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I know some of you don't think Croft is ready but boy he really impressed me. Don't mind him on a wing and third tall forward, can run, is courageous and got involved in chains. Wouldn't be shocked if he didn't play round 1 but I think he secures our wings. Hyper athletic as well, very raw but was shocked how good he was. Davidson will play round 1 and Dolan is a shot but I think he was cooked after the first half so maybe arty is just ahead. Dolan will play at some point and is just the perfect player we need up forward. Gallagher down back wasn't great so not sure where his best position is and O'donnell and Lobb were awesome. Interesting game that threw up a few surprises for me.
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Really happy with that match. We suck in Tassie, and I think we were missing nine best 23 players after Bont went off.
Last year's draft looking really good so far. Davidson and Dolan are both perfect list fits.Comment
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Maybe a bit harsh, he wasn’t bad by any means but just had no real damage to his game. No urgency. A lot of tackles but mostly when he’s second to the ball around the stoppage.
i think he’ll be good but I just want to see him step up and take a game by the scruff of the neck in a praccy, like we know he can do in match sim & VFL.
He can’t play forward and with Libba, Treloar, Red, Bont & now Kennedy in front of him I’m struggling to see how he fits if they’re all fit. Big if thoughComment
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Thought his first quarter was really strong, he faded through the second and third and came back well in the last. It wasn't really a Sanders game in that it was fairly transitional and there was a lot of run from behind but he did look a little one-paced out there.
I'm not worried about him, but I think his biggest strength as a player should be that inside, contested work and I'd like to see a bit more Libba-like intensity towards the ball.
He's a good kick, he needs to try and find that extra half-metre of space so he can put it on his leg rather than have to constantly go by hands.Comment
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Don’t think Poulter is in any plans for round 1, was only on after Bont went off. With Bont back (rotating forward) and Red back, Kennedy more forward - I think that will cover the third tall until Marra gets back on track.
i don’t think Croft is in the equation but who knows, he was apart of the 22 today so maybe he is? I don’t think he’s ready for AFL footy yet but he sure showed some signs. He’s going to be an interesting player maybe a slow burn but maybe not as slow as I first thought? I kinda like the way we’re using him, I don’t think he’s a KPP, at least not until he has years of strength building. But using his running ability to get up and down the ground, create a mismatch when he gets forward. Yeah I can see that.Comment
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Just watched the first quarter and Davidson looks like a great pick up. Very impressive.
Great seeing McNeil get a couple. Darcy is going to be great.
Lobb so important now with Jones out. Freijah continuing on from last year."Footscray people are incredible people; so humble. I'm just so happy - ecstatic"Comment
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Super impressed with Arty Jones. Josh Dolan provided a spark and will play plenty of footy however looked spent towards the end. Bam Bam and Harmes both were solid, Cleary was a shock how clean he was and composed! Gallagher didn’t mind of half back however with Dale back for Rd1 he probably falls out. Saw lot of mixed reviews about Croft, thought he was not too bad just lacked polish however can’t be too hard on the young lad. I’m quite harsh on Sanders, he was okay but wasn’t super in my opinion, lot of room for improvement though as he is still young. Overall pretty encouraging performance from the team, not to mention loved O’Donnell and Lobb combo. Look forward to sitting down over the next week or so and compile my best 23 for Rd1 against North. Go Dogs!Comment
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Injuries provide opportunities and that is what I saw tonight. McNeil looks ready to take the next step, midfield did well especially after Bont went down and JOD did well down back. Davison looks ready made and Dolan just needs more work to get his tank ready. Good practice match win overall.Comment
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Good hit out, fully expected the Hawks to get over us with that run on in the 3rd, it was like they were told to play real footy but we found a way to edge back and get back in front, good signs.
Libba ain't done just yet, he looked cooked at times during the game but he was great and thought held our midfield together, Davidson just runs and runs, get's in all the right positions, wasn't suprised but pleased with what he showed today, can look a bit rushed at times but experience will help with that composure, Naughty looks back to his high flying best, love that he can get up the ground which separates himself and Darce deep in the forward line, Darcy, well, what more can you say?
Sanders is getting there and whilst he's not exploding out with ball in hand yet i like some of his inside defensive efforts, Kennedy a brilliant pick up and perfect for our midfield set up, Garcia was a concern with his skills and decision making today but i do like him in the middle, we need a ferocious bull and he can give us that.
Cleary was ok, liked his game and could sneak a few games in this year same with Arty, but what is Arty's best position? He seemed to play everywhere but did it well, JOD is our next best after Jones and Lobb as tall defenders, he was good, i was worried with both being in the gun this year but am now more worried with Poulter, Davidson has taken his wing position, Poulter ain't a forward.
The dynamic duo of McNeil and VDM, both excellent but not getting excited yet, McNeil was Eddy Betts this time last year playing out of his skin v the Hawks in pre season games and then came round 1, he just has to continue being more dangerous to go along with his work rate and pressure, so too VDM.
Crofty and Dolan showed a bit, Josh might sneak a few games in but is very lightComment
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I can fully appreciate our rustiness, in lieu of a lack of continuity across all the lines, but particularly with our forward half connections. In a couple of weeks I'd expect that to improve a lot, and with Naughton getting fitter and being injury free there should be plenty of supply to our forwards again and hopefully it comes together.
The good thing is we pretty much go into the season thinking it should all be upside from here - but knowing it will only be that if we work our arses off.
On Arty, he was good in the second half and I love that he's bringing enthusiasm and attack and all that stuff, but at some point he has to really impact a game with a bit of productivity over consecutive games (which he kinda has the past couple of weeks), unless we think he's Gary Rohan and use him that way (I hope for his sake, that's not the case). He's still extremely raw and is probably my most interesting watch of the year.
Agree, McNeil and Vandermeer were pretty good. They play difficult roles and are working their respective ways into them.Last edited by jeemak; 27-02-2025, 10:12 PM.
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I know it’s still early days, but I was a firm believer that Weddle > Busslinger in their draft year. Watching Weddle deliver absolute bullets to his team mates, crash packs, take intercept grabs and have such strong presence while Buss still can’t find his way into the side just makes it feel even worse.
I’m still hopeful Buss can make something of himself, but Weddle always did look like a better prospect, and has only reinforced that opinion for me given his start to his careerComment
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