Review Positives and Negatives in the WIN over Sydney - Round 5, 2020

Re: Kelly - two of the four clangers were free kicks against and two were turnovers.

68% DE which isn’t great but not quite at a Brad Ebert 2009 level of shitness


Yeah i didn't bother with his DE% because i'm only really concern by his kicking efficiency and i don't have that.

It's not as if i think he's a bad kick, i just don't think he's taking high percentage options, or his execution is off or something.

He won't lollipop it, and he won't shank it, but his kicks occasionally fall short, or he'll spear pass it, but not to the advantage side of the forward.


Know what i mean?

I'm sure plenty of those inside 50 entries were "effective", despite the fact our forwards were out of position and had to scramble to bring it to ground.

For so many uncontested possessions, and 7 inside 50's, do you remember him lacing out anyone inside 50?
 

FKASC

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Yeah i didn't bother with his DE% because i'm only really concern by his kicking efficiency and i don't have that.

It's not as if i think he's a bad kick, i just don't think he's taking high percentage options, or his execution is off or something.

He won't lollipop it, and he won't shank it, but his kicks occasionally fall short, or he'll spear pass it, but not to the advantage side of the forward.


Know what i mean?

I'm sure plenty of those inside 50 entries were "effective", despite the fact our forwards were out of position and had to scramble to bring it to ground.

For so many uncontested possessions, and 7 inside 50's, do you remember him lacing out anyone inside 50?
I don’t really remember seeing him that much tbh - didn’t watch much of the first quarter. He definitely looks way off since moving across, but just saying that clangers include FA so they’re not the best indicator of disposal quality. DE also isn’t a very good indicator admittedly.

It’s possible that he just had two really good years in a team he clicked in and may never reach those heights again. Happened plenty of times before in the past, but fingers crossed it’s more a symptom of the rest of the team being so shitful
 

flyinghi64

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Finally Waterman get's a game. Love this kid and have been calling for his return for a few weeks now.
Kennedy and Darling will always cop the best backs and get double teamed so Allen and Waterman can go about their merry way like they did.
The more all 4 of these guys play together the quicker our forward line will become formidable.
Can't finish post , emergency at work.
 
Kelly is getting better each week.

I'm prepared to give him some rope given the training for connection with the forward line has been pretty badly impacted and he doesn't have a great deal of familiarity (1 interrupted pre-season) to fall back on.


I'd dispute that. I know Dwayne (imbecile) kept reiterating it throughout the game, but Kelly has been hard to read in 2020.


Round 1 - 19 touches, 3 contested, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 goal, 1 clanger,, 73%DE 86 ranking points.

Round 2 - 24 touches, 12 contested, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 clangers, 45%DE 105 ranking points <----- Best game, but no impact in the 2nd half.

Round 3 - 17 touches, 7 contested, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 clangers, 29%DE, 61 ranking points

Round 4 - 18 touches, 10 contested, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 clangers, 55%DE, 102 ranking points.

Round 5 - 19 touches, 4 contested, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 0 clearances, 4 clangers, 68%DE, 77 ranking points.



I don't really see a clear upward trend at all. It's interesting reading for games where it appeared he was more outside, like rounds 1 & 5.
 
I'd dispute that. I know Dwayne (imbecile) kept reiterating it throughout the game, but Kelly has been hard to read in 2020.


Round 1 - 19 touches, 3 contested, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 goal, 1 clanger,, 73%DE 86 ranking points.

Round 2 - 24 touches, 12 contested, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 clangers, 45%DE 105 ranking points <----- Best game, but no impact in the 2nd half.

Round 3 - 17 touches, 7 contested, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 clangers, 29%DE, 61 ranking points

Round 4 - 18 touches, 10 contested, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 clangers, 55%DE, 102 ranking points.

Round 5 - 19 touches, 4 contested, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 0 clearances, 4 clangers, 68%DE, 77 ranking points.



I don't really see a clear upward trend at all. It's interesting reading for games where it appeared he was more outside, like rounds 1 & 5.

These are just stats hombre.

I'm talking about looking like he knows what he is supposed to be doing. Knowing where his team mates are going to be. Skill execution hasn't been great but he is not on his pat malone. The more he looks like a particularly shiny cog in the machine, rather than his own machine, the better IMO.
 
