win to Casey vs Tassie- reports -

[n1ck]

I've loved the way Eddy's gone about it.

Couldnt possibly be dropped now.

Gwilt and Allen the two to make way for Birss and M Gardiner.

Surely.

[BakesFan]

My worry is Baker. I no longer have him as a walk up to my best 22.....and thats not based on injury time out...

He needs to get himself right before the finals. A few weeks in the Scorps to regain form and fitness will do him the world of good.

Baker's best football probably personifies RL's gameplan.
Ultra-accountable in defence and fierce in attack.

If Baker can get close to his best by September he'll be a massive plus.

[Sainterone]

Yeah, I'm a Bakes fan too....
Here's hoping he can get back into form by September.

As you say he's ultra-accountable (plus he can kick goals going forward)

In our best 22 without a doubt (provided he's fit and ready).

[derby Street]

Not sure if 2008 is about dusted for Stevie, seems to be really struggling with his knee and that has affected his fitness. Without a good base it is difficult to compete. Get him 100% right even if it means 2009.

[saintrod]

Did Michael Gardiner play?
If so how did he go?

[Otiman]

Not sure if 2008 is about dusted for Stevie, seems to be really struggling with his knee and that has affected his fitness. Without a good base it is difficult to compete. Get him 100% right even if it means 2009.

Has had a few hiccups with recovery from his knee injury, would take the cautious approach and make sure he is either a) ready for the finals, or b) ready for 2009.

Dempster and Mini are tagging quite well, Bakes would have been good to play on Eddiebetts on friday night though.

[derby Street]

Totally agree Otiman - great player when he's right just reckon time has beaten him for 2008.

[saintrod]

Found this match report in the Hobart Mercury which suggests both Schneider and Michael Gardiner had good games yesterday and maybe in line for a recall.

http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0, ... 22,00.html

IT was an all too familiar sight in Melbourne yesterday as the Devils produced both some of their best football and some of their worst before crashing to another disappointing loss to Casey.

After a superb second quarter gave Tasmania a 21-point buffer at the main break at Casey Fields, the Devils simply stopped in the second half, with the Scorpions doing as they pleased to finish with a 20.17 (137) to 15.7 (97) win.

When Rowan Andrews kicked a goal less than two minutes into the third quarter against a three- or four-goal breeze, the Devils had opened up a 27-point lead and a huge upset was on the cards.

But led by their AFL St Kilda-listed stars, Casey piled on the next nine of the term and 14 goals to five after half-time to overrun the Devils.

Ruckman Michael Gardiner and classy rover Adam Schneider -- who played in AFL premierships for West Coast in 2006 and Sydney in 2005 -- caused mayhem in the middle of the ground in the second half.

Casey's 52 hit-outs to the Devils' 16 told the story of the ruck domination, while the Scorpions had 22 centre clearances to five for the match, completely smashing the Devils at the stoppages in the second half.

Shane Birss bobbed up with three second-half goals, Jarryn Geary ran all day and fellow Saints talls Michael Rix, Charlie Gardiner and Ben McEvoy dominated the air.

After pressuring their opponents and following instructions to kick long in the first half, the Devils' intensity fell away when they returned from the break and were unable to stop the rot once it started.

About the only passion the players showed in the third quarter came after the final siren, when an all-in melee broke out as the frustration spilled over.

Devils coach Lance Spaulding

was furious with his group at the last change, questioning why it had taken until after the quarter had ended before the anger returned.

It is the second time an altercation has erupted when a quarter ended, following the dust-up against Port Melbourne earlier in the season once the match had finished.

"It's easy to show their frustration afterwards, but it's not the right type of frustration," Spaulding said.

"If they want to get nasty, get nasty at the footy.

"Our intentions were good in the first half, we came out in the second hoping to do the same but we didn't fire a shot.

"The Casey boys really did lift and we were unable to go with them, we just lost our nastiness, our physicality.

