Who's stepped it up?

[Quicky]

It's been a funny old start to the season. Dramas and injuries in the preseason. A good performance and loss to the Hawks, a poor performance and victory over the Tigers.

Amongst this who in the side has stepped up their game?

Blair seems to have cemented a spot in the midfield. He has been great in the clearances and has shown the same eye for goal from the middle as he has up forward. Midfield depth was something we seemed to lack against the Cats last year if I were being critical and in Blair we have uncovered another reliable and at times momentum swinging midfielder.

Keeffe has copped an absolute bucket load of criticism in here. It seems the fact he was played out of position last year was lost on some. The switch back to his preferred position is paying dividends and with injuries to Tarrant and with Brown on the comeback trail its fortuitous for us. He has looked nothing but assured in his defensive duties this season including a stint on Buddy Franklin. And thats all you can ask from a <10 game KPD. His rebounding with ball in hand can give you a heart attack at times but he is a penetrating kick and has every chance to improve his composure and decision making with greater experience. Something he will continue to get while Tarrant is on the recovery path.

So who's the next to step up? I think Wood has a great opportunity with his likely return to the 22. And in a position that we really need some input.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Blair and Keeffe without doubt. With Tarrants career in doubt (at his age any injury is a worry) I am pleased that Keeffe is performing as a legitimate option.

Seedsman looks good too.

Also impressed with Ball. He seems to be running freeer every week.

Reid and Pendlebury are continuing their AA form.

 

[mattys123]

Amongst this who in the side has stepped up their game?

Blair, Keefe, Goldsack and Clarke are the standouts for me at the moment in terms of improvement.

Clarke may technically not be an improver, as he wasn't here last year, but he looks better then he was before he left already.

Blair, as you say has become a part of the midfield rotation, yet is still kicking goals, which is vital with Didak out and Krak and Davis also missing.

Lachie has really impressed me, I was willing to give him another 12 months to develop into a consistent AFL class defender, but his jobs on Hale and Vickery have been impressive so far.

Goldsack is purely down to fitness, last season he started with the illness pre season, then had a few other problems during the year, he looks fitter then ever now.

It's too early to throw any more names in, but I'm hoping for improvement out of a few, I reckon Toovey can take his game to the next level, he has the speed to give us more drive off half back. Also Cam Wood is one I want to see in the seniors now, it's now or never for the secondary ruckman at the club.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Re: Keeffe - I spewed venomous green bile on the lad after the NAB Cup round 1 games when he was playing in position (Shae at Fullback was heaps better). Keeffe has certainly improved in the month since then - looks like he's been told to stick to his man and focus on winning the one on ones, rather than trying to do anything fancy. Happy to say it, but Keeffe has really stepped up and surprised me.

Re: Blair - I think he's back to the blistering form he showed us in the forward line the end of 2010. He probably dropped off a little in 2011, but he's got it back. Too early to say whether his 2012 midfield form exceeds his 2010 value to the forward line - the whole team has fallen away in the last quarter these past two games so can't really single him out.

I think it's gotten to the stage that, by any measure, there can be no dispute that Pendlebury has gone past Swan. Swanny's still got 'it' though.

 

[Quicky]

Buckley seems to be using Swan to plug holes little dutch boy style when we need something in a particular area of the ground. This is presumably as a steadying influence in response to our lack of experience in the side right now. He was thrown back last week to steady us. He was spending more time forward against the Hawks. He's been criticised for his performance but he's been thrown around a lot in his first two games so far this season.

 

[ipswichpies]

Keefe has got a chance nail down a spot permanently down back this season I think he will be better when we get Maxy back to organise things down there.Blair has been very good so far this season,I think also Sidey,Fasolo and Beams looked alright to me 1st game back.

It looks likely we will persist with Sinclair for the time being and he looks like Tooves a player who,s hands you don,t want the ball in.

We are a fair way off ATM but as long as were going in the right direction that is all we can do,if a couple of defeats and bad performances stops the complacency creeping in I am all for it last year we looked self satisfied ie smug at times.

On Sinclair I think the only reason he is in the team ahead of someone like M Williams is that he has had 2 extra pre seasons to conditioned his body for top level football but his disposal is pathetic.

 

[Scodog10]

Sidebottom: It's very early but so far he's taken the exact same step that Thomas took from 09-10. His possession tally has lifted by 4 (19.5 v 23.5), his contested possession tally by 3.5 (6.5 v 10) and most importantly his clearance tally by 4 (1.8 v 6). He just isn't hitting the scoreboard and he had the opportunity to do that against the Hawks but was wayward. He's definitely one to keep an eye on.

Pendlebury: IMO he's now become the best Mid in the game. I thought he was top 3 last year but so far in 2012 he's just dominating.

 

[jonbe54]

I've said it before but it bears repeating Wood needs to step up.

 

[ipswichpies]

I've said it before but it bears repeating Wood needs to step up.

I think you are right Jonbe if he does not do it this season mate he may not get too many more chances,being 2.05 mtrs he should be putting his hand now and going on with it,he has the tools.

 

[carnthepies19]

I reckon Toovey has improved, he looked like he was getting into the midfield a little bit more on Saturday Night.

Blair, Fasolo, Keeffe and Rusty have also improved.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

I've said it before but it bears repeating Wood needs to step up.

Perhaps he isn't capable.
He may be now, as good as he is ever going to be.

I hope he has got lots of improvement left, but its taking a long time for him to show it.

Re the topic: Sidebottom, Blair and Seedsman

 

[speedytiger]

Blair is one of those guys whose best work i usually miss on my first view of the game. When watching replays i often see he has played alot better than i first thought. He has clearly stepped it up.

