Brett Meredith - The forgotten man

[Legs Akimbo]

Yep he looks good, just looks like a real footballer who belongs out there. As much as I rate Bird, if Meredith was getting as much of the footy as him I feel he'd do more damage with it.

Don't want to get carried away based on a few games, but it looks like we have some really decent kids!

I really think they are different sorts of players. I actually think Bird can be very damaging because he manages to find a few yards in traffic and generally is creative with his kicks and hands. More in the Harvey and Williams style (would love it if he becomes as good). Doesn't have massive penetration but has great 'touch' and knows where to be to find it. In the HUN today,he is down for 16 possessions of which 7 were contested in 62% game time. His % eff at 69% could be better, but then it usually is (he's also an inside player who tend to have more clangers because they are disposing under pressure). Bird did butcher a few yesterday (let's hope he doesn't become the 'butcher bird', but check his goal (was it 3rd quarter), where he side stepped out of traffic, settled and slotted it from quite an acute angle. Was all class. Mark my words - Bird will be AA within 3 years.

Meredith to me looks like a classic 20 + 50 player - run 20 kick 50m with additional inside ball winning abilities, more akin to Matera or Judd.

I know these comparisons are outrageous, but more about style than quality.

'Bird to Meredith' could be something we hear from commentators a lot in the future.

[Playsmart]

Bird bounce & side stepping oponents

I really think they are different sorts of players. I actually think Bird can be very damaging because he manages to find a few yards in traffic and generally is creative with his kicks and hands. More in the Harvey and Williams style (would love it if he becomes as good). Doesn't have massive penetration but has great 'touch' and knows where to be to find it. Bird did butcher a few yesterday where he side stepped out of traffic, settled and slotted it from quite an acute angle. Was all class. Mark my words - Bird will be AA within 3 years.

Bird
Was there once in the game Vs Blue that he got the ball made 2 steps and bounce again? If he had done that, he sees that in his video replay and he can run quite few steps more, like what Judd does often, before the need to bounce it. That few steps extra gives you that bit extra pace.

Side-stepping opponents
Whenever a player does that, he is a smarter player on the field. He is in control for that split seconds, giving himself clearance/time to run forward or to kick well with penetration, if needed, to another player.

We have not done enough of side-stepping opponents in most games. Feigning to kick on the left side, you switch to the right side once the opponent is commited to blocking on the left side. It is so cool to see this.
Surely, we can do it more often in the dry.

This tactic should be practised well in training. It is so simple but effective.
Defintiely, part of the sum of the extra 1 percenter.

[Legs Akimbo]

Bird
Was there once in the game Vs Blue that he got the ball made 2 steps and
This tactic should be practised well in training. It is so simple but effective.
Defintiely, part of the sum of the extra 1 percenter.

Some players have the innate ability to do this. Learning it is not easy.

[ernie koala]

Hannerbery is going to be SPECIAL. Forget Braba, Hanners is where it's at!

Keeps on impressing me more and more i see him in the ressies.

I agree, Hannebery looks like a top level midfielder in the making. Beautiful raking left foot kick, looks composed in traffic and gets the hard ball with ease.