Review Round 2, 2019: Sandringham Zebras v Box Hill Hawks, 14 April 2019, 11.50am @ Marvel Stadium

Got to Docklands around 11.40 am yesterday (refuse to call it Marv... - because that's an abbreviation of "marvelous"). And this place is not that. It's basically a characterless sh*thole. It's a dump - a soulless echoing mausoleum - especially with the big tin roof closed - and with all the unfortunates there having to peer at the game through the half light

As far as I'm concerned, bring the bulldozers in tomorrow. If you want to create a good stadium from scratch, just copy the Perth Optus Stadium. A beautiful structure, designed by an architect who knew what he was doing. Wonderful atmosphere, great vision for spectators and perfectly designed to move crowds all at once.

Even experiencing what should be a joyful experience in escaping the Docklands sh*thole, is a frustration as you either have to walk down a tiny little stair case, designed to take 3 people at once, like you get in a 2 storey office building (perhaps the apprentice architects who designed the building knew there'd rarely be decent crowds there in the first place) - or shuffle down those ridiculous ramps which gives you a 2 km zigzag walk just to leave the dump.

Sorry, I got carried away, I was going to post some comments on the game. To follow.
Saw the length of post and kept reading expecting you to include some analysis... :think:

Good rant :)
 
Anyway, Box Hill is playing great footy - just a continuation of last years's final series, despite a solid change in personnel.

Some selective comments regarding a few of the players yesterday.

Lewis and O'Brien are staring to knock the door down. TOB was terrific - his ability to get where the ball is, and decision making was first class. He has to get another chance soon.
Lewis could have been just as good but he missed some marked he should have cluncked.

Hanrahan is a big no for me. Granted he has the skills but he isn't active enough and should be far more involved in the game. I note 4P's comment above, but Jeeze, he should have built up a reasonable fitness base by now.

Brand must take Frawley's place next week. He's another one who'd reading the ball really well and playing to the structures.

Jiath - I'm one of his biggest fans but I didn't think I'd be saying this. I've though all along that he's so raw, he needs a full season with Box Hill. But not anymore. He's so bloody quick, he tackles well and racking up quality possessions. He's the very thing our senior side needs - pace and enthusiasm. Give him 4 senior games now - and see how he goes.

Andrew Moore - he does a lot of solid stuff, but in my view, yesterday he showed why he's no longer playing AFL. A number of critical errors and turnovers.

Dylan Moore - I was disappointed with him yesterday. Coming back from a taste of senior footy, I thought he would have grabbed this game by the neck. But I thought he was just in cruising mode, a bit like Ollie.

Luke Meadow - yesterday he demonstrated exactly why we should have drafted him when we had the chance. He's a gun. Tough inside mid, racking up possessions, getting the hard ball. What surprised me yesterday was the fact that he covered as much ground as Scully did in the seniors. I'll be really annoyed if another club takes him in the mid-year draft before us. He showed yesterday that he's a much better prospect than Harry Jones. Nothing against Harry, he was solid, but right now, Meadows would be a much more accomplished senior footballer.

Talking of guns, this kid can play - Nathan Boucher. Quick and gutsy, doesn't fumble, strong tackler, chases down defenders, good goal kicker, and strong mark for his size. Looks to me like a genuine prospect. The way St Kilda walked the ball unopposed out of our forward line yesterday, showed that there are openings for players like Bouchier (if drafted).

Jackson Ross - has also come on very quickly and must be given some senior games this year.
With Roughy in decline (although he played his best game for the year yesterday) Ross looks like a good senior prospect because he's got the speed and marking power we need from a tall (he's 193 cm which just qualifies him as a tall) - and he''s a genuine goal kicker.

Our forward line yesterday (seniors) was lumbering. St Kilda walked the ball out with ease because there was no pressure. Admittedly our team balance was shot because of the injuries but yesterday proved to me that we can't play 2 lumbering ruckmen especially when one is playing the role of marking forward. That's why ideally we need Lewis to come on quickly to stand in for Big Boy. Lewis will provide the speed and versatility on the forward line that Ceglar can't. That's obviously why Lewis was given that role to Pitto yesterday, he did a lot of ruckwork.
And now a good analysis :)
 
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Anyway, Box Hill is playing great footy - just a continuation of last years's final series, despite a solid change in personnel.

Our forward line yesterday (seniors) was lumbering. St Kilda walked the ball out with ease because there was no pressure. Admittedly our team balance was shot because of the injuries but yesterday proved to me that we can't play 2 lumbering ruckmen especially when one is playing the role of marking forward. That's why ideally we need Lewis to come on quickly to stand in for Big Boy. Lewis will provide the speed and versatility on the forward line that Ceglar can't. That's obviously why Lewis was given that role to Pitto yesterday, he did a lot of ruckwork.

