Game Thoughts & Player Review

[DoubleO7]

didnt you see the one he didnt even make the distance on from 45m. He makes the easy look a little difficult when he is front of goals. Not sure why - such a beaut kick.

He lacks strength in his legs. Give him a couple of pre seasons and that problem should be rectified. IIRC, his first AFL goal came from the same distance, might have been a bit further out (set shot).

 

[mattys123]

How good were Dane Swan and Alan Didak today, and to that end, how good have they been over the last month.

And now we have Medhurst back, we are really only going to get better.

A great team performance, with cameos at different times from players like Thomas, Wellingham, Dick, Meds and Jack.

Great games by O'bree, Didak, Shaw, O'brien and Swan made sure we were never going to lose.

A perfect lead in to a tough month of footy, starting with a "real" blockbuster next week at the G against the bombers, cant wait.

 

[Dylz48]

Re: Player Review

Daisy: Was great off the ball 1% were great
O'bree: 1st guy to get bagged when we are playing crap and is the last guy to get kudos when we are playing well thought he played really well
Harry O: BOG IMO was sensational
Dawes: was pretty average and was not winning contested fotty play a good final term
Goldy: Did thing in patches nothing special
Beams: good game very happy with his progression
Presti: GUN
Wellingham: see beams
Meds: Quiet early but got better as the game went on
Cox: was serviceable kicked a goal still think he should get dropped
Didak: Another great game
Swan: Possession machine
Maxwell: playing his role very well
L.Brown: was good I am slowly coming round
N.Brown: good we have knack for picking up very reliable KP back men
Cloke: Great confidence builder hope he can continue against the dons
toovey: fair game nothing fantastic nothing horrible did his job

 

[FuManchu]

The last qtr in particular shows the benefits of moving the ball quickly and directly into a forward line where the defense hasnt had time to position itself or flood back.

We have the ability to move it quickly, today showed the benefits of it. And it wasnt as if Freo didnt at times present a challenge. They were persistant up until half way thru the third.

 

[Blur]

Still watching the game, laughing at the biased commentators barracking for Freo. Cant wait to see the last quarter.

Jeez, tell me about it! There is one guy on the Ten commentary team (forgot his name) who is the worst of the lot. At one point he encouraged a freo player hitting Jack Anthony because he had a "big head".

 

[mattys123]

How good were Dane Swan and Alan Didak today, and to that end, how good have they been over the last month.

And now we have Medhurst back, we are really only going to get better.

A great team performance, with cameos at different times from players like Thomas, Wellingham, Dick, Meds and Jack.

Great games by O'bree, Didak, Shaw, O'brien and Swan made sure we were never going to lose.

A perfect lead in to a tough month of footy, starting with a "real" blockbuster next week at the G against the bombers, cant wait.

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

Great to see Trav get back in form.

Dids and Swan continued their great form, Didak's really turning into a top midfielder.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

He lacks strength in his legs. Give him a couple of pre seasons and that problem should be rectified. IIRC, his first AFL goal came from the same distance, might have been a bit further out (set shot).

Yeah, especially given he was running and tackling like a madman. I'm not surprised he didn't always kick the distance - he's only 19! [Cue: Paul Hardcastle... nn...nn...nn...nn...nineteen]

It was plain to see how much consideration they'd given to the whole 'Sandilands' saga from mid-week. How will Josh stand up? How can we go in without 2 ruckmen?

Easy. Forget trying to beat him in the air - just too hard. Instead, just make him slightly accountable with Josh (and don't tire Josh out too much) and instead go in hard for the clearance players and tackle like mad. Once they were out on their feet in the late 3rd and all of the 4th it was like taking candy from a Soloman.

Love Dicky's game. Blimey, he would've nearly given Didak a nudge for freakish ability if he'd dobbed that soccer kick in the dying seconds!

Goldy was really trying, but I nearly split my work desk when he gave away that stoopid free in the 2nd. Go in smart AND hard, not just blindly.

