Kane Lucas

[BlueBelle]

Menzel is not ready to play as a medium forward. He is best suited at this stage to filling in for any one of the 3 amigos when they are not available. When he gets some more size on him, then he will be right to play as a medium forward, pushing up into the midfield, ala Stevie Johnson/Mark Le Cras.

Menzel is going to be a quality player, but if you want a medium forward, our best option at the moment would be Laids, but he would not be taking Lucas' spot in the 22.

The kid has class and was unlucky to be dropped last week.

Many won't agree but big stage, let's see what he's got

 

[Silvagnis]

Critics need to watch the game again after their pulse has returned to normal. Lucas needed to go harder in marking contests where Heppell and Milera beat him in the air. And his tackling needs to improve. Yet he hasn't deserved the criticism or crap I've read on forums and Twitter. Skillls and decision making aren't diabolical after he kicked long to Waite and Casboult who clunked his passes. Will improve just like Walker's and Carrazzo's field kicking.

Don't underestimate how hard he runs to get free and get the ball forward. Pushed back hard to mark the switch in their fifty after he missed a tackle and Carlton got the ball back. Kept finding the ball early with his hard running to run off Heppell and push forward. Must have a very good engine to play wing in today's game. We do seem to use Lucas to run the ball off half back with our kick-ins. Did a heap of running against WC at Subiaco this year.

 

[mediumsizered]

The kid has class and was unlucky to be dropped last week.

Many won't agree but big stage, let's see what he's got

I would have loved to see him stay in the team, but with a relatively small injury list there are going to be some players who miss out despite having claims to be in the side. Menz just needs to bide his time, make every post a winner in the VFL & I am confident by this time next year he will be in our best 22.

 

[Silvagnis]

you chicks..........duking it out.......

Needs pictures or a link.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Needs pictures or a link.

Stream... anyone ??

 

[BM123]

Critics need to watch the game again after their pulse has returned to normal. Lucas needed to go harder in marking contests where Heppell and Milera beat him in the air. And his tackling needs to improve. Yet he hasn't deserved the criticism or crap I've read on forums and Twitter. Skillls and decision making aren't diabolical after he kicked long to Waite and Casboult who clunked his passes. Will improve just like Walker's and Carrazzo's field kicking.

Don't underestimate how hard he runs to get free and get the ball forward. Pushed back hard to mark the switch in their fifty after he missed a tackle and Carlton got the ball back. Kept finding the ball early with his hard running to run off Heppell and push forward. Must have a very good engine to play wing in today's game. We do seem to use Lucas to run the ball off half back with our kick-ins. Did a heap of running against WC at Subiaco this year.

Lucas gut running is definitely an asset and one that other players could learn to do as well.

 

[Feva]

Yes he does & he should continue to work on those things in the senior team, where he still provides more than those outside the 22 who would be competing for his position.

No he shouldnt be working on them in the seniors - thats what reserves football is about.

As for who is competing for his position:
1. Move Simpson back onto the wing
2. Bring in Bootsma onto a HBF
or
Move Yarran back to HBF and bring in Menzel

A combination of 1 and either of options 2 would be much more beneficial to our team.

Not sure why Lucas keeps getting labelled 'classy'. This term is used for skillful players which he is not.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Lucas gut running is definitely an asset and one that other players could learn to do as well.

And the main cause of lactic acid build up in muscles which will no doubt affect kicking skills.

His ability to run back defensively is terrific and important to us as he just about rides solo in this department.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

No he shouldnt be working on them in the seniors - thats what reserves football is about.

As for who is competing for his position:
1. Move Simpson back onto the wing
2. Bring in Bootsma onto a HBF
or
Move Yarran back to HBF and bring in Menzel

A combination of 1 and either of options 2 would be much more beneficial to our team.

Not sure why Lucas keeps getting labelled 'classy'. This term is used for skilful players he is not.

But Feva, Simpsons kicking skills are not much better and is developing into a reasonable small defender which we just dont have enough of.

