2018 VFL Rd 5: Northern Blues vs Frankston at Frankston

[LP]

I'm hoping Saturday's outing has helped Weitering turn the corner.

Last year and this (in the seniors) he has often been a liability - seemed timid and even sooky. But against the Franger, he eventually showed some of that 1st year judgement...backing himself and playing to his strengths after a shaky start. He's a monty to return to the seniors as keeping him at twos level will likely, eventually, backfire in terms of his confidence. He owned the backline once he backed himself again and it's no coincidence that as he gained confidence the entire side benefitted and never looked like losing. I think he enjoyed having the backline to himself v Franganistan.

BUT, as Ye Rat O' the River pointed out (so astutely of course) that playing he and Jones together, who play very similar roles, is fraught with danger. One for the MC / defence coach to sort out. Perhaps Jones to the key forward and Weitering the no.1 'loose in to help' dude... if it's the other way around (which you can justify because Jones is so quick) you're left with a slow Weitering minding one bloke and not playing to his strengths.

Jones pace is wasted if all he does is punch the ball. Who would to rather have, the relatively slow but reliable reading of play and strong intercept marking of Harry Taylor, or the extreme closing speed but chaotic defensive punches of Liam Jones. For me in defense it's a no brainer!

But put those chaotic punches in our F50, and make sure the smalls are disciplined enough to be aggressively roving to them, and the whole scenario changes. Those punches and the chaos they create is exactly what defenders dread, Jones creates it in our D50!