2019 NEAFL discussion thread

[rickmat]

What's the score?

[ugg]

Full time

@swansreserves 17.14 (116)
@GoldCoastSUNS 8.10 (58)

Goals: Menzel 5 Foot 2 Maguire Ronke Amartey Pawle Wicks Cameron Kilpatrick Martin McInerney Tyson
Suns: Nutting 3 Crossley 2 Briggs Buckland Gilmore

[dejavoodoo44]

How much game time did Menzel have?

I can't give exact game time, but he was on the ground in each of the quarters. Maybe a bit quiet early, but really came to fore in the second half: including a few, 'how the hell did he do that' moments.

[rickmat]

Thanks Ugg

[liz]

I thought that was a wonderful performance by the team. They just got better the longer the game went on. There is no way anyone watching would have picked the disparity in listed players vs academy players between the two sides.

Rose started slowly but his second half was highly influential. Rowbottom started brilliantly and still contributed in the second half but maybe not to the same extent. And the rest just worked off those two. Neither Stoddart nor Ling had a lot of disposals but they each did some classy things when they did have it. Stoddart's run and three bounces through the middle, followed by a bullet onto Menzel's chest, was a match highlight. Wicks' tackling and pressure were relentless but the same can be said of most of the side.

Gold Coast didn't give great service to their tall forwards but you still have to admire the job that Pink did on Day. I read during the week that Dew expects Day to dominate at NEAFL level before he gets another sniff at senior football. He won't be getting a recall after that.

Of the top ups, Kilpatrick was very impressive. He's been impressive all year. It's hard to pick much to separate him from Zac Foot. I've loved the way both of them zip around the middle and up forward. Today Kilpatrick had some important moments in defence too. If he keeps this up he could well earn himself a spot on the rookie list next season. Rory Barkley just goes about his business every week, and isn't beaten very often. I mentioned Martin before the game and saw nothing today to change my mind that he could be a smokey for a rookie spot next year too. I love the way he goes about things. And the youngest player out there, Marc Sheather (who turns 17 in a fortnight) didn't disgrace himself either. One ripping tackle, and another persistent passage where he had three or four disposals in the space of a minute as he tried to keep the ball in and moved it along the boundary line.

[rickmat]

Haven't seen McLean's name mentioned. He was the last minute supplementary draft pick. Is he injured?

[rickmat]

Thanks Liz for sharing your insights on not just the main players, which the Swans website seems to do, but you highlighting some of the top-ups and academy boys. Just shows there is growing talent in NSW. Hopefully we can capitalise before Eddie and the Vic Mafia ban us recruiting from our own academy. Its too important for the future of the future success of the Swans

[dejavoodoo44]

To me, that was a performance that suggested our coaches are doing a really good job. I thought that with the Suns having a strong edge in AFL experience, then they would be tough to beat. Instead, we looked the more polished and more committed side all match. Hard to pick a best player. I thought that Stoddart was excellent, as he used ball creatively every time he got it, in the process sparking many attacks. Rowbottom was really good inside, benefitting from some nice tap work. While Menzel really showed his class up forward. He has a real knack of getting the ball, when his opponent seems to have the advantage.
Many other quality performances. Bell and McInerney were classy. Foot and Wicks each had plenty of good moments. Pink probably got the better of his match-up with Day. Actually, to varying degrees, everybody did well.

Also, to emphasise the difference in experience, I did a little table, listing the AFL experience of the sides.

reserves chart.PNG

- - - Updated - - -

Haven't seen McLean's name mentioned. He was the last minute supplementary draft pick. Is he injured?

We think so, but this year, he seems to be the one who has the, 'not playing, not on the injury list' role.

[liz]

To me, that was a performance that suggested our coaches are doing a really good job.

Absolutely. And not just Laidler and Perris, but Crouch and his team too. The way the academy players come in, are absorbed into the structures, and completely understand how the team plays, is credit to everyone involved.

[Odysseus]

I can't give exact game time, but he was on the ground in each of the quarters. Maybe a bit quiet early, but really came to fore in the second half: including a few, 'how the hell did he do that' moments.

Thanks, dejavoodoo44. I was keeping a vague watch on progress on the NEAFL app., and I don't think he had a goal before half time, so his second half must have been stunning, and I was wondering to what degree they were still managing his game time.

How did Cameron go? - his stats look pretty good.

[liz]

How did Cameron go? - his stats look pretty good.

He was good. Not as absolutely dominant as he has been in past NEAFL games, but a very solid contributor. Last time they played Gold Coast - which was only a few weeks ago - I thought he was edged in the ruck contests by Nicholls, though still a stronger contributor around the ground than Nicholls was. But today I'd give Cameron the honours in the ruck duel.

[ugg]

?Best Players: J. Bell, D. Cameron, J. Rowbottom, R. Stoddart, J. Rose, D. Menzel?

[liz]

I reckon that's a fair enough list of players (though I might have snuck Pink in there too) but not sure about the order. Bell's progress over the last few years (starting from his performances at U18 level) has been very encouraging but he still needs to tidy up his disposal a little. I'd have Rowbottom as best because he was so good in the first half, before the Suns had given up. And Rose second for his commanding performance around the ground in the second half.

[dejavoodoo44]

Thanks, dejavoodoo44. I was keeping a vague watch on progress on the NEAFL app., and I don't think he had a goal before half time, so his second half must have been stunning, and I was wondering to what degree they were still managing his game time.

How did Cameron go? - his stats look pretty good.

As to how Cameron went, I would say that Liz's summary is entirely accurate, so I'll just add a bit about Amartey. While he didn't spend that much time rucking, some of what he did was excellent. Strong positioning, followed by deft taps to advantage. While he probably isn't tall enough to be dominant at the AFL level, he is definitely developing some skills. And in general play, he was responsible for one the day's highlights; where he roved his own dropped mark, then rapidly slotted* the goal from tight in the pocket.

* While typing, as an afterthought, I decided to add a bit more descriptiveness, by putting 'rapidly' in front of 'slotted'. During that process, one of the options that the predictive text gave me, was 'rapist otter'??? I doubt if those two words, have ever been combined before.

[stevoswan]

Haven't seen McLean's name mentioned. He was the last minute supplementary draft pick. Is he injured?

Has a knee issue apparently....not sure exactly what it is or the time frame for his return but it's not long term.