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I was sitting with a Bird-sceptic at the game today, and by the end of the match he seemed converted. Geez that was a good game by Dickie. He didn't find much of it, but he had a lot of truly terrific touches in the packs. I lost count of the number of times he had one or two Bombers hanging off him, and he managed to fire out a perfect handpass to a teammate which led to a clearance. He was a significant reason we dominated the stoppages in the second half. With each game, you can see him more calm and collected around the stoppages, and his decision making improving. Well, that's confidence I guess. Now he just needs to learn how to break 16 possessions! Pity about the elbow as well, but I don't think it was too bad.
Anyway, aside from Bird, Mattner played an absolute blinder! Not a huge number of possessions, but 12 tackles, plus he generally made his touches count, and created a good amount of run off half back. His best game for us so far, I thought. He's a really good, tough player.
Bevan was simply fantastic defensively, although @@@@ in attack. But then, we didn't need him to be attacking. He laid 8 of the best tackles I've seen in footy for a while, and it was him, along with Mattner, that created so much pressure on the Bombers' forwards and consistently forced turnovers in the Bombers' forward line, allowing us to rebound.
Playfair was great, better even than his 3 goals and 9 marks would suggest, because he led to the right places and gave our forwardline great structure. Once Barlow and White learn how to play as key forwards, we should have three very useful talls up there ready to take over when Mickey and Hall retire.
Our ruckmen were great, easily both their best games for the season (though that's not hard for Spida, he had a shocker against the Dogs!).
I've been defending Buchanan on this forum so far this year, but at half time I was starting to think that he was drifting out of our best 22. But to his credit, he bounced back in the second half, and looked to find some of his form of the past few years. Hopefully he can continue that for the rest of the year. Definitely a game of two halves for Amon.
Jude did nothing much this game. 5 tackles were the only positive, but from what I remember of them even they were pretty soft. He's doing enough not to shock Roos into dropping him, and he's still in our best 22, just, but if Barlow comes back, they decide to take another punt on Smith, or Fosdike or Schmidt find some form after injury, then he should be first to go.
LRT I thought was more than useful today, with limited opportunity. As in, the ball didn't come down his end all that often! From what I could tell he played mainly on Neagle and Hille, and from what I remember, only had two goals kicked on him, one by each (one of Hille's goals was when either Jolly or Everitt was on him, I'm pretty sure). Anyway, 5 marks, no stuff ups. Will by no means stem the criticism of him, but it's a step in the right direction. He has been progressively working back into form over the three games he has played since he stopped playing as a ruckman.
O'Keefe found a bit of the ball, and managed to find the goals as well, for a change, but his kicking in general play was a bit woeful at times. He's almost there, O'Keefe, and he's showing all the right signs, but things just haven't quite clicked into place for him yet.
McVeigh was quiet, but still solid. His work in the packs really has improved out of sight this year.
Anyway, yeah, nobody really had a bad game, I'd say. Oh, except for Kennelly. Even before his injury, he was fumbling and bumbling, and disposing poorly. Definitely a day to forget for Tadgh, but apart from that, solid.
Oh, and the umpiring was shocking, but at least it didn't favour one side over the other. Kinda took the shine over what would otherwise have been an absolute spectacle. And also, what is with our crowds this year? Is it just me, or have Sydney fans had their voice boxes removed or something? I know ANZ Stadium feels dead when you don't get a large crowd there, but even the SCG games have been pitiful. Not happy.
Anyway, aside from Bird, Mattner played an absolute blinder! Not a huge number of possessions, but 12 tackles, plus he generally made his touches count, and created a good amount of run off half back. His best game for us so far, I thought. He's a really good, tough player.
Bevan was simply fantastic defensively, although @@@@ in attack. But then, we didn't need him to be attacking. He laid 8 of the best tackles I've seen in footy for a while, and it was him, along with Mattner, that created so much pressure on the Bombers' forwards and consistently forced turnovers in the Bombers' forward line, allowing us to rebound.
Playfair was great, better even than his 3 goals and 9 marks would suggest, because he led to the right places and gave our forwardline great structure. Once Barlow and White learn how to play as key forwards, we should have three very useful talls up there ready to take over when Mickey and Hall retire.
Our ruckmen were great, easily both their best games for the season (though that's not hard for Spida, he had a shocker against the Dogs!).
I've been defending Buchanan on this forum so far this year, but at half time I was starting to think that he was drifting out of our best 22. But to his credit, he bounced back in the second half, and looked to find some of his form of the past few years. Hopefully he can continue that for the rest of the year. Definitely a game of two halves for Amon.
Jude did nothing much this game. 5 tackles were the only positive, but from what I remember of them even they were pretty soft. He's doing enough not to shock Roos into dropping him, and he's still in our best 22, just, but if Barlow comes back, they decide to take another punt on Smith, or Fosdike or Schmidt find some form after injury, then he should be first to go.
LRT I thought was more than useful today, with limited opportunity. As in, the ball didn't come down his end all that often! From what I could tell he played mainly on Neagle and Hille, and from what I remember, only had two goals kicked on him, one by each (one of Hille's goals was when either Jolly or Everitt was on him, I'm pretty sure). Anyway, 5 marks, no stuff ups. Will by no means stem the criticism of him, but it's a step in the right direction. He has been progressively working back into form over the three games he has played since he stopped playing as a ruckman.
O'Keefe found a bit of the ball, and managed to find the goals as well, for a change, but his kicking in general play was a bit woeful at times. He's almost there, O'Keefe, and he's showing all the right signs, but things just haven't quite clicked into place for him yet.
McVeigh was quiet, but still solid. His work in the packs really has improved out of sight this year.
Anyway, yeah, nobody really had a bad game, I'd say. Oh, except for Kennelly. Even before his injury, he was fumbling and bumbling, and disposing poorly. Definitely a day to forget for Tadgh, but apart from that, solid.
Oh, and the umpiring was shocking, but at least it didn't favour one side over the other. Kinda took the shine over what would otherwise have been an absolute spectacle. And also, what is with our crowds this year? Is it just me, or have Sydney fans had their voice boxes removed or something? I know ANZ Stadium feels dead when you don't get a large crowd there, but even the SCG games have been pitiful. Not happy.
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