Anzac day player review

[Snoop Dog]

Overall observations;

We were 'on' pretty much all day
We won every stat
We had all the dominant players on the ground
Umps did their best to hand it to them
But we burnt our chances regularly
......but thank god we won!

Votes

5 Swan
4 Pendlebury
3 Johnson
2 Keefe
1 Brown

*Lot of blokes very unlucky

Fasolo - didn't do a heap but again a couple of nice things and fought hard in close. Lovely deep kick to Dawes before half time should have been a big goal for us. Was ok in the second half and did a few nice things in close. Showed calmness but overall an average day. Remember 2nd year only though and did have Hardingham who I rate. Also 6 tackles.

Maxwell - superb down back all day and really marshalled the troops and ensured the pressure was on them all day. Loved his game. He had a soft matchup but didn't stop him going to the ball. The Dell'olio goal hurt him but thats the chance he takes and more often than not it works.

Goldsack - started on Fletcher and did well. I didn't think Fletcher was able to do a great deal and I thought Goldy was good enough to say he had the better of the contest. He made some terrible errors in the 3rd though but his last was pretty good. 7 tackles a highlight

OBrien - was left free again for much of the first half and played the role very well. Used is very efficiently and was a reason we got the break on them. They matched him after half time and he was solid but not really dominant.

Clarke - Started on Stanton and took him right out of the game to half time. Stanton got going in the second half but I still didn't think Stanton tore us apart so pretty happy with Clarke's effort and Bucks coaching here. Mick used to let he and Watson run free and I reckon it was good we got on him.

Pendles - Had Hocking and was pretty good but moreover I don't think Hocking touched it in the first half. I thought Pendles was v good in the 3rd when they were coming a bit at us but Hocking also got going. Last qtr was just superb and ended up having a top game. 17 cont Poss......how huge is that

Blair - Didn't get huge stats but used it well and was very good around stoppages I thought. Stood up and was huge in close all day. I really rated his game and for him to get that winning goal was a real treat bc I love this kid. By many recruiters he has no right to play the game...well done land and well done Derek Hine.

Brown - Was good all day against Crameri who tore Carlton up and was good vs us last year. I was worried he wouldn't be able to go with him but he did. Essendon didn't take a mark in first half in50 and he and Keefe should take huge wraps for that. How good was he???

Beams - thought he was clumsy very early in the game but then really got going and was one of the best. Went out of it a bit when they started to control it but he got back in the game and proved to be a really damaging mid. Also give him credit for a lot of the shut down work on Watson early.

Jolly - Was very good. Gave away another dumb free kick which let to the half time goal for them and then another in the last to Bellchambers. Infuriates me how he does that but again I thought he was super against those two blokes. They got over him late but that was always going to happen. Good game and pushed fwd well.

Wellingham - He and Beams seemed to be taking Watson at the clearances and they did it very well. Both were good offensively as well but I really liked how Wellingham was just in it all day. I thought he was a really good player and had a big influence on our result. He loves getting in the middle of it and clearing it. He is v good.

Sidebottom - Excellent for mine to half time and with #36 probably the BOg to then but he slowed in the 2nd half. Still ended up with 28 touches which is big for him and i thought he was very efficient.

Keefe - Had the resting ruck which was usually Ryder and again didn't let him anywhere near it all day. He got unlucky when Carlile got a great bounce and that was his only blight all day. They clearly tried to exploit him and it didn't work. He was excellent.

Johnson - Another who started very well and he took Davey out of the game. Davey got on the end of a goal to half time but that was it. He moved more into the middle in the 2nd half and i thought was a really important player with his run and ball use. Only blight was the kick in turnover in the 3rd. Remember how we use to cane him for ball use.....its actually an asset for him now. He has been v good last 2 weeks.

Buckley - Was ok I thought. Had it 16 times I think but he didn't let his man go. Had Monfries at times as well as a few other mids they rotated through him and I was pleased. Shame a few of his fwd 50 entries weren't a bit better.

Sinclair - Did some nice pressure acts but nothing with ball in hand to half time. Felt he should have been better when he was one out in the goal square just before half time. After half time he was very good he just burnt a few chances to hurt them on the scoreboard. Look he was better today and was and laid 9 tackles but he just reminds of Jason Wild.....i reckon if he can kick a couple he will be a different player.

Dawes - Was very good and was just a shame he didn't get that goal before half time because up til then he was very good. Presented, played his role keeping the ball in etc. Made some errors in the third which stood out but look he wasn't all together bad on a day which didn't suit him. His ruck work was good enough and i thought he was ok around the ground.

