- Sep 2, 2013
- 10,977
- 10,079
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
All the writeups from these that I can bother to copy and paste from my phone.
Mr Consistent: Taylor Grace
The great thing about 19-year old Taylor Grace is that you just know what you’re going to get from him. Polished, poised and Sandringham’s spare parts man, Grace is as versatile as they come, and offers the ability to slip comfortably into any role handed to him. Grace has played 13 games for the Dragons this year averaging 31 disposals at 70% disposal efficiency, but more importantly has tasted senior VFL action for the Zebras on six occasions and has handled the step-up in bodies and intensity to a tee. Not too dissimilar to North Melbourne’s Nick Dal Santo in the way he plays his football, Graçe’s left foot is a weapon, as is his calmness under pressure. As a senior member of the team, the Dragons will be looking upon their Mr Consistent as a real cornerstone of their finals assault.
The Gun: Peter Wright
Positioned to be picked in the top five players in the NAB AFL draft in 2014, Peter Wright is without a doubt Calder’s most dangerous and damaging player. The tall, powerful key position forward and back up ruckman has had a brilliant TAC Cup season, nailing 31 goals from his 11 games, and six in his five appearances for Vic Metro. Wright is an integral aspect to Calder’s spine, and will be one of the key players that opposing teams will be looking to shut down. Wright’s form has been impressive in the past fortnight leading into the finals, clinching 24 combined marks in the two games played, and slotting 4 goals in the final game of the season against the Northern Knights.
The gun: Oscar McDonald
The younger brother of Melbourne’s Tom, Oscar McDonald’s season has seen himself launched into the limelight as a Jackson Trengove-like defender who boasts terrific athleticism, agility, speed, a lovely kick and the ability to threaten when pinch hitting up forward. McDonald has been North Ballarat’s gun player this year, and arguably their most important. Playing key roles at both ends of the field, he has been a large reason why the Rebels have shot into flag contention in 2014. With a terrific ability to read the play, mixed with a combination of being able to attract and use the ball in possession, his willingness to kick goals at one end and stop them at the other will go a long way to ensuring the Rebels go deep into September.
The Gun: Nathan Drummond
Overlooked in last year’s National Draft due to injuries that destroyed his 2014 season, Nathan Drummond has returned with a vengeance that has seen consistent form and further development into a gun utility for the Bushies. Drummond comes into the Finals Series as arguably the competitions most in-form player, finishing with two best afield honours in Murray’s last two games in nail-bitting wins, reflecting Drummond’s impact in close games. Drummond enjoyed 36 possessions and 13 clearances last week against Bendigo, and has average 26 disposals for the year in 2014. He’s tasted senior VFL action with Richmond in the VFL on three occasions, but importantly he’s bagged 10 goals from 13 TAC Cup games. As one of the major beneficiaries of the 19-year old system which allows three 19 year-olds the opportunity to play as an above-ager, Drummond has blossomed into a unique utility, with speed and boasts an impressive overhead mark, averaging 5.4 marks for the year. With an invite to the National Combine locked away, a move from a key post into a more varied role has bought out one of Drummond’s most devastating traits; his tackling which he averages 4.8 per game.
The gun: Patrick McCartin
It’s hard to go past the likely number one pick when trying to find a gun. Let’s be honest, the Falcons have a number of talented players, but McCartin tops the list for his sheer dominance in the forward 50. He was dangerous last year and he’s successfully taken the next step to stamp himself as potential number one pick. Had he played a full season he would have cantered into the leading goal kicker not only for the Falcons, but the league as well. He booted 18 goals in four games – enough said.
