Player Watch #30: Reece Conca

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Well the vast majority of the players playing this year are premiership players so already have runs on the board. And a lot more than six have played well in games against Pies, North and West Coast. Adelaide we had a lot of down players and if memory serves Conca was in the bottom 4 players in that game, but was playing defence so I wasn’t going to include it.



At what point did my statement sound like I was judging him purely on today’s game? I’ve clearly said “another game” and his body of work so far this season is showing that when the heat is on, his performances overall have gone down. He had 2 tackles, that’s meant to be his strength. His and our biggest strength is meant to be tackling and playing inside. He had 2 tackles. For an inside mid that is pathetic and if that’s an indication of his performance in finals then we need someone better.

He played a vast majority of the game outside the centre square. Was stationed up forward for a period and played behind the ball for a period as well. Despite this he was 4th for pressure points 4th for score involvements and he was 4th for meters gained. So there is a lot more to his game than just laying tackles. If that is a poor performance for Conca then what would you consider a good game.

 

[JR#8]

I wasn't convinced by Conca after our first few games, but I will say that he was far from our worst yesterday. He was actually decent compared to a few others.

 

[Madison]

To be honest though we had blokes stand up in finals last season that never looked likely, so it’s hypothetical nonsense that counts for nothing.
You just take each week as it comes.

I get where you’re coming from, there were some guys (including guys I just mentioned) that had previously been very good during H&A and then very poor in finals but they were good in last years finals series or at least in the GF. Houli and Edwards probably the main two. But we were playing a completely different game style to previous years. So based on who’s exposed form I feel good about Short cos he’s played well with the current game plan in high intensity, finals like games. I can’t say the same about Conca.

And the idea that you can’t plan or try to get a read on players? Surely you don’t actually believe that?

 

[Madison]

No that is a separate argument, I'm arguing just that quoting a lack of tackles by Conca yesterday was a bit cheap. Haven't watched the game yet, so no argument re his game.

Not really, like I said the others have runs on the board in finals. Conca has to prove himself and his biggest strength is his tackling, but he basically went missing in that stat. It was just one example. He was poor in other stats too. As were others, but he’s the one trying to prove he’s going to best 22 in a finals team and imo he isn’t doing that.

 

[Madison]

He played a vast majority of the game outside the centre square. Was stationed up forward for a period and played behind the ball for a period as well. Despite this he was 4th for pressure points 4th for score involvements and he was 4th for meters gained. So there is a lot more to his game than just laying tackles. If that is a poor performance for Conca then what would you consider a good game.

Well he is a rubbish forward and defender so if he can’t play in the guts then he should be playing VFL. So a good game, given his strengths, would be 20+ touches, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 65% DE with mostly handballs and 10+ CP. yesterday he was well below all of those stats, in fact I’d wager there aren’t too many games he’s hit those stats, especially in the Adelaide, Pies, North and WC games. Hawks I didn’t feel have the intensity of these other games, despite them being in the 8.

But it’s more than that, it’s the dumb free kicks, dumb turnovers and decisions, i know you love stats but it’s not purely a stats game.

 

[Morro]

He was ok yesterday, no worse than half the team and still did some nice things.

 

[TiggerMan22]

Well the vast majority of the players playing this year are premiership players so already have runs on the board. And a lot more than six have played well in games against Pies, North and West Coast. Adelaide we had a lot of down players and if memory serves Conca was in the bottom 4 players in that game, but was playing defence so I wasn’t going to include it.



At what point did my statement sound like I was judging him purely on today’s game? I’ve clearly said “another game” and his body of work so far this season is showing that when the heat is on, his performances overall have gone down. He had 2 tackles, that’s meant to be his strength. His and our biggest strength is meant to be tackling and playing inside. He had 2 tackles. For an inside mid that is pathetic and if that’s an indication of his performance in finals then we need someone better.

So? We who cares if they've played well in previous years.
Memory serves you wrong it seems. He had 21 touches, 6 tackles and 6 inside 50s v North.
We did not have more than 6 good players against West coast. I struggled to pick 5 for the votes.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

I get where you’re coming from, there were some guys (including guys I just mentioned) that had previously been very good during H&A and then very poor in finals but they were good in last years finals series or at least in the GF. Houli and Edwards probably the main two. But we were playing a completely different game style to previous years. So based on who’s exposed form I feel good about Short cos he’s played well with the current game plan in high intensity, finals like games. I can’t say the same about Conca.

And the idea that you can’t plan or try to get a read on players? Surely you don’t actually believe that?

