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Well, I was busy this morning/early arvo but managed to get out to the game about 5 minutes into the second quarter.
Meredith: Solid, but really should be shining more in such a huge victory. Just hasn't stepped up like we need him to.
TDL: Missed his best work (5 goals in the first quarter), but still, he was well involved. A couple of lazy efforts early in the second (just as I arrived), but after that he was fine. A couple of really, really good goals, including a brilliant tackle and second effort to finish. The coaches would have been very pleased with that. He also played as a high HF, and even midfielder, at times, with quite a bit of success. Just a really good, composed player, far too good for this level. 3rd best behind Sumner and Spangher IMO.
Currie: Ruckwork was great, marking up forward was great. Really looks confident, which is great to see. Unfortunately, his finishing up forward was very poor, and stood out amongst his teammates who were generally very, very good. That's my only criticism though.
Rohan: Looked overweight, unfit and slow. A couple of times he tried to turn on the afterburners but just couldn't get going. It was like he was running through treacle. That said, he's had a long time off in which he wouldn't have been able to do much fitness work, so it wasn't too unexpected. He was still smart with the pill and good overhead. Unfortunately, he did his hammy, and it looked pretty bad (though he didn't need crutches). Shocking luck for him though.
Sumner: Very, very good. When I first arrived I didn't notice him for about 10 minutes, but he might have just been getting some work done on the bench, because suddenly he was in everything and playing a blinder, which carried on until the final siren. Probably my second best on ground, behind Spangher. Played as a genuine midfielder, starting in the centre circle, but covered a lot of ground.
Johnston: I can't decide if I prefer him forward or back. In the backline, his long, accurate kicking was a pleasure to watch. Up forward, where he played the last quarter, he kicked 3 goals and set up at least a couple others from a HFF. The sound of leather on his hands when he takes a mark is very satisfying. Like a taller version of ROK.
Spangher: Well, he wasn't named in the bests, which I find bewildering as he was my BOG. Took some great marks up forward and converted unerringly. Brilliant set shot, and totally unexpected. He also spent a lot of time in the ruck, and was arguably even better there. Some brilliant taps, punches and follow-up work that makes Mummy look lazy. Got a bunch of clearances from his own ruckwork. Obviously it's a lower standard, but still, he was brilliant.
McNeil: Great in the clinches, as always. However, given the coaches are trying to get him to improve his outside, running game, I think they'll be disappointed. Like TDL, his overall output was fantastic, but he'll get marked hard because he's not leaving his comfort zone and expanding his game.
Moore: A wise head across HF, he made some absolutely sublime entries inside 50 which resulted in goals. However, he's done little to suggest he's becoming any less unsuited to modern AFL football.
McKaigue: Pretty solid in defence. I'd like to see him transitioned into the midfield/wing sometime soon though, because he's just treading water as a defender.
Kruger: Gah. I like what Kruger has to offer athletically speaking, but he's just not getting his hands on the footy enough. A good chunk of the toppies would have had more touches. I hope he is able to be given another year on the rookie list, since he's a VERY late convert to footy and things could yet click, but he's a long, loooooong way off yet.
Otten: More impressed than I've been the other times I've seen him. Nice and solid down back, though still didn't stand out particularly. I'd like to see him tried forward where apparently he has shone.
Gordon: I really like him as a HFF. I think that's his best position, maybe with stints in the midfield to give others a rest. He can really use his deceptively good aerial skills to advantage across half forward. He's got a great leap on him which was never really demonstrated much as a midfielder or even HBF. I've not been a fan in the past, but I reckon he could make it at senior level there. Anyway, he kicked 3 today and was great across HF.
Academy players:
A.Moody: Absolutely tiny. Would look small in the u15s. The RAMs list him as 171cm, he looks closer to 160. That said, he uses every gram of his mass to full advantage, and he's not as skinny as his brother. Doesn't shy away from bigger bodies, he's tenacious and very elusive. His disposal by foot was a bit up and down, but he pulled off some lovely passes. He actually looks a lot like a smaller version of Sumner out there, and I did get the two confused on a couple of occasions. Height is the major drawback, but if he can grow an inch or two by next year's draft, he'll definitely be worth a shot.
