Academy games 2023

[Scottee]

The Coates app has finally put the score up. We kicked seven final quarter goals to one, to win 13.17-95 to 10.7-67. Looking at the stats sheet, we won every stat except free kicks.

Individually, Caiden Cleary and Indhi Kirk topped the possession count with 28 each, and the tackle count with 7 each. Tye Gander was our leading goal scorer with 3.

There does not appear to be any facility for a replay. Hope I am wrong.

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[dejavoodoo44]

There does not appear to be any facility for a replay. Hope I am wrong.

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It might appear later in the week.

[dejavoodoo44]

The replay is now on the Coates app.

[Scottee]

The replay is now on the Coates app.

Excellent!

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[dejavoodoo44]

Having watched 3/4 of the game, I thought I'd post a few observations. (I didn't watch the third quarter, since it was fairly late at night and the Western Jets did all the scoring).

Probably our best was Indhi Kirk, who played in a different role than last season. Last season he predominantly played wing, yesterday he spent a lot more time as an inside mid, with the occasional spell as a small forward. This role seemed to suit him, as he was both elusive under pressure and able to exert pressure himself. The central role also allowed him to play as more of a link, when the ball was being moved out of defence. He was equal highest on ground for number of disposals and tackles. As an over-age player, it'll be interesting to see if he gets much of a run in the VFL this year.

The player that he shared the highest disposals and tackles with was Caiden Cleary. Probably our best draft prospect this year, he's an in and under ball magnet, who has enough pace to escape the contest and who generally uses it pretty well.

Lachlan Cabor also did some nice work at the ruck contests.

All three benefited from the hitouts to advantage by our ruckmen, especially Caleb May; who is now something of a man mountain. The Coates app lists him as 204cm, but I suspect that's last year's measurement and it wouldn't surprise me if he's actually 4 or 5 centimetres taller. It'll be interesting to see if he develops into a genuine draft prospect. At the moment, he's a bit lumbering around the ground and a few times he was moved around by a smaller opponent in the ruck. So, hopefully he can improve his pace and explosive power.

The other ruck, Harrison Podmore-Taylor, has impressed me in the two games that I've seen him in. I don't think he was in the academy system last year, so I'm wondering if he's been drafted in on athletic ability? Listed at 201cm, he's fast, strong and agile. During the final quarter, he mainly played as a key forward and acquitted himself well. Threw himself hard at the ball and kicked a nice goal in broken play. I suspect he'll spend more time as a KPF, as this academy year seems to be lacking them.

Filling that role is Tye Gander, who showed some talent last season, but was probably considered too skinny to be drafted. Despite being more physically suited to playing as a medium forward or tall winger, he did quite well with three goals.

Playing as a medium forward, Max Rider did some nice things and kicked a couple of goals. Although one of his goals surprised me. I winced when he slammed his opponent into the ground and thought, "Uggh, he might get a week for that". But to my relief, he was rewarded a HTB free, instead. Handily, it was in the goal square.

Other players did good things, but I'm still working out who's who. I thought number 30 looked pretty good in defence, but I don't know who he is?

[dejavoodoo44]

Rookie Me made Indhi their player of the week for round one.

2023 Coates Talent League Player of the Week: Round 1 - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

[dejavoodoo44]

They also awarded votes for the game.

5 – Indhi Kirk (Swans Academy)
4 – Logan Morris (Western Jets)
3 – Tye Gander (Swans Academy)
2 – Caiden Cleary (Swans Academy)
1 – Jake Smith (Western Jets)

[dejavoodoo44]

You will probably be able to watch the replays of both games on the Coates app during the week if you want. The girls dominated winning 11.11.77 - 1.2.8. Best were Kendra Blattman, Grace Crittenden, Lily Race, Charlotte Watton, Emma Juneja, Olivia Morris.

Rookie Me now has a brief write up of this game.


2023 Coates Talent League Girls: Round 2 wrap - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Olivia Morris seems a prospect.

[dejavoodoo44]

The U18M academy side play the GWV Rebels at 11am today, while the U16 M & F teams play Brisbane tomorrow.

QBE Academy Matches: Coates League and Northern Academy Series

[dejavoodoo44]

I think we're in front 20-16 at the quarter (I tuned in a couple of minutes in and the goal umpire was signalling a behind, but it didn't go on the scoreboard). So far, we seem to be better at competing for the ball, while GWV seem better at hitting targets.

[dejavoodoo44]

GWV kicked the only couple of goals in the quarter, to be ahead 30-22 at the half. The strong wind seems to be contributing to it being quite a scrappy game. If the wind is advantaging one end, then we'll have that advantage in the third quarter. Kirk probably our best, so far.

[dejavoodoo44]

Good quarter, to be in front 49-34 at the final break. Cleary was busy, with a fair few contested possessions and a handy goal. If this comp has a mark of the week, then Kirk probably took it, with a grab much like Papley's recent effort.

[aardvark]

A bad loss. Coughed up a four goal lead.

[dejavoodoo44]

Looked to have a winning lead halfway through that quarter, only to be overran late. Though I could quibble about the winning goal, as it did seem that there was a clear holding free to a Swans defender, when he was trying to get to the loose ball near the goal square.

Shame that the defence couldn't hold out, as I thought they played pretty well in the second half, in the absence of our best defender, Webster, who I presume was injured in the first half. Gibbs, Mills-Vasas and Hyams all looked solid.

In the midfield, May got plenty of clean taps: the highlight of which was a thump to Kirk on the edge of the centre bounce contest, who then took off and goaled from the forward edge of square. Kirk was vying for our best with Cleary, who had plenty of touches and was instrumental in us kicking away in the third. Cabor also competed hard, as did underager, Harrison, who won a fair few contests when given a chance in midfield. May also took a few marks, but at this stage, you probably wouldn't go out of your way to get him involved in a possession chain.

According to my notes, Rider was our only multiple goalscorer with 3. A couple of which were nice snaps and the other one being from a mystery free. Our taller forwards, Podmore-Taylor and Gander, had almost days, where they got their hands to plenty of marking opportunities, but dropped most of them. Although Gander did take a nice grab from a touched ball, then played on smartly to goal. He also played on smartly from a midfield free, to set up Rider for one of his goals.

All up, it was a competitive, but somewhat scrappy performance, that would have seemed a whole lot better, if the final siren had of sounded about a minute earlier.

[dejavoodoo44]

Rookie Me mentioned Kirk, Cleary and May in their Scouting Notes for the round.

Scouting Notes: 2023 Talent League - Round 2 - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

They also had May as ruck for their team of the week. It'll be interesting to see if May starts to get talked up as a genuine draft prospect. Rookie Me gave what is probably quite an accurate assessment, of him dominating taps due to his size advantage, and playing well around the ground, while understanding his own limitations.