Dawes, Reid and N.Brown.

[shawthing09]

He took a few Overhead Marks in the 2nd Half or did you miss them?

I only counted one but I may have missed one.

On the three the two defenders had the least asked of them overall, but did everything you can ask for. Dawes had more of the ball up his end so had more chances to impress but also make mistakes

Dawes- 6/10 - His game on a personal level I feel is being slightly over rated but how good Cloke was in the first quater. It's something I have said since Rocca went down with injuries which is Cloke should play closer to goal. Dawes going up to the wings allowed this. He also showed when he got the ball high up the ground just how good his field kicking is. He got better late in the game but he also got lucky. The in the back free kick probably wasn't really there (but it probably made it up for the one where he clearly had his arm locked in a contest) and the overhead mark whilst good was under little pressure as Hurley was slipping in the contest.

The real positives for me from this game from Dawes is that he really presented well and provided a target more often then not, the effort was there across all four quaters.

The negatives where he still showed how poor he can be over head at times. We moved the ball the best we probably will all year and had more space high up the ground (as it was a very one on one game) then you will normally get and still struggled with his overhead marking. In another game those missed chances can really hurt. Whilst Essendon's young defence is very promising all bar Hurley lack real size and strength he won't always have that kind of advantage.

Brown 7/10- Did really well. I don't think he needs to be getting lots of the ball to do his job. I am not one who buys into this "the new FB needs to offer a heap on the rebound" I think the fact that he went unnoticed was largely a good thing. He blanketed his man and did his job well.

Positives - Solid defensive game, great closing speed, covered the leads very well, was rarely in a contest due to his man rarely ever looking like a good option.

Negatives - Limited game time / oppertunities.

Reid 7.5/10
Positives-Best game he has played defensively and showed a lot of creativity with the ball. Showed all the signs of what he has to offer. Read the incoming ball well and backed his judgement to zone of and make the spoil. Heaps of 1%ers. Was calm under pressure and found targets, creative by both hand and foot when he had the ball.

Negatives - Still lost his footing at times in the contest, recovered well but better fowards would have capitilised. I am not going to mention his low possesion game as a negative because I am personally glad to see him playing a defensive role in the backline rather then a back flank type role.

 

[TradeDraft]

I only counted one but I may have missed one.

On the three the two defenders had the least asked of them overall, but did everything you can ask for. Dawes had more of the ball up his end so had more chances to impress but also make mistakes

Dawes- 6/10 - His game on a personal level I feel is being slightly over rated but how good Cloke was in the first quater. It's something I have said since Rocca went down with injuries which is Cloke should play closer to goal. Dawes going up to the wings allowed this. He also showed when he got the ball high up the ground just how good his field kicking is. He got better late in the game but he also got lucky. The in the back free kick probably wasn't really there (but it probably made it up for the one where he clearly had his arm locked in a contest) and the overhead mark whilst good was under little pressure as Hurley was slipping in the contest.

The real positives for me from this game from Dawes is that he really presented well and provided a target more often then not, the effort was there across all four quaters.

The negatives where he still showed how poor he can be over head at times. We moved the ball the best we probably will all year and had more space high up the ground (as it was a very one on one game) then you will normally get and still struggled with his overhead marking. In another game those missed chances can really hurt. Whilst Essendon's young defence is very promising all bar Hurley lack real size and strength he won't always have that kind of advantage.

Yeah he still looks struggles overhead espically under pressure but has shown in the 2nd Half when the Glove Went he can take overhead marks when he does get some space. Though the week before he took some really good Contested Overhead marks so it's still Improving

 

[Pie eyed]

Yeah he still looks struggles overhead espically under pressure but has shown in the 2nd Half when the Glove Went he can take overhead marks when he does get some space. Though the week before he took some really good Contested Overhead marks so it's still Improving

He and Medders should be joined at the hip at training. No player is better with his body than Medhurst. Get Medders to show a massive unit like Dawes how to use that bulk and we'd have a forward who could monster any back.
I suppose that's what experience is for???

