Toast Esava

[Strange Cat]

He was good last night and was solid down there , I think he will only get better given more time and I’m very happy we kept him for development in that role as his size was very noticeable last night.

 

[4quarter_cat]

That period where he and SDK were off at the same time was very noticeable. I can see him playing a lot of games this year in Henry's absence. Should be good for him. We'll know if he has it soon enough.

 

[you pick one]

My thoughts on Sav.At this stage of his development down back he need to be given a match up a player who will take him to the fall of the ball and work that opposition over physically from the first bounce to the last he'd be wasted as the intercept marking option his job for mine is beat his man and put the fear of God into the rest of the forwards and create hesitation.

 

[noclashjumpers]

Sav most definately was playing on a man and wasn’t loose (Stewart was). However any ball that’s in the air, Sav is there to contest and either bring it to ground or mark it. Sometimes that means peeling off your man.

I thought he did a fantastic job against the Hawks. I think the comparison is Lonergan who was very safe with the ball and just beat his man.

I agree completely that Sav could be analogous to Lonergan.

When Lonergan initially reinvented himself as a defender, he was extraordinarily shaky, particularly with ball in hand. It wasn't until he completely embraced and understood his limitations, that he turned into the stopping blanket that he's remembered for.

I can see Sav on that same journey. If he understands his frailties, and more importantly, understands that his roll is to not expose those frailties (leaving the cleaver stuff to other defenders) then I feel he has a real chance.

But having said that, he's bound to be responsible for the occasional howling turnover. He will cost us goals in high pressure games. And honestly, that's OK. He'll need that direct real-time reinforcement to bed down the simple stuff and not overreach. Once he becomes relaxed and confident in that space, he could be a real weapon.

 

[crocsta]

Sav’s agility and evasive skills really help him as a KPD. He’s not going to be a Lonergan where he gets caught flat footed and holding the ball.


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[kittypurry]

Loved watching Sav in person up here in QLD. He's so big and yet quick-footed and lively. Not sure if it translated to tv, but a few times in my area he caught Brisbane off guard with his agility.

He lacks that natural born, shrewd footy intelligence but that's to be expected since he came to the game late. He's clearly a hard worker and has the full backing of the club. I'm excited to see his journey unfold from here.

 

[Johnny Cattery]

Loved watching Sav in person up here in QLD. He's so big and yet quick-footed and lively. Not sure if it translated to tv, but a few times in my area he caught Brisbane off guard with his agility.

He lacks that natural born, shrewd footy intelligence but that's to be expected since he came to the game late. He's clearly a hard worker and has the full backing of the club. I'm excited to see his journey unfold from here.

Feel very much the same - watching him at work I was really impressed With his evasive skills and power.

And I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but he can really hoof it - his long kicks were helping to relieve some of the pressure on the backline. Even if they went to the opposition (and most didn't), it was taking the Lions two kicks to make up the ground.

 

[standupand]

Sav’s agility and evasive skills really help him as a KPD. He’s not going to be a Lonergan where he gets caught flat footed and holding the ball.


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Lonergan was a master though at out-manoeuvring his often bigger-bodied opponent. With his size and ability to learn, you'd think Sav should build that side to his game too.
It was interesting to note that he'd been training against Cameron quite a bit in the off-season. They should get him taking on TH as well when he's back to full training.
If he can start to match it against both those types, I can see him being a real asset to the backline.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Sav has only played 59 AFL games , he's still inexperienced in AFL terms. Some things he'll only get with playing a lot of footy and a big slab of games in a row to build his experience and confidence, which is something he's never gotten. With Henry out, it could be a blessing for Rata and he ends up becoming a decent KPD for us.

He could've walked into Port's back 6 in the last offseason, so clearly he has some potential as a defender. Now they're making Alir Alir into what they hoped Rata was going to provide them.

 

[Mattttty]

Here's a little compilation for the growing group of Esava fans out there..

 

[00VicWard001]

If SDK played like Sav did two nights ago, you’d all be nodding and saying future all Australian lol.

