catempire
Premium Platinum
Not that the score was important, but on my count Werribee won by a couple of goals. Geelong's goalkickers were: Spencer 3, SJ 3, Davenport 2, Cheep, Playfair, Hawkins and “Jakey”
The senior listed players that I could identify were:
Varcoe, Callan, Kelly, West, Gamble, S Johnson, Playfair, Spencer, Hawkins, Owen, Hogan. Rookies Davenport and Bedford also played.
Perhaps notably, Tenace and Djerrkura didn't play.
The top up players I heard mentioned were Thompson (full back), Cheep (back pocket) and a big lump of a lad who they called “Jakey” or “Jacob”.
There was a strong wind favouring the northern end of the Whitten Oval but both sides were able to score into it.
James Kelly was best on ground for mine. He would have had well over 30 possessions and was prolific around the stoppages. He should walk back into the senior side because he is good at the clearances, a weakness of the team.
Steve Johnson was very impressive. He is the fittest I have ever seen him and he dominated several passages of play. On several occasions he had numerous bounces through the middle of the ground and he actually looks to have gained a yard (although his running style is still most aptly described as the Dog shuffle). Highlight of the match was when he received a free kick close to the boundary (see photo below) and he played on and snapped around his body for a goal. Absolute gem.
I'll get the Hawkins review out of the way. He was quiet. He kicked a goal which was a left foot dribble around the corner during scrambled play. He played on Harris so it was a good test for him. The positives I saw were that he led Harris to the ball often and the two passes he made to team mates were excellent. The negative was that he wasn't sticking his marks. He wasn't helped by generally poor delivery from his team mates. I think he's at least a few weeks off pushing for senior selection, but it could be longer. I'd like to see him hold his marks consistently.
Stokes was prominant. He is an AFL-ready player both skill and intensity wise. He got plenty of the ball, used it well and was also fierce in his attack on the ball and his opponents.
Varcoe looks to have lifted his intensity. He layed several excellent tackles including some great chases from behind. He has uncanny skills and is good in close. I would expect him to get an opportunity later in the year.
Gamble may only have played a half. I think I saw him limp off close to half time. But his time on the ground was excellent. Took a couple of nice grabs and kicked a lovely set shot goal from 45 out.
Davenport looks a very likely type. He's quick, his skills are generally sharp. What I like most about him is that he is attacking. He got pinged for running too far on one occasion because he was trying to create the play. He did the same thing again late in the game (but didn't get pinged) and created a goal. Massive potential, and I hope we see further development in him throughout the season.
Matthew Spencer was good at CHF. He took strong marks and generally kicked well at goal (except for one out on the full). I'm not convinced he would be useful in a similar role at AFL level against stronger defenders, but if he keeps playing like this he may get an opportunity. He definitely looks more comfortable in the forward line and his lack of mobility is not so much of an issue.
Callan was OK. He played on Robbins and held him to a couple of goals. He didn't provide a great deal of drive out of defence and his skills were pretty average. He put in a predictable display of courage on one occasion, nearly pulling off a miraculous mark running back with the flight. Not close to senior selection at this stage.
West was good. I remarked at a similar stage of 2006 that West was as far away from playing senior football as a VFL footballer could be. He's now probably half way there, which is a massive improvement. He didn't win a lot of hitouts (against Street and others) but his ground work and his general skills have improved vastly. I think he still won't press for selection this season but will come into consideration next year if he keeps developing.
Playfair was a mixed bag. Played mostly at CHB and did some nice things including a few strong grabs. But he is a shadow of the player I saw tear Adelaide apart in the middle of 2005. He really seems to lack confidence in marking contests which used to be his strength. There was nothing wrong with his skills today though. He'll play some senior footy in 2007 but on current form, he won't be very effectual.
Of the rest, Owen did some nice things off half back, I didn't notice Hogan much at all and Bedford is still very raw but loves to take on his opponents which is good to see for such a young kid.
The senior listed players that I could identify were:
Varcoe, Callan, Kelly, West, Gamble, S Johnson, Playfair, Spencer, Hawkins, Owen, Hogan. Rookies Davenport and Bedford also played.
Perhaps notably, Tenace and Djerrkura didn't play.
The top up players I heard mentioned were Thompson (full back), Cheep (back pocket) and a big lump of a lad who they called “Jakey” or “Jacob”.
There was a strong wind favouring the northern end of the Whitten Oval but both sides were able to score into it.
James Kelly was best on ground for mine. He would have had well over 30 possessions and was prolific around the stoppages. He should walk back into the senior side because he is good at the clearances, a weakness of the team.
Steve Johnson was very impressive. He is the fittest I have ever seen him and he dominated several passages of play. On several occasions he had numerous bounces through the middle of the ground and he actually looks to have gained a yard (although his running style is still most aptly described as the Dog shuffle). Highlight of the match was when he received a free kick close to the boundary (see photo below) and he played on and snapped around his body for a goal. Absolute gem.
I'll get the Hawkins review out of the way. He was quiet. He kicked a goal which was a left foot dribble around the corner during scrambled play. He played on Harris so it was a good test for him. The positives I saw were that he led Harris to the ball often and the two passes he made to team mates were excellent. The negative was that he wasn't sticking his marks. He wasn't helped by generally poor delivery from his team mates. I think he's at least a few weeks off pushing for senior selection, but it could be longer. I'd like to see him hold his marks consistently.
Stokes was prominant. He is an AFL-ready player both skill and intensity wise. He got plenty of the ball, used it well and was also fierce in his attack on the ball and his opponents.
Varcoe looks to have lifted his intensity. He layed several excellent tackles including some great chases from behind. He has uncanny skills and is good in close. I would expect him to get an opportunity later in the year.
Gamble may only have played a half. I think I saw him limp off close to half time. But his time on the ground was excellent. Took a couple of nice grabs and kicked a lovely set shot goal from 45 out.
Davenport looks a very likely type. He's quick, his skills are generally sharp. What I like most about him is that he is attacking. He got pinged for running too far on one occasion because he was trying to create the play. He did the same thing again late in the game (but didn't get pinged) and created a goal. Massive potential, and I hope we see further development in him throughout the season.
Matthew Spencer was good at CHF. He took strong marks and generally kicked well at goal (except for one out on the full). I'm not convinced he would be useful in a similar role at AFL level against stronger defenders, but if he keeps playing like this he may get an opportunity. He definitely looks more comfortable in the forward line and his lack of mobility is not so much of an issue.
Callan was OK. He played on Robbins and held him to a couple of goals. He didn't provide a great deal of drive out of defence and his skills were pretty average. He put in a predictable display of courage on one occasion, nearly pulling off a miraculous mark running back with the flight. Not close to senior selection at this stage.
West was good. I remarked at a similar stage of 2006 that West was as far away from playing senior football as a VFL footballer could be. He's now probably half way there, which is a massive improvement. He didn't win a lot of hitouts (against Street and others) but his ground work and his general skills have improved vastly. I think he still won't press for selection this season but will come into consideration next year if he keeps developing.
Playfair was a mixed bag. Played mostly at CHB and did some nice things including a few strong grabs. But he is a shadow of the player I saw tear Adelaide apart in the middle of 2005. He really seems to lack confidence in marking contests which used to be his strength. There was nothing wrong with his skills today though. He'll play some senior footy in 2007 but on current form, he won't be very effectual.
Of the rest, Owen did some nice things off half back, I didn't notice Hogan much at all and Bedford is still very raw but loves to take on his opponents which is good to see for such a young kid.
