Under 23s trial game between Port & Crows

[Port85]

Hopefully all our young defenders push hard for spots during JLT to either earn their place or push the incumbents super hard as preparation for Rd 1.

Lienert showed great potential with the ball in the last part of last season but I don't think was really tested defensively...if he's got that in his locker ready to come out, he'd definitely be ahead of many.

 

[Arsene Wenger]

Agree with Macca and Philthy on Amon. His athleticism and speed is something we need. If he can be consistent then there is def a spot for him on a wing. I think he was great yesterday


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[MilitaryLC]

I find myself liking Bickley. He understands us
Can you seriously LIKE this guy!
We dont call him elbows and knees for nothing!
if not favourable to us! i think he has good reason to tread carefully.




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Everyone makes mistakes in life. Yes it was a dog act but he's quite often said he'll regret it for the rest of his life. Move on.

 

[elpirate]

I find myself liking Bickley. He understands us
Can you seriously LIKE this guy!
We dont call him elbows and knees for nothing!
if not favourable to us! i think he has good reason to tread carefully.




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Grudges only hurt the one holding the grudge.

Yet to read a productive post from ya klem.

 

[Tibbs]

I haven't watched any preseason training and didn't see the intraclub game last week, so I can only base my opinion on late season performances and competition for spots.

I thought he was good but not great in the games he played after his debut match (which was a particularly strong performance). In the games against Collingwood and Essendon where the whole team sucked, he was fair to good. He handled some pressure balls like a hot potato, but was not as bad in that regard as Pittard and was better defensively than Hombsch - both of those guys are gone now.

I happen to rate Clurey, and think he remains a lock in our side based on a strong 2018.

I therefore have Jonas, Howard and Clurey as our three taller defenders.
DBJ is our lock-down small defender.
We then have several options for the HB flanker/intercept mark roles: Hartlett, Houston, Burton, Lienert, Bonner, Broadbnt.
I've listed them in that order because that's how I rate them at this stage.
I would pick Hartlett, Houston and Burton ahead of Lienert as of now. Burton's form yesterday was a little shaky IMO, but we're hardly not going to select him for the round 1 game.

So it leaves us with a decision of how many of these options we pick.

Again that's my rating of them. Others clearly think Lienert is ahead of Clurey. I don't see it that way, yet. Maybe I will after 2 JLT games.

I just loved Lienert's games last year. Not spectacular, but just solid and reliable, calm under pressure - something we really needed at the time.

Don't know if you have heard the interviews of Hammer and (someone else I forget), with both players naming Lienert as the player to watch after having a great preseason!

I reckon Clurey will be sweating bricks atm! Burton as well after his inauspicious game yesterday.

 

[Ports1870]

I just hope that if Clurey isn’t best 22 this season, that he still sticks with us as he’s out of contract. If Clurey left that would make our KPD depth even worse once again which at the moment is only Jonas, Howard, Clurey, Lienert, Grundy, McKenzie. And McKenzie will likely be delisted end of season.

 

[Powerage]

He's super strong and will be able to defend strongly. So he's got both the defensive and offensive side of his game pretty set. Just a more complete player than Clurey for example.

Really super strong? Possibly he has a strong core or positions himself well as Silvagni used to, but his strength is not reflected in his physique. Looks wiry or ropey rather than strong I actually hoped he would have beefed up a bit this year as he is tall enough to play as a third key if required, making him a versatile defender in the Jonas mould.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be upset if he is not a lock in our starting defence, and with apologies to Choco, the kicking in duties should be his to lose. From what I have seen over the past year or so he is an elite raking kick. And even when under pressure, seems to make good decisions.

Having him play up the ground is an enticing prospect, but with our difficulty getting the ball effectively out of defense I would rather see him there.

 

[Burton89onegoal]

I find myself liking Bickley. He understands us even if he isn't one of us. He's also pretty knowledgeable and quite balanced, if not favourable to us.

Im not 100% sure about this, but I have a feeling he was another one who grew up barracking for Port.

 

[Powerage]

No

Not surprised as he wasn’t in our recruiting planning as far as I know, so he’s just a bonus, hope we get the best out of him. I want the Wingard trade to be a massive win.

This was my major beef with the Wingard trade to those Hawthorn mother****ers. They have become masters of getting the perfect player for the areas they are deficient in, while handing off picks and particularly players that are not a huge loss to them and not a perfect fit for the team receiving them. Its the advantage of being a highly successful, well run Victorian outfit. You can be choosier about who you target.

 

[dirty2]

Agree, we have been crying out for an elite small defender, its time DBJ became that. Has stagnated imo.

Who was it Monty or Schofield? 7/10 player and pretty much get that every week? I would 100% agree

 

[Byrons Firen]

And a very quick handball to Mead in last Q who goaled.
So a total of 4 goal assists ...

A highly valued stat in soccer at the highest levels, under-valued in our game by your average Joe Blow.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

The other play I noticed was the movement of our players in the centre square after a bounce. That was as dynamic as I have seen for a while. The movement allowed us to release the ball to players in motion and unbalance defensive set ups.

