U18 Champs Round 1 - WA vs SA

[LemmingMaster]

Agree with a lot of your assessment but not Ainsworth. I reflected with a couple around me and he has an almost nearly touch to him. Things nearly work but too many of his involvements ended up in a turnover. He is a late birthday and his lack of top level in Perth may explain it. e showed a but and will definitely benefit from time in the team.

For the bottom age players, I would be keeping an eye on Miller as an inside mid.

I really liked Ainsworth, especially that running goal. As I said, I would have to keep an eye out for him as it was my first viewing. I thought there were a lot more players with worse handballing and kicking skills than Ainsworth.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

I really liked Ainsworth, especially that running goal. As I said, I would have to keep an eye out for him as it was my first viewing. I thought there were a lot more players with worse handballing and kicking skills than Ainsworth.

Agree that we had some really poor decision making and rubbish kicking. I did not want to call out all the crap but there is one exception and hence never pick Joyce again. I noted at least 6 unforced errors during the game. I have not seen EF colts play this year so hard to see if he just crapped himself or was genuinely that bad. He was not alone but I will be polite.

 

[avishka5]

What kinda kpd is Taylor and Naughton? The eagles will possibly lose one if not both of emac of Schofield this year so we need some kpd's. Current two kpd's we have a more of the attacking/intercepting type. Barrass is still young so his 1v1 work should improve but I would love as to get a gun lock down defender.


Taylor seems like that(based on an early write up above) but it sounds like he didn't actually take the best SA forwards.

 

[Bishop]

I really liked Ainsworth, especially that running goal. As I said, I would have to keep an eye out for him as it was my first viewing. I thought there were a lot more players with worse handballing and kicking skills than Ainsworth.

Ainsworth (kicked at 50% efficiency) while Joyce and Narrier the only two who had a worse Kicking efficiency than Ainsworth. Ainsworth had three clangers by foot

 

[LemmingMaster]

Ainsworth (kicked at 50% efficiency) while Joyce and Narrier the only two who had a worse Kicking efficiency than Ainsworth. Ainsworth had three clangers by foot

There you go, I must have missed some of his poor kicking.

Interestingly it looks like Narrier has a very solid kicking action, so I would not call him a bad kick. Joyce on the other hand, his kicking looked interesting.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Taylor seems like that(based on an early write up above) but it sounds like he didn't actually take the best SA forwards.

Please name the best tall SA forward, not sure they have one to be honest. I think the resting ruck was their best tall forward.

 

[avishka5]

Please name the best tall SA forward, not sure they have one to be honest. I think the resting ruck was their best tall forward.

Ok fair enough. I didn't know that SA's tall forwards weren't that great.

 

[Bicks]

Surely Nathan Kreuger gets a guernsey next game for SA, he's the guy I want to have a good look at from SA.

 

[Bishop]

Surely Nathan Kreuger gets a guernsey next game for SA, he's the guy I want to have a good look at from SA.

15 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles in SANFL U18s today + three goals. Hope so.

 

[Keys]

There you go, I must have missed some of his poor kicking.

Interestingly it looks like Narrier has a very solid kicking action, so I would not call him a bad kick. Joyce on the other hand, his kicking looked interesting.

A lot of Narriers problems with his disposal were created by him having no right leg and putting himself under pressure trying to get onto his left

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Joyce on the other hand, his kicking looked interesting.

I liked the endeavour of Joyce but he butchered the ball on a number of occasions. His disposal by foot was horrid but he also chose some odd leads to kick to. I normally cut the guys some slack as the first carnival game goes up in pressure but his turnovers were often without hard pressure. Is it fixable? If it was a simple poor ball drop then yes but I discussed with Monocle at the game and we were both of the view that he was not right at that level.

 

[Thunderstruck]

Just a quick repot, I will attempt to write something longer tonight.

WA.
2 - Hill: 2018 it will be interesting to see how high this kid will go. Has great speed, clean hands and a one touch player. I would not mind him being a little more selfish infront of goal, but he could be a top 15 pick next year.

9 - Patmore: I'm not seeing AFL qualities at the moment. Missed some shots at goal, kicking below average and decision making was not the best. Disappointing considering I heard good things about him.

11 - England: Has speed to burn, just a pity he seems to burn the ball a little too much.

15 - Ainsworth: I would be watching this kid as I've heard he only just came up to Perth recently. Nice run and carry and one of the few players still running hard in the last quarter when SA were all over us.

