This Sunday at 2:00 PM. Definitely not on TV, more is the pity. Richmond and Essendon appear to be Channel 7's favourites, as they are both on again.
The suggestion is that Kreuzer will be back. Considering that Northern didn't have a recognized ruckman against at least 3 B*mber rucks and still almost won, then Kreuzer could make a big difference.
It will be very interesting to see how the teams line up.
Crash, I heard Kreuzer struggled in his last game, almost as though he was lost. Does he look like he can fin some form in the next few weeks. I wouldn't rush him back to the seniors unless he gets some confidence.
To be honest, I wouldn't call him 'lost', but he looked like he had a LONG way to go against North Ballarat. His ruck work was just so so, against a decent pair of rucks. He didn't do much around the ground or up forward. Warnock was far more effective and even kicked 2 goals. In fact, it was Warnock lifting his game late in the 3rd quarter that got the Blues back into the game.
I would not be rushing Kreuzer into the seniors, not by a long shot. He needs to get 40+ taps and 20+ possessions before I'd even think about it.
Lost, that's what happens when you play a bloke who is potentially one of the leagues best ruckmen as a forward or defender.
crape like that has to stop, good players playing in their best positions, not a bunch of standardised robots who are 8/10ths of feck all everywhere else on the ground!
Box Hill Hawks vs. Northern Blues
Sunday, May 31
Box Hill City Oval at 2pm
Box Hill Hawks
B: Miles Heatherley Gordon
HB: Mirra Litherland Crocker
C: Suckling Simpkin Whitecross
HF: Sicily Anderson Willsmore
F: Iles Grimley O'Brien
R: Pittonet O'Rourke Woodward
Int: P. McEvoy Summers Hardisty Collins Williams S. Gibson* Lock Evans Lawlor
Northern Blues
B: McGuinness Jaksch Fields
HB: Wilkinson Foster Smith
C: Dick Walsh Whiley
HF: Bransgrove Dirago Ellard
F: Johnson Watson Gowers
R: Kreuzer Boekhorst Holman
Int: Bolger Walton Wilson Aurrichio Ballard* Johnston Strachan Armitage Russell
We can't seem to take a trick on the injury front. At least this week the Blues have a ruckman in the team.
I know I flag that particular horse a fair bit, but we just do not have enough rucks on our list. It was a stupid error than was unnecessary. If we were only going to manage with 3, and one of those injured (Kreuzer), then the NB's needed at least 1. But the nearest to a true ruckman is Bolger and he isn't big enough for the job and young Aurrichio had never played there before and was being groomed to be a defender. That is simply poor management and dumb recruiting. Hopefully we learn our lesson soon. I'm not going to live forever!
Box Hill Hawks vs. Northern Blues
Sunday, May 31
Box Hill City Oval at 11am
Box Hill Hawks
B: Codd-Miller Lock Collins
HB: Exon McEvoy Fisher
C: Evans Lawlor Franetic
HF: Burt L. Langford Switkowski
F: Graham Williams Jones
R: Z. Monkhorst Hardisty Tatupu
Int: Traynor Donoghue Murphy Walker Munks R. Monkhorst Bond Dimasi Zema Summers Kidd Vizzarri Sheridan-Ferrie
Northern Blues
B: Langwell J. Roberts Porter
HB: McDonald M. Gleeson Johnston
C: Haynes Soncin Strachan
HF: Murray Walton Totevski
F: Armitage Coulson Bolger
R: Aurrichio Perry Cattapan
Int: Aujla Tardio K. Roberts Yelland Whillas Stevens Kinsella Conlon Wild Kilpatrick McDonagh Jenkins
Yarran going down opens a spot for next week. If Watson is fair dinkum, he'll come out and kick a few. There is a nice big spot available for him in the seniors if he wants it enough. God knows Jones isn't doing anything.
I'd replace Jones with Jaksch.
Can't do any worse and might be able to do a lot better as he develops.
i would replace Jones with a traffic cone.
We did that a couple of weeks ago and Watson got two possessions for tge game.