I've been a big supporter of Ceglar over the years, but after watching his ruckwork against Blake Acres in particular yesterday, my faith has been rocked. Should've beaten R. Marshall & given Acres an absolute bath but didn't. Really disappointing for mine. Hoping M. Lewis shows enough to get another crack in the seniors soon.

Given Titch's broken leg and O'Meara's injury history, I was surprised we didn't jump at the opportunity to get another midfielder in during the SPP
 
CJ over-commits in some bad moments that leaves the team vulnerable. Will become a lot more costly the next level up. Things Hawthorn's defensive unit doesn't structure for; over-committal.

Will need to remove these from his game before I feel he's ready for a game or 2.

Ollie seems to have regressed. He's a natural midfielder who knows where to stand and can read the ruckman naturally, however he's being played in a forward pocket. Hard to develop him there. Cousins had tank issues too, but I can't recall him being hidden in the forward pocket?
 
Sandringham 3.5-23 4.7-31 5.9-39 8.11-59
Box Hill Hawks 3.2-20 5.4-34 11.4-70 16.4-100

SANDRINGHAM
Goal Kickers: B. O''Toole 2, K. Answerth, D. Armitage, R. Young, K. Owens, N. Hind, S. Fox
Best Players: N. Hind, L. Dunstan, D. Langlands, J. Marsh, B. Rice, S. Fox
BOX HILL HAWKS
Goal Kickers: N. Boucher 4, J. Ross 3, T. O''Brien 2, N. Mullenger-Mchugh, M. Lewis, D. Moore, H. Jones, L. Walker, A. Moore, O. Hanrahan
Best Players: C. Jiath, L. Meadows, N. Boucher, K. Brand, T. O''Brien, D. Mascitti
 
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Boucher was/is the 23rd player, which means he can only play a maximum of 4 games for us (I believe), so only two more. Shame.

Kilpatrick had an amazing game in round 1, but didn't really notice him yesterday. I'm sure he will bounce back. Very nifty player....could easily become AFL standard if he puts the hard work in.

Cegs in the AFL....well he had an off day. Guaranteed he'll bounce back. Seemed to me that McEvoy played less game time, certainly less in the ruck. Playing with a niggle perhaps? I think he started off with a bandage on his head before the game even started....at first I laughed...but then thought wtf?

Edit: Haynes was actually 23rd player. Oops. Good that Boucher can play all season for us.
 
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To be honest, the Box Hill recruiting has been absolutely amazing over the preseason...not sure who to credit with that.

Mascitti, Kilpatrick, Meadows, Mullenger-Mchugh, Horner, Boucher (but did play last year), can't remember the others right now. But those players are all VFL- level top class. Big big chance for back to back.
 
Boucher was/is the 23rd player, which means he can only play a maximum of 4 games for us (I believe), so only two more. Shame.

Kilpatrick had an amazing game in round 1, but didn't really notice him yesterday. I'm sure he will bounce back. Very nifty player....could easily become AFL standard if he puts the hard work in.

Cegs in the AFL....well he had an off day. Guaranteed he'll bounce back. Seemed to me that McEvoy played less game time, certainly less in the ruck. Playing with a niggle perhaps? I think he started off with a bandage on his head before the game even started....at first I laughed...but then thought wtf?

Edit: Haynes was actually 23rd player. Oops. Good that Boucher can play all season for us.
"was" the 23rd player.
Not this year.

Was someone else yesterday whose name escapes me.
 

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M&M looks handy. Nice size and jumps aggressively when rucking. Moves smoothly and kicked a nice goal. Looks very under-developed for a bloke with two years on the Doggies list. Walker has impressed me. Good size and does some nice things. Mid-season draft I'd look at these two very closely.

Meadows competes well but not overly quick or elite. Minchington is a better player, would be handy at the moment.
 
M&M looks handy. Nice size and jumps aggressively when rucking. Moves smoothly and kicked a nice goal. Looks very under-developed for a bloke with two years on the Doggies list. Walker has impressed me. Good size and does some nice things. Mid-season draft I'd look at these two very closely.

Meadows competes well but not overly quick or elite. Minchington is a better player, would be handy at the moment.
Yep Walker has been good 2 in a row. Good size.
 

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Well I thought Ollie improved quite a bit last year :think:
I perhaps haven't seen as much of Box Hill as you, but the general consensus here at the end of 2017 seemed to be he was going to feature for Hawthorn early in 2018. A lot of folks had him in our 22 or on the cusp. He started off in our JLT games but then seemed to get further back in the selecton queue as the year went on. By the end of last year, from what I can see, he was as far from selection as he ever has been. Same as now.
 

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4P has mentioned Ollie has a dodgy tank, that never helps. But this is the VFL, AFL trained guys versus part-timers. Without slagging the guy too much he did not seem interested in doing much team stuff such as running to create space for his teammate or going for the easy short target. Even when he kicked the snap goal he did not look happy. He'd need to pull his finger out.
 
