Discussion 2021 Round 7: Teams & In Game Discussion
- Thread starter KLo30
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- Joined
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Missing Bergman’s 40 extra points over rowe is a real blow to the gut
don’t know if this is par or under but currently
1372 with
Gawn Oliver Merrett ziebell docherty
Powell jordon Chapman to come
Have Grundy looped so taking that but yeah. Those 40 points are a real rank slider, was 13 spots out of the top 1k before the round and I just want 3 figures this year lol
Sorry for the melt
don’t know if this is par or under but currently
1372 with
Gawn Oliver Merrett ziebell docherty
Powell jordon Chapman to come
Have Grundy looped so taking that but yeah. Those 40 points are a real rank slider, was 13 spots out of the top 1k before the round and I just want 3 figures this year lol
Sorry for the melt
Triple header up coming after a busy day out and about and watching games at other venues!
Quick Thoughts - Swans vs Cats
General - Was a kind of bland game with a really close finish and some truly horrific umpiring. Cats playing their standard game, Swans dialing up the 2019 form and tactics. It's actually amazing how a close finish can distort the feeling of a game though because the last 5 minutes were basically a different sport to the rest of the game!
Swans - I genuinely don't know how to feel, I'm certainly biased but it felt like we got destroyed by the umpires until the last 10 seconds when they made 1 terrible call and then another borderline call to help us home. We played terribly in the first quarter, slightly better for the rest but realistically we should have lost by a lot but the Cats kicking I50 was brutal and our finishing was pretty high quality I50.
Florent - Really solid game by him, I just love him in the forward half far more than the midfield, he just seems to do so many better things in that half for whatever reason, which is an absolutely rare skillset and he's just not very good on the wing or in the guts so I wish we'd play him there more, though credit to Horse for putting him there for extended stints tonight.
Rowy - Can never question his effort level, would be nice if he could add a lot of polish because it's really lacking and given he doesn't have a lot of speed or size he really does need to be skillful. Solid trier though and happy when he's in that 15-22 range of the team.
Hickey - I need whatever he was drinking in the past fortnight, looked absolutely fine, dominated the ruck and the game and I reckon he was just about best on. His ability to take it out of the ruck for the clearance is actually a real asset, especially when we're playing Rowy, Florent and one of JPK/Parker as the midfield group for extended stints!
Lloyd - He's genuinely broken SC scoring and it's kind of amazing to watch. Part of it is he doesn't get clangers where other players would and he should and that he gets incredibly favourable treatment on his kick gradings for those medium length kicks that always get rounded up for him. He wasn't good and he felt like a reason we almost lost not won but here we are
Mills - Started at FB, then tagged Duncan, then released to the midfield and turned the game around then went back to half back and we managed to scrape ahead by about a goal over those two quarters where his influence was minimised by his own coach. I don't get it at all, he's so clearly our best midfielder, he's as good as anyone in the clearances, tackles as well and is an elite ball user which is a massive hole in a midfield full of hard working tryers that at best would be a below average kick outside him. Big effort to scrape a score together given his roles tonight.
Kennedy - Good solid game, he's still a star in the clearances.
Warner - Thought he got graded pretty harshly, he was the other guy really driving us in the 2nd quarter and his goal was pure class. We look a better side when he and Mills are on the ball with Parker/Kennedy for mine and I'm genuinely excited about his future and how good he could be.
McLean - Easily his best game of his career, actually held some marks!
Parker - Don't think he should have any issue with his report, he was solid and really liked him a bit more inside.
Dawson - Solid game by him but unspectacular.
Stephens - Probably the best game he's played, he's one of those prospects that could be an amazing player and just needs to get a run at it, was nice to see him actually playing wing for once and he looked far more at home. If he can get his tail up I reckon he can go hard.
Gulden - Left a lot of SC points on the table but a pretty good recovery after donuts in the first, not his fault as the team couldn't get near the ball.
Heeney - He's clearly not right with his hand, basically can't tackle and isn't nearly as clean with his hands. Also a really tough role as the main forward to a midfield that can't kick to advantage (or in general...). Going to be really cheap, like so cheap that you throw the durability concerns out the window cheap.
