Reserves

[grimlock]

Dunno when RWO is getting back up so I thought I'd post this here while the memory is still fresh.

Another comfortable win for the magoos today:

Sydney 4.2 10.2 14.7 21.7 (133)
Belconnen 1.2 3.3 5.6 11.9 (75)

Goals (my unofficial count): James 6 Clarke 3 Moore 2 Schneider 2 Nicks 2 Schmidt 2 Fosdike 2 Vogels 1 Willoughby 1

A very strong reserves outfit lined up today with only 2 topup players used, and one of them is a regular in Quade. Schauble, Spriggs and Fixter didn't play.

The scoreboard probably flattered us a little bit, aided by our accurate finishing. Belconnen provided good opposition today. The stacked numbers around the ball, trying to force ball ups. They were quite physical, and they managed to complete many tackles that I've seen other Canberra AFL fail to make. So it was a good, tough hitout for the boys today. In fact, when the Magpies kicked the first few of the 3rd quarter I thought we could have a real game on our hands. Unfortunately their intensity slipped and the Swans kicked on from there.

The increased pressure meant that the skills were a bit poorer today and quite a few goals were conceded from turnovers.

Individual players:
James - played at FF, and after a slow start, did very well to finish with 6. Worked very hard and took a few contested marks. Soccered home the goal of the game while lying on the ground!!
Moore - "Bulldog" as he is known to his teammates was very good in the middle. Just seems to have that extra split second to dispose of the ball. His first goal was a beautiful piece of skill from a crowded pack. Interesting to note that he took most of the kickins for the team.
Fosdike - Stood out in a good display in the midfield. Will be pushing for a spot once his fitness returns.
Schneider - Seems to be trying very hard, maybe too hard. Found a lot of the ball, was dangerous around the goals and finished with 2.3. Tried some very hard snaps at goal when the better option would have been to square the ball.
Powell - Looked disinterested playing on a HBF, coughed up the ball a few times. Seems to be going nowhere at the moment.
Vogels - played a Barry Hall type role today, pushing up to the wings a lot. Only kicked the 1 goal but was very good as the link between midfield and forward.
Clarke - started up forward where he kicked a couple before dropping to the back pocket. His man kicked a few on him so a mixed game.
Grundy - played CHB, didn't see much of him.
Campbell, Davis - Both played in defence, and as with Grundy didn't see much of him either.
Schmidt - He seems to be a lot bulkier than I remember. So much so that I continually confused him with Vogels. As with all the midfielders, had a good game.
Ericksen - Had more competition today, but still dominated the taps.
Nicks - Average game I would say for Nicksy. Got caught lying over the ball and penalised a few times.
Willoughby - Solid performance. Still looks too slight to me to be promoted.
Garrubba - played HBF/Wing. Is quite pacy.
Potter, Sundqvist, Shaw, Hayes - Quiet games.

 

[ROK of Gibraltar]

Thanks Ugg.

 

[sportsfan7]

It was a damn close game (compared to their normal result)!

 

[liz]

The scoreboard probably flattered us a little bit, aided by our accurate finishing. Belconnen provided good opposition today.

Belconnen are the reigning premiers and one of the two teams who would have comfortably beaten us in previous years. So it is to be expected that they would put up more resistance. A result like this is probably more meaningful than beating Weston Creek by 150pts in telling us how the reserves team has progressed.

I didn't see the game, but a couple of comments on your comments...

Willoughby - if you ever see Willougby standing next to Schneider, he looks bulkier than Schneids. And Schneider is probably still carrying a little "puppy fat" whereas Willoughby's bulked up from last year and looks more solid than then (not difficult!) suggested he's put on muscle mass.

Schmidt - his shape has changed in the opposite direction. Last year he looked overweight for a league footballer, which was probably understandable given that he missed most of his final year of U18 football with injury. He's looks to have lost a fair amount since then but is always going to be chunky, you would think.

Interesting that James has displaced Grundy from the FF position, unless they're just rotating. Wonder if we'll see him back in the firsts sometime in the not too distant future.

 

[grimlock]

Maybe its just a perception thing, but it just stood out that Willoughby was much smaller than the rest of the midfield.

Schmidt was very good in this game, finding a lot of the ball and using it very well. If you look back at the past results of the reserves you'll find he's been continually named in the best lists.

I would think there is some sort of rotation policy going on. Powell and Grundy have played up forward before and will probably do so again. I was very impressed with Heath's attitude, he had a pretty average first quarter but after he managed to soccer home his first, he really picked up his work rate and deservedly finished with 6 and BOG honours.

And finally, I forgot to mention in the first post that Vogels took a couple of speccies. He has a very good pair of hands.

 

[liz]

I haven't watched the reserves for about a month now but in games up to that point Schmidt has been consistently good. His use of the ball is very impressive.

I reckon he's next in line for a debut but with Jude to come into yesterday's team, Buchanan playing well in the senior midfield, Moore also playing good football and Fosdike on the comeback trail, it's hard to see when an opportunity will present itself.

 

[Tuesday]

Vogels - played a Barry Hall type role today, pushing up to the wings a lot. Only kicked the 1 goal but was very good as the link between midfield and forward.

