Everyone was in raptures last night about Henderson going into attack and dominating. It gave the team someone to kick to in confidence because they new that he would make the lead, fight for the ball or take a strong mark. He was ably assisted by Rowe who whilst not being in the same league as Henderson, did play the CHF position better than anyone we've seen for some time.
In defence we had Jamison, who admittedly made some shocking errors, but he is a proven key position defender. He was ably assisted by MATHEW WATSON, that's right, the lad we took with our first pick in the 2010 National Draft at #18. He's a big kid too, 195cm & 100kg if you don't mind !!
I am one of many who is of the opinion that Watson won't make it and for a variety of reasons. He is quite slow, is not particularly strong overhead but his kicking is enough to bring back the old 'woof' cry (he is a left-footer like Christou too).
The thing is, if he was to really improve his game and warrant regular selection, it really straightens up our spine immeasurably. Now I'm not going to suggest that he should be gifted games between now & the end of the season to give him more confidence or the like, but what I do think may be a better option is for the people at our club to work on his fitness, body shape & overall agility. Whether we have the people at the club capable of doing this is actually a completely seperate & lengthy discussion on its own.
To me, Watson always looks like a young kid with a lot of 'puppy fat' on him, his body shape is not ideal for our game either. If you look at Karmicheal Hunt from the Suns, they have worked with him to reshape & remodel his body away from the typical NRL shaped player to one that works well in the AFL. Watson may benefit from the same sort of treatment !!
It would be a great waste (to me anyway) if we were to flick Watson before we put some intensive work into him to find out if he is the answer to our problems. I'm not saying that it is a 100% guaranteed winner idea, just a preference to give the guy one belting pre-season fitness campaign specifically designed to change him around.
If it doesn't work, then we could do what we wanted with him in the knowledge that we gave it our best shot.
Jamison Watson Judd Henderson Boyd
It's a spine that might test a few opposition teams.
I agree with this. While his NB's form has been patchy his he's never let anyone down when he's played for Carlton. No opponent's got a hold of him yet. For some reason his form improved. Could be a confidence thing. His speed actually tested ok at the draft camp although the first few steps are a be a touch slow. I think his could drop a couple of kg's and it could improve his speed. Don't think he need to be 100kg as a CHB. Like the way he closed on Reiwoldt the other night to create a spoil.
As the H-Sun said today it's vital that we develop him as it allows Henderson to go to CHF. It would improve our structure to the point of almost being almost potent when everyone is there.
Get good movement out of defence though the midfield and that forward line could be very damaging. Watson's ball use can only add to that. Wouldn't need to fill key positions with ruckmen anymore.
Casboult while probably shading Rowe in the ruck he doesnt do enough when played forward and being such a poor kick wont appeal to Malthouse IMO.....he best chance to remain on the list is if either warnock or Hampson are traded out...
Problem is EB1, I reckon both Casboult & Rowe are VERY ordinary in the ruck, I don't think either of them should be pinch-hitting in the ruck, as the team suffers immeasurably when they do.
Much netter though than having a ruckman hold down the key forward post due to wanting a 2nd ruck. I'll sacrifice a few taps to have a genuine forward. You can always rove to the opposition ruck . Like it or not, one ruck and a pinch-hitter provides our best balance. Only difference between Rowe and Casboult, beside kicking from close range (Casboult bombs just nicely from outside 50) is Rowe is a better player close to goal. Casboult, with his marking, plays better up and around the ground, not as much close to goal.
N e 1 hear MM's presser after the game? Was listening on radio on way home and they were asking why Watto hasnt been getting a game.......I nearly drove off the road when MM said that Watto's form ALL YEAR has been very encouraging but Jamo and hendo were doing the job for him. His form encouraging
I cant take MM seriously any more after that. Cudo's to Watto for last nights effort. It wasnt awe inspiring but he did " a " job and passed. Hopefully he can keep it up and prove to everybody that he really does want to be a Blue.
If he gets asked the question a smart coach isn't going to talk him down. He is a whipping boy and often plays alot better than everyone thinks. He has his knocks, intensity, pace etc.., which I have seen, but hasn't let anyone down yet when he's played seniors. Remember he's just a 20yo KP player. Would be such a massive bonus to our entire structure if he made it.
