I think it is too hard to judge a forward's form based on VFL - different level of footy with average delivery played on windswept, smaller ovals.
I think Harry and Levi need each other. They will provide options and will make the long inside 50 approach less obvious. And it will also mean that our forward line won't be completely toothless when Levi does his share of the rucking. Charlie will be up forward on occasion, but I think he is destined to spend more time further up the field.
Levi has spent most of his career as the only marking option in the forward 50, and has generally had to deal with 2 or 3 defenders each time, because they all knew that was where the ball was going. My one fervent hope is that he can put together 2 or 3 'Earl Spalding' years and give our younger forwards the time to develop.
Stop posting rational assessments Tonyo; it upsets those who, for whatever reason, are unhappy when our team does OK.
Talk about fair weather teammates, if you go down you go down as a team but this isnt a team anymore its a bunch of individuals trying to weasel their way out of responsibility. I tend to believe Smith that the leadership group knew and agreed to tapegate all be it was Warners idea. This is something you expect from Pakistan cricket when players turn on each other like ours have....you feel like starting again by banning the leadership group as a whole and getting some more team oriented replacements...
I could be way off the mark here but the fact that the cheaters are NSW cricketers may be relevant.
At the very least, the scandal could lead to an Australian team that's more representative of Sheffield Shield talent.
Casboult has now had 2 disposals in a half. Keep going DJC, awesome work.
The good part will be when Levi actually starts to get a few touches when Rance isn't his opponent. Sorry for the spoilers.
So far Rance has had two marks, three kicks and two handpasses, and one of those resulted in a goal to us.
Casboult has had 10 hitouts and has brought the ball to ground in our forward line on four occasions.
I suspect that Rance will accumulate most of his possessions when Casboult spends more time in the ruck, but don't let that spoil your adoration for blokes who play for other teams MBB.
Yes, I reckon Fraser is one of the best additions to our coaching staff this decade
While he tries to find something positive to write about every player, he does give a good insight into how his players are travelling. I suspect that he has more than the odd discussion with Bolts and SOS about who deserves another contract and who should be let go.
Wouldnt want to lose this week....GC are a team we should beat in Melbourne every game every season....they are devoid of real superstar talent bar Lynch and are struggling to retain talent.
I think that Cold Toast may be a different proposition with their new coach. However, the promising signs we showed against Richmond will mean nothing if we don't get a win this week.
Casboult had one disposal inside 50, Rance gave him a bath.
I have now watched the second quarter replay.
A kick inside 50 to Casboult and Rance results in the ball going out of bounds - no mark to Rance.
Casboult gets a boundary throw in hitout.
Casboult has a very soft free kick awarded against him.
Casboult brings the ball down in a marking contest, receives a handpass but has his kick smothered.
Casboult gathers a loose ball but is tackled.
Casboult wins a centre bounce.
Rance spoils Silvagni.
Casboult wins three consecutive boundary throw ins.
Rance spoils Casboult but it was arguably a free to Casboult,
Casboult brings the ball down to E Curnow.
Rance intercepts a pass to Casboult.
Casboult brings the ball down to Silvagni but Richmond rush a behind.
Rance marks a short kick in and gets his first kick for the quarter.
I'm more than happy to move on to the third quarter MBB but I'm yet to see any evidence of Rance giving anyone a bath. So far, the All Australian defender and captain has had a very ordinary game against Casboult and Silvagni; two players who some supporters reckon had shockers.
I know that spectators see things differently but you'd have to be dreaming if you think that Rance gave Casboult a bath.
It seems that the new broadcast agreement will have a “disrepute clause” that will result in financial penalties for CA when players cheat or otherwise muck up.
Casboult had one disposal inside 50, Rance gave him a bath.
So Rance isn't responsible for the possessions Levi gets outside 50?
I just watched the first quarter again and I'm more than happy to watch the rest of the game to confirm that my recollections are correct.
In the first quarter Casboult blocked Rance's run, allowing Curnow to mark and goal. Casboult then brought the ball to ground for Curnow's second goal.
Casboult spent some time in the ruck, winning 5 centre bounces and a boundary throw in. While that was happening, Rance got a very soft free kick. He then took a good mark over Casboult.
