JLT Game 2

[sydneybluesfan]

Maybe a combination of both?

It is absolutely a combination of both, and they are obviously inter-related. To be able to win your own ball consistently at AFL you need to have a decent size and strength about you to take the knocks and keep doing it for 4 quarters.

If you look at the WB they have 7 players in the top 100 for Contested Ball in 2016 - we had 3. We have Cripps [who is ranked 2 behind Josh K] and then we drop away to Curnow and Gibbs. The obvious point is we don't bat deep, and if Cripps gets injured we have a massive hole that we can't fill.

Dalhaus and Macrae and those types are not huge, but they are strong and seasoned now. Like many on here I thought we needed to add a Barlow or a DeBoer to our group to provide depth and coverage to this area of our game, but we went a different path. Last week we got absolutely smashed in this area, and we don't have the defensive pressure of say a Hawthorn to get the ball back once we lose a contest.

With the midfield we have in today we will probably get smashed again in this area.

[Baggers]

Not sure where to put this so I'll put it here!

Went to the NBs game this morning. Few comments:

Firstly, NBs 10.13.73 def Sandy 8.14.62.

Of the NBs listed blokes liked: Sam Russell, Strachan, Luke Russell, Stevens, Pearce, Glover and McCabe. Who the hell is Angus Milham, the new ruckman... seemed about 20ft tall! Did alright too.

NBs seemed well organised and hard at it. Impressed. Led most of the day and a couple of late ones flattered Sandy.

JGM injured early. Sumner injured early also so not much to say about those two!

I thought the best of the 6 NBs listed players ( remember 2 out early injured!) were Sheehan, Jaksch (yes, he was working hard!!!!) and kicked a few goals and Le Bois. Gus was a rock in defense and his disposal skills were great - wrapped to see him get through and look good. Jaksch surprised but remember this is pre season and Sandy weren't great but credit given where it's due - he marked, competed and kicked well. Le Bois kicked another brilliant goal on the wrong angle for a left footer, he didn't figure a lot in the game but what he did was good and very encouraging.

Kerr? Let's just say there is an enormous amount of room for improvement!

[sydneybluesfan]

Not sure where to put this so I'll put it here!

Went to the NBs game this morning. Few comments:

Firstly, NBs 10.13.73 def Sandy 8.14.62.

Of the NBs listed blokes liked: Sam Russell, Strachan, Luke Russell, Stevens, Pearce, Glover and McCabe. Who the hell is Angus Milham, the new ruckman... seemed about 20ft tall! Did alright too.

NBs seemed well organised and hard at it. Impressed. Led most of the day and a couple of late ones flattered Sandy.

JGM injured early. Sumner injured early also so not much to say about those two!

I thought the best of the 6 NBs listed players ( remember 2 out early injured!) were Sheehan, Jaksch (yes, he was working hard!!!!) and kicked a few goals and Le Bois. Gus was a rock in defense and his disposal skills were great - wrapped to see him get through and look good. Jaksch surprised but remember this is pre season and Sandy weren't great but credit given where it's due - he marked, competed and kicked well. Le Bois kicked another brilliant goal on the wrong angle for a left footer, he didn't figure a lot in the game but what he did was good and very encouraging.

Kerr? Let's just say there is an enormous amount of room for improvement!

Great job - thanks for that.

Sumner and Jaksch [and Sheehan] must all be a fair way down the pecking order if they aren't getting a game today I would have thought?? Does anybody know if they have had interrupted preparations, or are they just on the outer at the moment??

[DJC]

Thanks Baggers - some green sprouts

Milham is from Essendon's VFL side and he is 210cm apparently.  No more undersized ruckmen in the NBs!

[flyboy77]

Thanks Baggers - some green sprouts

Milham is from Essendon's VFL side and he is 210cm apparently.  No more undersized ruckmen in the NBs!

210 - f... me.

Big John Nicholls was 189cm!

[crazyjoedevolamk11]

That's a blow re Sumner, I was looking forward to seeing how he would go in the 1's today, not even picked

[crazyjoedevolamk11]

Fair hangar from Liam Jones in the first minute

[PaulP]

This is a screenshot of the match feed from the AFL website. Another example of the recent discussion regarding our F50 entries.

[PaulP]

Buckley off injured.

[Professer E]

Over Palmer already.  If he isn't the worst kick into F50 of all time, he's top 3.