R17 Vs Lions @ CAZALY'S

[MattW]

Quite a significant amount of talk among the commentators that AA's best position is in the ruck.

Yes. Maybe he thinks that too; he seems to like the opportunity to run. Really hope they keep him there next week, but Amartey going down makes Sinclair's return more likely.

[MattW]

Better last 10 minutes there, but really needed another goal to put a bit of pressure on Brisbane. But I think despite the yukky scoreboard we've done a lot right tonight.

Liking the look of Stephens - the kid has some real class about him. Going to be a slow burner I think that takes some time to build up into it, but there is a lot to like.

Obviously elite aerobic capacity as well as speed. Really like the times he squeezed a kick out under pressure.

His best game yet: 16 possessions, 5 marks, 3 score involvements, 2 clearances, 92% TOG.

I reckon he'll storm it next year. Looks like he has self-belief.

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Really impressed by his work tonight. I think he will be a bit of a slow burn, but I like what we are seeing.

An enjoyable game, even if I was disappointed it got away at the end. We played some decent footy, and with a decent tall forward target in the first half, could of really made it interesting. Certainly some good signs with this team going forward I think - certainly not the downcast 'no improvement' dribble run out by that fool Barrett on the AFL website. When they showed the players that could come back in for Rd 1 2021 (in theory anyway) it showed we are doing not bad to be highly competitive against one of the teams who are right in flag contention.

Don't know why you'd read his column, mate - total chancer.

[Markwebbos]

Yes. Maybe he thinks that too; he seems to like the opportunity to run. Really hope they keep him there next week, but Amartey going down makes Sinclair's return more likely.

What happened to Amartey?

[MattW]

Jury is still out on Blakey, McInerney, Bell & Wicks for mine. At times they look classy. At times they look rubbish. I hope the good will overcome the bad in time.

Love what Cunners has brought to our back six and Parker as always an exemplary leader. Badly lacking a forward target. Sammy Reid needs help.

I think the first two are in a different category to the other too. Blakey and McInerney are skinny second year players who have shown class. Good ball users; two of our better players tonight.

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What happened to Amartey?

Ankle late in the third.

[Mel_C]

Was Reid injured in last quarter? AFL.com says Melican too

Reid was in the ruck in the last quarter helping out Aliir due to Amartey injuring his ankle. Didn't see any injury, the same with Melican.

How about the Neale interview after the game when it was put to him that he struggled against Clark. He said he played a different role tonight. Bull dust he got beaten fair and square. Just accept you got beaten on the night and show some humility.

So he played in the same position but he had a different role. So he was tagging Clarke then? ????

[Thunder Shaker]

What acting by Zorko! He gets hit in the chest and acts like he's choking. That's Rance like acting.

[9][0] [8][5] [8][5] [9][0] [8][0] [8][0] [8][5]

Or do we only judge the performance if he's been diving?

[aardvark]

The kids are all good. They just need games. A good pre season with all our injured players back and 3 decent pics in the draft and we'll be back playing finals before we know it unlike Hawthorn!

[TheBloods]

TBF, the jury is out on pretty much every young player we have in the team with you TB - not that there is anything wrong with that

Blakey showed his very best and worst tonight. The cute kicks works well when they work, but they can look awful when they don't. I love his spearing efforts when he kicks through the ball like he did with the two in the second half. I don't doubt he will make it.

Bell and Wicks, while I like their endeavour I'm not so convinced. But willing to give them time to see what they can do.

Ay. It is true that you and I don't see eye to eye where assessing youth is concerned. Perhaps I am too close minded. However I judge footballers by only one standard: how their footy will hold up in finals. Blakey is a bean-pole. It is one thing to start him as a rover in a home and away match in a shortened fixture. It is another to do so in a preliminary final. He would get pummelled from pillar to post in a finals-like atmosphere, and wouldn't get away with the cute antics he tries to do on a weekly basis. Needs to develop a hard edge to work his way into a game when it's not going his way.

McInerney stands in space and amasses possessions at will. Forget about that in a final. Any A-grade defensive structure will not allow their opponent's wingman to be waiting in the corridor to just pick up any loose ball there for the taking. He will be exposed badly in match-ups that won't cater to his uncontested game.

Wicks and Bell at some point are going to have to show more than just how to tackle. Their endeavour is pleasing but do they have any other abilities? Anything else to offer talent-wise? If this were a final, you'd want to hope you have two members of the team contributing more than just tackles.

It's a measuring standard that has rarely proven me wrong over the decades. Because when compiling a list, you don't just want players who will contribute to a win here and there. We need reliable players who possess qualities that are pressure-proof. Some of ours have shown these qualities, though to what degree you and I likely don't agree - Dawson, McCartin, Rowbottom, even Ling showed traits that would hold him in good stead in a high pressure match. Florent, Hayward, Blakey, McInerney, Wicks, Bell.. .. I am not so confident. They have individual games that any coach worth his salt will easily be able to put the clamps on. So it is a judgment that might be premature, but is rooted in valid concern.

[Faunac8]

Ay. It is true that you and I don't see eye to eye where assessing youth is concerned. Perhaps I am too close minded. However I judge footballers by only one standard: how their footy will hold up in finals. Blakey is a bean-pole. It is one thing to start him as a rover in a home and away match in a shortened fixture. It is another to do so in a preliminary final. He would get pummelled from pillar to post in a finals-like atmosphere, and wouldn't get away with the cute antics he tries to do on a weekly basis. Needs to develop a hard edge to work his way into a game when it's not going his way.