Cats - Would be filthy to let that one slip, they dominated in pretty much every way and just didn't put it on the board, bad goal kicking a big factor, bad I50 kicking didn't help. Was perhaps a harsh dose of karma after some sensationally favourable umpiring to then have a clear mark not paid with 6 seconds left, to be fair it would have taken an absolutely incredible kick after the siren to actually goal it for a guy that would have been on the wrong side in that situation as the new rules mean either could take the one step into line with the point post for the around the corner or has to run dead straight with no step off the line allowed, either way a kick that you would be happy to hit 2 times out of 10. Bad loss though. They must have broken just about every "if you do this, you win" stat in the game.
Guthrie - Just keeps working throughout the game. Has become a really good player, he's actually the guy that gives me hope with Rowbottom that maybe he can be a lot better player than I reasonably expect because Guthrie has become about 10x the player I ever expected over the last two years. If this was the NFL I'd suspect he'd found a good PED supplier
Duncan - Felt like a harsh ratio, I don't remember him doing much wrong and he was by far their best when they were dominating the game and scoring most of their points.
Selwood - Was solid again, quietly putting together a really solid season.
Stewart - Waxed everything, thought his ratio was rough as well, he intercept a lot of ball and was good with it.
Menegola - Solid wing role, seems to be building pretty solidly.
Clark - He was really solid tonight, his first clanger was a disaster piece but other than that he was really good.
Atkins - That ratio, just makes every point count by making everything contested.
Hawkins - Had an absolute mare, pretty sure he had a couple of shots not score on top of the one he missed, beaten for most of the night.
Cameron - Speaking of not having a great night, couldn't get into the game, kicked 3 goals in the end but it felt a generous reflection on his impact. To be fair he was missed several times but he also dropped a few he should be taking.
Quick Thoughts - Swans vs Cats
General - Was a kind of bland game with a really close finish and some truly horrific umpiring. Cats playing their standard game, Swans dialing up the 2019 form and tactics. It's actually amazing how a close finish can distort the feeling of a game though because the last 5 minutes were basically a different sport to the rest of the game!
Swans - I genuinely don't know how to feel, I'm certainly biased but it felt like we got destroyed by the umpires until the last 10 seconds when they made 1 terrible call and then another borderline call to help us home. We played terribly in the first quarter, slightly better for the rest but realistically we should have lost by a lot but the Cats kicking I50 was brutal and our finishing was pretty high quality I50.
Florent - Really solid game by him, I just love him in the forward half far more than the midfield, he just seems to do so many better things in that half for whatever reason, which is an absolutely rare skillset and he's just not very good on the wing or in the guts so I wish we'd play him there more, though credit to Horse for putting him there for extended stints tonight.
Rowy - Can never question his effort level, would be nice if he could add a lot of polish because it's really lacking and given he doesn't have a lot of speed or size he really does need to be skillful. Solid trier though and happy when he's in that 15-22 range of the team.
Hickey - I need whatever he was drinking in the past fortnight, looked absolutely fine, dominated the ruck and the game and I reckon he was just about best on. His ability to take it out of the ruck for the clearance is actually a real asset, especially when we're playing Rowy, Florent and one of JPK/Parker as the midfield group for extended stints!
Lloyd - He's genuinely broken SC scoring and it's kind of amazing to watch. Part of it is he doesn't get clangers where other players would and he should and that he gets incredibly favourable treatment on his kick gradings for those medium length kicks that always get rounded up for him. He wasn't good and he felt like a reason we almost lost not won but here we are
Mills - Started at FB, then tagged Duncan, then released to the midfield and turned the game around then went back to half back and we managed to scrape ahead by about a goal over those two quarters where his influence was minimised by his own coach. I don't get it at all, he's so clearly our best midfielder, he's as good as anyone in the clearances, tackles as well and is an elite ball user which is a massive hole in a midfield full of hard working tryers that at best would be a below average kick outside him. Big effort to scrape a score together given his roles tonight.
Kennedy - Good solid game, he's still a star in the clearances.
Warner - Thought he got graded pretty harshly, he was the other guy really driving us in the 2nd quarter and his goal was pure class. We look a better side when he and Mills are on the ball with Parker/Kennedy for mine and I'm genuinely excited about his future and how good he could be.
McLean - Easily his best game of his career, actually held some marks!
Parker - Don't think he should have any issue with his report, he was solid and really liked him a bit more inside.
Dawson - Solid game by him but unspectacular.
Stephens - Probably the best game he's played, he's one of those prospects that could be an amazing player and just needs to get a run at it, was nice to see him actually playing wing for once and he looked far more at home. If he can get his tail up I reckon he can go hard.
Gulden - Left a lot of SC points on the table but a pretty good recovery after donuts in the first, not his fault as the team couldn't get near the ball.