It's bare. That key forward cupboard. Liam Jones reminds me of brad fisher except fisher was slightly better one trick pony.
We have to make the best of things for the time being and play to who we've got. Drop Jone's, stop bombing long into our F50 and look to leads, running and shorter passing into F50 until we can find some good KPFs. Casboult gives us the tall option of course and I think he should be working the 45 to 55 metre arc.
The traffic cone would have more aerobic capacity.
Jones chases and occasionally tackles someone - the witches hat (i.e. Watson) doesn't.
Mate Brad Fisher was a great contested mark held back by his kicking and slight frame, Jones is just nothing.
Watson must get another go, a proper run of ten games. We owe it to ourselves.
Agree. Watson is not good enough. Giving him a go again is not going to change that, nor hoping that his flukey 4 goals last year is going to become the norm.
Carrots, go down to Cramer Street and watch Watson... he just doesn't deserve a run at senior level going by what he is showing at the moment. We'd be better off giving Fields a run, he has a serious go.
Foster is worth a run, as will be Byrne if he gets fit!
@Prof
I know but he has been known to step up when given a crack at senior level. I think if you visit the round 23 aftermatch thread from last year everyone was keen for Watto to have a decent run. Lets give it to him.
Given a decent run based upon what? Watson needs to kick a bag and demand elevation elevation, otherwise we are just handing out cheap senior games. The claim that he "steps up at senior level" ... well, I just don't see it. Last time he played he got 3 possessions and was subbed out.
I understand the point that if a hack like Jones is getting a game, why not Watson... my belief is that both have had plenty of chances and I'd rather give fields or Foster a run.
Barker will try Watson again. He must give him a run of 3 games at least. He can sub him out if he doesn't meet the standards required. Jones has been given more than enough chances to do little to nothing. It can't continue unless we put him back to defend where he might actually offer something. He might offer us more depth in defensive 50m. I say this because Rowe struggled to be a genuine forward, yet proves a very capable defender. Many think the same about Henderson.
Fields or Foster is well worth the try. They could only benefit from the run and gaining some experience. Leaving Liam forward is wasting their development. The year is written off already. Playing for picks at the moment. Try something new in areas where we are really struggling. ;)
Fisher was a very good mark and a fair shot at goal.
Played 99 games. A million light years ahead of Jones on the latter's current form.
We have a Fisher version 2. His name is White. Play him forward and let Liam work his @rse off trying to defend and be accountable. Its his last roll of the dice. A forward he simply is not. Thanks Mick.
I'm with you LP...I'd give Foster a run before Watson and drop Jones this week as well.....Byrne and Sheehan when fit would be automatic ins for me and replace our other Irishman in "Turnover Touhy"....
Tutt out...Walsh or Boakhorst in as well..
We are basing all this on 1 game....basically.
Go back through history and i'll think you'll find a dominant game from many individuals.
Bentick got 34 touches in his 2nd season. It took him 40 more games before he got back to 30 touches.
Doering got 25 touches and a goal in his 10th game, against the 3-peat lions. Got delisted that year.
Go through and look at every hack we've had on our list over the past decade and you'll find at least 1 decent game from them. The problem is there is a large range of crap games that you need to wade through to find it....just like Watson.
From Twitter:
QUARTER TIME:
Box HillHawks 3. 1. (19) lead Northern Blues 2. 2. (14)
Simpkins from the hawks kicked a barrel that skidded through from 90 metres!
Northern Blues QTR stats:
GOALS: Wilkinson, Wilson
DISPOSALS: Walsh 8, Armitage 6, Ellard 6, Boekhorst 6
Blaine Johnson excellent set shot from 50m and we get the lead back after putting his head over the ball and winning the free.
Box Hill Hawks 3. 1. (19) lead Northern Blues 3. 2. (20)
Twitter update:
Hawks take it the length of the ground and Miles snaps truly. Hawks back in front, 10 min into second term. BHH 26, NB 20
Ellard brave and crunched waiting under the ball and wins the free. Goes back and slots it from just on 50m and 45 angle.
