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Re: VFL Round 1 - Footscray vs Sydney 2022
Some very late thoughts from Friday's game (left ground after Swans kicked their 10th goal in the last qtr)
McComb (22 kicks, 10 marks, 14 handballs, 5 tackles 1 goal) - as suggested by other posters, clearly the pick of the VFL team in terms of performance and effort. A real hard at it mid and has taken a step up from 2021 - no doubt due to training with the big boys. How does he get a game in the firsts? Could he be the run with player we need with McLean out for some time still. They are the same height, weight and age. McComb has a good tank and not afraid to go hard at the opposition player.
Khamis (5 disposals, 1 mark) - hung out to dry with team selection and likely to end up playing on the opponents resting ruckman for the whole VFL season given our lack of taller options in the VFL (as well as AFL). I thought he offered a better 'contest' than Schache when trying to stop his taller opponents.
Schache (11 disposals, 1 mark (only), 2 goals, 3 tackles) - bit of a mixed bag - kicking a couple of goals when forward was important for the team, but him having to play most of the game at the Barkley St end meant he was either chasing or being chased quarter on quarter. Unable to lay a finger on the more accomplished big forwards from the Swans when playing in defence.
O'Brien (11 disposals, 3 marks) - firstly, I'd be interested in knowing his TOG - seemed to be off the ground as much as on it. Started off well but dropped a sitter at one stage in the first half that I thought was ordinary. Not enough evidence to show he is the player we hope he can be in the firsts ie jury still out...
Wallis (26 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle) - so what position is he looking to aim for if given an AFL call up as playing VFL midfield is not likely to be the role in the senior team. He worked hard, was important for his experience in organising players at stoppages, so in all, a solid game....but to what end? he will likely be injury 'insurance' at best.
Garcia (24 disposals, 8 tackles) - worked into the game and would be better for the run given he had an interrupted pre-season. Along with a coupe of others, likely to win a senior spot at some stage in the year. Continues to be a hard at it on-baller with his 8 tackles for the game testament.
West (24 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles) - was his usual busy self but not as impactful as McComb or Butler. Not quite ready yet for a call up to the firsts - not sure (yet) what he would offer if he was.....
Butler (19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles and 1 goal) - a 'nice' game across half back/wing. Likely to win a spot in the seniors at some stage during the year if he can string together similar performances. From a VFL 'watchers' perspective, a step up from 2021.
Raak (22 disposals, 11 marks, 0 tackles) - solid game BUT....thought he took his time to dispose of the ball at times - time he wouldn't be afforded in the AFL, also, he was a bit loose with his disposal on a couple of occasions. I have highlighted nil tackles - with the amount of ball in the Swans fwd line, he needed to join in the fray (so to speak). Tends to play a bit like Lewis Young when playing VFL (loose man in defence). Nice size (193 cm).
Cleary (15 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle) - I had seen Cleary play in a VFL practice match and also some in-house training and thought he looked a bit light and also not as good a kick as I hoped he would be (ie will need to be if coming off half back), so he surprised me with a fairly neat game for his first official hit out in the RWB. Don't see him getting a senior game but look forward to his progression at VFL level. Nice height (190 cm)
Jones (11 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle) - very raw but did some stuff that we can get excited about. Blustery conditions probably didn't help him together with a very 'ordinary' Footscray forward line to work in with. One to watch I think.
Martin (14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 24 HO) - hmmm - given Sweet's extremely disappointing performance, I was hoping for a bit better from Martin (as potential partner for English). He was up against a very tall and mobile VFL ruck combination from the Swans, so won't give up on him yet, but he looked slow. Jury out.
Sweet (5 disposals, 1 mark, 15 HO) - was asked to play half the game in ruck and other half at FF. He was diabolical in both positions. That might be harsh, but I seen him play better 3 years ago when he first started in our VFL program. He looked disinterested and dare I say 'lazy'. I couldn't have been more disappointed with an aspiring AFL player's game at this level. As noted above with Martin, the Swans ruck division was quite tall and mobile, but it wasn't the quality of other AFL ruck divisions. Needs to pull the proverbial finger out or we have a list clogger.