Heeney - He's clearly not right with his hand, basically can't tackle and isn't nearly as clean with his hands. Also a really tough role as the main forward to a midfield that can't kick to advantage (or in general...). Going to be really cheap, like so cheap that you throw the durability concerns out the window cheap.
Cats - Would be filthy to let that one slip, they dominated in pretty much every way and just didn't put it on the board, bad goal kicking a big factor, bad I50 kicking didn't help. Was perhaps a harsh dose of karma after some sensationally favourable umpiring to then have a clear mark not paid with 6 seconds left, to be fair it would have taken an absolutely incredible kick after the siren to actually goal it for a guy that would have been on the wrong side in that situation as the new rules mean either could take the one step into line with the point post for the around the corner or has to run dead straight with no step off the line allowed, either way a kick that you would be happy to hit 2 times out of 10. Bad loss though. They must have broken just about every "if you do this, you win" stat in the game.
Guthrie - Just keeps working throughout the game. Has become a really good player, he's actually the guy that gives me hope with Rowbottom that maybe he can be a lot better player than I reasonably expect because Guthrie has become about 10x the player I ever expected over the last two years. If this was the NFL I'd suspect he'd found a good PED supplier
Duncan - Felt like a harsh ratio, I don't remember him doing much wrong and he was by far their best when they were dominating the game and scoring most of their points.
Selwood - Was solid again, quietly putting together a really solid season.
Stewart - Waxed everything, thought his ratio was rough as well, he intercept a lot of ball and was good with it.
Menegola - Solid wing role, seems to be building pretty solidly.
Clark - He was really solid tonight, his first clanger was a disaster piece but other than that he was really good.
Atkins - That ratio, just makes every point count by making everything contested.
Hawkins - Had an absolute mare, pretty sure he had a couple of shots not score on top of the one he missed, beaten for most of the night.
Cameron - Speaking of not having a great night, couldn't get into the game, kicked 3 goals in the end but it felt a generous reflection on his impact. To be fair he was missed several times but he also dropped a few he should be taking.
Quick Thoughts - Crows vs Giants
General - A really one-sided game. For the first time all year the Giants midfield dominated and the Crows got overwhelmed, to be fair to the Crows, their bare bones group has done an outstanding job for this to be the first time given some of the names getting genuine minutes for them. There was a very strong wind in this one that definitely had the teams alternating styles when into it and I have to say it suited the Giants more as their practised style suited the into the wind and the way they should play was heavily encouraged with the wind.
Crows - Just a rough day, they kicked very badly at goal, got an absolute hiding at the stoppages and didn't kick terribly well in general, not a good recipe. Really they were just outclassed at the end of the day and their effort levels dropped off a fair bit from recent weeks which was always going to be an issue if it happened. Still think they've had a great start to the year.
Keays - Never stopped trying and has really got the absolute most out of himself, still, you don't want him as the #1 midfielder and right now he basically is.
Laird - Not a strong game by him, one of the worst kicking efforts I've seen from him. They had a lot of targets but no one really presenting as little sense as that makes and that hurt him.
Mackay - It's amazing this is still a thing but I have to be honest, that was one of the best games he's ever played
Sholl - Exceptional work rate, interest stat line as watched without stats but knowing the final scores and it felt like he butchered it all day and that the final score felt right and then you get the stats and he didn't and I'm confused. He's going to be a player.
Smith - Considering the supply levels, really poor score and game. His ability to go completely missing really is pretty special and must frustrate Crow's fans so much.
Butts - Another really solid game, definitely had plenty of chances!
Berry - When he got up on the wing and some midfield chances in the last quarter he looked a very different player, he's not a forward and it's so weird to see them keep playing him there, especially given how good he looks with midfield minutes.
ROB - Absolutely terrible today. His massive swings in effort levels from week to week also must be driving the fans crazy given that's been the backbone of his whole game to date and seeing him almost appear to have swallowed the bathwater is a bad sign.
Hately - Just can't get midfield minutes, not a great sign given the outs and the guys that are playing ahead of him.
Thilthorpe - A week is a long time in football. Giants put a man on him and he really struggled. Did push up to a wing again and looked solid there and also did some ruck work and looked solid there also. I'm personally not terribly interested in him next week but I think he can score well for a young KPF because he will push to wings and can ruck but still a young KPF at the end of the day.
Murray - Was solid at both ends but a bit overwhelmed down back by the pure supply levels.
