2019 NEAFL discussion thread

[MattW]

Stoddart looks the goods.....great game tonight. Seniors beckon.....

Let's hope so.

[liz]

I figure Wicks gets another year on the Cat B list and we've already added Barry O'Connor. We'll probably take 1 academy player to fill our quota of 3, but hard to say who it will be.

My favourite of this year's crop (as I've mentioned before) is Martin but I suspect he's not on the radar, given he didn't get selected for the U18 championships. Of all the players we've seen, he's the one that looks to have a weapon - his penetrating and usually accurate kicking - that should translate to AFL level. He's also reasonably quick and good overhead for his size. I think he could definitely develop into a handy back pocket player in time.

Of those who played in the U18 championships, Luke Parks was probably the most consistent. There's another bunch who shape up to provide a solid U19 development squad for next season.

Of the current U19 development squad, I don't think Kilpatrick has put a foot wrong. For most matches he's looked as dangerous - maybe more so - as Foot. His size might count against him taking the next step, though he did ruck the entire first quarter for the NEAFL team this evening (according to the commentators, at least).

[troyjones2525]

How did Wicks go tonight? Haven't watched the game as yet but most of the NEAFL games I've watched this year he's been busy and has good skills but most importantly for a small half forward is his high tackle numbers. Surely he should get a chance to replace Ronke in our forward line sooner or later? I would argue his NEAFL form has been better than Ronke anyway, although his form was probably better in the first half of the season than it has been of late?



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[Ralph Dawg]

There's usually one in the best players list that surprises me. This week it's Knoll. While some of tap work was good, especially to Clarke in the final quarter, much of his other work could be described as clumsy. Dropped plenty of marks and got in the way of others trying to mark.

Knoll had a purple patch in the 4th just as NT started to threaten. Otherwise was beaten by Hannah. Agree, he looked clumsy and seemed to be often in the way if his team mates. Amartey looks much more advanced in general. Jack, Clarke and Wicks all racked up decent numbers but none were convincing with their disposal. James Bell looks to have gone backwards, really poor with his ball usage. There were significant times where the NT midfield dominated ours, which is a poor reflection on our guys considering NT are last and lack any AFL standard players. One guy who was smashing us looked like he spent his pre season in the pub. The only player who looked ready to make the step up was Stoddart. A general observation common across our NEAFL and AFL teams is they all seem to drop off tackles too easily. Maybe time to get a tackling coach in for all the boys?

[TopEndSwan]

A few points after being at the game in Darwin last night:

- MENZEL just doesn't look fit enough. His kicking skills are sublime (as evidenced by his boundary set shot at goal) but the lack of a pre-season is really telling when you see him at the ground. He seems to mostly base himself near the goal square waiting for a sneaky snap, but his defensive game on the rebound out of our forward 50 isn't all that flash. I don't think he'll be selected in the seniors any time soon.

- HIRST impressed me. He is a small frame at the moment, but he has sticky hands, a penetrating, accurate kick, speed and courage (at one point he ran directly into an oncoming tank of a Thunder player to shepherd a fellow Swan). I don't think he'll play seniors for a fair while given his size but I think he'll be good in the future.

- STODDART is a gun. Seems to have a great sense of the game play. Could definitely slip into the seniors, especially once he gets more meat on his bones. But I don't reckon he'll get a call up unless we have a few injuries in the backline.

- KNOLL won't be playing seniors this year. OK in the ruck, but as others have said here, AMARTEY offers a lot more around the ground.

- CLARKE. What to say? The same as everyone else has said before: elite athlete who just seems to either handpass to a player under pressure or he ambitiously tries to break the line and gets done for holding the ball. If he can get his efficiency up, he will be great.

- FOOT and MCINERNEY - both had some flashes of speed, but didn't show enough to warrant a senior selection in the near future.

- I thought WICKS was handy (although I might have missed some of his poor disposal that others have mentioned). He could be the perfect replacement for RONKE in our forward line. During the 3/4 time break (I think), he got a special mention and clap from the coach for some of his efforts on the field.

Summing up, will any of these players get into the seniors next week to replace RONKE? In my view, probably not, given we also have MCVEIGH, FOX and THURLOW also waiting on the sidelines. Plus JACK, who I thought did OK during the NEAFL game. And once CAMERON'S back, he will surely come in for SINCLAIR. But besides them, if any other NEAFL player gets a chance in the near future, I reckon it'll be WICKS, given his ability to replace RONKE in the forward line.

