Review WB Mid Year Report 2024

[dogwatch]

Well it's not exactly mid-year. We've already played 14 of our 23 H&A games. But the bye has finally arrived so it's a good time to reflect on the individuals on the list.

I'll keep this OP as brief as I can, just to get the thing started. We can cut and dice it in the coming days.

Anyway here's my view:

Exceeded my expectations:

• Marcus Bontempelli - unbelievably, he has yet again exceeded my expectations. He had a couple of quieter games when tagged or playing with an injury but has mostly performed at the consistently outstanding level you'd expect of the best player in the league ("and it's not even close"). There have been a few moments of jaw-dropping brilliance.
• Adam Treloar - his best season at the WB and probably one of the best in his career. Relaxed, happy and it shows.
• Ed Richards - a revelation now that he has finally moved into the guts. He has transformed the way our midfield plays.
• Sam Darcy - has come on much faster than expected. We no longer talk about potential. He's playing like a 50 goal forward now, and will only get better. And he rucks as well. Just a natural footballer who also happens to be 9 feet tall.
• Lachie Bramble - not a star but he has already played more games than I expected. His last game against Freo easily his best.
• Laitham Vandermeer - he's on this list because he has exceeded my expectations. Say no more.
• Harvey Gallagher - the player everybody has been saying needs a break for about the last 8 weeks, LOL. He is no star yet but like Bramble he has already done more than I expected at the start of the season. He'll go on improving in 2025 too.
• Honorable mentions to West, Williams, Weightman, Naughton, Jones and Dale. Generally meeting expectations and in some games exceeding them.

Not reached my expectations:

• Jamarra Ugle-Hagan - has played well but I expected him to be more dominant. Maybe the mid-season interruption had something to do with it. Is he overthinking it? What's with the body language? Has he become too self-conscious and not playing in the moment enough? I don't know but I do know he has a lot more ability than we've seen this year. I hope we can settle him in the second half of the year.
• Caleb Poulter - doesn't seem to have kicked on, but he's still young.
• Buku Khamis - I thought he might find a regular spot especially after those early games but he's only just hanging on. Intercepts well but not good one-on-one and only average when the ball hits the deck. Doesn't seem to have enough tricks.
• Luke Cleary - workmanlike, but that won't make a career. Doesn't seem robust enough either.
• Charlie Clarke - has done little to suggest he'll have a long stay at the kennel. I hope I'm wrong.
• Dom Bedendo - hard to see him making it. Just not having a big enough impact in games.
• Jedd Busslinger - not so disappointed in his form (he should be close to a debut). Just disappointed in the rumours that he may want out. We need to do what we can to keep him.

New arrivals in 2024:

• Riley Sanders - has not lived up to the pre-season hype yet. Will no doubt have a long career but seems like he's not quite ready to influence games at this stage. Possibly a bit too self-conscious that he came as a top 10 pick with high expectations. Just needs to forget that and play his instinctive game.
• Joel Freijah - probably the most exciting new name on the list. Still 18 and plays seniors with poise and presence of mind. A good kick too. Seems to have gone totally under the radar outside the kennel but they'll start taking notice next year.
• Lachie Bramble - (see above)
• Lachie Smith - has done well for a slightly undersized 18yo ruckman. Looks to have a future.
• Kelsey Rypstra - way too early to make any judgements on the kid.
• Nick Coffield - early injury has ruined his season (yet again) so it's hard to assess. I reckon he'll be a regular in 2025.
• James Harmes - took a few games to find his feet but now starting to look like a valuable acquisition, even if it's late in his career. We should get at least a couple of good years out of him. He adds some much needed toughness to the side.
• Jordan Croft - he hasn't disappointed. I'll be surprised if he gets a game this year but he has shown enough to suggest he was worth the first round bid-matching.

The coaches - It's always hard to tell who is responsible for what (or for how much of whatever has changed). I think it's fair to say that the off season changes have been beneficial for the side, and beneficial for Bevo himself. Some of the things that have started happening this year we have been crying out for over the last couple of years. So I am assuming there are different discussions happening inside the kennel this year. The changes in fitness and conditioning staff also seem to have been beneficial.

 

[bigdog54]

Well it's not exactly mid-year. We've already played 14 of our 23 H&A games. But the bye has finally arrived so it's a good time to reflect on the individuals on the list.

I'll keep this OP as brief as I can, just to get the thing started. We can cut and dice it in the coming days.

