Player Watch #30: Reece Conca

[WATiger86]

Conca is a solid AFL level mid whos game is well balanced between offence and defence. Output is much greater than Graham’s ATM.

If the want Graham in I’d say Caddy replaces Higgins or Goatsend and Jack takes Lloyd’s spot. Conca stays

 

[_Wang_]

I am pleasantly surprised in the form turn around in the guts..

**** me he was like another rory Hilton when he was at half back

He was one game from being dropped forever and he has dramatically lifted , good on him.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Conca has never been a true HBF...Inside MID is his game always has been...

 

[This Is Anfield]

Contributing nicely and adds good strength to our midfield.

 

[Grrr]

Conca is a true hard nut inside mid...can get the ball...and is not afraid of the heavy pack crash and bash...he's in his element there...
He just needs continuity in his game to improve his disposal and disposal decision...
He certainly can win his own ball(big plus!)...it's what he does with it that needs improving...to keep him in the side as a valuable player..

I think we notice Conca's mistakes more than most because in the first couple of rounds he was diabolical in his decision making and execution. Who on here didn't have their hearts in their mouths when he went for those low centring inside passes. Hit those passes and the game opens up, as opposed to the safe option down the line, miss those passes and you leave yourself wide open. Martin misses one of those a game, how was Cotchin's dinky pass int the forward line last night. Butler, don't get me started on how many mistakes he makes a game. But they all do good stuff as well which offsets it. Conca holds the ball and uses it well generally by hand, give me that against the player that hot potatoes it to the bloke standing a metres or so away. Prestia on the other hand almost never makes a mistake, growing appreciation of how good he is.

 

[turtle27]

Performing really well in the role he was always meant to be in.

 

[DoItForCaptBlood]

But they all do good stuff as well which offsets it. Conca holds the ball and uses it well generally by hand, give me that against the player that hot potatoes it to the bloke standing a metres or so away.

This is exactly the point when people bring up the 'What about Dusty's/Cotch's turnovers'. They impact the game so much, if they have a couple of FUps, their impact with other actions means we win. Others have those same FUps, and the rest of their game has minimal impact, and you're left with the FUps. Conca the last 2 weeks is having enough impact now he is in the middle with handball clearances/tackles. Butler not so much. George definitely. All 3 are regular offenders and need to make sure the FUps, as you said, are offset, by their impact with good possessions/tackles etc.

 

[Madison]

Everything we do needs to be with September in mind.

The things that work for him also work against him.

The extra pressure and intensity are just going to highlight his strengths and weaknesses.

Last night in a fairly intense game he had 21 touches, 3 changers and 60% DE. But he also had 9 tackles and 12/21 touches were contested..

He’s a great tackler and can weave through traffic, but he is also a very average decision maker and very average disposal. Which is going to really hurt us.

I’m far from sold on him, I think we need to revisit it when we’ve had a couple of really close, tight, high pressure games. He’s going alright for now and maybe he’ll fix his issues with a run of games. Time will tell.

 

[Grrr]

This is exactly the point when people bring up the 'What about Dusty's/Cotch's turnovers'. They impact the game so much, if they have a couple of FUps, their impact with other actions means we win. Others have those same FUps, and the rest of their game has minimal impact, and you're left with the FUps. Conca the last 2 weeks is having enough impact now he is in the middle with handball clearances/tackles. Butler not so much. George definitely. All 3 are regular offenders and need to make sure the FUps, as you said, are offset, by their impact with good possessions/tackles etc.

George is ironing out his deficiencies, don't know what to make of Butler. One minute busting the lines and finding lose players in the forward line, next running blindly into trouble. Nathan Foley needs to take him under his wing and teach him how to bust away and take the best option, because he reminds so much of him.

 

[TigerImposter]

It’s embarrassing when you read on here that Reece gets compared to Dusty Trent Prestia Martin and even lol Jack.
He’s still one game away from being dropped just as Short and CEllis found out last year. My argument is he has a low ceiling at the level and on top of his poor / slow decision making he is still a risk.
As long as he keeps fit and continues to have a dip it’s ok with me that he keeps a place warm until a kid proves they can displace him.

 

[TigerImposter]

Everything we do needs to be with September in mind.

The things that work for him also work against him.

The extra pressure and intensity are just going to highlight his strengths and weaknesses.

Last night in a fairly intense game he had 21 touches, 3 changers and 60% DE. But he also had 9 tackles and 12/21 touches were contested..

He’s a great tackler and can weave through traffic, but he is also a very average decision maker and very average disposal. Which is going to really hurt us.

I’m far from sold on him, I think we need to revisit it when we’ve had a couple of really close, tight, high pressure games. He’s going alright for now and maybe he’ll fix his issues with a run of games. Time will tell.

EXCELLENT POST. Refreshing to read well balanced comments with no hype attached , but facts.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Think he's doing ok.But i suspect he's just a H&A specialist who when the pressure increases come finals will get found out.Too sloppy in decision making and disposal.

 

[Morro]

Everything we do needs to be with September in mind.

The things that work for him also work against him.

The extra pressure and intensity are just going to highlight his strengths and weaknesses.

Last night in a fairly intense game he had 21 touches, 3 changers and 60% DE. But he also had 9 tackles and 12/21 touches were contested..

He’s a great tackler and can weave through traffic, but he is also a very average decision maker and very average disposal. Which is going to really hurt us.