The finals specialist: Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
Western’s super-boot is tipped to do some serious damage throughout the finals, and given his Shannon Hurn-like thumping left kick, Dillon Viojo-Rainbow’s ability to repel attack from defence will go a long way to ensuring that the Jets come up with a first-week win. He hits the ball hard, flat and over long distances, while his intercept marking is also a strength of his. On top of that, he has a deft touch at ground level and makes good decisions with the ball. He can be relied upon to take kick ins, and is often the Western Jets’ link-up player in defence, getting involved heavily in scoring chains. It wouldn’t be beyond the Stingrays to look at playing a defensive forward on ‘DVR’, but given he likes to work up the ground, he’ll be breaking the hearts of the opposition if he’s allowed to win the ball on a wing and send a thumping long ball inside 50.
The match winner: Connor Menadue
A match winner if you’ve ever seen one, Connor Menadue is an explosive yet nimble midfielder who cracks in hard and does some serious damage whenever he’s in possession. Menadue’s ability to cut open a game with his speed and penetrating kick makes him an exciting prospect during finals, but more importantly he has bagged 14 goals this year to be second on the Jets’ goal-kicking tally. More often than not, teams don’t have a match up for Menadue which gives the Jets a real point of difference and as such he forms the cornerstone of Western’s arsenal. A real play maker, Menadue has shown his link-up work from the back half can be devastating, so too his tendency to run and carry the ball, breaking lines and setting up play further afield with a rapid style of play. Jets players will be looking to get the ball into the hands of Menadue against Dandenong this weekend, and for as long as the Jets can push this finals series.
The x-factor: Jayden Laverde
The debate of the finals series so far has been about who is going to be able to go toe-to-toe with Jayden Laverde. The powerful utility is blessed with a rare combination of speed, athleticism and incredible hurt factor which could make him the deal breaker for the Jets during the finals. Laverde is a sublime mover; he glides through the wings with poise and speed, and loves to cut through congestion with long strides where he can burst out from a contested situation and run the ball, propelling his team into attack. With terrific composure and a knack to always bob up, he showed through the Championships just how dangerous he could be when he was shifted forward, kicking 15 goals this year for the Jets. Given his attributes, he is able to play an array of positions but looks at his most dangerous when played forward of centre. He averages 28 disposals, one goal and 5.5 marks from his two outings against Dandenong this season, and he’s expected to deliver more of the same against the Stingrays this weekend.
Mr Consistent: Corey Ellis
The hard working, blue collar midfielder rarely has a bad game. Corey Ellis has been in sensational form this year, both at TAC Cup and National Championships level for Vic Metro. The widely tipped first-round draft prospect does everything with minimal fuss and is a fan favourite among TAC Cup fans with a stunning left foot and a crafty sidestep in which he sucks opposition players in with. Ellis’ big tank means he gets to plenty of contests, and he racks up large disposal numbers with ease, averaging 22 disposals from his eight games this season. He is a marking threat, and more importantly has shown on many occasions this year he can push forward to goal with a thumping left foot that appears effortless for Ellis. He is the type of player who just makes things happen, a productive and busy midfielder who can really have a say in the outcome of a game.
The gun: Liam Duggan
Is there a more polished and eloquent player than Liam Duggan? The gun midfielder has had a brilliant season that seen him take home the Ben Mitchell medal in the AFL-AIS squad, enjoy Vic Metro caps as well as leading his school side St Patrick’s to the Herald Sun Shield title. However for the Jets, he has been a picture of consistency, and has shown just how influential he can be. The great thing about him is he can play any role well, proving to be the match-winner against the Northern Knights in a come-from-behind victory that netted three final-quarter goals off four disposals. He comes into the finals series with an average of 23 disposals under his belt from his previous two games. Look for Duggan to use his polished disposal and goal-kicking ability for a cut-throat elimination final against Dandenong.
The Match Winner –Toby McLean
McLean gained popularity with his giant screamer against the Knights earlier in the year. Yet McLean is a match winner in every way possible. He takes great contested marks every week, despite being 179 cm. McLean is capable of kicking three goals and getting 30 possessions every few weeks, and he just bobs up for crucial goals. He lead the club with 27 goals this year, which was good for sixth in the TAC Cup Goal kicking leaderboard. He kicked multiple goals in 10 of his 17 matches and was named in the bests 11 times. McLean averaged 21.5 disposals and played every game this year. When the tag goes to Urban, you know McLean will take the pressure and put the team on his shoulders.
