Older demon

I doubt there will be wholesale changes. Hopefully Lever will be back and of course Trac is out. I think Chandler needs a rest and Laurie I just don't think has it and Disco isn't a forward and disappointingly does tackle like a Backman. Sestan and Kolt may be raw but look at their stats they are both tackling machines and are bigger bodies than Chin and Laurie. I would also move Fritta out to a flank where he can creat space and run a bit more.

Confirmed Trac transferred to the Alfred trauma unit Monday night. Grade 5 spleen rupture the worst level, needed a transfusion and has been in ICU, A serious injury with a lengthy recovery. He will be hospitalise for many days.

At the moment the team isn't at its best to put it mildly. I would like to point out that look at the Swans record is a fair benchmark. Having waited 72 years between flags they broke through in 2005 and again in 2012. That is 2 flags in 18 years. As a measure of their success they have rarely missed finals since 1996 and in recent times on missed out in 2019-20. This focus on our once-in-a-lifetime list is flawed. In 2022 & 23 we were cruelled by injury. At the moment I think we are seeing a transition and hope we make finals but atm we aren't a premiership contender. Flags are mighty hard to win and my aims this season wold be to be competitive, not get smashed, bring in the next generation to play the Melbourne way and maybe jag a flag in the near future. Geelong has had sustained success but despite this Scott has only won 2 flags. After a 57 year wait I am enjoying winning more but have lowered my expectations rations a bit.

That I don't know and would be confidential. When fully recovered the size of the scar will give it away

The spleen is a bit of a dumping ground but you can live without one but more care is needed . It stores and filters blood and makes white blood cells that protect you from infection. It removes and clears red cells as they age. Patients are indeed susceptible to certain types of bacteria and simplifying all the protocols basically have to take antibiotics daily for the rest of their life (or have antibiotics in their travel bag at all times) and need to be vaccinated. If my memory serves me I think Mathew Lloyd nearly died the night of the 96 prelim after he ruptured his spleen. He was rushed to hospital suffered severe blood loss and spent days in hospital (Google it). Once removed no other organ replaces it. Hence the lifestyle changes and probably wear a medi-alert bracelet

Kolt & Ollie are being groomed as goal kicking forwards who go to the middle and get clearances. They are both big bodied kids who need to develop a tank. Trac moving forward has taken that away. The loss of Gus is huge and add to that the loss of Trac and the midfield looks a little bare No offence to Chandler & Laurie but they are small, not particularly quick and don't kick goals and rarely get double digit possessions. Maybe AMW should get a go, he has the pace. Look at how Windsor has settled in, he is tall, has pace and gets the ball Turner forward has me baffled as I think he is a Backman who has less experience as a forward than Jefferson who is a natural forward. It has been the club policy not to rush the kids and give them a season at least at Casey. I cannot see them changing that just yet. Personally I would prefer Fritch on the flank and 3 marking targets JVR and 2 others. We have a fortnight to contemplate and Casey have a bye as well.

Reported tonight by Tom Morris. Trac was taken to the theatre in the early morning (no waiting around) at one stage a splenectomy was being considered, that's serious. As previously mentioned, the radiology team manages the splenic bleeding to close the bleeders then surgical repair as the next step if step one doesn't stem the bleeding. Splenectomy (removal) is the absolute last option and is done as a last resort. Removal of the spleen has lifetime consequences which I won't go into. The spleen is the most vascular organ in the body, it has a significant role in the immune function and other blood functions. The fact removal was even considered tells us how serious the situation was and how bad the laceration. I agree with Bruckner that the club did well to send him off to the hospital as soon as they did. I am sure it isn't a 6-week injury, and I hope Trac takes the time to fully recover.

I feel for Trac, the lacerated spleen is a concern and more like a car crash injury and he would have been in some serious pain and I cannot believe he actually went back out to play. I would be surprised if it wasn't season-ending. And before you jump on me, I have years of experience working in a trauma setting. Without knowing the medical notes all I can say is the spleen is tricky and a serious injury. It contains lots of blood and its healing time varies and it is slow to repair. From a reputable medical journal "Avoid strenuous activities that could re-injure your spleen. These include lifting, jogging, aerobic exercise, and contact sports. Get plenty of rest for 2-3 months." Let him rest and fully recover and time to blood some kids.

You make a good point and he may be a better option than Laurie

There are a lot of angry posters here tonight and I get that. I'm bitterly disappointed and angry at the substandard level of turnovers, broken tackles and easy misses. Neale Daniher emphasised being selfless, I saw none of that today. We go short when under pressure yet wont hit up a short lead when it presents up forward and have a shot at goal. Viney burnt Max and his shot didn't even make the distance and that wasn't the only occasion. Collingwood showed us time and time again how to play team football. When players are out in space and it's turned over or smothered (Yes Fritch I am pointing the finger at you) it rebounds straight down the other end. When I look at the centre bounce and see Chandler, Langdon & Laurie as our half-forward line I know we are in strife. There are 2 strapping kids at Casey who have more flair, daring and desire than Laurie & Chandler . How many times will it take to realise players of their diminutive size need a special skill be it pace, kicking or tackling, time to give someone else a go. Stop trying to turn backmen in to forwards, there is another key forward at Casey who was recruited as a forward why not play him?. For those who don't know who I am talking about I mean Tholstrup, Sestan and Jefferson. They only have to get 4 kicks and 3 handballs to be more effective than the incumbents. Thank goodness for the bye so we don't have to put up with this rubbish next week.