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1) Put together some consistently good form at WAFL/reserves level and legitimately earn a recall. Not one good game here and there. Not some fleeting moments. A string of strong form in the seconds. He should be dominating at the lower levels, and though he has shown some signs, he isnt where he should be

2) improve one on one physicality in contested moments and improve attack on the ball

3) arguably, request a change of position to the backline. I can see where the clubs head is at trialling him on the wing; he is as tall as the modern midfielder, he is mobile, and he has good hands. But i just don't think that's where his future lies. To me, i think he is suited to being a defender and taking the third tall. And if he puts on a bit more size and strength, maybe one day end up at center half back
Brander has to play defence.He does seem occasionally shy with the physicallity but he reads the ball well in the air and seems quite composed with ball in hand.We MUST start grooming somebody to take over the Hurn/Jetta role.He definitely doesnt play the "power player" role more of a Hurn style.Hes very good below the knees and hes not slow.
 

MrWoollie

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Good - best game in a long time from Duggan.
Good - same for Sheed.
Good - domination of NN.
Bad - failure to take full advantage of domination of NN and too often Kennedy (Syd) was the one who took possession from the tap.
Good - OAllen much better. Waterman the same. Looks like OA has responded to his kick in the pants in the way you'd hope he would. A really impressive young guy and future leader. Become one of my favourites.
Good - Yeo has been ok at times but showed the mongrel we haven't seen so far this year. Gave away a couple of frees but on both occasions the tackled player knew all about it and will be sore tomorrow.

Really bad - after Cripps snapped his goal (Q3 @ 16 minutes into a 31 minute quarter) we had the last 15 elapsed minutes of Q3 (8 minutes game/15 minutes running clock) with 96% time in forward half including a run of 19 possessions to one... and kicked 1 point. That is not good enough. That sort of domination should be a 5+ goal time. Especially with the team we have.
That sort of domination is not the type of domination you put a game to bed with; it's domination you ice the cake, cover it with candles and then have a bonfire over the flaming carcass of the other team with.
 

shooshka

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Good - best game in a long time from Duggan.
Good - same for Sheed.
Good - domination of NN.
Bad - failure to take full advantage of domination of NN and too often Kennedy (Syd) was the one who took possession from the tap.
Good - OAllen much better. Waterman the same. Looks like OA has responded to his kick in the pants in the way you'd hope he would. A really impressive young guy and future leader. Become one of my favourites.
Good - Yeo has been ok at times but showed the mongrel we haven't seen so far this year. Gave away a couple of frees but on both occasions the tackled player knew all about it and will be sore tomorrow.

Really bad - after Cripps snapped his goal (Q3 @ 16 minutes into a 31 minute quarter) we had the last 15 elapsed minutes of Q3 (8 minutes game/15 minutes running clock) with 96% time in forward half including a run of 19 possessions to one... and kicked 1 point. That is not good enough. That sort of domination should be a 5+ goal time. Especially with the team we have.
That sort of domination is not the type of domination you put a game to bed with; it's domination you ice the cake, cover it with candles and then have a bonfire over the flaming carcass of the other team with.
You make a very good point, and with fewer games this year the likelihood is that more teams finish on the same points - so percentage could be vital.

On SM-G973F using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
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Kelly does seem to try pretty hard on defence which I like to see. He does need to kick to advantage side though, not every kick needs to be perfect but at least give the forwards the benefit of open grass.
 
Kelly does seem to try pretty hard on defence which I like to see. He does need to kick to advantage side though, not every kick needs to be perfect but at least give the forwards the benefit of open grass.

*Willie likes this*
 
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+ We won...
- But I feel like we stumbled past one of the worst teams in the league.

I kinda feel like we should be kicking the s**t out of a few of these teams that we've played. And it's a bit... meh... that we haven't.

- Also I don't like the timing of the fixtures. Lunchtime on Saturday feels weird.
 

Astro7

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That sort of domination is not the type of domination you put a game to bed with; it's domination you ice the cake, cover it with candles and then have a bonfire over the flaming carcass of the other team with.
That kind of domination sounds like a whole bunch of fun!! Can there be a lot of drinking involved?
 
