Toast The "whipping boys"

[adagio]

I think we all know some of the players I'm referring to:

Nicoski, Lynch, Ebert, Mackenzie, Adam Selwood, Rosa and McGinnity. Embley at times would have fallen into that group as well.

All of them were fantastic tonight and all of them have played consistently well so far this season.

I have to give a special mention to a couple of them:

Nicoski was fantastic tonight - kicked two goals but could easily have had six. Lecca took the advantage from two frees he earned close to goal, and he unselfishly gave a couple more off. His dash and defensive pressure has added a completely new dimension to our forward line. His leadership qualities, on and off-field, have come to the fore over the past year as well.

Ebert took another step tonight, and I've been liking what I've been seeing all season. His overhead marking is elite, and I reckon his disposal has improved - ditto every single one of the names above.

 

[NIS BOTT MK 2]

Since were talking about whipping boys, thought I'd share some stats Ive noticed

Ebert: So far this season is 5th in our team for contested marks behind only lynch darling cox and kennedy so just quietly I'd rate him as a marking midfielder

Rosa: Who used to cope it in the past for being soft is ranked 2nd in our list for 1%

Emac: Who admittedly doesnt get much of the pill, but some have said in the past that the fact he gets it at all is too much. Currently has our highest DE% at 87.5% (if you dont count Masten at 100%)

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Mackenzie was very impressive tonight. His DE is up because he has realised his limitations and is working to them. Well played, sir.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

We are kicking alright, huh?

****en Broadbridge.

 

[Double the Fist]

We are kicking alright, huh?

****en Broadbridge.

Yup, seems our skills are better. There was a notable absence of real clangers last night apart from poor Smithy (who I thought was great comming in) Emac Glass, Priddis McGinnity all kicked really well.

 

[Milenko]

MacKenzie noticeably nailed a few crisp passes on his non-preferred left foot. I was impressed. Defence looked a helluva lot better with less talls back there.

The commentators are still reserving judgement on our midfield by the sounds of it....but throw an in-form and fully fit Swift, Masten, Sheppard and Strijk into the mix (along with LeCras rotating through) and it takes on a whole new dimension.

I'm still hopeful our next draft will deliver two key missing pieces - a line-breaking quick mid with elite disposal and a genuinely quick crumber (preferably indigenous).


That was our cleanest game (disposal wise) since 2007 IMHO. All in all, a very positive night.

 

[Prem87]

I think we all know some of the players I'm referring to:

Nicoski, Lynch, Ebert, Mackenzie, Adam Selwood, Rosa and McGinnity. Embley at times would have fallen into that group as well.

All of them were fantastic tonight and all of them have played consistently well so far this season.

I have to give a special mention to a couple of them:

Nicoski was fantastic tonight - kicked two goals but could easily have had six. Lecca took the advantage from two frees he earned close to goal, and he unselfishly gave a couple more off. His dash and defensive pressure has added a completely new dimension to our forward line. His leadership qualities, on and off-field, have come to the fore over the past year as well.

Ebert took another step tonight, and I've been liking what I've been seeing all season. His overhead marking is elite, and I reckon his disposal has improved - ditto every single one of the names above.

Ebert's best role has always been on the HFF and then drifting around the ground rather than playing as a pure mid (where he turnovers and poor kicking are costly). He starred as the SA's Captain at 2007 U18 Champs playing as a leading HFF.

[YOUTUBE]ubG_WWXHSMk[/YOUTUBE]

 

[West123]

Ebert is where he should have been all along.

Ebert - Kennedy - Darling
Lecras - Lynch - Niko

All of a sudden it looks real nice.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

so proud of the team in all areas. lynch has really proven me wrong. just was a fantastic sight to watch last night. cox to kerr tap gave me flashbacks of the 04-07 period. well done to the elite but kudos to the 2nd tier lads who really have lifted their game. we are literally a crumber and elite midfielder away from being top 8.

 

[Marlin01]

I've never been able to understand the criticism of Mackenzie. He's had a few brain fades over his career, but you don't pick young KPD's for their disposal skills, you pick them because they can defend against the competitions super-athletes. It's no surprise that Mackenzie's disposal is improving and so is his knowledge of his own limitations.

 

[Prem87]

As a pure defender EMac has always been a gun. Now he's tidied up his disposal and decision making (like most of the team even Ebert!) which will see him become one of the best FB's in the league in a year or two.

