The lesser lights of 2023 so far.

[skeptic]

Ben Paton - essentially the first choice sub at the moment albeit came into the team following Webster’s injury.

Rd 1 sub and came on to do a few good things. I thought he was brilliant against Dogs and was disappointed to see him back to sub. Came on late for a role vs Essendon and was okay again last night.

Seems to play somewhere between defensive mid and dropping back.

Has really eliminated the bad decision making out of his game to a degree.


Marcus Windhager- the late injury slowed down the start of his season and since he got back into the top 22, seems to be playing as a defensive forward flank.
Doing a ton of running at the moment and has managed to bob up for an important goal the last two weeks.

Anyone have thoughts to share about these two? Pbly the least discussed players on the list at the moment.

[Sainter_Dad]

Do not be surprised if Windy is being groomed to play Steele's role - remember Steele started as a tagger to learn from the best - and now Windy gets to do that.

[CURLY]

Windy to Daicos this week

[B.M]

That’s a pretty obvious match up

Josh Daicos is very dangerous as well

[B.M]

Ryan Byrnes - gut busting running


And while we are gushing over some of the kids
Seb and Brad getting it done in the middle

Wilkie is AFL elite
In combination with Battle and Howard our tall backs have not been beaten!

Hunter Clark is doing some good work

Butler does a lot of things that go unnoticed

Webster never gets beaten

Kids are doing a job - and Owens has gone to a new level

[Teflon]

Ryan Byrnes - gut busting running


And while we are gushing over some of the kids
Seb and Brad getting it done in the middle

Wilkie is AFL elite
In combination with Battle and Howard our tall backs have not been beaten!

Hunter Clark is doing some good work

Butler does a lot of things that go unnoticed

Webster never gets beaten

Kids are doing a job - and Owens has gone to a new level

Ryan Byrnes is still suspect by foot
Imo he needs to work on it or he’s the type of guy in a GF in the dying minutes that misses the target…

[skeptic]

Ryan Byrnes - gut busting running


And while we are gushing over some of the kids
Seb and Brad getting it done in the middle

Wilkie is AFL elite
In combination with Battle and Howard our tall backs have not been beaten!

Hunter Clark is doing some good work

Butler does a lot of things that go unnoticed

Webster never gets beaten

Kids are doing a job - and Owens has gone to a new level

Ryan Byrnes is still suspect by foot
Imo he needs to work on it or he’s the type of guy in a GF in the dying minutes that misses the target…

Byrnes had some 28 games at the start of the season and went up a level.

My hope is that he maintains his fitness/workrate, keeps playing at this level and in 20-30 games, goes up another. He hasn’t quite matched his round one performance but his current standard has him cemented in the top 22 for now.

We all remember the finished product but guys like Steele, Sinclair and Wood to name a few… we’re in and out and pretty inconsistent until it finally clicked for them.

Hopefully Byrnes is on that path

[Scollop]

Ryan Byrnes - gut busting running


And while we are gushing over some of the kids
Seb and Brad getting it done in the middle

Wilkie is AFL elite
In combination with Battle and Howard our tall backs have not been beaten!

Hunter Clark is doing some good work

Butler does a lot of things that go unnoticed

Webster never gets beaten

Kids are doing a job - and Owens has gone to a new level

Ryan Byrnes is still suspect by foot
Imo he needs to work on it or he’s the type of guy in a GF in the dying minutes that misses the target…

Sometimes it pays to watch replays and just pick up on who is doing some of the in and under work

A third of his possessions were contested. He had 6 score involvements and 4 inside 50's.

He set up a few goals for us. Some of his disposal isn't pretty but it's effective

He needs to improve his tackling but he runs his guts out and always gives us options

Another thing I picked up in the second quarter was Byrnes was giving instructions to some of the backs (no b.s)

It was a stoppage in the back pocket - very close to Suns goal

It might have just been Dougall, but I clearly saw him pointing and instructing Howard and Doogs did as he was told

[Vortex]

Brad Couch.

So under appreciated

Delivers to a phenomenal level on an incredibly consistent level since walking into the club.

Probably the biggest lesser light we have.

[Sanctorum]

I've been pleasantly surprised by Seb Ross who, whilst a solid contributor, in my view never quite achieved the level to become elite or make All Australian.

Ross, like a lot of others, has improved a lot since he returned from injury in round 2 and looks to me to be benefitting in a big way from the new coaching panel.

Listening to what Ross Lyon and his assistants are saying, the new strategy is entirely based on every individual playing out his role during the game and so far that has worked perfectly.

With four weeks of this successful system under their belts the players will have built up a lot of confidence not just in their own performance but in understanding that they can rely on each other to play as a well drilled team, one that is low on player rankings but capable of defeating opposition teams with star-studded lineups.

Mitch Owens has shown no sign of 2nd year blues nor have Wanganeen-Milera and Windhager - the latter did a fantastic job on negating Matt Rowell who has been in career-best form this year.

Collingwood will be their biggest test next Sunday, but if they play like they have in the previous 4 games there is every reason to believe St Kilda will come out on top.

[B.M]

Missed Seb Ross in 2017?

In an average team he made the AA squad

Won the B&F and got 14 Brownlow votes!

Has been a very good player for years