Laurie - Replace with Sestan Chandler - replace with Tholstrup It's about time we played some big-bodied clearance beasts instead of two undersized school boys

6. Max 5. TMac 4. JVR 3. Kozzie 2. Windsor 1. ANB

The best stat today was clearances. Last week we got killed. Today Kolt & Sestan had 8 each and White 10 with Fullerton also making a significant contribution. Therein lies the secret, win the pill and get it out of the centre quickly.

It is noticeable from other years that there is a distinct lack of skill and flair with our mids and on ballers IMO. White, Sestan & Colt are all big bodied and contested types where are the nippy small blokes who run and carry?

It was a ripper, clean fair and solid. He is a strong looking lad

Well done WCW considering how cold and wet it is. Much appreciated and due to some hand surgery I am limited car wise. Many can live vicariously at track watch through your eyes. I hope you know what the selected team is before it is announced. I hope they don't sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Thanks, WCW and may I remind everyone it isn't long ago Clayton had major surgery on his hand. I met him. at a function just before his return game, his hand was seriously swollen. I am not entirely convinced he has full confidence in that hand yet or that this the reason he isn't in the middle as much

Anyone who knows Max will understand he is incredibly competitive, trains to his limits, gives his all, is straight and honest and hates losing. After a loss his wife has said he comes home and takes a bit of time alone to cool his jets. After last years Carlton final he was out and had his son on his shoulders when some so and so let Max know that he thought he had lost us the game. Max was fuming not at the insult but that it was belittling him in front of his son. Everyone has boundaries and when they are crossed you do so at your own peril. To answer WVW's question re Max's accountability but unlike Goody he doesn't talk media speak and waffle about learnings and speak in riddles. He isn't a ghost who you never hear, we rarely if ever hear from the assistant coaches. I give the club credit that Goody or Richardson speak on behalf of the club. Max has a media profile because he is good. He accepts bad performances, always has your back and is so approachable with no BS. Remember how Viney copped nothing but flack for his lack of eloquence as a leader. In short Max tells it like it is and is always accountable

I believe one poster warned after the Richmond game that all wasn't well with the game plan. In retrospect the warning signs have been there. Remember the ANZAC game where every second possession was a turnover and luck for us Richmond were just as bad. Fortunately we corrected it in the second half. It was stated that a repeat against a good team would be a disaster, Ewell yesterday was that disaster. I can understand the confusion but think this team had to learn how to play tempo football. That we had to stop kicking it long to a pack in the left forward pocket but the transition has been bad at times. Some of our disposals are poor and at least the long kick down the line can create a contest. It has been there all season. Against the sins in round 1 when we ran out of steam, against Brisbane where we butchered the ball. The first quarter against Carlton, West Coast and then on Sunday when we turned up for the first 8 minutes. Collingwood have shown that despite a long injury list as long as the entire playing list stick to their role and trust the system they are always in games. Yes there are personnel down but if available which system will they play? I am convinced some lack the foot skills to play keepings off and others have forgotten our DNA to contest. it is retrievable and we have seen that our best is good enough but who is going to show us the way

Well said Saty. I am sure he is aware of what the club wants from him and the role he has to play. correct that we got flogged in the centre they had 51 to 33 clearances 3 guys had 9,8 +11 on their own our best was 5 for 4 players. Smashed in the rucks by a player playing in the Essendon district league last week who easily [ushed both our guys away. Andy is putting together a nice parcel of week weekly

currently unwatchable. A big bodied ruck from a suburban team dominating and too strong for Verral or Fullerton. Methinks Fullerton spends too much time compiling and he doesn't appear to like body contact. The mid field is deplorable. Today we are way too slow. Laurie, Brown are too small and slow hence the opp speedy mid has umpteen clearance 21 kicks and has run them off their feet. Coburg switch play at every opportunity and continually run the ball down one side of the ground unopposed. they run hard, tackle harder and will have a big win. the only positive is Jefferson marking and tackling the rest of the forwards are getting frost bite as the ball rarely enters the forward line. Casey look right off today

After watching him yesterday I am less enthused.

For goal kicking the player with the best technique and accuracy is ......Ollie Sestan. Watch him at training with his setup technique and routine. JVR looks awkward but he is pretty good with his goal accuracy and Fritta has the runs on the board but occasionally misses one .

1. ANB 2. Viney 3. Picket 4. M Gawn 5. Salem 6. Oliver

That is a disappointing loss but the Eagles are not the easy beats at home. Compare their marking power up forward with Waterman & Darling clunking seriously difficult contested marks. We had no one who could offer this. I tired of the times Barrass & McGovern took contested marks. I reckon they have 9 of their premiership team on the park today and they played brilliantly and Reid is unbelievably good. They have a settled spine whereas we have no marking targets up forward. Sad to say the game has passed Brown by and Petty is way out of form. We got beaten at the contest and couldn't hit a target from anywhere. Most of their goals came from turnovers. We have 2 first year players in Howes and Windsor and Woewodin hasn't got to double figures yet. Yes we have some holes to fill. We only managed 9 tackles in our forward 50 which is ordinary. After 10 games we have a fair idea of where we sit and where the improvement needs to come from in the second half of the season. I am sure BBB isn't the answer, I have serious doubts about Billing and his kicking and I am not sure who will stand up and be our marking targets up forward. There is still a long way to go