Some year on year player by player comments. I’ll do them in groups if that’s ok.....and if it isn’t, I don’t give a s**t.
1. Jack. As has been pointed out he’s missed some of the preseason. It’s never been clear to me why. However he has probably done the bulk of it. He looks super fit. Even better than last year (and he had a good preseason last year). His running is absolutely good enough to play midfield if they want that. In short bursts he played tagger on Cripps at various points and I really liked his capacity to stick at it. I think he feels at home now and has a great deal of strings to his bow.
2. Paddy Dow. Gosh I’ve bounced around all preseason (in fact all his career) about this guy. Here’s where I’m at with him: he’s going to be a gun....in a few more years. I think I’ve seen enough now to say his kicking has really cleaned up a lot. He’s using his pace to straighten up. He’s balancing before he kicks. He’s punching his kicks and keeping them low. He’s not being too ambitious with them. His other major weakness (his endurance running) has def improved but I’d still call it ‘below average’ for a mid and in the age of two way running I think is going to hold him back for another year. Today a couple of times I noted he just couldn’t work hard enough defensively. His strengths remain absolutely elite and are regularly on show. His hands (often missed) are top shelf. I almost never see him fumble any ball, even at his toes. His ability to take big steps with power in traffic is sensational. What I mean by that is he can really stretch in one stride and yet not lose power in the process. Quite unique and makes him so gifted at creating space in close. Still a WIP but a wonderful one at that.
3. Murph. He will be what he was second half last year: still a top 100 AFL player. His agility today really impressed me. I was so impressed with it. Two or three times he just gave himself so much time and space. He can still do the freaky stuff just as he always could. I don’t see any signs of slowing down for him. His endurance running isn’t amazing at training, but it never has been. So those who are new to watching him shouldn’t worry too much. He’s where he’s always been in the group runs. Glad he is still on board. A 7 time top two finisher in our B+F.
4. LOB. Gee until today I was bullish. I may not have been ‘convinced’ about him but I saw plenty. Great outside run. Long kicking. Unfortunately today the moment the pressure of game situations came on some of his his weaknesses showed up. What I REALLY don’t like is the too frequent fumbling at his feet, and the fact he is still buckling too easily when tackled. I’m currently ‘dunno, just dunno’ about him.
5. SPS. Has had a very solid preseason but did nothing today. Not even running. I like him a lot across half back due to his elite decision making and ball skills. I have to say though his lack of size and lack of elite athletic attributes have me thinking he’s a fringe player right now. Which isn’t to say I don’t like him. But he just isn’t standing out. I haven’t seen anything this preseason that makes me think ‘has taken a further step’ and therefore I expect a similar output to last year at this stage, if he can hold his spot given the extra pressure.
6. Simmo. Literally hasn’t lost anything. Same as Murph. No agility loss. His endurance running is elite as it has been since he got serious with it 4-5 years ago. Love the pairing of him with Doc coming out of them backline. Throw in Newman and the avenues to bring the ball out of the backline are looking terrific.
7. Kennedy. Has looked a lot lighter and
His running for the most part has been great. I’d say he’s absolutely no hope of breaking into this midfield. He needs to aim at a half forward role and aim to become that Josh Caddy type. Injured recently- seems to be a knee. He wouldn’t want that to last else he will certainly start the year in the twos and if the big three all get back mid year I’d say he will stay there.
8. Kreuzer. I mean gee, he’s done a LOT of the preseason. Seems occasionally managed, but is doing the bulk of it. Some time around this point last year he disappeared with a knee cleanup and it affected his start to the season. Fingers crossed they are managing him better now. He couldn’t keep up with Willo in repeat 150s today but that’s no crime. He looks slightly lighter and his agility is good.
9. Crippa. Wtf can I say? He just destroyed them today. I reckon he would be down to a sub 6’30” 2km time now. I’d say he’s never been close to his present endurance condition. I haven’t seen him miss any preseason. Seems to be just going great guns. I think he should be the Brownlow favourite. He’s just gone up another level, amazingly. You’re going to see him in more link up play. You’re going to see HIM provide numbers to the contest. It’s amazing really.
10. McKay. Not gonna lie I’ve been very worried about him until today. Today he ran more than before. And he kicked it. I’m pumped to have seen that. Gee he’s a unit. I think I said last week that he has put on muscle. I think a good 5kg. Which is heaps. He’s a monster now. Like he made Jack Silvagni look like a dwarf today. Amazing. What I loved was the running today was FAST. And he did some power 2 minute runs as well. He’s in shape. I now expect to see him round one. Will he get back to last year? Not sure. He was killing it this time last year. He’s done no preseason this year. But he’s bigger and stronger. At this stage I expect a slight regression this year but ill be surprised if he’s not there round one.
