NAB Cup Round 1: Swans v Saints v Cats

[Foreign Legion]

Bolton, Jack, Lockyer and Walsh played the Saints game only.
Mcglynn, Bird, Moore and White played the Cats only.
ROK, Kennedy, Rohan, Lamb, RLT and Mummy are the few who were named but did not play

Hannerby, Armstrong, Mitchell, Meridth,DLT, Spangler and Brown etc were not named

I reckon you typed that post at 100WPM Aaron.

I'll have a BLT myself.

[dimelb]

Just back from Etihad. It was Etihot tonight. Boys were impressive in the Saints game and pretty much whacked in the Cats game, noticeably in the second half.
Agree about Cunningham, knows where to be, lost his man very nicely. Defence was good all night, despite the Cats getting away a bit; Reg saved a 9-pointer by touching the ball. I didn't see Walsh do much, but he'd have to need time. Pyke was impressive both in the ruck (those neat palm-downs!) and up forward, positioning himself well. Quite often the forward line was Macca, Walsh, Morton, Reid and Pyke with Goodesy floating in and out; an enormous forward line and Macca looked like a midget.
Morton played well, Parker was impressive and so, at times, was Lockyer - I kept mixing them up at first. The centre was uneven, awkward at times, sublime at others, but I guess it's that kind of game.
(Added later) There were some nice touches from Bulldog, and while Jesse didn't do a lot down front, he was also playing a kind of CHF/midfield role, where he did some good things.
All in all a good night out with lots of encouraging signs.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Sticking with the young guys......

The family in Wagga called as soon as Harry signed with us and i got on the this site and relayed that the kid is classy and works like kelpie........ and they called him the mini Paul Kelly..........frankly at the same age
the kid has more skill......did you see him push 100m down the field tonight and bang a hard left foot drive on the run at full pelt - on his wrong foot !

We really havent had a player that can push as hard forward as Harry for a while and push back again in defence with his touch on the ball

Rohan and Jetts can push forward on the run and carry........ but harry has the endurance to push back after a successful raid.......and go again !!!!


Parks - looked sharp enough and played Kennedys role well........ but not as well as Josh in clearing the ball but has more in his game then Josh.....imagine Parks in a couple of years at the same age and experience as JPK

[Auntie.Gerald]

wasnt it lovely tonight.........to not see us just kick over the top of the pack...........ROK not doing his kick forward to no one and backing our midfield was awesome and I thought Shaw played really well off the half back line

[Cpt. Kirk]

I think there will be 2 people suspended by the match review panel this week anyway, Adam Schneider for a dirty knee on parker in the first quarter and Josh Hunts sling tackle on parker.

Pyke looks good cant wait.

We were impressive in the first game and the saints were equally as dismal. I hated how the commentators regularly forgot that Sydney had already played a game in 36 degree heat in the Geelong match. Dwayne Russell is the worst.

[Foreign Legion]

I think there will be 2 people suspended by the match review panel this week anyway, Adam Schneider for a dirty knee on parker in the first quarter and Josh Hunts sling tackle on parker.

Pyke looks good cant wait.

We were impressive in the first game and the saints were equally as dismal. I hated how the commentators regularly forgot that Sydney had already played a game in 36 degree heat in the Geelong match. Dwayne Russell is the worst.

Agree totally Cpt! The heat must have had a massive effect - it was at least 34C at the start and why would you push yourself in the last game in those conditions?

Listen to Dwayne when he commented when we beat the Cats at home - not a happy camper.

[Doctor]

Across the 2 games Luke Parker was the highlight for me. I keep forgetting that he's only 19. I was disappointed that Jed didn't play as I was looking forward to seeing him running around. Pyke was, by far, the most impressive of the ruck/forward options.

