Nick Lower, you have a player there.

[Punchy Bassett]

First game back for Norwood for a while tonight and yes I think you may have a player there, towled up Cupido and did one of the most corageous acts on a field I have seen for a long time, got cleaned up big time floating back for a crucial mark in the backlines. Then got up and kept going and gave Cupido a bath.

[shaz63]

So what was the result of the game??

[Punchy Bassett]

Legs by 13

[Drummond]

And Matthew Thomas has become one of my favourite players, tough, solid little back flanker. You also got a player there too.

[Ford Fairlane]

Really like what I've seen of Thomas so far, and heard good things about Lower. As I wrote on another thread, I'd like to see a HB line of Thomas, Willits and Lower step out even as soon as this year.

[Porthos]

I'd like to see them line up tomorrow!

[Ford Fairlane]

Both made the best players - Thomas 5th and Lower 6th. Lower even rated a mention in the match review (http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/footy/story_page/0,8747,19120100%255E21546,00.html) in the tiser.

Minson made the best players in the 2s - even kicked 2 goals.

Borlace inspires stop-start Redlegs
By ZAC MILBANK
13may06

Coach Trevor Hill would have identified South's dangerous duo, Ben Warren and Damian Cupido, as the men to stop in defence and his match-ups proved masterstrokes.

Power-listed Nick Lower was outstanding on Cupido, keeping him to just eight possessions while displaying great courage by charging without fear into oncoming traffic in several marking contests.

[Flag Man]

We have his brother Ed at North and most of us seem to think the kid is going to make it.

He has made it into the best players on more than one occasion this year, holding down the back pocket with the North VFL representative North Ballarat.

Plays with a lot of mongrel, and never shirks the issue.

Good to see his brother is progressing along similiar lines.:thumbsu:

[Toots Hibbert]

I'd like to see them line up tomorrow!
I reckon Lower would be about right to go.

I think he'd make some sort of substitute for Brett Montgomery. I liked what I saw of him in the preseason.

[Ford Fairlane]

Caught the last quarter of the Port v North reserves today and was impressed by Looby at CHF! He's very good overhead and kicked a couple of 50+ metre goals in the quarter I saw.

[PowerKop]

I saw Willits today down at Richmond, and he played down back for the whole game. Looked like he was playing full back. Played ok, but is very slow and got caught a couple of times trying to run out of defence, and also had a couple of turnovers on the rebound. He seems pretty good one on one though. Would say he could develop into the same sought of player as Ben Rutten.

[Drummond]

I saw Willits today down at Richmond, and he played down back for the whole game. Looked like he was playing full back. Played ok, but is very slow and got caught a couple of times trying to run out of defence, and also had a couple of turnovers on the rebound. He seems pretty good one on one though. Would say he could develop into the same sought of player as Ben Rutten.
Into the All Australian Full Back? Hasn’t done much to suggest he'll even make the Power team, let alone get that honour.

[Ford Fairlane]

Into the All Australian Full Back? Hasn’t done much to suggest he'll even make the Power team, let alone get that honour.

Could've said the same about Rutten and the crows team a couple of years ago.

[*PAFC*13]

How did my main man Logan go?

Ebert went pretty good for Port.

Lower you gun, yes that mark was very courageous. Started a reasonable size brawl. Looks like Looby might get called up for the seniors.

[Drummond]

Could've said the same about Rutten and the crows team a couple of years ago.
Fine, you continue with the belief that he will eventuate into the next Rutten. Can only do you harm. :)

[Ford Fairlane]

Fine, you continue with the belief that he will eventuate into the next Rutten. Can only do you harm. :)

I didn't make the comment about Willits. I just said the same could've been said about Rutten. What you choose to deduce from that is up to you.

[Ford Fairlane]

How did my main man Logan go?

Ebert went pretty good for Port.

Lower you gun, yes that mark was very courageous. Started a reasonable size brawl. Looks like Looby might get called up for the seniors.

Ebert's first half was terrific, but can't say I saw much of him after half time.

Looby might take Lokan's spot as the versatile sized utility. Lokan hurt himself in the first few minutes of the game and never returned. Didn't look too good hobbling to the bench after listening in on the 3/4 time huddle.