I’ll do another group tomorrow.
1. Jack. As has been pointed out he’s missed some of the preseason. It’s never been clear to me why. However he has probably done the bulk of it. He looks super fit. Even better than last year (and he had a good preseason last year). His running is absolutely good enough to play midfield if they want that. In short bursts he played tagger on Cripps at various points and I really liked his capacity to stick at it. I think he feels at home now and has a great deal of strings to his bow.
2. Paddy Dow. Gosh I’ve bounced around all preseason (in fact all his career) about this guy. Here’s where I’m at with him: he’s going to be a gun....in a few more years. I think I’ve seen enough now to say his kicking has really cleaned up a lot. He’s using his pace to straighten up. He’s balancing before he kicks. He’s punching his kicks and keeping them low. He’s not being too ambitious with them. His other major weakness (his endurance running) has def improved but I’d still call it ‘below average’ for a mid and in the age of two way running I think is going to hold him back for another year. Today a couple of times I noted he just couldn’t work hard enough defensively. His strengths remain absolutely elite and are regularly on show. His hands (often missed) are top shelf. I almost never see him fumble any ball, even at his toes. His ability to take big steps with power in traffic is sensational. What I mean by that is he can really stretch in one stride and yet not lose power in the process. Quite unique and makes him so gifted at creating space in close. Still a WIP but a wonderful one at that.
3. Murph. He will be what he was second half last year: still a top 100 AFL player. His agility today really impressed me. I was so impressed with it. Two or three times he just gave himself so much time and space. He can still do the freaky stuff just as he always could. I don’t see any signs of slowing down for him. His endurance running isn’t amazing at training, but it never has been. So those who are new to watching him shouldn’t worry too much. He’s where he’s always been in the group runs. Glad he is still on board. A 7 time top two finisher in our B+F.
4. LOB. Gee until today I was bullish. I may not have been ‘convinced’ about him but I saw plenty. Great outside run. Long kicking. Unfortunately today the moment the pressure of game situations came on some of his his weaknesses showed up. What I REALLY don’t like is the too frequent fumbling at his feet, and the fact he is still buckling too easily when tackled. I’m currently ‘dunno, just dunno’ about him.
5. SPS. Has had a very solid preseason but did nothing today. Not even running. I like him a lot across half back due to his elite decision making and ball skills. I have to say though his lack of size and lack of elite athletic attributes have me thinking he’s a fringe player right now. Which isn’t to say I don’t like him. But he just isn’t standing out. I haven’t seen anything this preseason that makes me think ‘has taken a further step’ and therefore I expect a similar output to last year at this stage, if he can hold his spot given the extra pressure.
6. Simmo. Literally hasn’t lost anything. Same as Murph. No agility loss. His endurance running is elite as it has been since he got serious with it 4-5 years ago. Love the pairing of him with Doc coming out of them backline. Throw in Newman and the avenues to bring the ball out of the backline are looking terrific.
7. Kennedy. Has looked a lot lighter and
His running for the most part has been great. I’d say he’s absolutely no hope of breaking into this midfield. He needs to aim at a half forward role and aim to become that Josh Caddy type. Injured recently- seems to be a knee. He wouldn’t want that to last else he will certainly start the year in the twos and if the big three all get back mid year I’d say he will stay there.
8. Kreuzer. I mean gee, he’s done a LOT of the preseason. Seems occasionally managed, but is doing the bulk of it. Some time around this point last year he disappeared with a knee cleanup and it affected his start to the season. Fingers crossed they are managing him better now. He couldn’t keep up with Willo in repeat 150s today but that’s no crime. He looks slightly lighter and his agility is good.
9. Crippa. Wtf can I say? He just destroyed them today. I reckon he would be down to a sub 6’30” 2km time now. I’d say he’s never been close to his present endurance condition. I haven’t seen him miss any preseason. Seems to be just going great guns. I think he should be the Brownlow favourite. He’s just gone up another level, amazingly. You’re going to see him in more link up play. You’re going to see HIM provide numbers to the contest. It’s amazing really.
10. McKay. Not gonna lie I’ve been very worried about him until today. Today he ran more than before. And he kicked it. I’m pumped to have seen that. Gee he’s a unit. I think I said last week that he has put on muscle. I think a good 5kg. Which is heaps. He’s a monster now. Like he made Jack Silvagni look like a dwarf today. Amazing. What I loved was the running today was FAST. And he did some power 2 minute runs as well. He’s in shape. I now expect to see him round one. Will he get back to last year? Not sure. He was killing it this time last year. He’s done no preseason this year. But he’s bigger and stronger. At this stage I expect a slight regression this year but ill be surprised if he’s not there round one.
I’ll do another group tomorrow.
