Watching the replay and a few things I noticed.
FIRST HALF
SECOND HALF
Cole actually looked really good on the wing but went back once Hall was subbed on.
Darling's first 5 steps might be the slowest in the AFL but his top speed is fine.
Hough played way better than I realised initially, very good game and he pushes hard up the ground as well to spread the field even though he isn't always used he works hard.
Allen and Ryan also were better than I realised, not standouts but just solid all round efforts across all parts of the ground.
Wing was almost exclusively Cole and Maric pre-sub then Hall and Maric post-sub, Duggan sometimes there while others were rotated. Allen a very brief cameo at the end of the game. No Hunt, or HJ on the wing.
Why didn't Yeo kick a torpedo to end the game!? Not acceptable. How many chances do you get to go for an 80m bomb after the siren?
FIRST HALF
- Cole played wing a lot more than I realised, almost every CB he was on the wing until Hall comes on the ground. Has a brilliant start to the game out there before moving into defence. Looked very good on the wing.
- Cole and Maric the main wingers until Hall comes on, then Maric and Hall, brief appearances by Duggan when others are on the bench
- Duggan has good kicks from behind the mark inside 50 (dropped marks to Ryan and Darling). Does really good defensive work when in the centre circle. Might have been HFF at the very start of the game but didn't stay long.
- Hough played very well. Is a real weapon. Played a very physical game with some big hits. Loses one or two contests to Long but they're very good contested marks so won't blame him for that.
- Umpiring was seriously poor, even when watching again without stress of not knowing the result.
- Yeo bumps people late, no free kick. Reid does it instant whistle.
- Kelly was really good, especially early in clearances. First turnover kick would have hit Waterman lace out if not for the defender being in the way, dribble kick would be a goal if not for the defender standing in the way. Perhaps needs to look up a bit before kicking.
- After defending Reid last week for not trying to do too much, this week he did try a bit too much at times but every disposal he has is a beauty and he normally draws in 2 tacklers so his handballs are always releasing someone. He also looks corridor before wing (eg: Waterman's goal Q2). Defensively Reid is very good, loves contact, tackles well and is right up there in pressure acts.
- Darling was crazy good, even the plays he doesn't touch the ball he's holding blokes off the ball, spoiling or creating spillages for others to kick goals. Also appreciate a few of Govs long kicks to him being in front of him rather than on top of him.
- Gov has some pretty ordinary short kicks early on in this game, selling teammates into trouble big time. Recovers to play an overall good game though and his long kicks are great.
- Run and bounce changes the game. The field opens up when someone has a bounce and every lead has to reset or change direction. Ginbey running and bouncing is great to see or Hough selling candy to hit a corridor kick, these set up our best plays.
- It's always Hunt as the attacking HBF that comes off the back of the square at CBD. Never noticed anyone else take that position if Hunt was on the ground that's where he was. Played pretty good but it was one of those games every touch he got was under huge pressure except for that inside 50 to Waterman. Would be good to see him get it in space a bit more but this game was just too high pressure.
- You cannot defend Jake Waterman right now. You do everything right defensively and he still plucks them.
- Darling falls over when celebrating Trew's goal. Delist.
- Love HJ's kick to Dewar on a strong lead through the middle at 13:12 of Q2. In between 3 GC players cuts up the zone (leads to OA goal).
- Oscar Allen played a very good game, a good team game, a few goals, a big grab, a goal assist, some good contests on the wing under high balls and then helping out down back. Bravo.
- JWill schooled Andrews in the battle of the 2nd rucks in the middle of Q2. Wins a free kick, takes a (questionable) mark in d50, spoils him on a long lead.
- BWill gets outdone by Witts big time, in general ruck craft and then also to give up the goal on the siren.
SECOND HALF
- Duggan starts on wing again with Hall until Maric comes back on.
- Witts dominating BWill.
- Witherden and Cripps with some of the worst kicks of the game in quick succession missing targets under no pressure. Kelly wins groundballs to tidy up the mess.
- Dewar comes out in the 3rd quarter after only 2 touches to half time to kick a clutch set shot, then take a contested mark and deliver a great ball to JWill who drops the mark and kicks another goal later. Big turnaround.
- Hilarious that the Dockers forum whinges about Reid so much and somebody tried to say he played poorly because he only had 3 kicks, his handballs have created about 3 goals as of early in the 3rd quarter.
