06-28-2015, 02:35 PM
Not a lot to be taken out of the game - especially by defenders, because the ball rarely got down there and the Frangars were woefully uncompetitive. Despite that, the Blues were only impressive for about two and a half quarters and spent the last part of the game just racking up possessions by kicking the ball backwards and sideways.
The three highlights were Jones' two entries in the mark of the year competition and the kick in by Field which cleared everybody including the entire centre circle - every bit as good a kick as Watson has ever produced.
Defenders (Jamison, Fields, Jaksch and Smith) had quiet days for obvious reasons. Not impressed by Jaksch, who seems very stiff in the way he moves and often seemed to be wrong-footed. Smith looks to have the skills but too light-weight, too small and not fast enough.
A good indicator of the lack of defensive pressure was the fact that Jones and Watson were taking one-grab marks at most opportunities. Jones also kicked straight and was very effective in the ruck.
Tutt disappeared after some first quarter dashes - either injured or (more likely) held out as an emergency for the seniors.
Dick played on the wing and didn't offer much. Whiley was on the receiving end of dominant rucks but was too often caught with the ball.
As others have mentioned, Walsh looks a useful footballer but hasn't shown anywhere near enough to be considered for AFL just yet.
Viojo-Rainbow struggled to get a kick once more. Russell had it a bit but has a ways to go.
Boeky got lots of possessions but was not particularly damaging and is totally a one-way player ATM - very ordinary without the ball.
Johnson is the player who impressed me (again) as the player who might be worthy of some senior action.
Best game I have seen from Foster - good overhead marking but, as with Watson and Jones, bereft of any decent physical pressure he was able to easily push his opponent away from the contest.
As I said in an earlier post, Watson played well - probably as well as I have seen him play in his 5 years at the club - but Jones has more to offer. They both marked cleanly against week opposition but that is the only way that Watson can get the ball and, at the higher level (even against decent VFL opposition) he struggles to mark the ball unless it is kicked wholly to his advantage and is next to useless when the ball hits the ground. Jones can take a contested mark and chase and tackle and scrap for ground balls. I would much prefer to see him get another senior game now that Barker has the team moving the ball more quickly.
The three highlights were Jones' two entries in the mark of the year competition and the kick in by Field which cleared everybody including the entire centre circle - every bit as good a kick as Watson has ever produced.
Defenders (Jamison, Fields, Jaksch and Smith) had quiet days for obvious reasons. Not impressed by Jaksch, who seems very stiff in the way he moves and often seemed to be wrong-footed. Smith looks to have the skills but too light-weight, too small and not fast enough.
A good indicator of the lack of defensive pressure was the fact that Jones and Watson were taking one-grab marks at most opportunities. Jones also kicked straight and was very effective in the ruck.
Tutt disappeared after some first quarter dashes - either injured or (more likely) held out as an emergency for the seniors.
Dick played on the wing and didn't offer much. Whiley was on the receiving end of dominant rucks but was too often caught with the ball.
As others have mentioned, Walsh looks a useful footballer but hasn't shown anywhere near enough to be considered for AFL just yet.
Viojo-Rainbow struggled to get a kick once more. Russell had it a bit but has a ways to go.
Boeky got lots of possessions but was not particularly damaging and is totally a one-way player ATM - very ordinary without the ball.
Johnson is the player who impressed me (again) as the player who might be worthy of some senior action.
Best game I have seen from Foster - good overhead marking but, as with Watson and Jones, bereft of any decent physical pressure he was able to easily push his opponent away from the contest.
As I said in an earlier post, Watson played well - probably as well as I have seen him play in his 5 years at the club - but Jones has more to offer. They both marked cleanly against week opposition but that is the only way that Watson can get the ball and, at the higher level (even against decent VFL opposition) he struggles to mark the ball unless it is kicked wholly to his advantage and is next to useless when the ball hits the ground. Jones can take a contested mark and chase and tackle and scrap for ground balls. I would much prefer to see him get another senior game now that Barker has the team moving the ball more quickly.