McInerney stands in space and amasses possessions at will. Forget about that in a final. Any A-grade defensive structure will not allow their opponent's wingman to be waiting in the corridor to just pick up any loose ball there for the taking. He will be exposed badly in match-ups that won't cater to his uncontested game.

Wicks and Bell at some point are going to have to show more than just how to tackle. Their endeavour is pleasing but do they have any other abilities? Anything else to offer talent-wise? If this were a final, you'd want to hope you have two members of the team contributing more than just tackles.

It's a measuring standard that has rarely proven me wrong over the decades. Because when compiling a list, you don't just want players who will contribute to a win here and there. We need reliable players who possess qualities that are pressure-proof. Some of ours have shown these qualities, though to what degree you and I likely don't agree - Dawson, McCartin, Rowbottom, even Ling showed traits that would hold him in good stead in a high pressure match. Florent, Hayward, Blakey, McInerney, Wicks, Bell.. .. I am not so confident. They have individual games that any coach worth his salt will easily be able to put the clamps on. So it is a judgment that might be premature, but is rooted in valid concern.

Blakey is indeed a beanpole but is just 20 years old so potentially should develop some grunt over the next year or two.
Could easily add 10 kilos to a 195cm frame which would have him at a similar size as Bontempelli for example and I don’t think anyone pummels him. Lots to look forward to over the next decade with Blakey in my opinion

[i'm-uninformed2]

I thought Hayward was outstanding, and has been since he got the mid season kick up the bum.

The player you’d like him to become is what Adelaide’s Tom Lynch was at his peak. Hayward has the nous, marking skills, lead up patterns and kicking ability.

He just now needs the tank, and signs in the second half of the year say he’s getting there.

[MattW]

I thought Hayward was outstanding, and has been since he got the mid season kick up the bum.

The player you’d like him to become is what Adelaide’s Tom Lynch was at his peak. Hayward has the nous, marking skills, lead up patterns and kicking ability.

He just now needs the tank, and signs in the second half of the year say he’s getting there.

He's fixed that set shot too, which is helping him.

[lwjoyner]

I too would like Lions to win the lag, it will be the last any northern club wins if the AFL get rid of NEAFL and make us all team up a VFL team, by the way there is not enough non aligned clubs.
Should not let Vic clubs have a team in the VFL, by the ay WA and SA have standalone reserve teams as well.

[AnnieH]

Even I picked the lions.
I think had it not been raining, we would have won.
One more round to go, then this awful footy year will be over.
Damn you, covid.

[mcs]

Ay. It is true that you and I don't see eye to eye where assessing youth is concerned. Perhaps I am too close minded. However I judge footballers by only one standard: how their footy will hold up in finals. Blakey is a bean-pole. It is one thing to start him as a rover in a home and away match in a shortened fixture. It is another to do so in a preliminary final. He would get pummelled from pillar to post in a finals-like atmosphere, and wouldn't get away with the cute antics he tries to do on a weekly basis. Needs to develop a hard edge to work his way into a game when it's not going his way.

McInerney stands in space and amasses possessions at will. Forget about that in a final. Any A-grade defensive structure will not allow their opponent's wingman to be waiting in the corridor to just pick up any loose ball there for the taking. He will be exposed badly in match-ups that won't cater to his uncontested game.

Wicks and Bell at some point are going to have to show more than just how to tackle. Their endeavour is pleasing but do they have any other abilities? Anything else to offer talent-wise? If this were a final, you'd want to hope you have two members of the team contributing more than just tackles.

It's a measuring standard that has rarely proven me wrong over the decades. Because when compiling a list, you don't just want players who will contribute to a win here and there. We need reliable players who possess qualities that are pressure-proof. Some of ours have shown these qualities, though to what degree you and I likely don't agree - Dawson, McCartin, Rowbottom, even Ling showed traits that would hold him in good stead in a high pressure match. Florent, Hayward, Blakey, McInerney, Wicks, Bell.. .. I am not so confident. They have individual games that any coach worth his salt will easily be able to put the clamps on. So it is a judgment that might be premature, but is rooted in valid concern.

Not saying there aren't concerns - have never said that. But I'd suggest you aren't giving some players any reasonable opportunity to actually develop as AFL footballers - but rather making premature judgments on a very limited evidence base. Indeed earlier in the year you wrote off players that haven't even played for the seniors yets - including a first year player.

We've discussed this before - would you have thrown GAJ to the fires because he didn't really show too much for several seasons beyond being a good afl player (far from elite), and never looked like an elite midfielder until his 5th or 6th season? He is one of so many players that have started in a team in one role, and ended up being a superstar somewhere else. I.e. as he built afl experience, he developed his game to fit. Would you have thrown goodesy away, or Kirk away because in the early years when they didn't show so much? Or Jude Bolton?

If a player came in at 100% of his level on day 1 in our game, and that was the peak - then I would understand. But its been shown so many times that so many players only really hit their straps come in the 50-100 game point of their career, some even later than that. That isn't to say we have to ride and hold with every single player - the game doesn't work like that. Players develop their game over time - its not a stagnant thing.

That isn't to say your judgments on any of those players will prove to be wrong. But just enjoy the ride a bit and lets see what they can do, for as a club I think we need to avoid the premature approach of throwing the baby out every 5 minutes with the bathwater and starting again. That's how you become Carlton.

[KSAS]

Thought there was merit in Gerard Healy's comment that Allir's best position moving forward is as Forward/2nd ruck if Tom McCartin becomes permanent Key Defender alongside Melican and Rampe.