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Wonder what changed for Cole? Was he allowed to play more attacking football? He seemed to have pace again.
He was actually attacking the ball for one. I was thinking with Jetta out, the other small defenders were encouraged to take the game on a little more.

It's when Cole isn't first to the ball and is chasing an opponent that he looks a yard off the pace. But with ball in hand his agility makes his pace look much better.
 

DanWCE

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From the Data Game, Oz Allen had the second best performance for a key forward so far this year

Screenshot_20200708-181616.png
 
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It is obviously good to get a win and also do so whilst playing attractive football that converted into goals.

However, Sydney are currently a very average team. On Saturday they were left fielding a ruck combination that would not be standard at WAFL level and Blakey as their only tall player up forward - the same Blakey who also weighs less than J.Jones.

Since the COVID break Sydney had gone -2, -10 and -24 in contested possessions leading into this game.

That said, the last time West Coast had a differential of contested possession higher than Saturday (+24) against any opposition was back in Round 20, 2018 (the infamous Gaff-hook derby).

Considering prior to this match the club were averaging a contested possession differential of -15.5 in 2020 (lowest in the competition), such a turnaround in fortune is significant, especially when the leading accumulator of contested possessions at the club coming into this ended up spending more than three-quarters of it on the bench with injury.

Despite the paucity of the opposition, there is potentially more that can be taken from this match than any other since the 2018 Grand Final. A combination of planned and forced shifts in tactics resulted in some of the most fluent ball movement the competition has seen this year and Sydney's total of 13 scoring shots (with just 7 of those after quarter time) is the best defensive outcome for the club since Round 21, 2018 (the McGovern after the siren match against Port).

There will be much for the coaching group to consider after this match. I've already watched over this game several times, some periods many times more again. Because there was something there in this match that was very good. It may have been against an opponent who will likely finish the season in the bottom four, but this team has not clicked in such a cohesive manner for significant periods of a match in a very long time now - and perhaps most importantly, it was initiated by changes in structure.


This match is a bolt of lightning in a dark thunderstorm, providing a brief view of the possibility that lays ahead.



So, what happened? Let’s take a look.


The planned changes:
The club had expressed during the lead-up that changes in structure and application would be undertaken for the match against Sydney – and this indeed proved to be the case. Allen and Waterman came into the side and occupied roles that were far more attack-orientated than those previously fulfilled by the players they replaced, Hickey and Brander. Both the second ruck and defensive sweeping wing roles were repurposed as forwards. Meanwhile, the small forwards rather than repeatedly running defensively down the ground to zone space were staying at home in the forward line more often with some of their numbers actively involved with midfield rotations.

The attacking setup was thus effectively a seven-man forward line featuring four tall marking players, with more mobile teammates rapidly rotating around them. These changes were made clearly in response to the awful ball retention that had been taking place up forward – during the three losses in Queensland, the club had made attacking entries into the forward 50 on 116 occasions; whilst in the same period opponents had managed to rebound the ball out from their defensive 50 a total of 96 times – in other words only 1 out of 6 attacking forays by the club did not result in the opponent rebounding with possession. The counterpoint to the numbers used up forward was the deployment of two sweepers in the midfield (Redden and Gaff) behind the ball.

The first quarter showed some encouraging signs as a result of these changes. The forward line appeared to present a greater attacking threat, contested possessions were +5 for the quarter and the marking power of Allen and Waterman stretched the capability of Sydney’s lesser defenders. However, significant problems persisted. With more players positioned towards the attacking end of the ground, the threat posed by the opponent transitioning out of defence on the counterattack was increased. Unfortunately, for reasons I have described on previous occasions, sweepers behind the play do nothing to curtail opposition running handball chains; indeed, it can make them more damaging.

With extras both ahead and behind the ball, the midfield was left in a position where it was winning the ball but lacked sufficient support around it to retain possession without the need for risky disposal. The consequence was 21 turnovers in a single quarter, providing Sydney with ample opportunity to create counterattacking chains and score from 6 out of the 10 times they went forward.


