So you’re saying he’ll probably make the AA squad, but not the final team. 
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It’s a pity we don’t play Essendon during the season proper. Shows you how ridiculous the AwFuL fixturing is. Every other bloody team gets that opportunity…
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Same here. I remember in Round 1 against Hawthorn last year, our backline seemed too tall in the first half. We had a much better second half, which coincided with Reid going off injured at half time. Also, McKay seemed to perform best in the first half of the year before Ridley returned from injury. Hopefully this is just about the backline developing some chemistry, but it does make me worry about whether we might be too tall in defence.
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If the reports about Tstas in yesterdays match practice are accurate then he could be ready for a big breakout year (pray his kicking has improved)
Part of the HS article
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Not a lot to add to what everyone else reported.
I did accidentally write Perkins as not playing (along with Caldwell and Duursma) when I meant Parish. Duursma and Parish particpated in the early drills, just not the match sim.
Setters was opposed to Tsatas in a number of centre ball ups…wasnt so much as Setters being bad, just that Tsatas had a day out.
There was one centre clearance where Tsatas broke from the middle running toward the forward line, looked to kick what would have been a perfect pass to a perfect lead from Caddy (straight up the middle for a change instead of in the pocket) but was intercepted by another player. His direct kicking to players/leads was quite good, just the one kick where that old looping motion came back in when trying to kick for distance.
As previously noted by others, its hard to keep a track of everyone when nobody wears numbers though.
Match sim was 16 a side, so 5 (instead of 6) forwards/backs, with lots of rotations with the bench.
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Let’s not get too excited. Hes playing against second string Essendon players in a low intensity warmup practice match
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A move to 16 a side to coincide with introduction of Tassie would be a good move
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Caldwell doesn’t believe in sunscreen lotion.
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Stringer watch please?
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Yep.
Tsatas showed last year in the VFL that he can consistently get ball out of the middle and be an important cog in that team against opposition ‘second string’ midfielders.
So what we’re seeing when you play him with Merrett and our other first string midfielders against our second string midfielders shouldn’t be a surprise.
How he performs in the pre-season practice matches would be a better indication of what he can do. Even if it is just a ‘touch above match sim’ intensity.
I know it is rarely done, but how he goes in the second string midfield against the first string would be of interest as well. If he still stands out, then we have a better signal that he’s make a bit of a leap in improvement.
I’m sure the coaching group have a good understanding that he’s talented and capable so it’s just a matter of finding a block of 4 or 5 games and allow him to find where he fits inside and outside of our midfield rotations. Similar to what we did with Perkins early last year.
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Yeah and brad is more than willing to throw out team balance and go too tall to get his favourite players in the side. The ground ball game is king these days is the concern, particularly in finals.
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Yep, will be very interested to see how we approach forward structure this year.
Langford and Caddy have to be locks.
Brad loves two rucks, so you’re probably looking at Draper down there for long stretches.
Yet to mention Wright and Jones. Also, Perkins was highlighted as a Stringer replacement and he’s hardly a pressure fanatic.
Some tough calls to be made.
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Yeah. You guys are acting like a bunch of fans.
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We can’t afford 2mp and draper in the same forward line imo
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I would like to see us at least try this:
Martin caddy Merrett
Kako Langford gresh/guelfi(perkins
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It seems Brad is the only one in the Football industry that is unaware of this, reminds me of Dodoro building a spine for 20 years, absolute head in the sand type of thinking.
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I love the idea of Merret playing forward.
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wright
goldstein
draper
bryan
VIGO
Play them all
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I love the idea of Merrett just playing!