I just don’t believe in the notion that this player will play well on finals, that one won’t its fraught danger. It’s also not really existent and more a media thing and also adopted on forums etc.
It’s basically just guessing.
I’m not here saying Conca is flying, just saying you can only really go on current form and there are far too many out of form and playing really poorly to be dealt with first.

 

[tigs2010]

Thought he was crap yesterday but also in our best dozen for the game at the same time.

What a day

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

lazy tackle attempts falling into the opposition backs when his side clearly out numbers the opoosition.
Running toward a contest where he can't impact whilst his opponent goes forward to be the receiver , calling for the ball on the run from someone like houli with back toward the goal instead of shepparding for Houli, all at critical times of the game.
Has alot of Taylor Hunt traits in his game. Will cost a final book mark it.

 

[peternorth]

He tried hard yesterday and surely relished playing in his home state.

he does make mistakes/bonehead plays that defy belief but yesterday i applauded his efforts. He may have been shithouse but i still clapped, maybe because its less shit than his usual self or i was delirious

 

[BF Tiger]

Well he is a rubbish forward and defender so if he can’t play in the guts then he should be playing VFL. So a good game, given his strengths, would be 20+ touches, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 65% DE with mostly handballs and 10+ CP. yesterday he was well below all of those stats, in fact I’d wager there aren’t too many games he’s hit those stats, especially in the Adelaide, Pies, North and WC games. Hawks I didn’t feel have the intensity of these other games, despite them being in the 8.

But it’s more than that, it’s the dumb free kicks, dumb turnovers and decisions, i know you love stats but it’s not purely a stats game.

If he'd had 20+ disposals yesterday he would've been beenthe only other apart from Dusty. Had more tackles than 10 other players.

 

[_RT_]

Well he is a rubbish forward and defender so if he can’t play in the guts then he should be playing VFL. So a good game, given his strengths, would be 20+ touches, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 65% DE with mostly handballs and 10+ CP. yesterday he was well below all of those stats, in fact I’d wager there aren’t too many games he’s hit those stats, especially in the Adelaide, Pies, North and WC games. Hawks I didn’t feel have the intensity of these other games, despite them being in the 8.

But it’s more than that, it’s the dumb free kicks, dumb turnovers and decisions, i know you love stats but it’s not purely a stats game.

Conca averages per game:
18.6 disposals equal 8th at club
5.22 tackles 2nd at club, one of only 3 players to average 5 tackles
8 contested possessions 10th at club
2.44 clearances equal 7th at club, Cotchin and Martin only 2 at club above 4 clearances per game
71.99% disposal efficiency

Of the 9 games he's played this year he has had 20+ 5 times Hawthorn Lions Demons Dockers and North. In 5 of 9 games he has had 6+ tackles Carlton Lions Demons Dockers and North. In 4 of 9 games he has had 3+ clearances Hawks Demons North & Eagles.

So Conca isn't too far off of what you're asking for for him to be having a good season, in fact you could mount an argument that given he has missed so much footy in recent years he is having a better year than many expected heading into the year.

As I said he wasn't the only one who was down yesterday, in fact pretty much everyone bar Jack and Dusty were down yesterday.

 

[This Is Anfield]

Gave him a vote... probably says more about the rest of them apart from Jack, Sheds and Dusty!

 

[TigerImposter]

lazy tackle attempts falling into the opposition backs when his side clearly out numbers the opoosition.
Running toward a contest where he can't impact whilst his opponent goes forward to be the receiver , calling for the ball on the run from someone like houli with back toward the goal instead of shepparding for Houli, all at critical times of the game.
Has alot of Taylor Hunt traits in his game. Will cost a final book mark it.

Taylor Hunt is a good comparison .
Conca also squibbed a contest yesterday which was another addition to the many flaws he has. He’s already cost us two finals.
The first in 2013 bc his non AFL body gave up on him early which made us a man short on a hot day and a game that was played at great pace.
The second in 2015 where he couldn’t hit a barn door by foot and the ball turned over for a North goal. Nothing’s changed with him and why he’s still even considered at this level is madness.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

HHAHAahaaaa cost us a final in 2013....

 

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HHAHAahaaaa cost us a final in 2013....View attachment 500422

 

[HumanMeatball]

Certainly not the worth yesterday. Butler on the other hand....

 

[shaky]

Taylor Hunt is a good comparison .
Conca also squibbed a contest yesterday which was another addition to the many flaws he has. He’s already cost us two finals.
The first in 2013 bc his non AFL body gave up on him early which made us a man short on a hot day and a game that was played at great pace.
The second in 2015 where he couldn’t hit a barn door by foot and the ball turned over for a North goal. Nothing’s changed with him and why he’s still even considered at this level is madness.
View attachment 500410

Personally I don't think you can blame him for the norf match. That was a terrible coaching call, he (and Giff) should not have been brought into that side.

