VFL Bombers v Saints VFL

[ant555]

1/4 time
Was 3.3 Saints 1.1
We had the use of a strong wind.
Did not really play smart football. Just bomb long to an out number.
Think the Saints will smash us this quarter. They have moved the ball better.

Tsatas - minimal impact. No outside run. No physical presence. Maybe 3 or 4 touches.

Jones - lots of running up and back . Limited touches.


Cox wing. Only a couple of touches.

 

[Bombers36]

1/4 time
Was 3.3 Saints 1.1
We had the use of a strong wind.
Did not really play smart football. Just bomb long to an out number.
Think the Saints will smash us this quarter. They have moved the ball better.

Tsatas - minimal impact. No outside run. No physical presence. Maybe 3 or 4 touches.

Jones - lots of running up and back . Limited touches.


Cox wing. Only a couple of touches.

What does our lineup look like please if you have?

 

[ant555]

What does our lineup look like please if you have?

Do not have the team list.
Cox
Gresham
Guelfi
Tsatas
Jones
Gerryn
McMahon
Visentini

 

[ant555]

As predicted.
6 goals to zip. 20 minute mark.
Some of our VFL guys have been pretty average.

Cox playing safe football. Will not lead up at it.
Tsatas more possessions so far but all in close hands. No run and spread.

Jones working hard. Most possessions up the ground l.

Gresham. Nothing much.

Guelfi okay.

Visentini better but has turned a couple over.

 

[ant555]

Jones has has three marks around 40 meters out but only one point. Just impossible to kick as distance into the wind.

Finally a goal.
4.3 to 7.7 right now.

 

[ant555]

Finally Tsatas gets an open clearance and breaks away. Hits McMahon who kicks his second.

Half time
5.3 to 7.7

 

[ant555]

Jones done. Off to oval 2 for running

 

[ant555]

3/4 time
8.5 - 10.9

Just too many basic errors.

McMahon copped a heavy knock early in the quarter and is done.

If the plan for Cox is to run 12km up and down the wing without getting near the footy then it is working really well.

Tsatas has had limited impact. Saints basically blocking him at the CC and SC and he can not win the footy. Only really had 3 or 4 nice clearances. Virtually no outside run.

Visentini doing okay with his tap work

Gerryn needs to remember that as a defender he needs to actually look and see where his opponent is.

 

[ant555]

23 minutes last quarter
10.6 to 15.11

 

[ant555]

Comment of the day
Visentini to the umpire. Enjoy umpiring division three thirds after giving away a free kick that was not there.

Saints more polished.
We had a crack but just too many basic errors killed us.
Blowing gale did not help but there was some very poor basic execution.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Anyone pushing for seniors?

 

[ant555]

As mentioned above, the Saints where more polished in the conditions and played smarter footy. We would string a good run of play together only to stuff up a handball or kick and turn the footy over. Was a little disappointed in the lack of footy smarts some of the VFL players showed. If we could do the dumbest thing we managed to do it quite a bit. That's not to say some of the AFL boys did not board the dumb bus at times either.
It was tough conditions with the wind being very strong from the North but even simple 20 meter passes to players in the clear ended up on the chest of Saints players.
The only thing I can say is they kept cracking in and a couple of guys I have not seen before looked okay. not that i could tell you who they where as I could not find a team list anywhere.

AFL listed players.

Tsatas - probably ended up with around 25 possessions. Was very quiet early but he worked his way into the game around stoppages. Saints clearly had a center bounce plan for him, it was like the Archie Perkins center bounce plan. Just get in front and nullify or win the footy. Was effective as Tsatas did not get many clear shots as breaking out. Had three where he got to the outside and was able to run. One he nailed McMahon with a nice kick. The other two where helicopters to a contest. As far as stuff that will get him in the team, no real outside break the lines. Not much physical play. Defensive efforts patchy. Kicking I will give a pass. Just above average.

Gresham - had a lot of midfield time but did not influence much. His ship has sailed.

