Calista got a fair bit of the ball but he and Miller were thumped in the ruck by O'Keeffe and Mirkov even if our midfielders couldn't capitalise. But, a good ruckman needs to do more than just win the hitouts and our two need to improve their marking, linking up, positioning and being a presence around the ground. Flockhart looked to have done his knee but came back on and picked up where he left off. Miller did a good job of the key forward second ruck role.
I wonder if Lemmey is playing back while Sam Durdin is out (suspended?) or if it's the direction his career is now headed. If he can play CHF with the same energy and application that he's showing at CHB, he could be a genuine key forward option. Perhaps he's just one of the many key forwards who play better footy in defence.
We didn't have that many AFL listed players out there, but I think that Moir showed the most potential. He works hard off the ball he will be rewarded for that.
Id persist with Lemmey at CHB in the VFL.....and Id be looking to give Moir a senior game or two sooner than later as the sub initially. Lemmeys blonde mate down back in Lewis also played an ok game and looks a solid player. Not sure Id be keeping Mirkov or OKeefe.....
Showing your age Jim😉🤐...yep Frosty Miller did play for the Blues and went on to be a star VFA player for Dandenong and has the goalkicking award in the VFL named after himself. Left footer from memory who kicked torps and along with his little leftie mate Pat Flaherty made my life as a Preston supporter miserable as a kid...
I think TDK benefited from Taylor not playing for GWS and affecting how they setup down back.....so I would want to see more evidence than just one game that he is a reliable forward option or just a one hit wonder every now and then.
Lemmey looks a better player down back and maybe a chance to make a Key defender, won the ball well and used it ok for a big fella although his opponent from the WAFL who has a famous VFA name in Jimmy Miller had a decent game too. The other player who looks a class above most is Moir, dont reckon he will ever play too many four quarter games but everything he does is classy even when he tackles(laid a great one in the last quarter) and he knows where the goals are and plays with a bit of maturity. Binns can hit a target and runs hard, but lacks a bit of physicality when tackling and also can hang back a bit when he needs to be attacking the ball. Cincotta was ok without being great and both Okeefe and Mirkov lowered their colours to the Port ruckman(Flockhart?) who was impressive. Xavier Maher was BOG but for me remains a good VFL player only....
Dunno that the whole side was bad in the first half, yes many were bad but they were admirably led by Charlie who had a mare in the first half. Worst half of footy I have seen from him in a long while. Again from my vantage point, the opposition moved it far too easily from the one end of the ground to the other. I commented to my mate and Junior G2C at half time that we haven't been hard to play against this year. We completely reversed that in the second half and we were the ruthless and bold Carlton from last year.
I like GWS, they are a good side and despite Toby having brain fades at time, I'd have him in my side every day of the week and twice on Sundays. BUT their Beveridge clone coach is an utter flog who also has a head you want to punch. He seriously needs some lessons in humility and how to speak respectfully to the media (ie the public). Watch his presser and his carry on over the Greene Boyd incident and tell me if he doesn't make your blood boil.
Yep, it was a real sour grapes presser, GWS have some skillful players but several soft ones who don't like it hard and are way overrated ie Whitfield, Coniglio, Kelly etc and Himmelberg enjoys taking big marks over little players but is pathetic against anyone his own size and without Taylor in the team got exposed as the fraud he is imo. Toby is a top player but can't help himself and turns into a undisciplined sook as does Hogan when things don't go their way...
The two rucks worked exactly as the match committee desired today. Can they repeat consistently ?
As the coach and LP suggested it's a horses for courses approach and we are also short of horses at the minute so we didn't have a lot of options. Riccardi is a good forward but a lousy ruckman and when Briggs tired our blokes took over. I might have tried Leek Aleer in the ruck if I was Kingsley given he was jumping over tall buildings and likes punching the ball and been a bit more inventive when the game started to slip away.
According to coach Kingsley" its hard being Toby"...sometimes I agree he doesnt get calls go his way due to his previous reputation but he was undisciplined tonight and the incident with Boyd showed he had little duty of care imho and there was another I'm sure I saw with Kemp I think it was where he took a swing at him while contesting the ball falling to the ground. Good to see both Cowan and Newman looking after Boyd too and letting Toby know he wasnt going to get away with his BS.... Hogan struck Young in the jaw as well and that should be looked at too.....credit to Young when Weitering got his corkie and couldnt run it was Young who got the job on Hogan and shut him down and showed some physicality which has been lacking in his game...
Dominated in the middle and overpowered GWS who got frustrated and Toby Greene helped us out with some old Toby behaviour. Pittonet played a blinder along with TDK showing some forward craft and credit to the defense for holding up despite injuries and some sore bodies. Cripps and Walsh were the catalysts but two low profile heroes were Cottrell and Boyd who were super effective at opposite ends of the ground. Impressive win given our injury list and dare I say it that was premiership form..
I wouldnt call GWS tough...got a few players who dont like it rough and disappear when it is, no doubting their skills but id be making it as contested as possible and picking players who excel in that area. Blues by 23 points....
