R11 Sydney v Carlton at the SCG, The Marn Grook Game - Match Thread

[Kafka's Ghost]

I understand how harsh I sound given our circumstances but he really did not provide much assistance for Hickey anyway. His best work is at centre bounce but he only attended 6 of these. He attended 28 ruck contests in total and won the hit out only 7 times. In general play, he provided almost nothing. I'd seriously rather play Sheldrick and give him the learning experience. McLean can ruck for the same amount of time that McAndrew did and we can go with a smaller forward line in that time. If they don't want to do that then play a mid as the ruck and be resigned to losing the hit out.

I get that he is young and that he has potential but it will hurt us in the ones giving him that learning experience there.

Even if we scrape into the bottom part of the Eight this year we’re unlikely to do any damage, so give him games. He might be our next Mike Pyke!


Gesendet von iPad mit Tapatalk

[AB Swannie]

I tend to approach it as he is developing quickly, he had a terrific game against Norf, but he’s a second game ruckman so of course he will be up and down. But I’m not sure how you drop after his game against Norf when he was terrific for three quarters. There was an extended period where Goldstein had him lined up for six or seven stoppages in a row in their f50, and McAndrew refused to give an inch.

I get he gave less against Carlton, but it did allow us to play McLean as a permanent forward and he was excellent. McLean gave us a clear marking target and structure.

One thing I love about Horse is he will always coach winning habits, rather than tanking. But if this year, with where we now are, we invest some time in developing a few players via a few senior games like McAndrew, go for it.

Our singular focus needs to be what our side can do on grand final day, 2025-28. McAndrew is potentially part of that, so give him a few games. If it costs us one now, so be it for the long term dividend.

Thanks for your considered reply. At the moment I'm not as optimistic but I'll try to keep an open mind. I still think we are a chance of making finals this year. We've had our rough run of injuries and could really do some damage with our best 22.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I understand how harsh I sound given our circumstances but he really did not provide much assistance for Hickey anyway. His best work is at centre bounce but he only attended 6 of these. He attended 28 ruck contests in total and won the hit out only 7 times. In general play, he provided almost nothing. I'd seriously rather play Sheldrick and give him the learning experience. McLean can ruck for the same amount of time that McAndrew did and we can go with a smaller forward line in that time. If they don't want to do that then play a mid as the ruck and be resigned to losing the hit out.

I get that he is young and that he has potential but it will hurt us in the ones giving him that learning experience there.

I tend to approach it as he is developing quickly, he had a terrific game against Norf, but he’s a second game ruckman so of course he will be up and down. But I’m not sure how you drop after his game against Norf when he was terrific for three quarters. There was an extended period where Goldstein had him lined up for six or seven stoppages in a row in their f50, and McAndrew refused to give an inch.

I get he gave less against Carlton, but it did allow us to play McLean as a permanent forward and he was excellent. McLean gave us a clear marking target and structure.

One thing I love about Horse is he will always coach winning habits, rather than tanking. But if this year, with where we now are, we invest some time in developing a few players via a few senior games like McAndrew, go for it.

Our singular focus needs to be what our side can do on grand final day, 2025-28. McAndrew is potentially part of that, so give him a few games. If it costs us one now, so be it for the long term dividend.

[Blood Fever]

Hope he turns out like Mr September, LRT.

[dejavoodoo44]

I thought he read the play and moved to the right areas a lot better than many/most 1-2 game players I've seen. I like the look of him.

And he's a lot less experienced than most 2 game players. In that he played rugby as a kid and a teenager. Decided that wasn't for him and played a couple of junior games for Manly in 2019. Next year, he played a couple of academy games and a few more games for Manly. Then played with our VFL team in 2021-2, but it was very on and off due to injury. So, he still may not have got to 50 games of Aussie Rules?

[MattW]

In case you hadn't noticed, we don't have a lot of options at the moment. Ladhams is out "for a number of weeks", Hickey doesn't look remotely like he can ruck solo for a whole game, and we can't spare McLean to provide mediocre ruck relief right now.

In any case, I think he's doing OK. He was a little less effective against Carlton than against North, but he didn't look overawed. He knew where he needed to be and when (that one, relieving mark he took, a goal-line spoil where he was the only player tall enough to have any chance of reaching it).