Casboult then got a break on Rance but the delivery was poor and fell short of Casboult's lead. Rance got a handpass and followed it up with a shocker that went directly to Lamb for a goal to Garlett.
So, in the first quarter Casboult was instrumental in two goals, won 6 ruck contests, and was let down by a poor kick. Rance had one mark, two kicks and two handpasses, one of which resulted directly in a goal to us. Who was the better player
I know that you love to pump up the performances of opposition players MBB but you're challenging reality with this line of argument
Yeah and Gary Ablett did okay keeping Steven Silvagni quiet in the 1995 Grand Final.
That's right up there with some of your great pearls of wisdom MBB
For the record, Rance had 15 disposals and 3 marks. That's significantly below his averages, particularly with his marking which, as I'm sure you know, is his strength. Casboult had 10 disposals, 4 marks and 19 hitouts. I'd call that a win for us
So what do you guys want CA to do? Plenty of social media keyboard warriors baying for life bans for Smith and Warner....
Given that this is likely to significantly compromise CA’s bargaining position in the broadcast rights process, Smith and Warner should receive financial penalties in addition to any suspension. If it was up to me, I would revoke their contracts and suspend them from all forms of international cricket for 12 months. It goes without saying that neither will hold leadership positions at national level again.
Questions must also be asked about Lehman’s role and if, as seems likely, he was a knowing participant, he should be sacked.
It’s interesting that other members of the leadership group are arcing up about Smith implicating them in the scandal. I reckon there has to be a clean out if we are to have a functional Australian team. Who knows, we could end up with some Victorians playing international cricket ?
I was in favour of keeping him in the team despite his poor performances in the JLT games. However, I’m more than happy to concede that Bolts and co are much better judges of where Harry is at and what is best for his development.
I thought Casboult did OK on Thursday in keeping Rance relatively quiet and stepping up when required to shoulder the ruck duties. I don’t think Harry is anywhere near taking on those burdens.
I wouldn’t mind Harry getting a run in the first 22, provided that he earns his place and is playing alongside Levi rather than instead of.
I don't care that other countries players / or captains have done it in the past and only been slapped on the wrist.
For our Australian Cricket Captain do have done this has made me sick in the stomach. He simply cannot keep the job.
I feel much the same and, if social media and callers to ABC radio are representative, so do many Australians.
Apart from Smith and Warner being paid handsomely to lead a team that represents our country, there’s the notion that cricket is a game that is above cheating hence, it’s just not cricket.
I guess that the same belief in fair play that fuels maintaining my rage against the Essendon drug cheats is in play when our cricketers cheat ... or any other national sporting team for that matter!
I’m usually similar to EB in awarding Ds and Es for losses. Perhaps I’m getting soft, or I’m caught up in the optimism of the new season, because I gave the team a generous C ?
Stick Dusty in our side and he'd be back with the pack very smartly
Comparing Dusty and Cripps is the quintessential apples and oranges comparison. Dusty is a forward/midfielder as his running patterns show; half of his time on the ground is spent in the forward 50. Cripps, for all the talk about him going forward, is a midfielder who excels in extracting the ball at stoppages and outmarking virtually anyone who goes against him.
Dusty has great strength that he uses to advantage and will continue to do so until opposition players learn how to counter his stiff arm. Cripps is also a very strong player but he is more subtle with his use of strength and prefers to put a step on opponents.
I don't believe the hype about players not wanting to tackle Dusty; Samo would smash him into the ground if he got the opportunity. It's more about learning how to deal with an unorthodox playing style. If I was coaching, I'd have a couple of League players as tackling dummies in the week leading up to our next Tigers game.
At one stage one of the commentators had a rant about Weitering being beaten by a smaller player, it was Dustin Martin! What a forking moronic stance to take!
At least he was pulled up by one of his colleagues and conceded that Martin is stronger.
Weitering was caught slightly out of position by quick ball movement and, once Martin had the prime spot, he had no chance of spoiling without giving away a free. That’s the situation where your desperately hoping that one of your teammates will fly in from the side to spoil.
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