Round 15 Positives

[sharpie]

Originally posted by liz
Goodes kicking - not just this week but for most of the season.
.

I got the feeling that Goodes really stepped up last night due to the increased responsibility on his shoulders of being captain. And I dont think it is the first time he has stepped up when placed under increased pressure, such as when required to play ruck in the past.

I think he thrives on being of utmost importance to the team.

Whenever he is stuck in the forward line or even when he was stuck at CHB, he just seemed to glide along without putting in the big efforts.

[GoSouth33]

I was watching Kirky through the binocs and was genuinely concerned at the knock he took. He really was out of it. I was surprised they allowed him to take the field in the second half. Welcome back "rubber man"!
ROK was terrific - a "newbie" who follows the game and brought his 15 yo daughter to her first game last night couldn't stop noticing ROK's game. I'm sure in his eyes ROK was BOG.
Oh, btw, I still reckon Leapin' is worth every cent we pay him. A little bit unpredictable, heart in the mouth stuff, occasional trangression but what the heck what a bloke to take that important mark under pressure....

[ugg]

ROK's game was outstanding, its good to see him hitting his 2004 form after a slow start this season.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by ugg
ROK's game was outstanding, its good to see him hitting his 2004 form after a slow start this season.

Thanks ugg. Getting off the smokes has really helped.

[Xie Shan]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
Thanks ugg. Getting off the smokes has really helped.

Not you! I think he was referring to that other ROK, the Gibraltar one who posts on Bigfooty. And it was great to see him hitting some good form coming back from his suspension...

[Wil]

Getting Goodes into the form he needs to be for us.

Kicking goals without Willo's influence.

Buchanan

Converting inside 50 chances.

[smasher]

I was super impressed by our tackling against the Cats.Even big Mooney found it hard to break them.
Well done to Kirky for his effort in the third quarter after being knocked senseless in the second.I was disappointed with the press as usual as yesterday they showed the captain trying to get up and looking abit like the villiage idiot.Why do they have to show it?It was upsetting to see and I don't think it was viewing for children.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Adam Goodes was great, he showed out especially well early on when thing weren't going our way.
It looked like a very good audition for the captaincy to me.

[Thunder Shaker]

The positives as I heard them from the MMM telecast:
* Second quarter.
* Kirk's unique ability to bounce back from a knock, in the style of the 2003 QF.
* ROK getting among the goals.
* Luke Ablett's after-the siren bomb.
* Accurate kicking for goal.
* Getting above 100% for the first time since round 4.

[Rizzo]

The midfielders gave the forwards a chance but getting it forward quickly. A lot of the clearances just moved the ball in the direction of the goals - move it forward at all costs.

A fully functioning forward line! ROK was good, Hall was great. No one has mentioned Davis yet. I thought he played a very unselfish game and his delivery for half forward was fantastic. The added bonus is that he can kick it from 55m.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Thunder Shaker
* Luke Ablett's after-the siren bomb.

LOL - was hardly a bomb - should never have scored!

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Rizzo
A fully functioning forward line! ROK was good, Hall was great. No one has mentioned Davis yet. I thought he played a very unselfish game and his delivery for half forward was fantastic. The added bonus is that he can kick it from 55m.

Gary Ayres really liked that aspect of Davis' game - can kick long and accurately into the forward line. I think he had maybe 6 I50s.

[Schneiderman]

My positives:

- Goodes now looks like he is really comfortable with his talent and his role. No more "lairising" like early 2004, and playing better than 2003 because he now feels the pressure, but understands he is good enough to respond. That kick for goal against Adelaide in 2003 would be taken very differently this year IMO.
- Davis and ROK. Excellent HFF / attacking-midfielders. Finally they are both becoming a part of a really powerful forward structure. Their ability to push up, get the ball and deliver inside the 50 on Sat was excellent, and on the bigger grounds this will be critical.
- The Good-Bad Bazza. Finally he is finding the balance. For much of 2004 and early this year I felt he was becoming increasingly too "Good", but the tinge of mongrel is back now, and it scares the pants off the opposition. The treatment he gave to Fanning was an excellent reminder, and the Captaincy chance has given him the perfect shot in the arm. Anyone else read that he does some boxing before the game starts? Thats the spirit!!
- Bucky and Moore. Whilst at different stages of their careers, both show really encouraging signs of taking over from Jude and Kirky. I feel that finally we are getting back to the type of footy that Kells and Cressa used to play for us, with agression and strength giving us first use regularly.
- Leapin. Brilliant. Erratic. Exciting. Worth every cent to watch.

[Wil]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Gary Ayres really liked that aspect of Davis' game - can kick long and accurately into the forward line. I think he had maybe 6 I50s.

Good to hear!

Its good Davis is finally falling back into the Wing role he was playing before his injury this season. He could become an All-Australian midfielder if he can get an injury-free season under his belt.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
- Leapin. Brilliant. Erratic. Exciting. Worth every cent to watch.

Wasn't he just, I hope he doesn't play on Neitz next week because I'd missed his crazy play.