Think I read Newnes had 10 scoring involvements vs Port, bit of a quiet achiever...
That’s a real surprise and fingers crossed that he does it again
I don’t mind Newnes, but wouldn’t even consider him ahead of Dow. If we have our eye on a premiership, we need Dow to emerge at AFL level, breaking lines.
Too many average players in the side and if it was not for some great efforts by Young and Newman in the last qtr we may have been discussing a loss.
Rather than fitness our midfield and defensive six are not great at maintaining structure behind the ball, nor are they making good decisions under pressure/fatigue - part of this is physical as many have suggested, but I’d say the issue is mostly mental. Are our players intelligent enough to know where they need to stand/understand players next option and position as a defensive unit to cut it off? Do they keep their composure under pressure? Do they know when and how to play tempo footy? Do they know not to telegraph their next move so as to invite pressure on the player receiving the ball? Do they will themselves to stick a tackle when a side is surging??
Unfortunately, the reality is that the answer to many of the questions above (not all) for players such as Newnes, Cottrell, Parks, Boyd, LoB & Plowman is a resounding “no” so if we are to be successful this year it’s very clearly a specific role or the VFL for the majority of these guys.
Hamill also has a lot of work to do on the back six - our third tall in defence simply isn’t working in McGovern’s absence and we know that we can’t rely on Mitch’s body holding up. We also haven’t found a reliable, strong lockdown defender for opposition small forwards. Whilst there are not too many options on the list, I’d start seriously considering playing DeKoning at CHB, Weitering FB and Young (or potentially Kemp) 3rd tall until McGovern returns. Additionally, TDK gives us some structural flexibility if needed. For the lockdown defender, Fogarty/Cottrell may be worth testing in that role as I don’t think that Stocker is quick or agile enough to play the role.
We also desperately need some pace - Dow, Philp would both be handy additions and I don’t accept the assertion that Newnes/Cottrell are better on the wing than Dow.
Lots to think through because the current combination won’t get the job done against a decent side.
It seems to me this coaching group has put an emphasis on players that can tackle. If you are weak in this part of the game then you need to bring strengths in other areas. Newnes and Cottrell while not great by foot but still ok run all day and can lay a good tackle. This stops the opposition from slaughtering us on the outside.
Dow’s tackling is ok and surely has Newnes and Cottrell covered in most areas. Anyway time will tell if there is a last minute change to bring Dow in.
Whether Cripps plays or not, I would like to see Dow and Stocker in along with Durdin and Pitto (if fit). There a few options that can make way for the above, chose from: Martin Fisher Boyd Owies Newman Plowman Fogarty (I had really high hopes for this guy but...)
Isn’t it amazing how it’s plainly obvious to most supporters but not the inner sanctum.
Some may say that’s because we’re less informed or don’t understand what the coaching panel is instructing the players to do (and there is truth to that), but I also think the players personality, charisma, friendships have an impact.
On that basis, Plowman’s personality must be off the charts!!
Won't be winning many games without a dual ruck setup, Pittonet is our Nankervis, not pretty but very competitive and a strong presence. Young is handy but McDonald for me is a safer bet down back. Stocker has to come in to give us another smaller defender who defends.. Williams, Newman, Saad, Docherty, Boyd all rebound well but it's one too many rebounders for me.. Cerra needs to contest better, pulled up short with the oncoming player think it was Weller and it's not good enough. Martin and Fisher got junk time kicks but we're missing most of the game, Setterfield also very quiet, O'Brien was reasonable. Plowman...??. Never thought I'd say this but McGovern's absence has hurt our structure..
Agreed. We desperately missed McGovern’s closing speed and distribution.
Kennedy was also woeful today and if he wants to be taken seriously his best and worst can’t be that far apart.
Our work rate and positioning on transition wasn’t up to it again, so Voss has got his work cut out.
Time is officially running out for Jack Martin - l He’s got the skill but simply doesn’t work hard enough. Needs to pull his finger out. Ditto Fisher, Cerra and Kennedy.
My take on Boyd from the pre-season game(s) i saw him in was that he was dead last on the pecking order on our list and daylight was second last.
Now, i could see why we chose him when we did (even if he wasn't a big need - hello KPD!) but he did have a decent kick on him and didn't mind a run. Between him, and LOB, we didn't have much else (obviously behind Saad...and maybe Martin). But his kicking was absolutely horrendous in the praccy matches and i can't see how it will improve with the increased pressure of an actual AFL game. I hope i'm wrong, but i think this is our biggest selection blunder thus far.
He was very clearly off the pace at AFL level and that was only at the speed of a practice match. He was rushed into turnover after turnover.
Hawks won't be the easybeats we imagined. They're embarrassing Port Adelaide on their own dungheap.
Talking about ruckmen, Ned Reeves stands at 211 cm and 104 kg. He's young, 23, but the height advantage gives him a head start. McEvoy is now trying to play forward while Reeves takes the ruck.
Their midfield includes O'Meara, Mitchell & Worpel. They have a 197 cm tall midfielder from Ireland, Connor Nash, who has the speed and agility you'd expect from a Gaelic footballer. And they've added a high draft pick, Josh Ward, to their midfield.
Up forward, they have Gunston, Breust, Mitch Lewis & Chad Wingard. Down back, they have Sicily and CJ. CJ is ridiculously athletic and has dominated so far this season after an injury last year.
Just when we thought we could take it easy after the Tigers & Dogs ...
They look very good - good talks forward abs back and mids that go hard. We’ll have to be at our absolute best.
Interesting selection this week with Cerra a certainty to return and J Martin also likely - assume that Fogarty and one of Setterfield/Owies or Fisher make way?
Dow is bashing down the door in the 2s and I’d much prefer him in the side rather than either of Setterfield or O’Brien, but acknowledge that it would be a very tough call to drop OBrien after a decent outing against the Dogs.
Barring more C19 interruptions, most likely to be one change Cerra in and Fogarty out and Dow will need to wait - just don’t want him to become Heath Scotland at Collingwood because that almost certainly ends with him leaving for no return on our investment.
I think Charlie might regain form more readily if he is played as a mobile, up-the-ground forward and leaving the high marking to TDK and Harry. This would allow Charlie to use his mobility to advantage in one-on-one contests instead of having him trying to contest pack marks. With his kicking range, he could still be a goal-kicker by floating into the 50 rather than being stationed there.
Agree with this
In relation to this weeks side, I’d be giving O’Brien, Setterfield and Owies a rest for Dow, Kemp and Motlop.
OBrien runs well and always seems to get to the right spot but struggles to hold body position and is prone errant disposal until little to no pressure - he’s a battler at AFL level and either of Dow or Kemp would be far more effective
Owies is paid to lock the ball in our F50 and kick goals and he couldn’t deliver the latter. You don’t get many chances as a small forward and you need to take them and from the little I’ve seen of Motlop he can bring the pressure, can finish and has a bag of tricks. He’s a beauty.
I’d be looking to get Kemp in the side pronto and whilst Setterfield wasn’t disgraced he still lacks the intensity that we need.
re Dow... Vossy said in an interview, specifically about him, that there is only so many people you can play in the team at once....and only so many positions a player can play. Dow is clearly a mid. We have plenty of other mids who need time in the middle - Cerra, Hewitt, Cripps as starters (with Walsh out) and with Kennedy, Ed (who didn't play last week) and a few others basically fighting for the same spot.
I think Dow needs another string to his bow, so we can rest him forward (or back) when he isn't used in the middle.
We do need some outside run and none of those above give us breakaway pace. For that reason I think it’s a mistake not investing more time in Dow.