Watching the replay. Surprised how well a couple of times Watson closed on opposition leads, once on Reiwoldt and got the spoil in. Like to see him lighten off a little to help his pace. With continuity and confidence he could well do okay. Need to keep playing him, being 20, to develop that confidence. It's helps our forward line alot if he succeeds.
Henderson was just what we needed tonight. Rowe is a keeper if he can get his endurance working . Watson probably did more in the seniors than he does in the juniors. Simo well done, Judd same old magic, and Garlett getting more active along with Yarran. Much better efforts. Not pretty but better for certain.
I just can't agree with you there Mantis, I reckon he is a stop-gap measure until a better option comes along. He plays the CHF position pretty well due to his years of experience in the role at Norwood but he has some limitations which will get exposed against the better teams.
I will say this though, he's a much better key forward option for us than Casboult purely on the back of his kicking for goal.
Apparently Rowe has just signed a 1 year contract for next season. So he is going to be around for a little while longer
I don't know about Casboult, who is a better mark, but a worse kick and who also tends to run under the ball too much. I can't see both of them there next year, but there is also Mitchell.
Most of us can identify some of Rowe's issues, especially when the ball hits the ground. However, if we can get him playing to his strengths, rather than his weaknesses, he does give us something. Ross Ditchburn also had weaknesses, but we played to his strengths and he was top goal kicker for us.
Rowe's signed a contract and Casboult has one and has shown quite a bit at times. Both will still be here and so they should be. Rowe seems alot more natural forward, and hope last night does alot for his confidence. Casboult's very best games have been we he can use his marking, and pack crashing abilties, up and around the ground as he did with his 10 good marks in the Esssendon game.
Geeze, Watson moved like an Iceberg. Surely gone either this year or next.
Rutten moves like one too.. but everyone has a hard-on for him
Ummm...Rutten is a proven, AA full-back, reads the play as well as any defender in the AFL & uses his body extremely well one-on-one, with a reputation 2nd-to-none.....
Your turn sir.....
One's around 30yo, the other's 20. Much of Rutten's strength develop with time. Can't remember how Rutten was at 20 though.
This "umpire's call" is sh1tting me this Test. Watto gets given out and the must've just clipped the vanish. When we appealed in England's innings, gets given not out, and 49.99999% of the ball was clipping, not change to change it from the 50% needed to overturn the umpire's call. Bell reviewed the exact same one yesterday and the same type of ball just missed leg and it was overturned. I had no problems with Watson reviewing. Could've been another millimetre, as in Bell's case, and the decision would've been overturned.
I'd be tempted to play Waite as CHB when he's available and use him as a swingman with Hendo. Let Hendo and Rowe settle in the forward line a while
I still reckon Waite has played his best football at CHB.
Leave him forward with Henderson. May as well make the forward line as potent as possible. Still remember big bodies like Brown smashing him and kicking 10 on him when he was CHB.
Henderson was just what we needed tonight. Rowe is a keeper if he can get his endurance working . Watson probably did more in the seniors than he does in the juniors. Simo well done, Judd same old magic, and Garlett getting more active along with Yarran. Much better efforts. Not pretty but better for certain.
I just can't agree with you there Mantis, I reckon he is a stop-gap measure until a better option comes along. He plays the CHF position pretty well due to his years of experience in the role at Norwood but he has some limitations which will get exposed against the better teams.
I will say this though, he's a much better key forward option for us than Casboult purely on the back of his kicking for goal.
Wonder how Rowe would go at CHB once the tank develops. I'd like to go with the MM Pies way of having Waite, Henderson with Casboult doing a Leigh Brown type role. Like to see Menzel play too. Make our forward line more potent.
That Broad decision was the worst I've ever seen. Both the umpire and player should hang their head in disgrace. I can understand waiting for the umpire's decision for a fine knick, as you get good one's and bad one's, but for a cross bat, hard thick edge to slip? All you're seen as is a cheat in the public's eyes for something obvious and the umpire is seen as purely incompetent to the point of being stupid. Alam Dar is a good umpire but he'll see that as one of the worst moments for his umpring career.
