VFL Report: Medhurst returns

[Dave The Man]

On Friday afternoon the Collingwood VFL side took on the North Melbourne reserves in a practice match at Gosch’s Paddock.

The VFL Magpies erased a two goal deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to charge home by nine points to keep their preseason winning record intact; 13.9 (87) to 12.6 (78).

After managing a back and an ankle injury during the off-season, Paul Medhurst played his first game with the VFL team and managed 75% game time. He spent most of his time in the midfield and collected 15 disposals.

Brad Dick led the Magpie goal tally with three majors while Danny Stanley had 19 possessions to lead the team.

Ben Johnson and Sharrod Wellingham looked to have suffered shoulder injuries during the match but club doctors cleared them of any serious damage and they trained with the senior squad on Tuesday.

Collingwood will travel down to Skilled Stadium to take on Geelong on Saturday 14 March at 1 pm in a practice match.

AFL listed players and comments by head coach Gavin Brown.

7. Paul Medhurst (7k, 8h, 1m, 1t): Played 75% of game time in the midfield and up forward. Had a terrific first game and at times looked a cut above many of the others.

21. Sharrod Wellingham (8k, 8h, 2m, 3t): Really good game from Sharrod as he played on the wing, in the midfield and a little bit up forward. His hardness at the contest was noticeable. His tackling and attack on the ball was second to none in that area.

27. Jarrad Blight (5k, 3h, 1t): He wasn’t as solid as the week before but still showed he is a real talent. He played on Corey Jones in the last quarter after playing on the wing.

28. Danny Stanley (11k, 8h, 7m, 2g, 2t): Stanley had another terrific game. He has taken his game to another level. He looks very dynamic in stoppages. His marking was also fantastic.

31. Chris Dawes (6k, 2h, 5m, 2g, 3t): Presented very strongly. He gave us a real target while his defensive skills were first rate.

33. Brad Dick (6k, 1h, 1m, 3g): His forward pressure is wonderful. Playing with great confidence and his tackling pressure is fantastic.

37. Luke Rounds (4k, 5h, 3m, 2t): He was much better this week playing off half-back. In the air looked really solid, looked good with the ball and managed to control his man.

38. Scott Reed (2k, 1h, 1m): Played in the last line of defence so he probably didn’t have the opportunities he did last week.

44. Lachlan Keeffe (7k, 2h, 3m, 1g): Improved again. He was our main ruckman and contested the ball really well. Won a lot of taps and gave us first use of the footy. He played 95% of the game because we were able to rest him up forward.

45. Toby Thoolen (2k, 1m): Played on Aaron Edwards and did really well. Really strong in contests. Spoiling was terrific. He improved from last week.

46. Tristan Francis (7k, 1h): Played on Corey Jones which was great experience for him. He didn’t look too bad and it was a good sharp learning curve for him. Francis is such a competitor that he will learn from that experience and improve on from it.

47. Jarryd Blair (9k, 2h, 4m, 2t): Had another solid game playing in the middle. When he has possession he never makes a bad move.

48. John Bennell (6k, 4h, 2m, 2g, 4t): Looks really dangerous deep down forward similar to Leon Davis. He has an enormous leap and is a very exciting player.

Good win over the Roos Reserves.

Bennell sounds Exciting. Blight sounded like he had a Down Game. Keeffe still doing well. Sounds Like Dawes contiued to play well. Stanley had a good game again.


Story Here

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

All reports seem to point to the fact that Keeffe is really progressing well - I wouldn't have expected him to be contributing at all at this stage, even at this level.

It'll be interesting to see him come the start of the VFL season - I'll definitely have to head down and check him out.

 

[zorbadunde]

blair is still my pick of the bunch, i love the way he goes about it

 

[JOELY]

Dave, these sort of reports will always try to put a positive light on things, sometimes in place of the hard truth. Dawes did some nice things, but he didn't continue to play well. If anything, he continued to struggle and get frustrated. The potential was certainly there, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't his day.
From the report one would be encouraged by Thoolan's game, but personally i thought he was quite poor.. Reading good things makes everyone feel good, but sometimes stuff, especially on the official site need to be taken with a grain of salt. No doubt these are worth reading, but just saying.

 

[JOELY]

No he can't, but i do beleive he can be a solid contributor. He's a weird one, Danny. He looks a cut above playing this standard, and has for a long time, but just can't make the transition to the big time yet. Whether it's lack of opportunity, or nerves, i don't know. Some of his fans will disagree, but he does have a propensity to make large blunders, and these can often overshadow a lot of good work he does. Apart from this, i'm not sure why he isn't being given more of a go in the seniors.

