Analysis Peel Thunder 2015 (TV schedule in OP)

[Lost_Deputy]

Zac took the game by the scruff of the neck against Johnson a tough opponent something that the other rucks have not been able to do.
On his day he is a long way in front of Griff and Jack.

If he could up his consistency we have a weapon on our hands.

 

[Belnakor]

Who the hell saw Moller clicking into gear this year. Booyah!

we're just lucky we're at that phase where you can afford to park someone on the list for development purposes.

if we were a bottom side we'd have jettisoned him by now.

 

[Belnakor]

If he could up his consistency we have a weapon on our hands.

we've been saying that for years unfortunately. Hope he can get it together, he is still relatively young for a big man i guess.

 

[PurpleReign]

Great report PR, thank you.

My buddy Ballard definitely deserves upgrading to the main list next year. Week in week out he puts in a consistently good performance.

What do we reckon he'll need to improve upon to get a game in Purple?

Ballard is an excellent clearance player, picking the ball up off the deck in congestion is way harder to do than it sounds and Ballard is quite adept at doing it. But is it enough? Probably not. It's one thing to be able to fire a handball out of congestion but all the best mids in the AFL do way more than that. Pendles, Mundy, Fyfe etc. all find time and space in congestion, they hold the ball and wait for opportunities to develop.
I was admiring Patrick Cripps' game against the Saints earlier this year on the non freo thread and I think it was Tayl0r who suggested that he needed to kick the ball more. In retrospect, I think she's right and Ballard tends to play a bit like Cripps, tackle, extract the ball, handpass.
I've noticed substantial growth in Blakely's game over the course of the season. I saw Connor and Boekhorst play against Peel twice last year and I remember thinking after each game, "I hope we don't draft either of those two". That's where I have a lot of admiration for the recruiting guys, they don't just see the player today, they see the player in 3 years time. Connor is now carrying the ball longer and distributing it further away from congestion. He backs himself to break a tackle and looks to kick the ball into the F50, he executed a lovely left foot kick inside 50 in the first qtr yesterday.
IMHO this is what Ballard needs to do. People make way too much of his DE, he's a good kick, probably on par with Barlow or Blakely. I saw some stats last week that suggested he was the biggest offender of high tackles for Peel. His first tackle yesterday was on Johnson (I think) and he put his hand straight on the shoulder of a very tall EP player and gave away a free, so maybe he also needs to work on his tackle technique. But if we want to see him playing in purple then in my view he needs to do more with his possessions.
He's got a big body, good pace and good endurance. I want to see him using these attributes to break out of a pack and carry the ball. He doesn't need to run and bounce, I'd just like to see him run his full measure and distribute with a kick. If he could that a bit more in the second half of the year then he would be an obvious upgrade.

 

[jusjoshin]

we're just lucky we're at that phase where you can afford to park someone on the list for development purposes.

if we were a bottom side we'd have jettisoned him by now.

If we were a bottom side, we would be getting an early first round draft pick each year as well. The reason we are moving towards the Hawks sort of list management is because we have to ATM. We haven't been getting a pick before the late first round recently, so we are searching as hard as we can for nuggets of gold late in the draft and then polishing them for 3 years before we throw them in.

 

[democritus]

Some solid outings for the lads just outside the 22 at this point. DeBoer, Clarke and Blakely all putting in strong performances.

Duffield didn't appear to do himself any favours with his game. If Mzungu's struggles are anything to go off, he could have a pretty difficult time making it back into the senior side.

 

[couldhavebeen]

we're just lucky we're at that phase where you can afford to park someone on the list for development purposes.

if we were a bottom side we'd have jettisoned him by now.

As I stated during last years pre season Moller put on 8 kgs of muscle last year and was struggling to run hence the coaches had to change his running style so that he could be mobile . He spent more time running during the preseason this year . Craig also did a lot of work with Pav in the preseason and Dawson was talking to him a lot about his body positioning in marking contests .
The coaches have been impressed with his endeavour ,effort and willingness to learn .
He impressed me with his forward work earlier this season and he is improving with each outing .
So yes I'm happy that so many are now seeing him in the same way as ME.