Anyway here's my view:

Exceeded my expectations:

• Marcus Bontempelli - unbelievably, he has yet again exceeded my expectations. He had a couple of quieter games when tagged or playing with an injury but has mostly performed at the consistently outstanding level you'd expect of the best player in the league ("and it's not even close"). There have been a few moments of jaw-dropping brilliance.
• Adam Treloar - his best season at the WB and probably one of the best in his career. Relaxed, happy and it shows.
• Ed Richards - a revelation now that he has finally moved into the guts. He has transformed the way our midfield plays.
• Sam Darcy - has come on much faster than expected. We no longer talk about potential. He's playing like a 50 goal forward now, and will only get better. And he rucks as well. Just a natural footballer who also happens to be 9 feet tall.
• Lachie Bramble - not a star but he has already played more games than I expected. His last game against Freo easily his best.
• Laitham Vandermeer - he's on this list because he has exceeded my expectations. Say no more.
• Harvey Gallagher - the player everybody has been saying needs a break for about the last 8 weeks, LOL. He is no star yet but like Bramble he has already done more than I expected at the start of the season. He'll go on improving in 2025 too.
• Honorable mentions to West, Williams, Weightman, Naughton, Jones and Dale. Generally meeting expectations and in some games exceeding them.

Not reached my expectations:

• Jamarra Ugle-Hagan - has played well but I expected him to be more dominant. Maybe the mid-season interruption had something to do with it. Is he overthinking it? What's with the body language? Has he become too self-conscious and not playing in the moment enough? I don't know but I do know he has a lot more ability than we've seen this year. I hope we can settle him in the second half of the year.
• Caleb Poulter - doesn't seem to have kicked on, but he's still young.
• Buku Khamis - I thought he might find a regular spot especially after those early games but he's only just hanging on. Intercepts well but not good one-on-one and only average when the ball hits the deck. Doesn't seem to have enough tricks.
• Luke Cleary - workmanlike, but that won't make a career. Doesn't seem robust enough either.
• Charlie Clarke - has done little to suggest he'll have a long stay at the kennel. I hope I'm wrong.
• Dom Bedendo - hard to see him making it. Just not having a big enough impact in games.
• Jedd Busslinger - not so disappointed in his form (he should be close to a debut). Just disappointed in the rumours that he may want out. We need to do what we can to keep him.

New arrivals in 2024:

• Riley Sanders - has not lived up to the pre-season hype yet. Will no doubt have a long career but seems like he's not quite ready to influence games at this stage. Possibly a bit too self-conscious that he came as a top 10 pick with high expectations. Just needs to forget that and play his instinctive game.
• Joel Freijah - probably the most exciting new name on the list. Still 18 and plays seniors with poise and presence of mind. A good kick too. Seems to have gone totally under the radar outside the kennel but they'll start taking notice next year.
• Lachie Bramble - (see above)
• Lachie Smith - has done well for a slightly undersized 18yo ruckman. Looks to have a future.
• Kelsey Rypstra - way too early to make any judgements on the kid.
• Nick Coffield - early injury has ruined his season (yet again) so it's hard to assess. I reckon he'll be a regular in 2025.
• James Harmes - took a few games to find his feet but now starting to look like a valuable acquisition, even if it's late in his career. We should get at least a couple of good years out of him. He adds some much needed toughness to the side.
• Jordan Croft - he hasn't disappointed. I'll be surprised if he gets a game this year but he has shown enough to suggest he was worth the first round bid-matching.

The coaches - It's always hard to tell who is responsible for what (or for how much of whatever has changed). I think it's fair to say that the off season changes have been beneficial for the side, and beneficial for Bevo himself. Some of the things that have started happening this year we have been crying out for over the last couple of years. So I am assuming there are different discussions happening inside the kennel this year. The changes in fitness and conditioning staff also seem to have been beneficial.

Nice summary, mate. It's been frustrating at times but the emergence of Darcy, Frejiah and moving Ed to the middle have been the positives for me.

I've been critical of Jammara but we need to remember he's just turned 22. Im expecting the body language and work rate to improve with maturity. Perhaps we're expecting too much at this early stage?

 

[manutd/dogs]

Well it's not exactly mid-year. We've already played 14 of our 23 H&A games. But the bye has finally arrived so it's a good time to reflect on the individuals on the list.

I'll keep this OP as brief as I can, just to get the thing started. We can cut and dice it in the coming days.

