FIGJAM
18 Feb 2006, 12:07
Just back from the Lexus Centre. Great to have a fix of footy again!
Was threatening to rain with the odd drop and whilst the wind was light, I can say after having a kick, it was very flukey. Skills were erratic, but intensity was high. The boys look very fit.
No numbers on the players made it hard to identify our lads. A few Willi boys must have also been interspersed, as I had no idea who they were. I may have missed a few, and no doubt probably have got a few terribly wrong, but I'll share my thoughts anyway.
1. Leon: Will never ever be an AFL midfielder. I think he wants to be consciously, but subconsciously he does eveything to ruin his aspirations. In the era of the perpetual flood, at least Leon tries to break this trend, steering clear of this action by positioning himself exactly a kick and a half away from the play.
3. Lones: Played in defence and was OK I spose. Nothing inneresting to report.
4. Didak: Played half forward flank which will upset the "Daks 4 Midfield" Action Faction. Did OK and got a couple of sausages, but clearly didn't change out of second gear.
6. Brodes: Good, but another established senior player with cruise control on.
8. Jimmay: So professional he makes Ernst & Young look like HIH.
10. Carrots: Typical Carrots (suitably in the orange top). Did a few very nice things. 2 or 3 goals.
11. O'Bree: A lot of guys look the same without numbers, and Obes fits in that group. He got a few touches when I could identify him.
12. Walker: Played on Cam for the most part. Did nothing of note. probably never will.
13. Daisy: Love him! Runs all day and is always amongst it. Started off shakey with his field kicking to leading options. Seemeed a bit tight. But relaxed into the game and showed why we rate him. Provided the highlight of the day with a burst of speed along the opposite pocket to me, for a couple of bounces and a goal from the boundary line. Was fantastic! The just a minute later, he contested the ball accross half forward and managed to trap it on the ground with a hand and quickly offload the ball to Carrots for a goal. Hard to explain, but it was all class! No real reason why he'll need to spend much time at Willi.
14. Wakes: Professional and very good. Only a matter of time before he starts going backwards, but we should enjoy watching his game at the minute, as he's a class defender.
15. Eags: Was in amongst it off the wing. Seems bigger physically and a bit fitter. Drifts in and out, but that's his quirk. Kicked an interesting goal at the end. Not sure he meant it!
18. Lica: Not the player to whack it in cruise control, he was very good. Kicking's ordinary, but you just gotta put up with it.
19. Davies: No matter the lack of polish in the kid, no one can deny his ability to get involved. And to be fair, that he isn't silky didn't mean that he used it poorly. In fact, I thought he got heaps of it and used it well. Looked at home in the midfield.
20. Taz: He's almost off comic value at these sorts of games. Struggled early against our better defenders and then started to step up against some Williamstown (?) opposition. Is fit as a fiddle and when he starts playing in anger, he may be back at 2003 form (touch wood!).
21. Stretch: Good to actually see him play footy and not get injured. Played ruck to begin with, with the forward line as his other home. Needs to work on his kicking. Probably broke even with Flaps in the ruck, but I'd prefer Richards around the ground.
23. Pebbbles: Musta kicked four or so. Looks like he'll be playing full-forwardish. Too strong for anyone and a welcome return (touch wood)!
24. Tarks: Was Tarks.
25. Fraser: BOG for mine. Is fit and stronger in the upper body, and his ability to get involved is fantastic. Kicking is rusty as a year old razor, but he'll tighten this up over time. Looks like he's back (touch wood)!
26. Johnno: Played defence and did pretty well. Kicking still makes some unmentionable muscles contract, but effective outcomes. He looks in better nick than last year.
27. Max: A young Jimmy-C & Lica in terms of professionalism. Calm as a coma and uses it well. If I have any criticism, is that his ability to hold onto the ball for a long period, sometimes leads him to hold onto it for too long, thereby missing an option.
28. Stanners: Pretty much what I expected from reports and his highlights video. Good footy nous with an ability to get involved, and is already AFL ready physically, but his kicking is ordinary. Not that he can't kick it straight and long to a target, it's just most times he stuffs it up. This is already a concern. Hope he can turn it around.