 

[Frimental Fan]

Ballard is an excellent clearance player, picking the ball up off the deck in congestion is way harder to do than it sounds and Ballard is quite adept at doing it. But is it enough? Probably not. It's one thing to be able to fire a handball out of congestion but all the best mids in the AFL do way more than that. Pendles, Mundy, Fyfe etc. all find time and space in congestion, they hold the ball and wait for opportunities to develop.
I was admiring Cripps' game against the Saints earlier this year on the non freo thread and I think it was Tayl0r who suggested that he needed to kick the ball more. In retrospect, I think she's right and Ballard tends to play a bit like Cripps, tackle, extract the ball, handpass.
I've noticed substantial growth in Blakely's game over the course of the season. I saw Connor and Boekhorst play against Peel twice last year and I remember thinking after each game, "I hope we don't draft either of those two". That's where I have a lot of admiration for the recruiting guys, they don't just see the player today, they see the player in 3 years time. Connor is now carrying the ball longer and distributing it further away from congestion. He backs himself to break a tackle and looks to kick the ball into the F50, he executed a lovely left foot kick inside 50 in the first qtr yesterday.
IMHO this is what Ballard needs to do. People make way too much of his DE, he's a good kick, probably on par with Barlow or Blakely. I saw some stats last week that suggested he was the biggest offender of high tackles for Peel. His first tackle yesterday was on Johnson (I think) and he put his hand straight on the shoulder of a very tall EP player and gave away a free, so maybe he also needs to work on his tackle technique. But if we want to see him playing in purple then in my view he needs to do more with his possessions.
He's got a big body, good pace and good endurance. I want to see him using these attributes to break out of a pack and carry the ball. He doesn't need to run and bounce, I'd just like to see him run his full measure and distribute with a kick. If he could that a bit more in the second half of the year then he would be and obvious upgrade.

Thanks for the great reporting PR and for the insightful assessment of Ballard. Like you I rate his ability to impose himself at stoppages. As well as extracting the ball and breaking tackles, he seems to do a good job of "influencing" the contest in favour of our other mids like Connor and Jones. I think the quick kick or release by hand versus breaking free, getting balanced and spotting up a player (or just kicking to advantage) is a natural progression for the best players. Lachie is really developing in this area now. He used to frustrate me a bit (despite me being a fan) when he insisted for most of last year on giving off the handball. Of course, he's doing it at AFL level. I wonder if it isn't a coaching process. Turnovers are so critical, it's as if the coaches back certain players in to go themselves and the rest (if they're good enough to get the ball) have to try to give it to them. Connor is clearly in that group already (as is Weller when he goes in there). Either that or it could just be a player confidence thing.

I also agree with your assessment of Ballard's kicking. A lot of posters have (I think unfairly) knocked him for his kicking but I think he has the potential to be an average kick and is good by hand.

Definitely want to see him upgraded and can't wait to see him in a couple of senior games next year (if he keeps developing).

You're right about the frees against. He and BJ lead in this stat .

Thanks again............

 

[passmark]

Hi chaps,

Any feedback on how Bootsma is going? what position is he playing, form etc?

I saw he was named in the best on the weekend.

This is not a wind up.

 

[salim malik]

Hi chaps,

Any feedback on how Bootsma is going? what position is he playing, form etc?

I saw he was named in the best on the weekend.

This is not a wind up.

He is playing in defence and playing good footy.Could be in line for a rookie spot at Freo.

 

[passmark]

He is playing in defence and playing good footy.Could be in line for a rookie spot at Freo.

Thank mate.

 

[Nickos66]

#BringbackBootsma

 

[Kram]

Hi chaps,

Any feedback on how Bootsma is going? what position is he playing, form etc?

I saw he was named in the best on the weekend.

This is not a wind up.

Surprisingly impressed me when I've seen him play. Definitely a realistic chance of getting another shot at some stage if he's grown up and got a brain now.

 

[Righteo]

Hi chaps,

Any feedback on how Bootsma is going? what position is he playing, form etc?

I saw he was named in the best on the weekend.

This is not a wind up.

