05-13-2018, 10:09 PM
Just going to have a look at the young blokes who are our future. This is what we've paid Bolts and SOS to do. Rebuild the team so we have a stable (and exciting) base for an extended run at it.
LO'B looks nice and composed to me, and he gets himself to the right spots, and holds onto his marks, even under pressure, which impresses me most considering his lack of size. 15 touches and 8 marks for both of the last 2 weeks. Not laying a lot of tackles yet, but he's got a few more summers in the gym in front of him yet. Early signs looking for good for him becoming the link man we need. I think he'll be our Gaff, and we don't need to throw the kitchen sink to land Gaff.
Dow, starting to show why he was drafted, has the wheels to get out of congestion, and has a knack for pouncing on the the loose ball in tight. Both of these blokes are getting their 10 -15 possies a week, which is all you can ask from a skinny young mid in their first year. Next year it should be 15-20, the year after 20+ week in, week out. That's when they'll come into their own.
Samo still stuck on his 10-15 touches, only got 10 this week, but did lay 8 tackles, and snatch a snap goal. His best game so far was round 2, with 24 touches. Second year blues for him is all i hope it is. With the second year blues, you hear people say the player gets a little more attention, and more is expected of them, and i also think the excitement of the first year wears off a little as they come to grips with the brutality required to back up week after week. He'll show in the next year or two if he's made of the right stuff for AFL.
Big H not getting a lot of the footy, but he did roam up and down the ground a bit, and took at least 1 good pack mark in the back half. The most impressive thing for me is his mobility. He's got some wheels, and is not afraid to take blokes on. When he's one on one going for a loose ball on the run, he makes the opposition defender look a bit silly. Has a very good habit of kicking 2 goals a game, and i'll take that. Could well become a Josh Jenkins or a Tom Lynch.
Charlie. What more can I say. The kid can take a pack mark over the top, from the side, can hold his ground in front, and recovers quickly. And can run all day and play spells in the middle. What a gem. Needs a little work with Sav, but he's coming from a far better spot than Cas was, so I expect he will tighten up his goal kicking. The other thing that is starting to stand out to me is that Charlie and Big H seem to have some sort of chemistry. Just a few little hints here and there that these 2 boys know they've got the ability to run the forward line for the next decade.
Crippa. Rippa. Starting to impose himself and use that big frame of his. Becoming a bit of a bully, and I like it! The work he did to improve his acceleration is a credit to him, and shows how hard he works on improving every little bit of his game. Deadset gun.
Zac Attack has not been affected by the second year blues, and is going from strength to strength. A little up and down still, with 3 games out of 8 over 20 possies, but only 15 this week. This kid is a winner, as we all know. Goes to show you don't have to be big to me a modern mid, but you do have to have something. And he's very zippy, very clean, tenacious, and has a penetrating kick. And some real spirit.
Darcy Lang showed what he'll bring to the team. 13 touches, 2 goals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. Not a bad debut. He'll get better, and I don't think will ever be a 30+ possies a week player, but should be a very handy 20+. Still a young bloke, and only 45 games in to his career. Has the ability to play a standout game now and then as shown in finals for Geelong. We've missed him earlier in the year.
There are other youngsters who did not play due to injury and form, who I still have high hopes for. Pickett, Kennedy, Weiters, Marchy, Cunningham, and Willo have all got the tools to add to that list. With any luck they'll all get over their issues and show they belong too.
Go young Blues !
LO'B looks nice and composed to me, and he gets himself to the right spots, and holds onto his marks, even under pressure, which impresses me most considering his lack of size. 15 touches and 8 marks for both of the last 2 weeks. Not laying a lot of tackles yet, but he's got a few more summers in the gym in front of him yet. Early signs looking for good for him becoming the link man we need. I think he'll be our Gaff, and we don't need to throw the kitchen sink to land Gaff.
Dow, starting to show why he was drafted, has the wheels to get out of congestion, and has a knack for pouncing on the the loose ball in tight. Both of these blokes are getting their 10 -15 possies a week, which is all you can ask from a skinny young mid in their first year. Next year it should be 15-20, the year after 20+ week in, week out. That's when they'll come into their own.
Samo still stuck on his 10-15 touches, only got 10 this week, but did lay 8 tackles, and snatch a snap goal. His best game so far was round 2, with 24 touches. Second year blues for him is all i hope it is. With the second year blues, you hear people say the player gets a little more attention, and more is expected of them, and i also think the excitement of the first year wears off a little as they come to grips with the brutality required to back up week after week. He'll show in the next year or two if he's made of the right stuff for AFL.
Big H not getting a lot of the footy, but he did roam up and down the ground a bit, and took at least 1 good pack mark in the back half. The most impressive thing for me is his mobility. He's got some wheels, and is not afraid to take blokes on. When he's one on one going for a loose ball on the run, he makes the opposition defender look a bit silly. Has a very good habit of kicking 2 goals a game, and i'll take that. Could well become a Josh Jenkins or a Tom Lynch.
Charlie. What more can I say. The kid can take a pack mark over the top, from the side, can hold his ground in front, and recovers quickly. And can run all day and play spells in the middle. What a gem. Needs a little work with Sav, but he's coming from a far better spot than Cas was, so I expect he will tighten up his goal kicking. The other thing that is starting to stand out to me is that Charlie and Big H seem to have some sort of chemistry. Just a few little hints here and there that these 2 boys know they've got the ability to run the forward line for the next decade.
Crippa. Rippa. Starting to impose himself and use that big frame of his. Becoming a bit of a bully, and I like it! The work he did to improve his acceleration is a credit to him, and shows how hard he works on improving every little bit of his game. Deadset gun.
Zac Attack has not been affected by the second year blues, and is going from strength to strength. A little up and down still, with 3 games out of 8 over 20 possies, but only 15 this week. This kid is a winner, as we all know. Goes to show you don't have to be big to me a modern mid, but you do have to have something. And he's very zippy, very clean, tenacious, and has a penetrating kick. And some real spirit.
Darcy Lang showed what he'll bring to the team. 13 touches, 2 goals, 5 marks, 4 tackles. Not a bad debut. He'll get better, and I don't think will ever be a 30+ possies a week player, but should be a very handy 20+. Still a young bloke, and only 45 games in to his career. Has the ability to play a standout game now and then as shown in finals for Geelong. We've missed him earlier in the year.
There are other youngsters who did not play due to injury and form, who I still have high hopes for. Pickett, Kennedy, Weiters, Marchy, Cunningham, and Willo have all got the tools to add to that list. With any luck they'll all get over their issues and show they belong too.
Go young Blues !