Excellent goal in cold, wet and windy conditions.
Box Hill Hawks 5.1.(31), Northern Blues B 4.2 (26)
Box hill get a couple of goals back in the lead up to half time.
Box Hill Hawks 6.3.(39), Northern Blues B 4.2 (26)
Jaksch tries to clear from defence but his kick falls in the lap of Iles who walks in the goal. close to half time the Hawks in control.
Box Hill Hawks 7.3.(45), Northern Blues 4.2 (26)
From Twitter:
HALF TIME: Box Hill Hawks 7. 3. (45) lead Northern Blues 4. 2. (26)
Blues have been willing in the contest but the hawks have been cleaner and more composed with the ball. Wet, windy and cold conditions.
GOALS: Wilkinson, Wilson, Johnson, Ellard
DISPOSALS: McGuinness 13, Ellard 12, Kreuzer 10, Whiley 10, Walsh 10
GOALS: Wilkinson, Wilson, Johnson, Ellard
DISPOSALS: McGuinness 13, Ellard 12, Kreuzer 10, Whiley 10, Walsh 10
Considering that Walsh had 8 in the first quarter, that quarter wasn't so good. That is probably his weakness at the moment: consistency. if he could do the first quarter sort of stuff all of the time, he'd be in the seniors by now.
Still, he is only a kid and will get better.
I am pleased to see Kreuzer having 10 possessions. The big lad needs a couple of good game to get some confidence back into him. He needs it. I wonder how he is going in the ruck?
Ellard having 12 possessions is not a surprise. He is a gutsy player who puts it on the line. Alas, he is just not senor material. I love to have him as a permanent VFL player next year. He gives an excellent idea of what a player ha to do to play senior footy.
I am nit aurprised Watson hasn't been mentioned much: he is not good in the wind and wet.
Second half just started and blues win it from the centre and quick kick to our forward 50 finds Blaine Johnson who missed with a behind.
Box Hill Hawks 7. 3. (45) lead Northern Blues 4. 3. (27)
Goals to O'brien and Grimely move the Hawks out further on the scoreboard.
Box Hill Hawks 9. 3. (57) lead Northern Blues 4. 3. (27)
Brad Walsh off with a calf and having treatment. Still off the ground.
It seems to be falling apart a bit at the moment. We are now 5 goals down and that will be hard to make up in the conditions.
Walsh off is a blow as well.
Excellent second effort and soccer goal to Watson. He came a couple of time and finally got reward for persistence.
Box Hill Hawks 9. 3. (57) lead Northern Blues 5. 3. (33)
Blues having to work very hard for any goals. Our big men don't take clean marks but Hawks seem to be better composed.
Blues lifting in endeavour and Walsh goals in a great effort.
Box Hill Hawks 9. 3. (57) lead Northern Blues 6. 3. (39)
Hawks reply and get a goal and luckily a close snap for a behind.
Box Hill Hawks 10. 4. (64) lead Northern Blues 6. 3. (39)
Having Walsh back is a positive. Hopefully he can stay on. Our skills need a lot of work.
Clem Smith sells some candy and kicks inside 50m where Ballard launches for goal only for it to be touched on the line with Watson wrestling on the line.
Box Hill Hawks 10. 4. (64) Northern Blues 6. 4. (40)
Sam Ilse the stand out tall on the ground right now.
Clem Smith flew for mark of the year but forgot to raise his arms and just gives away a free kick. Spectacular though.
3 QTR time:
Box Hill Hawks 10. 6. (66) Northern Blues 6. 4. (40)
Grimley and Isles are good for the Hawks. Walsh has been good for us and Kruezer not a stand out but doing good things. Ellard hard at it in tough conditions.
Is this on C7 spf??
GOALS: Wilkinson, Wilson, Johnson, Ellard, Watson, Walsh
DISPOSALS: Ellard 19, McGuinness 18, Walsh 16
One day Clem Smith will take mark of the year, but ion the mean time.....
He came a couple of times!!!
