VFL Rd 5: Northern Blues vs Casey Scorpions

[Baggers]

Such a difficult game to really judge many blokes.

Our first 6-8 were okay but we just fell away so badly in terms of personnel after that... way too much left to too few. Then losing 4 players, 1 key on-baller and 3 key talls was the final blow. Sort of game best to just forget about...

Be much better when we've got a few of our recruited boys on the paddock! JGM and SOS were hanging out together and I reckon SOS has grown...

Have to agree with the best players for us posted on the VFL website. Graham was everywhere and along with him Tutt and Korcheck battled hard with cameos from DVR and Gowers. But that was a pretty slender on-ball brigade!

Dick has probably been our most consistent defender this year and did well under consistent and persistent pressure.

My concern with Boekhorst is that he might be a slight upgrade on Kane Lucas... I hope I'm wrong. He ran around a lot yesterday but his impact on the game was disappointing.

Really seemed that a lot of our blokes simply failed to adapt to the conditions and in some respects didn't even seem to 'turn up' (except for Graham, Wilson until hurt, Buckley, Tutt, Dick and Korchek... Foster battled hard but was just overwhelmed). Smith runs around like a headless chook and actually doesn't seem to achieve anything for all his efforts.

A danger sign I noticed from the get go was that Casey were really vocal on the field - seemed all their blokes were constantly yelling encouragement, support and direction to each other. Our blokes were quiet.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Such a difficult game to really judge many blokes.

Our first 6-8 were okay but we just fell away so badly in terms of personnel after that... way too much left to too few. Then losing 4 players, 1 key on-baller and 3 key talls was the final blow. Sort of game best to just forget about...

Be much better when we've got a few of our recruited boys on the paddock! JGM and SOS were hanging out together and I reckon SOS has grown...

Have to agree with the best players for us posted on the VFL website. Graham was everywhere and along with him Tutt and Korcheck battled hard with cameos from DVR and Gowers. But that was a pretty slender on-ball brigade!

Dick has probably been our most consistent defender this year and did well under consistent and persistent pressure.

My concern with Boekhorst is that he might be a slight upgrade on Kane Lucas... I hope I'm wrong. He ran around a lot yesterday but his impact on the game was disappointing.

Really seemed that a lot of our blokes simply failed to adapt to the conditions and in some respects didn't even seem to 'turn up' (except for Graham, Wilson until hurt, Buckley, Tutt, Dick and Korchek... Foster battled hard but was just overwhelmed). Smith runs around like a headless chook and actually doesn't seem to achieve anything for all his efforts.

A danger sign I noticed from the get go was that Casey were really vocal on the field - seemed all their blokes were constantly yelling encouragement, support and direction to each other. Our blokes were quiet.

Never seen a player run so much and have so little idea where the ball is going than Smith...its like the ball avoids him....reckon the coach needs to tell him to drop a gear and look to get some easy receives rather than trying to win his own footy just so he gets the pace of the game..

[LP]

My concern with Boekhorst is that he might be a slight upgrade on Kane Lucas... I hope I'm wrong. He ran around a lot yesterday but his impact on the game was disappointing.

All Twitter and No Ticker! :o

He needs to read that funny little book;

Dr Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bump!

[bratblue]

Such a difficult game to really judge many blokes.

Our first 6-8 were okay but we just fell away so badly in terms of personnel after that... way too much left to too few. Then losing 4 players, 1 key on-baller and 3 key talls was the final blow. Sort of game best to just forget about...

Be much better when we've got a few of our recruited boys on the paddock! JGM and SOS were hanging out together and I reckon SOS has grown...

Have to agree with the best players for us posted on the VFL website. Graham was everywhere and along with him Tutt and Korcheck battled hard with cameos from DVR and Gowers. But that was a pretty slender on-ball brigade!

Dick has probably been our most consistent defender this year and did well under consistent and persistent pressure.

My concern with Boekhorst is that he might be a slight upgrade on Kane Lucas... I hope I'm wrong. He ran around a lot yesterday but his impact on the game was disappointing.

Really seemed that a lot of our blokes simply failed to adapt to the conditions and in some respects didn't even seem to 'turn up' (except for Graham, Wilson until hurt, Buckley, Tutt, Dick and Korchek... Foster battled hard but was just overwhelmed). Smith runs around like a headless chook and actually doesn't seem to achieve anything for all his efforts.

A danger sign I noticed from the get go was that Casey were really vocal on the field - seemed all their blokes were constantly yelling encouragement, support and direction to each other. Our blokes were quiet.

Thanks Baggers, bugger I couldn't make it although there wasn't much to see we would've had a good yarn about the firsts.

[RiverRat]

My concern with Boekhorst is that he might be a slight upgrade on Kane Lucas...

I have very similar concerns but, in any case, a low bar for comparisons.

Thanks to all posters for the reports.

[laj]

From late last season and early this season Boekhorst has well. It was only a bit over a month ago people were saying he was a great pick up.

[kruddler]

From late last season and early this season Boekhorst has well. It was only a bit over a month ago people were saying he was a great pick up.

They type of player Boeky is, outside runner, means he is better suited to the AFL venues which allow/encourage carrying the ball.

Some of the slop he'd be playing in wouldn't suit his style.

FWIW, i think i've seen him do some pretty hard tackles playing 1's. Certainly not a feature of his game, but its not as if he doesn't have it him.

[shadesy]

Nick Graham had 34 touches and 25 tackles.... 25....

That's how you put your hand up for selection.

[crashlander]

Considering that the game was one of the most complete disasters I can think of, there are a couple of very interesting things in the stats:
[1] Nick Graham had 25 tackles! Nick has his issues, but wanting to get back into the seniors isn't one of them. Some players an go through a SEASON without getting 25 tackles in total!
[2] Korchek had 42 tap outs. Considering he was up against Spencer, who has a LOT more experience than he has, I reckon Korchek certainly did his job as well as he could at this point.
[3] Weideman had 8 possessions. That suggests our defenders were not total dead losses. That he kicked 4 goals is a problem, but there are certainly some promising signs in that he can be so held considering how often the ball was down his end.
[4] Boekhorst had 10 tackles.

[ElwoodBlues1]

From late last season and early this season Boekhorst has well. It was only a bit over a month ago people were saying he was a great pick up.

Did well in the preseason games but has been ordinary in his attack on the footy and put the handbrake on in a few contests in his senior games IMO..I think he has talent, carries the ball well, can take a big speccy buBolton is a meat and potatoes coach who likes his footy ugly with plenty of salt and I am not sure Boeky can deliver that style of footy every week..
Saying all that there is room for a Brad/Stephen Hill type outside runner in our team who doesnt need to be all of the above but you have to very very good at what you do to be that player...