22 - Hayden: He was the biggest surprise packet for me. He reminds me a heap of SPP from last year. Just a brute of a kid that charged through people. I was a huge fan for most of the game and then he made a 30m chase down attempt to help stop a goal, that is when he won a few more brownie points. Watch this space... He did not run out the game, so his tank may be lacking.

25 - Allen: Was by far the best forward on the lead today. Strong on the lead and great timing, always creating a target out of defense as well. Still at the end of the day, he is undersized for a forward and not sure the SA defenders were the strongest.

27 Taylor: Best on ground (from a recruitment standpoint). Seemed to play on the resting ruck a lot, outsized but almost did not lose one contest. Great closing speed, amazing marking and can spoil with both hands. Very solid kick as well, stand out player. Does not go to ground and one contest was a highlight. Went to spoil a player, came to ground and someone crumbed the ball, he stayed on his feet, chased him down, dived and almost spoiled the ball but the player was forced to kick it out of the full. Just an amazing sequence that really highlighted his ability.

29 Naughton: Another very solid player for WA, strong over head, great second efforts and I liked his kicking. Great second efforts and the ability to break lines was also a highlight. Spotted up targets a few times with some attacking kicking options.

31 Frampton: A few Frampton fans around these parts, just did not really see it today. Got smashed in the ruck, but when he got his hands to the ball his tap work was very good. Did not massively produce around the grounds, but is a solid kick.

SA

If I am being honest, I did not watch SA as closely.

2 Rankin: Has a great leap if I am not mistaken and very dangerous around goals.

5 Giro: I liked this kid, nice inside and outside work in the midfield. Just a little small as always with SA midfielders, they seem to be a touch small.

14 Hewson: He was a surprise packet for mine, have not heard his name mentioned much but I loved his work down back and then he shifted into the midfield and I like his work in there. Watched one center square take away and picked it up with one hand, spun and shot out a quick handball. Then in the last quarter, squared up a kick across the goals that was amazing. I did see two rather crappy kicks, but on the whole i liked his work.

37 Ballard: This kid has potential, I want to see him more often, but I love his midfield work and around the grounds. Lovely size and I would keep an eye on him in the following televised games.

40 Fogarty: Looks lost in the midfield for mine, so if you require a midfielder then he may not be your man. Up forward he looked okay, but was nothing special. Down back in the last quarter and did his best work there, still I think he lacks effort. His knee was strapped, so maybe he is playing injured, but certainly not screaming top 5 pick for mine. In the midfield he just attempts to use his strength and WA seemed to stop him constantly with strong tackles.

49 CCJ: MONSTER last quarter, WA just could not get passed him. Strong hands and while his kicking looks hideous, I guess it end up getting to its location... I still think he will struggle with that kicking action at AFL level.

Thanks mate. I'll have to catch the replay at some point. SA only have themselves to blame with that dreadful kicking late by the looks.

Hewson is definitely one of the better SA prospects, Fogarty gets all the rave because of his size and 'potential' but Hewson is a very solid and dependable midfielder who can switch back and forward. He's one of those types that puts in very consistent efforts each week. Never absolutely stars it very reliable. Good talent but not great.

I've always liked Giro, enormous games for Norwood reserves, decent skills. If only he was bigger as you say....

CCJ has the beast mode button where he will mark everything like Stewart Loewe but kicking can let him down. Neither here nor there as a forward or ruck. If he keeps growing he'll make a decent ruck who can rest very well.

Rankine is my favourite and he's got another year yet. He can go missing but the bloke sure can do some very explosive and dangerous things.

Ballard is a lovely size but I want to see more as I've struggled to get to many games this year (baby does not help lol)

 

[AFLDraftCentral]

Full stats online via the links in the tweet above.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

What kinda kpd is Taylor and Naughton? The eagles will possibly lose one if not both of emac of Schofield this year so we need some kpd's. Current two kpd's we have a more of the attacking/intercepting type. Barrass is still young so his 1v1 work should improve but I would love as to get a gun lock down defender.

Taylor seems like that (based on an early write up above) but it sounds like he didn't actually take the best SA forwards.

Taylor and Naughton played the FB and CHB roles respectively. Taylor for the most part had either Coleman-Jones or Flinn as the massive KPF (both 200 cm+). Taylor played them in the air very well and was really good on the ground. Clean hands for a 196 cm defender. All credit to Naughton as well as his killing of the contest and defensive rebounding meant Taylor had less clean delivery to negate. I did like the body work of Taylor and he is possibly better suited as a lock down defender. That said, his disposal was pretty good and he was making good decisions out of defence.

