07-16-2020, 01:29 PM
There's no doubt that Pittonet has seized his opportunity and made the most of it. After seven games in four years with the Hawks, he is poised to double or perhaps treble his game tally in one season with us.
As I remarked in another thread, watching him compete against Kreuzer in a pre-season practise match filled me with dread; he simply wasn't able to match it with Matty's nous, positioning and body strength. However, once he got the call up, he has acquitted himself very well and, at worst, has been competitive against one of the game's best ruckmen. However, he still has a long way to go before he could be considered anywhere near the standard of most teams' first rucks.
For example, Tim English has been in the AFL system for two years less than Pittonet, is a little taller and is significantly lighter but has played three times as many games. Pittonet got more hitouts (27-33) but English had more disposals (17-7) and more marks (3-0). They both laid one tackle. Yes, Pittonet may have got more hitouts to advantage (and some of his hitouts would have earned praise from Big Nick) but he was rucking to a rampant midfield (we won the clearances 33-30). That was a clear win to English.
Against the Saints, Pittonet squared the hitouts with Marshall but the latter had 19 disposals to Pittonet's 5. Marshall is six months older than Pittonet and is basically the same height and weight. A resounding win to Marshall.
Bellchambers is Kreuzer vintage and would struggle to get a game with most teams. He just pipped Pittonet for hitouts. The latter was more effective around the ground and you would have to score that as a win to Pittonet.
Pittonet smashed Stanley in the ruck contests and broke even around the ground. A resounding win for Pittonet.
Gawn flogged Pittonet, but there's no disgrace in that. To Pittonet's credit, he fought back well and was a more effective player in the second half.
Yes, hitouts to advantage are important but they measure the ability of the midfield as much as the ability of the ruckmen. However, they are only part of the story. Negating the opposition ruckman's influence around the ground is a key to winning footy and Pittonet hasn't shown that he can do that. Furthermore, he is a long way from having an influence around the ground.
If Pittonet's numbers start to approach those of English we can heave a sigh of relief for we will have found/developed a replacement for Kreuzer. The King might have something to say about that though.
As I remarked in another thread, watching him compete against Kreuzer in a pre-season practise match filled me with dread; he simply wasn't able to match it with Matty's nous, positioning and body strength. However, once he got the call up, he has acquitted himself very well and, at worst, has been competitive against one of the game's best ruckmen. However, he still has a long way to go before he could be considered anywhere near the standard of most teams' first rucks.
For example, Tim English has been in the AFL system for two years less than Pittonet, is a little taller and is significantly lighter but has played three times as many games. Pittonet got more hitouts (27-33) but English had more disposals (17-7) and more marks (3-0). They both laid one tackle. Yes, Pittonet may have got more hitouts to advantage (and some of his hitouts would have earned praise from Big Nick) but he was rucking to a rampant midfield (we won the clearances 33-30). That was a clear win to English.
Against the Saints, Pittonet squared the hitouts with Marshall but the latter had 19 disposals to Pittonet's 5. Marshall is six months older than Pittonet and is basically the same height and weight. A resounding win to Marshall.
Bellchambers is Kreuzer vintage and would struggle to get a game with most teams. He just pipped Pittonet for hitouts. The latter was more effective around the ground and you would have to score that as a win to Pittonet.
Pittonet smashed Stanley in the ruck contests and broke even around the ground. A resounding win for Pittonet.
Gawn flogged Pittonet, but there's no disgrace in that. To Pittonet's credit, he fought back well and was a more effective player in the second half.
Yes, hitouts to advantage are important but they measure the ability of the midfield as much as the ability of the ruckmen. However, they are only part of the story. Negating the opposition ruckman's influence around the ground is a key to winning footy and Pittonet hasn't shown that he can do that. Furthermore, he is a long way from having an influence around the ground.
If Pittonet's numbers start to approach those of English we can heave a sigh of relief for we will have found/developed a replacement for Kreuzer. The King might have something to say about that though.
“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?” Oddball