 

[Belltower]

I don't think Ebert has been that good this year but he was outstanding last night, Nicoski played his best game in ages or ever, Embley was great again, Mcginnity was hard at it. I have always liked Mckenzie but his disposal was his main problem, his best asset is that he doesn't take his eye off the ball and is a great spoiler, unlike Brown and Schofield who take their eye off the ball too much.

I watched the preseason games and off the back of Embleys very ordinary year last year , I had him as Sub for the 1st game, glad he has proved us wrong. We still need to get the ball into the hands of our best ball users more often (not priddis and selwood) and we would be able to take advantage of our massive I50 advantage

 

[ytpme]

The best thing about Emac is the fact that he is, no longer, kicking the ball across the goal arc, where he previously gave away so many goals.

Perhaps he's been spoken to about it. This absence makes him a much better contributor.

 

[NIS BOTT MK 2]

only one whipping boy needs to be mentioned now that I think about it....

Woosha?

What are peoples thoughts on how hes gone about it?

It must be said besides Darling and the limited impact Gaff has had the personnel aren't that different. Helps that Glass and Coxy are fully fit and having an under done Kerr in the side, but we've clearly had improvement across the board.

Also our biggest strengths have been our pressure/zone and just our general attitude, aggressiveness and desire to compete. And these are areas where as a coach he should be given credit. Seems to me his publicized more hands on coaching role over the off-season has really gotten the boys in a good head space.

EDIT: Also love the move of NicNat as a ruck rover yet to bear fruit but I feel he'll be much more successful in that role than a resting forward, suits his natural play style much more

 

[neng]

Ebert is where he should have been all along.

Ebert - Kennedy - Darling
Lecras - Lynch - Niko

All of a sudden it looks real nice.

Yet if anyone had seen these two there in the pre-season we would be cringing. I think our development and depth and pressure on spots is part of the reason why we are performing, one can not simply just walk into the side ala the 2008-2010

 

[Suma Magic]

I love Mackenzie. Looks so rock solid. Really need Brown and Schofield to improve their one-on-one skills though.

So much positivity on the board right now. Will be interesting to see how things are looking if we lose to Essendon. But if we win then they will deserve the massive amounts of praise they receive.

 

[idmfts]

I've really liked Rosa's game this year. Much improved. Nicoski, Lynch and Ebert have played really well and have probably saved thier careers at this early stage (Lynch and Nico that is).

I was really impressed with MacKenzie last night, he was excellent. His one-on-one work has always been pretty good, but I think in the last two weeks he's taken all aspects of his game to the next level by crashing packs and kicking well.

One player, who received criticism on here for being a plodder with average disposal, has really shined this year. I'm talking about Matty Priddis. Unbelievable in-and-under player. 33 touches, 20 contested, led the clearances. But it was his vision and spotting up work I50 that impressed me. He sold the dummy,lifted his eyes and picked out the right option I50 instead of blazing or hacking like he used to.

Overall, positive signs

 

[WCEforeverman]

We are kicking alright, huh?

****en Broadbridge.

This. Skills have improved dramatically.

We had a similar set up at the start of last year with a midfield press (with not as much forward tackling pressure I admit) but would often **** up a simple pass and lose possession in the middle of the ground. This year the players are hitting those targets and we are seeing the game plan take affect.

 

[Makka]

only one whipping boy needs to be mentioned now that I think about it....

Woosha?

What are peoples thoughts on how hes gone about it?

It must be said besides Darling and the limited impact Gaff has had the personnel aren't that different. Helps that Glass and Coxy are fully fit and having an under done Kerr in the side, but we've clearly had improvement across the board.

Also our biggest strengths have been our pressure/zone and just our general attitude, aggressiveness and desire to compete. And these are areas where as a coach he should be given credit. Seems to me his publicized more hands on coaching role over the off-season has really gotten the boys in a good head space.

EDIT: Also love the move of NicNat as a ruck rover yet to bear fruit but I feel he'll be much more successful in that role than a resting forward, suits his natural play style much more

Definitely helps Woosha's cause with having fit players to choose from, especially the senior players. I think he's doing pretty well and understandably he looks pretty relaxed and happy during his press conferences.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

only one whipping boy needs to be mentioned now that I think about it....

Woosha?

What are peoples thoughts on how hes gone about it?

Said it last year when people were looking to sack him - the coach can only do so much

The resurgence this year is down to the players in the main. The coach can polish the final product - but ulitmately he doesn't kick the goals.

Do i think he's coaching better? perhpas the less managerial role is working somewhat - but that would be it i'd guess from afar.