Cloke - Didn't have it much but kicked 3 goals.

Toovey - Excellent on Jetta for most of the day. Davey mark on him late was a shame and could have easily been a free for him given the Brown decision 2 mins later. Was good I thought and very good late with his run and clean hands.

Swan - OUTSTANDING!

Ugle - Thought he showed a bit late.

Seedsman - didn't get a heap of it but some of his defensive stuff to half time was really good. When he gets a bigger frame he will be a player. He looks the goods to me.

 

[Temploar]

Great review as usual Snoop. Spot on!

 

[chestbrah]

I know Sinclair will probably get smashed in this board due to his two missed goals, but I felt he made an improvement today. Still has a way to go but thats all you can ask from your kids, to get a little better each game.

 

[TradeDraft]

Dawes - Was very good and was just a shame he didn't get that goal before half time because up til then he was very good. Presented, played his role keeping the ball in etc. Made some errors in the third which stood out but look he wasn't all together bad on a day which didn't suit him. His ruck work was good enough and i thought he was ok around the ground.

Okay is the best you can give his game. He looks like he is Badly out of Form.

Ugle - Thought he showed a bit late.

I thought he did with the very little time he got

 

[SpongePie]

Yes Sinclair should have kicked a couple, but his tackling and pressure was fantastic. Can't take that away from him.

 

[Collingwould]

I know Sinclair will probably get smashed in this board due to his two missed goals, but I felt he made an improvement today. Still has a way to go but thats all you can ask from your kids, to get a little better each game.

I'm glad he's at least getting shots on goal rather than being mowed down or just not being good enough

he'll keep improving and I'm sure he'll be at goal kicking practice early this week

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

Sat in front of a pessimistic old trout in the Ponsford Stand who was rubbishing everyone... so it was surprising to hear him say in hushed, reverent tones... "Sinclair's been good today, hasn't he?"

Agree with your points Snoop, with my addendum's:-

T Goldsack - fumbly, but as a natural backman he did a great job on Fletch

N Brown - First game back, goes BANG and shuts the door on the comp's in-form forward. That fist in Q3 was superb

B Sinclair - Has courage and endeavour in spades. Some brilliant 1% in the middle of the ground where he always stuck to the ball carrier and caused a spillage

S Wellingham - He really wants his spot back. 2nd and 3rd efforts, hard running and some great vision. Really impressed to see him step it up

M Clarke - Wasn't watching him too often but post-match read that he pretty much sat on Stanton. Won a lot of ball for a tagging role. Seems to stand up in a tackle much better now, too.

D Swan - How much did he want the ball today. Must have rolled in dead cats pre-match because noone went near him. The runs at goal were exhilarating.

Interesting to see our game plan slowly taking shape. Players seem to be getting to the right spots now and can adapt when they need a Plan C or D.

Was so proud today to see them lift the way they did

 

[jathanas]

Thanks Snoop & Sherrif.

Nathan Brown & Ben Johnson have the knack of returning and looking like they've never been away. They just blend in seamlessly and contribute in a major way.

Clarke was magnificent in his ability to run with Stanton. Awesome endurance.

Maxwell was providing on ground leadership as a good skipper does; priceless in a young side.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Swan was the player I know he can be. Good to see him playing like his normal self, and that has nothing to do with the number of possessions.

Marty Clarke was BRILLIANT. Kept Stanton out of the game. Needs more kudos for the job he did.

Rambo was brilliant, Keefe was great, beams great, sidebottom was hugely improved on his earlier form.

Dawes was horrific, and Sinclairs disposal is so frustrating.

Ugle was good for very limited game time. Disappointed in Seedsman. Got a full game no did essentially nothing.

What scares me though? We had almost everyone paying well and only won by a point. A bit concerning to be honest.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

Maxwell was providing on ground leadership as a good skipper does; priceless in a young side.

This! Completely.

 

[Quicky]

Swan was the player I know he can be. Good to see him playing like his normal self, and that has nothing to do with the number of possessions.

Marty Clarke was BRILLIANT. Kept Stanton out of the game. Needs more kudos for the job he did.

Rambo was brilliant, Keefe was great, beams great, sidebottom was hugely improved on his earlier form.

Dawes was horrific, and Sinclairs disposal is so frustrating.

Ugle was good for very limited game time. Disappointed in Seedsman. Got a full game no did essentially nothing.