 

[shawthing09]

He and Medders should be joined at the hip at training. No player is better with his body than Medhurst. Get Medders to show a massive unit like Dawes how to use that bulk and we'd have a forward who could monster any back.
I suppose that's what experience is for???

I'd say a bigger problem for him then body positioning is watching the ball closely enough. He often misjudges the flight and mistimes his attempts and I am pretty sure that has to do with how closely he is watching the ball.

 

[Pie eyed]

Watching the ball is always handy of course.
Eyes on the prize as they say.

Off topic slightly, was I correct seeing a crowd of 90,000 plus on the TV for the game?

 

[Damon_3388]

Off topic slightly, was I correct seeing a crowd of 90,000 plus on the TV for the game?

Crowd of 90,070, which is the biggest ever for a weekend home & away fixture

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I'm not expecting Dawes to mark everything that comes his way, but his overhead marking is a pretty obvious weakness for him, I hope he does improve, as he could become a pretty good forward if he does so.

He was a bit iron fisted on the weekend early, but generally he's a very strong overhead mark. I wouldnt be too concerned. Was the comp's leading contested maek in the TAC Cup, iirc.

 

[danielnajdek]

Put it this way boys and girls Dawes gave alot more in one game then Leigh Brown did in 4 games.

 

[Histrionics]

I was happy with all players tbh.

Having Dawes in the side and allowing Cloke to play closer to goal was one that paid off and def worked. He was solid and will hold his spot. Let's hope he carries the consistency from the VFL across to AFL level.

Both Reid and Brown were good. It's a shame Reid went off injured cause he was having a great game. I don't think the coaching staff will be too worried to rest Preti throughout the year with those two waiting to have another crack at the big time.

 

[rand corp]

Thought Dawes showed great physical presence up front and was competitive when the ball came to ground.

Just wish he could get close to taking a few contested marks.

Ried showed a hell of a lot of promise in my opinion, some really good spoils, a few good runs and good disposal. A lot to like about his game.

Brown was ok, solid but unobtrusive.


For all the kids we played, I thought we looked like men playing against boys on the day, which is a really good sign. The fact that a lot of our so called kids have now been getting -at the very least- the odd game in for the last two or three years really shows.

The Gaff is coming along nicely, Wellers is a revalation this year, probably leading the copeland, Thomas is having by far his best year, Beamsy and Steele look every bit like stars in the making -its all good. The fact that the likes of Tarks, Cheesy and the Anvil can't get a game shows we are really ready to press this year. Also have Dick in the wings although missing a pre-season these days makes it very hard to have an impact throughout the season.

 

[Daicos Mullets]

Very happy with Reid's game, and if PResti comes back it should be for Browny, not Reid.

Dawes was good, but could have been so much better if a few of those marks stuck. He rpesented well and got hands on the footy. Thought he may have deserved a couple of free kicks for huge arm chops. I like that he has learnt to keep his feet a bit better, still went to ground a few times - but was much better below his knees toda than I had recalled from previous games

I noticed that too. Dawes kept his feet 2-3 times when Fletcher went to ground, which lead to scoring shots (can't remember if they were goals). He also handballed a couple of times from below his knees, which has previously been a weakness of his, when the ball's on the ground. I can definitely see the improvements that Dawes has made, he should keep his place for next week.

I thought Reid was pretty good, particularly his spoils, shepherds, 1%s, as others have said. His disposal under pressure was good too, hit his targets. I'm not sure what his injury status, but I'd like to see him next week against Carlton. I think his mobililty would be good against their relatively small forward line.

I noticed Brown less, but he didn't seem to make any mistakes either, so he'd be pretty stiff to get dropped.

 

[daics_35]

Dawes was outstanding IMO 15 touches, more then L.Brown has been getting this year and he kicked 2 goals in his first game for the year, 2 more then Brown has kicked for us this season. Daweses preasure was also outstanding and he will only get better.