Player Review

[Snoop Dog]

For those that didnt see it this game was not a lot different to the first 3 insomuch as we were on top for three qtrs but went to sleep in one.

After qtr time we simply started to win clearances and that meant that the backs had half a chance. Presti and OBrien took that chance and didnt give their fellas a look in.

Davis - quiet unti last qtr when his two goals were superb.

Didak - very quiet all night. maybe got ten touches. Mick seemed to leave him close to goal all night. Not unhappy with that.

Goldsack - post qtr time good. made some blues early but solid after that and handled a beauty ball which set up Lockyer in last. He has a go and I like that.

Meddy - Another who wasnt cited early and one who turned the game around with his goals in the third. Bucks is right - when the ball is in his hands the pies look quicker and better.

OBrien - just terrific. Bradshaw was very ordinary.

Anthony - Quiet but hit packs hard and did some terrific chasing. If you watch the reply two of his chases turned the ball over in the last half.

Pendles - Look I gave this bloke a kick last week for being soft. Wouldnt say he was tough tonight but he certainly cleared the ball a lot more and got involved in the clinches. ball use was super just his finishing in front of sticks to be improved. that was his best game for us.

OBree - made a heap of mistakes early and turned the footy over a lot. to his credit he ran hard and stuck it out.

Cox - Our best player to half time and our most attacking defender. Sure you dont know whats going to happen but at least he looks to attack and he likes the corridor.

Thomas - Another I had a crack at last week and was a lot better this week. Shut Drummond down after qtr time and another who turned the game. He probably didnt have 20 touches but he worked hard all night and moreover was involved for 4 qtrs. Chasing was great.

L.Brown - ok and did some nice things but not that involved.

N.Brown - read L.Brown. Taken from j.Brown early but he can blame the mids for that.

beams - another solid game. Did some real nice things and his kick fwd to davis in the last a real cracking effort. Just stays calm and seems to make good calls. I hope he doesnt to GC. This kid is the next Ben Cousins.

M.Clarke - Along with Fraser adn Locks leading the Copeland. Terrific tonight. Runs hard. makes good calls and attacks when required. kicking really good.

Rocca - ok. hit some packs hard and did some nice things. was buggered by qtr time though.....he aint anywhere near fit.

Lockyer - fantastic. Probably leading the copeland. ran every opponent of his feet and skills sensational. last qtr goal a great example.

Fraser - really good. seems to love the ability to run all day. got his body in good spots at times and hurt them fwd of the footy at times which is when you know he is playing well. his joy when we won was just so good to see.

Cloke - ok. played better in second half. very hard to be a chf in this side when the ball is always coming around a flank.

Toovey - one of his best games. Did a job tonight and ran hard. skills a lot better and prob deserves spot next wk to be fair.

Presti - Magnificent. Took Brown out of game.

Swan - pretty quiet but bobbled up at key times.

Barham - if he could kick that would have been the most impressive debut I have ever seen. 27 touches and probably 10 tackles. Gosh if he could kick he would be the find of the year. Saw a lot of him at TAC and he is better than what he showed tonight so lets hope a dry ball helps.

Best: Pendlebury, Lockyer, Presti, OBrien, Fraser, Medhurst

 

[Heater39]

O'Brien and Presti were outstanding, without doubt our two best defenders.

Pendles BOG, Davis and Medhurst both good.

Cox had another good game, his first 3 were good but this was definetely his best game for us, the Cox haters don't have much to bag him for tonight.

Fraser stood up again, obviously the Charman injury helped nevertheless another strong performance.

Barham absolutely love his attitude, butchered the ball a bit but 27 posessions and 9 tackles on debut- WOW.

 

[mdc]

Our best:

Pendlebury - another clear BOG for him, dominated inside, gets to more spots than last year, and his defensive work was v.good as always. Will ship the Copeland by 5+ votes this year.

Presti/O'Brien - both were superb, especially Presti (thought Harry got away with a bit). If they don't play well, we have a much harder time winning.

Clarke/Cox - Cox was great in the first half, Clarke great in the second half. Both played close to their best, and I'm especially excited about how Clarke's developing defensively. Some big spoils this season from him.

Our good:

O'Bree/Lockyer/Swan: All made a bunch of errors, but nonetheless they all found the ball, were pretty clean with their hands, and their run was critical.

Toovey/Barham: Toovey was good all game on Johnson, though disposal let him down again. Barham played very well after qtr time, doing well on Power, but I never want to see him get 20+ disposals again. Burns it something shocking.