E.Moody: Quite different from his brother. Both are fleet of foot midfielders, but Eric is taller, a perfectly normal height for a "small", and he seemed more than capable overhead. He's stick thin though. The way he moves and plays reminds me a bit of Chris Yarran (nowhere near as good
). He had some lovely pieces of play. Both he and his brother spent a fair bit of time on the bench, but they were both eye-catching, and along with Tim Wales would have been our best toppies. Actually hard to split the three. Eric can also feel pretty unlucky, I counted 3 occasions where he would have been a very good chance at goal, but play was brought back for a free (either to a teammate or the opposition), and he got himself into a great position to put the icing on his game in the last with a good running goal but just sent it wide.
Kenny: Didn't notice him much, to be honest. He spent some time in defence, some time in the midfield (though I don't think he started at any bounces).
May: Looks different to last time I saw him play, skinnier at the hips but broader at the shoulders, more like an AFL player. Didn't play any better though. Took a couple of marks, kicked a nice goal, but other than that wasn't particularly impressive.
52 (Crawford?): Not 100% sure of his identity, but by process of elimination he's either Crawford or a player who wasn't listed. I'm not sure because he doesn't look like any photos I can find of Crawford, but then I never got to see his face. Just looked paler and not quite right, I just can't be sure. Anyway, had some good touches, did some nice things, but didn't stand out as much as the Moody brothers or Wales.
Wray: Played most of the game in defence from memory, and did some nice things. A nice height, looked composed. Like 52/Crawford, didn't stand out but did his bit.
Wales: The ranga that continues to impress. Spent time in the midfield, forwardline and defence. Finds the ball, he can withstand physical pressure, and his disposal is pretty good. Wouldn't be opposed to rookieing him, but then I've said that about a lot of Academy players. Perhaps his ceiling may be a little lower than an Eric Moody or a Lynch, and he hasn't been as consistently good as Murphy or Thompson, but still...
Robinson: The next best toppie after the Moody bros and Wales, he kicked a lovely goal and found a bit of the ball. Like A.Moody, Wray and Crawford, he's got another year of development in him before he's eligible for the draft. Tough, good skills, seemed smart enough. Not bad at all.
One final thing, the umpiring was absolutely atrocious, and for the most part made life hell for the Swans players. I guess that's the NEAFL's way of trying to keep the competition even?
Meredith: Solid, but really should be shining more in such a huge victory. Just hasn't stepped up like we need him to.
TDL: Missed his best work (5 goals in the first quarter), but still, he was well involved. A couple of lazy efforts early in the second (just as I arrived), but after that he was fine. A couple of really, really good goals, including a brilliant tackle and second effort to finish. The coaches would have been very pleased with that. He also played as a high HF, and even midfielder, at times, with quite a bit of success. Just a really good, composed player, far too good for this level. 3rd best behind Sumner and Spangher IMO.
Currie: Ruckwork was great, marking up forward was great. Really looks confident, which is great to see. Unfortunately, his finishing up forward was very poor, and stood out amongst his teammates who were generally very, very good. That's my only criticism though.
Rohan: Looked overweight, unfit and slow. A couple of times he tried to turn on the afterburners but just couldn't get going. It was like he was running through treacle. That said, he's had a long time off in which he wouldn't have been able to do much fitness work, so it wasn't too unexpected. He was still smart with the pill and good overhead. Unfortunately, he did his hammy, and it looked pretty bad (though he didn't need crutches). Shocking luck for him though.
Sumner: Very, very good. When I first arrived I didn't notice him for about 10 minutes, but he might have just been getting some work done on the bench, because suddenly he was in everything and playing a blinder, which carried on until the final siren. Probably my second best on ground, behind Spangher. Played as a genuine midfielder, starting in the centre circle, but covered a lot of ground.
Johnston: I can't decide if I prefer him forward or back. In the backline, his long, accurate kicking was a pleasure to watch. Up forward, where he played the last quarter, he kicked 3 goals and set up at least a couple others from a HFF. The sound of leather on his hands when he takes a mark is very satisfying. Like a taller version of ROK.
Spangher: Well, he wasn't named in the bests, which I find bewildering as he was my BOG. Took some great marks up forward and converted unerringly. Brilliant set shot, and totally unexpected. He also spent a lot of time in the ruck, and was arguably even better there. Some brilliant taps, punches and follow-up work that makes Mummy look lazy. Got a bunch of clearances from his own ruckwork. Obviously it's a lower standard, but still, he was brilliant.
