VFL v Williamstown

[catempire]

I went along to my first VFL grade match in about 5 years this afternoon. I don't know if it was because it had been so long or because of the standard of this team, but I was shocked at some of the poor skills on display.

There were 10 AFL or rookie listed players for Geelong:

1. King
7. Callan
12. Trent West
15. Peter Riccardi
20. Steve Johnson
27. Matthew Stokes
34. Ryan Gamble
36. Todd Grima
38. Sam Hunt
40. David Wojcinski

Williamstown won easily 15.15.105 to 9.5.59. They led comfortably for the whole match except for a minor rally by Geelong in the third quarter.

I'll rate the performances of the 10 senior players.

King played on and off the bench for the first half. He looks a million bucks and moved quite well, jumped without restriction and rucked solidly against the likes of Cameron Cloke and David Fanning. He played 10 minutes at a time then came off for a 5 minute breather. He will be better for the run and I don't see any problem with him coming back for Round 1.

Callan played off half back and was his usual courageous self. Used the ball better than most and did some nice things although also made a couple of mistakes. He copped a really heavy knock on three quarter time but when I walked out to the huddle he walked past me looking fine. Tough as nails. He will be in the mix at some stage in the season when he gains more match fitness and confidence.

West rucked when King didn't. He has a long, long, long, long, long way to go to be a senior footballer. He was soundly beaten in ruck contests by Cloke and Fanning and looks all at sea around the ground. He was tried up forward and he dropped marks and couldn't pick the ball up when it was at his feet. See you in 3 years mate.

Riccardi played the second half off the bench. Classiest player on the field by the length of the Flemington straight and he actually sparked a mini revival in the 3rd quarter with his cool head and high quality handball. Wasn't hampered at all by his hammies and will play Round 1.

Johnson came on in the second half and just roamed around as he pleased. Did a couple of nice things and slotted a very nice goal on his left in the last quarter. The run would have done him no good as he basically just walked between contests. He sprinted forward a couple of times and was surprising fleet of foot. Wasn't proppy at all and should play round 1.

Stokes played on the ball or forward for most of the match. He looked a class above the rest in terms of his skills and poise. He really looks composed and adjusted to the speed without any worry. My worry is that he really is tiny. Shannon Byrnes tiny but maybe even lighter. He copped quite a few hits throughout the match and by the end of the game you could tell they took their toll. I'd question his ability to go deep into the season when his body is likely to take such a pummelling. Hopefully I'm wrong because his skills are top notch.

Gamble was quiet playing half forward. He took an excellent contested mark early in the 1st quarter and turned around to kick it 50m to Grima in the goalsquare - an impressive passage. Other than that he hardly had a sniff. Reminded me of Mackie in his build, the way he moves and his skills. Looks like he'll be a while in the VFL and I wouldn't expect to see him at all in the 1s this season.

Grima played full forward and kicked an early goal. After looking dangerous on the lead a couple of times, he copped a very heavy knock which at the time I thought could be the end of him. To his credit, he got up and played out the quarter. I was sitting next to Varcoe and I overhead him tell another spectator that Grima was vomiting at quarter time. He played no further part in the match. Looks promising though and I'd expect him to kick a few bags in the VFL this season.

Hunt was very disappointing at full back. He generally took the resting ruckman (Cloke or Fanning) or number 35 (who wasn't listed on the sheet) and was beaten many times both on the lead and one on one. He also made a few errors by foot and got caught holding the ball on at least one occasion. This was the first time I'd seen him play so he may have just had an off one, but the signs weren't good. Would have had at least 5 goals kicked on him.

Wojcinski played the first half on and off the bench in the same periods as King and Callan. The best thing was that a couple of times he backed himself and ran with the ball. On one occasion he had a couple of bounces streaming out of defence. He also showed great pace to reach a contest and effect a spoil on a player, however unluckily (and incorrectly), he was penalised for a push. He'll certainly benefit from the run and I came away feeling positive that there were signs his pace has not been lost.

Other than that, I heard Varcoe telling his mate that he hasn't been running at all yet, just swimming and weights. He looks quite fit though and more built than I expected.

Also saw Owen (I think) who had a pressure bandage on his left knee. Make of that what you will.

 

[JUBJUB]

There were 10 AFL or rookie listed players for Geelong:

1. King
7. Callan
12. Trent West
15. Peter Riccardi
20. Steve Johnson
27. Matthew Stokes
34. Ryan Gamble
36. Todd Grima
38. Sam Hunt
40. David Wojcinski

Is Tim Sheringham injured ?

 

[catempire]

Is Tim Sheringham injured ?

