Unofficial practice match thread

[minneapolis]

Watched the whole game online. These are my opinions (with an O).

Positives:

- Pierce - won the ruck and was very mobile. I believe he will start Round 1.

- Newnes. I was very disappointed with his play last year but I think it was because he was injured. He is fit again and was a cut above the new guys. Certain starter I think.

- Roberton. Welcome back champ.

- Bruce. Boy did we miss him. Looked healthy.

- Savage. Played very well. Like his professionalism.

- Brown. True professional. One very poor kick. Combined well with Clavarino.

- Clavarino. Very promising.

- Hunter Clark. Phew. It was fantastic to see a high draft pick playing like a skilled footballer.

- Marshall and Battle. Very very good. Loved these draft pickups. Will be very important for us going forward. I would play them as much as is practical these next two years.

- Ed Phillips. We need a guy like this who is only going to improve. If you can run for a whole game then you have a chance to put yourself in an advantageous position.

- Darragh Joyce. Showed some good moves. Very happy for the guy. I think he is prone to make a howler or two but will eliminate those with time.

- Alabakis. Had athleticism and tried hard. Could not ask for more for this game.

- Running sprints after the game. I liked the concept that you never have an empty tank.

- Hammill. Sammy was very entertaining and natural. A high energy guy. A great part of any team. You can see why the club have kept him as long as we have. It must have been fantastic to get Hamill from a rich and powerful club. And Gehrig shunning both West Coast and Collingwood to come to us - what a gigantic boost to the team spirit. Sorta like a Cowboy Neale I reckon.

Negatives

- Austin. Was a bit lopey for my liking. Not convinced.

- McCartin. Just OK. Missed an easy set shot. If he was going to get going this year I would have liked to see more. Got a few easy ones at the end.

- Bailey Rice. A beautiful kick but nothing else. I doubt he will ever get another game.

- Goal kicking. Not good and certainly not improved with two summers practice. Very nervous about this. It is a game and a coach killer.

- Game plan. If you think you could see a new game plan being implemented (as Richo said in his boring interview) then you are either an elite football mind or kidding yourself. Early days yet though.

[Gershwin]

Watched the whole game online. These are my opinions (with an O).

Positives:

- Pierce - won the ruck and was very mobile. I believe he will start Round 1.

- Newnes. I was very disappointed with his play last year but I think it was because he was injured. He is fit again and was a cut above the new guys. Certain starter I think.

- Roberton. Welcome back champ.

- Bruce. Boy did we miss him. Looked healthy.

- Savage. Played very well. Like his professionalism.

- Brown. True professional. One very poor kick. Combined well with Clavarino.

- Clavarino. Very promising.

- Hunter Clark. Phew. It was fantastic to see a high draft pick playing like a skilled footballer.

- Marshall and Battle. Very very good. Loved these draft pickups. Will be very important for us going forward. I would play them as much as is practical these next two years.

- Ed Phillips. We need a guy like this who is only going to improve. If you can run for a whole game then you have a chance to put yourself in an advantageous position.

- Darragh Joyce. Showed some good moves. Very happy for the guy. I think he is prone to make a howler or two but will eliminate those with time.

- Alabakis. Had athleticism and tried hard. Could not ask for more for this game.

- Running sprints after the game. I liked the concept that you never have an empty tank.

- Hammill. Sammy was very entertaining and natural. A high energy guy. A great part of any team. You can see why the club have kept him as long as we have. It must have been fantastic to get Hamill from a rich and powerful club. And Gehrig shunning both West Coast and Collingwood to come to us - what a gigantic boost to the team spirit. Sorta like a Cowboy Neale I reckon.

Negatives

- Austin. Was a bit lopey for my liking. Not convinced.

- McCartin. Just OK. Missed an easy set shot. If he was going to get going this year I would have liked to see more. Got a few easy ones at the end.

- Bailey Rice. A beautiful kick but nothing else. I doubt he will ever get another game.

- Goal kicking. Not good and certainly not improved with two summers practice. Very nervous about this. It is a game and a coach killer.