I said the same thing to my friend at the game. Baz's own Mini-Me (only that he's not that little...) -- loved the pushing and shoving that went on all game.

Sure, only one goal or so, but he had a bigger impact on the game than that stat would lead you to believe.

And there was a top speccy in the final quarter right near us -- awesome! High fives all round, Vogues.

If he can keep that back (or was it hip flexor? ) injury free, I think he'll be back in the seniors in no time. Well, I hope so.

PS: I have to agree with you, Liz. Schmitty has bulked up considerably, and from a distance, we had difficulty in telling them apart. Between them, they played well.

 

[liz]

IPS: I have to agree with you, Liz. Schmitty has bulked up considerably, and from a distance, we had difficulty in telling them apart. Between them, they played well.

Except that I said the opposite!

 

[grimlock]

Oh yeah there was a lot of pushing and shoving going on, it was definitely a deliberate tactic by Belconnen - maybe to try and put the Swans off their game.

It was only their build that seem to confuse me, they even have similar hairstyles and number (36 vs 38). Its only when they set off on a run (Vogels has a unique running style) or kicked (Schmitt is left footed) that it was easier to separate them.

 

[CharlieG]

Sing it with me, folks.

"All we are saying..."

 

[grimlock]

The question is where would he play?

Defence - Its crowded enough down back already with Schauble waiting in the wings.
Forward - He would be competing with Vogels and Saddington as the 3rd tall option.

 

[liz]

The question is where would he play?

Defence - Its crowded enough down back already with Schauble waiting in the wings.
Forward - He would be competing with Vogels and Saddington as the 3rd tall option.

Easy (assuming he deserves a place).

He takes Kennelly's place in defence, releasing Kennelly further up ground. When Kennelly tucks the ball under his arm and sprints away he is fantastic value in the back-line. But he's not doing it that much and may get more opportunities to use his pace further up the ground. I reckon Dempster can provide much of the drive from the back-half, in tandem with Barry.

Burns played a fantastic last quarter last night but it once again highlighted Kennelly's defensive deficiencies. He didn't have a clue how to play him.

Of course, that re-jig would require a current midfielder to drop out - it would probably force Malceski out of the current structure. So it probably comes down to a choice of James vs Malceski at the moment.

 

[stellation]

Sing it with me, folks.

"All we are saying..."

"Is put Vogels in before Heath"

 

[CharlieG]

"Is put Vogels in before Heath"

I should banish you for your sacrilege!

 

[Tuesday]

Except that I said the opposite!

I will leave work and go straight back to bed!

But PS: I meant muscle -- he's a lot more beefy up top then when I last saw him. As in built.

 

[grimlock]

Agree with Kennelly's deficiencies - McVeigh snr touched him up earlier this year as well.

Surely if a tall were to come in, it would be Schauble before James.

 

[liz]

Agree with Kennelly's deficiencies - McVeigh snr touched him up earlier this year as well.

Surely if a tall were to come in, it would be Schauble before James.

Except that Schauble is injured at the moment, and James - despite his odd, post-hamstring running style - is quicker and more mobile than Schauble.

Tall mobile and often very quick players seems to be the go of Roos and Barham - LRT, Kennelly, Matt Davis, Dempster, Bolton, Saddo all fit this bill. and James is closer to it than Schauble.

 

[Dudley]

I dont get the whole Heath James thing. He has been very unlucky with injury and it is a great story that he finally seems to be overcoming his injury blight.

BUT

What has he ever done to show he will ever make it at AFL level ?
He has been fit for ages and Roos does not even list him as an emergency.
Its a shame for him personally, but i think he is goneski at the end of the year

 

[liz]

IHe has been fit for ages and Roos does not even list him as an emergency.

This was actually only his third game for the year since the pre-season (or at least very early in the reserves season).

He's been out injured!

 

[LittleSchneider]

But PS: I meant muscle -- he's a lot more beefy up top then when I last saw him. As in built.

I have to laugh Tuesday!! Schmditt - hehehehehhee...Ah couldnt stop laughing the other night and still laughing now...

 

[sportsfan7]

I haven't watched the reserves for about a month now but in games up to that point Schmidt has been consistently good. His use of the ball is very impressive.

I reckon he's next in line for a debut but with Jude to come into yesterday's team, Buchanan playing well in the senior midfield, Moore also playing good football and Fosdike on the comeback trail, it's hard to see when an opportunity will present itself.

I wonder if player Schmidt will get a fairer treatment from umpire Schmidt than the rest of our team do?

 

[Mike_B]

I wonder if player Schmidt will get a fairer treatment from umpire Schmidt than the rest of our team do?

I'd think he'll get treated worse, coz the umpire Schmitt would have something against the alternate spelling used by Tim.

 

[CharlieG]

I wonder if player Schmidt will get a fairer treatment from umpire Schmidt than the rest of our team do?

Tim Schmidt/Justin Schmitt... so probably not.

Edit. Curse you Mike.

 

[Mike_B]

Edit. Curse you Mike.

You snooze you lose CG.

 

[Tuesday]

I have to laugh Tuesday!! Schmditt - hehehehehhee...Ah couldnt stop laughing the other night and still laughing now...

Tim Schmidt! He he he...
Still laughing, Little Schneider. Still laughing!

PS: it was only last night!