McNeil: Great in the clinches, as always. However, given the coaches are trying to get him to improve his outside, running game, I think they'll be disappointed. Like TDL, his overall output was fantastic, but he'll get marked hard because he's not leaving his comfort zone and expanding his game.
Moore: A wise head across HF, he made some absolutely sublime entries inside 50 which resulted in goals. However, he's done little to suggest he's becoming any less unsuited to modern AFL football.
McKaigue: Pretty solid in defence. I'd like to see him transitioned into the midfield/wing sometime soon though, because he's just treading water as a defender.
Kruger: Gah. I like what Kruger has to offer athletically speaking, but he's just not getting his hands on the footy enough. A good chunk of the toppies would have had more touches. I hope he is able to be given another year on the rookie list, since he's a VERY late convert to footy and things could yet click, but he's a long, loooooong way off yet.
Otten: More impressed than I've been the other times I've seen him. Nice and solid down back, though still didn't stand out particularly. I'd like to see him tried forward where apparently he has shone.
Gordon: I really like him as a HFF. I think that's his best position, maybe with stints in the midfield to give others a rest. He can really use his deceptively good aerial skills to advantage across half forward. He's got a great leap on him which was never really demonstrated much as a midfielder or even HBF. I've not been a fan in the past, but I reckon he could make it at senior level there. Anyway, he kicked 3 today and was great across HF.
Academy players:
A.Moody: Absolutely tiny. Would look small in the u15s. The RAMs list him as 171cm, he looks closer to 160. That said, he uses every gram of his mass to full advantage, and he's not as skinny as his brother. Doesn't shy away from bigger bodies, he's tenacious and very elusive. His disposal by foot was a bit up and down, but he pulled off some lovely passes. He actually looks a lot like a smaller version of Sumner out there, and I did get the two confused on a couple of occasions. Height is the major drawback, but if he can grow an inch or two by next year's draft, he'll definitely be worth a shot.
E.Moody: Quite different from his brother. Both are fleet of foot midfielders, but Eric is taller, a perfectly normal height for a "small", and he seemed more than capable overhead. He's stick thin though. The way he moves and plays reminds me a bit of Chris Yarran (nowhere near as good
). He had some lovely pieces of play. Both he and his brother spent a fair bit of time on the bench, but they were both eye-catching, and along with Tim Wales would have been our best toppies. Actually hard to split the three. Eric can also feel pretty unlucky, I counted 3 occasions where he would have been a very good chance at goal, but play was brought back for a free (either to a teammate or the opposition), and he got himself into a great position to put the icing on his game in the last with a good running goal but just sent it wide.Kenny: Didn't notice him much, to be honest. He spent some time in defence, some time in the midfield (though I don't think he started at any bounces).
May: Looks different to last time I saw him play, skinnier at the hips but broader at the shoulders, more like an AFL player. Didn't play any better though. Took a couple of marks, kicked a nice goal, but other than that wasn't particularly impressive.
52 (Crawford?): Not 100% sure of his identity, but by process of elimination he's either Crawford or a player who wasn't listed. I'm not sure because he doesn't look like any photos I can find of Crawford, but then I never got to see his face. Just looked paler and not quite right, I just can't be sure. Anyway, had some good touches, did some nice things, but didn't stand out as much as the Moody brothers or Wales.
Wray: Played most of the game in defence from memory, and did some nice things. A nice height, looked composed. Like 52/Crawford, didn't stand out but did his bit.
Wales: The ranga that continues to impress. Spent time in the midfield, forwardline and defence. Finds the ball, he can withstand physical pressure, and his disposal is pretty good. Wouldn't be opposed to rookieing him, but then I've said that about a lot of Academy players. Perhaps his ceiling may be a little lower than an Eric Moody or a Lynch, and he hasn't been as consistently good as Murphy or Thompson, but still...
Robinson: The next best toppie after the Moody bros and Wales, he kicked a lovely goal and found a bit of the ball. Like A.Moody, Wray and Crawford, he's got another year of development in him before he's eligible for the draft. Tough, good skills, seemed smart enough. Not bad at all.
One final thing, the umpiring was absolutely atrocious, and for the most part made life hell for the Swans players. I guess that's the NEAFL's way of trying to keep the competition even?
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