 

[davo999]

Yea the way Bonner got through the front of the congestion and headed goalward . That’s what I like to see . Those possessions out the back of the congestion ala Polec and to some degree SPP aren’t nearly as constructive as getting out the front door . Hopefully that’s something we can see more of

 

[Chewy316]

Amon is the sleeper this year. There is a spot in the side if he wants it and is good enough

LOL give it a rest mate. He isn't up to it. Has never been up to it. His deficiencies aren't going to suddenly go fix themselves. He's soft, shirks contests and makes countless errors with his disposal. Nice guy I'm sure, but if he's in the side, that says a LOT about the state of our list.

One pre-season game against the majority of whom were under 23 years of age isn't exactly a good barometer for where he's at.

 

[1954]

I really liked Mahney's straight ahead attack on the footy, he should be one of the first Maggie top up players to get a game.
He has got a bit of size about him too, particularly when compared to some of those 160 - 170 cm and 65kg `jockeys' who regularly got games last season.

 

[Chewy316]

Remember the early 2000’s: Wanganeen, Wilson, Shaun Burgoyne. All elite shutdown defenders, two of them were fantastic forwards as well, the other a more than handy mid early in his AFL career. We then had the versatility of Kingsley and Monty, and Poulton as depth. That was an elite list.

What I miss most about that list was the toughness, uncompromising players we had. There was a stage when teams legitimately feared to play us. Tredrea, Pickett, Carr, Wilson, Wakelin, James, Wanganeen, Francou, Kingsley etc. Not all were elite players, but they made 50/50 balls a 60/40 contest. Furthermore, in the final quarter when they had to put their head over the ball and play their role for the team, you knew they'd get the job done.

How many players can we say that about our current team? With the exception of Robbie Gray and Jonas, I find it hard to find anyone else to I know with certainty is going to play their role, especially in close contests.

 

[Byrons Firen]

Really super strong? Possibly he has a strong core or positions himself well as Silvagni used to, but his strength is not reflected in his physique. Looks wiry or ropey rather than strong I actually hoped he would have beefed up a bit this year as he is tall enough to play as a third key if required, making him a versatile defender in the Jonas mould.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be upset if he is not a lock in our starting defence, and with apologies to Choco, the kicking in duties should be his to lose. From what I have seen over the past year or so he is an elite raking kick. And even when under pressure, seems to make good decisions.

Having him play up the ground is an enticing prospect, but with our difficulty getting the ball effectively out of defense I would rather see him there.

As Feel says Jarrod is strong, watched him in the Magpies and stood near him at the 3/4 time huddles and he is a powerful unit.
When was the last time you saw him moved off his line. He aint treacle slow either.
The 6-6-6 is going to expose slow defenders and reward quick forwards especially smalls.
The other thing we need to realise is that a lot of our players have not reached 50 games. A benchmark set by many as
one where you know if a player is going to 'make' it.

I'm crap on stats but if one of you put up our list with games played it might shock many.
Dooogs Amon Lienert Clurey Marshall etc. Something to remember when judging players.

 

[Ports1870]

The other play I noticed was the movement of our players in the centre square after a bounce. That was as dynamic as I have seen for a while. The movement allowed us to release the ball to players in motion and unbalance defensive set ups.

What I liked was one play Amon was in the middle for the centre bounce then 5-10 seconds later he was in the 50 kicking a goal.

 

[DazalenkoUBewty]

What I liked was one play Amon was in the middle for the centre bounce then 5-10 seconds later he was in the 50 kicking a goal.

That was very nicely done. Career highlight right there.

 

[PowerBaz]

The other play I noticed was the movement of our players in the centre square after a bounce. That was as dynamic as I have seen for a while. The movement allowed us to release the ball to players in motion and unbalance defensive set ups.

But does Frampton play full-forward?
Sorry, I thought it was cold and wet and we were discussing Ballarat!

Actually, how is he going?

 

[Papa G]

Wtf are people writing off Clurey? Had a good season last year and finished top 10 in best and fairest. Dougal is a far bigger concern for me.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

But does Frampton play full-forward?
Sorry, I thought it was cold and wet and we were discussing Ballarat!

Actually, how is he going?

I thought he was alright in the trial game. Certainly competitive in ruck. Others disagree. It's why eye witnesses are the most unreliable factor in a crime case.

 

[Chachi]

Jonas, Dougs, Clurey and DBJ are first 22. Picking the next 3 defenders is much harder with Brogsy and Hammer also in the mix.

 

[Chachi]

Wtf are people writing off Clurey? Had a good season last year and finished top 10 in best and fairest. Dougal is a far bigger concern for me.

Agree about Clurey but what's your concern with Dougs?

 

[TeeKray]

I find myself liking Bickley. He understands us
Can you seriously LIKE this guy!
We dont call him elbows and knees for nothing!
if not favourable to us! i think he has good reason to tread carefully.




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LEST WE FORGET

You know what's funny? 10 years ago I uploaded a 14 second clip of Mark Bickley hitting Darryl Wakelin using a shitty trial program that splashed 'EVALUATION COPY' over the top of the vision. It's been viewed 49,000 times. The internet, hey.