Player Watch #30: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher

[Lore]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2021
Last Game Played: Currently in the side
Injury Status: n/a

 

[Albertross]

There was a contest "right in front of me" on the outer wing today, 3rd man up and goes for the mark instead of the punch. Cost us a goal if I remember correctly.

Not sure about this boy, couldn't win a one v one as his frame is too light. Already have one floating intercept marker in Riddles. What would his role be?

Give him a year, cause he's contracted, but don't see him going beyond that.

 

[mad_monkey_j]

Slow as fu** and his game sense is off. I'm not a massive VFL attendee, but when I've been he's looked good. Not prepared to write him off after limited games just yet, but not sold.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

Slow as fu** and his game sense is off. I'm not a massive VFL attendee, but when I've been he's looked good. Not prepared to write him off after limited games just yet, but not sold.

Agreed. Has looked great in the VFL the last couple of years, needs more time. Another two years for mine before a definitive call can be made.

 

[brutus76]

Needs a big pre-season an an attitude adjustment.

Makes some great plays then some what were you thinking ones.

 

[Yoda_]

With the majority that accepts the jury is still well and truly out on Brandon as a long term AFL player.

His decision making with his current skill set is just not going to cut it long term. Has too often made a mistake that has directly cost us a goal.

In saying that, he is only 22 and has AFL experience already as a KPD. Would like to think that barring some tragedy of confidence and improvement he will still have 2 years (2021 & 2022) on the list and we reassess then.

 

[LB#16]

A lot of people here are a bit quick to quit on the Zerk. Needs a proper run at it, was in the team in round one before his naughty sleepover ruined any hope he had. Needs to play 15+ games in 2021 to establish himself.

 

[owen87]

With the majority that accepts the jury is still well and truly out on Brandon as a long term AFL player.

His decision making with his current skill set is just not going to cut it long term. Has too often made a mistake that has directly cost us a goal.

In saying that, he is only 22 and has AFL experience already as a KPD. Would like to think that barring some tragedy of confidence and improvement he will still have 2 years (2021 & 2022) on the list and we reassess then.

Unfortunately probably lacks a few cm in height to play genuine FB, can we play a defence with Brand - Zerk-Thatcher - Ridley - Francis?

 

[ant555]

With the majority that accepts the jury is still well and truly out on Brandon as a long term AFL player.

His decision making with his current skill set is just not going to cut it long term. Has too often made a mistake that has directly cost us a goal.

In saying that, he is only 22 and has AFL experience already as a KPD. Would like to think that barring some tragedy of confidence and improvement he will still have 2 years (2021 & 2022) on the list and we reassess then.

I would not have said he has made any more mistakes in the back half than some of his more experienced team mates. He has played under 10 games. He will make mistakes. Even more so when he is playing in a side that leaves the back half exposed. I think his skills have been good enough as well. His disposal efficiency is actually just over 80 and his kicking efficiency is 76.8. He also rates in the average bracket for defensive one on one.

My question mark is he seems to be sh*t truck slow pace wise so he can not go with the quicker forwards and he is not a brute and there is a question on if he could be.

 

[eth-dog]

Unfortunately probably lacks a few cm in height to play genuine FB, can we play a defence with Brand - Zerk-Thatcher - Ridley - Francis?

It's not his height that's the issue, it's his strength. Rory Lobb

37

Rory Lobb

Age

27

Ht

206cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

4.4

3star

CL

1.1

3star

HO

13.0

5star

D

11.3

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

10.7

5star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

CL

0.4

2star

HO

5.4

5star

had 11 cm on him yet all his goals came about when he was rucking against Bellchambers. We can easily play with that group, as long as he puts on weight and builds strength to be the Full Back we need.

 

[eth-dog]

I would not have said he has made any more mistakes in the back half than some of his more experienced team mates. He has played under 10 games. He will make mistakes. Even more so when he is playing in a side that leaves the back half exposed. I think his skills have been good enough as well. His disposal efficiency is actually just over 80 and his kicking efficiency is 76.8. He also rates in the average bracket for defensive one on one.

My question mark is he seems to be sh*t truck slow pace wise so he can not go with the quicker forwards and he is not a brute and there is a question on if he could be.

It's probably my biggest concern of his. He'd be comfortably one of the worst kicks at the club for me and he does make some horrible errors.

 

[yodellinhank]

A lot of people here are a bit quick to quit on the Zerk. Needs a proper run at it, was in the team in round one before his naughty sleepover ruined any hope he had. Needs to play 15+ games in 2021 to establish himself.

People have been too slow to quit if anything.

 

[BrunoV]

A lot of people here are a bit quick to quit on the Zerk. Needs a proper run at it, was in the team in round one before his naughty sleepover ruined any hope he had. Needs to play 15+ games in 2021 to establish himself.

What he needs to establish himself is 3 yards of pace or the size and strength to play as slow as he is.

 

[ant555]

It's probably my biggest concern of his. He'd be comfortably one of the worst kicks at the club for me and he does make some horrible errors.

Not sure how you can kick at 76.8 % and be one of the worst kicks in the club. Even more so when you only average just over 5 kicks.

 

[eth-dog]

Not sure how you can kick at 76.8 % and be one of the worst kicks in the club. Even more so when you only average just over 5 kicks.

Goes to show how worthless that particular stat is.

 

[ant555]

Goes to show how worthless that particular stat is.

Really ? is that what you are going to come up with ?
Maybe it shows that you see one or two bad things and you think there is something that is not there.

 

[eth-dog]

Really ? is that what you are going to come up with ?
Maybe it shows that you see one or two bad things and you think there is something that is not there.

Any kick 40+ metres that isn't a direct mark is considered an effective disposal. The majority of his kicks would be doing just that, long down the line to a pack.

 

[ant555]

Any kick 40+ metres that isn't a direct mark is considered an effective disposal. The majority of his kicks would be doing just that, long down the line to a pack.

So how many of our defenders where forced to kick long out of defense because they had no options ?
Did we play well enough for a 10 game defender to have confidence moving the ball from the last line of defense ?
Was his kicking / decision making worse than Francis or Hurley ?
Was his disposal a problem in the VFL last year ?

I can answer the last 3 for you. No!
As usual Eth you get the blinkers on and that is it.

 

[BrunoV]

Not sure how you can kick at 76.8 % and be one of the worst kicks in the club. Even more so when you only average just over 5 kicks.

Perfect example of someone who is not a great kick but who works within his limitations and, as a result, doesn't turn the ball over.

He's never going to set the game up with his kicking but he's reliable with the ball.


Edit: when I say he is not a great kick, it's clear from his kicking action that he's not a natural. There are basically no players who kick the ball with actions like that who are regarded as good kicks and there is nothing different about BZT in this regard. Unlike Parish, for example, BZT operates within his limitations and doesn't spray the ball all over the place as a result (despite being a worse kick).