I wonder what that's like????? >:D >:D >:D
Check it out here...
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-118-0-0-0&sID=91640&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=34360731
I not touching that. Not even to clean it up. >:D
Stats from Twitter:
GOALS: Wilkinson, Wilson, Johnson, Ellard, Watson, Walsh
DISPOSALS: Ellard 19, McGuinness 18, Walsh 16
Thanks Wet Willie, for the contact. I've watched for the last 5 minutes, and the standard is appalling. WE don't have much to work with.
It's getting willing out there in tough conditions.
Fraser Russell kicks across the face and doesn't score. The next player a free given against Holman at the other end of the ground sees a 80m free kick and Simpkins kicks truly.
Box Hill Hawks 11. 6. (72) Northern Blues 6. 4. (40)
By the way, Wet Willie, have you met Watson ?? >:D >:D >:
Sorry Crash, couldn't help myself.
I'll go and stand in the corner now. :-[ :-[ :-[
Blues not able to run hard enough back in defence. McEvoy marks uncontested and goals.
Kruezer now off for the day having calfs iced. He's been good today although not outstanding.
Box Hill Hawks 13. 6. (85) Northern Blues 6. 5. (41)
Whitecross makes a rookie mistake kicking across the forward 50 and Watson marks for a shot on goal.
Kicks truly and that gives him two for the day.
Box Hill Hawks 13. 6. (85) Northern Blues 7. 6. (48)
Bolger now rucking for the Blues with Kruezer off.
Simpkins soccers one through:
Box Hill Hawks 14. 6. (90) Northern Blues 7. 6. (48)
Gowers marks for the Blues and kicks well.
Box Hill Hawks 14, 6. (90) Northern Blues 8. 6. (54)
Don't know if you are watching this SPf through the live streaming, but we just don't appear to have anyone who even looks like making it to the top level at this stage. Not saying that another pre-season won't improve a few, but they just look undersized, lack skills, and frankly terrible.
The new coach is gunna earn his bikkies, that's for sure.
At least the Pies are copping it up the clacker. No gold coat for Joffa today ;D ;D ;D ;D
Shoenmakers looks like plugger against our backs.
Kicks his 3rd for the day.
Box Hill Hawks 15. 6. (96) Northern Blues 7. 6. (48)
Wilson has been good for us today and really tried hard and I think Walsh is getting better each week but the Hawks are just a class above and we never looked likely.
Be right. I find a live stream 24 min into the last qtr.
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-118-0-0-0&sID=91640&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=34360731
Looks a country footy ground with cars parked along the fence.
Excellent fly from Fraser Russell over the pack (and Clem Smith) who goes back and kicks truly.
Fraser took a good mark. He's a 23 year old rookie, but big and strong. Hope he goes on. Looks a lot better than Liam Jones.
Lost by 28pts. 96-68.
All over full time:
Box Hill Hawks 15. 6. (96) Northern Blues 10. 8. (68)
Late goal to Boekhorst from 55 out.
Was really hoping Boekhorst would have had a breakout game today but not to be.
Broekhursts goal at the end there was nice.
Only watched the last ten minutes but I liked the look of Hollman and Russell.
Holman and Walsh might make it but we need a few others to come on as well.
From Twitter:
GOALS: Watson 2, Boekhorst, Johnson, Walsh, Ellard, Gowers, Wilson, Russell, Wilkinson
DISPOSALS: Ellard 24, McGuinness 23, Whiley 22, Walsh 21, Holman 18
GOALS: Watson 2, Boekhorst, Johnson, Walsh, Ellard, Gowers, Wilson, Russell, Wilkinson
DISPOSALS: Ellard 24, McGuinness 23, Whiley 22, Walsh 21, Holman 18
Well, we lost, but with what we can put out on the park at the moment, we were not embarrassed.
From the sounds of things Watson was adequate without making a huge case for his recall. Guys like Smith, Viojo Rianbow and Boekhorst not doing enough.
I thought Holman, Walsh and Ellard were our best mids today. Whiley might have 22 touches next to his name but he wasn't effective in my opinion.
