This game is also set for Good Friday, at 12:30.
The 2's will need to do a lot better to be competitive. Yesterday's performance was sub-par, to say the least.
However, we might have a player or two back from injury.
The long term forecast is for wet weather.
Team has not been announced yet, but it will have 3 fewer AFL guys. It will be raining, so I hope we show more heart than last week.
It seems our VFL team is like some kind of incubator, a testing ground, a football experiment; we are not really a side. And this is often how we play. There are a few players that show some 'heart' and seem to want to play for the jumper, but most are just happy to turn up.
When you think about it, the players that are playing in the 2nd's are exactly that - seconds players. I wonder if that contributes to our poor showing, the demotivated, poor form players litter the team, and only those that have real drive actually show enough to succeed. It may be a reason there is such a difference in other sides, perhaps they build a culture that we simply have not.
It seems our VFL team is like some kind of incubator, a testing ground, a football experiment; we are not really a side. And this is often how we play. There are a few players that show some 'heart' and seem to want to play for the jumper, but most are just happy to turn up.
When you think about it, the players that are playing in the 2nd's are exactly that - seconds players. I wonder if that contributes to our poor showing, the demotivated, poor form players litter the team, and only those that have real drive actually show enough to succeed. It may be a reason there is such a difference in other sides, perhaps they build a culture that we simply have not.
I think the VFL team is there to be a fertile ground to plant a few kids and see them grow into senior footballers.
Winning has to take a second place to that Imho......cant remember too many successful VFL teams over the journey other than when David Teague was coaching and we had a couple of good seasons.
I think the VFL team is there to be a fertile ground to plant a few kids and see them grow into senior footballers.
Winning has to take a second place to that Imho......cant remember too many successful VFL teams over the journey other than when David Teague was coaching and we had a couple of good seasons.
Yes, we seem to prefer youngsters with potential ahead of seasoned journeymen. That may cost us games but we could unearth a player or two.
Of course, Luke Power won’t be satisfied with mediocre performances but he’s not a miracle worker.
Binns has shown plenty. Including a goal from the boundary. Dow & Kemp stand out as you'd expect. Fogarty's pressure is consistent. Akui doesn't seem familiar with the game aside flying for a mark. Hope he gets the hang of it soon.
The boys are doing OK in wet, slippery conditions and we're up by 20 points at half time: 5.8.38 to 2.6.18.
Most of the AFL listed players are contributing and I'd have Plowman as BoG to half time. Parks is doing well and seems a lot more composed than he was in his AFL games.
Gee the Kangabies are going in hard and trying to ruffle our boys. But, to no avail. Hard to believe this is the same VFL side as last week... 55pts up nearing 3/4 time. Great spread of contributors.
3/4 time. Up by 55 pts.
It's good to see Brodie Kemp clunking his marks.
So, Dow dominating, Kemp dominating, Binns having a good ol dip, Plow BOG and yet we have blokes picked for 1s very happy with themselves living the AFL dream and not contributing (as far as us laymen can tell). This doesn't set a good example if you ask me.
Very good by the lads.
Only eight out of 25 players are AFL listed.
Lemmey showing plenty of craft.
Akuei continues to improve every game he plays
Binns is an excellent wingman for an 18 year old doesnt turn 19 until October.
Kemp is ready to step in if Gov decides to move on
We can only hope the penny has dropped for Dow.
BlueBaggers by 52. Final margin. 14.14 v 6.10. Ronke 4 goals. Like the look of this lad!
Dow another 30+ ::)
Dow another 30+ ::)
and 2 goals. Was pretty good from what I saw but of course won't get to the 1's
Really happy with Kemp's game. Very composed and only saw him make one mistake
Ronke was handy
Plowman played well
The whole team was good really, but maybe the opposition weren't any good
That's what a convincing win looks like. Well done Luke Power and co 👏🏼
We owned the ball and dominated in the air all game. Despite that, we out tackled North as well. Really enjoyed the pressure applied across the ground. We seemed very well organised. Big Harry is a beautiful kick from outside 50.
Now for our seniors to follow suit.
The best thing that could happen for players like Dow is a "mid-season trade".
Surely there are teams out there where they could find a senior spot for a player like Dow, and in return we may be able to fill a need.
(player or future pick)
It's not likely Dow will get a senior game even if he racked up fifty.