What scares me though? We had almost everyone paying well and only won by a point. A bit concerning to be honest.

Thats a legacy of having so much of our best 22 out I believe. We need to find a bit more bite up forward though a bit of finishing. Didak will be a handy inclusion.

 

[Brad Goodman]

What scares me though? We had almost everyone paying well and only won by a point. A bit concerning to be honest.

Probably agree with that TBH, scary.

 

[look at him goooo!]

I wouldn't be concerned about the 1 point margin. We did butcher a lot of shots on goal within 30m and our efficiency in terms of scores from inside 50's was our worst in a while, I think we had 19 inside 50's in the first quarter for 2 goals. Also we were fielding a fairly young team. I think 18 of the 22 players were 25 y.o. or younger. Jolly, Swan, Johnson and Maxwell were the only ones above 25 y.o. i believe.

 

[lenny20]

What scares me though? We had almost everyone paying well and only won by a point. A bit concerning to be honest.

I think the main problem was that whilst almost everyone performed well, those who didn't were all congregated around the same area: the forward line. Dawes looks out of touch, Sinkers missed three eminently gettable shots, Seedsman was unsighted, Fasolo didn't get much of it, and Cloke got monstered by about three opponents every time he went near it in the second half. For the number of times we got the ball down there, our conversion probably wasn't what it should have been. Kudos to the Essendon defence for this, also.

A few players returning should make a difference.

Still, for all the mistakes, I absolutely loved the endeavour of every single player out there today. I love it that they're all going hell for leather again, and to me a win like that - gutsy albeit imperfect - is eminently more enjoyable than when we were dismembering teams in a canter last year.

Go pies. Great to see the passion back.

 

[jathanas]

...

A few players returning should make a difference.

Still, for all the mistakes, I absolutely loved the endeavour of every single player out there today. I love it that they're all going hell for leather again, and to me a win like that - gutsy albeit imperfect - is eminently more enjoyable than when we were dismembering teams in a canter last year.

Go pies. Great to see the passion back.

This! I love the "Go Hard or Go Home" endeavour shown by the side today. The glass is half-full.

 

[Knightmare]

Team notes:
Loved the intent and the way we attack the game. We played it like a Grand Final. Just allot of footy being played in close with the ball in dispute much of the time. Was just really desperate football and both clubs upheld the ANZAC traditions, showing some great fight.

Also really liked the way our defense as a group held up. Really impressive holding back the Essendon forwards. Just didn't allow any marks inside the Essendon forward 50.

Our midfield operated as well as it has so far this week and was really led by Jolly who in the 1st half dominated in the ruck and had a really solid game.

With 9 minutes to go it was disappointing to see us going into preservation mode. So much footy still to be played with that time remaining. Just went into our shells. It really took Essendon to get in front for us to respond and hit back to win the game back. In those situations where you are up you just need to keep attacking the game.

Also really liked the way the game was coached. Thought Bucks clearly won the coaching battle v Hird, particularly early with O'Brien as the loose man down back. Clarke to shut down Stanton. He just got more right than Hird and his team did which was great to see from the first year coach.



Votes:
5. Swan
4. Keeffe
3. Sidebottom
2. N.Brown
1. Pendlebury
Unlucky: Beams, Jolly and Cloke


Good:
Swan: Productive and hurt Essendon with what was clearly his best game of the year. Liked his offensive influence and did some big damage. Played a strong and active game. Went forward and took a strong grab. Clearance work allot better than it has been and won allot of his own ball even running away from packs to do some damage. Great effort proving that he still can produce and do so in a big game. Deserving ANZAC Day medalist.

Keeffe: Liked his game again. Just so suited to playing down back as a key defender. I hope he never moves. Looks really settled down back and is playing with a real confidence and level of desperateness that you love to see from anyone coming through. Defensive efforts great consistently getting a fist in to stop any Ryder marks up forward and ball use by foot again very impressive for a tall. Keep him in our side all year and continue rewarding performance. Best 22.

Sidebottom: Played a serious first half and was clearly our best up till half time. Just ran and ran and worked and worked. In the 2nd half was clearly fatigued and his impact dropped off sharply but still gave good effort continuing to run hard. Really liking his game and has made big progress from last season.

N.Brown: Great return from injury. Expected him to be held back with the short turnaround but great to have the big fella back! Got in several nice spoils and didn't seem to get beaten.