Fair enough. I guess the question was, did he have a negative job and (assuming he did) how did that go?
Good point Crash and the answer is I don't know what his main assigned role was, however I would like to see him extracting and getting his hands on the ball as Judd will be leaving sooner rather than later, and there is no real alternative to Cripps and Bell in the seniors post 2015. In my opinion we need to build depth there and we need to find out if Whiley can play. Running around in the reserves negating players isn't what I would call good development unless they're looking to backup or replace Curnow.
I was at the game today and thought Kreuzer was easily our best player and actually kept us in the game for the first three quarters. He was only up against first year ruckman Marc Pittonet, but he dominated the hitouts and helped us win a lot of clearances with his follow up bullocking work. I don't know how many possessions he had but he was very effective and our only clear winner on the day.
Geez, that is some seriously good news. :)
So do we use Kreuzer as a sub and give him a sniff and then he has a week to rest. Or do we use him from the start a sub him to rest. Or do we just give him a couple of weeks to be 100% and play him against Port Adelaide. I am not keen for us to rush him back. Let him build his confidence first. He will earn his spot sooner than later. Its part of his DNA to give a solid effort. ;)
With the bye coming up after next week I say we play him and give him the two weeks to recover.
Mants, if you saw him today there's no way he'll be sub.
Easily the most competitive player on the field.
He was in beast mode.
Yep, SpecialK straight to the centre, Casboult to FF, Wood to the bench, Everitt to CHF, Jones to oblivion and Tutt on Citrus Duty!
Agree Everitt has played his best footy for us up forward in NAB Cup games and also on Friday. Give him a run up there along with Watto.
If he is in some form, I would think Barker would want him in as soon as possible. Especially if cimm1979 has him as being on fire. As PI2C states he can have a rest during the bye if they do play him. We need some players with energy, talent and a will to produce a contest while Cripps and other young players are starting their AFL careers. They need role models and mentors on the field.
If we use Everitt forward, throw Jones in defence or back in the seconds. Then leave him there for good.
Sounding like a plan, like the thoughts on Everitt as well, after MM gone I am hoping this will free up players mentally and let them find their mojo again, hope he is one of them
Well Krooz rucked all day so I'd say MM's plan to turn him into a forward is gone through the S bend.
Special-K can spend some time up forward to put pressure on the defenders, but is primarily a Ruck and an extended mid. The tricks have been tried for years already. Maybe one day he could be our Paul Salmon (In his early career before he insisted he should be a ruck), but we will have to wait to see if that is the case. ;)
I just think if throw Kruezer in the middle too much he will get injured and wont have the match fitness anyway..I'd be inclined to let Wood ruck vs Lobbe and use Casboult and Kruezer vs Ryder if he plays. Rather ease MK back and let him prop up our pathetic forward , drop Jones...
PI2C
I'd say you were flogging a dead horse but even a dead horse is faster and more competitive than Watto; although he must have given viewers a shock when he gave a second effort today.
At least he didn't have to bend over to pick it up.
I know you're not a fan but I do respect your opinion. You can't always be right though! :P
Presuming that the nb's don't have a matching bye, I'd prefer mk to build his fitness there until after the bye round.
He's played one game (game time ?) and missed a week and now played 3/4, I don't think it's enough.
By that I mean, we know he'll make a contribution, but the last thing we want is him breaking down again, I'd like to see him play a full game in our bye round and then get his promotion.
If he's going to break down it matters little which league he plays in. According to most he was BOG. Time to play him.
Bradley Walsh has been one of our most consistent players in the twos. Would love him to get a chance before the year is out.
WOW !!
I'd just like to say that I'm stunned to be sitting here...
I can't believe that carrots disagrees with me.
If it doesn't matter which league he breaks down in then he should have played against Sydney last week.
The guy has a serious lack of footy with injuries placing his career at the crossroads, in fact Inho one more non collision injury this year and he's gone.
I don't think he'll actually get any benefit from playing seniors this week and then having a rest, continuity is what he needs, to build strength in his ankles, his body overall and of course his match conditioning.
