minneapolis wrote: ↑Sun 24 Feb 2019 4:55am
Watched the whole game online. These are my opinions (with an O).
Positives:
- Pierce - won the ruck and was very mobile. I believe he will start Round 1.
- Newnes. I was very disappointed with his play last year but I think it was because he was injured. He is fit again and was a cut above the new guys. Certain starter I think.
- Roberton. Welcome back champ.
- Bruce. Boy did we miss him. Looked healthy.
- Savage. Played very well. Like his professionalism.
- Brown. True professional. One very poor kick. Combined well with Clavarino.
- Clavarino. Very promising.
- Hunter Clark. Phew. It was fantastic to see a high draft pick playing like a skilled footballer.
- Marshall and Battle. Very very good. Loved these draft pickups. Will be very important for us going forward. I would play them as much as is practical these next two years.
- Ed Phillips. We need a guy like this who is only going to improve. If you can run for a whole game then you have a chance to put yourself in an advantageous position.
- Darragh Joyce. Showed some good moves. Very happy for the guy. I think he is prone to make a howler or two but will eliminate those with time.
- Alabakis. Had athleticism and tried hard. Could not ask for more for this game.
- Running sprints after the game. I liked the concept that you never have an empty tank.
- Hammill. Sammy was very entertaining and natural. A high energy guy. A great part of any team. You can see why the club have kept him as long as we have. It must have been fantastic to get Hamill from a rich and powerful club. And Gehrig shunning both West Coast and Collingwood to come to us - what a gigantic boost to the team spirit. Sorta like a Cowboy Neale I reckon.
Negatives
- Austin. Was a bit lopey for my liking. Not convinced.
- McCartin. Just OK. Missed an easy set shot. If he was going to get going this year I would have liked to see more. Got a few easy ones at the end.
- Bailey Rice. A beautiful kick but nothing else. I doubt he will ever get another game.
- Goal kicking. Not good and certainly not improved with two summers practice. Very nervous about this. It is a game and a coach killer.
- Game plan. If you think you could see a new game plan being implemented (as Richo said in his boring interview) then you are either an elite football mind or kidding yourself. Early days yet though.