change.

Minmal change Dawes for Gawn and given casey haven't played for 2 weeks I doubt anyone could expect to come in. The weather may influence any other changes

What's needed is a little more composure, the addition of some class and another season into the young guys to toughen them up. Roos said against the Dogs we didm't play the full 100 minutes and the same today. We have to play out the whole game. The next step is to find some runners who are elite kicks running of half back who can deliver the ball longer into the forward line. Sydney with Shaw and Malceski or Hawks with Suckling, Gibson and Burchall. A Shannon Hurn or Brodie Smith to clear the ball out just shows what we lack down back. Terlich, Tommy mac and Grimes all worry me when they dispose of the ball as they are a turn over waiting to happen. Cannot question their courage, ball winning and endeavour but an elite kick is needed if we are to make the next step.

I can see the Kirk connection with Roos, Lyon etc but out of left field (and I declare myself as I am a massive fan) I ask you to consider Luke Beveridge. Luke is the back line coach at Hawthorn and has coached briefly at Collingwood and his junior coaching record is superb. He is out of contract at the end of the year and was personally sought out by Clarko when he left Collingwood and went back to his full time job. I love the way the Hawks defend and then move the ball forward and he is a former Melbourne player who is respected by all the players he coaches.

The HUN article describes the disease well and it vagaries. It can have treatment and rehab that runs into the months and longer. I wish Clarko all the best.

A couple of elite kicks. Still have good players who turn the ball over to easily, just look at the 2 back line turn overs where we actually hit the Richmond player on the chest.

Back on topic re his injury can I again remind everyone that a young Nick Riewoldt injured his knee pre season in his first year. He debuted in round 16 and played 6 games of the remaining 8 in his debut season. If his back comes good and he can get some games and experience under his belt I would hope that he is not put out to pasture this year. Oh and Riewoldt was constantly linked to a return to Qld which never happened so lets give the kid a chance

Not sure who will go in as from todays articles some players are hanging out for the bye. Imbalance in the draw has the Tiges fresh after a 2 week break and us with Terlich concussed, Frawley with Toe problems and groin & hamstring tightness. Roos also hinted after 3 goes as sunb that Salem may go back to VFL for a full game. If so cannot see Byrne being demoted. So a half back well Clisby was close, a key forward maybe Fitz and another running player take your pick

The AFL has now declared that players must pull out of a contest rather than risk contact that may hurt someone. Now officially the Australian Basketball League and you are encouraged to shirk a contest. This strikes at the very heart of our game. RIP Aussie rules

I think Georgiou's close proximity to Lynch forces him into Viney and leave son room for escape or to protect himself. It is a different scenario to every other jump bump hit head so far. Maybe going direct to tribunal is in Viney's favour as the Adrian Anderson points system would severely prejudice Viney with the points allocation

David's version of the club theme song also on U-tube is IMO the best version I have heard. He performed it pre game a few years ago and on Marngrook. Well worth the look

The third player was Brian (the Whale) Roberts who was a great servant of the Swans.

Rather than ins and outs I think another reset of positions is needed. It is generally agreed that neither Tom McDonald or Dean Terlich should deliver the ball out of the back line. Find a better flanker who can run and deliver the ball out of the back line. The Swans did it beautifully thru Shaw and Malceski. Move Terlich to midfield as opposition seem content to let ball go to him and let him turn it over, he is also a bit loose minding the small forwards. Next find mids who kick goals. Swans showed us the way when it is a rolling maul, and key forwards are blanketed. They have mids who move forward and kick goals. We don't have goal kicking mids and the emphasis needs to be on this. I would avoid the temptation for another tall and go with run and speed.

For a little perspective here is an excerpt from an article about Nick Riewoldt who was drafted in 2000. "Riewoldt injured his knee in the 2001 pre-season and after playing two VFL games he made his AFL debut in Round 15 against the Adelaide Crows. St Kilda lost by 97 points at Colonial Stadium in what turned out to be Malcolm Blight’s final game as coach. After player four consecutive AFL matches Riewoldt missed Round 19 and 20 with a shoulder injury, he played six of St Kilda’s last eight matches predominantly at half forward but was also given stints on the wing." In 2002 Nick won the Rising Star but his breakout year wasn't until 2004 when he took an AFL record 256 marks. He has been constantly linked with a return home to his native state Qld but that has never eventuated and now he is almost their longest serving captain and likened to the greats Baldock and Stewart. Give Jesse a chance and let the club look after him till he is right to play, I am sure the saints probably wondered about their investment in St Nick at a similar stage of his career.

