Dunno if anyone has mentioned it before, but **** it was great being back at Princes Park, bright sunny day and watching the Blue boys strutting their stuff like back in the old days 
They can shove their Docklands Stadium up their collective clackers!!
Read through all of the posts from this arvo, and other posters have pretty much summed it up pretty well. As much as we would all like things to turn around overnite, it's still gonna take a while to get games into younger guys, and start gelling as a group. Our disposal today though at times was just like last year...the Dawks were a class above us in that department, and unfortunately other teams during the year will be as well unless we can turn it around.
Also we didn't have a recognised ruckman today, so being up against McEvoy and Ceglar, we were always going to get beaten up. We got smashed in the centre bounces and stoppages....couldn't get first use of the ball, so they had a lot of control for the entire game. No rucks or Crippa, we were always going to be up against it.
A few observations though.
OMFG, what have we got here in Sammy Walsh? It's no wonder after the first training session of the year, Doc went to the coaching staff and said "we've got one here", they replied "yeah we know", and he replied "no no no, we've REALLY got one here". I spotted Slobbo at the game...he was on Macquarie Sports during the course of the match, and said "this kid is a jet, doesn't run, just glides." Jon Ralph also on Macquarie Sports gave his summary of the game, first thing he said was "I just saw the 2021 Brownlow Medallist running around out there today." Pretty big raps, but aren't we glad now so far we didn't trade our #1 pick with GCS??
Cuners was superb today...I'll admit, I've been a bit afraid he'll just be another young player that drifts into oblivion, but he really surprised me today with his speed and skill, especially under pressure. I'm probably just imagining things, but him and Lachie seemed to be walking a bit taller today....it seems like they may have more confidence in themselves now just looking at their body language. Lachie off a wing was also excellent.
SPS...now with a full preseason under his belt, fitness shouldn't be an issue...which in turn means he can now display his class and skills without being under fatigue. Could be anything this year. Showed his class today.
Gibbo struggled a little with the tempo, especially early in the game....mind you, they had him as a small forward, which is NOT his go. Got into it more in the second half once moved into the guts. He is a natural footballer though, and still feel he will improve pretty quickly with more game time. No doubting his effort though, he's a little terrier, and throws himself right into the fold.
Jones crucial to our backline at the moment, provides the big body bash and crash, and can go head to head with the oppo's key forwards. Weiters was superb (he's become a bit of a beast now he's bulked up), but looks to have the confidence back to attack the contest. He'll be important. Newman will also be good off half back, he's got the goods. Not sure about Plowman.
Garlett. I'll sum it up as a player who is so gifted with speed and skill, but defence aint his go. Showed some wonderful skills at times, but once he got the pill in defence, seemed to put himself under pressure to try and create something off half back, only to turn it over again and again. If he was playing at half forward rather than half back today, I got a feeling there would have been some pretty glowing reports. Could be a really dangerous half forward who could turn the opposition defence around, like a Jeffy.
Setters. Looked way short of a gallop, but only his 3rd senior game in 2 and a bit years. Big unit though....started on the forward line and looked like another key forward next to H and Charles. Didn't really get into the game, but they moved him into the mid during the course.
Goddard a huge lump of a human being. From what I saw today, he doesn't look like he's terribly skilled (although he has missed a lot of footy) but occupies a lot of space on the backline. He may just be the 'go with' defender on a similar type gorilla to provide the physical pressure.
A lot of good signs today, but we still have to have patience.
They can shove their Docklands Stadium up their collective clackers!!Read through all of the posts from this arvo, and other posters have pretty much summed it up pretty well. As much as we would all like things to turn around overnite, it's still gonna take a while to get games into younger guys, and start gelling as a group. Our disposal today though at times was just like last year...the Dawks were a class above us in that department, and unfortunately other teams during the year will be as well unless we can turn it around.
Also we didn't have a recognised ruckman today, so being up against McEvoy and Ceglar, we were always going to get beaten up. We got smashed in the centre bounces and stoppages....couldn't get first use of the ball, so they had a lot of control for the entire game. No rucks or Crippa, we were always going to be up against it.
A few observations though.
OMFG, what have we got here in Sammy Walsh? It's no wonder after the first training session of the year, Doc went to the coaching staff and said "we've got one here", they replied "yeah we know", and he replied "no no no, we've REALLY got one here". I spotted Slobbo at the game...he was on Macquarie Sports during the course of the match, and said "this kid is a jet, doesn't run, just glides." Jon Ralph also on Macquarie Sports gave his summary of the game, first thing he said was "I just saw the 2021 Brownlow Medallist running around out there today." Pretty big raps, but aren't we glad now so far we didn't trade our #1 pick with GCS??
Cuners was superb today...I'll admit, I've been a bit afraid he'll just be another young player that drifts into oblivion, but he really surprised me today with his speed and skill, especially under pressure. I'm probably just imagining things, but him and Lachie seemed to be walking a bit taller today....it seems like they may have more confidence in themselves now just looking at their body language. Lachie off a wing was also excellent.
SPS...now with a full preseason under his belt, fitness shouldn't be an issue...which in turn means he can now display his class and skills without being under fatigue. Could be anything this year. Showed his class today.
Gibbo struggled a little with the tempo, especially early in the game....mind you, they had him as a small forward, which is NOT his go. Got into it more in the second half once moved into the guts. He is a natural footballer though, and still feel he will improve pretty quickly with more game time. No doubting his effort though, he's a little terrier, and throws himself right into the fold.
Jones crucial to our backline at the moment, provides the big body bash and crash, and can go head to head with the oppo's key forwards. Weiters was superb (he's become a bit of a beast now he's bulked up), but looks to have the confidence back to attack the contest. He'll be important. Newman will also be good off half back, he's got the goods. Not sure about Plowman.
Garlett. I'll sum it up as a player who is so gifted with speed and skill, but defence aint his go. Showed some wonderful skills at times, but once he got the pill in defence, seemed to put himself under pressure to try and create something off half back, only to turn it over again and again. If he was playing at half forward rather than half back today, I got a feeling there would have been some pretty glowing reports. Could be a really dangerous half forward who could turn the opposition defence around, like a Jeffy.
Setters. Looked way short of a gallop, but only his 3rd senior game in 2 and a bit years. Big unit though....started on the forward line and looked like another key forward next to H and Charles. Didn't really get into the game, but they moved him into the mid during the course.
Goddard a huge lump of a human being. From what I saw today, he doesn't look like he's terribly skilled (although he has missed a lot of footy) but occupies a lot of space on the backline. He may just be the 'go with' defender on a similar type gorilla to provide the physical pressure.
A lot of good signs today, but we still have to have patience.