Cox - first hit out. Ran up and down the wing a lot but did not really want to get near the ball unless he had to. He simply does not lead at the footy when we need it. Number of times the side was struggling to find options to get out of defense and he simply stood 80 meters back and offered nothing. Only time he really attacked a mark was when he was able to get a run in from the side in the forward half. have no idea why we keep playing him on the wing but the blunt truth is he doesn't compete. If he doesn't want to compete then he is no good in any spot. Very underwhelming.

Visentini - solid game. Tap work was good but we did not take advantage of it. Worked back in defense well. Got some possessions but he had a couple of poor turnovers by foot. Gets a pass. Was better than he has been.

Gerreyn - has to know that as a defender you can not simply track the footy and not know where you opponent is. He simply does not turn his head and then he cracks it when they kick it to his man who he has given was too much space. Has to find a lot. His skills are good and his fitness is better but he looks like a classic tweener and he has no footy IQ as a defender compared to what he has shown forward. Also needs to actually punch the footy and not try and mark it all the time.

Jones - not bad first up from Harry. Certainly worked hard up and back from the forward half. Not many possessions early despite the work rate. Was used mainly up the ground and the skill level did not help him get the footy as he was in good spots but we turned the footy over.
Second quarter he was a bit deep and to a few marks on the lead but could not convert into the strong breeze. Only played a half. Did what he had to do.

Guelfi - tried hard at half forward. Was in and around a lot of the play. Kicked a goal. Think any pace he has had is deserting him. Looks very slow at times. As always the effort was good.

Day-Wicks - did not shoot the lights out but was involved in some good play. One of a few that actually showed some footy smarts.

McMahon - did what he does. On the lead he marked it if they kicked it to his advantage, if they sat it on his head he had no hope. Kicked a couple of goals. Went off mid third term after heavy contact in a marking contest.

 

[jdstorm]

Thanks for the recap ant.

Disappointing to see that despite better health our VFL side still sucks

 

[Blind Turn]

Is there a reason why players like May, Perkins, and SEH weren’t given a half in the VFL? Seems ridiculous to give them so little match practice heading into the season.

 

[ydc55]

I watched the whole game.
I thought Day Wicks was by far the best listed player in terms of speed and intent.
Tsatas was ok but his ball use and defensive running is poor. Looks best by foot when he kicks long.
Visentini had a good battle with Dodson. Both rucks have a fair bit to go.
Gerryn just ok down back but footy iq in terms of positioning and kicking lacking.
Jones works hard but kicking is ordinary and doesn’t hold marks.
McMahon had a few nice moments but that is it.
Cox, Guelfii and Gresham are all done.
Cox is a poor kick, lazy runner and uncompetitive.
Guelfi dropped marks, has lost speed and goes to ground.
Gresham was played out of position. He is not an on baller but I don’t think he has the zip of a small forward.

The vfl players are ordinary.
Monteath took one nice park.
Bella is a big boy but glacier like in movements.
Naish at least can kick.
Brodie and Scott are just plodders.
We don’t seem to recruit young talent like the bulldogs and tigers do.

Overall not a great day for our VFL program.

 

[ant555]

Is there a reason why players like May, Perkins, and SEH weren’t given a half in the VFL? Seems ridiculous to give them so little match practice heading into the season.

I think with the amount of match sim they do clubs feel the need for an extra half is not really there. I know it is against themselves, but it is how they do it now.
10 years ago, you would do a full match sim once a week. Now they run 2 or 3. Not all four quarters but two are generally three quarters plus.
SEH has had Ramadan.
Perkins had only played one full match sim.
That probably rules them out of extra work.
May has not missed any so maybe they considered he would not be disadvantaged with only 30 minutes of ruck / forward.

 

[Blind Turn]

I think with the amount of match sim they do clubs feel the need for an extra half is not really there. I know it is against themselves, but it is how they do it now.
10 years ago, you would do a full match sim once a week. Now they run 2 or 3. Not all four quarters but two are generally three quarters plus.
SEH has had Ramadan.
Perkins had only played one full match sim.
That probably rules them out of extra work.
May has not missed any so maybe they considered he would not be disadvantaged with only 30 minutes of ruck / forward.