Deserves another chance, good enough for AFL.

 

[Frimental Fan]

Surprisingly impressed me when I've seen him play. Definitely a realistic chance of getting another shot at some stage if he's grown up and got a brain now.

Agreed. He's also in many respects, the archetypal modern defender in that he can play small (temporarily), medium and tall. He's quick enough, reasonable tank and disposal is OK. Probably not a great intercept mark at this stage but has performed pretty consistently over the back end of last year and first half of this year. Has even taken a couple of relieving pack marks. Hope he gets picked up based on attitude and form at Peel.

 

[DudleyDocker]

Agreed. He's also in many respects, the archetypal modern defender in that he can play small (temporarily), medium and tall. He's quick enough, reasonable tank and disposal is OK. Probably not a great intercept mark at this stage but has performed pretty consistently over the back end of last year and first half of this year. Has even taken a couple of relieving pack marks. Hope he gets picked up based on attitude and form at Peel.

I would say his disposal is more than OK Frimental Fan - from what I have seen he is a really penetrating and accurate kick. Something we desperately need coming out of the backline!

 

[manpurple]

The games that I have seen him play (admittedly not for 3 weeks) he has been good and I would consistently put him with the best of the Peel/Dockers players. Would I take him as a rookie? Yep. Shows more than plenty on our rookie list.

 

[serial_thrilla]

The good:

• Deluca is back from a hamstring injury.
• Mzungu is back from the seniors.
• We actually have a forward line with Tabs back in there alongside Moller, Duffy, Clarke and Jetta.

The bad:

• Langdon and Hurley still out with hamstring niggles. Hopefully both are back next week.
• de Boer promoted to the seniors.

TEAM LIST - ROUND 14

FB: 42. Ethan Hughes 22. Tanner Smith 11. Joshua Mathers

HB: 3. Brendon Jones 10. Joshua Bootsma 36. Paul Duffield

C: 1. Gerald Ugle 7. Tendai Mzungu 14. Lachie Weller

HF: 5. Leroy Jetta 47. Matthew Taberner 28. Brady Grey

FF: 24. Max Duffy 40. Craig Moller 48. Zac Clarke

FOLLOWERS
56. Jonathon Griffin
44. Jacob Ballard
19. Connor Blakely

INTERCHANGE
2. Laine Wilkins
12. Benjamin Hancock
15. Dylan Winton
18. Mitchell Gill
20. Kieran May
39. Joshua Deluca
43. Thomas Vandeleur

IN: 7. Tendai Mzungu, 15. Dylan Winton, 20. Kieran May, 39. Joshua Deluca, 47. Matthew Taberner,

OUT: 8. Matthew De Boer, 26. Ed Langdon,

 

[PurpleReign]

You never like to get ahead of yourself with Peel but...
Considering Perth's lowly position on the ladder and with the likes of Zarke, Gu and Duffield playing, this should be another win for the boys.

 

[rodney hoo]

You never like to get ahead of yourself with Peel but...
Considering Perth's lowly position on the ladder and with the likes of Zarke, Gu and Duffield playing, this should be another win for the boys.

Looking forward to another report tomorrow, if not many problems try & get there myself.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

You never like to get ahead of yourself with Peel but...
Considering Perth's lowly position on the ladder and with the likes of Zarke, Gu and Duffield playing, this should be another win for the boys.

I'll be down there tomorrow hope it's a good game and really want to see Zarke prove his worth.

Gu to make a statement and Blakely and Weller to show why we drafted them.

 

[salim malik]

I'll be down there tomorrow hope it's a good game and really want to see Zarke prove his worth.

Gu to make a statement and Blakely and Weller to show why we drafted them.

Ken,Harry and myself will see you there

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Ken,Harry and myself will see you there

Ken is picking me up I'm sitting in the back with his lady friends daughters. Look out

Nah all good well see you there. I'll buy you a scotch.

 

[salim malik]

Ken is picking me up I'm sitting in the back with his lady friends daughters. Look out

Nah all good well see you there. I'll buy you a scotch.

Look out for you or the daughters.

 

[Borry]

See you in 90 mins.