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Toast Matty Taberner

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The Speaker said:
Freed up Pavlich and provided a contest. Allowed one of them to run up the field while the other provided a marking option.
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Brought the ball to ground quite a few times today when I was convinced he'd concede the easy mark to the 3rd man which is all I wanted today. Comfortably exceeded my expectations.
 
He played well today as a roaming tall - the cleanest with the ball that I've seen from him & not so timid. Seemed to grow in confidence as game went on.
I notice Apeness played well in the WAFL as well.
Good.
 

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I thought he started scratchy - had one contest he backed out of in the first half, and was a bit iffy. Second half was a different player - might have had the rocket applied - played like he deserved to be out there.
 
Happy to eat my words, I was dark on him being selected. Mainly because he looks so timid out there at times and he still didn't attack a couple of marking contests the way I'd like but he more than made up for it with his smarts around the ground and his hard leading.
Good game.
 
Genuinely looked like he wanted to be out there today. Very impressive. As I've always said, if Ross rates him then so do I. Although before today, I had seen very little as to why he did!
 
The need for a tall forward in the not-so-distant future has possibly worked against him, specifically the expectations for his output. KPFs/KPDs can take years to develop, and after today's game against quality opposition, he's showing enough to be considered a real prospect.
 
Sully90 said:
Played well today - would stop short of saying "He has to play every game this season" though. One bad game and he'd be on the chopping block again. Today was a very important part of his development overall.
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Given that there are only 2 games left before finals I think he could consider himself quite hard done by if he didn't at least get to play those to show what he's got.
 
Sully90 said:
Played well today - would stop short of saying "He has to play every game this season" though. One bad game and he'd be on the chopping block again. Today was a very important part of his development overall.
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Today showed what another tall marking forward does for Pavlich. We need another tall in the team and at the moment Taberner is the best available. If he doesn't play, then Apeness or Bradley bloody well better.
 
Swan Districts Kid said:
He played well today as a roaming tall - the cleanest with the ball that I've seen from him & not so timid. Seemed to grow in confidence as game went on.
I notice Apeness played well in the WAFL as well.
Good.
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Apeness is coming along very nicely. Another solid pre season in the gym makes him a bit mouth watering.

As for Taberner, give the big boys a good amount of game time and the light finally flicks on !!!. Tabs has a way to, but his confidence would up.
 
For a guy his size he is amazing clean below his knees. The best thing about him is his athleticism and fitness which enable him to get space on his defender in his leads. Hearing Ross on 6PR he really does rate him. I think we have to play two talls from now on.
 

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Terrible to say but Taberner was behind Gumby and Keps in the pecking order to compliment Pav but a superseded them both and neither will get another contract. There was a terrible kick/ turnover which caused a goal that I remember but reckon he did a majority of leads/runs to allow Pav to stay home in the 50 a fair bit more, even go as far as say he was a big reason to Pav kicking a bag today. Be very surprised if he loses his spot before finals. Makes sense to plan for future also, expect him to keep the CHF role and Apeness replacing Pav in 2016.
 
I think there's a chance that Gumby will get another contract purely because he has the ability to play as a backup ruckman. Griffin is likely off at the end of the season and Sandi is reaching the end of his career. Obviously depends on his body though, no idea what the story is there. He is only 26 though.
 
Anyone else notice his role in Croziers second goal?
Tabs drops back into the square and the loose man drops back with him, Crozier then ducks forward to take the mark where the loose man originally was. These are the types of small things a tall player can bring to the game without doing much themselves.

Also loved that he outmatched Hodge for the goal.
 
Going into the game I was of the popular opinion that he was really struggling at AFL level and hadn't shown anything in his previous games.

Glad he turned it around, he showed he can produce today and if he plays like that every week, he is easily best 22.
 

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pokerspiv said:
Given that there are only 2 games left before finals I think he could consider himself quite hard done by if he didn't at least get to play those to show what he's got.
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ilikepotatoes said:
Today showed what another tall marking forward does for Pavlich. We need another tall in the team and at the moment Taberner is the best available. If he doesn't play, then Apeness or Bradley bloody well better.
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For sure, he's earnt the right to stay in the team based on todays performance, I just meant if he drops back out of form again we shouldn't keep him in for the sake of structure.
 
He was solid, needs to learn to use his body more and everything else will be sharpened as he grows as a player.
 
Anyone else notice him really lift around the start of the fourth? Almost as if He thought he was going to be the obvious sub out or Ross said something at 3qtr time. Was massive.
 
I think he was also assisted by the presence of Walters and Crozier. With those two in the team we have an actual working half forward line able to lead up outside 50 and deliver with precision. Mayne is freed up to play this role too. That's where we've been falling down recently, meaning that long bombs to tall fwds were out modus opperandi, allowing opponents to play a third tall and just cut everything off.

Now with a number of mobile small/medium fwds we can play a shorter game and enter with more precision, allowing Tabs and Pav both to get on the end of better quality possession.
 
Did like Taberner when we had the ball, got to all the right spots, used his body well and provided a great option. What I didn't like about him was when we didnt have the ball, his chase and defensive pressure left a lot to be desired. Can improve on that part of his game. All being said, step forward for the young fella.
 

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