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Am I expecting too much from a second year kid in Sanders? At this stage, I don’t really see him surviving all the players coming back from injury.
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I thought he got going in the second half when he spent more time around the footy. It seemed similar to last week - spends most of the first half playing permanent forward and is very quiet, then moves on-ball in the second half and starts to find it.
Whenever I watch Sanders, I always feel like he's the antithesis of that Wayne Gretzky quote - "I go to where the puck will be, not where it has been". From my view there seems to be a lot of trailing the ball around but never really being the guy who has hands on the Sherrin. He needs to find more aggression in his attack on the ball and get himself into places on the outside where he can contribute.
I know he hasn't been that good, but he's a second-year footballer and I think there has been growth in his game this year. He feels more assured when he gets the footy, his disposal is less rushed and he's covering the ground better. He doesn't have the athletic profile to impact as a forward and he isn't in our starting midfield mix, so there's still a bit of working out what he is as a footballer.
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So when Bont and Treloar return, where does JF play?
The kid is such a talent that I am desperate to see him alongside Bont in the middle. He's a very good defender but what I've seen in these two weeks, he almost can't be taken away from the rotating mid group.W00F!Comment
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Has to move back to HB. His composure is so impressive, if he can read the play well and be a bit of an interceptor too, that would be huge.
I just don’t see the room for him with Bont back in. Kennedy will end up as our 5th mid. Bont-Treloar-Libba-Richards-KennedyComment
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just seems to ball watch. Nearly scared of the contest. In his draft year he was touted as just the most well-rounded & consistent mid in the draft. And I think that’s what he is, you can see he can kinda just do everything. But not sure he’s got an A grade skill in him (Reid burst, Freijah composure, McKercher pace & kicking)
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Ah that one hurts, so proud of the effort and at 3qtr time was pretty content if they ran over the top of us but we kept at it and really can’t complain with much at all - the effort was great and the umpiring was as bad as I’ve seen. That Dale free kick on their HF 1 pt in it? Yeah that’s disgusting, is what it is.
overall mostly positives. VDM is becoming a quality player, has really shut me up - who is this kid? He’s clean, making the right decisions and using the footy effectively! Please keep it up.
Sanders yeah I dunno, he worked into the game better again but geez just needs to show some intent. I’ve said it before but he almost looks like he doesn’t want the footy, never runs forward and calls for it, when he gets it tries to get rid of it as quick as humanly possible. His defensive work is poor. It’s just not the player I expected at all but I’m hopeful that it’s just a confidence thing and he’s got all the skills and ability and one day it will click that he belongs? It’s pretty telling though that he’s being dragged from the midfield.
It did excite me that one burst he made through the middle of the ground late in the game - he’s actually got some pace he’s not slow, he just never ****ing uses it! Freijah is a stud, Davidson is genuinely so quick I love him, Dolan looks good but still quiet. Building. Arty? Eh same issues unfortunately just can’t get involved, really want him too because defensively he’s a weapon, his pressure in the first half was elite but just needs to up his production unfortunately that still hasn’t changed dunno if it will still got a bit of hope.Comment
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Bontempelli, Freijah, Adz, Libba, Richards with support from Kennedy. That is some on ball unit. Listening to Bevo's presser it seems like Croft is very close to debuting. That might allow him to take one wing spot and settle Williams back in defence. A bit worried about Duyrea but he has started seasons slow before. Thought Gallagher took a big step forward too, very impressive game.Comment
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FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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I'd keep him there, games are being won by mids who can run and spread, I think moving him back to the half-back line is a step backwards.
A midfield mix of Bont, Libba, Richards, Treloar, and Freijah feels like a blend of guys who can win it in the clinches and guys who can hurt you with pace and kicking. Kennedy and Harmes are in and around as effective forward/mids - Bont will go forward as well. Probably leaves Sanders fighting for a place.
I thought Gallagher took a big step forward last night, Bailey Dale is a jet and Bramble is usually a consistent rebounder, with JJ and Cleary as the others in the mix.
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This gallery has 1 photos.Have you heard Butters wants to come to the Dogs?Comment
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Valiant effort by the side last night.
I thought we’d find a way to snatch it when Fridge kicked the excellent goal.
Pies rode their luck and just found the extra gear in moments that mattered.
We’re a decent side. We can be a good side or better with a few back in.Have you heard Butters wants to come to the Dogs?Comment
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I reckon more drills and practising plays for down to the wire finishes. The Pies do them with their eyes closed, they have all the plays and we need to be versed in how to proactively spoil plans and strategies when one or two kicks is the margin. Yes, they had help but we need to be absolutely confident that we don't fall in to traps.
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Mirroring the thoughts above, geez we’ve rebuilt the midfield now. Another ~4 years of Bont, Freijah, Richards, Kennedy is a core you can build around - the first 3 in particular I’m super excited to see together for the first time. Obviously not forgetting about Libba and Treloar for this year and hopefully at least the next. It’s a good, dynamic mix. Not even including our top 6 pick Sanders in that lot but hopefully we can soon (although not super confident right now)
Bont, Freijah, Richards is going to be exciting - speed, power, size, defensive intent (gets overlooked because of how damaging he is but Bont is the best defensive mid in the league, Richards not far behind him), long damaging disposal, poise. All 3 of these guys just have that football iq around the ball.
When these 3 get some time on the inside together later this season we will not lose a contest - I can see them really gelling with the way they all play and compliment each otherComment
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Also agree Gallagher was good, he’s got something to work with I can see why we persist. His upside is quite high, he will iron out the kinks I’m sure of it, reminds me of the way Bailey Williams used to get caught with the ball - if you remember people used to call him a liability because he would literally always do too much and get caught holding the ball.
You want this in a young player, night and day to the way Sanders plays where he is afraid to make a play. Gallagher is afraid to not try to make an impact. Over time and experience they start to get caught less and less and learn when to go and when to not. His line breaking can be game changing with his first few steps, when he gets a bit more experienced his chaoticness with the ball will be better IMO - let’s not forget he’s 21Comment
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I honestly thought everyone did pretty well. I really couldn't notice an abundance of howlers from a particular player. The game was filled with skill errors consistently, from both teams I might add, missed tackling was visible but can't fault anyone really. I thought we handled the atmosphere and heat of the game quite well.Comment
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I'm still shattered about last night but proud of the way the boys dug deep all night.Comment
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