Anyway here's my view:

Exceeded my expectations:

• Marcus Bontempelli - unbelievably, he has yet again exceeded my expectations. He had a couple of quieter games when tagged or playing with an injury but has mostly performed at the consistently outstanding level you'd expect of the best player in the league ("and it's not even close"). There have been a few moments of jaw-dropping brilliance.
• Adam Treloar - his best season at the WB and probably one of the best in his career. Relaxed, happy and it shows.
• Ed Richards - a revelation now that he has finally moved into the guts. He has transformed the way our midfield plays.
• Sam Darcy - has come on much faster than expected. We no longer talk about potential. He's playing like a 50 goal forward now, and will only get better. And he rucks as well. Just a natural footballer who also happens to be 9 feet tall.
• Lachie Bramble - not a star but he has already played more games than I expected. His last game against Freo easily his best.
• Laitham Vandermeer - he's on this list because he has exceeded my expectations. Say no more.
• Harvey Gallagher - the player everybody has been saying needs a break for about the last 8 weeks, LOL. He is no star yet but like Bramble he has already done more than I expected at the start of the season. He'll go on improving in 2025 too.
• Honorable mentions to West, Williams, Weightman, Naughton, Jones and Dale. Generally meeting expectations and in some games exceeding them.

Not reached my expectations:

• Jamarra Ugle-Hagan - has played well but I expected him to be more dominant. Maybe the mid-season interruption had something to do with it. Is he overthinking it? What's with the body language? Has he become too self-conscious and not playing in the moment enough? I don't know but I do know he has a lot more ability than we've seen this year. I hope we can settle him in the second half of the year.
• Caleb Poulter - doesn't seem to have kicked on, but he's still young.
• Buku Khamis - I thought he might find a regular spot especially after those early games but he's only just hanging on. Intercepts well but not good one-on-one and only average when the ball hits the deck. Doesn't seem to have enough tricks.
• Luke Cleary - workmanlike, but that won't make a career. Doesn't seem robust enough either.
• Charlie Clarke - has done little to suggest he'll have a long stay at the kennel. I hope I'm wrong.
• Dom Bedendo - hard to see him making it. Just not having a big enough impact in games.
• Jedd Busslinger - not so disappointed in his form (he should be close to a debut). Just disappointed in the rumours that he may want out. We need to do what we can to keep him.

New arrivals in 2024:

• Riley Sanders - has not lived up to the pre-season hype yet. Will no doubt have a long career but seems like he's not quite ready to influence games at this stage. Possibly a bit too self-conscious that he came as a top 10 pick with high expectations. Just needs to forget that and play his instinctive game.
• Joel Freijah - probably the most exciting new name on the list. Still 18 and plays seniors with poise and presence of mind. A good kick too. Seems to have gone totally under the radar outside the kennel but they'll start taking notice next year.
• Lachie Bramble - (see above)
• Lachie Smith - has done well for a slightly undersized 18yo ruckman. Looks to have a future.
• Kelsey Rypstra - way too early to make any judgements on the kid.
• Nick Coffield - early injury has ruined his season (yet again) so it's hard to assess. I reckon he'll be a regular in 2025.
• James Harmes - took a few games to find his feet but now starting to look like a valuable acquisition, even if it's late in his career. We should get at least a couple of good years out of him. He adds some much needed toughness to the side.
• Jordan Croft - he hasn't disappointed. I'll be surprised if he gets a game this year but he has shown enough to suggest he was worth the first round bid-matching.

The coaches - It's always hard to tell who is responsible for what (or for how much of whatever has changed). I think it's fair to say that the off season changes have been beneficial for the side, and beneficial for Bevo himself. Some of the things that have started happening this year we have been crying out for over the last couple of years. So I am assuming there are different discussions happening inside the kennel this year. The changes in fitness and conditioning staff also seem to have been beneficial.

Quality summary of our year so far. My only quibble is Naughton being rated the #1 forward in the game, but still not exceeding your expectations?

 

[dogwatch]

Quality summary of our year so far. My only quibble is Naughton being rated the #1 forward in the game, but still not exceeding your expectations?

Fair quibble.

I guess the media/player ratings people have exceeded my expectations more than Naughton has!

He's had a good season and it has been in a slightly different role to last year. Still scores plenty of goals though. I'd have put it on a par with his recent seasons but no strong argument from me if you think it's actually gone up a notch or two. He should also get accolades for his leadership and team-building role.