The forced changes:
With the penultimate kick of the first quarter that led to Waterman’s booming goal after the siren, Shuey pulled his hamstring, after which he would not feature in the match any further. The midfield required repurposing in the absence of the captain and changes were made accordingly: Sheed moved inside; Gaff went onto the ball rather than sweeping; Redden pushed up to defend the stoppage outlets rather than the space between the stoppage and defence. The club had committed to placing more players around contested situations to cover for the loss of Shuey.
With the midfield sweepers removed, it was left to the non-key halfbacks (Duggan, Cole, Nelson) to zone off and cover those spaces defensively when required.

The frustration from the first quarter persisted into the second, with opportunities missed and what should have been a commanding margin going into half time instead was less than a goal. Pressure application around the ball was easily the best that it has been this year, and possibly better than at any other time since 2018, but the Swans were still able to find a way out through handball chains, negate the sweeping flanker and impact the scoreboard against the run of play.


The aggressive change:
With Naitanui running a clinic in the ruck and the midfield +9 in contested possessions and +6 for clearances, the club made a move that was surprising in that it was exactly the kind of change that it receives criticism for not doing – it gave the instruction for the non-key halfbacks to aggressively push up the ground, support the contests and provide overlap going into attack.

The result was revelatory. Sydney had a total of just 11 inside attacking 50 entries for the entire second half, culminating in 4 scoring shots. The aggressive move of pushing the halfbacks up so high closed the door on the Swans’ ball movement and allowed the Eagles to gain reward for the pressure that was being applied. West Coast were deploying a high press and it was working very effectively.


Here are some statistics from the second half:

2ndHalfStats.jpg

That is domination across all areas of the game.



Certainly, there are some things for the coaching panel to consider moving forward with consideration to this result.


The tall press
I have long argued against playing many key talls up forward. However, the use against the Swans may have merit. Darling and Kennedy retained deep stretched the defence, whilst Allen and Waterman were than able to outmark their opponents up the wings. The deployment of a 7 man forward line in association with the halfbacks pressing up high, negated opposition rebound, which is always the obvious concern with playing so many talls in attack. With the ball retained in the forward half, the combination of four marking talls were beyond the opposition’s defensive capability.

The mobile defence
Duggan, at quarter time was the only player on the ground who had not touched the ball; at half time he still had just 4 disposals to his name. Freed from his defensive shackles, only Sheed had more possessions for the Eagles than he did in the second half. With the exceptions of Yeo and Sheed, in two quarters Duggan gained more metres than anyone else in the squad could manage over four. Cole and Nelson also looked more assured during the second half and were able to show more pace than in previous performances.
This match showcased that the defence is capable of playing with greater mobility and making connections higher up the ground with the midfield and forwards.

Sheed at stoppages
He doesn’t have the size, strength, pace or flashiness or others in the team, but Sheed is the best facilitator this club has when it comes to stoppage operation. Yeo had by far his best performance of the season in part because Sheed was there at the stoppages creating those channels for him to exploit. Sheed knows his limitations, he knows he won’t be breaking out of contests in Judd-like fashion. So he works to create and exploit channels around the contest as opportunities for his team-mates. In a talented midfield where it becomes easy for players to over-focus on trying to change the game through individual acts of brilliance, Sheed’s willingness to work for the team complements and enhances the effectiveness of run-through midfielders that are playing in the team.

Allen and Waterman
Aside from their developing quality and marking strength, there is something intangible from these two that improves the team. Allen despite his age, just seems to ooze the kind of leadership that lifts those around him, whilst Waterman comes across as the team-mate that you always would want to be playing with. It was telling that it was Waterman who conducted the introduction for the post-victory club song. These two may be key to the future of the club but are rapidly becoming key to the present as well.



The opponent may well have been a poor one. But the club won whilst playing well, particularly in the second half – and did so by virtue of trying something new that worked positively.

All of the things that we have been wanting to see.
 
Dec 8, 2006
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It is obviously good to get a win and also do so whilst playing attractive football that converted into goals.

However, Sydney are currently a very average team. On Saturday they were left fielding a ruck combination that would not be standard at WAFL level and Blakey as their only tall player up forward - the same Blakey who also weighs less than J.Jones.

Since the COVID break Sydney had gone -2, -10 and -24 in contested possessions leading into this game.

That said, the last time West Coast had a differential of contested possession higher than Saturday (+24) against any opposition was back in Round 20, 2018 (the infamous Gaff-hook derby).

