Took me this long to work out how to to get on the new site - promising layout.
Nice report Shakin - I got nothin to add because I didn't bother going this week - hard to believe Watson was our best player - Gumby must be as slow as Mitchell.
Sounds like the only good thing to say about NBs is that they were more competitive than the ressies were against Pt Melb.
To be fair the majority of the contests where long balls into full forward that seemed to work for Watson. Gumbleton didn't do a lot on the lead and the Bombers didn't really honor the very few time he did lead.
Saying that Watson spoiled every one one one contest. Just belted him all day. If he didn't spoil he read the play better and marked.
At one stage Gumbleton led out and doubled back and Watson really trailed him into D50. I was the only time I noticed his lack of pace.
The club is in trouble and they know it, the CEO says there will be radical changes to the list at seasons end and all this after the coach suggested premierships were not out of the question at the start of the year. Matthew Lloyd had this to say on FC and I agree with him...
Has the CEO said anything along those lines? I have heard both his interview on SEN and Triple M and he does nothing more than peddle the party line.
"Philosophically, if it's genuine and you get later in the year and they say it's on the table then we'll certainly have a look at it." "You would look at that". "We have a list of free agents like any other club" blah. blah. blah.
I haven't heard Swann saying anything about radical changes, even though the media are spinning that line.
I don't know. Have little or no idea on the VFL guys.
I think you consider a guy like Gumbleton, but it would come down to price and what you think that is? I would give up a third round pick. The Bomber would ask for a 1st. Would you take him for a 2nd?
I don't think there is one answer and I would be inclined to keep our options open.
Levi has the potential to be diamond in the rough. At the moment he blows up before half time and his kicking can be terrible. However he has a great set of hands and his ruck work is pretty good. Needs a massive pre-season and a lot of goal kicking work.
Mitchell doesn't look like he has enough strength in his upper body to compete at the moment. He looks like he has the frame, but I wonder if his shoulder injuries has hampered his ability to add muscle. It's only really a question the S&C guys would be able to answer.
Watson I would keep. Again needs to get fitter but he has the attribute of a good footballer. We need to be a bit more patient as earlier key position players from the same draft and still finding their feet. Ie: Sam Day and Thomas Lynch.
McCarthy gets more time. Let's be fair I reckon we won't have a shortage of players to delist.
Rowe: The worry is if he hasn't made it yet, will he ever? Good insurance.
I wouldn't make that call based on one game. He got Watson once on the lead, but most of the contests were one on one. If he is quicker than Watson he didn't show it either because he didn't work hard enough or the delivery didn't allow it.
Being a Key forward in the VFL has to one of the hardest gigs considering the delivery.
First time I have managed to get out of the house without the kids and watch the Northern Blues this year. The scoreboard reflected a pretty average day, however there where some periods of the game in which we had a fair bit of the play without impacting the scoreboard.
White: I didn't mind his game. Got crunched early by Rowe, but he is a pretty solid footballer who makes pretty good decisions by hand and foot. Composed in congestion.
M. Watson: Easy our best. Gumbleton kicked one and would have been lucky to have 5-7 touches. Never beaten one on one, with countless spoils and read the play on a number of occasions to take strong marks in defense. Used the ball very well.
Joseph: Played back pocket and had his hands full. One dimensional footballer and while he has a red hot crack he just lacks the skills to make it. Get the feeling he knows his days are numbered.
F. Dale: Played in defence. Not a lot of impact and a few errors by foot. Ok but needs to do more. Physically ill at half time. Not sure if that's nerves or he was unwell.
Rowe: Had a maire early. Combination of bad luck and poor management. Had a hand in the first three of the Bombers goals. First a "very soft" free to Daniher, then got caught behind with a quick snap around the corner, and then in frustration gave away a 2nd free with an overzealous attack on the football. Battled on pretty well given the circumstances.
Davies: I reckon he had Davey for most of the day and did a pretty decent job. Good kick.
Temay: Liked his game. Clean and composed in a side that butchers the ball. Wouldn't have had huge numbers.
Buckley: Two great runs through the middle of the ground. One resulted in a goal and the other out of bounds on the full. Looks to be our best midfielder suited to play at AFL level.
Laidler: Tracking David Teague for the biggest demise of an AFL footballer in a Carlton jumper. From someone that I thought was so important to our side to a non-event at VFL level. I don't get it. Whatever Mick's plan is, I hope it works. Based on today he is miles away from the ones. You just couldn't pick him.
Menzel: The only forward that looked dangerous. If you think our AFL forward line is dysfunctional, the VFL one has it covered in spades. This bloke however gets it and is a good finisher. He won't play too many games at VFL level.
Hampson: Hurt his knee early in the 2nd. No impact beforehand. The couple of times he was on the lead he managed to run under the ball.
Mitchell: A couple of good marks, but another non event. You would love him as an opposition coach as you can play a third tall type like Hardingham on him who can compete physically and run off him at will. Needs to join Watson and Casboult in pre-season training with Craig Mottram. Can't play AFL on current form.
Warnock: Looks like a bloke collecting a pay cheque. No influence on the game other than hit outs. A real disappointment. No intensity at all and the question I would be asking is "does he play football because he loves the game or because he is good at it."
Duigan: Pretty average early, however to his credit worked into the game and seemed to push further up the ground in the 2nd half. Great intensity.
Graham: Didn't notice him a lot so it was nice to see he had 19 touches.