 

[BM123]

And the main cause of lactic acid build up in muscles which will no doubt affect kicking skills.

His ability to run back defensively is terrific and important to us as he just about rides solo in this department.

With Simmo down back and Army having tagging jobs we aren't exactly blessed with a plethora of link up players like Lucas.

 

[BM123]

No he shouldnt be working on them in the seniors - thats what reserves football is about.

As for who is competing for his position:
1. Move Simpson back onto the wing
2. Bring in Bootsma onto a HBF
or
Move Yarran back to HBF and bring in Menzel

A combination of 1 and either of options 2 would be much more beneficial to our team.

Not sure why Lucas keeps getting labelled 'classy'. This term is used for skillful players which he is not.

Playing under pressure in the seniors is the best way to fast track development for Lucas.

 

[Claypigeon]

31 points up and still lost. Hardly Lucas fault that Essendon had spare men repeatly pop up In our defensive 50. Seriously who was manning up Melksham at the end?

I want to know that too but don't want to watch the replay!

Was wondering this too. .. Possible Lucas was his man at times. .. He usually plays wing or half forward, from memory, so I'd hazard a guess that he was a combination of Tuohy, Lucas, Scotland and in the last quarter Yarren's man. .. Anyone at the game know where Melksham was playing? Mind you all his efforts were on the turn over so its hard to judge too harshly, if he was hanging back off his man. ..

Playing under pressure in the seniors is the best way to fast track development for Lucas.

Kind of agree but he needs to start showing a bit more composure or I'm going to lose my marbles with every time he takes his eyes off the ball or loops a handball in panic. .. As the season gets on he might find himself dropped if he doesn't when we start getting to the pointy end of the season. ..

 

[JustaBattler]

Watched the whole game again - Lucas played just fine, getting better every week actually. The goal miss was a 'silly' - but so was Armfield's miss just as silly and Jeffs' mark and play on - just as silly. We had PLENTY of chances to score more goals..PLENTY

 

[Feva]

But Feva, Simpsons kicking skills are not much better and is developing into a reasonable small defender which we just dont have enough of.

Please dont compare Lucas' skills with Simpsons.

Simpson is the best wingman/running ball carrier on our list - so play him there.

As for small defenders ... Tuohy, Scotland, Bootsma, Walker.

As for playing guys like Lucas in the seniors to fast track development, on the flip side it can have the reverse and stuff their confidence and also prevent someone else from benefiting more from playying seniors eg Bootsma

 

[BM123]

Was wondering this too. .. Possible Lucas was his man at times. .. He usually plays wing or half forward, from memory, so I'd hazard a guess that he was a combination of Tuohy, Lucas, Scotland and in the last quarter Yarren's man. .. Anyone at the game know where Melksham was playing? Mind you all his efforts were on the turn over so its hard to judge too harshly, if he was hanging back off his man. ..



Kind of agree but he needs to start showing a bit more composure or I'm going to lose my marbles with every time he takes his eyes off the ball or loops a handball in panic. .. As the season gets on he might find himself dropped if he doesn't when we start getting to the pointy end of the season. ..

Everybody has their own player who they personally find frustrating. Personally I find Roberson's lack of composure in a year where the majority of scores are coming from turnovers pretty irritating. People need to have a bit of patience with Lucas because people were calling Heppell soft and he is repaying Essendon's faith in him in gold.

Robinson Kreuzeresque youtube video contribution below



Seems pretty capable of doing the courageous thing there.

 

[BM123]

Please dont compare Lucas' skills with Simpsons.

Simpson is the best wingman/running ball carrier on our list - so play him there.

As for small defenders ... Tuohy, Scotland, Bootsma, Walker.

As for playing guys like Lucas in the seniors to fast track development, on the flip side it can have the reverse and stuff their confidence and also prevent someone else from benefiting more from playying seniors eg Bootsma

Simpson was in horrible form when he played on the wing this year and his best form this year has been in defense. We shouldn't be robbing our defense of run and carry because you think Lucas can't improve.

