Blokes putting their hands up for senior selection: Boekhorst, Jones, Jaksch, Buckley, Gus... many honourable mentions.
Le Bois blowing out the cobwebs and got more involved in that qtr. Lamb and Sumner good that qtr. Polson more than handy. Cuningham made a few impressive guest appearances but not ahead of Polson or Boekhorst.
Casey challenged early in that second qtr but we weathered the storm then took control of the game again. Cuningham better in that qtr... most CFC listed boys were serviceable or better that qtr. Gus got into the game that qtr and looked good in defense. Phillips serviceable. Buckley providing good run off the backline.
Liked the efforts from (not in order) Jones, Picket, Sumner, Kerr, Boekhorst (probably our best in the first qtr), Polson, Macreadie. Jaksch providing good contests up forward. Gallucci good defensive stuff. Sorry, but Cuningham ordinary... failed tackle, failed to contest on two occasion but did get a free and deliver nicely to Pickett (he's wearing guernsey 16-Cuningham that is).
Great to hear BB in his post match media conference say that ACOS will be get plenty of games this year... begs the question, how many games is he allowed to play as a rookie? Will someone need to be delisted?
Thank you, Spotted One. Phew, I was getting ready for the journey in (1 hr drive, or just over 1 1/2 hours by train). So now, pies in the oven, computer next to the TV, HDMI cable and away we go... Must keep a better eye on the VFL website.
Agreed. I reckon players mouthing off at umpires is on the rise this season...a really bad look
Totally agree. Big waste of energy and in most competitive sports umpires are treated with much more respect... the AFL needs to step in and let all players know that umpire abuse will incur an instant penalty.
These selections are part of the rebuild. We would have a better winning chance with Smedts and Kerridge but the two ins are very good prospects and we have to get games into them. I agree with it, there's no other way.
Makes sense. Perhaps we've categorised games... those where we are playing v good sides in v good form hence give kids an education... and those against lower sides where we have a sniff so rest a kid or 3 and bring in experienced blokes who know their role and give our all to win and feed the members some hope. That's not to say we concede against better sides just that we don't want the value of education to be missed. Or maybe we just pick the best side for the conditions, from who is available.
So our 22 that take us to the final 4 next year. Okay:
Docherty Weitering Plowman
Simpson Marchbank Williamson
Curnow C Cripps Murphy
Silvagni J Casboult Samo P-S
Pickett McKay Fisher
Kreuzer Fyffe Curnow E
Int: Byrne, Macreadie, Wright, Thomas
Emerg: Palmer, Silvagni A, Polson, Le Bois.
Best players in the NBs Premiership victory: our first round pick 2017, our second round pick 2017, S Kerridge, B Smedts, A Phillips, P Kerr (all of whom made important contributions to the senior side throughout 2018).
I guess an important consideration in selection was Etihad. The two ins, especially ZF, have speed over the grass. SOJ exerts terrific forward pressure and will hopefully find the scoreboard.
I get the impression that we are grooming Cunningham as Marc Murphy's "understudy". They might not spend much time playing together at this stage, but I get the idea that he is a longer term slow burn and that we will be giving young draftees more than 2 years to show what they have if there is something we like about them.
Big call, 3 Leos, hope you're right but he certainly hasn't shown yet the consistency or hardness that Murph has. I think it more likely that ZF or Polson would be the Murph replacements.
From what I've seen of Cuningham in the NBs, he doesn't lack opportunities but doesn't always make the most of the opportunities that are presented to him.
I'm not sure that VFL games are meaningless; developing a winning culture has to be embraced at all levels.
Totally agree with the latter.
But not so much the former, Cuningham has been given a couple of opportunities at senior level and has gone missing. The bottom line is that he should be creaming it at NBs level but looks like a good seconds player with flashes of pure class. For example I've not seen him show the desperation with body in the contest as Daisy did at this level, as does Palmer, Kerridge, Graham, Smedts and co. when playing at this level... even Boekhorst has improved his desperation in contests (pity about the disposal!)...
