Following on from the Dawson review...
From the FFC website:
Home and away season – (2012 in brackets)
Games – 18 (21)
Goals – 32 (31)
Disposals per game: 13.4 – 24th (15.1 - 16th)
Contested possessions per game: 5.8 – 16th (7.3 - 11th)
Uncontested possessions per game: 7.9 – 24th (8 - 18th)
Handball efficiency: 66.1 – 36th (71.6% - 30th)
Kicking efficiency: 52.7 – 37th (58.9% - 29th)
Marks per game: 4.2 – 17th (2.8 - 28th)
Tackles per game: 2.9 - 14th (3.8 - 8th)
*rankings are at Freo
Highlights – Ballantyne kicked five goals against St Kilda in round 15, but perhaps his best game of the season was in round 19 against Carlton, when he kicked three goals and helped put on a small forward master-class with Michael Walters. His running goal against GWS in round 20 was one of the best kicked in the AFL this season.
Summary – Another typically strong effort from Ballantyne in the home and away season. He kicked goals regularly and pressured opponents in Fremantle’s forward line with the ferocity fans have become accustomed to.
Finals
Qualifying Final – 8 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal
Preliminary Final – 13 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal
Grand Final – 14 disposals
Summary – Ballantyne was solid in the club’s first two finals, but he would have been disappointed with his performance in the Grand Final in which he failed to have a major impact in.
Room to improve: At 26, Ballantyne’s game is well rounded, and his below-par performance in the Grand Final will drive him over the off and pre seasons. One of the hardest workers on the track, Ballantyne will look for a big 2014 season. He will pressure and kick goals as a small forward again next year, but he will also look to get his hands on the football more often, considering he didn’t gain 20 touches in a single game in 2013.
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A fairly succinct summary in my opinion; it appears he hasn't improved upon a number of key areas since 2012, but I don't feel that's an accurate assessment of his year.
Unfortunately for Ballaz, I feel most people will mainly reference his Grand Final effort (or lack thereof) when discussing his year. This probably isn't entirely fair either, as I believe he's had a pretty good year (if a little inconsistent); and has probably been overshadowed by the success of Walters, especially in the first half of the year.
Ballantyne didn't do too much at the start of the year, kicking a goal in each game until Round 4 and some foregettable sprays in the Essendon loss (and missing Round 2 against the Western Bulldogs).
However, he was incredibly prolific against Richmond, kicking 4 goals including a late clincher that won us the match by a point. I'd like to highlight this match against criticism that Ballantyne chokes under pressure; he certainly brought out his A-game in this match where other players failed.
After this Ballaz popped up here and there, contributing against Sydney and Melbourne whilst failing to score 3 games in a row against Brisbane, North Melbourne and Geelong.
Against St. Kilda though, Ballaz played one of his best games of the season; kicking 5 goals, taking strong forward marks and taking the game (again where others failed). He also played an excellent game against Carlton which marked the turnaround point for the Fremantle Dockers in 2013.
We also saw some really exciting goals kicked in the later part of the year, notably his long running goal of the year contentions against Melbourne and GWS respectively (even though it was against Melbourne and GWS); and kicked another bag against Port Adelaide at home in his last game of the Home and Away season.
Building up some strong form running into the finals, it was expected that Ballantyne would play a major role in the finals campaign. Unfortunately, he only had a minor impact against Geelong and Sydney (kicking a goal in each game) and almost non-existant in the Grand Final.
Ballaz certainly has a lot of potential, but he'll need to work on discipline and stability if he aims on having a major impact next year. I could see him potentially being dropped for a week or two next year (for someone like Sylvia or Crozier) which will hopefully transform him the same way being dropped transformed Duffield in 2012 and Mzungu this year. I believe next year will be a breakout year for the little guy, I just hope he's able to deeply reflect upon where he is at the present and what he can contribute to the team in 2014.
From the FFC website:
Home and away season – (2012 in brackets)
Games – 18 (21)
Goals – 32 (31)
Disposals per game: 13.4 – 24th (15.1 - 16th)
Contested possessions per game: 5.8 – 16th (7.3 - 11th)
Uncontested possessions per game: 7.9 – 24th (8 - 18th)
Handball efficiency: 66.1 – 36th (71.6% - 30th)
Kicking efficiency: 52.7 – 37th (58.9% - 29th)
Marks per game: 4.2 – 17th (2.8 - 28th)
Tackles per game: 2.9 - 14th (3.8 - 8th)
*rankings are at Freo
Highlights – Ballantyne kicked five goals against St Kilda in round 15, but perhaps his best game of the season was in round 19 against Carlton, when he kicked three goals and helped put on a small forward master-class with Michael Walters. His running goal against GWS in round 20 was one of the best kicked in the AFL this season.
Summary – Another typically strong effort from Ballantyne in the home and away season. He kicked goals regularly and pressured opponents in Fremantle’s forward line with the ferocity fans have become accustomed to.
Finals
Qualifying Final – 8 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal
Preliminary Final – 13 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal
Grand Final – 14 disposals
Summary – Ballantyne was solid in the club’s first two finals, but he would have been disappointed with his performance in the Grand Final in which he failed to have a major impact in.
Room to improve: At 26, Ballantyne’s game is well rounded, and his below-par performance in the Grand Final will drive him over the off and pre seasons. One of the hardest workers on the track, Ballantyne will look for a big 2014 season. He will pressure and kick goals as a small forward again next year, but he will also look to get his hands on the football more often, considering he didn’t gain 20 touches in a single game in 2013.
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A fairly succinct summary in my opinion; it appears he hasn't improved upon a number of key areas since 2012, but I don't feel that's an accurate assessment of his year.
Unfortunately for Ballaz, I feel most people will mainly reference his Grand Final effort (or lack thereof) when discussing his year. This probably isn't entirely fair either, as I believe he's had a pretty good year (if a little inconsistent); and has probably been overshadowed by the success of Walters, especially in the first half of the year.
Ballantyne didn't do too much at the start of the year, kicking a goal in each game until Round 4 and some foregettable sprays in the Essendon loss (and missing Round 2 against the Western Bulldogs).
However, he was incredibly prolific against Richmond, kicking 4 goals including a late clincher that won us the match by a point. I'd like to highlight this match against criticism that Ballantyne chokes under pressure; he certainly brought out his A-game in this match where other players failed.
After this Ballaz popped up here and there, contributing against Sydney and Melbourne whilst failing to score 3 games in a row against Brisbane, North Melbourne and Geelong.
Against St. Kilda though, Ballaz played one of his best games of the season; kicking 5 goals, taking strong forward marks and taking the game (again where others failed). He also played an excellent game against Carlton which marked the turnaround point for the Fremantle Dockers in 2013.
We also saw some really exciting goals kicked in the later part of the year, notably his long running goal of the year contentions against Melbourne and GWS respectively (even though it was against Melbourne and GWS); and kicked another bag against Port Adelaide at home in his last game of the Home and Away season.
Building up some strong form running into the finals, it was expected that Ballantyne would play a major role in the finals campaign. Unfortunately, he only had a minor impact against Geelong and Sydney (kicking a goal in each game) and almost non-existant in the Grand Final.
Ballaz certainly has a lot of potential, but he'll need to work on discipline and stability if he aims on having a major impact next year. I could see him potentially being dropped for a week or two next year (for someone like Sylvia or Crozier) which will hopefully transform him the same way being dropped transformed Duffield in 2012 and Mzungu this year. I believe next year will be a breakout year for the little guy, I just hope he's able to deeply reflect upon where he is at the present and what he can contribute to the team in 2014.