See how he pulls up this week, but for mine let him repeat in the nb's for the next two weeks then promote him.
He's got a heart like pharlap, we know what he can do when fit, it's worth holding him back for two weeks.
More to lose than gain...
For me there's no urgency to get Kreuz back into the seniors this week, we are not trying to save Mick's career any longer. I favour bringing him back after the bye after we have seen him play well and uninjured in the NBs for another couple of weeks.
Not true as he needed the run, now he's had the run and a very good one at that, let's play him. Not rocket science.
Duty of care.
That's not rocket science, btw Adrian whitehead says hello...
i have said before kruezer needs 6 weeks in the reserves
if he fails this year to make it as a result of another injury im afraid it may be goodbye..
No argument from me..both Walsh and Fields are players I would like to see promoted at some stage and given some games to get a taste.....
You add Byrne and Sheehan to those two and at least we have some kids who might progress...
Fair enough. Personally I am very glad to see him playing a little better. In a few weeks I hope he is displaying form against serious opposition. He needs the game time and he needs to start grabbing his marks cleanly.
Two weeks ago against North Ballarat he was pretty ordinary and was beaten by a young Queenslander named Preuss and an old hand in Stephenson. He needed the run very badly and could only improve on that performance. To have him step up and improve is as positive a sign as we could get from a game, especially in difficult conditions.
Give Kreuzer time.
we have been too impatient with this bloke and rushed him back every step of the way.
Let him build his CONFIDENCE IN HIS BODY.
the rest will fall into place soon afterwards.
Mind you, David Ellard starred in this match, but you won't hear too many people asking for him to come back into the ones, because unlike Mick they don't like double standards.
;)
So you're saying had Whitehead played reserves instead of seniors he never would've re-injured himself? Amazing logic.
Mick's said on plenty of occasions that there are different rules for different players. But when you can do no wrong, you can do no wrong :P
So, we too are going to have different rules for different players?
I.e. Ellard does whatever is asked of him, to his best capability but lets play someone else who is under achieving because they are more talented for the same net result???
Or do we want to advocate equal treatment? After all, we lost by 60 points what does it matter anyway?
;)
Ellard has been tried and found wanting at senior level and is very lucky to be on a AFL list, we need to move on from playerw who we know wont make it
and try ones who might make it......
I tend to agree, we have too many on the list who are "competitive on a very good day" and uncompetitive on every other day!
We needs some blokes who can influence games when they are not having a day out, and can be match winners on a really good day!
Agree. We know what Ellard can and can't do. We need to look at others now.
x 3. Great heart, fair skills, slow and too damn small.
X4
Simply not good enough.
David Ellard has always given 100%, which many others haven't, but is just not good enough and won't be here next season.
Play the younger blokes from now on.
Not sure which game others were watching, but I also went along to see the box hill hawks v northern blues and I wasn't impressed by Kreuzer at all, despite all of the positive reports - basically he hasn't learnt that hacking the ball forward is not the answer and I don't think that his game deserves a recall.
The only players that slightly stood out for the blues was a chap called Tim Wilson (number 1) - he played like Ballantyne and Tom Fields whose kicking range is enormous, although he often kicked it over his teammates heads.
Blaine Johnson can't kick period.
Kristina jaksch can't cut the mustard in the 2s - looks like Luke Livingston mark 2.
Watson spent all day behind his man. Boy, is he slow!
Whiley, ellard, Walsh were slow and ineffective.
J foster looked ok and moved well, but needs 2 pre-seasons in the gym.
All in all a messy and uninspiring match, albeit the conditions were terrible.
Tom Wilson..goer, but very small, maybe rookie potential as a small forward but doesnt have the tricks or overhead ability you need as a real small forward these days....
Fields is a nice kick but is that inbetween height defender and needs some more body on body practice...
Foster kicks the ball well but has Liam Jones problem..doesnt get enough of the ball and relies on others to deliver the footy too him...
Couldn't disagree more. If he doesn't play it will be about managing his workload and not his play.
