02-28-2021, 08:41 AM
(02-28-2021, 12:15 AM)crashlander link Wrote:I am not sure that the Elise O'Dea experiment is working. She has heart and guts, but she struggles with the pace of the game. I understand that she is there for leadership as well, but she has struggled to get a lot of the ball. Only once has she got more than 15 possessions.
Don't forget that she was basically concussed early in that game Crash. I'm not surprised if she was 'a bit off'.
It was only a few weeks ago (not sure if you ended up catching the game in the end) that she was basically BOG (or second behind Prespakis).
She has her place in the side. She may have been asked to play out of position a bit last night due to circumstances, but she has plenty to offer still.
With Hill and McKay coming on, together with Prespakis and Egan leading the way in the middle. She won't really be required much in the guts. We can use her to our advantage a bit more. Deep forward where her hardness locks the ball in, and her skills find a teammate (or the goals). That would also allow her to drift up the ground (and down back) where she often helps out with her defensive running.
Personally i'm more worried about our KP stocks.
Gibbs may have impressed you, but compared to the debuts of Hill, Daisy Walker and Guerrin, Hammans, O'Dea......i think it was less than impressive and behind all the others.
I'm not writing her off, i called for her inclusion, but she has a long way to go before she picks up the pace of AFLW.
At the same time, Harris still hasn't managed to unlock her full potential yet either. When she is angry, she dominates. Other times she can go missing. Her hits are as good as any in the game. Her marking is better than anyone else in the game. Her kicking action is iconic, and distance is never an issue, but accuracy is still lacking.
If both Harris and Gibbs live up to their potential.....we will be unbeatable up forward.
If not.....what else do we have? Stevens as a 3rd tall who can't mark?? Cupboard is bare.