VFL 2019 GFC VFL - The Bankers Megathread

[Ratcat]

Obviously a long way to go, even in this game.

But it does seem to provide some context for the inclusion of only one first-year player (not including Fort or Atkins, given their years of senior footy experience) in our two JLT squads.

Our young draftees might actually be great prospects over time. But it appears they are truly 'prospects' at the moment, rather than options who are going to realistically contend to play seniors in the short term.

And their lack of readiness for the big stage would not be a surprise to more than a few here.

Quite likely but it's their first look albeit VFL level.

 

[Landgraft]

My assumption is this will be the kind of growing pain we have with a midfield that has neither Atkins nor Chook to carry it. Anyone at the game want to shed light on where we're breaking down?

Edit: Or Horlo, another mainstay of our recent VFL midfield.

 

[Landgraft]

The #Landshark is engaged

 

[CoreyJoel]

The #Landshark is engaged

This is what we want to see!

 

[Drunkcat]

Freddy with his first goal in cats jumper

 

[catswhiskers]

Abbott dominating two opponents. Getting first hands on and delivering. Brownless looks good gets involved a bit of class on show not just grunt.

 

[catswhiskers]

Buzza is always in the game and Krueger overcoming a bit of stage fright. He has a big leg. Brown less jus taken off. Rested.

 

[catswhiskers]

Brown less back on and back into it. Good start .

 

[Ratcat]

Abbott dominating two opponents. Getting first hands on and delivering. Brownless looks good gets involved a bit of class on show not just grunt.

Abbott's a big talent imo.

 

[cats_09]

My assumption is this will be the kind of growing pain we have with a midfield that has neither Atkins nor Chook to carry it. Anyone at the game want to shed light on where we're breaking down?

Edit: Or Horlo, another mainstay of our recent VFL midfield.

Exactly this

There's also Murdoch & Thurlow who spent their fair share of time in the VFL last year, while Zuthrie is another with a couple of years under his belt but currently in the JLT team

 

[CoreyJoel]

Abbott dominating two opponents. Getting first hands on and delivering. Brownless looks good gets involved a bit of class on show not just grunt.

Sounds good but do they even have a decent ruck playing?
Bellchambers and Draper playing tonight and Clarke injured

 

[Landgraft]

Exactly this

There's also Murdoch & Thurlow who spent their fair share of time in the VFL last year, while Zuthrie is another with a couple of years under his belt but currently in the JLT team

I had forgotten that Thurlow was basically a full time midfielder at VFL level.

 

[terry_bright]

Exactly this

There's also Murdoch & Thurlow who spent their fair share of time in the VFL last year, while Zuthrie is another with a couple of years under his belt but currently in the JLT team

Murdoch played 4 games in the VFL last year.

Agree that the midfield looks extremely young and thin on for experienced talent compared to last year.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Murdoch played 4 games in the VFL last year.

Agree that the midfield looks extremely young and thin on for experienced talent compared to last year.

Good lord, is that all?
Could have sworn he must have been playing somewhere else all season when I was watching the 1sts.

 

[cats_09]

Murdoch played 4 games in the VFL last year.

Agree that the midfield looks extremely young and thin on for experienced talent compared to last year.

I thought he had played more - he played 16 AFL games, but he missed 2 games early and 5 later in the year, I just assumed he was playing VFL. Maybe there was time off injured

 

[catswhiskers]

Sounds good but do they even have a decent ruck playing?
Bellchambers and Draper playing tonight and Clarke injured

Liam read and Luke Goetz. Both 200+.

You can only beat your opponents and he did on the bit. These are the sort of back up ruckmen he couldn't go with for the first season or more of his time. Big step up to go with a Gawn or the like but he is giving himself a good chance.

 

[terry_bright]

I thought he had played more - he played 16 AFL games, but he missed 2 games early and 5 later in the year, I just assumed he was playing VFL. Maybe there was time off injured

Probably due to fact that there are a few more byes in the VFL and also being the non-playing emergency for a few rounds

 

[catswhiskers]

OK - back to VFL after a very interesting evening WATCHING FOOTY!

The good. Abbott, Brownless.

The bad - lots of it. Stage fright, confused and confusing umpiring, lack of vigour.

Saw enough to make me think that Abbott is 18 months ahead of Fort and at AFL level. Jumped over 201 and 203cm opponents, good follow up work at ground level, one very good pack mark and generally involved around the ground.

Brownless started well with a couple of early possessions then after a quiet 30 minutes really got into it. Should be a steal this one. He hunts the footy and knows what to do when he gets it. He has that urgency that others don't have. Wills himself to the bottom of contests. Will be an interesting journey.

JJ played deep in defence and looked very comfortable - organised and busy. Used his body well, pace out of defence and lovely long kicks. Looked much better with ball in front of him. Looked like Bates but with much more nous and much stronger body.

Buzza - only tall after Abbott to get involved (73 and 81 showed a bit but) Buzza was the main big man at forward contests and if he had held all the marks he got his hands on would have been very effective. Contributed in a very ordinary effort. Mckernan for Bombers was far too good at the other end - I would have sent Buzza to him half way through the second myself. That would have been a good watch!