Pendlebury: Had a good game as always. His marking again today was impressive and on display with some particularly impressive marks down back at times. Also really liked his intercept off an opposition handball then set up our own offensive play through his own handball. Won his own ball and used it particularly well by hand setting up outside players. Kicking at times probably not up to the level I'd like to see, hopefully he works on it during the week. I'm sure he will being the perfectionist he is.

Beams: Another productive game and I like him as a perminant midfielder. Inside game very impressive and should continue to play major midfield minutes. By foot probably not up to the standard I'd like with a few poor short kicks which Essendon could chop off (early) - just wasn't up to the usual standard and didn't choose the right options as often as you'd expect.

Jolly: Liked his game allot today. Fantastic 1st half. Just dominated in the ruck and gave our mids first use all day even though he was mostly outleaped. Even got forward for the mark and goal. Never worried when Jolly gives away frees, it happens. Loved his game and very impressed with the way he played.

Cloke: Had a strong influence at stages. Did all the usual things, outmuscling his man, taking strong grabs. Set shot goal kicking was on today which was nice to see. There was one mark he missed that came off his chest which was disappointing. The only a few minutes later could have marked on the goal line but got worried out of the mark by the goal post.

Johnson: Much more productive game. Had that one poor kick but otherwise played his role and looked much better than last week.

Wellingham: Liked his work defensively. Gave some really nice 2nd + 3rd efforts and had a strong tackling game today.

Toovey: Played his role shutting down Jetta early and even getting a stop on Crameri. Even gave some rebound from the back half.

Maxwell: Is back to his better form. Did his job defensively. Led the backline. Great to see him going better than last year.

O'Brien: Looked good in that extra man down back role in that first half. Early he generated some nice drive from the back half. Even took a nice contested grab down back. Second half had limited influence and Essendon shut down his drive.

Clarke: Played a really good game v Stanton. Stanton has started the season on fire but limiting his production in the way he did was great to watch. Had a limited influence offensively but more than played his role.

Others:

Sinclair: Had a really good tackling game and with 9 tackles I see why Buckley likes him. Had a real crack and attacked the ball. Even got a really nice effort smother when he threw himself at the opposition man's boot. Kicking and finishing skills in general again let him down. If Sinclair is to continue to play as a forward I'd like to see him do more than just tackle. His defensive role is handy with his tackling game, but we have others who can do that, maybe not to the same standard, but can do allot of other things better whether that be marking, kicking or finishing skills. Just doesn't have enough tricks for my liking and is NOT best 22 in my books. His game is just far too flawed and limited but I appreciate his effort and wouldn't be shocked to see him continue to get games as hard as it will be to watch.

Blair: Had a limited influence on the game. Is it me or does he always die off as the season progresses as the season goes? (Did the exact same last year - worth watching for). Finished with 2 goals and the all important so his position is hardly in danger.

Goldsack: Did some really great things but did some equally not so great things. Loved his tackling efforts up forward. Just gave such energy and enthusiasm to the game. Got in a number of critical and play changing tackles. What I didn't like was his finishing skills. Missing a goal from 15m out. Took one nice grab but other times dropped a number of marks he should have taken.

Buckley: Had limited impact but didn't make his usual highly noticeable decision making errors we too often see so as far as I'm concerneed he was ok.

Fasolo: Did some nice things defensively but otherwise was mostly disappointed with his game knowing what he can achieve on a good day. Dropped one or two easy marks he would have taken any other game. Finishing skills also not up to his usual high standards. These are two areas of his game which usually impress so hopefully he gets back to his better form soon.

Seedsman: Didn't perform up to the level I had hoped - by foot wasn't up to the standard I know he can be with one or two poor kicks by his standard. Dropped an easy enough overhead mark that he should have taken. But all this said he still did some really encouraging things and looks like one we should persist with. 7 tackles is a good effort and showed great intent and effort with his attack on the man and his running game. At one stage performed a smart play where he had a clever tap back into play. On another occasion worked hard to get into space up forward to provide a target. Also on another occasion he showed some nice dash. Just need to keep getting more games into him because there are just enough good signs to suggest there might be something. Worst persisting with.

Ugle: Minor minutes so you can't judge the guy. Did like those little bits I did see in those minor minutes though. Did some good work off the ball at one stage with a nice shepherd. Even got an important mark near the end. Held up the ball smartly but unfortunately on that one occasion didn't have the awareness of what was behind him - wouldn't judge him negatively on that play though. Give him another game next week. I want to see more of this guy after his strong start to the season at VFL level.

