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Where's Orren Stephenson?

  • Thread starter Thread starter catman 71
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Yeah, agree that he was one of our better players tonight. I felt we were more competitive in the midfield and he actually was pretty handy around the ground. Helps the Hawkins stay in the forward line too.

Surely he will stay in the side for a while now.
 
He was decent, he had some useful touches. He looked like a first year player not quite up to the speed of AFL. His timing in the ruck was poor. But at least he did enough to hold his spot and go again next week.
 
I hate to criticise the coaching staff, but after tonight I can't understand why he hasn't played a lot more this year.

Leap and tapwork is good and can mark the footy. Had a better ability to cover the ground than I thought. Give him half a dozen games from next week and see if he can build on it.
 
darren forssman said:
and sold a bit of candy a few times as well, which showed a lot of poise considering the game was high pressure.
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yeah I liked that too; showed the composure to weigh up the options, not panic, decide he was in fact the best option himself and found a target either by hand or foot - did this maybe three times ?
liked his game, hopefully more to come.
 
I've been of the belief that Orren is the best ruckman on our list and I thought tonight proved that. Give him a few more games for confidence and we will see the best of him.
 
Pure_Ownage said:
I hate to criticise the coaching staff, but after tonight I can't understand why he hasn't played a lot more this year.

Leap and tapwork is good and can mark the footy. Had a better ability to cover the ground than I thought. Give him half a dozen games from next week and see if he can build on it.
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Scotty hinted a couple of weeks ago that that virus he had knocked him around pretty badly - I wonder if he just wasn't match fit.

That said, also still baffled as to why we often had both West and Stephenson on the ground but Hawkins was taking forward 50 ruck contests.
 
Pure_Ownage said:
I hate to criticise the coaching staff, but after tonight I can't understand why he hasn't played a lot more this year.

Leap and tapwork is good and can mark the footy. Had a better ability to cover the ground than I thought. Give him half a dozen games from next week and see if he can build on it.
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Yes, me too but and I really didn't like the quote from Chris Scott at the start of the year when he said to the media "I know you guys aren't excited about him playing" and also how they've made a big deal about him "adjusting to AFL lifestyle". I don't think that was respectful enough overall

He was certainly very good last night and I was surprised with his agility and ability to balk and turn and execute a decent kick
 
Scotty said about a month ago that he was just struggling to get used to all of the aspects of a fulltime footballer and that they would be a little patient with him. I think they have been ensuring he is fully well and ready before playing him.

Last night certainly showed he is capable of doing it. An excellent effort.
 

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OldStyle2007 said:
Yes, me too but and I really didn't like the quote from Chris Scott at the start of the year when he said to the media "I know you guys aren't excited about him playing" and also how they've made a big deal about him "adjusting to AFL lifestyle". I don't think that was respectful enough overall

He was certainly very good last night and I was surprised with his agility and ability to balk and turn and execute a decent kick
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Probably shouldn't have been said publicly, better kept within the club, although no doubt it is true. We do have to remember that while O is 29 he's never been a full time footballer so maybe the plan was to give him more time to build up his fitness and get used to our structures etc before they brought him in. That's the only reason I can think of anyway.

Regardless, he played very well last night and the next 6 weeks are crucial for us and Daws won't be match fit within that time, so I'd expect O to be given a good run at it.
 
thejester said:
Scotty hinted a couple of weeks ago that that virus he had knocked him around pretty badly - I wonder if he just wasn't match fit.

That said, also still baffled as to why we often had both West and Stephenson on the ground but Hawkins was taking forward 50 ruck contests.
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I didn't realise the virus was that bad, maybe you are right.

Agree on the Hawkins thing, weird, I think on the whole we are not used to the 2 rucks yet because I noticed 2 or 3 times when we did interchanges (after goals) both O and West were on the ground but looked at each other not sure which one was supposed to take the bounce and which was supposed to go forward. It'll improve the more we play them together.
 
Yes, PO agree. The adjustment statement was true - it just didn't need to be made
(
Also, thought they made a real mistake on the sub. Surely either West (or Orren) comes off for Stringer. Especially, given the fact Hawkins and Pods were taking the F50 stoppages
 
OldStyle2007 said:
Yes, PO agree. The adjustment statement was true - it just didn't need to be made
(
Also, thought they made a real mistake on the sub. Surely either West (or Orren) comes off for Stringer. Especially, given the fact Hawkins and Pods were taking the F50 stoppages
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I suspect the pre game plan was to take off a ruckman but by the 3rd Smedts was really struggling and looked tired, and Orren playing very well, so they had to change tack. Fair enough.
 
We look so much better structurally having Orren as 1st ruck. He is not a star, but he has the size and competitiveness to give a good account go himself. If Orren can further improve his fitness, we will be better for it. West (as I have said many times) is simply too small to be 1st ruck and is showing to sign of fatigue already having to go against men naturally much larger than himself. When to comes to ruckman - size matters.
 
No surprises he's got 3 kids I think and a wife I can imagine that it would take some big time adjustments on both their behalves. Really happy with what I've seen so far from him though.
 

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All I'll say is that if the MC don't keep Orren in the side after the effort on Friday night, they're nuts. Hopefully they saw what they needed to see out of him, and are happy with his adjustment to the level. Certainly looked up to it to me, and appeared much more mobile and composed than previously.
 

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