2nds 2025 VFL thread

[braddsey]

2. He never ever vents on his players or the team through the media. His playbook response to questions about the poor performance of someone like Charlie is "...I would need to go back and look at the tape before I responded to that question"

I would say Fagan's presser this week was about as direct as I've seen him get, but he won't individualise (no decent coach would). He put it on the playing group that they lost the last 2 games through bad kicking. He said he was frustrated, no excuses.

 

[Section 5]

Those around the State League reports really are a bunch of garbage, all it is is a regurgitation of stats you can get on afl.com, it has no relevance to who actually played well and who did not... lazy "journalism".

That is all very true. However, don't blame it all on the journos.
The club could easily put a proper report in on the game if they wanted to.
It is obvious they don't want to. Or maybe they do and this is it.

I usually put the Lions part of the article up, as a lot on BF would not bother to watch the game or some like me see parts before i have to do something else.
Only the diehards will watch a replay and i don't include myself in that category.

So, a quick 1 minute read each week at least gives Lions followers some knowledge of what is happening in the VFL.
Saves them wading through the AFL stats.
That's assuming those people know where to find the stats.

 

[Tom14]

Ok to be clear I really like McLachlan and he deserves a chance soon - but I was out and just watched the highlights now and his bag of 6 involved two from 1m out, and then 4 uncontested marks where his closest opponent is like 10-20m away

Accurate conversion is good but that is not representative of what he would face at AFL level. Not much you can do about it though.

 

[Not a Psycho]

McLachlan is the most dangerous forward in the VFL in only his second year of seniors. Averages the most goals per game of the top 20 goal scorers.
He needs games in the AFL especially when we have a couple of guys performing below acceptable standards. He's not the complete package yet but you still need to reward form and continued dominance by a young player at a lower level. Imagine if we left one of the Ashcrofts in the VFL while they were doing what he's doing.

 

[TopUpFan]

Saw McLachlan kicked 6 but laid a grand total of 0 tackles. Are our small forwards just immune to it maybe?

Craven laid 5 tackles and McKenna 2

 

[KissKiss]

I know Dev was criticised for his kicking in this thread but laying 9 tackles has to put pressure on the seniors. Thats more than a third of what the entire seniors laid on his own.

 

[Nathan Barley]

I know Dev was criticised for his kicking in this thread but laying 9 tackles has to put pressure on the seniors. Thats more than a third of what the entire seniors laid on his own.

We'll need to tackle well because if Dev gets the ball he'll give it straight back to the opposition

His kicking and even handballing just isn't acceptable for AFL level which is frustrating because his attack on the footy and tackling as you say would be handy

 

[Scubaveg]

How was Doodee?

 

[Royboy1961]

We'll need to tackle well because if Dev gets the ball he'll give it straight back to the opposition

His kicking and even handballing just isn't acceptable for AFL level which is frustrating because his attack on the footy and tackling as you say would be handy

Dev from memory was highly regarded in his draft year was the captain of the WAFL under 18s could find the ball and lay tackles . He was highly regarded for his leadership. The Lions picked him up at around pick 20 . So he was nearly the complete package except for his kicking. The reason why the recruiters bypassed him was they did not like his kicking action as it was a bit loopy and he did not regularly hit his targets even when not under pressure. The lions obviously thought that despite this flaw under a full time program and with specialist kicking coaches they could develop his skills enough to play AFL. Unfortunately this flaw in his game has not been fixed. Being able to hit a target be foot is an important and fundamental part of our game. The only position he could be able to safely play in our AFL side is the Dunkley role. Where he tags the oppositions best inside midfielder. His best game for us was when he tagged Oliver for half a game during a final at the MCG and then Berry took over. They have tried to play Dev in other positions in the VFL such as half forward, half back or wing to improve his versatility and improve his kicking skills but to no avail. For the above mentioned reasons Dev has been killing it at VFL level but his attributes do not translate to AFL level. He is a great depth player for us but should he stay or should he go at the end of the year ? That question I will leave to our experts.

 

[M Malice]

Dev from memory was highly regarded in his draft year was the captain of the WAFL under 18s could find the ball and lay tackles . He was highly regarded for his leadership. The Lions picked him up at around pick 20 . So he was nearly the complete package except for his kicking. The reason why the recruiters bypassed him was they did not like his kicking action as it was a bit loopy and he did not regularly hit his targets even when not under pressure. The lions obviously thought that despite this flaw under a full time program and with specialist kicking coaches they could develop his skills enough to play AFL. Unfortunately this flaw in his game has not been fixed. Being able to hit a target be foot is an important and fundamental part of our game. The only position he could be able to safely play in our AFL side is the Dunkley role. Where he tags the oppositions best inside midfielder. His best game for us was when he tagged Oliver for half a game during a final at the MCG and then Berry took over. They have tried to play Dev in other positions in the VFL such as half forward, half back or wing to improve his versatility and improve his kicking skills but to no avail. For the above mentioned reasons Dev has been killing it at VFL level but his attributes do not translate to AFL level. He is a great depth player for us but should he stay or should he go at the end of the year ? That question I will leave to our experts.