The other one where I might have expected a quibble was Caleb Daniel. I probably should have put him in the slightly disappointing list, but I do still rate him. I just can't see where he's going to play for the rest of his contract (and beyond). At the moment he's a spare parts man but I don't think that is a sustainable role for the next 2-3 years. I'm hoping we can find a happy niche for him somewhere in the seniors.

 

[dogwatch]

I should also point out that this is just a mid-year report. Most of these players still have the chance to do better in the second phase of the H&A season. It's not unusual for things to suddenly click with some of the first and second year players in the latter part of the season. Sanders could be one of those for instance. Or Croft. Even Poulter.

 

[Dazb86]

I'd give us a D. We shouldn't be 9th.

 

[Bald]

Can't really be bothered going through the list and marking them all but want to specifically point out Bailey Williams. He wouldn't be on a lot of coin, but he's just consistent. He had a period post 2021 where he lost a bit of confidence but he's been just a brilliant role player for us for so long and this season has been really good from him.

 

[Anja_Nees]

At the start of the season I would have been very disappointed with 7-7 but I’m relatively excited by what’s happening, particularly the last six weeks.

Our attacking game is superb when we get going, we seem to be much better at stopping opposition runs of goals and we’ve introduced a lot of fresh faces to the lineup.

Obviously we need to go on with it but the signs are encouraging.

 

[mattwa]

By all key stats and metrics we are a top 4 side this year. It's crazy we are 7/7 we have been unlucky in the cats and swans games in particular

 

[BulldogMuscle]

Wrong thread...

Go Bulldogs.

 

[Scotch N Coke Monatore]

I would grade us a d-. We forgot how to win ugly sometime ago, that is our biggest problem. Too Jekyll and Hyde. This is because we are too reliant on a clutch of mature star players. They raise the others up. If they have a down or even average day, plenty go missing, the others don't step up to fill the breach. If we are going to make the finals, we are going to have to grind out some wins, let us see if we can rediscover how to win when somethings are going against you on the day.

 

[jdz101]

The key position players in the backline are a disaster.

Either out of position or too slow or both, and it costs us games.

I have no confidence in busslinger or any of the ressies to come in and fix it.

There will likely have to be some pain trade wise or moving naughton back to fix it.

 

[Next Waiting]

The key position players in the backline are a disaster.

Either out of position or too slow or both, and it costs us games.

I have no confidence in busslinger or any of the ressies to come in and fix it.

There will likely have to be some pain trade wise or moving naughton back to fix it.

Not sure about this. Disaster seems fairly harsh on Jones and it's still early days with JOD but I like him. We did win a flag with Hamling and Roberts as KPDs. They were fantastic over those 4 weeks. It's arguable they were just ok either side of that 4 week run.

Personally, I think you have to have the best (or second best with good fwd line) midfield to win it and you need quality depth in that area. Weight of numbers and possession and quality fwds can overcome a backline deficiency, which I agree we have to an extent. But they could surprise as Fletch and Hamling did.

 

[_Mike_]

C-

Gap between worst and best is too big at the moment, lacking consistency and structure. Could get there with the right development and plan, but on current trajectory its a big "who knows"

 

[BEaston]

Nice summary

 

[my plums]

It's midyear for us if you include our four finals as well.

 

[perro_loco]

Not sure about this. Disaster seems fairly harsh on Jones and it's still early days with JOD but I like him. We did win a flag with Hamling and Roberts as KPDs. They were fantastic over those 4 weeks. It's arguable they were just ok either side of that 4 week run.

Personally, I think you have to have the best (or second best with good fwd line) midfield to win it and you need quality depth in that area. Weight of numbers and possession and quality fwds can overcome a backline deficiency, which I agree we have to an extent. But they could surprise as Fletch and Hamling did.

I think Freijah, Jones, JOD and Dale are really good value. Not impressed with Duryea and Khamis atm. We need a good replacement for each of these. In spite of that, if they improve some 5-10% then we have a great backline.
Overall mark, D, but with effort and we make top 8, then C. Top 4 A

 

[weltschmerz]

The key position players in the backline are a disaster.

Either out of position or too slow or both, and it costs us games.

I have no confidence in busslinger or any of the ressies to come in and fix it.

There will likely have to be some pain trade wise or moving naughton back to fix it.

Bet you didn’t expect the Lobb solution.

 

[jdz101]

Bet you didn’t expect the Lobb solution.

I don't think anyone did.

 

[dogwatch]

I don't think anyone did.

Especially after it was universally deemed a comprehensive failure when tried for half a game in 2023.