Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

[1eyedog]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

How good was Hunter's handball to Bonti to kick our second goal of the game.
Wow.

Not sure if it was mentioned but his 40 metre snap to Crameri on the run wasn't bad either.

[Sedat]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

That's right and it certainly helped his cause being a more open free flowing game.

Good point. We've been involved in some dirty scraps the last few weeks and Hunter was essentially AWOL in those. Still the signs were very good on Sunday and I hope he can maintain that intensity for the remainder of the season.

[jeemak]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

Good point. We've been involved in some dirty scraps the last few weeks and Hunter was essentially AWOL in those. Still the signs were very good on Sunday and I hope he can maintain that intensity for the remainder of the season.

Didn't he start as sub in his two games since returning to the senior side? Against GCS he was pretty ordinary, especially with his first few touches, though against the Cats I thought he showed intent in his 30 minutes of football (in which he secured ten disposals and a couple of tackles).

[Twodogs]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

That's right and it certainly helped his cause being a more open free flowing game.
Hunter doesn't naturally put his body on the line or dive under a contest so he's going to struggle in the more scrappy games.
He's like a footballing equivalent of a Ferrari, great on the test track but isn't anything special in traffic.

If he played well on Sunday does that that then mean he is going to be a good footballer for us when we are consistently playing better football? I'm a couple of years when we have attached the tailfins to the vehicle players like Lachie may be the cherry on top.

[Greystache]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

Didn't he start as sub in his two games since returning to the senior side? Against GCS he was pretty ordinary, especially with his first few touches, though against the Cats I thought he showed intent in his 30 minutes of football (in which he secured ten disposals and a couple of tackles).

Yep. The Geelong game was an ugly scrap (pretty much the way Geelong play to try to stay in games) and his quarter after coming on as a sub was his best of the season to that point. He played like a millionaire against GC and was thoroughly ineffective. Perhaps the coach pointed out to him in the review that he may have champagne tastes but he only has beer money.

[jeemak]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

Yep. The Geelong game was an ugly scrap (pretty much the way Geelong play to try to stay in games) and his quarter after coming on as a sub was his best of the season to that point. He played like a millionaire against GC and was thoroughly ineffective. Perhaps the coach pointed out to him in the review that he may have champagne tastes but he only has beer money.

Such was his insipid contribution with his first few touches in the GCS game I found myself referring to him as a dickhead twice in the game day thread. I don't like using that sort of language for our players and I'm not proud of it at all, though I was thoroughly staggered that he would receive a chance and apply himself the way he did at the start of that game.

[comrade]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

How good was Hunter's handball to Bonti to kick our second goal of the game.
Wow.

It was awesome.

As was his lace out laser pass to Stringer.

Has all the skills, crossing everything that he's now had a breakthrough and will go on to fulfil his potential.

If he does, another piece of the puzzle, the skilful outside role, has been uncovered.

[Webby]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

Much like the Dogs' 2015 season, I didn't see this coming!

I've seen a lot of Hunter over the past couple of years. Particularly at Footscray. He seemed a cut above VFL level (although gaffe-prone), yet unable to make the step up. He just seemed a poor decision maker and also an in-betweener. He flew for too many marks, didn't seem poised & disciplined enough for defence, didn't seem polished enough for the forward line, nor big enough for midfield.

All that said, the kid did back himself. He had a go. Wing looks his spot. He looked classy with an ability to find targets. I also think that his handball tally on Sunday might've eclipsed his dad's career total!

[Greystache]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

All that said, the kid did back himself. He had a go. Wing looks his spot. He looked classy with an ability to find targets. I also think that his handball tally on Sunday might've eclipsed his dad's career total!

Haha, his Dad certainly played in an era when a back pocket handballing was cause for demotion. Hell even a short kick would get you benched. There wasn't a lot of strategy back in the day, even as recent as 25 years ago!

[The bulldog tragician]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

I really noticed how long his handpasses were. They were attacking offensive weapons which broke up the play, very creatively used.

I think it can be hard for small forwards to show what they're made of and maybe desperation to prove himself has made Lachie inclined to go for showy options. I'm thinking too of how tough it is for guys like Hrovat and Honeychurch who've been attacking ball winners as juniors and in AFL now have to be defensively minded forwards. Lachie certainly relished the chance to 'see-ball-get-ball' and be involved all game. He should have the skills to be a better player than Dahl, but as we all know, talent is only a part of the equation. He's very young though. I sure hope he makes it.

[whythelongface]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

Does Hunter possess speed off the mark? Not something that I have been able to notice on the box.

[azabob]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

Does Hunter possess speed off the mark? Not something that I have been able to notice on the box.

I think he does. Not sure he uses it at the moment to its full potential.

[lemmon]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

I really noticed how long his handpasses were. They were attacking offensive weapons which broke up the play, very creatively used.

I think it can be hard for small forwards to show what they're made of and maybe desperation to prove himself has made Lachie inclined to go for showy options. I'm thinking too of how tough it is for guys like Hrovat and Honeychurch who've been attacking ball winners as juniors and in AFL now have to be defensively minded forwards. Lachie certainly relished the chance to 'see-ball-get-ball' and be involved all game. He should have the skills to be a better player than Dahl, but as we all know, talent is only a part of the equation. He's very young though. I sure hope he makes it.

Really like the Hrovat comparison whose midfield form has been comparable at VFL level but it hasn't translated when playing predominantly as a half forward for the seniors. It's one more spot taken now that Lachie has grabbed his chance but I'd love to see Hrovat given the same opportunity to play as a genuine midfielder/receiver. Like Lachie he doesn't have that burst speed that makes Honeychurch such a defensive pressure demon but I still think his skill around the contest could be pretty valuable over the next few years. As a forward he doesn't have the 1 on 1 weapons to make it

[ledge]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

Hunter is probably one of the best readers of the play at the club, he is also very cheeky and quick, loves to play on which is Bevos style, just remember two things , playing on at all costs will sometimes get you in trouble , our whole team hasn't found that balance yet.
Don't forget his age he is very young and has a lot to learn, this kid has shown more in two games than Ayce Cordy in 5 years .. Give him a break.
This kid will be a great player just let him mature in body and mind.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Re: Could Hunter be as good as Dahlhaus?

The coach and co obviously think Hunter is a genuine star who needs tough love at this stage.
This year they've let him know he's not ready to give his best yet and not ready to play disciplined team rules and the way they see his talents can contribute. Then Vs Collingwood he is a consummate genius and the message comes from the coach (and Bont on Talking Footy): "That's what we expect consistently from you because that's who we know you are."
How powerful is that; both the message and Lachie's performance?