- Game plan. If you think you could see a new game plan being implemented (as Richo said in his boring interview) then you are either an elite football mind or kidding yourself. Early days yet though.

Agree with most of that minneapolis. Like you I watched it online.
Regarding the game plan - apparently our spreading was very smooth.

[Viscount Jeremiah]

The skills were not the best but the conditions were very windy on the ground this was mentioned by quite a few people.

I would not read much into the skills at this point.

[saynta]

It was hot and windy.

[Sainter_Dad]

It was hot and windy.

As opposed to our play? Hit and Wondy?

[skeptic]

How was Coffield?

[Crossy66]

The main thing that i was hoping stood out, would have been our kicking to targets and more particularly, kicking for goal. I think its the one area that would make us a "35 points a game" better team.
Its easily identifiable and simple to work on. But i must say i didnt notice any improvement, albeit the conditions were not great.
If they come out and kick 9 : 15 in round 1 i am gunna go all terry wallace.
Forget the conditioning staff, get these blokes kicking hundreds of goals after training until they get it right.
You know it makes sense!

[saynta]

It was hot and windy.

As opposed to our play? Hit and Wondy?

[damienc]

Watched the whole game online. These are my opinions (with an O).

Positives:

- Pierce - won the ruck and was very mobile. I believe he will start Round 1.

- Newnes. I was very disappointed with his play last year but I think it was because he was injured. He is fit again and was a cut above the new guys. Certain starter I think.

- Roberton. Welcome back champ.

- Bruce. Boy did we miss him. Looked healthy.

- Savage. Played very well. Like his professionalism.

- Brown. True professional. One very poor kick. Combined well with Clavarino.

- Clavarino. Very promising.

- Hunter Clark. Phew. It was fantastic to see a high draft pick playing like a skilled footballer.

- Marshall and Battle. Very very good. Loved these draft pickups. Will be very important for us going forward. I would play them as much as is practical these next two years.

- Ed Phillips. We need a guy like this who is only going to improve. If you can run for a whole game then you have a chance to put yourself in an advantageous position.

- Darragh Joyce. Showed some good moves. Very happy for the guy. I think he is prone to make a howler or two but will eliminate those with time.

- Alabakis. Had athleticism and tried hard. Could not ask for more for this game.

- Running sprints after the game. I liked the concept that you never have an empty tank.

- Hammill. Sammy was very entertaining and natural. A high energy guy. A great part of any team. You can see why the club have kept him as long as we have. It must have been fantastic to get Hamill from a rich and powerful club. And Gehrig shunning both West Coast and Collingwood to come to us - what a gigantic boost to the team spirit. Sorta like a Cowboy Neale I reckon.

Negatives

- Austin. Was a bit lopey for my liking. Not convinced.

- McCartin. Just OK. Missed an easy set shot. If he was going to get going this year I would have liked to see more. Got a few easy ones at the end.

- Bailey Rice. A beautiful kick but nothing else. I doubt he will ever get another game.

- Goal kicking. Not good and certainly not improved with two summers practice. Very nervous about this. It is a game and a coach killer.

- Game plan. If you think you could see a new game plan being implemented (as Richo said in his boring interview) then you are either an elite football mind or kidding yourself. Early days yet though.

Agree with most of that minneapolis. Like you I watched it online.
Regarding the game plan - apparently our spreading was very smooth.

I agree with just about everything in both of the posts. Very insightful. However, I would add that I very much liked the defensive pressure from the black team and the spread was pretty smooth. It is very early days. Skills will improve. Just so great to see Roberton back and playing well and Josh Bruce. Clark a big improver on last year almost unrecognisable. Joyce showed a bit as did Clavarino until he got injured. I hope it is nothing serious. Parker was up and about as was Savage and Nathan Brown. I wouldn't be reading anything into McCartin on that performance. I think and hope there will be pressure for spots and that has to be a good thing.

