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Doing my best to use emojis more frequently :o -
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If we keep Naughton high I don't see any issue at all with having JUH in the KPF rotation.
And we MUST keep Naughton high. He's generationally good in that role, like a true modern version of a CHF (the reason that role disappeared is because nobody has had the physical capability to adapt it to today's game - Naughton could).
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The differing opinions on JOD's game are interesting. I was really encouraged by his game tonight, but I do agree he lacked some game awareness on a few occasions. It's worth remembering we have moved him around quite alot in his short career. I'm all for versatility and injuries happen, but I want us to leave JOD back, whether that's AFL or VFL level (when Jones is back) we need to settle him there long term. That might help his game awareness.
Hawks were terrible first half, they lifted after half time, so it was pleasing we were still able to grind out a win. Im not reading to much into it though. What I saw was us having more fringe players going harder, fighting for a round 1 spot. That was basically Hawks round 0 side locked in.
Someone that hasn't been mentioned much - B Williams, I thought he was really strong, clean and composed. I'm starting to feel at ease when he's in a contest.
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Watched on a phone so sometimes hard to notice everyone.
Did notice though:
O'Neil - not just the 4 goals, but his run down tackles and pressure.
Croft - liked what he did. Mobile moving target between the arc's
Davidson-super impressive. Got lots of the ball, used it well. Dominated his wing.
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AFL app has it, we used 76 they only used 68 but they also used the full 26 players and we only used 24 (and only swapped Arty & Poulter on for the injured Bont who barely played and VDM) so seems like a good effort for us to run out the game, but they also sat Meek and possibly others in the last.Comment
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Impressive by Cleary, would be deserving of a round 1 spot. Thought he defended well, intercepted well, and was generally involved.
JOD showed a bit for mine, thought it was a solid performance. Mistakes will be made, but overall he was good.
Plenty to like with Dolan. Will be a watch come next season.
MK will be a great get. Good fit for us too, hardened edge and versatile. Croft clearly not ready and I haven't seen anything just yet but it's so early for him, just needs to play games.
I'd like Arty to be in R1, looks fit and a lot more involved. Davidson locked in, Freijah quickly becoming one of my favourites, Lobb is so dependable, Naughton/Darcy looked great.
Bring on R1, some big selection calls coming.W00F!Comment
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I really wanted Sam Davidson in the draft and stoked when we picked him. Absolutely justified that love so early on and looks an absolute player. How could so many teams pass him up in the draft, still young but ready made and should play 20 games for us this season. What a steal.
Naughty and Darcy fill my heart with joy. For years and years we were begging for a key forward like these boys and now we have two, plus a super talented #1 pick on Jamarra on the sidelines. Absolutely blessed with tall talent and Rory Lobb is a real chance for an All Australian spot down back.
Cleary was one who impressed me too, I'll put my hand up, I thought he was a waste of a list spot and wasn't up to it, but he looked very comfortable, reads the game well and has nice skills. A fine depth defender who can play a few games this season if needed.Comment
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I think the stand out for me was how well we defended the ground and how organised we were in doing it.
Hawks were number 1 in stretching the ground last year (width per possession chain) and they really struggled to get anything going. The only time you could see they were moving us around was a period in the third where we lost field position and they were able to dictate off intercept for 10 minutes by shaping the ball around with backwards/lateral kicks. That period looked like some of last years games against them.
There was a bit of vision early in Q3 where we had a shocking turnover and they should have been out. When the camera panned out we had a grid set up behind the ball and others surging back. Thought it was a great sign, I’ll try and find the vision.
We were also in front on contested ball all night. Hawks number 1 for ground balls last season.Comment
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A really good hit out for our guys with lots of positives, and just a new negatives.
Really impressed with:
Libba - very dominant performance, however concern is how he looks at the end of the year, not the start.
Cleary - composed and clean, a nice surprise that he’s ready to play a role if required.
Naughton - didn’t look great at the start of the game when out-bodied a couple of times, but when he got active and hit the wings he was very impressive.
Darcy - you’d hate to get the role of trying to stop him… he’s going to be a problem. Wow.
Kennedy & Harmes - gave us the defensive presence in the midfield we need.
Defensive running - it’s really hard to tell on TV how hard we are working defensively, but based on how hard Hawthorn found it to move the ball we were doing a lot right.
Really good showings from the likes of Davidson (ready made), Dolan, McNeil, VDM (before injury) Jones and Croft too.
The not so good stuff:
Garcia - his 1st half wasn’t great. A better last qtr, but he needs to take his chances and it wasn’t a great start to the year.
English - rinse & repeat from last year. He’s just not an imposing presence in the air or in the contest.
I50 efficiency - 37 inside 50’s in the first 1/2 for only 6 goals. That wasn’t ideal and it’s been a problem for a while. We should’ve been 8+ goals up and had the game put to bed.
Poulter - didn’t take his chance in the new role. Not sure how many more he’ll get.
Bont going into Rd1 without a hit out isn’t ideal either.. just hope, like suggested it was just a precaution.Comment
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What did we think of English‘s game? Thought he went well. Competed well in the ruck and was moving well. noticed he found his way into the forward line on a couple of occasions when Naughton was high up the ground. He looks super fit.Comment
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Haven’t read the thread yet but my initial observations from last night:
Our ball movement looked good particularly in H1. We were often having players run to dangerous spots, balls that were put to advantage and we created options (eg a short or a longer, or an inside). Hard to tell too much more than that from TV but we seemed to know our intent and work hard to execute it. Good signs.
Second and third touch outside a contest our defensive worked seemed good too. We don’t hunt the ball and we’re good at reading the exit or next link in the chain and shutting it down. Early doors but it’s long been an area of inconsistency and modern game relies on slowing and turnover and we seemed to do well in this area before the Hawks upped the ante a bit.
Onto some players.
Lachie McNeil more like Lachie McWeightman amiright. First quarter specialist. I liked he got his goals in a variety of ways and in pressure moments finished well. Massive step.
Sam Davidson is going to be great on a wing. He works hard and has a knack for being where the ball is. Helpful skill for a wing. His kicking wasn’t a feature but thought some of his work by hand was good. He’s going to be an AFL player.
Dolan. Aza, credit where it’s due, you called it. He looks at home at this level and his smarts were on display with his decision making and skill execution above expectation for first decent hit out at this level. The big tackle he stuck was a highlight.
Edit: forgot Cleary and he deserves a mention. Did everything asked. Impacted contests, took marks, used it safely. The new Duryea?
Moments of growth from Darcy, JOD, Garcia - going to be an important trio to start the year particularly. I’ve got faith in this group from star, to reliable contributor and best 22 player respectively.
Moat senior players did what I’d hoped they’d do.
MC have some big decisions ahead as we start getting players back.Have you heard Butters wants to come to the Dogs?Comment
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I thought he was poor.
It’s great he’s moving well, but for many on here who have voiced frustrations with his game style, well they’re going to be just as frustrated I feel.
Poor positioning and strength in the ruck contests and wasn’t a strong threat both offensively and defensively in the air.
5 more years to get it right I guess.Comment
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Fair enough. Thought he looked fine myself and took a few good marks (7 marks on the night). Moved well and looked fit. We all know his limitations in the ruck contest but was still competing well. Had 31 HOs (some against the young Hawk ). Meek 35 HOs. -
I thought he made good position around the ground, took some good marks as an outlet and worked well in tandem with Naughty and Darce. He is who he is. Haven’t checked clearance numbers but thought he did enough to break even in the moments that mattered and our mods did the rest.
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Gosh I will miss Liber when he retires footy won’t be the same
how good is he absolute GUNComment
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