I’m far from sold on him, I think we need to revisit it when we’ve had a couple of really close, tight, high pressure games. He’s going alright for now and maybe he’ll fix his issues with a run of games. Time will tell.

Our game style isn't about pin pointing passes though ?

Conca is becoming a well balanced inside player with solid meters gained.

Our entire system revolves on 3 principles.

Win the hard ball
Get it forward
Tackle.

He is so good at all 3

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Our game style isn't about pin pointing passes though ?

Conca is becoming a well balanced inside player with solid meters gained.

Our entire system revolves on 3 principles.

Win the hard ball
Get it forward
Tackle.

He is so good at all 3

That's what it's all about...the coaches Game Plan..and having the players all on board with it...

 

[NZ_Tiger]

It’s embarrassing when you read on here that Reece gets compared to Dusty Trent Prestia Martin and even lol Jack.
He’s still one game away from being dropped just as Short and CEllis found out last year. My argument is he has a low ceiling at the level and on top of his poor / slow decision making he is still a risk.
As long as he keeps fit and continues to have a dip it’s ok with me that he keeps a place warm until a kid proves they can displace him.

He's building well as an inside player, we really lacked some more grunt there in the first 2.5 games and he's been given a big role on ball. Can't see him being dropped now after he survived the first two games.

 

[Morro]

That's what it's all about...the coaches Game Plan..and having the players all on board with it...

Exactly.

He doesn't need to be Titch like with his decisions.

He just needs to play his role and right now he is playing it as well as most.

 

[Shazza_]

conca was always a gun just needed an injury free run

 

[Grrr]

Some of Conca's hard ball gets were brilliant last night. The pressure last night was very high at times and it was an arm wrestle for long periods, just like a final. The really came to play and Conca stood up. There is nobody in the VFL who is able to do what Conca is doing right now.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

conca was always a gun just needed an injury free run

 

[Madison]

Our game style isn't about pin pointing passes though ?

Conca is becoming a well balanced inside player with solid meters gained.

Our entire system revolves on 3 principles.

Win the hard ball
Get it forward
Tackle.

He is so good at all 3

You still need to be able to hit a target. The game plan isn’t get it forward to the opposition players. How do teams get goals? Stoppages and TURNOVERS.

I’m not saying he needs to be the best kick in our team, I’m just stating the facts as I see them. His disposal and decision making is average and we get punished for it at times.

He has his strengths and his weaknesses. In September the team that takes their chances and is cleaner, while applying as much pressure to their opponent as possible, wins. He does one half of that well and one half fairly average.

 

[Calcium Man]

It’s embarrassing when you read on here that Reece gets compared to Dusty Trent Prestia Martin and even lol Jack.

He isn't being compared and you know it. People are pointing out that some players are crucified for their mistakes while others are not. All players make mistakes in every team across the league no need to harp on about one players mistakes unless its every possession and if it was they wouldn't be playing anyway.

 

[Grechy]

Cements his spot for me. Was good in traffic last night. Disposal is not always great, a few sloppy handballs and kicks but getting a fair bit of the footy now. He's a hard body who also tackles. His a quality midfielder whatever way you look at it. he just looked very ordinary back. His first few games last year were actually pretty good to be honest. A lot of people forget that. Wasn't very happy with him at the beginning of the year but he gives us more then Jack Graham right now & his last 3 games have been worthy of what is a pretty solid 22.

 

[Morro]

You still need to be able to hit a target. The game plan isn’t get it forward to the opposition players. How do teams get goals? Stoppages and TURNOVERS.

I’m not saying he needs to be the best kick in our team, I’m just stating the facts as I see them. His disposal and decision making is average and we get punished for it at times.

He has his strengths and his weaknesses. In September the team that takes their chances and is cleaner, while applying as much pressure to their opponent as possible, wins. He does one half of that well and one half fairly average.

He's hitting targets as often as other inside mids though.

I think his style is suited to finals footy which isn't pretty

 

[Madison]

He's hitting targets as often as other inside mids though.

I think his style is suited to finals footy which isn't pretty

Even his biggest fans aren’t going to try and say his disposal and decision making is as good as Cotch, Prestia and Dusty. I’d say those are our three main inside mids with Edwards, Graham, Lambert and a Caddy being the second tier. I’d say all those guys have better disposal than Conca. Conca is by no means terrible, Its just that I’d back all of the above guys with ball in hand before Conca.

As for your second sentence, that’s the bit I’m questioning. Will his deficiencies be exposed more or will his strengths be highlighted? You think his strengths will shine through, I’m not sure either way. I want to see more but for me, that’s the biggest question. Yes he playing decent footy at the moment, but I can see the issues in his game that may hurt us in finals.

 

[Morro]

Even his biggest fans aren’t going to try and say his disposal and decision making is as good as Cotch, Prestia and Dusty. I’d say those are our three main inside mids with Edwards, Graham, Lambert and a Caddy being the second tier. I’d say all those guys have better disposal than Conca. Conca is by no means terrible, Its just that I’d back all of the above guys with ball in hand before Conca.

As for your second sentence, that’s the bit I’m questioning. Will his deficiencies be exposed more or will his strengths be highlighted? You think his strengths will shine through, I’m not sure either way. I want to see more but for me, that’s the biggest question. Yes he playing decent footy at the moment, but I can see the issues in his game that may hurt us in finals.

He's not as pretty as the others you mentioned but ironically his DE is very similar.