It was a very good game for someone who is a new defender. He’s made a couple of errors, but really we see defenders like May and Lever giving away free kicks or turning over the ball for the opposition to score. It happens, it’s expected, no matter how many games you play. You play as a defender and you get goals kicked on you.

One thing I really liked about him was that he had immense presence when the ball was near him - especially in the air. He will be such an asset for the team and his fellow backline players.

 

[Seeds]

Sav in the backline could be a submission for the i was wrong thread. Will see how this plays out. Was impressed on friday night.

 

[fpm84]

I loved Sav’s game on Friday. Very excited to think about what he could be down back with another 10-15 games of experience.

 

[00VicWard001]

I loved Sav’s game on Friday. Very excited to think about what he could be down back with another 10-15 games of experience.

We see a lot of athletic players in the AFL, hell, they are all super athletic, but Sav often looks like a man playing against boys. He’s just bigger, more agile. It’s so cool to see. He may not end up as a premier backman, but he’s definitely going to be a weapon for us.

Now think of this as another reason he will be an asset - one of the main reasons we won our premiership was due to our ruck setup. We had Hawkins, Stanley and Blicavs covering the ground and providing an edge. When Hawkins retires - if Sav takes the backline rucking, which he can, then it allows a different advantage to utilised in years to come.

 

[PzBlinky]

I'm not excitedly leaping on the bandwagon just yet but was very encouraged by what I saw. He made some rookie errors that will hopefully be a much less common thing 10-15 games into the season, but did some fantastic work too (that diving spoil on Mihocek? was brilliant). You also have to account for just how easily the Pies were getting it in there with their mid dominance AND the fact that he had no other senior players to rely on back there.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

We see a lot of athletic players in the AFL, hell, they are all super athletic, but Sav often looks like a man playing against boys. He’s just bigger, more agile. It’s so cool to see. He may not end up as a premier backman, but he’s definitely going to be a weapon for us.

Now think of this as another reason he will be an asset - one of the main reasons we won our premiership was due to our ruck setup. We had Hawkins, Stanley and Blicavs covering the ground and providing an edge. When Hawkins retires - if Sav takes the backline rucking, which he can, then it allows a different advantage to utilised in years to come.

I actually had an interesting thought on this the other day.

With Port looking the goods (early, I know) and seeming like they could challenge - I'm going to say something I never thought I would - Port Adelaide might be an Esava Ratugolea away from a premiership.

Big calls and a bit tounge in cheek, but hey, it's only March.

 

[Interdimensional Bigfoot]

I'm selling all my sav stocks.

 

[Cataholic]

I'm selling all my sav stocks.

You'll soon be selling all your Geelong stocks at this rate.

 

[dazbroncos]

Ratugolea Highlights | Round 1

Esava Ratugolea impressed down back and held up under high pressure in defence.

www.geelongcats.com.au

I know this is a highlight reel, and there were lowlights too - and they cost goals - but its his first game at AFL level for points as a KPD.
Not to mention, he did it minus Stewy, SDK on one leg and already missing [PLAYERCARD]Jack Henry[/PLAYERCARD] and Kolo.

So, as flashes go, this is a pretty good flash reel. He 's gonna get more goals kicked on him, and hes gonna give away more holding frees so if thats gonne be his judgement for pass/fail then move on now as you'll be disappointed.
Ill say this - SDK last year made moves like Sav did and we all crowned SDK as amazing - and he was as a 3rd year player on the list.

All im saying is Sav has shown he can play the role, play it well and id reckon PA will be looking at this going " R U ****ing kidding me?!?!

Look at where he comes form to influence some of these contests - he's miles off it and then suddenly he's there and spoiling. Its freaky that guy that big moves that fast and then controls his rig enough to spoil effectively and not give away frees everytime.

Should pony'ed up a second they were asking for.

Sav will get more time down back and im here to see more of it.