Medhurst: Turned the game in a qtr and a bit. Got a bit selfish at one point though, but can't really blame him.

Fraser: Played well again, but will finally get a real test next week against Hille.

Beams: Has the tools to be our second-best midfielder by the end of next season. His ball-winning ability and composure in close is second only to Pendlebury, and this is in his 3rd game.

Cause for concern:

Cloke: Showed a glimpse or two, but disappointing on the whole yet again.

N.Brown: Thought he did ok in the 1st on Brown, but completely drifted out of the game once taken off him.

L.Brown: I thought his chasing was atrocious tonight, really stood out.

Goldsack: Fumbles, indecisive, turns it over, and still lets his man lead him to the ball. Not terrible, but meh.


The rest get a pass mark, including Rocca.

 

[smiddaz123]

Cloke appeared to be used as a wingman at times....boggles the mind.

 

[stanley86]

Goldsack: Fumbles, indecisive, turns it over, and still lets his man lead him to the ball. Not terrible, but meh.

does anyone out there actually like goldsack?
i thought he was very good tonight, although is one touch was average
i dont see him as an attacking weapon, i think his defensive efforts are top notch, and provided he stops the opposition moving the ball forward i dont care if he fumbles if it means he creates a contest

it seems to me that if a defender doesn't win the ball or win a contest they have failed, instead of being rewarded for creating a contest in the first place

 

[RRRooocccaaa]

C'mon - cut the Roc-man some slack. He took the only decent hanger tonight and caused a lot of spillages and forward pressure tonight.

He was/is ready and is only going to hit his straps sooner the more he stretches his legs. Could've had a gimme goal if that bloody free kick was paid, but he did enough tonight.

 

[mdc]

it seems to me that if a defender doesn't win the ball or win a contest they have failed, instead of being rewarded for creating a contest in the first place

I have Presti and Harry in my best mate.

The problem is Goldsack is not very good at defending or attacking. He seems to me to be the definition of vanilla, with bad decision-making to boot.

 

[stanley86]

all good mate
just posing the question, i seem to be the only one who likes him
i know you had the big o and presti in the best, i agree 100%, but they pretty much comprehensively beat their opponents by using body and spoiling, all im getting at it as least goldy made a contest, the other 2 did it a 100 times better, but i also dont think he is as bad as he seems to be made out

 

[stanley86]

i also think he is quite good defensively, tackles seem to stick, but i also might be a bit biased as i like him as a player ... maybe im good defensively, seen as im defending him

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Cloke appeared to be used as a wingman at times....boggles the mind.

They needed to do something to bring him into the game.

 

[Invigoration]

They needed to do something to bring him into the game.

Yeah I agree and with Anthony/Rocca at FF and CHF respectively I don't mind him playing outside the 50.

Rocca clearly can't push to far up the ground as a CHF, he tires to quickly. Anthony to best close to goal where as Trav is probably the most mobile and agile of the three so playing him as a link man out of the backline has premise.

Things clearly weren't working brilliantly for him in the first couple of weeks. Patful has had the wood over him a few times in the past as well.

 

[EB&W Pieman]

[
Cause for concern:
Cloke: Showed a glimpse or two, but disappointing on the whole yet again.

N.Brown: Thought he did ok in the 1st on Brown, but completely drifted out of the game once taken off him.

L.Brown: I thought his chasing was atrocious tonight, really stood out.

Goldsack: Fumbles, indecisive, turns it over, and still lets his man lead him to the ball. Not terrible, but meh.
QUOTE]

Err Didak?

 

[mdc]

Err Didak?

Was below par, but I was looking more at players who have consistently struggled this season.

Someone just needs to remind him that he's a left footer, and he'll be sweet.

 

[Axl the great]

They needed to do something to bring him into the game.

No he needed and and needs to do something to bring himself in to games.Trav should on form be close to being dropped no question in my opinion.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Who goes out for Heath Shaw? Toovey is probably the logical choice - a straight swap of half back flankers - but he would be stiff to miss out after tonights game.

 

[Old Spice]

does anyone out there actually like goldsack?
i thought he was very good tonight, although is one touch was average
i dont see him as an attacking weapon, i think his defensive efforts are top notch, and provided he stops the opposition moving the ball forward i dont care if he fumbles if it means he creates a contest

it seems to me that if a defender doesn't win the ball or win a contest they have failed, instead of being rewarded for creating a contest in the first place

I rate Goldsack, although I am undoubtedly in a minority.

 

[The Norm]

I rate Goldsack, although I am undoubtedly in a minority.