Dawes was really trying as well, but I think his only problem was losing front position in the contests. Otherwise he was starting to show something as a 3rd option. He could also have put some extra forward pressure when he was one-to-one in the final quarter. But that's just experience - I don't reckon he need be dropped on that performance.

Well... that was with Pendles and Davis out... just imagine where we could be with both of those two back in over the next 2-3 weeks!!!

 

[mrlukey69]

goldsack and toovey out davis and pentlbury in they shouldent drop dawes his onley going to get better thomas last chance otherwise drop him

 

[#1 pies]

Go pies!

 

[#1 pies]

goldsack and toovey out davis and pentlbury in they shouldent drop dawes his onley going to get better thomas last chance otherwise drop him

He was good today.

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

thomas last chance otherwise drop him

I thought Thomas was good today, looked like the Thomas we know, mainly in the 2nd half.

 

[stanley86]

goldsack and toovey out davis and pentlbury in they shouldent drop dawes his onley going to get better thomas last chance otherwise drop him

give a reason, apart from that horrendous kick before half time he was good, provided some run, took some nice marks, used it well, not 100% who he was on but they only kicked 13 for the team so kept his man quiet

im sick of people coming on here and just posting that toovey is an automatic out, he hasn't done anything wrong

it's hard on who to drop in place of davis and pendlebury, seen as they are mid/fwd's but dawes would be struggling to hold his spot and if both are fit then beamsy, although horribly harsh, would be the other option

tell me the last time pendles or leon played as a defender?

 

[didaka]

Gee I like Wellingham. And Didak is the form player of the comp right now.

 

[PieBeast]

Sharrod Wellingham is a gun in the making .

 

[Col Davies]

The last qtr in particular shows the benefits of moving the ball quickly and directly into a forward line where the defense hasnt had time to position itself or flood back.

We have the ability to move it quickly, today showed the benefits of it. And it wasnt as if Freo didnt at times present a challenge. They were persistant up until half way thru the third.

But we still played wide all day, didn't we?

 

[didaka]

goldsack and toovey out davis and pentlbury in they shouldent drop dawes his onley going to get better thomas last chance otherwise drop him

Cox is the player that should go out. He put in a couple of horrendously soft efforts today.

And also Dawes. I just don't see it. Anthony and Cloke the 2 key targets against Essendon. No Dawes needed.

 

[Damon_3388]

I'm glad we really went on with it in the last and turned it from a (picture Robert Walls saying this) "Well, Collingwood won, but apart from the first quarter, the Dockers really stuck with them" to just total Walls silence for the most of (not all) the end wrap. He was visibly annoyed during the wrap up IMO, and I was glad to see him silenced for the most part. Every Collingwood game he commentates, it's always all about how the other team can get back into it, or how they're not that far away from running back over the top of the Magpies, instead of actually giving us credit for being in front and staying in front (when we win).

Collingwood slaughtered the Dockers in the last quarter, so he really should have had absolutely nothing to say, but he still managed to sneak in some "Well, the Dockers played well in the 2nd and 3rd" stuff. I'm not expecting him to be gushing with praise for us, and I know the Dockers aren't a great side, but he never gives Collingwood any credit for actually being in the lead or winning.

I think the commentators' criticisms of Josh Fraser were unfair as well. Aaron Sandilands has 9cm and 23kg on Fraser, and Jolly also has 5kg on him as well. Both are arguably the two best tap ruckmen in the league (Dean Cox probably does more around the ground though possession-wise), and Fraser has never been a physical ruckman, so I wasn't really expecting Josh to do anything more than hold his own against those two to be honest. Like they mentioned, he probably could have done more around the ground to make Sandilands work, but in the end, I think Fraser and the Magpies would take an 84-point win over a bunch of hitouts on the stats sheet. It'd be more of an issue against better sides, but the sides above us don't have ruckmen the quality of Sandilands or Jolly either, so it balances out a bit more.

