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

[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.

[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?

[Blood Fever]

Hope he turns out like Mr September, LRT.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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

I think he'd learn more as being the number 1 ruck in VFL than attending 30% of ruck contests in the AFL.

[Hotpotato]

It’s weird how so many experts are getting worked up about Carlton’s weak efforts. I was at the game and was impressed how good their precise kicking (apart from the last kicks) and hardness at the ball actually was .
Sydney had to really apply the blowtorch to get the job done which they did.

[Blood Fever]

Yes. There's a lot of crap written every week. They weren't poor by any means. Had chances during the game to get on top of us. Like us in a couple of games, couldn't put it through the big sticks.

[Jimitron5000]

McAndrew has a lot of potential. He also has a lot to learn, and whilst he wouldn't be near the team without injuries, he will learn a lot from playing against AFL standard ruckmen over the next few weeks.
Give him time, I think we have a good one.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Interesting questions and answers Re McAndrew

I was mulling over what would the coaches be thinking?

1. How to beat Carlton? Who is and who is out?

2. Regarding the ruck who will help us play the game on our terms. For me it appeared we wanted a ruckman that minimised any advantage that the opposition would have in the ruck. Our midfield kept swapping from all outside their opposite to then all inside which makes it super easy for an emerging inexperienced ruckman. Ie tap to the outside when we are outside and tap to the inside when we are manning up inside at the centre bounce.

3. Does McAndrew in allow us to shuffle the chessboard with other players we required in our key spots? Yes he did because we had so many talls in the backs and in the forwards out and Hickey not back for North. Then McAndrew only a tactical sub against Carlton as Hickey back but under done.

4. If we do pick McAandrew besides he allowing us to cover and function better in both the North and Carlton games would he also individually benefit from the experience with a simplified role and simplistic assessment criteria? I suspect Cox and Horse thought as he was voted in.

5. Where to now for McAndrew as a 22yr old newbie to AFL and the Ruck role? I truly think he a super amount of runway. He is mobile, he skills will develop dramatically next year or two. His game awareness and character / commitment looked like a big tick for me at his stage of development.

In summary it’s not just what he did last two weeks but it is what happens from here in Tessie’s and or required in Snrs.

I’m looking forward to watching the journey and I didn’t think he looked any worse than say a Darcy Cameron when he debuted for us at a similar age and a stack more AFL junior experience as a forward ruck.

[Auntie.Gerald]

apologies for grammar etc above

i typed on my mobile in a hurry and there are about 10 auto type mistakes

[BRS328]

Auntie,

Very good analysis. Big players take longer to develop, and the signs are there for McAndrew. Clearly he has a long way to go, but he has size and mobility, important ingredients for a ruckman

[i'm-uninformed2]

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.

Not at all. And don't get me wrong - he still has a good bit to work on.

His contribution in general play is still very light, and his contested marking needs real work. I also sense he's more comfortable at centre bounces where he can use his reach and angles to tap the ball, whereas he is still working out the best way to be effective at stoppages, which is a bit more of a wrestle and where his relative lack of strength as a young, tall ruckman counts against him (despite what I said earlier about him holding off Goldstein in that stretch of play).

But I think he has three great assets which suggest his promise. One - he has reach and leap, and soft hands. Some of his tap work against North was very good, albeit there were a few times where his placement was a bit off due to a lack of synchronicity with the mids. But that'll come with time and I reckon opposing rucks will find it increasingly difficult to combat the angles he can achieve. Two - while he is still relatively light, he's unafraid of contact, which is perhaps a function of his rugby background. You see a lot of beanpole ruckmen wary of the brutal contact that comes with the position. Not so McAndrew. And three - he seems an extraordinarily fast learner. He's played, what, maybe 50 games of Aussie rules in his life? If this is where he's already got to, I like the prospect of what's ahead.

I suspect he'll be back out of the team soon, and he certainly looked a bit tired on the weekend, and flagged in the last quarter vs North. But that's ok. He can take what he observed in his few games in the seniors and go back and work on the next phase of his development.

[KSAS]

Melbourne experienced an earthquake last night. Possible aftershocks is predicted for Carlton.