Frankston vs. Northern Blues Sunday 4th August Frankston Oval at 11:00AM
Frankston B: N. Newman Beech Williams HB: Giobbi Cunningham Edwards C: Miller Sutton Dyson HF: Hill Calvert Cooper F: Sykes Boland Clements R: A. Forato Bosward Williams Int: Fox Kennedy Rolfe Tuddenham Maynard Murnane Bateman Gardiner Bailey
Northern Blues B: Yelland Valladares Dirago HB: McDonald Currie Clark C: Lincoln Taglieri Gleeson HF: Bonaddio Mitchell Cattapan F: Dorman Visser Soncin R: Meese Ballard Bransgrove Int: Drew Delahunty Dufficy Burgess A. Bell D. Watson Petroro Toman Jenkins
Frankston vs. Northern Blues Sunday 4th August Frankston Oval at 2:00PM
Frankston B: Jennings J. Irving Dermott HB: Clark Simpson J. Newman* C: Cass Hockey Buchan HF: Alwan Haretuku C. Irving F: Lloyd Lourey Pongracic R: Gabriel Kitchin Potts Int: Bosward Matheson Purcell A. Forato Giobbi Edwards Delahunty Boland Miller
Northern Blues B:Davies Coulson* Joseph HB:O'Keeffe Bootsma Posar C:Menzel Lambert A. Gianfagna HF: Thomas F. Dale Temay F:Buckley Casboult Wilson R:Warnock T. Bell Graham Int: Lincoln Marcon McDonald Visser Dirago Meese Mitchell Dorman Bransgrove
Duigan is missing: he got a 2 week suspension at the VFL tribunal during the week. I didn't see the incident, so I have no idea how justified it was. Maybe RR can shed some light on it?
Our team this weekend is quite small, especially as Bootsma is CHB and Dale is CHF. I don't know who is going to play on Haratuku yet: he beat Watson last time we played a few weeks ago.
Mitchell is named on the bench. I am not sure what that means, but he had only 1 possession last weekend, a handball.
Nothing is certain in the world of TV, but at the moment there is only 1 game set for Saturday 24th August at around 1:00 PM, and that is the Baby Blues vs. Williamstown at Willi. That is the afternoon of the Essendon game, so hopefully a few enthusiastic Blues can get down to the ground.
It doesn't look like I will be able to make it, but I will follow closely on the box.
In advance, thank you to all of you who could make it to the games this year and given us a report: it has been a pleasure to read the information from people who are there, even when the reports are not as positive as I could hope.
Thank you also to Matt Lodge and co for the game information from twitter. This has been an excellent service this year. I have found it extremely informative and helpful.
Can't drop Lucas on one average performance, he was BOG a few weeks back when we got smashed by the Pies and has been good enough since then.
Bell doesn't seem to be one of the coaches favs. I'd be up for a look at Graham for sure.
Lucas did cop a decent hit. Maybe concussed?
Certainly not right after it happened. We were right to sub him off. Maybe we should give him the week off and give Graham a go. Freo would certainly have seen very little of him. Or Tom Bell, for a bit of extra strength.
Team: B I seem to be stuck at this 'B' level lately, but I think that we could have done better had we kicked better. Do that next week against Freo and we are toast. However, there were a lot of positives and it was a solid hit out.