"You get to a point in a game from hard work and applying physical pressure and you have got to continue, not stop.

"We are not talented enough to play fancy footy."

Key defender Brennan Savage was again the rock holding the backline together under a constant wave of attack, Allan Bielski showed promising signs and Nathan Street started the game on fire but faded as the match wore on.

Debutant Jeremy Howe showed he could handle the jump from the Regional League to VFL level, kicking a goal and impressing with his time on the ground while usual suspects Ben Setchell and Luke Shackleton battled all day.

Tim Bongetti and James Charlesworth both left the ground early in the last quarter with serious ankle injuries.

[mick13]

So who were the 2 saints players that missed out? Steven and Howard? Just guessing cos they havent been mentioned at all.

[hotdish]

In - M Gardiner
Out - Allen

Schneider will have another run in the VFL.

Gwilt will stay in the team as a key defender, allowing Goddard/Dempster to go up the ground more. RL after the game talked about Gwilt a bit, and how Max will not be around forever...thus I think they are keen to 'feed' him more games.

[meher baba]

Its going to be hard to find spots for a club best and fairest,an AA ruckman and a premiership winning crumber in our top 22 ATM

But gee we've got a c#@p list. Trade the lot of em I say!!

Isn't funny what a difference the level of fitness of our list makes?

[Ralphy]

INS:
schneider , Maybe gardiner

OUT:
Allen , Gwilt

if not gardiner i would go for someone like Birrs or geary

[saintsRrising]

Casey's 52 hit-outs to the Devils' 16 told the story of the ruck domination, while the Scorpions had 22 centre clearances to five for the match, completely smashing the Devils at the stoppages in the second half.

.

Sounds like gardi had a bit of a work out ten

personally i would love to have King and gadi in the ruck next week against the Haks to keep constant high quality ruck pressure on the Hawks....with Lenny feasting off the KingGee duo!!!

Schneider and Birrs to be in the mix...

[Brooksy_Babe_24]

M Gardiner and Birss should be the only two considered for a call up in my eyes

Gards is a class above the rest
and Birss should never have been dropped in the first place

Bakes is going along ok I said weeks ago he shouldn't be playing and i stand by that but he is so the club must know best

OUts would be Allen for Gards and if we were to make another change Gwilt for Birss however I'd like the coaching staff to back Gwilty for another week.

[Teflon]

Its going to be hard to find spots for a club best and fairest,an AA ruckman and a premiership winning crumber in our top 22 ATM

But gee we've got a c#@p list. Trade the lot of em I say!!

Isn't funny what a difference the level of fitness of our list makes?

Yeah especially given we have a cr@p coach who we should sack right?

I mean...its all "fitness" isnt......what happened to the game plan being responsible for world hunger????

[sunsaint]

Gwilt will stay in the team as a key defender, allowing Goddard/Dempster to go up the ground more. RL after the game talked about Gwilt a bit, and how Max will not be around forever...thus I think they are keen to 'feed' him more games.

If that be the current thinking, my question is this to the folks that get to see a lot of Casey games.
Is Gwilt a better backman than Silvagni?

[Otiman]

OUts would be Allen for Gards and if we were to make another change Gwilt for Birss however I'd like the coaching staff to back Gwilty for another week.

Retaining Gwilt would be a bold move. I would do it, think he could cause some problems for the Hawks structure.

[Armoooo]

Jeez, selection will be tough this week... IMO Allen and Gwilt should come out with Birss and Geary back in...

[mad saint guy]

Retaining Gwilt would be a bold move. I would do it, think he could cause some problems for the Hawks structure.

How? Max will take Roughead, Blake is likely to get Franklin (with Sam Fisher helping out and Gilbert is probably going to play on Williams. What role is there for Gwilt? He hasn't got the tank to play in the midfield and is nowhere near being good enough to play forward.