Considering prior to this match the club were averaging a contested possession differential of -15.5 in 2020 (lowest in the competition), such a turnaround in fortune is significant, especially when the leading accumulator of contested possessions at the club coming into this ended up spending more than three-quarters of it on the bench with injury.

Despite the paucity of the opposition, there is potentially more that can be taken from this match than any other since the 2018 Grand Final. A combination of planned and forced shifts in tactics resulted in some of the most fluent ball movement the competition has seen this year and Sydney's total of 13 scoring shots (with just 7 of those after quarter time) is the best defensive outcome for the club since Round 21, 2018 (the McGovern after the siren match against Port).

There will be much for the coaching group to consider after this match. I've already watched over this game several times, some periods many times more again. Because there was something there in this match that was very good. It may have been against an opponent who will likely finish the season in the bottom four, but this team has not clicked in such a cohesive manner for significant periods of a match in a very long time now - and perhaps most importantly, it was initiated by changes in structure.


This match is a bolt of lightning in a dark thunderstorm, providing a brief view of the possibility that lays ahead.



So, what happened? Let’s take a look.


The planned changes:
The club had expressed during the lead-up that changes in structure and application would be undertaken for the match against Sydney – and this indeed proved to be the case. Allen and Waterman came into the side and occupied roles that were far more attack-orientated than those previously fulfilled by the players they replaced, Hickey and Brander. Both the second ruck and defensive sweeping wing roles were repurposed as forwards. Meanwhile, the small forwards rather than repeatedly running defensively down the ground to zone space were staying at home in the forward line more often with some of their numbers actively involved with midfield rotations.

The attacking setup was thus effectively a seven-man forward line featuring four tall marking players, with more mobile teammates rapidly rotating around them. These changes were made clearly in response to the awful ball retention that had been taking place up forward – during the three losses in Queensland, the club had made attacking entries into the forward 50 on 116 occasions; whilst in the same period opponents had managed to rebound the ball out from their defensive 50 a total of 96 times – in other words only 1 out of 6 attacking forays by the club did not result in the opponent rebounding with possession. The counterpoint to the numbers used up forward was the deployment of two sweepers in the midfield (Redden and Gaff) behind the ball.

The first quarter showed some encouraging signs as a result of these changes. The forward line appeared to present a greater attacking threat, contested possessions were +5 for the quarter and the marking power of Allen and Waterman stretched the capability of Sydney’s lesser defenders. However, significant problems persisted. With more players positioned towards the attacking end of the ground, the threat posed by the opponent transitioning out of defence on the counterattack was increased. Unfortunately, for reasons I have described on previous occasions, sweepers behind the play do nothing to curtail opposition running handball chains; indeed, it can make them more damaging.

With extras both ahead and behind the ball, the midfield was left in a position where it was winning the ball but lacked sufficient support around it to retain possession without the need for risky disposal. The consequence was 21 turnovers in a single quarter, providing Sydney with ample opportunity to create counterattacking chains and score from 6 out of the 10 times they went forward.


The forced changes:
With the penultimate kick of the first quarter that led to Waterman’s booming goal after the siren, Shuey pulled his hamstring, after which he would not feature in the match any further. The midfield required repurposing in the absence of the captain and changes were made accordingly: Sheed moved inside; Gaff went onto the ball rather than sweeping; Redden pushed up to defend the stoppage outlets rather than the space between the stoppage and defence. The club had committed to placing more players around contested situations to cover for the loss of Shuey.
With the midfield sweepers removed, it was left to the non-key halfbacks (Duggan, Cole, Nelson) to zone off and cover those spaces defensively when required.

The frustration from the first quarter persisted into the second, with opportunities missed and what should have been a commanding margin going into half time instead was less than a goal. Pressure application around the ball was easily the best that it has been this year, and possibly better than at any other time since 2018, but the Swans were still able to find a way out through handball chains, negate the sweeping flanker and impact the scoreboard against the run of play.


The aggressive change:
With Naitanui running a clinic in the ruck and the midfield +9 in contested possessions and +6 for clearances, the club made a move that was surprising in that it was exactly the kind of change that it receives criticism for not doing – it gave the instruction for the non-key halfbacks to aggressively push up the ground, support the contests and provide overlap going into attack.