The X Factor: Dan Howe
Like Drummond, Dan Howe is relishing another opportunity to re-join the Bushrangers in 2014 as an over-age prospect. Howe, who made a serious statement in his rebounding half back role for Vic Country and the National Championships announced him as a reliable type, with plenty to offer in that particular role. Given Howe’s size, athleticism and versatility Howe can play at either of the ground but his role in defence has shown up attributes such as a polished kick, a terrific mark and his elite ability to read the play. The one time forward has adjusted to life as a defender, and has shown he’s not afraid to back himself in to take a defensive grab – just like the hanger he took against WA during the National Championships. With teammate Caleb Marchbank missing after a minor knee hiccup, Howe has the X-factor and the strings in his bow to make a statement this weekend.
Under the radar: Jayden Foster
While Peter Wright is getting all the accolades and teams are busy trying to figure out how to stop him, Jayden Foster, the son of former Bulldog Peter Foster, has been slipping under the guard of defenders and kicking bags of goals. Despite missing out on the draft in 2013 due to an injury decimated year, the 19-year-old straight shooter won the TAC Cup’s leading goal kicker award this season. He slotted 39 goals and just eight behinds from his 13 appearances, including eight games of three or more goals and he averages four marks per game. He’s an unassuming forward who is strong on the lead but deadly in front of goals. Calder will be happy to have the ball in his hands inside 50, and teams will have to do something to stop this in form forward who’s going into the finals with bags of four, four and six under his belt to finish the season.
Mr Consistent: Taylor Grace
The great thing about 19-year old Taylor Grace is that you just know what you’re going to get from him. Polished, poised and Sandringham’s spare parts man, Grace is as versatile as they come, and offers the ability to slip comfortably into any role handed to him. Grace has played 13 games for the Dragons this year averaging 31 disposals at 70% disposal efficiency, but more importantly has tasted senior VFL action for the Zebras on six occasions and has handled the step-up in bodies and intensity to a tee. Not too dissimilar to North Melbourne’s Nick Dal Santo in the way he plays his football, Graçe’s left foot is a weapon, as is his calmness under pressure. As a senior member of the team, the Dragons will be looking upon their Mr Consistent as a real cornerstone of their finals assault.
The Gun: Peter Wright
Positioned to be picked in the top five players in the NAB AFL draft in 2014, Peter Wright is without a doubt Calder’s most dangerous and damaging player. The tall, powerful key position forward and back up ruckman has had a brilliant TAC Cup season, nailing 31 goals from his 11 games, and six in his five appearances for Vic Metro. Wright is an integral aspect to Calder’s spine, and will be one of the key players that opposing teams will be looking to shut down. Wright’s form has been impressive in the past fortnight leading into the finals, clinching 24 combined marks in the two games played, and slotting 4 goals in the final game of the season against the Northern Knights.
The gun: Oscar McDonald
The younger brother of Melbourne’s Tom, Oscar McDonald’s season has seen himself launched into the limelight as a Jackson Trengove-like defender who boasts terrific athleticism, agility, speed, a lovely kick and the ability to threaten when pinch hitting up forward. McDonald has been North Ballarat’s gun player this year, and arguably their most important. Playing key roles at both ends of the field, he has been a large reason why the Rebels have shot into flag contention in 2014. With a terrific ability to read the play, mixed with a combination of being able to attract and use the ball in possession, his willingness to kick goals at one end and stop them at the other will go a long way to ensuring the Rebels go deep into September.
