Right, time for the dissection. I applaud Jdoggy for his. Well written and I agreed with most of it. Again, I'll do it numerically. Happy to discuss any points you don't agree with.
1. Jarrad Grant:
He's getting better. I know he can frustrate, I know his best and worst comes out, often in the same passage, but he BRINGS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. He tackles hard, he's stronger than he's given credit for and his ball skills, as an all round sportsman, are insane. Yes yes can get found out under enormous heat, but he can also take massive hangers, he gets the link up handball going as well as anyone in the team and, for the most part (and I'll continue to harp on this), good things happen when he's around the ball. He stays in, if he can keep getting 15 touches, 4-5 tackles and avg around a goal, he stays, and we're the better for it.
2. Bob Murphy:
Wow. He was so clearly best on ground (and somehow Jon Ralph left him out of the best 3!!!!). When the team is so dominant against such a well performed side, that says how good he was. He was amazing. The left foot kick to Easton Wood was the kick of the year. Nothing will beat that. Outstanding, outstanding game. A pleasure to watch.
4. Marcus Bontempelli
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this "kid" slash man child, slash man beast, will be the best player most of us have seen at the club. I can't be so disrespectful to those who have long gone before him, but his skill set and what he brings to the table is out of this world. He just goes and picks the ball up in traffic, he walks through people like they're not there and he kicks it like a champ. I don't so much admire or love him, I just stare in amazement. I suspect my reaction is similar to one who saw Bradman in 1929. He's simply better than the others. It wasn't even one of his best games, but I still just stared. Crazy good.
5. Matthew Boyd
The coaching move of the year, in any club. Bar none. To call it a masterstroke is like highlighting that the wheel was an important discovery. He is calm, composed, experienced and his kicking is so much better because he has time to execute it properly and not just bang it on the boot, which he could do more often than most, but with no efficiency. Give him another 2 years.
6. Luke Dahlhaus
Luke is becoming extremely consistent, so much so that I hardly notice his work rate any more. I've only watched the 1st half on replay after being at the game, but his willingness to run hard to create space, as well as his tackling intensity, is amazing. If he could kick a drop punt properly, he'd be a star. As it is, he's just a super, super player. He'll be very close to A Grade by the end of this season.
8. Stewart Crameri
Watched him a fair bit during the game. He worked and ran very hard, he's just not having the impact he did last year. But, TBH, that's to the betterment of the team. He's a hard running 3rd forward, and that's the role he's playing now. That he's not close to being the number 1 forward says how far we have come in 6 months. He'll come good, he got into space and save for 2 misses by a collective margin of 4 inches, he could have had 2 goals and been an important player.
9. Jake Stringer
Too quick for a tall, too tall for a small. The full package. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, when he learns to not sit back on his set shots and get his momentum through the ball, he'll be an AA. We all know what he is, but he likes to hurt opposition, he's got a nice amount of arrogance and he has a skill set that few possess. Star. It's easy to sing his praises after his coming out parade, but he's a bona fide star. The concern is can he continue it for 22 weeks? Time will tell but I suspect his ego will not allow him to not do it.
10. Easton Wood
Jesus he looked like Corey Enright last night. He intercepted everything, ran off his opponent and disposed of it with skill. I won't say he's come a long way, because he's always had it, but his body is allowing him the continuity he needs for consistency. It was by far his best game and he's an important cog of a (at this point) very capable and strong back 6.
11. Jack Macrae
He was much better this week. His kicking to space across his body is as good as anyone in the league and he sees the ground very well. As I've said a lot, he needs more penetration in his kicking, but he's strong over the ball, he's creative and he gets in space easily. Star.
13. Nathan Hrovat
Love his decision making, love his foot skills, hate his lack of leg speed. At his height, he needs to be quicker, in my opinion. He brings a good skill set to the table, but does he have a point of difference in his game that stands him out from the others? I'm not sure but I'd like to see it.
14. Clay Smith
I'm staggered how well he played given how much footy he's missed. Hardly missed a beat. His point of difference is his ability to hurt people in the tackle. I guess I'm still slightly concerned that this manic play will result in further injuries, but he was terrific yesterday. I labelled his kicking functional, and he does get the ball to go where he wants it to, which I guess is all that matters, but compared to a Webb or Bont, his kicking won't win any beauty awards. Happy to have him back.
17. Tom Boyd
Ok, I've been accused, and probably quite rightly, about my one eyed view of him. He's a farking star. As I've said ad nauseam, he is not strong enough, against the no1 defenders of most clubs, to dominate his space, hold off the defender and take a mark. But he will be. His ability to read the ball and get it to the front any way possible, is extraordinary for a kid. His kicking is amazing (especially when there are so many forwards who don't take their chances) and almost all our scores are a direct result of his input, or his structural significance. I farking love him.