I am off to the game again this weekend and hope to see the 2 of them in tandem. You are spot on in thinking we could well do with a KPD coming up the ranks. There are a few KPD prospects in the draft this year so loads to chose from. It will be good to see how the 2 go up against the Vic Metro KPF's as it will be a harder task this week - Hayes and Balta are two of the plentiful talls in Vic Metro this year.

I like the idea this year of taking a 3rd or 4th round KPD and I expect Taylor may be more like a 2nd or 3rd rounder (still a bit early to call) so Naughton with our 3/4 may be an interesting idea. If we get a gun midfielder with our 1st, then Taylor may well be there for our 2nd and hence worth a go. That said, I would prioritise a KPF ahead of him but way too early to call.

Alternatively if we keep playing Priddis et al, we may well slip down the table and be looking at Hayes with our first which would be almost irresistible. There should be enough depth in midfield to get a really good prospect for our 2nd. I am thinking we could well do with another extractor.

 

[Hutchy Jnr]

Mitch Crowden (SA)
23 Touches and 10 contested against WA. Inside magnetl. Played around 7 League (Senior) games for Sturt FC this year.

Do you think height will be his issue come draft time? at 174cm.. The modern midfielder now is around your 186-192cm?
Thoughts on him.

 

[Procrastinator35]

Mitch Crowden (SA)
23 Touches and 10 contested against WA. Inside magnetl. Played around 7 League (Senior) games for Sturt FC this year.

Do you think height will be his issue come draft time? at 174cm.. The modern midfielder now is around your 186-192cm?
Thoughts on him.

Every club has 3-4 players of that height....Won't be an issue if he's good enough.....Brent Harvey was only 170....Caleb Daniel 168.

 

[Freezin]

Joyce has come straight from school footy....hasn't played colts at all, touch wood he can adjust to the step up of state footy....positive thing is he found plenty of footy.....just needs to tidy things up. Game one of the carnival.....bit early to calling the kid out never ever to picked again....interesting read that Narrier who has WAFL league experience this year for Perth had just as poor disposal efficiency as Joyce.....surely that would be more of worry one would think especially considering his exposure to senior footy ..

 

[Tundrawolf]

Joyce has come straight from school footy....hasn't played colts at all, touch wood he can adjust to the step up of state footy....positive thing is he found plenty of footy.....just needs to tidy things up. Game one of the carnival.....bit early to calling the kid out never ever to picked again....interesting read that Narrier who has WAFL league experience this year for Perth had just as poor disposal efficiency as Joyce.....surely that would be more of worry one would think especially considering his exposure to senior footy ..

The WA Talent and coaching staff reckon he has some of the best hands in the side.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Joyce has come straight from school footy....hasn't played colts at all, touch wood he can adjust to the step up of state footy....positive thing is he found plenty of footy.....just needs to tidy things up. Game one of the carnival.....bit early to calling the kid out never ever to picked again....interesting read that Narrier who has WAFL league experience this year for Perth had just as poor disposal efficiency as Joyce.....surely that would be more of worry one would think especially considering his exposure to senior footy ..

Not 100% sure Narrier will get drafted so I hope he turns out better than him.

Joyce looked to have solid hands as Tundra stated, he just looked a little rough with his disposal, still plenty of time for more viewing and maybe he can adjust to the game plan at the higher level.

 

[LemmingMaster]

The WA Talent and coaching staff reckon he has some of the best hands in the side.

You going to the game again this weekend?

 

[Tundrawolf]

You going to the game again this weekend?

Yep, I'll be there but may have to work.

 

[Keys]

I liked Joyce's endeavour if nothing else. Listed as 67kg and I reckon 10kegs of that was his hair but that didn't stop him from cracking in and for someone so slight he wasn't afraid to lay a tackle. Even managed to stop the much larger Crowden (88kg) on a couple of occasions

Will be interesting to see how he goes this year and next

 

[LemmingMaster]

Yep, I'll be there but may have to work.

All good, considering you picked the worse time to work the last game.

 

[reggie]

Joyce has come straight from school footy....hasn't played colts at all, touch wood he can adjust to the step up of state footy....positive thing is he found plenty of footy.....just needs to tidy things up. Game one of the carnival.....bit early to calling the kid out never ever to picked again....interesting read that Narrier who has WAFL league experience this year for Perth had just as poor disposal efficiency as Joyce.....surely that would be more of worry one would think especially considering his exposure to senior footy ..

Joyce will be a gun. Big mistake if anyone is writing him off