I used to, but he's been out of form since he had his head smashed in round 2 last year. Only decent game he's played since then was round 19? against St Kilda last year.

 

[rose jam]

I rate Goldsack, although I am undoubtedly in a minority.

he was terrific in his first, but no pre-season in season 2 with his slight body mean't he wasn't able to get his rhythm. I think he'll come through he's just caught in between finding the defense/attack balance, but that should come with a fit Heath Shaw near him.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Davis - typical Davis game, kicked goals when it counted

Didak - pretty ordinary game and kept finding himself kicking right footed

Goldsack - took a few decent contested marks and won and important ground level contest but generally was disappointing

Meddy - Matchwinner. Only player out there who handled the ball like it was dry. Will not remember anything.

OBrien - Beat Bradshaw in the air and when the ball hit the deck. Probably lucky with umpiring decisions.

Anthony - PLayed a bit further up the ground and contested hard without having an impact.

Pendles - Outstanding. Seemed to be everywhere

OBree -Undefeated Captain played ok

Cox - Love watching this guy play. Gives the backline the creativity it is otherwise lacking. Excellent first half in particular

Thomas - Workmanlike game

L.Brown - Didnt really have a role. Should be replaced by Wood or Bryan next week.

N.Brown - Struggling. I'd persevere with him, though.

beams - fantastic. At the bottom of packs and also capable of finding his own space. Didnt waste a possession either

M.Clarke - Love watching him play more than anybody. Good to see MM hasnt tried to coach out his Gaelic tricks.

Rocca - Good first up hit-out. Seems lighter and seems to have gained a yard of pace.

Lockyer - Racked up possessions at will and didnt waste them. Good to see him kick straight on goal after last weeks debacle.

Fraser - Loves rucking solo and was easily the best big man on the ground

Cloke - missing in action but didnt drop his head and made some contribution after 1/2 time when the game was there to be won

Toovey - pretty good. Still kicked too often to nobody in particular.

Presti - Superb.

Swan - good game without being outstanding.

Barham - looks just like his old man. Very impressed. Skills should improve as he gets used to the pace of senior footy, added with some technical adjustments to the ball drop.

 

[richskee]

Hey guys, Nice win last night was a deserved hard slog.

Was just wanting your thoughts on Cloke of late? Ive watched all your games this year and he just doesn't seem to be making an impact, if any.

I'm just confused as to what position he plays? I just think he should be alot deeper in the forward line, with his strength i feel he should be a key target. But all he seems to be doing is moving up on the wing and taking about 4 or 5 marks a game.

Do you guys feel he is being wasted?

Cheers

 

[Dave The Man]

Big Call calling Beams the next Cousins

 

[buzzbuzz]

Hey guys, Nice win last night was a deserved hard slog.

Was just wanting your thoughts on Cloke of late? Ive watched all your games this year and he just doesn't seem to be making an impact, if any.

I'm just confused as to what position he plays? I just think he should be alot deeper in the forward line, with his strength i feel he should be a key target. But all he seems to be doing is moving up on the wing and taking about 4 or 5 marks a game.

Do you guys feel he is being wasted?

Cheers

If we win games off the boot of players like Medhurst and Davis because Cloke and Rocca take the better defenders, perhaps he isn't being wasted. But yes, I definitely think he should be playing better and making more of an impact. He's so far played a roaming CHF role, but last night he pushed up onto the wings ala Matty Richardson. He's an enigma, to be sure. At least he kicked straight last night though.

 

[Chase the Ace]

Cloke appeared to be used as a wingman at times....boggles the mind.

You mean like Hawthorn does with Buddy and Richmond does with Richo?

 

[stui magpie]

I rate Goldsack, although I am undoubtedly in a minority.

Not too much of a minority, I rate him highly. has a fair dinkum crack.

 

[shawthing09]

Just on Goldsack his problem as a player is that he doesn't serve a purpose. He is a great trier and does the one % but last night as a defender he gave Sherman a truck load of space on a number of occasions. If he is going to make it as a defender you just can't do that. As an offensive player he'd need to get more of the ball, use it better, fumble it less and make better decisions with the ball.

Cloke is really struggling and when you get a guy like Patful or even Harry Taylor last week, who he should beat for size and strength surely he needs to be used deeper.

N Brown hasn't won a defensive match up all year which is a worry.

L Brown is just not a very good player, that is not his fault.

Everyone else was very good and played their role. Pendles, Fraser, Clarke, Cox, Medhurst, Presti and Harry O (although on another day he probably would have given away 3 or so free kicks) were all superb