Ah, there ya go. I just looked up Tim Sheringham's photo and it turns out that the bloke who I thought was Owen is Sheringham. So yeah, he had a knee bandage on his left knee and he wasn't playing. Sat on the sidelines with Batchelor and a couple of others.

 

[Turbocat]

CE , so by the sounds of it Hunt is not a threat to Spencer?. The one thing id say, if you havent been to a VFL game fro a while is you have to look at it slightly diffently than a AFL game. Nathan showed very little in them last year yet we know how he performed when in the main game. I would like to see Hunt with Scarlett and Egan around him.

Ive never really seen Steve Johnson go hard in the VFL , he seems use it to regain touch and not much else. King sounds good.I dont think he has been in good nick for 3 years and Ottens has probelm in the groin again then he will be needed big time.
Does anyone have stats on how the size of Stokes satcks up to others on AFL lists.
Id like to see Grima show a bit. Dog Johnson is hardly bullet proof and if Owen is sus with OP, id like to see him get a go. We have got that many guys with his forward attributes

 

[catempire]

CE , so by the sounds of it Hunt is not a threat to Spencer?. The one thing id say, if you havent been to a VFL game fro a while is you have to look at it slightly diffently than a AFL game. Nathan showed very little in them last year yet we know how he performed when in the main game. I would like to see Hunt with Scarlett and Egan around him.

Ive never really seen Steve Johnson go hard in the VFL , he seems use it to regain touch and not much else. King sounds good.I dont think he has been in good nick for 3 years and Ottens has probelm in the groin again then he will be needed big time.
Does anyone have stats on how the size of Stokes satcks up to others on AFL lists.
Id like to see Grima show a bit. Dog Johnson is hardly bullet proof and if Owen is sus with OP, id like to see him get a go. We have got that many guys with his forward attributes

TC, understand that it needs to be looked at differently. He played on Cloke, Fanning and number 35 who obviously isn't a Collingwood player. So while he was getting the number 1 forward, it wasn't an AFL standard number 1 forward (apart from Cloke who looked a cut above). And he looked to be having a real dip and looked disappointed in himself several times so I don't think it was NAblett sydndrome. Spencer would be ahead of him simply because he's on the senior list and Hunt isn't. Hunt must prove himself and if he is to do that he'll need to improve out of sight on today's performance.

 

[billybrownless16]

Was it at Kardinia Park?
If so what sort of nick is the ground in?

 

[catempire]

Was it at Kardinia Park?
If so what sort of nick is the ground in?

I walked it at half time. Superb. Could have played the Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls on it.

 

[billybrownless16]

I walked it at half time. Superb. Could have played the Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls on it.

I don't reckon the crowd capacity would be high enough at Skilled for that

 

[RoosterLad]

why dont you support your VFL teams?
do many people in Victoria go and watch their VFL side too or do they not care?

 

[RoosterLad]

I walked it at half time. Superb. Could have played the Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls on it.

I just saw some photos from the Cats Nab flag celebrations actually

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

I could post pics of the Adelaide commiseration party, but I would be banned for linking pics of hardcore gay pornography to the site. Needless to say that winners are grinners.

 

[GeeCat]

I wouldn't read too much into Hunt's performance. Always thought he's looked a class above the VFL level in the past few seasons I've seen him. I'd be more inclined to cross it off as a dirty day.

I'm not sure what beckons for him as far as the AFL goes though. Not sure if he's a true key backman, always thought he'd look more like a third or even fourth option down back, almost as the taller flanker. Early days though.

 

[Sammy D]

catempire, can you please check your private messages

 

[nananana catman]

I just saw some photos from the Cats Nab flag celebrations actually

You haven't taking this whole losing thing very well have you? The fact you pay out a side that beat you doesn't say much for your team itself, does it?

 

[The Big Pineapple]

CE , so by the sounds of it Hunt is not a threat to Spencer?. The one thing id say, if you havent been to a VFL game fro a while is you have to look at it slightly diffently than a AFL game. Nathan showed very little in them last year yet we know how he performed when in the main game. I would like to see Hunt with Scarlett and Egan around him.

Ive never really seen Steve Johnson go hard in the VFL , he seems use it to regain touch and not much else. King sounds good.I dont think he has been in good nick for 3 years and Ottens has probelm in the groin again then he will be needed big time.
Does anyone have stats on how the size of Stokes satcks up to others on AFL lists.
Id like to see Grima show a bit. Dog Johnson is hardly bullet proof and if Owen is sus with OP, id like to see him get a go. We have got that many guys with his forward attributes

Difference is Nablet and Johnson have natural ability... Hunt doesn't!

Waste of $25k... simple as that!

 

[jess_555]

In defence for Hunt, I think he has an amazing kicking ability! His great for our backline and usually does brilliant kicking in. He deserves to be in the snr team!

