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I rarely post here any more but I have some thoughts to share following yesterday's game, which I foolishly watched the replay of this morning (was working Monday). Some thoughts on the season as a whole as well. In fact it turns out I have offered my thoughts on all our players.
May - added plenty to defence. Words cannot describe how much of an upgrade he is on Oscar.
Jones - playing his role I guess.
Salem - not his best work... a little concussed? With our defence more solid I'd like to see him on the wing using his kicking skills to better effect going inside 50.
Harmes - has a crack but wow his disposal is poor. Surely he goes back to hard tagging roles on Fyfe and Neale after the bye.
Petracca - gets a lot of hate but he's going ok.
Lewis - he may be rapidly reaching the end of the road but I think he still has value to add - particularly now we have good defenders playing, so theoretically he won't get caught out so much.
Viney - going ok. I'm just happy to see him out there getting consistent game time. His best form will hopefully follow next year with good continuity.
Lever - improved throughout the game. Great to have him back at last.
Spargo - I've seen enough of the kid for now. He's just not big enough to be effective. How deflating when literally at the first bounce he lines up on the wing against Sidebottom. That's just not going to end well.
Brayshaw - back to some of his best form. Kicking looked better this week too I thought.
Gawn - what a man. Could not do more.
Oliver - gun player who is still learning to be the main man in midfield, and to take the responsibility that comes with that. As plenty have said, needs to handball backwards less, and kick more. Unlimited talent - use it lad!
Hibberd - dependable. Looking forward to more offence from him with May and Lever in the team.
Stretch - nope. Will forever be known as the player who taught Oliver how to be a professional. Other than that he's just not AFL standard.
K Kolo - hoping to see more of him on the wing this year. Good skills and good size - both things we're missing when we have the likes of Spargo and Stretch playing on the wing at times.
Frost - I like the lad and we missed him and his pace yesterday. Looking forward to see what he can bring when he's no longer our best tall defender.
Melksham - really missing his exquisite kicking.
Hannan - improved through the game yesterday as he found the pace. Will be an asset in the second half of the year if he stays fit.
Preuss - get the big man in! I know there are 'structural' considerations but surely we would look more potent up forward with this absolute man mountain playing, and occupying a big defender. Particularly important against Brisbane in a couple weeks - Andrews is a 200cm gun and will carve us up if he doesn't have to play on Preuss.
VDB - who knows? Important in the rare times when he's fit.
JKH - I've tried to be optimistic with this guy and I thought he was ok against the Crows except for his kicking, but he's probably just not up to it.
T McDonald - wow what a fall. Injured? Hampered? Out of confidence? All of the above? It's time that he was either dropped to Casey, or played on the wing where perhaps he can play with some freedom and get his hands on the ball a bit.
Weid - improved through the game yesterday. Keep him in the team all year - hopefully with better delivery, and better support from McDonald/Preuss taking the best defender. Please for the love of all things sacred don't play Weid/Smith together without TMc/Preuss - opposition defences will have a field day.
Oscar - nope. Done.
Hunt - enjoying his work forward.
ANB - limited player, but you know what you get. Surely a better option than Spargo and Garlett.
Fristch - not his best work yesterday. I'd like to see him further up the ground, similar to Salem.
Baker - huge potential. Likely type. Keep playing him.
Hore - what a pickup. Kicking is a bit ropey at times but that's quite alright.
Petty - improved on his horror-show first game last year, so that's something. Worth persisting with for now.
Garlett - I've been keen to give old Jeffy as much latitude as possible, because he's so talented and at his best, adds plenty to our forward line. Gee he's battling though and running out of credits rapidly. I spotted him playing wing a few times yesterday, and always in the context of his direct opponent having acres of space or kicking a goal. Not done yet but he'd want to put in a few good games soon.
Smith - offers a bit. Maybe not a long-term solution but I like him.
Jetta - hasn't been missed as much as we feared perhaps, but gee it will be good to have the great man back, even if it's not until next year. No need to rush him back - he's a battering ram who puts his body on the line multiple times per week, and perhaps his career will be extended by having the rest of this year off.
C Wagner - has a bit of go. Better of the Wagners IMO, but that's not exactly a heavyweight bout.
Lockhart - great pickup. Got a bit of go about him. Surely a better option than Spargo.
J Wagner - I wrote him off after maybe round 5 this year but he's been ok since then, against all odds.
