VFL 2021 Rd 1: Carlton vs Southport

[RiverRat]

I was there too and will provide more feedback when I have time.

I agree with Crash, Stocker was easily our best player but some cautionary remarks:

Apart from the last 10 minutes of the match, when he was thrown into the midfield when others were run off their legs, he spent the game playing as a loose halfback taking kick-ins, uncontested marks and 'handball receives' - so his stats were somewhat flattering. Apart from the last 10 minutes, I did not see him getting very close to many contested balls.  Having said that, I would probably play him as a halfback ahead of SPS because he kicks longer and better and seems to make fewer mistakes.

Overall, I was equally impressed by Sam Ramsay who played most of the game in the midfield (until he ran out of legs) and was a more obvious two-way runner who tackles like he means it and kicks very well.

Owies kicked 4 different goals (1 easy snap / 1 snap from a congested pack / one easy one from the goal square / and one beauty from outside 50m on the run) in the first half but was rarely sighted in the second.

Honey flashed in an out.  Cuningham spent limited time in the midfield and some up forward - was impressive in spurts but needs to do more at this level.

LOB seems to rarely get out of low gear but actually showed speed that I hadn't seen before when he kicked a long goal on the run during the hectic last 10 minutes - needs to pull his finger out and do it much more often.

Setterfield as a midfielder seems to be primarily focused on his opponent and tackling that opponent; betting the ball seems to be a secondary option.

Durdin seems like a scrapper but is behind Ramsay in the pecking order IMO.

Philp is another who goes hard and fast both ways but he spent a lot of time rotating from the bench and did not reappear after 3/4 time - not sure if he was injured or just being managed to limit his game time.

Not familiar with the VFL listed players but Mirkov might have a future - even though he was rag-dolled by the #10 from Southport, who was the dominant big man.  #71 also drew my attention - not a tidy player but he has decent hands and throws himself at every marking contest - also needs to learn to spoil though.