I perhaps haven't seen as much of Box Hill as you, but the general consensus here at the end of 2017 seemed to be he was going to feature for Hawthorn early in 2018. A lot of folks had him in our 22 or on the cusp. He started off in our JLT games but then seemed to get further back in the selecton queue as the year went on. By the end of last year, from what I can see, he was as far from selection as he ever has been. Same as now.
He was an AFL emergency in round 1 or 2 this year so is perhaps closer than the sentiment here. He had some key moments in the VFL finals last year without starring. His first 2 VFL games this year have been average at best which is why he is being questioned particularly when guys like Boucher come in and fire immediately.
 
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Luke Meadow - yesterday he demonstrated exactly why we should have drafted him when we had the chance. He's a gun. Tough inside mid, racking up possessions, getting the hard ball. What surprised me yesterday was the fact that he covered as much ground as Scully did in the seniors. I'll be really annoyed if another club takes him in the mid-year draft before us. He showed yesterday that he's a much better prospect than Harry Jones. Nothing against Harry, he was solid, but right now, Meadows would be a much more accomplished senior footballer.

Would be very annoying. Thought we needed more depth in the middle of the ground. Looked glaringly shallow, but I'm sure the club know what they are doing. Perfect storm of injuries in one area for Hawthorn and Meadow looks like he would have been good insurance. Hopefully if he's a jet the club fake him an injury or something, before draft day ;)
 
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4P has mentioned Ollie has a dodgy tank, that never helps. But this is the VFL, AFL trained guys versus part-timers. Without slagging the guy too much he did not seem interested in doing much team stuff such as running to create space for his teammate or going for the easy short target. Even when he kicked the snap goal he did not look happy. He'd need to pull his finger out.

Really looks like a make or break year from him, after showing lots of potential over the past few seasons.

Moore has gone past him and with Scully coming in, we have four wingmen in Scully, Hendo, Smith and Morrison, who can all push to play the high half forward role, meaning there are even fewer spots for genuine small to medium forwards...
 

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Box Hill 2nd win this season

Mascitti has been great off of half back, creating a lot of drive from defence playing that Sicily role to a good level
Mullenger-McHugh has been really good leading tall, along with Lewis has provided the most consistent target up forward, good size and flexible
Kilpatrick was really good round 1 and decent round 2, another good player for BHH, who is getting more opportunity this season
L.Walker, Boucher and Horner getting opportunity now that others have moved on and they are taking advantage of that, stepping up
A.Moore and Meadows providing midfield grunt, Moore with the leadership and Meadows with the accumulator ability
Mackie good in bursts
Haynes - 23rd man

as for our Hawthorn Listed players

J.Ross - on fire, x-factor youngster starting to feel at home with the pace and physicality of VFL footy, 8 goals in 2 games
Lewis - playing the leading forward role really well, killing it so far 6 goals in 2 games
Pittonet - he dominates the ruck taps, his marking around the ground is a slight weakness and hitting the scoreboard, but good backup
Miles - had a good pre-season and run and carry in round 1, was emergency for Hawthorn last week
Jones - puts in 110% every game, for a guy slightly under-developed he is performing as an in and under mid for BHH
CJ - he is so much better as a defender, intercepts, uses it pretty well, run and carry


Brand - doing ok, really doesnt have many big forwards to play on so looks for more intercept marks and structure in defence
TOB - didnt do much in defence in the 1st round and then pushed forward and got involved a little in rd 2
Koschitzke - has looked like our best defender in bursts, but seems a bit under-done with a lack of pre-season and getting over injuries
Greaves - has looked at home in the VFL, medium def run and carry, tough, uses ball well, composed, not yet ready for AFL
Glass - has done ok so far, hasnt impressed but also hasnt made bad errors
Golds - has been ok so far, does a good job on the wing, the physicality and quicker speed of VFL footy has caught up to him a bit.
Hanrahan - burst player, hasnt really been overly impressive so far.
D.Moore - had a quiet game for Hawthorn and a quiet game for BHH, seems to lack that big marking he did in the VFL Finals last season
Schoenmakers - quiet game, kicked a goal, played as expected in his 1 game this season
 
Brand - doing ok, really doesnt have many big forwards to play on so looks for more intercept marks and structure in defence
Brand hasn't lost a one-on-one contest yet and killed or marked every ball that's come his way, but he's only doing okay. Played on a Melbourne list KPF with AFL experience, and backed that up with a job on Sam Rowe, a 99 game AFL player.

Goals conceeded: 0

But he's doing okay. Could be better, though. Maybe needs to play on the third tall and be invisible for 90% so he can be considered the best looking defender in the team? I'm just a novice here, so excuse my ignorance.
 
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