The result was revelatory. Sydney had a total of just 11 inside attacking 50 entries for the entire second half, culminating in 4 scoring shots. The aggressive move of pushing the halfbacks up so high closed the door on the Swans’ ball movement and allowed the Eagles to gain reward for the pressure that was being applied. West Coast were deploying a high press and it was working very effectively.


Here are some statistics from the second half:

View attachment 908651
That is domination across all areas of the game.



Certainly, there are some things for the coaching panel to consider moving forward with consideration to this result.


The tall press
I have long argued against playing many key talls up forward. However, the use against the Swans may have merit. Darling and Kennedy retained deep stretched the defence, whilst Allen and Waterman were than able to outmark their opponents up the wings. The deployment of a 7 man forward line in association with the halfbacks pressing up high, negated opposition rebound, which is always the obvious concern with playing so many talls in attack. With the ball retained in the forward half, the combination of four marking talls were beyond the opposition’s defensive capability.

The mobile defence
Duggan, at quarter time was the only player on the ground who had not touched the ball; at half time he still had just 4 disposals to his name. Freed from his defensive shackles, only Sheed had more possessions for the Eagles than he did in the second half. With the exceptions of Yeo and Sheed, in two quarters Duggan gained more metres than anyone else in the squad could manage over four. Cole and Nelson also looked more assured during the second half and were able to show more pace than in previous performances.
This match showcased that the defence is capable of playing with greater mobility and making connections higher up the ground with the midfield and forwards.

Sheed at stoppages
He doesn’t have the size, strength, pace or flashiness or others in the team, but Sheed is the best facilitator this club has when it comes to stoppage operation. Yeo had by far his best performance of the season in part because Sheed was there at the stoppages creating those channels for him to exploit. Sheed knows his limitations, he knows he won’t be breaking out of contests in Judd-like fashion. So he works to create and exploit channels around the contest as opportunities for his team-mates. In a talented midfield where it becomes easy for players to over-focus on trying to change the game through individual acts of brilliance, Sheed’s willingness to work for the team complements and enhances the effectiveness of run-through midfielders that are playing in the team.

Allen and Waterman
Aside from their developing quality and marking strength, there is something intangible from these two that improves the team. Allen despite his age, just seems to ooze the kind of leadership that lifts those around him, whilst Waterman comes across as the team-mate that you always would want to be playing with. It was telling that it was Waterman who conducted the introduction for the post-victory club song. These two may be key to the future of the club but are rapidly becoming key to the present as well.



The opponent may well have been a poor one. But the club won whilst playing well, particularly in the second half – and did so by virtue of trying something new that worked positively.

All of the things that we have been wanting to see.

Love your work.

I hope the club has learned the right lessons.
 
Sep 8, 2011
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+ve’s
+The second half
+Tackling pressure was immense. We hunted for the ball and the man.
+Gaff with a chase down tackle!!
+Naitanui dominance
+the fast kick mark game. We used first options also helps when players up the ground present.
+jake the s energy. Do father sons bring a love and passion for the club that other players just don’t seem to have? Even the players that grew up loving the club don’t have the same love and energy as the Father-sons. Chimp Brennan had a similar energy in the team.
+barrass’ mark
+Oscar Allen
+Jamaine Jones, his will and pressure really set the standard early.
+JK really looked like he was willing to fight for us to win especially in the first when not many players had shown up yet. He wanted the contest.
+yeo getting aggressive again
+Duggan looked really impressive took the game on and such a tough rig. Small bit of Waters in him especially with that beautiful mullet.
+Cole did some really impressive stuff that hadn’t been sighted since 2018. He looks a lot fitter and stronger than last year
+Sheppard the guy is legit my hero. Would be leading the BnF

-ve’s
-cripps and darling still looking out of sorts. Hopefully a few goals woke them up for the season.
-Naitanui gotta stop doing so many finesse taps to has left hip. JPK read so many. Go back to the old clear the circle to a streaming mid (usually shuey) to an i50
-first quarter complacency


I’m quite bullish on that result by the way we played. We got plenty of room for improvement still, but we played a great attractive and powerful brand of footy.
 
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