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Michito Sakaki Progress Reports 2006

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S

svalovec

Rookie
Nov 27, 2005
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Pitea
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Essendon
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the Toon
I headed up to Martin Park in Wodonga on Saturday for Michito Sakaki's first regular season game for the Wodonga Raiders in their local derby with the Wodonga Bulldogs. I missed the first 15 minutes of the first quarter, and unless Michito had a blinding first fifteen minutes he failed to impress. After the first break he had about a quarter and a half of game time. in that time he had, to my count, three (ineffective) possessions, including a kick into the mark, a burst through the centre under pressure and against traffic ending with a shank of a kick that caused a turn over and a handball that ended in a ball up. In Michito's defence, the game was a very scrappy early season game, and he seemed to be finding space and getting into good positions but the Raiders were almost always under the pump and weren’t getting many clearances (until the start of the last quarter when Michito wasn't on the ground), and he was being played as an outside centre man/small forward. I got the feeling that he would have been better used as the extra in-and-under on-baller that the Raiders really needed. In addition to this he was well tagged for most of the game and was given some pretty close attention by a bigger Bulldogs opponent, Michito handled it pretty well and didn't look intimidated but I don't think he enjoyed the argy-bargy.
It is very early days yet and it will take him a while to fit into the team and adjust to the physical/scrappy nature of country footy, and for the coach to figure out where best to play him. In an earlier practice game for the Raiders he reportedly was among the best, so I guess we will wait and see.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

Good luck to the lad.<O:p</O:p

For the record: Wodonga: 15.11 (101) def Wodonga Raiders 6.11 (47)
 
Re: Sakaki has a tough start to the season in the OMFL

good luck to the little fella indeed, I think he'll need it but a lot of people would love to see him succeed. A write off for VFL/AFL you think judging on his performance?
 
Re: Sakaki has a tough start to the season in the OMFL

Anyone go to the Good Friday game? he was named on the bench. Any report would be good.

He apparently trains hard, is dedicated, learns quickly and has talent. he is small so will have to be very good to get a chance and he is 23 in May so he is getting to the end of the project player window. International rookies are bonus players on a list so with hard work and someone like sheedy taking a big punt anything is possible. but he has this season to make a major impression you would think.
 
progress report

From the O & M forum here on BF

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212893&page=19

Originally Posted by svalovec
So did Michito end up getting dropped to the magoos or did he squeze in on the bench?

either way, did he have a better game of it this week?


Originally Posted by harsh, but fair

No he didn't get the chop.
Started on the bench, came on at quarter time and had a hand one goal as Raiders got back into the game in the second.
He finished with one goal, but was seeing stars in the third quarter when Ben Aalbers met him solidly with a fair hip and shoulder bump.
I doubt he got 10 touches, but he and the Raiders were a lot better than round one.
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I see Sakaki managed only 6 games and 1 goal last season.
Does his contract with the Raiders continue into this year ? Anyone know if he is still training/playing in Australia ?
 

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Michito Sakaki Progress Reports 2006

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