No report I read or the vision of the game (which I watched from start to finish) suggested it was a display of champagne footy on his behalf. But his effort was fantastic, he becomes another on-baller. The three commentators and the boundary rider all commented on the difference he made to the side.
He was playing wet weather football and it was wet the entire time he was on the field just about.
Rucked, blocked, tackled and, yes, hacked a lot of ball out congestion.
As the game dried out, his impact as less as the Hawks ball use all over the ground was just far superior.
Shown plenty in the ones already. Just needs a credible development plan.
He looked alright earlier in the year though, amazing what a lack of confidence can do to a player. Remember Mick screaming at him on the boundary in round 1? Has gone backwards ever since. He'll get it back, he just needs a little time away from Mick.
Jaksch looked alright when he kicked a goal against Richmond in round 1.......and that was all she wrote, been a complete & utter spud before & after in Navy Blue.
If Casboult keeps improving his kicking at the same rate he is currently improving we won't have an issue. As his kicking improves, his confidence will improve and his marking will improve, it will all happen together because we finally got hold of a support coach who knows what he is talking about!
That people is a massive tell! ;)
Imagine a smooth working forward line with Meat, Menzel, Everitt, Cripps, Bell, Murphy and Boekhurst all going berserk! All we need is the corner stone, and a straight kicking Meat crunching packs makes others look ordinary!
I thought he looked every bit a good footballer in the NAB Cup. I know it's only the NAB Cup but if you move well you move well.
I tend to agree: in the NAB Cup, Jaksch looked like he has a future. But he does tend to move a bit like a tank and he doesn't get off the ground when he tries to spoil, so punches are always low. I'd be working on his speed off the mark, his ability to be proactive instead of reactive (you always look slow when you react) and his spring. It is there: he gets off the ground when going for a mark, but is never going to have the huge leap that Walker (or Smith) have.
Like a lot of backman, he'll get better when we get better.
Yes the same applies to White, Tuohy, Rowe and Jamison.
But it also poses a question, why is Docherty so good in 2015, he must be seriously talented?
He's good.
I think his role is a bit different to the others.
Docherty has definitely come on this year, could just be a seriously talented player.
He is a ripper. We need to find 2-3 more of these types from opposition clubs.
So you have given up on us developing our own? :o
We need some balance and more Docherty types would hasten our rise up the ladder, not easy to acquire but if we get 1st pick in the PSD we might be able to
steal one for nothing...ie I'd rather James Aish for free in the PSD than use my precious ND draft picks.
Not that I am a fan of Aish but thats the sort of deal we need to be doing to cover our Ar$e too...if Aish didnt work out then its no big deal and cost us nothing to try...
I think he has always played well for us. Finished top 10 in the B+F last year.
There may have been a bit of a drop off in form towards the end of the year, but he's been pretty solid for us since day 1.
Docherty made an impression last year, after a slowish start. However, he didn't look to be elite because he made some very bad errors in close games: he didn't handle the occasion well. The difference this year is twofold:
[1] Increase in poise under pressure.
[2] Consistency
This year he has often been the last man in the chain and done something relatively good under pressure. This year he has not kicked the ball on the full under pressure or not. This year he has had a mention in the votes almost every week. This year his defensive skills and ability to intercept the ball in the air have been on show.
He has stepped up.
I still think he can produce better, but he is one of the few who really appear to care this season. He has been a particularly good pickup. If Brisbane have any more of his type, they will be gratefully accepted.
People are ignoring this because the point is Malthouse was hindering our developement.
Most appreciate Docherty's abilities on here regardless though.
Many of Doc's issues last year came in big pressure moments in games. After a few of tbem, it looked like his confidence was rocked. He's definitely come through it now but sadly, there have been few times when scoreboard pressure has been involved this year so hopefully he continues to stand up when it does.
I reckon almost every one of his issues last year came at pressure moments, but only near the end of the game when he was cooked. Didn't have a pre-season and was still reasonably young to start with.
I thought he looked much more assured this year because of his improved fitness.