dlanod
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- Sep 14, 2006
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- #1,351
Comments on a couple of our academy blokes by someone who made it out to Blacktown yesterday:
Vic Country 3.4.22; 4.6.30; 6.7. 43; 6.12.48
Allies1.1.7; 4.4.28; 6.5.41; 10.11.71
Went to the game at Blacktown without having seen any of these guys before, so it takes a while to get familiar with players and obviously I’m not a professional recruiter, just a dabbler. That said, certain players catch your eye and I was trying to follow Lions boys and anyone else who popped up. Conditions were wet, not much rain during the game, but a soaked ground. Lots of contested footy. Notes on players:
Allies
Kieren Briggs (GWS Academy). Best on ground. Started in the ruck and went forward. A super impressive game. His marking in the conditions was elite, clunking a number when no one else was, beating three guys in one contest. Good below his knees and kicked a beautifully controlled grubber goal on an angle to seal the game. Strong in the ruck and a real target when he went forward. Over-ager, but looks a player, GWS lucky to have him. Kicked 3 goals, confident set shots.
Connor McFadyen (Lions, NB: d before y) Started forward, but went into the midfield for the whole 2nd half. To my mind this is a good sign in itself, for the Allies mids were very impressive. Good below his knees, one lovely gather at pace on the far wing, and linked–up well in the 2nd half. Not the weather for a 190cm mid, but he looked good and ran hard. Put this with his recent game when he kicked 4 and his versatility must be a plus. I like him.
Keidan Coleman (Lions) He tended to be 2nd to the ball, but tackled well. What I noticed was his kicking. A great torpedo in the first quarter, hitting targets both short and long in the last Q, including precise delivery, inside 50 for a goal. Was kicking out after behinds and went over the 10m line once, but they didn’t score from it. Didn’t look to be super fast, but relaxed, solid and always involved. Could fill a need for us and worth tracking.
Jack Tomkinson (Lions) Initially because Briggs was so impressive, I didn’t think as much of Jack, but he always provided a contest. He rucked most of the last quarter when Briggs went forward and was good in the centre and around the ground. At 200cm and an overager, he looks like the sort of player we have a lot of, but his contested work means he could be a project ruck/KP, if Archie doesn’t make it.
Chayce Jones: (Tassy) The best midfielder out there today, really liked his game. He was instrumental in the Allies getting back into it in the 2nd quarter, when he was everywhere. A solid four quarters, he ran all day and hit targets. Definitely worth watching and with no go home factor, could be a good option for us. Looks a high draft pick to me.
Bailey Scott (Suns) Kicked a couple of nice goals and strong in the contest. Impressive.
Baxter Norton (Tassy) Small defender, a couple of super impressive chases. Again, could fill a need for us and I liked his competitiveness.
Tarryn Thomas(Tassy, North academy) Didn’t do much in the first when Country was on top, but shifted forward and was dangerous. Had a great last quarter when the match was in the balance and went back inside. Classy.
Caleb Graham (Suns, KP). Was great in the first quarter when the Allies were under siege and did well when switched forward in the 2nd half. Good in the air and on the ground. 194cm. Promising.
Others who caught my attention: Thomas Green (Giants, bottom ager), Fraser Turner (Tassy), Mitchell O’Neill, good run and strong in contest (Tassy, bottom ager).
Vic Country
Tye Caldwell I thought he was their best mid, damaging and hard at it. Co-captain.
Sam Walsh I really didn’t notice him until the third quarter, when he kicked nicely into the F50. Obviously it’s only one game, but on this one at least I’d have others ahead of him. Perhaps he was marked, but he didn’t scream out “class” to me and maybe I just missed his efforts. Will be interesting to see how he goes in other games.
Ned McHenry Small mid who really impressed.
Hudson Garoni KP, kicked 2 goals. Good contested mark. Leads well.
Sam Flanders (2 goals) and Caleb Serong: 2 bottom agers who caught my eye. Worth following as future mids.
Bailey Williams Rucked well and good around ground. One eye catching goal at end of 2nd when he ran and battled for a ground ball and kicked truly, but I thought the Allies rucks in Tomkinson and Briggs had the better of him today.
Zac Foot One impressive run, but didn’t notice much.
Tom Berry. Rarely sighted today. Would have to do a lot more than this to get drafted, unless he was injured. Could be a romantic wish on our part.
That’s about it. I thought tactically the Allies outcoached Vic C with their moves. Structured up really well in the last quarter when the match was on the line, both in the centre and forward 50. I liked Tomkinson, McFadyen, Jones and Thomas in the centre and they got on top of the Country midfield.
If anyone has any questions, I’m happy to try to answer them.