SANFL Round 18

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Don't sell him too short...sounds like leadership group material to me.

Would be funny if it wasn't true

 

[marvin]

Stevens' performances of late have not been anywhere near as bad as McGregor's were in the last 24 months of his AFL career.

That'd be the same McGregor who scored 18 goals in 9 games in his 2nd last season? Including 4 in the elimination final against Hawthorn?

McGregor struggled with injury his last few years, but on the field, his 2007 outstripped either Burton or Hentschel's 2009 for starters - and was far better than Stevens 1st half of this year. And when Kenny struggled, he got dropped. Stevens got a golden ticket instead.

 

[Vader]

That'd be the same McGregor who scored 18 goals in 9 games in his 2nd last season? Including 4 in the elimination final against Hawthorn?

McGregor struggled with injury his last few years, but on the field, his 2007 outstripped either Burton or Hentschel's 2009 for starters - and was far better than Stevens 1st half of this year. And when Kenny struggled, he got dropped. Stevens got a golden ticket instead.

I'm not going to defend Hentschel or Burton. That's defending the indefensible.

I stand by my comments though that Stevens in 2010 has been far better than McGregor was towards the end, when he couldn't kick over a jam tin and couldn't run to make a contest.

 

[cmndstab]

Saying 24 months is a bit over the top... McGregor's '07 was quite good from limited matches, scoring multiple goals in 6 of his 9 games. However, his '08 season was a disaster from start to finish. He played the first six games in a row, despite only scoring 4 goals (3 of which were in the first two weeks). He had a season-high 11 disposals in round 4 which kept him in the side until round 6 when he was finally dropped after games of 8 touches, no goals, and 6 touches, no goals. He was brought back in for round 11 where he managed a paltry 2 touches (was on 0 at half time, to my recollection), both handballs, and 2 frees against, in a match we won by 50 points.

McGregor was one of my favourites, it was so sad to watch his career end like that.

By comparison, Stevens is still a capable AFL player by any reasonable measure. The only issue is whether or not Davis would do a better job at this stage.

 

[Vader]

Fair enough. Lets limit the McGregor comments to his last 12 months then.

 

[thebirdman 24]

Are we forgetting Stevens diabolical first half and a bit of the season. He was terrible, and now he is serviceable at best. Maybe it seems when he plays alright it seems so much better because you compare it to his insipid games, which still occurs every 3rd game or so. Why persist with him over Davis in this stage of our development? Even if he is playing ok.

 

[Vader]

Are we forgetting Stevens diabolical first half and a bit of the season. He was terrible, and now he is serviceable at best. Maybe it seems when he plays alright it seems so much better because you compare it to his insipid games, which still occurs every 3rd game or so. Why persist with him over Davis in this stage of our development? Even if he is playing ok.

Because the Crows selectors always pick the best team available and right now Stevens remains a better player than Davis. Davis has shown himself to be a very good shutdown player, but he is severely lacking in any offensive or pro-active side to his game.

 

[neddy36]

Just on SANFL related matters:

Had the pleasure of watch James Sellar on the weekend. Can I just start by saying, about 2-3 years ago I said to a mate of mine "I don't reckon he will make it!" in regards to Sellar's chances of becoming a career AFL player. Looked awkward, lacked intensity, a real 'tweener' and kicking motion which needed refining.

Fast forward to Saturday 7 August 2010. James has morphed into a KP/Ruckman who is a very good chance to make it. Presented well when playing across half forward, taking strong contested marks and a confidence in front of goal. What strikes me most is his competitiveness at the contest, something that didn't really exist two years ago. He is hitting the packs hard. When the ball hits the deck he has a hunger to get it and dish it off. Even when Glenelg were steam-rolling West in the 4th, a fierce determination for the ball was written all over his face.

Sure there are still a few things to work on (the occasional poor kick, learning the rucking craft) but after watching 2 of his last 3 SANFL games, I am confident he will forge a very good career for himself on an AFL list.

Needs to come in this week. Would love to see him go against the Brisbane rucks. Last night, after watching Griffin and Maric's inability to find the ball around the ground and their lack of presence as strong marking options in the forward lines - Sellar's selection is warranted.

 

[cmndstab]

The SANFL stats are out.....


Hentschel: 11 disposals (9 kicks, 2 handballs), 2 marks, 1 free against, 1 tackle, no score.
Thompson: 11 disposals (3 kicks, 8 handballs), 3 marks, 1 free against, 2 hitouts, 1 tackle, scored 0.1.
Young: 16 disposals (10 kicks, 6 handballs), 7 marks, 1 free against, 1 tackle, no score.
Armstrong: 22 disposals (20 kicks, 2 handballs), 11 marks, 2 frees for, 2 tackles, no score.
Davis: 17 disposals (11 kicks, 6 handballs), 5 marks, 1 free for, 2 hitouts, 1 tackle, no score.
Wright: 18 disposals (10 kicks, 8 handballs), 6 marks, 2 frees for, 6 tackles, scored 1.0.
Sellar: 18 disposals (9 kicks, 10 handballs), 9 marks, 10 hitouts, 2 tackles, scored 2.0.



Funny how raw stats don't show the full picture. People were talking about how disappointed they were in Armstrong, yet he topped the disposal count among our players. I like the 10:1 kick:handball ratio, though I assume that has much to do with the number of loose ball gets he got onto. Meanwhile Sellar looks like he had a great game, Davis got a fair bit of the ball, and Young and Wright keep ticking over

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Will Young did one thing on the weekend a lot of our players seem unable to do, kick with his non preferred foot and hit a leading forward on the chest!

 

[Mego Red]

Considering some of the plaudits handled out here, it is a crime that more people don't recognise Armstrong's skills by foot. It is no crime in this game to exist as an outside linkman, and once he's matured more physically and into the pace of the game, he'd offer a lot.

 

[cmndstab]

Considering some of the plaudits handled out here, it is a crime that more people don't recognise Armstrong's skills by foot. It is no crime in this game to exist as an outside linkman, and once he's matured more physically and into the pace of the game, he'd offer a lot.

He strikes me as the sort of player who adds class to a good side, and little to a poor side.

IE precisely the sort of player that always destroys us

 

[thebirdman 24]

Hentchels stats aren't impressive i would be surprised if webring him in, but as we know Stevens came in after a very poor SANFL game.

 

[smoovy]

The Sellar stats are the most impressive of that lot. Most of Armstrong's possessions were cheap. I would hazard a guess that most of the Sellar's stats actually meant something. Bring him in.

 

[RoosterLad]

Armstrong was pretty ****en useless, amazed he got so much of the ball.. but the SANFL is too tough for him I think. He would be better in the AFL where someone else can do the hard work allowing him to hit a target further up the field. Only looks a depth player at this stage though.