I went to the game but will never watch a replay of the 2023 Grand Final and I read zero GF repots or footy shows afterwards.

From my recollection live at the ground I thought Dev was pretty good, I remember him running his backside off both ways and kicking a goal... that will probably be the zenith of his career sadly.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Dev from memory was highly regarded in his draft year was the captain of the WAFL under 18s could find the ball and lay tackles . He was highly regarded for his leadership. The Lions picked him up at around pick 20 . So he was nearly the complete package except for his kicking. The reason why the recruiters bypassed him was they did not like his kicking action as it was a bit loopy and he did not regularly hit his targets even when not under pressure. The lions obviously thought that despite this flaw under a full time program and with specialist kicking coaches they could develop his skills enough to play AFL. Unfortunately this flaw in his game has not been fixed. Being able to hit a target be foot is an important and fundamental part of our game. The only position he could be able to safely play in our AFL side is the Dunkley role. Where he tags the oppositions best inside midfielder. His best game for us was when he tagged Oliver for half a game during a final at the MCG and then Berry took over. They have tried to play Dev in other positions in the VFL such as half forward, half back or wing to improve his versatility and improve his kicking skills but to no avail. For the above mentioned reasons Dev has been killing it at VFL level but his attributes do not translate to AFL level. He is a great depth player for us but should he stay or should he go at the end of the year ? That question I will leave to our experts.

I think Dunks is a much better kick. Devs skills just aren't at the required level. Even his handballing

Might be similar to Keays and he just shits himself under pressure but unlikely to get the 50 or so games at AFL level to get that out of his system

 

[Tom14]

I think Dunks is a much better kick. Devs skills just aren't at the required level. Even his handballing

Might be similar to Keays and he just shits himself under pressure but unlikely to get the 50 or so games at AFL level to get that out of his system

Dunks' size matters too (ping @ size matters). More capable of pressuring the beast sized inside mids, AND he's an excellent contested mark for a mid which makes him a target from kick outs.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

He is a great depth player for us but should he stay or should he go at the end of the year ? That question I will leave to our experts.

Go. He's a good state league player but I don't think he'll ever become someone who can be relied on in the top team. Ditto for Tunstill. Torrent might still develop into that so I'd keep him out of the three WA midfield boys.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Saw McLachlan kicked 6 but laid a grand total of 0 tackles. Are our small forwards just immune to it maybe?

If it's a pressure forward you want, Craven is the man, not McLachlan. Although, I'd call Gallop a tall pressure forward right now, he loves to tackle and does well below his knees.

In fact, McFadyen is a good tackler too, I'd love to get him on the list next season.

 

[Nathan Barley]

If it's a pressure forward you want, Craven is the man, not McLachlan. Although, I'd call Gallop a tall pressure forward right now, he loves to tackle and does well below his knees.

In fact, McFadyen is a good tackler too, I'd love to get him on the list next season.

Not sure about Craven. Very small and not that quick. Don't think that translates to pressure forward at AFL level

 

[ChrisThaLedg]

How was Doodee?

Based on current form, he isn't playing AFL this season.. I'd have Brain ahead of him 100 games out of 100 .. he has been the best defender in the VFL team this year from a defensive perspective .. Beecken is outstanding and deserves his chance as a running half back .. but Tom is a long way back.. it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play a Senior game for the club.

 

[M Malice]

Not sure about Craven. Very small and not that quick. Don't think that translates to pressure forward at AFL level

Yes, his pace or tackling pressure is not something that stands out at VFL level, clever player though.

 

[M Malice]

Based on current form, he isn't playing AFL this season.. I'd have Brain ahead of him 100 games out of 100 .. he has been the best defender in the VFL team this year from a defensive perspective .. Beecken is outstanding and deserves his chance as a running half back .. but Tom is a long way back.. it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play a Senior game for the club.

I disagree, I have been to 2 games live at BHA and watched the rest on live stream, Shadeau has been down on form overall this season in the VFL, although his best game of the season was last weekend against the Giants. In form I do agree that he is very close to AFL quality as a smaller defender, great kick and mark for his size, but can bite off a bit more than he should sometimes ... probably trying to impress too much.

I like Beecken as well. However we are stacked in the part of the ground Beecken and Brain play in, and not forgetting we have Keidean Coleman to come back in as well, he is an absolute lock at his best.

Tom Doedee has been quite impressive in my view and had played a couple of if not close to BOG performances in his games just before his recent spell, played well in his first game back v the Giants.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Sticks - wtf was that?!

 

[HereIGoAgain]

McFadyen looks to have it, whatever it is.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Soft free against Gallop

 

[Mr Ripper]

 

[LoganMorrisFan]

Serious player Beecken

 

[Nathan Barley]

Bit of an underwhelming performance so far

 

[irel]

Impressive commentary. Distinct lack of ear piercing screeching and they can actually pronounce names correctly from both sides.