19. Lukas Webb
Called it first after Ballarat. Gilbee all over again. He is clearly a natural sportsman - he's got time and he's composed. Two perfect qualities for role he will play. He kicks it really well, he makes good decisions and he reads the play well. For the draft people who wanted him; big tick. For Dally, bigger tick.
22. Mitch Honeychurch
Need to watch the rest of the game to see him, because I didn't notice much of him when he was on. He's had a very good start to the season, but as many have mentioned, there's going to be extreme competition for the small forward position in the team and I'll be fascinated in 3 years time who has owned/wanted it the most.
23. Jordan Roughead
I mentioned 2 months ago that the revised backline plan that Beveridge was introducing would help Rough out the most, and it has. It hasn't left him as exposed one on one as he has been. His strength is his size and marking/spoiling ability. Athleticism and mobility aren't. And for God's sake, he is not a forward and he's not a ruck, and I'll die saying that, only because he has more to offer down back. He was very good yesterday, as was the whole backline.
25. Koby Stevens
I was so disappointed in his game at Punt Rd 2 weeks ago. He had a nightmare, but he was great yesterday. His strength above his head is crucial if it continues, because he's reliable. His kicking and intensity were much better. He's still on the cusp of being in and out of selection, but it'd be hard to drop him on yesterday's performance.
29. Tory Dickson
His performance was unlike him, his kicking was off and his pressure wasn't as manic as it had been. He'll escape criticism because of the glory surrounding the team, but, like Honeychurch, he can't be having 2 or 3 quietish games in a row because he'll be out for a Hunter or someone else. I'll reserve judgement until next week.
32. Michael Talia
I'm slowly coming around
. He was terrific last night. Th thing he is, and this will be important moving forward, is he's consistent. His build is perfect for footy, he's quick enough and he defends one on one very well. His kicking is still a concern and under pressure he has no creativity, but I'll take him for what he is, which is a dependable, reliable backman who doesn't get beaten often. I'll admit I may have been a bit hard on him.
39. Jason Johannisen
His best game for the club by a mile. He was fantastic. My knock on him, other than his kicking, was his inability to back in his speed and second guess the decision. His timing of his runs off half back to get the handball receive was perfect, and I don't say that lightly. His kicking was good and his speed is so important. Fantastic game and I hope his confidence grows from here because a fast runner with confidence and the ability to evade defenders is an amazing asset.
42. Liam Picken
He's not my fav, but as I've said many times, he's my first picked. He's dependable and reliable and his effort is consistent, which means he plays every week regardless. He was fantastic yesterday, and forget the offensive stuff, he was mighty in the middle and wherever he played. His kamikaze attack on the footy is there for all to see and is a great example to the younger guys that talent isn't everything.
46. Lin Jong
Whilst I was never as harsh on him as MD, he clearly needed to improve to be a best 22 player. And he has..... in spades. His athleticism and strength through the thighs and hips, is incredible. He can get up to speed quickly, his skills have improved and he's easily best 22, because we don't have a 6'3" running machine like him in the club. And it's crucial to create space, which then benefits everyone else around him. He's not Griffen, but he doesn't need to be, we are better balanced with him in the side.
49. Ayce Cordy
This might take a while to get down, but his importance or otherwise to the team, comes down to what value you put on tap ruckman. He was smashed in centre bounces, which is where Minson is dominant, but the around the ground things at he did, picking it up, firing out handballs etc, are things that Will can't do. Watching Jacobs, who I thought was poor other than his tap work, has led me to believe that tapping the ball is about as overrated a skill in modern day footy as there is. The lumbering ruckman, in our helter skelter play, I fear is redundant. Will is going to have to show a lot to get himself back in. If yesterday was an anomaly and we get smashed by structure against Sydney, I may change my mind again, but yesterday's game was a glimpse to the future (and hopefully the now) and I can't see how Will, who I love, maintains validity in that lineup. Whether Ayce is the answer, or whether our long term mobile ruckman isn't at the club at the moment, I don't know, but I can't see a dinosaur being part of our next Premiership side.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that the challenge was for the kids to do the heavy lifting for the side. The starting 4 in the middle yesterday were Bontempelli, Macrae, and Dahlhaus. That these kids are doing what they're doing at 19, 20 and 21 is mind blowing.
Finally, I said we would finish 2nd last because of the experience we lost, but ultimately what happened with the players leaving last year was no bad thing. And at this stage I'm right about one and wrong about the other. We won't finish down the bottom. We will scare the s**t out of sides. I stated the reasons we let Cooney etc go and the club has been justified; Stringer has taken his game to another level. Whether that is cultural, becoming a father, maturity, whatever, it doesn't matter, the decision was right.