Cunico got lots of it playing back and was OK but still lacks any lust for the contest. Very outside. Just a praccy or will he get down and dirty when the real stuff starts ? For me thats the difference for him between handy AFL player and journeyman fringe dweller. (whereas JJ loved the hard stuff and in my eyes is now well ahead -if both playing back)

The newbies all looked out of sorts - overawed to be kind. Krueger showed a bit late (thumping kick), Jarvis a bit early in a disfunctional team effort where the ball rarely was delivered properly, Kennerly did the odd thing late but looks way off and his kicking was not what it was cracked up to be. Tarca rarely sighted.

Parsons stays in the reserves after another ordinary game. He is quick as, but like Cunico doesn't have the urgency (cf Brownless or JJ ), his kicking was way off to make matters worse. He needs to step up as the prime mid in the twos and that does require he gets down and dirty - no easy possessions in the VFL.

Okunbor played back and had an OK first hitout. It must have looked strange seeing the ball career into his half so often and so little organisation in the defensive midfield set up. Quite likes the body stuff. One poor kick but otherwise good for this stage. Blake S. was over awed and poor as a result. Poor work in the early minutes showed he lacks awareness for mine and a horror kick gifted a goal. Long way to go but he might do an Abbott on me and has 2 years ahead. Gore started Ok but looked very rusty. Will be valuable in VFL at worst.

Lack of KPD was glaring. That Reid? bloke did not play. No Siggins. Still like Floyd and Capiron. Zydbel had a crack as back up ruck........my pen has run out.

 

[Ratcat]

OK - back to VFL after a very interesting evening WATCHING FOOTY!

The good. Abbott, Brownless.

The bad - lots of it. Stage fright, confused and confusing umpiring, lack of vigour.

Saw enough to make me think that Abbott is 18 months ahead of Fort and at AFL level. Jumped over 201 and 203cm opponents, good follow up work at ground level, one very good pack mark and generally involved around the ground.

Brownless started well with a couple of early possessions then after a quiet 30 minutes really got into it. Should be a steal this one. He hunts the footy and knows what to do when he gets it. He has that urgency that others don't have. Wills himself to the bottom of contests. Will be an interesting journey.

JJ played deep in defence and looked very comfortable - organised and busy. Used his body well, pace out of defence and lovely long kicks. Looked much better with ball in front of him. Looked like Bates but with much more nous and much stronger body.

Buzza - only tall after Abbott to get involved (73 and 81 showed a bit but) Buzza was the main big man at forward contests and if he had held all the marks he got his hands on would have been very effective. Contributed in a very ordinary effort. Mckernan for Bombers was far too good at the other end - I would have sent Buzza to him half way through the second myself. That would have been a good watch!

Cunico got lots of it playing back and was OK but still lacks any lust for the contest. Very outside. Just a praccy or will he get down and dirty when the real stuff starts ? For me thats the difference for him between handy AFL player and journeyman fringe dweller. (whereas JJ loved the hard stuff and in my eyes is now well ahead -if both playing back)

The newbies all looked out of sorts - overawed to be kind. Krueger showed a bit late (thumping kick), Jarvis a bit early in a disfunctional team effort where the ball rarely was delivered properly, Kennerly did the odd thing late but looks way off and his kicking was not what it was cracked up to be. Tarca rarely sighted.

Parsons stays in the reserves after another ordinary game. He is quick as, but like Cunico doesn't have the urgency (cf Brownless or JJ ), his kicking was way off to make matters worse. He needs to step up as the prime mid in the twos and that does require he gets down and dirty - no easy possessions in the VFL.

Okunbor played back and had an OK first hitout. It must have looked strange seeing the ball career into his half so often and so little organisation in the defensive midfield set up. Quite likes the body stuff. One poor kick but otherwise good for this stage. Blake S. was over awed and poor as a result. Poor work in the early minutes showed he lacks awareness for mine and a horror kick gifted a goal. Long way to go but he might do an Abbott on me and has 2 years ahead. Gore started Ok but looked very rusty. Will be valuable in VFL at worst.

Lack of KPD was glaring. That Reid? bloke did not play. No Siggins. Still like Floyd and Capiron. Zydbel had a crack as back up ruck........my pen has run out.

Great reporting CW!
Abbott is AFL standard and is a waste in the two's, Stanley will need backup no doubt. Out Fort in Abbott.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

We don't need two genuine ruckman when we have Ratugolea who is more than capable of pinch hitting. We need more run.

 

[Ratcat]

We don't need two genuine ruckman when we have Ratugolea who is more than capable of pinch hitting. We need more run.

I think there's plenty of run which Abbott even provides around the ground.
As well as tall insurance keypost and ruck.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I think there's plenty of run which Abbott even provides around the ground.

So Abbott can play midfield too? Ok I'm convinced.

 

[Drunkcat]

Anyone think Ratcat has a liking for Abbott pushing him just a little to much lol.... great report Catswhiskers but was hoping the Buz played alright I am a fan just because of the name

 

[Ratcat]

So Abbott can play midfield too? Ok I'm convinced.

He plays like one, but can easily be the second tall forward if Sav, Tommy or Stanley are injured or struggling.
He's a very good player and grossly underestimated on this board but not for long, wait and see.
Read CW's report. Fort playing before Abbott was rediculous anyway.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

He plays like one, but can easily be the second tall forward if Sav, Tommy or Stanley are injured or struggling.
He's a very good player and very underestimated on this board but not for long wait, and see.
Read CW's report.

Totally opposite to my opinions on him. Moves like a banana slug and couldn't possibly hold down a key forward post. Holds his own in the ruck and started to improve as the year wore on. I think he bides his time in the VFL given Rat can ruck and hold down a key forward spot.