[saintbob]

Quality ball carriers are what we’re crying out for, hopefully Clark and Coffield can get more midfield time so the forwards can actually lead with some confidence.
The poor bastards must cringe every time they see Steven, Ross, Newnes and Savage get the ball through the middle.

[Beno88]

Watched the whole game online. These are my opinions (with an O).

Positives:

- Pierce - won the ruck and was very mobile. I believe he will start Round 1.

- Newnes. I was very disappointed with his play last year but I think it was because he was injured. He is fit again and was a cut above the new guys. Certain starter I think.

- Roberton. Welcome back champ.

- Bruce. Boy did we miss him. Looked healthy.

- Savage. Played very well. Like his professionalism.

- Brown. True professional. One very poor kick. Combined well with Clavarino.

- Clavarino. Very promising.

- Hunter Clark. Phew. It was fantastic to see a high draft pick playing like a skilled footballer.

- Marshall and Battle. Very very good. Loved these draft pickups. Will be very important for us going forward. I would play them as much as is practical these next two years.

- Ed Phillips. We need a guy like this who is only going to improve. If you can run for a whole game then you have a chance to put yourself in an advantageous position.

- Darragh Joyce. Showed some good moves. Very happy for the guy. I think he is prone to make a howler or two but will eliminate those with time.

- Alabakis. Had athleticism and tried hard. Could not ask for more for this game.

- Running sprints after the game. I liked the concept that you never have an empty tank.

- Hammill. Sammy was very entertaining and natural. A high energy guy. A great part of any team. You can see why the club have kept him as long as we have. It must have been fantastic to get Hamill from a rich and powerful club. And Gehrig shunning both West Coast and Collingwood to come to us - what a gigantic boost to the team spirit. Sorta like a Cowboy Neale I reckon.

Negatives

- Austin. Was a bit lopey for my liking. Not convinced.

- McCartin. Just OK. Missed an easy set shot. If he was going to get going this year I would have liked to see more. Got a few easy ones at the end.

- Bailey Rice. A beautiful kick but nothing else. I doubt he will ever get another game.

- Goal kicking. Not good and certainly not improved with two summers practice. Very nervous about this. It is a game and a coach killer.

- Game plan. If you think you could see a new game plan being implemented (as Richo said in his boring interview) then you are either an elite football mind or kidding yourself. Early days yet though.

Agree with all the positives.

Clark, Phillips, Parker, Battle and Pierce's performances were very encouraging. Bruce & Roberton will be very valuable returns this year. Thought Dunstan deserved a mention too, he was very strong in the middle.

It seemed to be Probables vs Possibles in the first half, in which I don't think the Possibles scored? Marshall, Acres, Coffield and McKenzie were all in the Possibles team, not sure what to read into that?

I certainly think the opposite of the last two points in the above post. At one stage the black team was 10.2, hard to knock that sort of conversion.

There was also an obvious change in game plan, the way they moved the ball was completely different. Very little bombing inside 50 and plenty of switching and spreading from the back. I don't think I saw more than 2 or 3 kicks taken over the mark in the back half, it was always play on and spread. Obviously the new rules had an impact on how they set up as well. Savage will be vital with the new kick-in rules.

Newnes and Dustan look to have trimmed down considerably.

They'll all be better for the hit out, there'll be a lot more to learn this weekend.

[Selhurst Saint]

In all fairness to the "Lopey" Logan Austin, he didn't actually play in the game.

[Moods]

In all fairness to the "Lopey" Logan Austin, he didn't actually play in the game.

[Yorkeys]

Displaying a shocking attention span:

did anyone see Brandon White playing (is he ok?), thought he might be right in the frame this season.

[Gershwin]

In all fairness to the "Lopey" Logan Austin, he didn't actually play in the game.

Are you sure? I thought I heard the commentators call his name a couple of times.

[Rocket]

best - H Clark, M Parker, McCartin (half forward up/down moving well), Battle (CHB), Dunstan (fittest I’ve seen him), Kent, Ross, Roberton, Sinclair, Savage.

The guys who disappointed. Young, Rice, White. Acres going down a real concern - hopefully nothing serious. His body language coming off didn’t look good.