Explanations: It wasn't easy to give votes this week as the stats don't really show as much as they can. For example, Gibbs had a lot of the ball, but nobody has even considered giving him a vote. Yazz didn't get a lot of the ball, but was deadly when he did get it and had 5 tackles, our equal highest (for the 2nd week in a row). [2.5] Kreuzer: Kreuzer didn;t get huge numbers of possessions, but he did produce probably his best effort as a tap ruckman. He got huge numbers of taps to advantage and really made the midfield's jobs easier. [2.5] Simpson: Simmo is relishing an excellent vein of form at the moment. He had 13 marks, and most of those were interceptions, as well as a lot of possessions. [2] Curnow: Really hurt the Suns with his efforts on Ablett. Ablett had more ball, but at much less efficiency and managed a lot of junk possessions. Curnow's hurt. [1.5] Scotland: Best effort of the year going by possessions. Very competent and gave his opponents a lesson on getting the ball. [1.5] Murphy: Best effort for some time, with a lot of clearances. Still not at his best, but definitely on the way back. [1.5] Henderson: A great target up forward who kicked goals, not just points. Gave our forward line a potency it has lacked for some time. [1] McLean: Very solid effort, especially in the centre square. [1] Judd: Not huge numbers, but almost every possession was contested and most were clearances. He really hurt the Suns far more than his numbers might suggest. [0.5] Walker: Very solid, accumulating a lot of ball and not letting his man do much. [0.5] Armfield: A very solid job, and his best effort in some time. His goals were excellent. [0.5] Garlett: Dangerous. Pacy. Would have been a much bigger vote getter if he could kick straight on the day.
Honourable Mentions: Betts: Not far behind Garlett, Eddie played his most effective game for some time. Still not quite there, especially in the air, but he is getting closer. Gibbs: Very solid and got much more ball than I expected. Tuohy: Very solid in defence. Did his job very well. Yarran: Numbers were not huge, but his effect was considerable. 5 tackles and a lot more defensive pressure. Robinson: Not a huge game, but an effective one. He put on a lot of physical pressure. He will be better.
Carlton-listed players in descending order of usefulness against poor opposition in good conditions.
The first 7 played well enough to be considered for senior selection next round if there are any vacancies.
Nick Graham = Very good first half – almost as good in the second - only Lambert was ahead of him for BOG Nick Duigan = Played as a lead up forward and impressed with his speed, marking and endeavour Levi Casboult = Some useful ruckwork but particularly good in marking contests and his kicking looked better than at any other time since he arrived at the club – not just accuracy but his whole approach to set shots at goal looked deliberate and confident Robert Warnock = One of his better games – good in the ruck and more than useful around the ground Tom Bell = Good game but not our best midfielder Jeremy Laidler = Played in defence and looked much more at home Aaron Joseph = Typically good game in defence
Marcus Davies = Typically solid defensive effort Troy Menzel = Some brilliance but quite a lot of invisibility in between times Tom Temay = Played quite well today, especially in the first half – probably the best game I have seen from him Rhys O’Keeffe = Played with dash and vigour – best game back from his long lay off Frazer Dale = Looks accomplished in the air and has good balance – worthwhile contributor Dylan Buckley = Some brilliance but lots of invisibility in between times Luke Mitchell = Should have played in the early game again – spent no more than 50% of the game on the ground and managed one kick off the ground – a bollard would have been as useful and almost as fast
Thanks for the report, RR. Some good news: Graham, Duigan, Bell and Laidler, for example. Not so good news about Buckley and Mitchell. Nichevo.
I'm glad Tom Temay played decently. He played pretty well last week in the shocking conditions at Box Hill. Now he's done a bit in good conditions. He seems to be moving forward, after a very slow start to the year.
I'm really surprised that Richmond, sorry, Coburg, were so ordinary. They had been pretty good and had a lot of Richmond guys named (I have no idea how many actually played). But you can only play what they put out on the day, so I'm pretty pleased by the result.
If Laidler is continually played as a forward and is denied the opportunity at senior level then I call MM a "C". Let's face facts. Most of Micks changes appear to be anti Ratts. Walker to the backline, No Laids or Duigs, Yazz the forward, disrespect of Eddie, love of Lucas. I actually expect to see Laids seek a trade back to Geelong and he will become a gun.
Walker is playing probably his best season to date, Lucas has taken a big step forward, Yazz has been made to have a much needed attitude adjustment and I can't see any evidence of Eddie being disrespected. If all of these changes are to discredit Ratten's coaching, then it proves that Ratten needed to be sacked because everything you've mentioned has improved the team.
Neither Laidler or Duigan have been setting the world on fire in the 2's, even when Laidler has been played back it hasn't been exceptional.