The Gun: Nathan Drummond
Overlooked in last year’s National Draft due to injuries that destroyed his 2014 season, Nathan Drummond has returned with a vengeance that has seen consistent form and further development into a gun utility for the Bushies. Drummond comes into the Finals Series as arguably the competitions most in-form player, finishing with two best afield honours in Murray’s last two games in nail-bitting wins, reflecting Drummond’s impact in close games. Drummond enjoyed 36 possessions and 13 clearances last week against Bendigo, and has average 26 disposals for the year in 2014. He’s tasted senior VFL action with Richmond in the VFL on three occasions, but importantly he’s bagged 10 goals from 13 TAC Cup games. As one of the major beneficiaries of the 19-year old system which allows three 19 year-olds the opportunity to play as an above-ager, Drummond has blossomed into a unique utility, with speed and boasts an impressive overhead mark, averaging 5.4 marks for the year. With an invite to the National Combine locked away, a move from a key post into a more varied role has bought out one of Drummond’s most devastating traits; his tackling which he averages 4.8 per game.
The gun: Patrick McCartin
It’s hard to go past the likely number one pick when trying to find a gun. Let’s be honest, the Falcons have a number of talented players, but McCartin tops the list for his sheer dominance in the forward 50. He was dangerous last year and he’s successfully taken the next step to stamp himself as potential number one pick. Had he played a full season he would have cantered into the leading goal kicker not only for the Falcons, but the league as well. He booted 18 goals in four games – enough said.
The finals specialist: Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
Western’s super-boot is tipped to do some serious damage throughout the finals, and given his Shannon Hurn-like thumping left kick, Dillon Viojo-Rainbow’s ability to repel attack from defence will go a long way to ensuring that the Jets come up with a first-week win. He hits the ball hard, flat and over long distances, while his intercept marking is also a strength of his. On top of that, he has a deft touch at ground level and makes good decisions with the ball. He can be relied upon to take kick ins, and is often the Western Jets’ link-up player in defence, getting involved heavily in scoring chains. It wouldn’t be beyond the Stingrays to look at playing a defensive forward on ‘DVR’, but given he likes to work up the ground, he’ll be breaking the hearts of the opposition if he’s allowed to win the ball on a wing and send a thumping long ball inside 50.
The match winner: Connor Menadue
A match winner if you’ve ever seen one, Connor Menadue is an explosive yet nimble midfielder who cracks in hard and does some serious damage whenever he’s in possession. Menadue’s ability to cut open a game with his speed and penetrating kick makes him an exciting prospect during finals, but more importantly he has bagged 14 goals this year to be second on the Jets’ goal-kicking tally. More often than not, teams don’t have a match up for Menadue which gives the Jets a real point of difference and as such he forms the cornerstone of Western’s arsenal. A real play maker, Menadue has shown his link-up work from the back half can be devastating, so too his tendency to run and carry the ball, breaking lines and setting up play further afield with a rapid style of play. Jets players will be looking to get the ball into the hands of Menadue against Dandenong this weekend, and for as long as the Jets can push this finals series.
The x-factor: Jayden Laverde
The debate of the finals series so far has been about who is going to be able to go toe-to-toe with Jayden Laverde. The powerful utility is blessed with a rare combination of speed, athleticism and incredible hurt factor which could make him the deal breaker for the Jets during the finals. Laverde is a sublime mover; he glides through the wings with poise and speed, and loves to cut through congestion with long strides where he can burst out from a contested situation and run the ball, propelling his team into attack. With terrific composure and a knack to always bob up, he showed through the Championships just how dangerous he could be when he was shifted forward, kicking 15 goals this year for the Jets. Given his attributes, he is able to play an array of positions but looks at his most dangerous when played forward of centre. He averages 28 disposals, one goal and 5.5 marks from his two outings against Dandenong this season, and he’s expected to deliver more of the same against the Stingrays this weekend.