The question was asked re Tyson not getting a game at GWS. He injured his PCL pre 2013 season and only returned for the last 2 games. Was always going to be a gun and brilliant to pick him and Salem up for pick 2. JKH demanded to be picked with pre season form and pleasantly surprised that he has come on so quickly. Georgiou has surprised me as well. Came into footy late played SANFL and is holding down a key defensive post on much bigger apponents. His cover for Garland while injured cannot be understated. Dawes, in 2 games he has shown form not seen in the last 3 seasons. I didn't think he was capable of contributing as much as he has shown and thought he may be past his best hope but he is a leader and I hope he can stay on the park. Cross, the tackling machine. My Dog's supporter friends told me he was past it and cannot kick. Well he has been a fantastic acquisition, a leader and inside ball getter and exceeded what I had hoped for

Salem BOG at Casey with 37 touches will he force them to play him. I thought we lacked pace compared to the Suns and were a bit short in the back line. Geez they have some guns thanks Mr Demtriou

As they reach the twilight of their careers we should reflect on the 3 guys who have spoilt it for everyone since their super draft of 2001. Hodge, Ball & Judd set an expectation that has not been matched since and that is that a top ten draft pick guarantees a champion. It just doesn't happen anymore. Of that draft top 20 only Hale (7) Bartel (8) Dal Santo (13) and Kelly (17) are still running around and have made a name for themselves, didn't Geelong do well out of it. Subsequent drafts maybe produce one of this calibre in the top 10 and it is just that 2001 has created a false expectation. Oh and Dane Swan went at pick 59

Kent - Hit Ellard hard ! Kent's attack on the ball is ferocious and the way he collected Ellard wow I felt it in the members

Yes there will be a tent at gate 3 for the Carlton game

Strauss playing. No Gawn or Garland in any Casey team

The HUN starts writing about priority picks I wish they would curl up and disappear. Robbo go away it is rubbish journalism. I want to see the club compete and win some games and have a better 2nd half of the season and take some momentum into next year. This is the same press that mercilessly accused us of tanking have they now decided that we haven't nada good list for a while and maybe we weren't tanking as badly as they thought.

Never thought I would say this but "Thank GOD for Carlton" they will cop all the press this week which may mean we face a fired up lot next week. But for now there is minimal press on us. Yesterday will be considered a slog in tough conditions where 1 team with a dominant ruckman broke away in the last quarter to win. Carlton on the other hand were diabolical and Mick will cop lots of heat this week. Alos consider that unlike last year when I doubt there were any games we thought that we were in a winnable position in we now have 2 out of the first 3 where we were in a winnable position and that has contributed to some of our negativity. The team has improved, just not enough yet to register a win.

Back on topic, todays game was lost in the middle. -25 clearances and 60 hit outs to Mummy. The last goal they got was Mumford palming with his left hand over the back to the rover. We need a real ruck man and with all due respect to Spencer he isn't going to make it. I watched Carlisle compete tonight as Essendon's ruck man against a much bigger opponent. He was an asset, taking marks, and getting kicks around the ground and making a contest so the other ruck man didn't get his hands on the ball. Spencer has no idea of how to compete at this level. When he gets hit outs they are often to the opposition and so far this year the saints ruck monstered us, West Coast obliterated us and Mummy was 3 short of the record. It all begins in the middle so start planning now to poach a ruck man from somewhere.

You forgot Spencer - waste of space

Did you see the spray Roos gave Terlich at 3/4 time? I reckon every single disposal he made went to the opposition. I know he looks balanced and poised but he is the turn over king and has no awareness. Surely there is a better back flanker than him in the club. Murdered in the ruck again, Sydney should be flogged for giving Mummy away. The clearance count and tap downs highlighted just how DESPERATE we are for a ruck man. Sorry Spencer you just aren't good enough and sometimes you need to do more than just be there to contest the stoppage, you need to hit it to our advantage. Could not fault the effort and noted we took a long time to adapt to the conditions and continued to over handle the ball. I will give credit where credit is due and Pederson proved beyond shadow of doubt that he will never be a forward. He is at best a backman.