Rusty, bit like last week's second half in that some of our decision making was lacking and the defensive structures won't clicking in regards to pressure.
Ross Lyon alluded to as much at half time.
Stanley and Smith good in last quarter after quiet starts.
Armitage a quiet game by last week's standards.
Dal and Lenny finished well as they work towards full fitness
Peake an ordinary first half, but quite good in the second
Gilbert and Dawson good down back.
McEvoy confirming he is now one of our top 2 ruckmen, probably squeezes out King.
Milne a good game, Schneider reasonable in the middle.
Swans starting pre season earlier, about a month further advanced, they have some good kids, future looks solid for them, will be a nuisance this year.
Saints doing enough, showing we will be ok, results irrelevant essentially, but nice to sit here on the winning side for nothing other then satisfaction.
Tonight's game
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I agree with a lot of what you said.
We know we have a good side, but the NAB Cup is all about examining the places where possible improvments could be made. I'm talking about to the team of last year, so I won't talk about players like Lenny or Dal being better for the run this week.
I think Big Mac will be our second ruck, certainly by the end of the season, but it may be unwise to put him up against bigger harder bodies straight away... I suspect they will use King for some of the season, as you can't expect a younger ruckman to play against harder bodies all year without any ill effects.
I thought Gwilt did well; if he continues to improve, he could make a difference because of his kicking, which breaks the lines in a different way to some of our other players who are runners.
Armo gets into goal kicking positions... he kicked a point this time, but he gets the ball in the goal square, or close to goal, quite often... which could be a real plus.
Gilbert has improved (!) and is going to be All Australian this year.
Rhys Stanley could be an impact player this year possibly. He definitely has the potential. His speed is a real asset which we haven't had before in a big man.
I'm undecided about Schneider in the middle (but I didn't see last weeks game because I was travelling), but if he can be an extra rotation that has to be a good thing.
All in all, we still have arguably the best player in the comp (Roo), a leading small forward (Milne), excellent on-ballers (Lenny, Montagna, Dal), and a very very good backline (Gilbert, Fisher in particular). We need an ounce of luck, a few minor changes, and we'll be there or thereabouts again this year.
I want to see more of Peake before I make a judgement. Hadn't seen him before. He is fast, but kicked too high to Roo and Kosi tonight... what's up with that? More importantly, I hope Ross comes up with some way to exploit his pace.
Good to have a win... always good to have a win!
We know we have a good side, but the NAB Cup is all about examining the places where possible improvments could be made. I'm talking about to the team of last year, so I won't talk about players like Lenny or Dal being better for the run this week.
I think Big Mac will be our second ruck, certainly by the end of the season, but it may be unwise to put him up against bigger harder bodies straight away... I suspect they will use King for some of the season, as you can't expect a younger ruckman to play against harder bodies all year without any ill effects.
I thought Gwilt did well; if he continues to improve, he could make a difference because of his kicking, which breaks the lines in a different way to some of our other players who are runners.
Armo gets into goal kicking positions... he kicked a point this time, but he gets the ball in the goal square, or close to goal, quite often... which could be a real plus.
Gilbert has improved (!) and is going to be All Australian this year.
Rhys Stanley could be an impact player this year possibly. He definitely has the potential. His speed is a real asset which we haven't had before in a big man.
I'm undecided about Schneider in the middle (but I didn't see last weeks game because I was travelling), but if he can be an extra rotation that has to be a good thing.
All in all, we still have arguably the best player in the comp (Roo), a leading small forward (Milne), excellent on-ballers (Lenny, Montagna, Dal), and a very very good backline (Gilbert, Fisher in particular). We need an ounce of luck, a few minor changes, and we'll be there or thereabouts again this year.
I want to see more of Peake before I make a judgement. Hadn't seen him before. He is fast, but kicked too high to Roo and Kosi tonight... what's up with that? More importantly, I hope Ross comes up with some way to exploit his pace.
Good to have a win... always good to have a win!
"Don't give up, never give up" - Robert Harvey.
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perfectionist
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Sprained ankle. I wouldn't be surpised if Nick did not play next week. He jarred his knee in the last quarter aand very was tired at the end.
Rhys Stanley only played the last quarter having been in blue until three quarter time. Might get another full game next week, deserves it.
Backline looks very shakey at the moment. Seems to lack a general.
Alistair Smith had a very poor night but it was only his second game. He does lack pace however which will limit his chances.
Jason Gram was pretty good all night as was Brendon Goddard.
If Sydney kick was such a high level of precision around the ground in round 1 we will be in trouble.
As it turned out, the error by the Swans player (Gale) to play on when he had a super goal shot cost them the game.
I hope we win a few games this year by more than a point.
We have modified our game plan from last year to mirror Geelong more, with a greater emphasis on handball which I don't like because we are not the best at this skill, especially the two or three in close which Grant Thomas tried for a while in 2004. One hand pass to a free player then a long kick to position is a good idea when you have marking forwards.
Rhys Stanley only played the last quarter having been in blue until three quarter time. Might get another full game next week, deserves it.
Backline looks very shakey at the moment. Seems to lack a general.
Alistair Smith had a very poor night but it was only his second game. He does lack pace however which will limit his chances.
Jason Gram was pretty good all night as was Brendon Goddard.
If Sydney kick was such a high level of precision around the ground in round 1 we will be in trouble.
As it turned out, the error by the Swans player (Gale) to play on when he had a super goal shot cost them the game.
I hope we win a few games this year by more than a point.
We have modified our game plan from last year to mirror Geelong more, with a greater emphasis on handball which I don't like because we are not the best at this skill, especially the two or three in close which Grant Thomas tried for a while in 2004. One hand pass to a free player then a long kick to position is a good idea when you have marking forwards.
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perfectionist
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Teflon
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Good post I agree.perfectionist wrote:Sprained ankle. I wouldn't be surpised if Nick did not play next week. He jarred his knee in the last quarter aand very was tired at the end.
Rhys Stanley only played the last quarter having been in blue until three quarter time. Might get another full game next week, deserves it.
Backline looks very shakey at the moment. Seems to lack a general.
Alistair Smith had a very poor night but it was only his second game. He does lack pace however which will limit his chances.
Jason Gram was pretty good all night as was Brendon Goddard.
If Sydney kick was such a high level of precision around the ground in round 1 we will be in trouble.
As it turned out, the error by the Swans player (Gale) to play on when he had a super goal shot cost them the game.
I hope we win a few games this year by more than a point.
We have modified our game plan from last year to mirror Geelong more, with a greater emphasis on handball which I don't like because we are not the best at this skill, especially the two or three in close which Grant Thomas tried for a while in 2004. One hand pass to a free player then a long kick to position is a good idea when you have marking forwards.
We learning this and running ourselves into trouble more..........its not just a NAB Cup thing?
IMHO we need speed of delivery going fwd.....the reason why a player like Gwilt coming out of defence might be a good option on a flank....as opposed to Raph Clarke....Gwilt CAN move the ball fwd with speed and delivery and is ok overhead......
Id rest Riewoldt next week.
Last line defence is a concern. Dawson so far this pre season looks shakier than last year and is often out bodied....
“Yeah….nah””