[Otiman]

Retaining Gwilt would be a bold move. I would do it, think he could cause some problems for the Hawks structure.

How? Max will take Roughead, Blake is likely to get Franklin (with Sam Fisher helping out and Gilbert is probably going to play on Williams. What role is there for Gwilt? He hasn't got the tank to play in the midfield and is nowhere near being good enough to play forward.

Not defensively, his long kicking from half back to break the Hawks annoying zone they play.

[Spinner]

Retaining Gwilt would be a bold move. I would do it, think he could cause some problems for the Hawks structure.

How? Max will take Roughead, Blake is likely to get Franklin (with Sam Fisher helping out and Gilbert is probably going to play on Williams. What role is there for Gwilt? He hasn't got the tank to play in the midfield and is nowhere near being good enough to play forward.

Blake should not get Franklin.

[saintbrat]

Ladder After Round 14
POS TEAM P W L D B FF For Ag PC Pts
1 Williamstown 14 12 2 0 0 0 1691 1304 129.68 48
2 Port Melbourne 14 11 3 0 0 0 1658 1236 134.14 44
3 North Ballarat 14 11 3 0 0 0 1508 1165 129.44 44
4 Casey Scorpions 14 10 4 0 0 0 1521 1157 131.46 40
5 Werribee Tigers 14 8 6 0 0 0 1349 1425 94.67 32
6 Coburg Tigers 14 7 7 0 0 0 1457 1350 107.93 28
7 Northern Bullants 14 7 7 0 0 0 1204 1331 90.46 28
8 Sandringham 14 6 8 0 0 0 1489 1279 116.42 24

9 Frankston 14 6 8 0 0 0 1356 1316 103.04 24
10 Geelong 14 6 8 0 0 0 1387 1437 96.52 24
11 Bendigo Bombers 14 5 9 0 0 0 1271 1522 83.51 20
12 Tasmania 14 4 10 0 0 0 1220 1615 75.54 16
13 Collingwood 14 3 11 0 0 0 1007 1502 67.04 12
14 Box Hill Hawks 14 2 12 0 0 0 1125 1604 70.14 8


Scorps safely in 4th

[plugger66]

Ladder After Round 14
POS TEAM P W L D B FF For Ag PC Pts
1 Williamstown 14 12 2 0 0 0 1691 1304 129.68 48
2 Port Melbourne 14 11 3 0 0 0 1658 1236 134.14 44
3 North Ballarat 14 11 3 0 0 0 1508 1165 129.44 44
4 Casey Scorpions 14 10 4 0 0 0 1521 1157 131.46 40
5 Werribee Tigers 14 8 6 0 0 0 1349 1425 94.67 32
6 Coburg Tigers 14 7 7 0 0 0 1457 1350 107.93 28
7 Northern Bullants 14 7 7 0 0 0 1204 1331 90.46 28
8 Sandringham 14 6 8 0 0 0 1489 1279 116.42 24

9 Frankston 14 6 8 0 0 0 1356 1316 103.04 24
10 Geelong 14 6 8 0 0 0 1387 1437 96.52 24
11 Bendigo Bombers 14 5 9 0 0 0 1271 1522 83.51 20
12 Tasmania 14 4 10 0 0 0 1220 1615 75.54 16
13 Collingwood 14 3 11 0 0 0 1007 1502 67.04 12
14 Box Hill Hawks 14 2 12 0 0 0 1125 1604 70.14 8


Scorps safely in 4th

I am a bit worried about our form. We could very well miss out on the finals.

[Otiman]

I am a bit worried about our form. We could very well miss out on the finals.

We Casey, or we Sandy?

[plugger66]

I am a bit worried about our form. We could very well miss out on the finals.

We Casey, or we Sandy?

Sandy. Couldnt stand Springvale so cannot stand Scorps. Go to the games to watch the saints players and hope they do well but couldnt give a rats about Silvagni, Matthews etc. Next year will be great for me at least.