2018 VFL Practice Match: Northern Blues vs Port Melbourne

[Thryleon]

On the write up, I can see them promoting Rowe back sooner rather than later, and made a point of noting how vocal he was and the impact he had on the defense.

[LP]

Rowe's 8 hard ball gets is a tidy effort first game back, it tells you he was up to pace and competing with the opposition. Might be still a few games off AFL fitness and intensity though.

No doubt he wants to be an AFL player, there is nothing gray or borderline about his effort or commitment. He is the antithesis of some others on our list.

[Baggers]

Rowe's 8 hard ball gets is a tidy effort first game back, it tells you he was up to pace and competing with the opposition. Might be still a few games off AFL fitness and intensity though.

No doubt he wants to be an AFL player, there is nothing gray or borderline about his effort or commitment. He is the antithesis of some others on our list.

...and apparently his voice and leadership was strong among the defenders also...

[townsendcalling]

On the write up, I can see them promoting Rowe back sooner rather than later, and made a point of noting how vocal he was and the impact he had on the defense.

...which is probably a significant void in the backline currently, with Doc missing. He was very vocal.

[LP]

...which is probably a significant void in the backline currently, with Doc missing. He was very vocal.

It's interesting, from what I hear voice on an AFL field is a bit over-rated. It's important at training and during breaks in play, but on a ground like "The G" if there is any more than 60K fans going berserk the players cannot hear a thing in play. It seems reasonable, in the close games I have to lean across to hear my mates!

I think the thing we missed are primarily aggression, experience, structure and knowledge.

[Thryleon]

...which is probably a significant void in the backline currently, with Doc missing. He was very vocal.

It's not a coincidence that our defense has looked at sea without Docherty.

Organising a defence takes constant attention noise or no noise.

[ElwoodBlues1]

It's not a coincidence that our defense has looked at see without Docherty.

Organising a defence takes constant attention noise or no noise.

Hardly a voice heard from the backline vs GC, in fact it was a very quiet CFC overall....

[LP]

The highlights package is not too enthusing. All the scores except one were basically out the back running or Joe the Goose type scenarios and very little contested marking or coalface goals.

They just won't be given that space at AFL level.