Some very late thoughts from Friday's game (left ground after Swans kicked their 10th goal in the last qtr)
McComb (22 kicks, 10 marks, 14 handballs, 5 tackles 1 goal) - as suggested by other posters, clearly the pick of the VFL team in terms of performance and effort. A real hard at it mid and has taken a step up from 2021 - no doubt due to training with the big boys. How does he get a game in the firsts? Could he be the run with player we need with McLean out for some time still. They are the same height, weight and age. McComb has a good tank and not afraid to go hard at the opposition player.
Khamis (5 disposals, 1 mark) - hung out to dry with team selection and likely to end up playing on the opponents resting ruckman for the whole VFL season given our lack of taller options in the VFL (as well as AFL). I thought he offered a better 'contest' than Schache when trying to stop his taller opponents.
Schache (11 disposals, 1 mark (only), 2 goals, 3 tackles) - bit of a mixed bag - kicking a couple of goals when forward was important for the team, but him having to play most of the game at the Barkley St end meant he was either chasing or being chased quarter on quarter. Unable to lay a finger on the more accomplished big forwards from the Swans when playing in defence.
O'Brien (11 disposals, 3 marks) - firstly, I'd be interested in knowing his TOG - seemed to be off the ground as much as on it. Started off well but dropped a sitter at one stage in the first half that I thought was ordinary. Not enough evidence to show he is the player we hope he can be in the firsts ie jury still out...
Wallis (26 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle) - so what position is he looking to aim for if given an AFL call up as playing VFL midfield is not likely to be the role in the senior team. He worked hard, was important for his experience in organising players at stoppages, so in all, a solid game....but to what end? he will likely be injury 'insurance' at best.
Garcia (24 disposals, 8 tackles) - worked into the game and would be better for the run given he had an interrupted pre-season. Along with a coupe of others, likely to win a senior spot at some stage in the year. Continues to be a hard at it on-baller with his 8 tackles for the game testament.
West (24 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles) - was his usual busy self but not as impactful as McComb or Butler. Not quite ready yet for a call up to the firsts - not sure (yet) what he would offer if he was.....
Butler (19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles and 1 goal) - a 'nice' game across half back/wing. Likely to win a spot in the seniors at some stage during the year if he can string together similar performances. From a VFL 'watchers' perspective, a step up from 2021.
Raak (22 disposals, 11 marks, 0 tackles) - solid game BUT....thought he took his time to dispose of the ball at times - time he wouldn't be afforded in the AFL, also, he was a bit loose with his disposal on a couple of occasions. I have highlighted nil tackles - with the amount of ball in the Swans fwd line, he needed to join in the fray (so to speak). Tends to play a bit like Lewis Young when playing VFL (loose man in defence). Nice size (193 cm).
Cleary (15 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle) - I had seen Cleary play in a VFL practice match and also some in-house training and thought he looked a bit light and also not as good a kick as I hoped he would be (ie will need to be if coming off half back), so he surprised me with a fairly neat game for his first official hit out in the RWB. Don't see him getting a senior game but look forward to his progression at VFL level. Nice height (190 cm)
Jones (11 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle) - very raw but did some stuff that we can get excited about. Blustery conditions probably didn't help him together with a very 'ordinary' Footscray forward line to work in with. One to watch I think.
Martin (14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 24 HO) - hmmm - given Sweet's extremely disappointing performance, I was hoping for a bit better from Martin (as potential partner for English). He was up against a very tall and mobile VFL ruck combination from the Swans, so won't give up on him yet, but he looked slow. Jury out.
Sweet (5 disposals, 1 mark, 15 HO) - was asked to play half the game in ruck and other half at FF. He was diabolical in both positions. That might be harsh, but I seen him play better 3 years ago when he first started in our VFL program. He looked disinterested and dare I say 'lazy'. I couldn't have been more disappointed with an aspiring AFL player's game at this level. As noted above with Martin, the Swans ruck division was quite tall and mobile, but it wasn't the quality of other AFL ruck divisions. Needs to pull the proverbial finger out or we have a list clogger.
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