Positives/Negatives

[Beloved]

Only 5 or 6 times? I think it was close to 20

There was one play I was really wrapped about involving Nick Stevens and about 4 other Blues. Starting at the boundary on the half-backline, he handballed it the top to one of the boys, gets it back, handball over the top, gets it back, handball over the top, gets it back, handball over the top, gets it back, kick inside 50.

We need more of that!

 

[blueverb]

For the record in my opinion our best 5 players tonight were:
1. Stevens
2. Gibbs
3. Jamison
4. Simpson
5. Scotland

Positives (biggest 5)

1. Gibbs - was brilliant in the 3rd quarter especially. Unlike most players always makes good decisions and hits targets. Have always rated his inside ability and this showed 2night. Should start in the centre square round 1. Also really applies pressure the other way. had 7 tackles

2. Jamison - another great game. 10 yr fullback

3. Stevens - brilliant game. racked up the ball and unlike most used it well.

4. Hads - we looked much better with him in the middle. HAs class, a big body and great hands in and under. Confirmed to me that he is a def in the best 22 round 1.

5. Hammer - led the game in hitouts despit spending little of the 2nd half in the ruck. was a bit quiet around the ground though but is still our no.1 ruck

Negatives

1. general disposal - especially in the 1st half was horrific. Terrible decision making as well especially by hand. While I like the general idea of the game plan I thought it was executed poorly.

2. running and pressure - players really need to run harder both with the ball and without. guys aren't working hard to get into space to provide options like the hawks. Also pressure in the 1st half was terrible. We let the hawks run free

3. Murphy - I thought he did a lot better in the 2nd half but his disposal and decision making has been disapointing lately. For a supposed goal kicking midfielder he can't seem to convert like a class player should. very worrying. Even more frustrating because he does create opportunities for himself. Has kicked 1.10 in his last 3 games.

4. Russell - Useless

5. Fevola - needs to kick straight. deflates confidence of the teamwhen he misses.

totally agree, fev is a barometer of our side and we need him to kick 5 goals 1 instead of 1 goal 5

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Positives:
Individual efforts from Stevens, Gibbs, Simpson, Jamison, Cloke and Hamspon,
Ellard showed he can get it, Armfield has a bit of toe, Kruezer looks good,
Hadley looked composed - though he might need a compass.
Murphy got a lot of it, but has the yips around the goals.

Though we got smashed, we did get a fair bit of the pill.
Second half was promising, and a few flew the flag when Kruezer went down.

Negatives:
Overuse of the ball, indirect, hammered on turnovers.

Russell continues to underacheive.

Interesed to see if Ratten sticks with current approach in next couple of weeks,
without contstraints of NAB rules (Supergoal, kick backwards, interchange).

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

A Hawk's perspective? (Mods delete if you don't want it)

We came into the game with pretty much a 'full' side. We were only missing 6 or so players from our best 22 (Roughead, Ladson, Guerra, Croad, Sewell, McGlynn, Bailey?, Thorp?), and after the swans game were probably looking forward to a more free-flowing game. (Most teams are missing 3-4 players at any stage during the season).

The first quarter was pretty much our best line-up, all our blokes played in their best positions, and our rookies played the flanks/wings. We were obviously 'up' as the pressure and tackling was in general too much for many of your players. After quarter time we reverted back to the rookies, either resting (Franklin, Bateman, Mitchell, Birchall) or playing out of position (Campbell, et al) our senior boys, and the game become much more of a contest.

After half time we had our box-hill midfield going (Renouf, Kennedy, Moss, Muston), with Ellis giving experience (all 10 games of it), and it was obvious there was work to be done. (Renouf won the taps, but kept clearing the pack).

I must admit, I didn't seem to notice your guys as much as normal (often I'll 'note' something about 15-18 opposition players each game), but...(also based on TV viewing only, which affects your perceptinos greatly).

I was impressed with Simpson (though admittadly I'm a fan from prior viewings), and Gibbs had a purple patch when matched up on a couple of our rookies (think it was Rioli, Stokes, Tuck in quick succession) before Mitchell came back on. Not sure if that was instruction or not, but Gibbs seemed to be tagging Mitchell, then running free when he went off.

Murphy was a disapointment for me, might have got 30 touches, but didn't seem to contribute an awful lot.

I was amazed when I read Stevens got 35 touches, but in retrospect he had two or three runs where he got 4 or more touches in one play. I can't believe this guy is your captain though, he was constantly running 'out the back' for free ball. Fair enough if that's his role, but is not damaging enough with the ball. An upgrade on Bateman no doubt, but not what you want to build a midfield around. Will be interesting to see if he becomes superfluous when Judd returns, or can return to his early career role.

Kreuzer - Very glad the boy got up. Noticed Brown made a point of going and shaking his hand after the game. I dare say he's earnt Brown's respect from that piece of play. Presuming he goes just as hard next time (backing into oncoming play), he'll have earnt his AFL wings. Didn't really notice the 'exceptional' ball handling, but put that down to nerves more than anything...(though being out 'desperationed' by Dawson of all people is a MASSIVE cross).

Bower - heard his name in commentary a fair bit, noticed him dash from defence a couple of times. Looks a good size, 6'4, 90kg? Could probably do with some more muscle if he is going to play KPD, but was good at keeping his man quiet.

Carazzo - burnt the ball a lot by hand...not in clanger terms, but kept selling teammates into trouble.

Cloke - really impressed. Thought he was delisting material, but showed quite a bit once Campbell/Taylor were rested, and kept it up when Taylor returned. Got Taylor fired up too (first time in his career I've seen that).

Fevola - Lane raved about him, but for mine fought out a draw with Dawson. Got a nice hit on Brown after the Kreuzer incident, which was good to see. Seemed to be working pretty hard without reward, but was forced far and wide to get his marks.

Waite - was the one guy on the field we didn't have an answer to. Was too mobile for Dawson, too strong for Gilham...really suprised you don't play him as a semi-permanent CHF role. I know your 'short' down back, but without him, the forward line looks almost impotent.

Thornton - yech. Very, very glad we didn't get it through.

 

[Dramoth]

yeah but what did he do with them? His disposal was superb in his first year. It hasn't been the same since Craig Bradley became the skills coach.

It hasnt been the same since he was tagged every week by the best tagger because Stevens was out.

muppet...

I'm surprised that you arent bagging on Ratts for the loss...