Thanks mate. Enjoyed the rundown from the game. It still seems odd to me that if you’re working Perkins up to playing seniors you don’t give him a full game time over the weekend. Being a day apart it would not be too taxing. Otherwise just play him for a full game in the VFL. SEH barely had a run out. Ramadan or not, you can still have a run around. May needs time getting used to our system against proper opposition. It was a massive wasted opportunity to leave him on the pine for so long

 

[rusman]

Thanks ant and ydc

 

[ant555]

Thanks mate. Enjoyed the rundown from the game. It still seems odd to me that if you’re working Perkins up to playing seniors you don’t give him a full game time over the weekend. Being a day apart it would not be too taxing. Otherwise just play him for a full game in the VFL. SEH barely had a run out. Ramadan or not, you can still have a run around. May needs time getting used to our system against proper opposition. It was a massive wasted opportunity to leave him on the line for so long

Look it is not an unreasonable view. Guess it is where they see the players at. Without inside info I sort of think Perko is on the fringe and not in the round 1 picture. He basically only got a run because they gave Duursma restricted time and virtually no wing or high forward.
Personally would have liked to see more of May. Maybe it would have been different if it was not wet. Not sure.

 

[dank420_]

Look it is not an unreasonable view. Guess it is where they see the players at. Without inside info I sort of think Perko is on the fringe and not in the round 1 picture. He basically only got a run because they gave Duursma restricted time and virtually no wing or high forward.
Personally would have liked to see more of May. Maybe it would have been different if it was not wet. Not sure.

What position do you see Day-Wicks playing?

 

[ant555]

What position do you see Day-Wicks playing?

Half forward

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Thanks for the info

Glad to hear Jones is playing as a forward and not on the bloody wing. That’s where he’ll make it or won’t (sounding like the latter)

Doesn’t sound like anybody else set the world on fire

Cox already had very little competitiveness or initiative, add in the additional natural hesitation that will come from the concussion situation and it’s gonna be a very tough road.

 

[King Patty]

Thanks for the info

Glad to hear Jones is playing as a forward and not on the bloody wing. That’s where he’ll make it or won’t (sounding like the latter)

Doesn’t sound like anybody else set the world on fire

Cox already had very little competitiveness or initiative, add in the additional natural hesitation that will come from the concussion situation and it’s gonna be a very tough road.

Fletcher seemed happy with Jones half in the VFL, I mean really its just good he is back on the park after that ankle injury.
Just look at Hawthorns Mitch Lewis to see how many years they keep a key forward on the list with promise.

Mitch Lewis 78 games across 8 seasons = approx 9-10 games per season.
best return 37 + 36 goals (5th and 6th seasons)
best avg 2.5 + 2.4


You could add the suns with Sam Day to that list as well, basically had a whole career, based off promise and being tall.
Sam Day 168 games across 14 seasons avg 12 games per season.
Best returns 19 + 14 goals
best avg 2 (but from 2 games) best from 10+ matches = 1.1 AVg

Harrison Jones 59 games across 5 seasons = close to 12 games per season.
best returns 18 + 20 goals
best avg 1.3 per game

 

[Calthorpe14]

Didn’t catch the game, but with Cox, I’d expect it to take some time for him to get back into the intensity of it all. It’s a big ask for someone who nearly had his career cut short by the concussion panel to come straight in and play with complete physicality and total confidence in his first game back.

I sense that he’ll need a fair few games and probably more than a couple of solid contests to really rebuild that confidence, especially considering that it has not been a strength of his to date. For me, it’s around midseason when it becomes fair to assess whether he’s done enough to justify a contract for 2027.

 

[Keystone agony]

ant555 when you say wouldnt lead up, in regard to Nik Cox was that from a fwd position?

Or just pure wing?

Seems like Kondo has secured his spot with likely Farrow with Clarke out. Huge job for Kondo but he is my boy and the hawks are going smaller which helps, unless Sitchell has pulled a ripping bluff