He can't even win a spot on the bench with key mid-fielders out.
He's obviously not meeting key criteria (whatever they may be), and at this stage is unlikely to do so.
That might not be a barrier to a spot in another team.
Just for the sake of giving the bloke an opportunity we should be able to part company 'mid-year'
Dow another 30+ ::)
Dow had a quiet second half by his standards after 20+ in the first half. His best is outstanding but he has patches where he does little and there are times when his decision making is poor
Problem with Dow that doesn't translate to AFL - for his skill set he hasn't got that relentless attack and cracking in from contest to contest.
Yep.
I think we've done to death the fact that he can't seem to make the transition to senior level with our side.
As it's grown stronger he's drifted more and more off the pace.
But the guy played 22 games in his first season and not once did he drop below double figure posessions.
Teague seemed to switch from the Bolton 'development' model, where the young boys got a bit of mid-field, game time to relying more on the older guys (murphy et al).
The fact that we started winning presented another barrier to players like Dow.
One aspect of retaining him is that it probably requires a bit of an explanation to other players as to why he isn't getting a game.
How would that feel for the player?
The fact that Dow 'keeps on keeping' on with this 'talk' around him is probably a credit to him.
It may be that what's being asked of him is just a bridge too far.
Surely, though, there's a side out there that could accomodate him.
Dow vs LDU is simply opportunity.
Will he be our Luke Ball?
Problem with Dow that doesn't translate to AFL - for his skill set he hasn't got that relentless attack and cracking in from contest to contest.
And Honey, Fisher and LOB do? I'd have Dow in the side before those three that's for sure.
And Honey, Fisher and LOB do? I'd have Dow in the side before those three that's for sure.
Fisher and Dow is like for like I actually rate Dow above Fisher.
Lob is a winger and Dow cant play there , Honey is a small half forward and he cant play there either.
Fisher and Dow is like for like I actually rate Dow above Fisher.
Lob is a winger and Dow cant play there , Honey is a small half forward and he cant play there either.
Shuffle the deck chairs and get players in who give effort, Honey, LOB and Fisher were putrid. SOS not far behind that trio.
(https://resources.carltonfc.com.au/photo-resources/2023/04/07/1d767693-f11d-4e2d-800f-9c9650b1cbc6/VFL-R3-Team.png?width=1904)
This was published around midday. Far too late for me to post it. Such is life. Will probably be the same next week.
Of interest:
[1] 3 guys debuting for us: Mills, Lefroy and Kuipers. Mills is a strong defender from Echuca Bombers. Jack Lefroy is from the Ammos. Kuiper is a tall ex-volleyballer at 197 cm.
[2] Cuningham and Leiu were out injured. Cuningham had calf tightness and wasn't risked.
I'll comment more after I see the game. I haven't seen a moment yet.
Having seen the game now, I do have some comments;
[1] Kemp is holding his marks at the moment. He is playing pretty well in a role not that much different to McGovern's. He is a different player when he's holding his marks!
[2] If Dow could hit the side of a barn, he'd be a senior player every week. I like the fact that he had 5 tackles this week. But maybe half of his possessions go nowhere.
[3] I like that it was a small that hurt them this round. A lot of guys who were so quiet last week really stood up. Ramshaw, Binns, Fogarty, Ronke, Cahill and Dozzi not just got the ball but chased and tackled hard.
[4] Crocker is definitely not in form. He was getting to the ball well enough, but it just wasn't happening for him. he isn't far off it, but ...
[5] Lemmey has a long way to go, but there are certainly things to like:
(a) his clean hands.
(b) his lovely kicking style.
(c) his ability to go forward or back, or take the ruck hitouts.
I'd like to see more urgency, more desire, but he did some nice things, and his kicking at goal was beautiful and so unlike H's.
[6] Plowman wants back in the seniors. Unlike last season, when he was so far away from fitness and confidence, he is taking his marks, mostly making good decisions (he wouldn't be Plow if he didn't have a couple of odd moments) and really providing some drive from defence. It is really nice to see.
[7] Another guy who is still some way off it is Dom Akuei, but he is really making some progress. He is going to take mark of the year at some point, his decision making is much improved, as is his defending. I'm not sure he is ever going to be an AFL footballer, but it is really nice to see the marked improvement in his game.