Oh well, I shouldn't complain, we still won by 84 points If all there is to complain about from the game is a biased Carlton person not giving us enough credit, then things are pretty good IMO.

 

[Brent24]

Happy with the win.
I really dislike Nick Suban. I can see why fatty Stevens struck him.

 

[Axl the great]

Great win but these lapses in games still worry me, we cant afford to do that against decent teams over the next 4 weeks.
As for Dawes he was lost for 3 quarters but had a decent last quarter and his confidence seemed to lift.
I would not drop him next week as that confidence he gained in a small period today could be sapped away, Dick has shown what you can do when you feel you belong and have a bit of faith in your ability.

 

[mdc]

And also Dawes. I just don't see it. Anthony and Cloke the 2 key targets against Essendon. No Dawes needed.

Agreed. He seems to actually slow down when he approaches the ball, which is a huge mistake.

And am I the only who thought Dawes looked skinnier than he did in his first pre-season? Maybe they're trying to make him into a lead-up target ala Tarrant, but I can't ever see him making it in that role.

 

[Axl the great]

Agreed. He seems to actually slow down when he approaches the ball, which is a huge mistake.

And am I the only who thought Dawes looked skinnier than he did in his first pre-season? Maybe they're trying to make him into a lead-up target ala Tarrant, but I can't ever see him making it in that role.

No your not, he looks to have trimmed down by a fair bit compared to last year especially around the chest region.

 

[Quicky]

First of all what a bloody fantastic effort today. Freo were pretty woeful particularly their disposal but we couldn't have played much better. I think the biggest thing to come out of the game was the style of football we played. It was more direct, with quicker ball movement, and was a nice mix of corridor and out wide.

Cloke: I reckon he is the missing ingrediant in our season this year. We just look so much better when he is up and running. If we are to be any chance at all in the finals he needs to fire. I was so happy to see him played deep and centrally. Alot of people were calling for this at the start of the year and we saw it today - and what we saw was awesome. Cloke is so much more dangerous deep.

Anthony: Keeps getting better and better. Is a genuine KPF now. Leads well, marks well, fantastic set shot, creates crumbs, good in a contest - can't ask for much more than that. And he took a very capable defender in Tarrant today.

Didak: He was a big reason we didn't feel the loss of Pendles and Davis today. I wasn't sure Dids would make it as a pure mid but he has taken big strides the last 3 weeks. Would like to see it against better opposition though. A midfield of Pendles, Swan, Davis, Didak and O'Bree supported by Wellingham, Sidebottom and Beams is pretty damn exciting.

O'Brien: All class today. He's as slippery as an eel in a tackle. Always does a good defensive job.

Maxwell: He has really returned to form. Was great as a third man up today and led from the front.

Wellingham: Just keeps getting better and better. Gives our midfield a dimension it lacks. Was really impressed with his composure in traffic today. Has alot of class - its great we're are atarting to see it consistently.

Leigh Brown: Was very very good today. Particularly dangerous as a forward - both as a target and creating space and crumbs for guys like Dick. Wish he was a bit more clinical in front of goal. Deserves his plaudits today.

Dick: Adds the missing link up forward. His touch is bloody marvellous. Always seems like he's about to do something. One of my favourite players now. So enthusiastic. He is also allowing Didak to play in the mid more - very important player for us.

Cox, Goldsack, Dawes: All candidates to be dropped. Cox in particular was disappointing. Hope we'll see Clarke, Davis and Sidebottom next week instead of these guys.

 

[tuckey]

I thought Toovey and Cox were terrible today. Bring in Sidebottom and Davis against Essendon, and send toovey and cox in the reserves where they belong.

 

[Pendles!]

I think today showed that Cloke shouldnt be played as the lead up CHF. He is much more dangerous inside the FWD 50 and definantly should be kept there as it makes us a much better side.