He must be learning heaps right now. Imagine how exciting it must be for him and Cox to sit down during the week and go over his match tapes together. This week, he'll see how the two Carlton rucks managed to manoeuvre themselves to the front of the ruck contest at around-the-ground stoppages to negate his height advantage. Every game he plays against every variety of ruckman he'll be learning new stuff.

Yep.

[neilfws]

What are everyone's thoughts on Stretch McAndrew? I'm not seeing much myself. 7 hitouts, 1 mark. Still years away for mine.

I thought he read the play and moved to the right areas a lot better than many/most 1-2 game players I've seen. I like the look of him.

[AB Swannie]

In case you hadn't noticed, we don't have a lot of options at the moment. Ladhams is out "for a number of weeks", Hickey doesn't look remotely like he can ruck solo for a whole game, and we can't spare McLean to provide mediocre ruck relief right now.

In any case, I think he's doing OK. He was a little less effective against Carlton than against North, but he didn't look overawed. He knew where he needed to be and when (that one, relieving mark he took, a goal-line spoil where he was the only player tall enough to have any chance of reaching it).

He must be learning heaps right now. Imagine how exciting it must be for him and Cox to sit down during the week and go over his match tapes together. This week, he'll see how the two Carlton rucks managed to manoeuvre themselves to the front of the ruck contest at around-the-ground stoppages to negate his height advantage. Every game he plays against every variety of ruckman he'll be learning new stuff.

I understand how harsh I sound given our circumstances but he really did not provide much assistance for Hickey anyway. His best work is at centre bounce but he only attended 6 of these. He attended 28 ruck contests in total and won the hit out only 7 times. In general play, he provided almost nothing. I'd seriously rather play Sheldrick and give him the learning experience. McLean can ruck for the same amount of time that McAndrew did and we can go with a smaller forward line in that time. If they don't want to do that then play a mid as the ruck and be resigned to losing the hit out.

I get that he is young and that he has potential but it will hurt us in the ones giving him that learning experience there.

[giant]

Winning is a lot more fun than the alternative - or even winning by a technicality for that matter!

Well done boys, hard to imagine that the presence of the indigenous lads didn't play a role - the scenes after the game were special.

[liz]

What are everyone's thoughts on Stretch McAndrew? I'm not seeing much myself. 7 hitouts, 1 mark. Still years away for mine.

In case you hadn't noticed, we don't have a lot of options at the moment. Ladhams is out "for a number of weeks", Hickey doesn't look remotely like he can ruck solo for a whole game, and we can't spare McLean to provide mediocre ruck relief right now.

In any case, I think he's doing OK. He was a little less effective against Carlton than against North, but he didn't look overawed. He knew where he needed to be and when (that one, relieving mark he took, a goal-line spoil where he was the only player tall enough to have any chance of reaching it).

He must be learning heaps right now. Imagine how exciting it must be for him and Cox to sit down during the week and go over his match tapes together. This week, he'll see how the two Carlton rucks managed to manoeuvre themselves to the front of the ruck contest at around-the-ground stoppages to negate his height advantage. Every game he plays against every variety of ruckman he'll be learning new stuff.

[chalbilto]

From what I have seen from last year to this year he has improved heaps and I think there is great potential in him. Give him another pre-season to bulk up and learn from the coaches as big men take time to progress. It wouldn't surprise me that he will overtake Ladhams in the pecking order.

[Blood Fever]

Not necessarily years away considering how fast he has developed. For someone 210 cm tall, he keeps up with the speed of the game. I thought Hickey gave us a real lift now that he is fit again. I'd give him another year unless there is someone else in the pipeline trade wise. He is classier and smarter than Ladhams who is ok and hopefully still developing.

[AB Swannie]

What are everyone's thoughts on Stretch McAndrew? I'm not seeing much myself. 7 hitouts, 1 mark. Still years away for mine.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Not much risk, Cooper Vickery's contract goes to the end of next season.

My apologies then. I did not know that he was Indigenous.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

It saddens me that there is a risk when Bud retires at the end of the year that we could the only club in the AFL without an Indigenous player on our list.

Not much risk, Cooper Vickery's contract goes to the end of next season.