Freo v Coll run down....

[Plugga]

As I saw it...

Heath Black - good game back after calf strain, needs another 2 good runs prior to season
Josh Carr - Very good, in & under, did a couple of mistakes but it was 38c
Matthew Carr - 2nd best player, ran all day, looks the goods back in midfield
Troy Cook - Not much of a run, & basically was playing as a decoy CHF when on the field, struggled to get many possies but hard as always
Ryan Crowley - Played mainly midfield, looks balanced, kicked 2 crucial goals, like his aggression
Steven Dodd - Seemed to struggle with the heat, always with hands on knees after any run, did a few clangers, but was good on other occasions
Jeff Farmer - Kicked 5 & was superb, could have kicked more if players running back from midfield didn't get in his way
Daniel Gilmore - Another to struggle in the heat, doesn't have a right foot which was plainly obvious in some plays, played CHF/HFF & was ok
Antoni Grover - On & off the bench, when playing did everything right, looks like having a big year
Paul Hasleby - Clearly BOG, looks in superb touch
Michael Johnson - Did ok again, struggled when 1 out with Tarrant though, not a good match up for him...definitely improving
Justin Longmuir - Spent longer periods in ruck this week & seemed intent on just grabbing the ball out of the air during ruck contests...was caught holding the ball in 2 incidents...but was good & presented well up forward when resting
Shaun McManus - played 1/2 a game, mainly off a wing & ran hard. Made every kick a winner & some of his passing to Pavlich on the lead was "A" class. Obviously trying to impress, but still on the outer
Luke McPharlin - Alternated betw CHF & FF, kicked just 1 goal & struggled against the flood. I think he will do well at the Dome next week.
Paul Medhurst - Started on the bench, & played well again when on the ground at HFF. No clangers & is hunbgry for the ball.
David Mundy - Was superb across HBF & at times on the wing, very balanced, sat out most of 3rd quarter...a real key this season
Ryan Murphy - Struggled down back this week, not much game time, can only remember him taking 1 mark
Shane Parker - Soundly beaten by Leon Davis at Full Back...& can someone please tell me why he kicked out once from FB. 1 kick in...1 out on the full. Also will be really targeted this year with his human glove tactics.
Matthew Pavlich - Looked short of run, still managed 15 possesions, 2 goals, actually looked better at FF & may spend more time up the ground next week. Seemed to struggle on some of his distance kicking, which I'm sure more game time will help there.
Brett Peake - did a couple of nice things, including another 5-6 bounce run down the wing. I'm hoping he starts the year on a wing & stays there.
Aaron Sandilands - Not many possesions but his ruckwork was superb, 26 hit outs with probably 15 of those going direct to either Hasleby or Josh Carr.
Byron Schammer - Positioned down back again, & picked up many possesions running off half back, was stuck with what to do with the footy a couple of times against the flood.
Jarrad Schofield - A week is a long time in football. Several clangers & to me his tackling is verging on pathetic...hopefully doesn't get a game this week, highly skilled but lacks defensive skills & not as fast as he used to be.
James Walker - Played predominantly HFF/Wing & looked fast & his kicking was a joy to watch.
Michael Warren - Be lucky if he got 2 possesions to his name. Filled gaps in the ruck & CHB, but not in the contest, may struggle to get a game if Polak fit this week
Paul Duffield - Played HBF & looks the goods, had 1 or 2 clangers with his kicking but looked fast & a level head. For mine, he should be the 1st to get elevated at seasons end.

 

[rgauci]

Agree with everything said except for Walker. He was lively up front/midfield and provided great run. But his kicking into the forward 50 left a lot to be desired. His pace around the ground is excellent. He looks to have lifted a notch from last year.

 

[dockertor]

If you think Macca made every kick a winner you had better go back and watch the replay. His clanger count was as high as usual.
Sandilands was superb taking a one hander in the pack on the wing that resulted in a goal for us.

 

[Plugga]

If you think Macca made every kick a winner you had better go back and watch the replay. His clanger count was as high as usual.
Sandilands was superb taking a one hander in the pack on the wing that resulted in a goal for us.

I think pretty much every player, bar hasleby made a clanger....the ball was slippery with sweat...but you have to agree some of his passing to Pavlich was superb. He's no where near our best 22, but he'' provide some great back up if some of our midfield go down this year.

 

[newlander77]

McManus had a shocker as I wrote on another thread. He is still playing under Neishams game plan I would have thought by the look of Sundays game! He just doesn't fit into this team! While he tackles harder and tries harder than Schofield (let's face it he doesn't defend at all!!!! he appears scared!), but Schofield at least plays the game out to instruction.

As for this passing to Pavlich being superb by McManus? What game were you watching Plugga? He had options through the middle and opted to kick out wide to Pav. Pavs reaction to this? Kicked it back to him to force him to take the straight option. Poor, very poor! You can't have cowboys out there playing their own game while the rest of the team try to cover them.