Footscray FC VFL 2024

[GVGjr]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

How's Macrae's performance? Arty Jones getting much of it?

Jones poor, he's done some silly errors and over excited at time. Macrae has performed well and got plenty of it.

[GVGjr]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Montgomerie goals
91 to 55.

[GVGjr]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Poulter with the last goal of the game.
14.15 to 8.8

[doggies ftw]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Only VFL of course but been some promising signs over the preseason in how we?re running out games and finishing strong.

Thanks for the updates G

[Mat Lyons]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Thanks for the updates. I am also told that Baker had a terrific first half in particular, Poulter was busy and Keath put his hand up for selection.

[Bigdog]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Thanks for the updates.

I?m interested in Bendendo?s game and his role. Was he playing as an undersized key forward? Or was it more a half forward role that would translate to the afl side? And what was his pressure game like?

[Mat Lyons]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

I wasn't in attendance but mate texted to say Bedendo played out of the goalsquare for a fir chunk of the game and was a constant threat, as he can fly with the big boys, but has the speed and agility of the smaller types.

I watched him play this role vs Hawks last week and his pressure is always good. I see him playing as a winger or high half forward who can escape out the back and use his speed and spring to create a deep threat.

[kickit2Koly]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Thanks for the updates, how did Buss go?

[GVGjr]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Doggy-Bag Takeaways - VFL edition Footscray vs Werribee.

Big win, we really powered away with it and looked to be substantially fitter than Werribee at the end of the game.
Is that due to the new fitness guys work with the playing list?

I'll go through our listed players and add some observations

Busslinger - Solid game, a few errors including a OOBOTF without a lot of pressure but a steady performance with a few nice marks and he typically used the footy well. He isn't putting an pressure on the selectors though from what I have seen.
Clarke - Was mainly up forward and kicked a nice goal and just missed one that would have been described as miraculous.
Lost his footing in a contest or two trying to do too much but his knee is still heavily strapped so he might still be working towards full fitness.
Darcy - Dominated around the ground and especially up forward. Kicked 3 goals (it might have been 4) but also missed about 3 goals he should have nailed. He was the #1 ruckman and when he wasn't off the ground having a spell was played out of the goal square.
Macrae - A 4 quarter effort from Macrae with some vintage football on display. Took a knock to the nose and had to come off under the blood rule and he came back on with his nose taped. I couldn't have asked for much more than he gave.
Baker - Played on the wing and was really prominent early and got a lot of the footy. Just tries to do a bit too much at times but pushed back when he had to and kept driving the ball forward. The boots came off at 3Q time for Bakes and he would have started his preparation as an emergency for tomorrow.
Duryea - Solid game without really catching the eye. Used the ball well and didn't make any mistakes.
O'Donnell - Started the game in defense but unfortunately got a bad head knock early in the 1st Q and that was the end of his day. Just my speculation but he should have to do a 12 day concussion protocol after a knock like that. Walked from the ground unassisted and then later on (perhaps 3rd quarter) had changed and headed to the bench to join the others.
Poulter - Really impressed by his game today and I feel like he might have covered a lot of ground today as he kept pushing back and by helping out the defenders. His kicking out of the back line was typically spot on and he kicked a ripper goal right at the end of the game.
Bedendo - Over the last couple of weeks at training there has been a subtle change in the role that Dom has been playing. Today he moved between deep forward where his athleticism and ability to take marks on the lead and in the air were a feature and he probably spent close to half the game (lets say 40%) on the wing when either Baker or Poulter came off and of course when Bake was rested in the last quarter. I feel this is the best way to make the most of his athletic prowess.
Freijah - Again he was used in the back line and it's a role he needs to learn a bit better. There are times when he is a bit hesitant in going for marks when our bigger boys like Buss and Keath are also potentially going to contest the mark. He just needs time and the signs are positive.
Scott - Solid game and mainly played in the middle with Macrae. Kicked a nice goal early in the game.
A.Jones - Good performance but did some selfish and impetuous acts that took the shine just a bit off his game. He wrecked a marking contest with a big leap when we had a 3 on 1 advantage. I want him to be more of a crumber.
Cleary - Had to move up and play a bit taller after JOD was taken off and did a solid job on the day. Composed game and I think the coaches will acknowledge that.
Garcia - Rotated in and out of the midfield and I thought he performed well. Used the ball with accuracy and didn't waste it.
L.Smith - Just a day to learn for Lachie he was okay in the ruck and when up forward but nothing really stood out. He did kick the 1st goal of the 3rd Q.
Keath - Had a good game and used the ball well but nothing that special. With JOD very likely to miss and Gardner a month away perhaps there is a role for Keath next week and beyond.

