WB v SYD · RIC v MEL · HAW v GCS · ESS v COL · PA v GEE · FRE v CAR · StK v WCE · BL v ADE · GWS v NM ·
Weekend Wrap and "Liked, Learned, Hated" right here -- How did tipping go?
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B: Watson Jamison Duigan
HB: Laidler Henderson Scotland
C: Yarran Mclean Robinson
HF: Gibbs Waite Walker
F: Betts Hampson Garlett
R: Kreuzer Judd Murphy
I/C: Simpson, Carazzo, Collins S: Lucas
Reasoning:
Watson: I like what I've seen this pre-season, should play well as a third tall as he has a good reading of the play, strong hands and a booming left foot kick. Can play on third tall's, resting rucks and marking mediums as well as double teaming Keys
Jamison: Steadies us up and makes all the difference to our back half. Probably the best spoil on the lead in the league and holds his own when under the ball. Vital to stopping the oppositions best talls.
Duigan: Strong mark overhead, attacking mindset and has that real aggression at the contest you want in a defender. Not the best at close-manning or recovering ground balls, but his heart is irreplaceable as is his game sense and leadership.
Laidler: My second favourite at the club and in for a big year. A very smart reader of the play who knws when to play close and break off. Good at everything really. I hope to see him in a more loose role this year, floating into the hole and cutting off attacks.
Henderson: Excellent athlete whose run and carry is spectacular for a KPD. Has really developed a tight spoiling technique (something like 17% of his spoils ended up in opposition hands last year :thumbs up. Would like to see him range further from the defensive arc with Jamison covering deep.
Scotland: Moving back into the sweeper role where he has excelled. Excellent accumulator and very effective user of the ball, holds his own under high balls and is courageous when attacking the contested ball.
Yarran: Up on the wing where his speed will give him some real open space to exploit. Will most likely drop back into defence with regularity interchanging with Scotland , Laidler and Duigan. Extremely classy.
Mclean: I've really enjoyed what I've seen this preseason as Mclean has demonstrated both his clearance and outside capabilities. Is a natural foorballer and will allow guys like Judd, Robinson and Murphy to spend more time recieving and less time winning their own ball.
Robinson: Crazy attack on the pill coupled with a well built frame makes him amongst the most terrifying players in the league. Like it or not Robinson will run straight through you to get the ball. Has had good goal conversion in the past, although let himself down last year. Will spend time rotating through the middle, the wing and the flanks.
Gibbs: Has spent quite a significant time forward this pre-season, which makes me think that he will do so during the H/A. Laconic during praccy match and the pointless NAB farce, but I want to see some real aggression in his play come the season proper. Superstar in the making, I expect some real mid time this year.
Waite: Quite simply our best tall forward. Takes contested marks and has in the past been a good shot on goal (although this deserted him last year). His athleticism makes him more effective as a CHF, as he has a proven accumulation capacity and can score from outside the arc.
Walker: Our leading goalscorer last year plays best as a third marking option from HFF, who can go deep and fill a gap, or come out of the arc and make an impact in the middle.
Betts: Super dangerous around goals, especially in terms of his scoring assists. The best pure FP after Milne in the league.
Hampson: He's big, he seems to be marking on the lead and kicking straight. If he can have a one-off Kurt Tippett year (which he is entirely capable of) we could snare a flag. Is also a good ruck and a handy relief, when Warnock returns he will be an almost exclusive KPF with Kreuzer resting forward as a third tall.
Garlett: Super quick, smart footballer with a fierce attack on contests that belies his will o' wisp frame. Covers ground exceptionally well and seems almost effortless when he is at full pelt. Very exciting player to watch.
Kreuzer: Is a freaking monster at the contest and is oving very well this pre-season. Will be collecting some supremely impressive numbers this year in terms of clearances, tackles, hard-ball gets and pressure acts. Does all of the 1%ers and some they you don't know exist. Will lift the midfield to another level.
Judd: Is a champion whose record speaks for himself. Not only a student of the game but a master whose reading of the play is sublime, as demonstrated by his exceptional goal assist numbers in spite of his recognised disposal issues. Leads by example and with the sort of driven professionalism that epitomises elite sportspeople.
Murphy: One of the most damaging players in the comp who can turn bad situations into opportunities with impressive lateral movement, brakes and evasiveness. Is also highly skilled and capable of winning his own ball. Reigning John Nicholls medallist to boot.
Simpson: On the interchange, but only because I value Mclean's clearance work and Robinson's attack so highly. My favourite player who has more courage then players twice as big and three times as heavy. Raking left foot and consistent gut-running make him a shoe in.
Carazzo: While his disposal may disappoint at times his work rate, ability to accumulate and stick to an opponent are first class. A leader in the mould of Judd, wherein he makes his impact by doing and not by saying, he is also a contested ball winner and a good tackler. Underrated IMO.
Collins: Is a natural footballer with exceptional foot skills, a hard edge and a good eye for goal. Can play through the flanks and works well in traffic. Gained a bad rep when he struggled to adjust to the tempo in two high intensity matches against the Pies and Bombers last year being subbed both times. Will come good.
Lucas: Reads the play well, gets to the right spot, can play in defence, up forward or through the middle, but has decision making issues. A good option for the sub if you ask me.
Awesome work.
Laidler is out for 6 weeks.