 

[Grrr]

I just don’t believe in the notion that this player will play well on finals, that one won’t its fraught danger. It’s also not really existent and more a media thing and also adopted on forums etc.
It’s basically just guessing.
I’m not here saying Conca is flying, just saying you can only really go on current form and there are far too many out of form and playing really poorly to be dealt with first.

Exactly, the very same thing has been said for years on this board, players like Houli and Edwards will go missing in finals. Thought Conca's form has tailed off a bit but too forecast a dozen games out means little. I've watched the first half replay and so far and nothing much good, but nothing much bad so far.

Taylor Hunt is a good comparison .
Conca also squibbed a contest yesterday which was another addition to the many flaws he has. He’s already cost us two finals.
The first in 2013 bc his non AFL body gave up on him early which made us a man short on a hot day and a game that was played at great pace.
The second in 2015 where he couldn’t hit a barn door by foot and the ball turned over for a North goal. Nothing’s changed with him and why he’s still even considered at this level is madness.
View attachment 500410

That is just a weird post. Cost us two finals. Did his first ever injury, a hamstring in the Carlton final and you blame him. Non AFL body! It was his first hamstring and a doozy that kept him out for a year/s. Not his fault they rushed him back in when he was well underdone against North.
I understand you don't think Conca an AFL player, but at least us some logic.

 

[TigerImposter]

Personally I don't think you can blame him for the norf match. That was a terrible coaching call, he (and Giff) should not have been brought into that side.

It was terrible that they came in under done , but those two Clanger kicks could have been performed better by my 84yo Mother.

 

[TigerImposter]

Exactly, the very same thing has been said for years on this board, players like Houli and Edwards will go missing in finals. Thought Conca's form has tailed off a bit but too forecast a dozen games out means little. I've watched the first half replay and so far and nothing much good, but nothing much bad so far.

That is just a weird post. Cost us two finals. Did his first ever injury, a hamstring in the Carlton final and you blame him. Non AFL body! It was his first hamstring and a doozy that kept him out for a year/s. Not his fault they rushed him back in when he was well underdone against North.
I understand you don't think Conca an AFL player, but at least us some logic.

I was tough on him in the first final his fitness was always an issue and under pressure games he was vulnerable.
The second final seriously as a pro footballer they were elementary errors fit or unfit. Just showed his composure under pressure. Dumb decision by the club to play him l agree.
I’m not saying he cost us the finals fully , but him not being there would have been we wouldn’t have started the games one short.
He’s getting games atm bc of injuries and our lack of midfield depth. I would still be playing Miles , Menadue or Markov before him bc he has no future with us.

 

[Grrr]

I was tough on him in the first final his fitness was always an issue and under pressure games he was vulnerable.
The second final seriously as a pro footballer they were elementary errors fit or unfit. Just showed his composure under pressure. Dumb decision by the club to play him l agree.
I’m not saying he cost us the finals fully , but him not being there would have been we wouldn’t have started the games one short.
He’s getting games atm bc of injuries and our lack of midfield depth. I would still be playing Miles , Menadue or Markov before him bc he has no future with us.

Just watching the replay and while just okay in the first half, he and Martin in the third when we were under the pump were our best.
Lloyd is getting games because of injury, Butler, well did he even play. So many players played worse than Conca, and I'm watching him in particular hard.
And regarding his fitness was fine in the Carlton game, in fact he was playing very well.
Haven't seen the last Q yet, so unless he has a shocker I can't see how people are complaining.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Just watching the replay and while just okay in the first half, he and Martin in the third when we were under the pump were our best.
Lloyd is getting games because of injury, Butler, well did he even play. So many players played worse than Conca, and I'm watching him in particular hard.
And regarding his fitness was fine in the Carlton game, in fact he was playing very well.
Haven't seen the last Q yet, so unless he has a shocker I can't see how people are complaining.

Let us know how he went after you've watched the last Q....

 

[TigerImposter]

Just watching the replay and while just okay in the first half, he and Martin in the third when we were under the pump were our best.
Lloyd is getting games because of injury, Butler, well did he even play. So many players played worse than Conca, and I'm watching him in particular hard.
And regarding his fitness was fine in the Carlton game, in fact he was playing very well.
Haven't seen the last Q yet, so unless he has a shocker I can't see how people are complaining.

It was his reliability as we all know he’s played under a 100 games in almost eight seasons. I think with yesterday’s game it was a standard Reece game with the same lack of thrills and plenty of spills. He squibbed a contest as well. it’s opinion as I think we have better in the vfl and is stealing games.