Mr Consistent: Corey Ellis
The hard working, blue collar midfielder rarely has a bad game. Corey Ellis has been in sensational form this year, both at TAC Cup and National Championships level for Vic Metro. The widely tipped first-round draft prospect does everything with minimal fuss and is a fan favourite among TAC Cup fans with a stunning left foot and a crafty sidestep in which he sucks opposition players in with. Ellis’ big tank means he gets to plenty of contests, and he racks up large disposal numbers with ease, averaging 22 disposals from his eight games this season. He is a marking threat, and more importantly has shown on many occasions this year he can push forward to goal with a thumping left foot that appears effortless for Ellis. He is the type of player who just makes things happen, a productive and busy midfielder who can really have a say in the outcome of a game.
The gun: Liam Duggan
Is there a more polished and eloquent player than Liam Duggan? The gun midfielder has had a brilliant season that seen him take home the Ben Mitchell medal in the AFL-AIS squad, enjoy Vic Metro caps as well as leading his school side St Patrick’s to the Herald Sun Shield title. However for the Jets, he has been a picture of consistency, and has shown just how influential he can be. The great thing about him is he can play any role well, proving to be the match-winner against the Northern Knights in a come-from-behind victory that netted three final-quarter goals off four disposals. He comes into the finals series with an average of 23 disposals under his belt from his previous two games. Look for Duggan to use his polished disposal and goal-kicking ability for a cut-throat elimination final against Dandenong.
The Match Winner –Toby McLean
McLean gained popularity with his giant screamer against the Knights earlier in the year. Yet McLean is a match winner in every way possible. He takes great contested marks every week, despite being 179 cm. McLean is capable of kicking three goals and getting 30 possessions every few weeks, and he just bobs up for crucial goals. He lead the club with 27 goals this year, which was good for sixth in the TAC Cup Goal kicking leaderboard. He kicked multiple goals in 10 of his 17 matches and was named in the bests 11 times. McLean averaged 21.5 disposals and played every game this year. When the tag goes to Urban, you know McLean will take the pressure and put the team on his shoulders.
The X Factor: Dan Howe
Like Drummond, Dan Howe is relishing another opportunity to re-join the Bushrangers in 2014 as an over-age prospect. Howe, who made a serious statement in his rebounding half back role for Vic Country and the National Championships announced him as a reliable type, with plenty to offer in that particular role. Given Howe’s size, athleticism and versatility Howe can play at either of the ground but his role in defence has shown up attributes such as a polished kick, a terrific mark and his elite ability to read the play. The one time forward has adjusted to life as a defender, and has shown he’s not afraid to back himself in to take a defensive grab – just like the hanger he took against WA during the National Championships. With teammate Caleb Marchbank missing after a minor knee hiccup, Howe has the X-factor and the strings in his bow to make a statement this weekend.
Under the radar: Jayden Foster
While Peter Wright is getting all the accolades and teams are busy trying to figure out how to stop him, Jayden Foster, the son of former Bulldog Peter Foster, has been slipping under the guard of defenders and kicking bags of goals. Despite missing out on the draft in 2013 due to an injury decimated year, the 19-year-old straight shooter won the TAC Cup’s leading goal kicker award this season. He slotted 39 goals and just eight behinds from his 13 appearances, including eight games of three or more goals and he averages four marks per game. He’s an unassuming forward who is strong on the lead but deadly in front of goals. Calder will be happy to have the ball in his hands inside 50, and teams will have to do something to stop this in form forward who’s going into the finals with bags of four, four and six under his belt to finish the season.
http://boundforglorynews.com/tac-cup-finals-preview-sandringham-dragons/
http://boundforglorynews.com/tac-cup-finals-preview-calder-cannons/
http://boundforglorynews.com/tac-cup-finals-preview-north-ballarat-rebels/
http://boundforglorynews.com/tac-cup-finals-preview-murray-bushrangers/
http://boundforglorynews.com/tac-cup-finals-preview-geelong-falcons/
http://boundforglorynews.com/tac-cup-finals-preview-western-jets/
Still two more to come but might as well put these here for people who haven't seen them. Foster is mentioned in the Calder preview.
Bit of writing on Oscar McDonald (for Dav1d who was sure who he waslast time I mentioned him ) and Foster.