Smith - victim of criminal Misson mis-management?
Kielty - eh. Given enough time he might be a decent player, but I don't think he will get that much time.
May - added plenty to defence. Words cannot describe how much of an upgrade he is on Oscar.
Jones - playing his role I guess.
Salem - not his best work... a little concussed? With our defence more solid I'd like to see him on the wing using his kicking skills to better effect going inside 50.
Harmes - has a crack but wow his disposal is poor. Surely he goes back to hard tagging roles on Fyfe and Neale after the bye.
Petracca - gets a lot of hate but he's going ok.
Lewis - he may be rapidly reaching the end of the road but I think he still has value to add - particularly now we have good defenders playing, so theoretically he won't get caught out so much.
Viney - going ok. I'm just happy to see him out there getting consistent game time. His best form will hopefully follow next year with good continuity.
Lever - improved throughout the game. Great to have him back at last.
Spargo - I've seen enough of the kid for now. He's just not big enough to be effective. How deflating when literally at the first bounce he lines up on the wing against Sidebottom. That's just not going to end well.
Brayshaw - back to some of his best form. Kicking looked better this week too I thought.
Gawn - what a man. Could not do more.
Oliver - gun player who is still learning to be the main man in midfield, and to take the responsibility that comes with that. As plenty have said, needs to handball backwards less, and kick more. Unlimited talent - use it lad!
Hibberd - dependable. Looking forward to more offence from him with May and Lever in the team.
Stretch - nope. Will forever be known as the player who taught Oliver how to be a professional. Other than that he's just not AFL standard.
K Kolo - hoping to see more of him on the wing this year. Good skills and good size - both things we're missing when we have the likes of Spargo and Stretch playing on the wing at times.
Frost - I like the lad and we missed him and his pace yesterday. Looking forward to see what he can bring when he's no longer our best tall defender.
Melksham - really missing his exquisite kicking.
Hannan - improved through the game yesterday as he found the pace. Will be an asset in the second half of the year if he stays fit.
Preuss - get the big man in! I know there are 'structural' considerations but surely we would look more potent up forward with this absolute man mountain playing, and occupying a big defender. Particularly important against Brisbane in a couple weeks - Andrews is a 200cm gun and will carve us up if he doesn't have to play on Preuss.
VDB - who knows? Important in the rare times when he's fit.
JKH - I've tried to be optimistic with this guy and I thought he was ok against the Crows except for his kicking, but he's probably just not up to it.
T McDonald - wow what a fall. Injured? Hampered? Out of confidence? All of the above? It's time that he was either dropped to Casey, or played on the wing where perhaps he can play with some freedom and get his hands on the ball a bit.
Weid - improved through the game yesterday. Keep him in the team all year - hopefully with better delivery, and better support from McDonald/Preuss taking the best defender. Please for the love of all things sacred don't play Weid/Smith together without TMc/Preuss - opposition defences will have a field day.
Oscar - nope. Done.
Hunt - enjoying his work forward.
ANB - limited player, but you know what you get. Surely a better option than Spargo and Garlett.
Fristch - not his best work yesterday. I'd like to see him further up the ground, similar to Salem.
Baker - huge potential. Likely type. Keep playing him.
Hore - what a pickup. Kicking is a bit ropey at times but that's quite alright.
Petty - improved on his horror-show first game last year, so that's something. Worth persisting with for now.
Garlett - I've been keen to give old Jeffy as much latitude as possible, because he's so talented and at his best, adds plenty to our forward line. Gee he's battling though and running out of credits rapidly. I spotted him playing wing a few times yesterday, and always in the context of his direct opponent having acres of space or kicking a goal. Not done yet but he'd want to put in a few good games soon.
Smith - offers a bit. Maybe not a long-term solution but I like him.
Jetta - hasn't been missed as much as we feared perhaps, but gee it will be good to have the great man back, even if it's not until next year. No need to rush him back - he's a battering ram who puts his body on the line multiple times per week, and perhaps his career will be extended by having the rest of this year off.
C Wagner - has a bit of go. Better of the Wagners IMO, but that's not exactly a heavyweight bout.
Lockhart - great pickup. Got a bit of go about him. Surely a better option than Spargo.
J Wagner - I wrote him off after maybe round 5 this year but he's been ok since then, against all odds.
Smith - victim of criminal Misson mis-management?
Kielty - eh. Given enough time he might be a decent player, but I don't think he will get that much time.