30. Flaps: Surprised me early on with some good ruck efforts against Stretch and some good aroudn the ground play. Looked like he had improved which is good. Lost him a bit latter in the day. May have had some bench time or something.
31. JA: Good pick up! Should be a key defensive option in the future. Clement-ish ability to ensure a contest whilst keeping balance to clear the ball effectively. Good kicking generally. Good height and athleticism.
32. Trav: Good game. I've said he might be a key defensive prospect, but his natural forward instinct was evident today and will be better off playing alongside Taz & Rock. All three played together after the half-time break, with the likes of Thomas and Didak floating about and a stream of goals ensued. Salivating at this prospect.
33. Cam: Ordinary. Fit as a fiddle, but he just does things which send you nuts. The best summation of Cam is his before the game plays. He literally kicked the ball from just inside the halfway mark on the ground and it bounced through for a goal. About 30 seconds later, he went for another torp, only to slug it straight into an umpire! Unfortunately his riddiculous far outweighs any sublime!
34. J-Clo: Played wing on Egan (yes really!). If very fit and running pretty well. Dunno if that's sufficient to make up for his faults though which were still evident.
35. Presti: Was Presti.
36. Swan: I'd expect him to show a bit more at a diluted AFL level, so was a bit disappointing. Don't think he'll be anything but a battler.
37. Iles: Was quite impressive! Good pace, finds space pretty well and spotted up and hit some good options by foot. Played half back and did pretty well I thought. Got caught by Stanners at the end trying to do too much.
39. Heaff: Played in defence and provided some good run. Has trimmed down and is moving quicker (although not prettier!).
40. Hall: Does some good things, but counter balances this with some really dumb things. Kicking is shocking! I reckon he should play against the Aints, as we need a serious look and the Aints ruck division is ordinary.
43. Harry: OK, but nothing special. Does the odd good thing. I reckon his potential/current ability is overrated by many of our supporters.
45. Coxy: Did some really good things early on, before drifiting out. Will need to see him a bit more at Willi.
Again, I probably left out players I couldn't identify and probably stuffed some opinions up. They should give players jumpers with numbers!
Was threatening to rain with the odd drop and whilst the wind was light, I can say after having a kick, it was very flukey. Skills were erratic, but intensity was high. The boys look very fit.
No numbers on the players made it hard to identify our lads. A few Willi boys must have also been interspersed, as I had no idea who they were. I may have missed a few, and no doubt probably have got a few terribly wrong, but I'll share my thoughts anyway.
1. Leon: Will never ever be an AFL midfielder. I think he wants to be consciously, but subconsciously he does eveything to ruin his aspirations. In the era of the perpetual flood, at least Leon tries to break this trend, steering clear of this action by positioning himself exactly a kick and a half away from the play.
3. Lones: Played in defence and was OK I spose. Nothing inneresting to report.
4. Didak: Played half forward flank which will upset the "Daks 4 Midfield" Action Faction. Did OK and got a couple of sausages, but clearly didn't change out of second gear.
6. Brodes: Good, but another established senior player with cruise control on.
8. Jimmay: So professional he makes Ernst & Young look like HIH.
10. Carrots: Typical Carrots (suitably in the orange top). Did a few very nice things. 2 or 3 goals.
11. O'Bree: A lot of guys look the same without numbers, and Obes fits in that group. He got a few touches when I could identify him.
12. Walker: Played on Cam for the most part. Did nothing of note. probably never will.
13. Daisy: Love him! Runs all day and is always amongst it. Started off shakey with his field kicking to leading options. Seemeed a bit tight. But relaxed into the game and showed why we rate him. Provided the highlight of the day with a burst of speed along the opposite pocket to me, for a couple of bounces and a goal from the boundary line. Was fantastic! The just a minute later, he contested the ball accross half forward and managed to trap it on the ground with a hand and quickly offload the ball to Carrots for a goal. Hard to explain, but it was all class! No real reason why he'll need to spend much time at Willi.
14. Wakes: Professional and very good. Only a matter of time before he starts going backwards, but we should enjoy watching his game at the minute, as he's a class defender.
