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- May 31, 2006
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Went down today. Most of the time was spent playing game simulations and a few scratch match style games. Here are a few player by player comments.
Burton - athletically looked very good, but did not touch a football as far as I saw.
Cook – Heavily involved in the scratch match. I actually think his disposal is decent (although not a booming damaging kick), but he loves to get himself into traffic too often, underestimates the opponent and panics himself into a kick, when a handball would do. His longer kicks out of pressure are more efficient. The way I read it, he’s adjusting to AFL pace and the fact he is not able to avert his opponent as easily as a junior. Once he adapts, there is a lot of upside. Will bring people to games for sure.
Davis – Looks like he hasn’t played much football recently. His short kick and inside work is a bit sketchy, but has a damaging boom, on the run or set shot. Was matched against Bock in drills and in the game, was outsmarted time and time again, as you’d expect. Was far too concerned with the man, not the ball.
Dangerfield – No doubt his kicking is his biggest issue, but I find that is over-emphasized because he tends to make the biggest errors when the focus is on him, especially when he is bolting on the run. When he doesn’t overthink or over-run the ball his disposal is sublime and he especially showed it one passage of play, from the square, sidestepping two opponents and then planting the ball over the top of Sloane, who was running with the flight of the ball, I thought he must have choked, but it went perfectly down Sloane’s throat. Stabby – look away. Seriously…. Yeah and thewn Sloane shanked the kick from 35 out. Was way too over-excited. OK, come back Commander.
Douglas – back in the main group. Looked solid and classy. I just wish he had more of a summer under his belt. Played mainly around HFF.
Jacky – I’d say it was a really good session from Jacky. They experimented by playing him in the BP as well as FP during the scratch match. I think he needs a real confidence boosting season for the Eagles, some time in the midfield. Nailed a number of set shots.
Johncock – awesome, simply awesome. At his absolute best.
Kite – came out in patches, spent most of the time running laps. Looked OK, but didn’t really get tested.
Lee – Didn’t sight him much. Very quick over the first 5 metres.
Maric – Ruined Griffin in the ruck.
Mackay – Not a dominant performance and I’m a big fan. I heard Bickley get in his ear about bringing himself into the contest. Still a lock for round 1 imo.
McKernan – Ultimately I'd love to see him as a hard-running forward, take over from Gill. He has the composure and agility to deal with the midfield and the height and strong marking style to crash a pack.
Moran – played against Tippett. Much tighter checking, but Tippett got the best of him. But his rebound was very effective, showed nice composure under pressure from Reilly & Knights, has the confidence for to play a linkup role.
Otten – has very clean hands off the ground. In the match he got caught by two players in a tackle, stood tall, got the handball off, then came back for the 1-2. I also love his marking style, arms start high and anticipate the ball. Was playing a number of positions, HBF, ruck rover and 3rd back/forward. Marked Hentschel for a while.
Petrenko – took the kick outs in defence instead of Johncock. Also swapped with Jacky at one point to play in the FP. I’d really like to see this tried a bit more.
Porplyzia – Did a lot of running, ball work. Was involved in the non-competitive drills and looked fine in them. His running is a little tentative and he seems to look a bit too bulky at the moment.
Reilly - played an outside receiving role mostly.
Stevens – I think he hurt himself, probably a tight hamstring, whilst I wasn’t looking, spent a bit of time on the side going kick to kick with Porps, but came back for the game. Looked fine in game, worked himself off his opponent a couple times, but missed a set shot about 40 out, on a slight angle.
Symes - Spent most of the time doing repeat sprints with Burton, also did a bit of ball work with the trainer. Wrists are still strapped, but not as heavily as before.
Walker – The future is bright. A lot of voice. Very good in the scratchie, chased the ball right through the middle and would work his way back to the pocket for the conversion.
Young – trimmed up a heck of a lot. Looking forward to his year in the SANFL. A bit of an awkward footballer, above the head, but with his size, he’s effective and doesn't shirk a contest. I think we are a good chance of seeing him sooner rather than later.
