Earl Hood

It’s a win just! No thanks to the umpire who pulled that rediculous in the back free to the Dogs at the end, could have changed the result.

Interesting game to watch but the skill level is horrendous!

I hope the coaches are thinking differently. There are issues that need addressing after 2 JLT hitouts. We thought 666 would favour our clearance dominance but we have been towelled up in the centre in both games. If we don’t win the clearances we usually don’t win the game. The foreword setup is struggling but that has much to do with delivery which has been horrendous. No forward 50 pressure, no forward crummers and a backline that has leaked 100 points plus twice but understandable given the 60 plus entries in each game. Yes no need to panic but there is a lot of work to be done. Positives - J Smith who managed 4 largely on one leg and according to some with no football IQ! Add Nev, Max. Thought May had some very clean possessions down back. Clarrie and Gus were good.

I watched the first three quarters on my phone. The first quarter was very impressive, we looked great and moved the ball how we train. The next two quarters, well we were totally outplayed and our play did not resemble how we train in any way. Very static ball movement, no system, reluctance to take chances. The delivery forward was deplorable and so it is not fair to critique TMac, JSmith or Weids to harshly. The setup did not provide much forward pressure either. I thought Preuss struggled in the centre bounces. Does not seem to know how to use his height and weight to his advantage at all. The tigers looked very slick in comparison. Once Dusty moved into the middle in the second quarter the game changed. He is a hard man to stop and in a JLT you are not going to tag him of course. In summary, no need to panic but plenty of potential weaknesses that need addressing. And we have 10 or so in the injury group that could help.

They moved dusty onto the ball that quarter and the whole game changed immediately.

We haven’t come up with anything smart for the new kickin rule, I note.

But they will be playing JLT’s on Heard Island in summer by then.

It’s the haircut, makes him look slimmer?!

Well training at Casey is about as closed door as you can get! I mean does anyone actually live out there?

I have been to 4 or 5 sessions this year I think and noted the high numbers in rehab but the rehab work has been pretty solid for the most part. Plenty of running of course and heaps of drills with the balls. The only players that have been limited in their preparation to the point it will impact on round 1 availability are Jones (laps, boxing only for many sessions) and Lever, laps and more laps and perhaps Baker (laps, more laps). As I mentioned in yesterday’s training thread, I spoke to Justin Plapp who was really unbeat about the rehab group and that players were now coming back to full training regimes from a solid base of work that they have all been doing.

Yes it was a very light session. I spoke briefly to Justin Plapp who said a number of players pulled up sore after Saturday’s training, guessed they were not used to wet weather footy. He was upbeat about the squad and how they are training, that the rehab group is getting smaller by the week and that Clarrie is back to full training. As KK ran past he commented that he is going to be very good for us this season.

They are probably made in China these days!

Could be a car, a nicE type of car too!

Not Panama disease there as well?

No recent banana stories from the usual suspects? Just to keep this thread from attrifying! If that is an actual word?

But the rehab group has been working hard back in Melbourne, a lot of running, ball work including kicking drills. Just not doing physical contact stuff and match simulations. So I see no problem as I think they will be ready to go later in February.

I really hope J Smith stays fit and shows his full potential this year. I really think the sky is unlimited for this bloke if all goes right, good height, great leap, very mobile etc. It seems they want him to play forward, hopefully it works this year.

New rules allow Carltank to draft in a replacement, so said a Carltank spokesperson today.

Have we covered the good place with Ted Danson? Just loving series one and two.

Church Bingo is acceptable I believe.

Watching training today MR I would broadly agree with your summary, in principle at least. The only differences I had from your observations and they are just minor issues - he did train with the main group for the whole session and early on did routines in a small group of mids that included Harmes, Fritsch, Gus, AVB, Kolodjashni, and Sparrow. This group seemed to be the outside mid group of receivers who will receive from the insiders. And the insiders were mostly in the rehab group, Clarrie, Jones, Viney. Make of that what you will but he is definitely still in the running for a position on the outside wing but competition is stiff. And he did well in the game simulations in between managing the magnet board and organising the oranges.

Well he slotted the one after he took that mark. I think he is a reasonably accurate shot on goal.

I am loving what I see of J Smith as a forward, was only at training briefly but during the full oval play simulation I noted his full tilt lead out of the square to take a mark on his chest/shoulder as his body seemed to be tilted forward at 45 degrees to take possession. The opposing backman had no hope of spoiling the incoming ball. I still think he could be great value on a wing but looking at KK, Fritsch and Stretch, maybe we have those roles covered?

I called out “buzzword bingo” half way through reading your post!

You lucky bastard!!!