08-03-2024, 04:42 AM
[1] Statistically, we lack top mids at this level. Deven Robertson dominated. He can't get into the Lions' team but he is far too god for VFL.
Last year we had Dow getting the ball out of the middle thirty times per game. We really haven't had that this year. Maher and Ramshaw are good, honest toilers, but they're not AFL quality.
That begs the question: what about Carroll? To be honest, I don't think he is good enough. He got it 24 times today to be 2nd in our possessions, but his disposals don't hurt Like Cerra's can.
Do we continue his development or look to the Camporeale boys? Honestly, if we traded him to West Coast it mightn't be a bad thing.
[2] Our VFL boys lack leadership. We have very few mature bodies to choose from at this level and it shows. Lachie Young was brought in for leadership, and while he isn't a bad player, he doesn't appear to be a great on-field leader. He makes some terrible mistakes and drops marks at critical times. That said, he was lightyears better than Phillips, who is no longer on our list.
Hayes, in the few weeks he has been available, has been a revelation. He is at the coal face, he gets a lot of ball and he really puts in. he is the perfect example for youngsters. Pity he was unavailable today. We didn't just miss his 30+ possessions, but his ability to get the ball forward.
Lewis Young must have done OK today. He got it 23 times for 7 marks and played some time on the ball. But he isn't a leader.
Marchbank, who can really be a leader in defence, has had it. 4 possessions in a half and apparently injured again. When fit, he is in our best 22, but when is he fit? I think he's cooked. Last year, coming back from injury, he took mark after mark in defence. This year, nada.
[3] Our youngsters do not appear to be fast developers. Granted that we don't have many top picks running around in the 2's, but none of our youngsters seem to come on like they do at other clubs. I'm happy with the way Ollie Hollands and Cowan are coming on, but they are foot soldiers at the moment. The majority of our kids are in the 2's, not doing a lot. Moir had 7 possessions today. Wilson had 11, nut he usually does a lot better than that. Monahan had 10 and Mirkov had 12, although Mirkov got 37 taps. Lemmey stepped up today , with 3 goals 2 and 16 possessions and 9 marks. None of these guys are close to AFL ready.
[4] VFL players:
I would be offering McMahon a rook spot. He is our top goal kicker and he can make things happen, even with the poor supply he gets from upfield. That said, he is still really light and needs to live in the gym for a year. He gets out-bodied too easily and he makes some shocking errors. But he could be a player.
Ned Cahill isn't bad, but he misses a lot. He would be kicking at about 50% this year. Still, he is worth his spot each week.
Will White is a kid who shows something. He has a very nice left foot and he knows where the goals are, but he is very light. I've liked what I've seen, even if his last few weeks have been down.
Archie Stevens is the 2nd South Warnambool boy on our list and he is also a trier. He, too, had a down one today, but he has been a contributor to our midfield this year.
But other teams appear to have more experience on their lists than we do. We've gone very young and it hasn't always worked.
Last year we had Dow getting the ball out of the middle thirty times per game. We really haven't had that this year. Maher and Ramshaw are good, honest toilers, but they're not AFL quality.
That begs the question: what about Carroll? To be honest, I don't think he is good enough. He got it 24 times today to be 2nd in our possessions, but his disposals don't hurt Like Cerra's can.
Do we continue his development or look to the Camporeale boys? Honestly, if we traded him to West Coast it mightn't be a bad thing.
[2] Our VFL boys lack leadership. We have very few mature bodies to choose from at this level and it shows. Lachie Young was brought in for leadership, and while he isn't a bad player, he doesn't appear to be a great on-field leader. He makes some terrible mistakes and drops marks at critical times. That said, he was lightyears better than Phillips, who is no longer on our list.
Hayes, in the few weeks he has been available, has been a revelation. He is at the coal face, he gets a lot of ball and he really puts in. he is the perfect example for youngsters. Pity he was unavailable today. We didn't just miss his 30+ possessions, but his ability to get the ball forward.
Lewis Young must have done OK today. He got it 23 times for 7 marks and played some time on the ball. But he isn't a leader.
Marchbank, who can really be a leader in defence, has had it. 4 possessions in a half and apparently injured again. When fit, he is in our best 22, but when is he fit? I think he's cooked. Last year, coming back from injury, he took mark after mark in defence. This year, nada.
[3] Our youngsters do not appear to be fast developers. Granted that we don't have many top picks running around in the 2's, but none of our youngsters seem to come on like they do at other clubs. I'm happy with the way Ollie Hollands and Cowan are coming on, but they are foot soldiers at the moment. The majority of our kids are in the 2's, not doing a lot. Moir had 7 possessions today. Wilson had 11, nut he usually does a lot better than that. Monahan had 10 and Mirkov had 12, although Mirkov got 37 taps. Lemmey stepped up today , with 3 goals 2 and 16 possessions and 9 marks. None of these guys are close to AFL ready.
[4] VFL players:
I would be offering McMahon a rook spot. He is our top goal kicker and he can make things happen, even with the poor supply he gets from upfield. That said, he is still really light and needs to live in the gym for a year. He gets out-bodied too easily and he makes some shocking errors. But he could be a player.
Ned Cahill isn't bad, but he misses a lot. He would be kicking at about 50% this year. Still, he is worth his spot each week.
Will White is a kid who shows something. He has a very nice left foot and he knows where the goals are, but he is very light. I've liked what I've seen, even if his last few weeks have been down.
Archie Stevens is the 2nd South Warnambool boy on our list and he is also a trier. He, too, had a down one today, but he has been a contributor to our midfield this year.
But other teams appear to have more experience on their lists than we do. We've gone very young and it hasn't always worked.
Live Long and Prosper!