Happy to answer any questions.
Burton - athletically looked very good, but did not touch a football as far as I saw.
Cook – Heavily involved in the scratch match. I actually think his disposal is decent (although not a booming damaging kick), but he loves to get himself into traffic too often, underestimates the opponent and panics himself into a kick, when a handball would do. His longer kicks out of pressure are more efficient. The way I read it, he’s adjusting to AFL pace and the fact he is not able to avert his opponent as easily as a junior. Once he adapts, there is a lot of upside. Will bring people to games for sure.
Davis – Looks like he hasn’t played much football recently. His short kick and inside work is a bit sketchy, but has a damaging boom, on the run or set shot. Was matched against Bock in drills and in the game, was outsmarted time and time again, as you’d expect. Was far too concerned with the man, not the ball.
Dangerfield – No doubt his kicking is his biggest issue, but I find that is over-emphasized because he tends to make the biggest errors when the focus is on him, especially when he is bolting on the run. When he doesn’t overthink or over-run the ball his disposal is sublime and he especially showed it one passage of play, from the square, sidestepping two opponents and then planting the ball over the top of Sloane, who was running with the flight of the ball, I thought he must have choked, but it went perfectly down Sloane’s throat. Stabby – look away. Seriously…. Yeah and thewn Sloane shanked the kick from 35 out. Was way too over-excited. OK, come back Commander.
Douglas – back in the main group. Looked solid and classy. I just wish he had more of a summer under his belt. Played mainly around HFF.
Jacky – I’d say it was a really good session from Jacky. They experimented by playing him in the BP as well as FP during the scratch match. I think he needs a real confidence boosting season for the Eagles, some time in the midfield. Nailed a number of set shots.
Johncock – awesome, simply awesome. At his absolute best.
Kite – came out in patches, spent most of the time running laps. Looked OK, but didn’t really get tested.
Lee – Didn’t sight him much. Very quick over the first 5 metres.
Maric – Ruined Griffin in the ruck.
Mackay – Not a dominant performance and I’m a big fan. I heard Bickley get in his ear about bringing himself into the contest. Still a lock for round 1 imo.
McKernan – Ultimately I'd love to see him as a hard-running forward, take over from Gill. He has the composure and agility to deal with the midfield and the height and strong marking style to crash a pack.
Moran – played against Tippett. Much tighter checking, but Tippett got the best of him. But his rebound was very effective, showed nice composure under pressure from Reilly & Knights, has the confidence for to play a linkup role.
Otten – has very clean hands off the ground. In the match he got caught by two players in a tackle, stood tall, got the handball off, then came back for the 1-2. I also love his marking style, arms start high and anticipate the ball. Was playing a number of positions, HBF, ruck rover and 3rd back/forward. Marked Hentschel for a while.
Petrenko – took the kick outs in defence instead of Johncock. Also swapped with Jacky at one point to play in the FP. I’d really like to see this tried a bit more.
Porplyzia – Did a lot of running, ball work. Was involved in the non-competitive drills and looked fine in them. His running is a little tentative and he seems to look a bit too bulky at the moment.
Reilly - played an outside receiving role mostly.
Stevens – I think he hurt himself, probably a tight hamstring, whilst I wasn’t looking, spent a bit of time on the side going kick to kick with Porps, but came back for the game. Looked fine in game, worked himself off his opponent a couple times, but missed a set shot about 40 out, on a slight angle.
Symes - Spent most of the time doing repeat sprints with Burton, also did a bit of ball work with the trainer. Wrists are still strapped, but not as heavily as before.
Walker – The future is bright. A lot of voice. Very good in the scratchie, chased the ball right through the middle and would work his way back to the pocket for the conversion.
Young – trimmed up a heck of a lot. Looking forward to his year in the SANFL. A bit of an awkward footballer, above the head, but with his size, he’s effective and doesn't shirk a contest. I think we are a good chance of seeing him sooner rather than later.
Happy to answer any questions.
That was great. I didn't look away when warned though, I'm a sucker for horror 
