Think we need to cool the jets on the idea we can play 2 rucks most weeks. Pitto had his best game for the club and contributed around the ground which is out of the box for him as he is generally only effective as a bullocking tap ruckman and does sfa around the game. Last week was the perfect game but its one out of how many?
TDK was ultra effective as a forward and snagged 3 and should have had 4.
My point is both played blinders and the game was on a dry track. Wont work every week and personally i prefer going in with the one tall in TDK.
Ideally I hope last week becomes a regular occurrence as its so difficult for the opposition to play against it but i need to see it as good as last week again and again before im convinced.
This performance reinforces that we are the real deal and if we play anywhere close to our best we will go very close this year. Our lesser lights are now genuine contributors and our stars and there is now a few of them are match winners. Really believe if we have a decent run injury wise later in the year we may just add another cup in the cabinet at PP.
Replacing Cerra (a strong both-ways midfielder) with Pitto was dumb - not that Pitto played badly but it upset team balance.
It also reduced TDK's opportunity to influence the game and kept McKay from having a run on the ball, thereby lessening his opportunity to influence the game.
I really think that everyone needs to rememeber who Lewis Young is, he is a a backup and as a backup we need to have a little more faith in him, look where we would be without him? think about that get onboard and pump up his tyres a little , whilst he is down a little support from all may prove to be a benefit . he wasnt picked up to be the main man.
Great post.
He is playing one if the hardest spots where every error is magnified and he is then labelled a dud. A midfielder misses a handball or kick but then does something good the error is usually forgiven. Do the same in defence and many want them cut off the list.
Kemp makes mistakes too but has been solid and both kemp and young are playing massive roles and i think so far they have both been serviceable which is all you can ask with no generals like Weitering or doc assisting.
Everyone has seen the potential from TDK, everyone believes he can do it. He seems to be the only one who hasn't seen it. Year on year we keep waiting. Perhaps THIS is the year he finally gets it. Could be a good year for him and us if it is.
He is still improving and as many of us have have said on here he proves a big challenge for opposition as around the ground he is a very difficult match up and actually impacts the result like the very best rucks in the comp can do. My concern is if he goes down we have very little to draw upon. Pitto is older slower and pretty much useless around the ground-will be a massive downgrade if that happens. I would be in favour of maybe resting TDK for games against the bottom 4 teams to give his body extra time to recover. TDK is as important as charlie and weitering imo to us going further this year. We need to look after him by resting him when suitable imo.
Well below our best but again found a way and took the points. Team has really matured.
Cripps huge and TDK is showing why he was so highly rated. Competed with a old school quality ruckman and when the game was on the line in the last he had another gear to go to. Becoming one of a few that we cant afford to go down. Off to have my scotch