- There's no delay in JWill's decision making which makes him look like a smooth mover, when the ball is in play he just moves and doesn't get flat footed thinking about where to be.
- JWill again on Andrews and dominates him with some clearances of his own as well as a nice long inside 50 leading to Allen's banana pass. After this goal the CB is JWill v Witts for the first time in the game at 10:45 in Q3. Eagles have kicked 3 in a row so Witts is moved back in but Eagles leave JWill in. He immediately nullifies the tap and gets the centre clearance with a 2nd effort handball to Yeo.
- Following this JWill halves a boundary throw in then gets the ball back in the corridor from HJ who doesn't blaze away and picks the best option, JWill then hits Waterman on the lead. Wins the proceeding centre bounce ruck tap as well. Great 5 minutes of play. BWill returns after the King goal and GC don't play Andrews in the ruck again for the game.
- Trew gets midfiield minutes but only when Reid isn't in there (Reid is playing forward). When Reid comes back Trew stays in the CB but Yeo goes out briefly.
- Before the King goal there's a massive run into defence down the wing from Maric, after it there's a huge run from Hall and Ryan, good gut running from all involved. Maric's doesn't pay off but Hall and Ryan get the ball out to Ginbey to clear d50. Really liking Ryan's game.
- Duggan's running bounce play is perfect, waited for Ryan's man to give up trailing Ryan before giving it to him and Ryan the perfect pass over the defender. Great contest recovery from Allen staying on his feet for the handball as well to start the play.
- HJ not panicking in heavy congestion and gets a beautiful kick out to Ryan instead of a little dish handball to someone else under pressure.
- How the **** does Darling not get 50m on that mark after Reid's tackle? GC player wasn't anywhere near the contest. Still a poor miss though would have really made his game one of his best ever.
- Kelly spends some time as a HFF in the 3rd quarter and does some really impressive work, amazing ground ball gets and quick handballs.
- Darling 2 minutes of legend level with the HTB tackle, the hit up kick to Duggan (potential GA), the crumb and handball to Cripps (potential GA), the intercept touch and handball to Hough (who gets the GA to Waterman).
- 4th quarter JWill starts as #1 ruck, Witts rucks the whole time and the two Williams change around a bit but JWill does the majority I'd say. BWill does better this quarter and takes some marks on the wing, but kicks poorly afterwards.
- Gov steps up in the 4th quarter on the broadcast wing, just dominates the air and blunts every GC attack. 3 intercept marks in the space of about 5 minutes.
- Duggan protecting Reid and dropping Collins to the ground was awesome to see.
- The 3 plays leading up to the Duggan goal are awesome, massive pressure on every disposal with a nice hit from Darling. Duggan gets the ball on 3 consecutive plays, twice tackled with it, third one is the goal. Love Reid and Yeo's reactions and Oscar holding him like his baby and giving verbal props to him once everyone cleared out. Then he goes and wins the centre clearance. After Cripps' goal he lays a rundown tackle to prevent GC centre clearance followed by a massive tackle/hit on the 50m arc.
- After Duggan's goal Oscar goes to the wing to be able to push back (I assume) with Maric as a forward. He stays there after Cripps' goal with Maric now on the other wing.
- Final 2 CBs is Yeo, Kelly, Duggan and BWill as the set up.
- The handball from Cripps over the shoulder and the left handed handball back to Cripps from Waterman whilst being tackled were both brilliant, as was the banana goal.
- Darling continuing to pressure to the death despite having played 94% TOG and running 15.4km (team high) with a push on the kick, Allen manning King at the death and beating him.
Cole actually looked really good on the wing but went back once Hall was subbed on.
Darling's first 5 steps might be the slowest in the AFL but his top speed is fine.
Hough played way better than I realised initially, very good game and he pushes hard up the ground as well to spread the field even though he isn't always used he works hard.
Allen and Ryan also were better than I realised, not standouts but just solid all round efforts across all parts of the ground.
Wing was almost exclusively Cole and Maric pre-sub then Hall and Maric post-sub, Duggan sometimes there while others were rotated. Allen a very brief cameo at the end of the game. No Hunt, or HJ on the wing.
Why didn't Yeo kick a torpedo to end the game!? Not acceptable. How many chances do you get to go for an 80m bomb after the siren?