 

[Claypigeon]

Everybody has their own player who they personally find frustrating. Personally I find Roberson's lack of composure in a year where the majority of scores are coming from turnovers pretty irritating. People need to have a bit of patience with Lucas because people were calling Heppell soft and he is repaying Essendon's faith in him in gold.

Feeling sorry for Mitch. .. His game style has come under fire and he must be second guessing how to enter a contest instead of being instinctual. .. Needs to go back to the twos for a bit I think and work it out. ..

Seems pretty capable of doing the courageous thing there.

This is the part I find odd. .. In his first year he played the third tall back-man and seemed quite composed and willing to go in. .. Ever since he came back from the first injury that seems to have escaped him but he is improving. .. Just sometimes he panics when there is not going to be a contest if he just gets there first instead of hesitating. ..

His tackling is the odd one. .. I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt that he is just trying to arm tackle and avoid body clashes. .. The only other explanation is a lack of composure and going in too enthusiastically. .. Waite is a good example of over enthusiasm, in the tackle, he ends up imbalanced, loses contact and often goes to ground. ..

 

[CrippsonBlue]

Seems pretty capable of doing the courageous thing there.

Or maybe, following contact to the head, you've just pinpointed the moment he said to himself 'no more!'.

 

[BM123]

Feeling sorry for Mitch. .. His game style has come under fire and he must be second guessing how to enter a contest instead of being instinctual. .. Needs to go back to the twos for a bit I think and work it out. ..




This is the part I find odd. .. In his first year he played the third tall back-man and seemed quite composed and willing to go in. .. Ever since he came back from the first injury that seems to have escaped him but he is improving. .. Just sometimes he panics when there is not going to be a contest if he just gets there first instead of hesitating. ..

His tackling is the odd one. .. I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt that he is just trying to arm tackle and avoid body clashes. .. The only other explanation is a lack of composure and going in too enthusiastically. .. Waite is a good example of over enthusiasm, in the tackle, he ends up imbalanced, loses contact and often goes to ground. ..

I think Lucas issue with tackling have more to do with lacking a bit of a core strength from interrupted preseasons. Gotta remember Lucas is still inexperienced and only more time in the AFL will improve his ability to cope with the pace of the game.

 

[BM123]

Or maybe, following contact to the head, you've just pinpointed the moment he said to himself 'no more!'.

Remember that Malthouse has defined roles in the team and a common issue with our defense in the first few games was too many players getting sucked into the contest. All teams have players whose role is receive and go instead of getting heavily involved in stoppage situations which leaves us with no way of getting the ball forward once we extract the ball beyond banging it on the boot for a unlikely chance of retaining possession especially when playing along the line.

 

[kingkingston]

Lucas has had a great season so far, i think he is entitled to have one bad game after being consistent all season

 

[Silvagnis]

Or maybe, following contact to the head, you've just pinpointed the moment he said to himself 'no more!'.

When did you cop a hit to the head?

Shame you didn't recover your senses like Kane.

 

[blue gunslinger]

If Sugar had not missed that goal we would all be praising him for a solid game where he was instrumental in us being in a commanding position. Won a ton of the ball and was a key set up man. At a time when key men like Judd Murph Gibbs Simmo Robbo and Heath were very quiet it was Sugar and Army busting their guts

 

[Silvagnis]

Murphy, Judd, Walker and Gibbs were good. The rest were quiet or faded.

Don't know if Lucas had a legit hamstring injury and was rested against GWS, but if it wasn't an injury, then he should have played. Needs continuity and more games to develop after a three goal game against the Lions.

 

[BM123]

Murphy, Judd, Walker and Gibbs were good. The rest were quiet or faded.

Don't know if Lucas had a legit hamstring injury and was rested against GWS, but if it wasn't an injury, then he should have played. Needs continuity and more games to develop after a three goal game against the Lions.

Played on against Brisbane despite doing a minor hammy which is a pretty solid thing since he forced himself to affect a few contests despite some very poor kicks that didn't favour him.