In the end we overran them and the final score was 14.15 to 8.8.

I'll try and answer any questions.

[Prince Imperial]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Thanks for the updates, how did Buss go?

Very disappointing, I thought. It was a critical area he needed to improve from last year, but he was again weak in aerial and marking contests lacking physicality and judgement.

Jones also struggled to have any impact despite being forward in a team that won by 7 goals.

Bedendo was impressive for exactly the reasons Mat mentioned. He is an exciting prospect.

Baker played with plenty of dash and verve.

Darcy is the best overhead mark at the club since Gary Dempsey. He was supreme in the air today.

Keath was very solid and competitive and will play next week against the GC tall forwards.

[The Doctor]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Dogs 14.15.99 defeated Werribee 8.8.56

Bedendo 4, Darcy 3, Scott, L.Smith, Clark, Poulter, Willoughby, Hunt, Montomerie

My Best: Garcia, Bedendo, Darcy, Poulter, Baker, Keath and Scott

2nd half notes

Lachie Smith started the 3rd term brightly at FF with a run into goal after brilliant chain of passes involving Clarke and Bedendo. He had a chance at another soon after. He had another chance after he led well to a brillilant pass from Poulter. However he missed from near the boundary.

Courageous play from Poulter ended with Artie drilling a magnificent pass to the leading Bedendo who marked 50m from goal. However his shot landed just short in the square.

Werribee were holding firm in the 3rd as their midfield held up ours. Garcia, who strangely started the term on the bench after a dominant first half and then sent to half forward, burst through the middle aided by Freijah and drilled it down the throat of Darcy 10m out for his 3rd. Werribee closed the gap to 10 points right on 3/4 time after Clarke stupidly mouthed off at the umpire and gave away a 50m penalty when we were in no apparrant danger. 3/4 TIME SCORE 9.10.64 - 8.6.54.

Dogs midfield got on top in the final term with the help of Keath marshalling the defence. Garcia again set the tone with some typically hard running drilled it into Artie who missed what he should have kicked from 35m. Footscray's Hunt (no.53) goaled after great ground level play from Scott, then when Bedendo kicked his 4th from an acute angle it was game over. Clarke kicked his first by being on the spot. Busslinger who had a modest day featured late when he took a good intercepting overhead mark then hit a superb 50m pass to Montgomerie who goaled.

With Baker rested for the final term Poulter really went up another gear. His hard running was very evident. I noticed a couple of times today if there a boundary throw in on his wing he would switch to the other. It was clear strategy of the Dogs won the stoppage they would look to link up with him with a switch of play. It worked. His kicking today was exceptional, especially delivering I50. He finished the day kicking a goal from the boundary line that sailed straight over the goal umpires head.

From today's hit out. Garcia, Darcy, Poulter, Keath, Scott, Macrae and Baker are in good form and ready for a senior call up. O'Donnell didn't come back on after his head knock in the 1st. I think it might have been friendly fire with Duryea.

Really loved Garcia's game. He was in and under then he was breaking clear from the centre bounce. He was tenacious and his kicking was a feature. Actually I thought our boys kicked quite well today.

Bedendo was superb. He kick started the dogs. Kicked 4.2. He was strong in the air and proved a difficult match up. He played deep forward and half forward. Then moved to the wings when either Baker or Poulter were resting. a few more games like this and he plays in the seniors.

[GVGjr]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Outstanding report Doc. Many thanks.

[Bigdog]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Ridiculous our vfl game is on at the same time as the afl.

[The Doctor]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

A.Jones - Good performance but did some selfish and impetuous acts that took the shine just a bit off his game. He wrecked a marking contest with a big leap when we had a 3 on 1 advantage. I want him to be more of a crumber.

Clarke did one of those. Went for the speccy and in doing so spoilt Bedendo who would have kicked his 5th. I was annoyed by Clarke today. Giving away a senseless 50 as well. He is a footballer I think will one day kick 5 terrific goals and then the following week have a mixed bag like today. He does have some tricks. Can he out it together consistently is my question.

[Bigdog]

Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024

Disappointing A.Jones and Buss didn?t carry on with their good form against box hill 2 weeks ago. I thought they showed really good signs in that game.

Sounds like positives all round aside from those 2 and JOD.