Dawes: Never seen the guy look so down on confidence. To his credit attacked the ball and the man at every opportunity. Went for the marks so he was going about it the right way. But just again missed to many marks and then kicking at goal just is getting inside his own head and overthinking it. Needs to concentrate on the process/routine and mentally go through all the steps in his routine rather than worry about missing.



Changes for next week:
In: Alan Didak (should be ready for next week. Had a big game at VFL level last week so assuming he gets through the game and produces he should be an auto in. Worth noting his kicking which was missing last year looks to be back), Jamie Elliott (Had a solid VFL debut last week. Performed big and if he can have another strong game I'd back him to debut at AFL level. Even if only as a sub but would like to see him replace Sinclair in that forward role - has more tricks, can mark, more of a goal scoring threat, more of a ball winner, MUCH better kick, better finished and still can tackle)

Out: Simon Buckley, Ben Sinclair

 

[augie]

My thoughts on a few:

Dawes: Was pretty poor generally, but you can't question his commitment. He is getting better in the ruck.

Seedsman: Not a great game, but I see something very special. Noticed that when he was in a contest for the ball on the ground he almost always emerged with it. Get the body stronger and he will be shrugging opponents off and running forward with it.

BJ: Easy to forget how important he is. Fantastic run and carry and the delivery was good. Very happy he is back.

Brown: As above. So happy for him.

Sinclair: I just don't know. Unquestionable endeavour and courage. Poor skills. Can teach skills but not endeavour, so we have hope. I think he will go back to the VFL, dominate and force his way back in.

Jolly: Those who pronounced him dead were premature. Great work in the ruck. Not as good as he can be around the ground, but he will continue to be a vital part of our push to finals.

 

[Optimax]

Jolly had 41 hitouts, 8 tackles and a goal.

He was far more then ok, very good game is usually the term given when one ruck has double the amount of hitouts, and more tackles to any other ruck.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Good point Lenny.

You're probably right. Forward line didn't capitalize on midfield dominance.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

Jolly was brilliant. swanny back to his best. nate, we missed u.

I want to give special mention to tooves
absolutely brilliant game. i know the coaches rated it

 

[Greening Magic]

Sharrod Wellingham was outstanding today. loved his attack on the footy.

Could Sinclair become the next Toovey? Dumbfounding supporters as to why he gets a game but becomes a cult hero. Well played today Ben, I won't mention those 2 points.

 

[twaters]

Jolly had 41 hitouts, 8 tackles and a goal.

He was far more then ok, very good game is usually the term given when one ruck has double the amount of hitouts, and more tackles to any other ruck.

This. Jolly took the wind from their sails. Almost Keating-esque at times. His awareness of Pendles' whereabouts is uncanny. Forward and back. After Swan (one of the best games I have ever seen) and Pendles, couldn't split Jolly and Beams for next most effective.

Small concern: we won all the stats; had by far the best four or five players on the park; and yet we won by only one point. I guess some of that was due to using resources in a big way to curtail Stanton, Watson, and Fletcher (thanks to a good game from Goldy) defensively.

Still, if we plan to get it down to the twin towers from the boundary we need instinctive crumbers down there to capitalise. At the moment we have zero. They are mids on a rest time 'holiday' down forward. All good, but it would be better if they get a break to enable more mid impact.

This team lacks the Chappie, StevieJ killer punch up front. Dids delivers to the twin towers more than being at their feet; Fasolo is also a deliverer and currently looks stuffed on his feet. Hopefully Ugle and then Elliott get three weeks each to see if they have not only a defensive bent but an offensive twitch - in order to take us from a good team to a great team in 2012.

 

[September Action]

I was there and it just felt like we dominated but couldn't break them. Forward line just not functioning. The mix is not right with some out of form. None from Macaffer, Krak, Dick, Didak in the side really shows. We were blessed with small forwards. Now we've been decimated. There seems to be a predictability about our forward entries. Let's hope Ugle is the goods. Wouldn't mind Wellers up forward a bit more too - he hits packs at speed and can snare a goal.

 

[TradeDraft]

Dawes: Never seen the guy look so down on confidence. To his credit attacked the ball and the man at every opportunity. Went for the marks so he was going about it the right way. But just again missed to many marks and then kicking at goal just is getting inside his own head and overthinking it. Needs to concentrate on the process/routine and mentally go through all the steps in his routine rather than worry about missing.

Well he does look down on Confidence and Form.

What you say he over thinking things is Exactly what Malthouse said before the Game

 

[juzzo]

He's been like this for 12 months now, how long do we wait? I'm not sure we can win another premiership with Dawes at CHF.