15. Eags: Was in amongst it off the wing. Seems bigger physically and a bit fitter. Drifts in and out, but that's his quirk. Kicked an interesting goal at the end. Not sure he meant it!
18. Lica: Not the player to whack it in cruise control, he was very good. Kicking's ordinary, but you just gotta put up with it.
19. Davies: No matter the lack of polish in the kid, no one can deny his ability to get involved. And to be fair, that he isn't silky didn't mean that he used it poorly. In fact, I thought he got heaps of it and used it well. Looked at home in the midfield.
20. Taz: He's almost off comic value at these sorts of games. Struggled early against our better defenders and then started to step up against some Williamstown (?) opposition. Is fit as a fiddle and when he starts playing in anger, he may be back at 2003 form (touch wood!).
21. Stretch: Good to actually see him play footy and not get injured. Played ruck to begin with, with the forward line as his other home. Needs to work on his kicking. Probably broke even with Flaps in the ruck, but I'd prefer Richards around the ground.
23. Pebbbles: Musta kicked four or so. Looks like he'll be playing full-forwardish. Too strong for anyone and a welcome return (touch wood)!
24. Tarks: Was Tarks.
25. Fraser: BOG for mine. Is fit and stronger in the upper body, and his ability to get involved is fantastic. Kicking is rusty as a year old razor, but he'll tighten this up over time. Looks like he's back (touch wood)!
26. Johnno: Played defence and did pretty well. Kicking still makes some unmentionable muscles contract, but effective outcomes. He looks in better nick than last year.
27. Max: A young Jimmy-C & Lica in terms of professionalism. Calm as a coma and uses it well. If I have any criticism, is that his ability to hold onto the ball for a long period, sometimes leads him to hold onto it for too long, thereby missing an option.
28. Stanners: Pretty much what I expected from reports and his highlights video. Good footy nous with an ability to get involved, and is already AFL ready physically, but his kicking is ordinary. Not that he can't kick it straight and long to a target, it's just most times he stuffs it up. This is already a concern. Hope he can turn it around.
30. Flaps: Surprised me early on with some good ruck efforts against Stretch and some good aroudn the ground play. Looked like he had improved which is good. Lost him a bit latter in the day. May have had some bench time or something.
31. JA: Good pick up! Should be a key defensive option in the future. Clement-ish ability to ensure a contest whilst keeping balance to clear the ball effectively. Good kicking generally. Good height and athleticism.
32. Trav: Good game. I've said he might be a key defensive prospect, but his natural forward instinct was evident today and will be better off playing alongside Taz & Rock. All three played together after the half-time break, with the likes of Thomas and Didak floating about and a stream of goals ensued. Salivating at this prospect.
33. Cam: Ordinary. Fit as a fiddle, but he just does things which send you nuts. The best summation of Cam is his before the game plays. He literally kicked the ball from just inside the halfway mark on the ground and it bounced through for a goal. About 30 seconds later, he went for another torp, only to slug it straight into an umpire! Unfortunately his riddiculous far outweighs any sublime!
34. J-Clo: Played wing on Egan (yes really!). If very fit and running pretty well. Dunno if that's sufficient to make up for his faults though which were still evident.
35. Presti: Was Presti.
36. Swan: I'd expect him to show a bit more at a diluted AFL level, so was a bit disappointing. Don't think he'll be anything but a battler.
37. Iles: Was quite impressive! Good pace, finds space pretty well and spotted up and hit some good options by foot. Played half back and did pretty well I thought. Got caught by Stanners at the end trying to do too much.
39. Heaff: Played in defence and provided some good run. Has trimmed down and is moving quicker (although not prettier!).
40. Hall: Does some good things, but counter balances this with some really dumb things. Kicking is shocking! I reckon he should play against the Aints, as we need a serious look and the Aints ruck division is ordinary.
43. Harry: OK, but nothing special. Does the odd good thing. I reckon his potential/current ability is overrated by many of our supporters.
45. Coxy: Did some really good things early on, before drifiting out. Will need to see him a bit more at Willi.
Again, I probably left out players I couldn't identify and probably stuffed some opinions up. They should give players jumpers with numbers!