(02-22-2024, 07:09 AM)kruddler link Wrote:I tried warning people off about their expectations of Young for this year, and it seems, unfortunately, that i was right.

He looks like the same player as he was last year (at best) but nowhere near the player he was before that.

Not sure whats happened to him, but he is not a long term option and we MUST be chasing some genuine backups ASAP.

I would happily like to wave my magic wand and fix it, but i think its about time we accept it, he ain't the man he used to be.

(02-22-2024, 11:24 PM)DJC link Wrote:I thought that Harry was our best player by quite a margin and his ruckwork has improved considerably.  Geelong rotated four players through the ruck to our two (Young did contest one hitout when our ruck couldn't get there) so Harry's effort was quite impressive, as was De Koning's.

(02-23-2024, 04:37 AM)RiverRat link Wrote:H appears to have been coached and looked much more at home in the ruck than ever before. Maybe there is an intention to have him spend more time in the ruck this season.  If so, hopefully he will be resilient because I don't know if we can afford for him to get injured. 

TDK also seemed to have more strength to body up against his ruck opponents - not that the pussies are generally considered to be strong in that department.

I like the games of both Hollands brothers but the big positive for me was the fact that Cripps appeared to be more mobile and to have a bit more zip - maybe he has dropped a little weight and done some speed/agility work or maybe he is just injury free for a change.

(02-23-2024, 04:46 AM)DJC link Wrote:Cripps was outstanding early but had a bit of a spell later in the game and dropped back to just very good. Based on his early game form, I’d say he is in for a big year.

Ollie Hollands was very impressive.  Elijah was good but I don’t think he has Ollie’s footy smarts.

(02-23-2024, 01:13 AM)shawny link Wrote:Not sure yesterday first 'practice match' of the season confirmed anything and anyone and certainly your joking to write a bloke off after one practice match.

I remember watching blokes like Digby Morell look like Wayne Carey in preseason games then was delisted a few years later.

North 17th beat the premier comfortably a few days ago

These games mean SFA, as long as there is no new injuries in these pre season games I'm happy.

(02-24-2024, 04:45 AM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:Id be trialling Sam Durdin at FB this week vs Melbourne but would also play Young in the backline, Weitering is such a hard player to replace we may have to use a combination of S. Durdin and Young to try and cover the FB position.
While you dont judge a player on one practice game I felt Young's lack of form was continuing where he left off last season and Id like a plan B. Martin will be equally hard to replace down the other end given his value is in the quality of possessions rather than the number and if he is also missing Id expect Fantasia to provide that creativity and would want to see him shine vs the Dees.