There will be ups and there will be downs, but there has never, I repeat, never, been a better time to be a Dogs supporter.
Go Dogs.
1. Jarrad Grant:
He's getting better. I know he can frustrate, I know his best and worst comes out, often in the same passage, but he BRINGS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. He tackles hard, he's stronger than he's given credit for and his ball skills, as an all round sportsman, are insane. Yes yes can get found out under enormous heat, but he can also take massive hangers, he gets the link up handball going as well as anyone in the team and, for the most part (and I'll continue to harp on this), good things happen when he's around the ball. He stays in, if he can keep getting 15 touches, 4-5 tackles and avg around a goal, he stays, and we're the better for it.
2. Bob Murphy:
Wow. He was so clearly best on ground (and somehow Jon Ralph left him out of the best 3!!!!). When the team is so dominant against such a well performed side, that says how good he was. He was amazing. The left foot kick to Easton Wood was the kick of the year. Nothing will beat that. Outstanding, outstanding game. A pleasure to watch.
4. Marcus Bontempelli
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this "kid" slash man child, slash man beast, will be the best player most of us have seen at the club. I can't be so disrespectful to those who have long gone before him, but his skill set and what he brings to the table is out of this world. He just goes and picks the ball up in traffic, he walks through people like they're not there and he kicks it like a champ. I don't so much admire or love him, I just stare in amazement. I suspect my reaction is similar to one who saw Bradman in 1929. He's simply better than the others. It wasn't even one of his best games, but I still just stared. Crazy good.
5. Matthew Boyd
The coaching move of the year, in any club. Bar none. To call it a masterstroke is like highlighting that the wheel was an important discovery. He is calm, composed, experienced and his kicking is so much better because he has time to execute it properly and not just bang it on the boot, which he could do more often than most, but with no efficiency. Give him another 2 years.
6. Luke Dahlhaus
Luke is becoming extremely consistent, so much so that I hardly notice his work rate any more. I've only watched the 1st half on replay after being at the game, but his willingness to run hard to create space, as well as his tackling intensity, is amazing. If he could kick a drop punt properly, he'd be a star. As it is, he's just a super, super player. He'll be very close to A Grade by the end of this season.
8. Stewart Crameri
Watched him a fair bit during the game. He worked and ran very hard, he's just not having the impact he did last year. But, TBH, that's to the betterment of the team. He's a hard running 3rd forward, and that's the role he's playing now. That he's not close to being the number 1 forward says how far we have come in 6 months. He'll come good, he got into space and save for 2 misses by a collective margin of 4 inches, he could have had 2 goals and been an important player.
9. Jake Stringer
Too quick for a tall, too tall for a small. The full package. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, when he learns to not sit back on his set shots and get his momentum through the ball, he'll be an AA. We all know what he is, but he likes to hurt opposition, he's got a nice amount of arrogance and he has a skill set that few possess. Star. It's easy to sing his praises after his coming out parade, but he's a bona fide star. The concern is can he continue it for 22 weeks? Time will tell but I suspect his ego will not allow him to not do it.
10. Easton Wood
Jesus he looked like Corey Enright last night. He intercepted everything, ran off his opponent and disposed of it with skill. I won't say he's come a long way, because he's always had it, but his body is allowing him the continuity he needs for consistency. It was by far his best game and he's an important cog of a (at this point) very capable and strong back 6.
11. Jack Macrae
He was much better this week. His kicking to space across his body is as good as anyone in the league and he sees the ground very well. As I've said a lot, he needs more penetration in his kicking, but he's strong over the ball, he's creative and he gets in space easily. Star.
13. Nathan Hrovat
Love his decision making, love his foot skills, hate his lack of leg speed. At his height, he needs to be quicker, in my opinion. He brings a good skill set to the table, but does he have a point of difference in his game that stands him out from the others? I'm not sure but I'd like to see it.
14. Clay Smith
I'm staggered how well he played given how much footy he's missed. Hardly missed a beat. His point of difference is his ability to hurt people in the tackle. I guess I'm still slightly concerned that this manic play will result in further injuries, but he was terrific yesterday. I labelled his kicking functional, and he does get the ball to go where he wants it to, which I guess is all that matters, but compared to a Webb or Bont, his kicking won't win any beauty awards. Happy to have him back.
17. Tom Boyd
Ok, I've been accused, and probably quite rightly, about my one eyed view of him. He's a farking star. As I've said ad nauseam, he is not strong enough, against the no1 defenders of most clubs, to dominate his space, hold off the defender and take a mark. But he will be. His ability to read the ball and get it to the front any way possible, is extraordinary for a kid. His kicking is amazing (especially when there are so many forwards who don't take their chances) and almost all our scores are a direct result of his input, or his structural significance. I farking love him.