Clark - rolls across the surface and gets to right spots. Genuine mid who will add plenty now he has a tank and some size.

McCartin leading up and then spotting forwards closer to goal was a highlight. If he can move up and down with Membrey, then have Bruce at home we are in a much better place. Some of the comments here were harsh. Coaches would have been v.happy with his output.


Dunstan was great. He moved better than I’ve seen I. A long time. Looked lighter and got across the ground. Looked like some thing to prove. His time is right, been I. system and cherry ripe.

Battle - he was our sweeper. Reads this ball exceptionally well. And hits targets. Lock for half back line first game.

[Selhurst Saint]

In all fairness to the "Lopey" Logan Austin, he didn't actually play in the game.

Are you sure? I thought I heard the commentators call his name a couple of times.

Perhaps he did, in which case he was not only lopey but also inconspicuous.

[Dis Believer]

White did play, for the green team in the back half.

The transition movement was far more calm and controlled than last year. A significant number of first 22 players out probably didn't help the standard, nor did conditions.

Notable players were Parker, Battle, Bruce, Roberton, Dunstan, Ross, Clarke and Pierce. Joyce really surprised me and he may well have a future that I could not see last year. McCartin was covering the ground very well, the whole game. Just kept leading up, leading up, leading up. Put Steven, Hannabery, Billings, Gresham, Steele, Webster, Membery, Carlisle, etc etc into that mix and things definitely start to look up.

[bigred]

It was boring.

A third of the best 22 did not play.

Club made money.

Same thing this week except when we lose everyone will go bat shyt crazy.

More so the following week.

[DJ Higgins]

It was boring.

A third of the best 22 did not play.

Club made money.

Same thing this week except when we lose everyone will go bat shyt crazy.

More so the following week.

It was a scrappy affair and not exciting but it was more to get some match play into the players. Seemed like an average VFL game to be honest.
IT was worth going if nothing else to support the club and get back to our heartland again.
I agree that the JLT will be a much better indication of our progress or lack there of

[saynta]

White and Logan both played. They were both OK

[saint64]

best - H Clark, M Parker, McCartin (half forward up/down moving well), Battle (CHB), Dunstan (fittest I’ve seen him), Kent, Ross, Roberton, Sinclair, Savage.

The guys who disappointed. Young, Rice, White. Acres going down a real concern - hopefully nothing serious. His body language coming off didn’t look good.

Clark - rolls across the surface and gets to right spots. Genuine mid who will add plenty now he has a tank and some size.

McCartin leading up and then spotting forwards closer to goal was a highlight. If he can move up and down with Membrey, then have Bruce at home we are in a much better place. Some of the comments here were harsh. Coaches would have been v.happy with his output.


Dunstan was great. He moved better than I’ve seen I. A long time. Looked lighter and got across the ground. Looked like some thing to prove. His time is right, been I. system and cherry ripe.

Battle - he was our sweeper. Reads this ball exceptionally well. And hits targets. Lock for half back line first game.

A bit tough on Robbie Young - I thought he did a few good things. Marshall was also terrific - especially in the second half. Bruce was the most dominant forward.

[SaintPav]

Aren't these games like dancing with your sister?

[8bloggs]

First half had all the Sandy players on the green jumper team, which made the black team with all Saints players look good - don't think the green team scored at all. During this half Clark (black team) looked the goods but to be fair he did not have much opposition.
Agree that the spread out of the back line looked better than last season, but entries into forward lines lacked precision and punch.
Bruce and Parker were lively, Roberton definitely a welcome inclusion, Brown making it look easy.
Paddy seems to play his best up on the wing where he passes off into the forward line better than most.
Pierce serviceable in the ruck, Alabakis has a long way to go, didn't see much of Rice, White and Coffield.
Second half they mixed up the Sandy and Saints players across the two sides and the game became more congested.
Skills not great but they never are at this time of year.
Lot of our best players absent so didn't take much out of it as far as an indicator of performance ahead.

[Jacks Back]

They blew out the cobwebs.