[Macca19]

Looby looks like a real player. Very confident in his ability and pace. Loves to run and bounce off the half back line and has a massive leg on him. Last two weeks he has spent some time in the forward lines with a bit of success so it seems hes fairly versatile. With Fitzgerald out for a while too, he may get his chance next week. Certainly deserves it.

Ebert was up and down. Had a decent first half, got plenty of the ball and used it reasonably well. Dont recall him even touching the ball after half time.

[Ford Fairlane]

Looby was given best for the Magpies. Kicked 3 goals.

[nivek48]

Re - Ebert - i only saw the first half and he presented well and got a lot of the footy but his kicking at times was simply awful including a few shanks when clear ... expected more :(

[Ford Fairlane]

In the first half Jarman let Ebert run around like an unregistered dog. After half time he had a hard tag on him and disappeared.

[PJ Power]

Great news about Lower and Thomas (and Looby). I'm a little wary because this time last year I was very excited by everything I saw of Eckerman and Ezard as well, and Jericho had looked good for Westies, and yet, things can change fairly quickly. Not suggesting Ezard and Eckers won't make it, but their progress has not been as quick as I was hoping.


Re Ebert: I only caught the second half of the game on TV and I was really disappointed with him and the whole side.
I am less than convinced about Brett and his future as an AFL prospect.

He played midfield yesterday and Ivens who tagged him after half-time not only restriced him in close but worked him off the ball on several occasions to take possession himself and win the clearance.
Brett was clearly trying, but his desperation is ineffective desperation. He doesn't dive on the critical ball and hold it up or get it to a teammate. He doesn't chase down the opponent from behind or effect that breathtaking tackle. He looks as though he is busting his gut, but most of the time he is playing piggy in the middle going from one opponent with the ball to the next.

I am seriously doubting where he stands at the moment.
Yes he might have been coached and played out of confidence and form, but he has enough knowledgeable footy people on his side to be able to help him get better.
Whereas a guy like Dane Swan has really come on for Collingwood and looks like a mature player after being on the fringes for a while, Brett still plays very much like a kid - on the outskirts. I don't see leadership potential at all, nor matchwinning or -saving potential at AFL level.

There, I got it off my chest now.

[Ford Fairlane]

The main difference between Lower, Thomas and Looby (throw in Bentley too) v the likes of Eckermann and Ezard is sheer size. Lower etc can do everything the others can do but are 5-6cm taller and 5-10 kg heavier, and will only get bigger. It's taken Choco a little while to realise this - or maybe it was Alan Stewart - but pretty skills in a small package don't amount to much in the AFL.

[sog35]

After today's game against the Bays I am now convinced that if Ezard played in any other SANFL team he would have played for Port by now. He just doesn't give in. It's tough to be noticed when the team is losing but on a Westies forum he is the clear leader for the B&F. I can't say whether he will be legit AFL (I have concerns about where Choco would play him), but on effort alone he deserves a shot. He's a confident kid who won't take a backward step, he deserves a go now. He's just as hard as Thomson and he is learning how to be as clean as he is.

[*PAFC*13]

How did everyone go?

Thomas and Lower played well.
Ebert was ok till the second half where he was tagged by Luke Ivans.

How about Ezard, Thomson, Eckermann (Ressies), Logan, etc..

[Porthos]

The main difference between Lower, Thomas and Looby (throw in Bentley too) v the likes of Eckermann and Ezard is sheer size. Lower etc can do everything the others can do but are 5-6cm taller and 5-10 kg heavier, and will only get bigger. It's taken Choco a little while to realise this - or maybe it was Alan Stewart - but pretty skills in a small package don't amount to much in the AFL.
Unless you're Danyle Pearce.

[Ford Fairlane]

Unless you're Danyle Pearce.

He's a freak - his X factor just overwhelms the simplicity of the physical size argument. And everyone overlooked him through two drafts, and I'm sure there were those among Port supporters who seriously doubted he would make it based on what they saw at SANFL level.

I hope Elijah Ware can have a similar sort of impact.