Who's clutch?

[rgauci]

Who's clutch? Who has that innate ability to step up in finals. Make the right decision. Who excels under pressure?

1. Michael Walters. I can't remember a final where he performed below par. Kicks goals, out smarts defenders, rises to the occasion.

2. David Mundy. Gun. Can look laconic from time to time during the home and away season. Come finals never leaves anything on the line. Super reliable.

3. Matthew Pavlich. When uninjured is our leading goal kicker come finals. Some of his movement on the half-forward line reminded me of yester - year.

4. Aaron Sandilands. Did an absolute mountain of work yesterday. Whenever he wasn't rucking we looked poor in the midfield.

5. Lee Spurr. Loves physicality, loves pressure, puts his body on the line. That mark in the last quarter was amazing.

6. Tom Sheridan. Some won't understand this selection. But his sidestep and run was immense yesterday. Multiple times I thought he was caught one out in defense only to make a spoil or out body his man. Yes he fluffed a few kicks but I thought he got better not worse under pressure.

7. Lachie Neale - forever the ball magnet. Has an impressive finals record. That snap is what I would love to see from Mayne.

8. Stephen Hill - that Geelong goal. Didn't rip the game apart yesterday but wasn't bad.

9. Fyfe - aside from a few bad kicks at goal during a GF. Is one of our best in all finals campaigns.

Weeding out finals under performers is what Port did after finishing minor premiers 3 years on the trot. I trust those above. Anyone else to add?

 

[Banker]

Johnson and Mcfarlin when in form?

 

[Deathly]

David Mundy /thread

 

[Lach72]

So where was Stephen Hill being clutch when he squibbed two shots on goal yesterday?

 

[Deathly]

So where was Stephen Hill being clutch when he squibbed two shots on goal yesterday?

No idea why he doesn't take the shot and looks to pass it off instead. He's one person you can always trust to hit a goal.

 

[electricfeel]

So where was Stephen Hill being clutch when he squibbed two shots on goal yesterday?

He should've nailed those. Baffled why he didn't just go for it. I don't think he squibbed, I'm wondering if it's under instruction to do the team thing. If you're Stephen Hill and youre within 50m, you go for it - that should be the team rule.

 

[Lach72]

No idea why he doesn't take the shot and looks to pass it off instead. He's one person you can always trust to hit a goal.

I'm so damn frustrated with him. 35 on the run and in the clear and on the best side for a left footer and you don't shoot?

What the **** are you doing?

There was a howling breeze and he refused to shoot from 52?

 

[Lach72]

He should've nailed those. Baffled why he didn't just go for it. I don't think he squibbed, I'm wondering if it's under instruction to do the team thing. If you're Stephen Hill and youre within 50m, you go for it - that should be the team rule.

He keeps doing it...again and and again and again.
Sonny would've banged that first one through without a second thought
Seriously giving me the shits

 

[Lach72]

I'm so damn frustrated with him. 35 on the run and in the clear and on the best side for a left footer and you don't shoot?

What the **** are you doing?

There was a howling breeze and he refused to shoot from 52?

Laidler kicked a goal from 55 with that breeze...Laidler...smfh

 

[Belnakor]

Who's clutch? Who has that innate ability to step up in finals. Make the right decision. Who excels under pressure?

1. Michael Walters. I can't remember a final where he performed below par. Kicks goals, out smarts defenders, rises to the occasion.

Walters seems to be immune from pressure. If i wanted someone to kick after the siren it would be him.

He is one of the kind of players would want the ball in his hands too.

 

[raffrox]

I think there is a differences between clutch and being able to play good in a final. Clutch people always rise when the game is on the line and have individual moments of brilliance.

Mundy, Pav, Walters, Sandi and Hill (usually) I'll give you.

The others I'm not so sure. I think this year Neale has done all the hard work to win the ball but then given the little handball back to someone under the same or more pressure. This happens in the higher intensit games and he needs to get that out of his game IMO.

 

[electricfeel]

Walters is the definition of clutch. Thank god for him! He is an absolute star!

 

[rgauci]

I think it must be a team rule to go to an inside target. It allows the team to set up from a kick in if we miss. It stops quick counter attack. We rarely just go at the goals from general play. I'm not sure I agree with the rule. But we finished top and are now in our 2nd prelim in 3 years.

 

[samFFC]

So where was Stephen Hill being clutch when he squibbed two shots on goal yesterday?

Fair point but some of his clearance work and passing to set up shots for goal - wow. Particularly when we needed it - was certainly one of the best and coolest heads yesterday.

 

[E Shed]

Walters is the definition of clutch. Thank god for him! He is an absolute star!

remember his first final at the Gee Vee Geelong? We got absolutely blown off the park yet Walters stood up while most of the team looked like witches hats. It was a lot to do with that game that I felt we should stick by him when he was sent back to the WAFL. Loads of players have talent (albeit not as much as him) but you can't teach that temperament.

 

[DudleyDocker]

If this is an instruction from Ross then it is a bloody terrible one! We need to be telling our best kicks to have a shot on goal any time they are within reasonable range, and not try to pass it off to the "hot spot" every time - this is so predictable and easy to defend against.

It's almost as if Sonny is the only one in the team with a license to take the difficult shots.

It absolutely burns me up to see an elite kick like Stephen Hill turn down a 50 - 50 shot at goal for a 50 - 50 pass, let a lone when the odds on the shot are far better than the pass.

Are our guys becoming too "robotic" in following team rules?

 

[E Shed]

not to mention the lift it gives the crowd (and I assume the players) when Hill drills one after a run.

 

[calaisking]

Walters / Mundy

 

[go_the_dockers]

So where was Stephen Hill being clutch when he squibbed two shots on goal yesterday?

He also did two bullet passes into forward 50. Would rather him pass than go for goal and not quiet make the distance.

 

[Lach72]

He also did two bullet passes into forward 50. Would rather him pass than go for goal and not quiet make the distance.

He was kicking from 35 meters and 52 with a howling wind at his back?

 

[Dockernut]

Laidler kicked a goal from 55 with that breeze...Laidler...smfh

Agree with all of that except smfh, which I am struggling with.

 

[Lach72]

Agree with all of that except smfh, which I am struggling with.

Shake my effing head [emoji23]

 

[Marty Whitelaw]

remember his first final at the Gee Vee Geelong? We got absolutely blown off the park yet Walters stood up while most of the team looked like witches hats. It was a lot to do with that game that I felt we should stick by him when he was sent back to the WAFL. Loads of players have talent (albeit not as much as him) but you can't teach that temperament.

The guy is a gun and leads by example. Seems the bigger the Occassion, the more composed and determined he is.

Would be very happy to see him as Fyfe's vice captain from next year on.

 

[SHill Shall]

There was a howling breeze and he refused to shoot from 52?

I certainly agree with you that there was a better chance of a goal than lobbing it to the goal square with everyone back and in position and hoping for a contested mark. Why haven't the coaches given him clear, unequivocal instructions on this stuff?

Having said that, he has more of a go than he used to a year or two back. It was like he was banned from going for goal!

 

[Spoken4]

Think you can add Ballantyne to that list now. Amazing game in a high pressure environment from a guy who missed the last 1/3 of the season.