Welcome to the Western Bulldogs, Tim O'Brien

[GVGjr]

It was refreshing to have an interceptor on our side for a change

Keath can do it but has had to remodel his game. Lewis Young had that ability but we preferred him in the ruck and of course Wood was very good at it a few years back.

TOB might end up being a very nice addition to the team.

[soupman]

O'Brien has been fine. Good enough in the air to have a point of difference to our other guys, and happy to let him settle into the side. I'm hoping he takes a big step forward in influence once we have Keath and Gardner in with him.

There's virtually no competition for his spot so even his current level of output is sufficient.

[azabob]

O’Brien is fine as a interceptor.

But can we have 3 key defenders who are average if not below average field kicks?

[GVGjr]

O’Brien is fine as a interceptor.

But can we have 3 key defenders who are average if not below average field kicks?

Which ones in particular Aza? Keath and Daniel are great kicks, Dale, Duryea and Williams are typically quite good and even Gardner isn't bad and Richards has potential.

[azabob]

Which ones in particular Aza? Keath and Daniel are great kicks, Dale, Duryea and Williams are typically quite good and even Gardner isn't bad and Richards has potential.

Gardner, Keath and O’Brien. I feel they are all very slow to dispose of the ball and make decisions which kills any attacking moves out of defence.

Maybe I’m being a tad harsh on Keath.

[GVGjr]

Gardner, Keath and O’Brien. I feel they are all very slow to dispose of the ball and make decisions which kills any attacking moves out of defence.

Maybe I’m being a tad harsh on Keath.

I really rate Keath's kicking skills, perhaps too much
I'd regard Gardner's kicks as OK and he typically hits his targets. Perhaps under pressure it's another story.
O'Brien is a suspect kick but I guess there has to a flaw because we didn't get him for his kicking more about his ability to play as a 3rd tall defender and his athleticism.

[angelopetraglia]

O'Brien is a big upgrade to the 2021 Easton Wood model. That is a win.

[MrMahatma]

To the eye… I fear Gardiner with ball in hand. Ball travels slow, feel like many of his kicks end up being shovelled OOB and any counter attack momentum is lost.

Keath typically plays it safe by foot, but I don’t have him as a particularly good kick.

[josie]

Improving each game in a new team. Promising start. Go Windscreens.

[1eyedog]

O'Brien is a big upgrade to the 2021 Easton Wood model. That is a win.

Yep TOB is actually marking the ball.

[G-Mo77]

O'Brien is a big upgrade to the 2021 Easton Wood model. That is a win.

Upgrade? On field, probably. A big one? Certainly not. Wood brought leadership to the group even though on field he diminished.

Watching the game live, he looked taller than I thought he'd be. Plays taller anyway but I guess all our defenders have to fo that anyway.

[angelopetraglia]

Upgrade? On field, probably. A big one? Certainly not. Wood brought leadership to the group even though on field he diminished.

Watching the game live, he looked taller than I thought he'd be. Plays taller anyway but I guess all our defenders have to fo that anyway.

Wood 2015 model was well above any level O'Brien can probably aspire to. But the Wood 2021 model was a shadow of his best. I'm talking on field contribution. Yes, I think O'Brien is a big upgrade to Wood 2021.

[Swoop]

He recieved one coaches vote on the weekend. Good to see his performance was recognised.

[Mofra]

He recieved one coaches vote on the weekend. Good to see his performance was recognised.

For mine he kept us in it in the first half. I was a bit fan of his intercept marking, something we sorely lacked last year.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

I feel really confident that with Keath back, O'Brien will complete aerial surveillance.