19. Lukas Webb
Called it first after Ballarat. Gilbee all over again. He is clearly a natural sportsman - he's got time and he's composed. Two perfect qualities for role he will play. He kicks it really well, he makes good decisions and he reads the play well. For the draft people who wanted him; big tick. For Dally, bigger tick.
22. Mitch Honeychurch
Need to watch the rest of the game to see him, because I didn't notice much of him when he was on. He's had a very good start to the season, but as many have mentioned, there's going to be extreme competition for the small forward position in the team and I'll be fascinated in 3 years time who has owned/wanted it the most.
23. Jordan Roughead
I mentioned 2 months ago that the revised backline plan that Beveridge was introducing would help Rough out the most, and it has. It hasn't left him as exposed one on one as he has been. His strength is his size and marking/spoiling ability. Athleticism and mobility aren't. And for God's sake, he is not a forward and he's not a ruck, and I'll die saying that, only because he has more to offer down back. He was very good yesterday, as was the whole backline.
25. Koby Stevens
I was so disappointed in his game at Punt Rd 2 weeks ago. He had a nightmare, but he was great yesterday. His strength above his head is crucial if it continues, because he's reliable. His kicking and intensity were much better. He's still on the cusp of being in and out of selection, but it'd be hard to drop him on yesterday's performance.
29. Tory Dickson
His performance was unlike him, his kicking was off and his pressure wasn't as manic as it had been. He'll escape criticism because of the glory surrounding the team, but, like Honeychurch, he can't be having 2 or 3 quietish games in a row because he'll be out for a Hunter or someone else. I'll reserve judgement until next week.
32. Michael Talia
I'm slowly coming around
. He was terrific last night. Th thing he is, and this will be important moving forward, is he's consistent. His build is perfect for footy, he's quick enough and he defends one on one very well. His kicking is still a concern and under pressure he has no creativity, but I'll take him for what he is, which is a dependable, reliable backman who doesn't get beaten often. I'll admit I may have been a bit hard on him.39. Jason Johannisen
His best game for the club by a mile. He was fantastic. My knock on him, other than his kicking, was his inability to back in his speed and second guess the decision. His timing of his runs off half back to get the handball receive was perfect, and I don't say that lightly. His kicking was good and his speed is so important. Fantastic game and I hope his confidence grows from here because a fast runner with confidence and the ability to evade defenders is an amazing asset.
42. Liam Picken
He's not my fav, but as I've said many times, he's my first picked. He's dependable and reliable and his effort is consistent, which means he plays every week regardless. He was fantastic yesterday, and forget the offensive stuff, he was mighty in the middle and wherever he played. His kamikaze attack on the footy is there for all to see and is a great example to the younger guys that talent isn't everything.
46. Lin Jong
Whilst I was never as harsh on him as MD, he clearly needed to improve to be a best 22 player. And he has..... in spades. His athleticism and strength through the thighs and hips, is incredible. He can get up to speed quickly, his skills have improved and he's easily best 22, because we don't have a 6'3" running machine like him in the club. And it's crucial to create space, which then benefits everyone else around him. He's not Griffen, but he doesn't need to be, we are better balanced with him in the side.
49. Ayce Cordy
This might take a while to get down, but his importance or otherwise to the team, comes down to what value you put on tap ruckman. He was smashed in centre bounces, which is where Minson is dominant, but the around the ground things at he did, picking it up, firing out handballs etc, are things that Will can't do. Watching Jacobs, who I thought was poor other than his tap work, has led me to believe that tapping the ball is about as overrated a skill in modern day footy as there is. The lumbering ruckman, in our helter skelter play, I fear is redundant. Will is going to have to show a lot to get himself back in. If yesterday was an anomaly and we get smashed by structure against Sydney, I may change my mind again, but yesterday's game was a glimpse to the future (and hopefully the now) and I can't see how Will, who I love, maintains validity in that lineup. Whether Ayce is the answer, or whether our long term mobile ruckman isn't at the club at the moment, I don't know, but I can't see a dinosaur being part of our next Premiership side.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that the challenge was for the kids to do the heavy lifting for the side. The starting 4 in the middle yesterday were Bontempelli, Macrae, and Dahlhaus. That these kids are doing what they're doing at 19, 20 and 21 is mind blowing.
Finally, I said we would finish 2nd last because of the experience we lost, but ultimately what happened with the players leaving last year was no bad thing. And at this stage I'm right about one and wrong about the other. We won't finish down the bottom. We will scare the s**t out of sides. I stated the reasons we let Cooney etc go and the club has been justified; Stringer has taken his game to another level. Whether that is cultural, becoming a father, maturity, whatever, it doesn't matter, the decision was right.
There will be ups and there will be downs, but there has never, I repeat, never, been a better time to be a Dogs supporter.
Go Dogs.
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