 

[Dave The Man]

Dave, these sort of reports will always try to put a positive light on things, sometimes in place of the hard truth. Dawes did some nice things, but he didn't continue to play well. If anything, he continued to struggle and get frustrated. The potential was certainly there, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't his day.
From the report one would be encouraged by Thoolan's game, but personally i thought he was quite poor.. Reading good things makes everyone feel good, but sometimes stuff, especially on the official site need to be taken with a grain of salt. No doubt these are worth reading, but just saying.

I do get the Feeling those Reports can be Misleading, They might of shown what they said but they don't tell us the Neagtive about there game

 

[Trojan82]

Seems like Stanley played another cracking game... Surely he is pushing for senior selection....surely.

 

[Dave The Man]

Seems like Stanley played another cracking game... Surely he is pushing for senior selection....surely.

Did that all last season and never got a game

 

[pipeline]

Good win over the Roos Reserves.

Bennell sounds Exciting. Blight sounded like he had a Down Game. Keeffe still doing well. Sounds Like Dawes contiued to play well. Stanley had a good game again.

Sorry Dave but as Joely says, he didn't. He hasn't played well in either game. As for Thoolen, well as someone said in an earler thread, he can stand upright and breathe.........and that's about it.

 

[Dave The Man]

Sorry Dave but as Joely says, he didn't. He hasn't played well in either game. As for Thoolen, well as someone said in an earler thread, he can stand upright and breathe.........and that's about it.

Well you saying Gavin Brown is Lying? Those if kicking 5 goals is a Bad Game - I hate to see what Dawes would do when he has a Good Game

 

[shawthing09]

Well you saying Gavin Brown is Lying? Those if kicking 5 goals is a Bad Game - I hate to see what Dawes would do when he has a Good Game

I suspect the stats where wrong however if they were right he may have kicked five with a large number being from free kicks. In that case how much is good work from him and how much is poor defending?

 

[Dave The Man]

I suspect the stats where wrong however if they were right he may have kicked five with a large number being from free kicks. In that case how much is good work from him and how much is poor defending?

I couldn't tell but I can remember him taking 2 marks with his man Right on him.

Those I do like the Numbers of Tackles he Applies if that is true

 

[pipeline]

Well you saying Gavin Brown is Lying? Those if kicking 5 goals is a Bad Game - I hate to see what Dawes would do when he has a Good Game

No Dave,just putting a very positive spin on things. And like Shawthing, I think those stats are very dodgy. 6 kicks, 5 goals? Not from where I was standing. I was standing near the stats man and he was doing plenty of chatting to people around him and clearly not being too concerned. The other thing is that Dawes got silver service out of the midfield. You could have kicked 5 with the delivery he got.

BTW, I thought you said you didn't get there. so where did you see him take these contested marks? And Dave, you know the old saying "Built like Tarzan............."

 

[Dave The Man]

No Dave,just putting a very positive spin on things. And like Shawthing, I think those stats are very dodgy. 6 kicks, 5 goals? Not from where I was standing. I was standing near the stats man and he was doing plenty of chatting to people around him and clearly not being too concerned. The other thing is that Dawes got silver service out of the midfield. You could have kicked 5 with the delivery he got.

We actually had that Kind of Delivery from the Midfield

BTW, I thought you said you didn't get there. so where did you see him take these contested marks? And Dave, you know the old saying "Built like Tarzan............."

So you are saying he is the next Tarrant?

 

[DaVe86]

Blair is really exciting. I reckon we have found a player here. His height is his only downfall...but keep an eye on him...reckon he'll tear it up in the VFL.

 

[mattys123]

Lachlan Keefe has to be the most exciting story here, the fact that we are to put it nicely, struggling to find a second ruckmen.

He's only 18, so we may need to wait a year or two, but I could see him getting a game if we had injuries to one of Josh, Bryan or Wood.

He might be the first player elevated if we do run into injury problems with the rucks.

 

[Dave The Man]

Lachlan Keefe has to be the most exciting story here, the fact that we are to put it nicely, struggling to find a second ruckmen.

He's only 18, so we may need to wait a year or two, but I could see him getting a game if we had injuries to one of Josh, Bryan or Wood.

He might be the first player elevated if we do run into injury problems with the rucks.

Also been playing AFL just for 1 year and Story is very Simmlar to Clarke's Story

 

[HFF]

Very encouraging overall, particularly Wellingham.

I still think he mirrors a young Daniel Kerr.

Now has the ability to play inside and outside. Great to see his attack on the ball and the man was first rate.

Will hold him in great stead for the future.

Surely he is in line for a gig against the Cats.