Keefe is looking much more assured. I started a thread on him in the pre season as i felt they muffed him around by playing forward. Now that he has gone back he's doing what he was in the VFL last year. At this stage it seems he will never make it as a ruck but we'll see.

 

[carnthepies19]

Also of the VFL guys I reckon Ceglar has really taken it up a notch. If he was a bit more bulked up then I think he would be very close to senior selection.

 

[rustyg70]

Keefe is looking much more assured. I started a thread on him in the pre season as i felt they muffed him around by playing forward. Now that he has gone back he's doing what he was in the VFL last year. At this stage it seems he will never make it as a ruck but we'll see.[/quote]

Off topic a bit,and this is coming from way out of left field, but with our excess of big full backs(Taz,Keefe,Brown),
What would happen if we used him as our back up ruckman instead of Dawes..
When Jolly goes off,Keefe goes into the ruck, Taz goes to full back and Goldsack or Brown comes on?

 

[carnthepies19]

Keefe is looking much more assured. I started a thread on him in the pre season as i felt they muffed him around by playing forward. Now that he has gone back he's doing what he was in the VFL last year. At this stage it seems he will never make it as a ruck but we'll see.[/quote]

Off topic a bit,and this is coming from way out of left field, but with our excess of big full backs(Taz,Keefe,Brown),
What would happen if we used him as our back up ruckman instead of Dawes..
When Jolly goes off,Keefe goes into the ruck, Taz goes to full back and Goldsack or Brown comes on?

I always wondered why Keeffe didn't ruck. I think it's because he doesn't want to, I swear I've read that somewhere. Being 204cm though, if he wants to keep his spot when our backline is at full strength, that should be his role.

 

[Shellz]

Keefe is looking much more assured. I started a thread on him in the pre season as i felt they muffed him around by playing forward. Now that he has gone back he's doing what he was in the VFL last year. At this stage it seems he will never make it as a ruck but we'll see.[/quote]

Off topic a bit,and this is coming from way out of left field, but with our excess of big full backs(Taz,Keefe,Brown),
What would happen if we used him as our back up ruckman instead of Dawes..
When Jolly goes off,Keefe goes into the ruck, Taz goes to full back and Goldsack or Brown comes on?

Need to get Brown, Taz and Keefe all onto the ground first...

 

[rustyg70]

Need to get Brown, Taz and Keefe all onto the ground first...

Thats true Shellz.
I might be worth contempating though.
We invented the "Leigh Brown" ruckman, but it doesn't mean that the "Leigh Brown" has to play in the forward line.

 

[rose jam]

Jaryd Blair has had a super start to the year

 

[millsy29gopies]

Jaryd Blair has had a super start to the year

Anyone else remember he did as well last year? I think he kicked 4 in one match? Then tapered off as such. But definitely agree he has been a star so far.

Also Keeffe. He has proved many people on here wrong. A solid start to the year playing in his natural position. Bally and Toovs also improved IMO.

 

[Bay Pie]

Sidebottom: It's very early but so far he's taken the exact same step that Thomas took from 09-10. His possession tally has lifted by 4 (19.5 v 23.5), his contested possession tally by 3.5 (6.5 v 10) and most importantly his clearance tally by 4 (1.8 v 6). He just isn't hitting the scoreboard and he had the opportunity to do that against the Hawks but was wayward. He's definitely one to keep an eye on.

Pendlebury: IMO he's now become the best Mid in the game. I thought he was top 3 last year but so far in 2012 he's just dominating.

I'm surprised so few have mentioned Sidey. Clearly gone up a notch but markled harshly by many.

Pendles, Reid, Blair and Keefe. I expect Beams to be here soon, and I hoping like nothing else Woody does too. If Wood can be effective up forward and do very well against back up rucks, that will be a massive boost for us.

Seeds has shown glimpses.

 

[Daicos Mullets]

I've said it before but it bears repeating Wood needs to step up.

I totally agree with you, but he's been held back so far this year by a shoulder operation in the off-season. He had a modified pre-season and has only played (from memory) 2 practice/VFL matches to date this season. I would expect to see him really start to push hard for senior selection in 3-4 rounds. Even if he hasn't cemented a senior spot by the end of this season, I wouldn't be surprised if he remains on our list as ongoing back-up for Jolly, because we simply don't have any other ruckmen with AFL experience.

 

[absy]

so far for me it's fasolo and sidebottom.

 

[carnthepies19]

Anyone else remember he did as well last year? I think he kicked 4 in one match? Then tapered off as such. But definitely agree he has been a star so far.

Also Keeffe. He has proved many people on here wrong. A solid start to the year playing in his natural position. Bally and Toovs also improved IMO.

5, vs. the scum! Maybe a repeat effort against them on Friday night!?!

 

[Jabso]

I'm declearing Lachlan Keeffe as MY MAN! The next Dustin Fletcher (maybe a bit too far). Just needs more confidence. Could see it growing Saturday night (his confidence that is) as he actually hunted the ball and demanded it. Also got hit in a contest going back with the flight which should harden him up. Wellingham getting flattened by Hall was a turning point in his career, hopefully he can have a moment like that (or this it).

Blair is a midfielder and a brilliant stoppage player. With Caff and Krak out he may be forced to spend time forward but hopefully he gets good time in the middle. The game is starting to favour his type of player and his skill set.

 

[Shade]

I'll say Keefe i wasn't really impressed with him in preseason he looked slow and lacked awareness but seems to have found his feet.