No offence to anyone involved, especially Laids, but last week was the first time this year that he really DEMANDED his spot back in defence. I liked it. If he can replicate that today, then he DESERVES a senior game in defence. I hope he can get one to show what he can do. I don't think Malthouse thinks Laids is the answer, but even he can change his mind if he gets his nose rubbed in it badly enough.
A few bagging Carrots I didn't think he was awful, I thought he was excellent when he went down back.
I think we all agree that Carrots is nowhere near his best: his decision making on the ball especially is not up to his normal standard. However, he was far from crappy. He managed 25 possessions at the same effectiveness of Murphy (who had 27). After half time he had a job which he did well enough. I think he still needs a little confidence and more game time to find the form we all love. A couple of weeks back I suggested he might need a week or 2 with the Baby Blues. I think he is past that now - he is getting more ball. He needs a few things to go right, a couple of big wins, to get his confidence back.
We all love Sam Rowe. He is not quite good enough, but more than useful. I think Sam needs games. We might need him in the backline too! Tell me, how did Mat Watson go? Not many kicks, but good goal. Is he paying his way, or is he a weak-link-awaiting-proof? Would be good if he came through !!
To be honest, I wasn't disappointed in Watson's effort. He did what he had to. His various opponents didn't do a lot: most of Gold Coast's attacks went through Charlie Dixon (who Jamo minded when he played forward). If they had used Day's agility against Watto, they might have got somewhere, but they didn't. Watson's goal was very nice and he really liked it.
Northern Blues vs. Coburg Sunday 28th July Preston City Oval at 1:00 PM
Northern Blues
B Coulson* Dirago Joseph HB A. Gianfagna Davies Duigan CDale Cachia O'Keeffe HF Wilson Laidler Temay FBuckley Casboult Menzel RWarnock Graham Lambert Int Posar Meese Bransgrove Thomas Lincoln Currie Mitchell T. Bell Marcon
Coburg B: Batchelor Elton Astbury HB: Ellis Dea Tuck C: Conca Clifton Lonergan HF: Carnell Griffiths Nahas F: O'Hanlon A. Edwards McGuane R: Stephenson Arnot Helbig Int: Groves Thomas McDonough N. Maric Uysal A. Saad Venditti Darrou Brandt McBean Derickx Boyd* Verrier
Nice to see Tom Bell named. I wonder if he'll play? Coburg have had the wood over us recently. Aaron Edwards has had leather poisoning and kicked heaps. I hope there are a few Tigers who are going to play senior footy, as their team looks much better than usual. Stephenson also tends to play well against us. I hope we can show some of the spirit and endeavour we displayed last week.
With Cachia playing today at Metricon instead of Bootsma, there will be at least 1 change. I don't know if Boots can play, if he is ready to play. I hope Tom Bell is ready to play!
Rowe was very unconvincing today. He has no second effort, and if not on his terms, sometimes even no first effort. Can take a mark when he wants, but he is a bit too stand offish for mine.
Bottom line....
If Warnock's fit and available Rowe doesn't play.
Not for me...I'm still sticking with Rowe, we need a second ruckman but one who can take a mark and give us some options....Warnock is still a lampost who can only play ruck. Rowe wasnt great today, didnt take enough marks or get involved enough but i think we have to get away from rotating our KP/rucks when they have a ordinary game or two. You have to build confidence to build a structure and I think Rowe has to be educated and given a chance to settle.......if you did drop Rowe then I reckon it has to be Casboult who comes in...at least he can play more than one position. I dont see Warnock as an option unless Kruezer gets hurt.
re: Waite...happy to have him back in the team but he isnt a ruckman and you still need a backup for Kruezer wether it be Rowe or Casboult.
Rowe has got the nod because he can take a grab (even though he barely had a touch today) and his ruck work isn't bad. Casboult's best is better, but his worse is much worse. Similar to Hampson - when he is at his best, he is a great benefit to the team, but when he is down he is a real liability who turns gold into faeces. Warnock is still our best tap ruckman, but, while he is trying to improve the other aspects of his game, he hasn't convinced me he has made it yet. I hope he can: 206 cm guys who can run a long time don't grow on trees. However.....