 

[RoosterLad]

You haven't taking this whole losing thing very well have you? The fact you pay out a side that beat you doesn't say much for your team itself, does it?

Woah somebody is a bit touchy, i was only having a joke but i guess you lot dont have a very good sense of humour!! You would think that waiting 40 years for a flag would give you one but eh

 

[iameviljez]

In defence for Hunt, I think he has an amazing kicking ability! His great for our backline and usually does brilliant kicking in. He deserves to be in the snr team!

Sam Hunt - not Josh. Josh has been a permanent snr team fixture since 2004. Sam is a recent draftee from Essendon.

 

[jess_555]

LMAO Once again I have managed to be totally out of the converstation and made a fool out of myself! hahaha Maybe I should read the posts more carefully before I post stuff. Sorry everyone! hahaha "idiot" (Napoleon Dynamite voice).

 

[Rhombus]

.......or you could remove yourself from "BigFooty" altogether.

 

[D0nk]

why dont you support your VFL teams?
do many people in Victoria go and watch their VFL side too or do they not care?

Usually try and get to VFL games if they are before the AFL game, I did get to the VFL GF win in 2002.

I also made it to the NAB Cup 2006 GF

 

[thehoff]

.......or you could remove yourself from "BigFooty" altogether.

Go easy pal. Everyone is entitled to their opinion....

I'm sure you've never made a mistake Mr. Perfect.

Jess_555,

Ignore this. The more cats on bigfooty, the better!

 

[catattack]

why dont you support your VFL teams?
do many people in Victoria go and watch their VFL side too or do they not care?

VFL football in Victoria gets hardly the media coverage that it should. I consider it the surrogate child of the state cricket domestic competition – the best local competition going around, but not getting the plaudits and exposure it deserves.

It must be remembered that in Western Australia and South Australia your local leagues have been the ultimate leagues in your state for over one hundred years until the inception of the national AFL competition.

VFL, or VFA as it was, has always played second fiddle to the VFL/AFL and as a consequence, now that it is the number one league in Victoria, it doesn’t get the coverage and spectators it probably deserves. There’s always two AFL matches going on in Melbourne and the spot light is well and truly entrenched on AFL.

Unlike in South Australia where people still follow their adopted SANFL club, you would be hard pressed to find many Victorians who support a VFL club – particularly one who doesn’t have an inclination towards the team where their reserves are affiliated (i.e. Sandringham/Melbourne).

There are larger crowds at local football matches in the Geelong Football League than there are at a VFL match down the road at Skilled Stadium. Hopefully more people get along to the VFL matches this season, it is a quality league with quality footballers.

 

[nananana catman]

.......or you could remove yourself from "BigFooty" altogether.

Or perhaps not, loser.

 

[RoosterLad]

VFL football in Victoria gets hardly the media coverage that it should. I consider it the surrogate child of the state cricket domestic competition – the best local competition going around, but not getting the plaudits and exposure it deserves.

It must be remembered that in Western Australia and South Australia your local leagues have been the ultimate leagues in your state for over one hundred years until the inception of the national AFL competition.

VFL, or VFA as it was, has always played second fiddle to the VFL/AFL and as a consequence, now that it is the number one league in Victoria, it doesn’t get the coverage and spectators it probably deserves. There’s always two AFL matches going on in Melbourne and the spot light is well and truly entrenched on AFL.

Unlike in South Australia where people still follow their adopted SANFL club, you would be hard pressed to find many Victorians who support a VFL club – particularly one who doesn’t have an inclination towards the team where their reserves are affiliated (i.e. Sandringham/Melbourne).

There are larger crowds at local football matches in the Geelong Football League than there are at a VFL match down the road at Skilled Stadium. Hopefully more people get along to the VFL matches this season, it is a quality league with quality footballers.

Interesting post, thanks for explaining that.
Personally, North Adelaide are my #1 then daylight, the NAB GF was the first Crows game i've been to for many years. When the Crows and then Port Power came into the comp, support for the SANFL has died off. We get very little media attention as well which is unfortunate. Port play an internal trial and get a two page spread, SANFL clubs play their second to last trial before the main stuff begins and get a small paragraph squeezed in the corner. Most footy followers here only go for an AFL team, we get pretty small crowds to the local games, some pretty good recruits have played/are playing in the SANFL these days so I agree with your last bit, it's a pity more people dont go to the games.
We have grabbed a few from the VFL lately, like Nick Gill who is an awesome athlete, Clint Alleway is also playing for the Roosters this year, its a top league with some very good players, the state game between our comps last year was high class with a thrilling finish, that was a pretty good advert for the local leagues.