GO CAtters

 

[Strange Cat]

We see a lot of athletic players in the AFL, hell, they are all super athletic, but Sav often looks like a man playing against boys. He’s just bigger, more agile. It’s so cool to see. He may not end up as a premier backman, but he’s definitely going to be a weapon for us.

Now think of this as another reason he will be an asset - one of the main reasons we won our premiership was due to our ruck setup. We had Hawkins, Stanley and Blicavs covering the ground and providing an edge. When Hawkins retires - if Sav takes the backline rucking, which he can, then it allows a different advantage to utilised in years to come.

I was thinking the exact same thing , Hawkins/Neale for the F50, Stanley for the centre and Sav rucking the backline

It would be amazing if it works out well

Port would be spewing

 

[Mattttty]

Ratugolea Highlights | Round 1

Esava Ratugolea impressed down back and held up under high pressure in defence.

www.geelongcats.com.au

I know this is a highlight reel, and there were lowlights too - and they cost goals - but its his first game at AFL level for points as a KPD.
Not to mention, he did it minus Stewy, SDK on one leg and already missing Jack Henry and Kolo.

So, as flashes go, this is a pretty good flash reel. He 's gonna get more goals kicked on him, and hes gonna give away more holding frees so if thats gonne be his judgement for pass/fail then move on now as you'll be disappointed.
Ill say this - SDK last year made moves like Sav did and we all crowned SDK as amazing - and he was as a 3rd year player on the list.

All im saying is Sav has shown he can play the role, play it well and id reckon PA will be looking at this going " R U ******* kidding me?!?!

Look at where he comes form to influence some of these contests - he's miles off it and then suddenly he's there and spoiling. Its freaky that guy that big moves that fast and then controls his rig enough to spoil effectively and not give away frees everytime.

Should pony'ed up a second they were asking for.

Sav will get more time down back and im here to see more of it.

GO CAtters

Love this. I agree. It was not a perfect performance but boy does he show some early signs of talent down back. Will be great to see how he progresses over the coming months - and we're very lucky to have him there while so many of our backs are out.

 

[moond0g]

Here's a little compilation for the growing group of Esava fans out there..

He made a few mistakes, but everyone does. And tbf I think the free he gave away for them to get a goal was a little soft.

But I don't know how anyone could be disappointed in him after that game. First AFL game as a KPD, and had 6 intercept possessions (second highest in the team), and the spoils at the 34 and 44 second mark of the video are A grade defensive efforts that a lot of AFL defenders wouldn't be able to make.

It's early days, but with Henry looking like he'll be injured for a while, having Sav as a reliable KPD is going to be huge for us. And by the time Henry get's back, along with Kolo, I wouldn't be surprised is Esava has made himself undroppable.

 

[Strange Cat]

He made a few mistakes, but everyone does. And tbf I think the free he gave away for them to get a goal was a little soft.

But I don't know how anyone could be disappointed in him after that game. First AFL game as a KPD, and had 6 intercept possessions (second highest in the team), and the spoils at the 34 and 44 second mark of the video are A grade defensive efforts that a lot of AFL defenders wouldn't be able to make.

It's early days, but with Henry looking like he'll be injured for a while, having Sav as a reliable KPD is going to be huge for us. And by the time Henry get's back, along with Kolo, I wouldn't be surprised is Esava has made himself undroppable.

The real question would be who would you move out to keep Sav in there should he turn out good, the signs are there you just have to hope for the consistency and improvements

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

The real question would be who would you move out to keep Sav in there should he turn out good, the signs are there you just have to hope for the consistency and improvements

We have Kolo and Henry already missing from down back, now add Strewart and de Koning for however long they're out for and there's some big senior spots up for sneak peeks at our spare parts. Time for some new Misfits from the Magoos to step on in!

 

[Strange Cat]

We have Kolo and Henry already missing from down back, now add Strewart and de Koning for however long they're out for and there's some big senior spots up for sneak peeks at our spare parts. Time for some new Misfits from the Magoos to step on in!

It was more of a question for when the returning players are at full fitness