Will do a longer write up at a later date but things that I got out of the two games:
- Sat next to Hugh Goddard's father and grandparents. Really lovely people so I felt bad for Vic Country's utter capitulation to South Australia. Hugh took some nice marks across the Wing as a Centre Half Back but was a really average game from him.
- Pickett was not impressive at all, couldn't get into the game and struggled to have a tangible impact on the contest.
- Waterman drifted in and out of the game (understandable given his niggles), but when he gets the ball his accumulation is superb, beautiful handpassing and vision close with a great raking kick. Am very keen on him as a second rounder.
- Blakely and Hardisty were decidedly unimpressive for me. Quietly impressed with Aidan Anderson's game and his nous around goals was good. Clem Smith is not worth the risk IMO, hacks the ball when clearing from 50 and is over-confident with his attack on the ball and contest.
- Tyler Keitel would be worth getting to troll Fremantle. He's that good.
- Winton, Palfrey and Francis Watson are third rounders for mine. They are rough around the edges but each possess characteristics that could be helpful for our team.
- Ahern from Vic Metro is someone we should definitely be interested in. A high half-forward who can hit the scoreboard, and I'd seriously consider a trading to get another second rounder for him.
- Petracca wasn't hugely visible for mine, but when he got the ball... fuuuck.
- Also really liked Duggan, Wright and Darcy Moore's games. Peter Wright could be a monster. The way he stepped around midfielders to slot a goal on the run from 50 was something special.
- Josh Hone from South Australia was a zippy undersized SA player who was close to BOG for mine. Cut up the midfield easily and was very good at the contest for his size. May drift out to a second/third round pick because of his size so if we were looking for a small forward who can pinch hit in the midfield he's definitely worth considering. Harry Vick was also similarly impressive around goal.
- Peter Bampton, Jack Agostino and Billy Stretch were all impressive for SA as well, strange team from them. Lots of quality as always but lacking the size of previous years midfielders. Be interesting to see how their lads competed against SANFL bodies and how they'll go later in the year.
- Tom Lamb has presence but doesn't convert around goals well enough for mine, Zaine Cordy has some panache, Jordan Cunico battled hard (Would rookie him, is a bit vanilla but is very competent at most things). Teia Miles is bog average while Patrick McCartin did f**k all for highly rated first round pick. Vic Country got belted in the middle and it was a terrible display by them. Would like to see Billy Evans and Mitchell White again - Both seem like they'd be ideal picks for our team but the team performance of Vic Country was so poor it remains to be seen what they can do.