It was of note, IMO, that Horse chose to run our first choice backline, LRT aside, through both games. I thought they all clicked well. AJ is continuing to develop and Ted has become so confident in his ability that you can trust him implicitly when he approaches a contest. Reg and Shaw also did well. The one who impressed me the most was Nick Smith though. It's no coincidence that he has been voted onto the leadership group. What I loved even more was that the commentators didn't discuss him once. They called his name when he was involved but that was it. The less he's named, the lower his profile and the better off we are I reckon. Leave him as the Silent Assassin. I'm probably not the first, but he's the AFL equivalent of former NBA "glove" Gary Payton for mine.

You can't read much into game 2 as they were fresh and we weren't, but the signs from game 1 were positive. I was concerned about the lack of drive from the fresh guys in the game 2 though, aside from Nipper. Moore also tried hard. White may not play a senior game this year though.

[swansrule100]

Had trouble concentrating but whitey stood out as useless and parker looked sharp.

I like the blue citi bank on the guernsey i need a new one now

[CureTheSane]

Great to play Geelong in Melbourne.
Won't see that again soon...
Fun night, odds were always stacked against us when we play the *fresh* reigning premiers after having already played (effectively) half a game.

[wolftone57]

I think there will be 2 people suspended by the match review panel this week anyway, Adam Schneider for a dirty knee on parker in the first quarter and Josh Hunts sling tackle on parker.

Pyke looks good cant wait.

We were impressive in the first game and the saints were equally as dismal. I hated how the commentators regularly forgot that Sydney had already played a game in 36 degree heat in the Geelong match. Dwayne Russell is the worst.

Dwayne was a cats player remember.

[Cpt. Kirk]

Dwayne was a cats player remember.

Yeah, i am more saying that he is a dismal commentator his views are that of footy decades ago, and some of the things he says makes him look silly and not in touch with afl in 2012. He is a dismal commentator in more games then just the geelong ones. But then again i don't like most commentators.

Sam Reed looked amazing, and considering CHF is considered the hardest position to learn for a 20 yo he is doing amazingly, hopefully his kicking accuracy improves.

Parker will replace Jude as the hardnut and mitchell will replace ROK. (in 2014)

Cunningham was brilliant i reckon.

[Doctor]

Dwayne was a cats player remember.

I know. It's rubbed in our faces every time he commentates one of their games. If they were fair dinkum they wouldn't ask him to cover their matches. games. It's really not all that different from Eddie calling Pies games.

[Dosser]

For me, the conclusions I draw from the night are:
Walsh - is not the messiah and needs a lot of work. I was a little disappointed but then he didnt play the intra club game so was short of a gallop.
Morton - drifted in and out but had a few good 2nd efforts. His tackling needs work
Cunningham - so much Paul Kelly in the kid! As soon as I saw him walk I was reminded of the great man, and then his guts confirmed it. Works real hard and runs plus has some skill. Clearly the 'find' of the games for us tonight.
Pyke - has definitely overtaken Seaby and I agree with the previous post that White may struggle this year and could move on at the end of the season.
Biggs - looked a bit shell-shocked against a rampant Geelong, but who wouldnt?
Teddy - looked superb and cut off a number of attacks with his courage and timing.
Reg - actually hit some targets tonight. Pity he wasted them in the pre-season. To be fair, he had a good game.
Reid - what has the kid done in the off-season?!? He is becoming huge!
Parker - a great game and will one day win an Academy Award for staging in front of goals (it worked)

Geelong - it's not fair that they can be so good and their kids just slot in so well
St Kilda - ok, not their full team or anything and first hit-out, etc, but based on this EARLY call they simply wont make the eight.

All in all, a good outing.

[Vonsteinman]

Cunningham - so much Paul Kelly in the kid! As soon as I saw him walk I was reminded of the great man, and then his guts confirmed it. Works real hard and runs plus has some skill. Clearly the 'find' of the games for us tonight.

+1

Right down to the haircut!

[shayne]

I think I need to put money on Parker for the Brownlow in 2014 Needs another year to fill out then he is going to be a star. I just hope we can hold onto him.

I think Morton will suprise all of us this season. He does need to work on defensice pressure but, I think he will fill a roll in the forward line that we have been lacking.