[SeanM]

I liked hirst's game. He was not massively involved but seemed skillful and comfortable in the contest. Also capable of repeated sprints as well looking like he could run all day.

If the club keeps him i think he could be a decent small forward eventuality becoming a midfielder who can run both ways.

[Mel_C]

I really love that they stream the games via the Internet. It’s great that I can use my smart tv to watch it on the big screen

Why is this game not being shown or replayed on NITV though?

The game is being replayed right now on NITV channel 34.

[barracuda]

I hope they have sorted out the middle of blacktown for the southport game this weekend.

[Mr Magoo]

My favourite of this year's crop (as I've mentioned before) is Martin but I suspect he's not on the radar, given he didn't get selected for the U18 championships. Of all the players we've seen, he's the one that looks to have a weapon - his penetrating and usually accurate kicking - that should translate to AFL level. He's also reasonably quick and good overhead for his size. I think he could definitely develop into a handy back pocket player in time.

Of those who played in the U18 championships, Luke Parks was probably the most consistent. There's another bunch who shape up to provide a solid U19 development squad for next season.

Of the current U19 development squad, I don't think Kilpatrick has put a foot wrong. For most matches he's looked as dangerous - maybe more so - as Foot. His size might count against him taking the next step, though he did ruck the entire first quarter for the NEAFL team this evening (according to the commentators, at least).

Martins a great footballer but I think it may be general professionalism and lack of application that may be holding him back.

Parks was very consistent throughout the allies series as was Thorne but I didnt see anything from Thorne that made me think , "Gee he is good". I suspect that he may have a very good professional approach to his football which the swans like. Parks looks a good competitive backman.

I think it was mentioned elsewhere but the one who really went out of sight was Rayner. He was good enough to play in the all stars game prior to last years grand final yet this year he played only the first game for the allies where they were comprehensively beaten by Vic Country.

[ugg]

Two brilliant goals in two weeks for @sydneyswans young gun Zac Foot!

???? AFLNT | #NEAFL | @aflnswact pic.twitter.com/QV7gUGuSDJ

— NEAFL (@neaflofficial) July 8, 2019

[Blood Fever]

Two brilliant goals in two weeks for @sydneyswans young gun Zac Foot!

???? AFLNT | #NEAFL | @aflnswact pic.twitter.com/QV7gUGuSDJ

— NEAFL (@neaflofficial) July 8, 2019

Exactly what we're looking for in the ones. Hope he makes the grade.

[ugg]

[rb4x]

On those HO numbers Knoll would have to be considered for the Carlton match if Cameron is not available.

[Ralph Dawg]

On those HO numbers Knoll would have to be considered for the Carlton match if Cameron is not available.

He was up against Hannath, ruckman recently delisted from Freo. Certainly numbers look good but just looked slow, a bit clueless in general play. I think he would really struggle against Kreuzer this week who is pretty good around the park and also capable of moving forward to kick the odd goal. If Cameron unavailable, might be better to bring Amartey in to tag team with Aliir.

[Nico]

I think Stoddart must now get a game. The 3 players that offered little last week; Ronke, Florent and Hayward have to be looked at, given the lack of scoring power from our forward smalls. Both Hayward and Ronke have shown that they have very small tanks and we need some oomph in the team. To me Stoddart has been pidgeon holed or stereotyped as a half back flanker, yet he has good speed and skills best suited to a wing. With his and Dawson's kicking skills surely we would benefit from 2 players delivering the ball well into the forward line. Whereas Dawson tends to not move the ball on quickly Stoddart is the opposite. Running off the wing either just outside or inside the 50 he surely provides us a with a different dimension to our forward moves.

- - - Updated - - -

He was up against Hannath, ruckman recently delisted from Freo. Certainly numbers look good but just looked slow, a bit clueless in general play. I think he would really struggle against Kreuzer this week who is pretty good around the park and also capable of moving forward to kick the odd goal. If Cameron unavailable, might be better to bring Amartey in to tag team with Aliir.

All the Swans posts on Twitter have not given Amartey a mention. Cameron certainly did today.