Walker - Non-2020 Tex was back today, low effort, complaining to umpires constantly, being beaten to the ball and not chasing or pressuring. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's playing with a significant injury but it's hard to look past this being the norm over the last 8 or so years and especially the last 3. It's been a good run but I reckon this is the moment everyone who picked him kind of knew was coming and the decision is now in front of them... is this a blip and 2020 Tex will return next week or has the fairytale come crashing back down, the decision to bring him in was season defining and this next one might be the season decider!
Rowe - I mean all things considered he actually had a pretty good game, there was no supply and you can see that Walker, McAdam and Himmelberg were all right there alongside him on the scoreboard... there problems were most definitely up the field today.
Giants - Easily their best game of the year, I'm not going to point out the obvious, no wait, I am going to point out the obvious... What a difference playing Kelly on a wing makes, that it was the wing the play went through most of the day was an even bigger factor as he essentially became a defacto midfielder and his handballing genuinely tore Adelaide to pieces. Can't undersell how vital Whitfield also was but they got the ball in the hands of their best player, they got Hopper and Ward to stop trying to kick it and as much as I love his future, they got Green out of the main midfield mix, that Daniels got injured and thus wasn't in it was also a big bonus... Credit to Cameron, in round 7 he seemed to kind of remember who Josh Kelly is!
Taranto - Really strong score from him given that it was a pretty stock standard game by him, the last step for them is to get him to stop kicking as well but that's for another day. Clearance and contest work was top notch and he had a great game.
Kelly - Well colour me surprised... It's almost like he's one of the best midfielders in the league when he plays midfield for a whole game, I know, it's just shocking. Still not getting the prime role but the wind meant there was a dominant wing and he was on it all day and he made the most of it, again, his hands were on another level and there he is going at 85% DE which was just a different level to everyone else and his class just stood out. And now I will hold him for another 5 weeks because I will remember this game when he plays forward pocket next week...
Whitfield - He makes a big difference, relentless running and it was genuinely hard to know he'd missed 3 months, guy is a genuine machine. His kicking was not pure and was definitely the area that he was a bit rusty, just kicking longer to contests more than he normally would but even then he still just changes the dynamic because he gets to the hackers so often that they're not kicking and a bad Whitfield kick is still better than 99% of the kicks Taranto, Hopper or Ward are going to make, he also really helps Taranto and Kelly who work hard into space as marking targets because he actually lowers and hits them, just a stark difference to when Hopper and Ward are left to kick!
Hopper - Still kicked it too much but was better at least and genuinely looks for Whitfield and Kelly to run behind him so he seriously benefits from having them because he can really wing the ball and he can make 2-5m handballs with regularity!
Perryman - The 3rd horseman but also important in the ecosystem!
Green - Junked pretty hard for this score and I'm not sold he deserved it. Did some nice things but he sure butchered it today.
Cumming - Just keeps ticking along nicely. Whitfield didn't take kick-ins and was up the field so he got to keep doing what he's been doing.
Ward - See Hopper...
Ash - He was hurt a bit by Whitfield as he's been getting it higher up the field than Cumming but he was still solid and he'll work into the mix nicely, also copped a corkie in the 3rd (iirc) which did limit him a bit in the last quarter.
Green - He's going to be a special midfielder but right now he's an overload of the same thing in there and it was great to see him go forward and have a genuine impact on the game. He's big enough to be a forward target and really tough matchup given if you bring it to ground he's most likely going to beat you there so you kind of have to try and outmark him. Forward craft will take experience but he good there. Like him for shorter midfield bursts right now if they're going to play Ward as he can't play anywhere else.
Hogan - Solid game, definitely gave them something and the other guys benefit from the trickle down as well.
Idun - Solid again.
Mumford - He's actually playing some really good football, not what I want with Flynn there but it's hard to argue. He absolutely smashed ROB today who is a pretty decent player.
Hill - He had a couple of cracks at mark of the year today, inconsistent as all hell in his efforts but god he brings the excitement factor!
General - A really one-sided game. For the first time all year the Giants midfield dominated and the Crows got overwhelmed, to be fair to the Crows, their bare bones group has done an outstanding job for this to be the first time given some of the names getting genuine minutes for them. There was a very strong wind in this one that definitely had the teams alternating styles when into it and I have to say it suited the Giants more as their practised style suited the into the wind and the way they should play was heavily encouraged with the wind.
Crows - Just a rough day, they kicked very badly at goal, got an absolute hiding at the stoppages and didn't kick terribly well in general, not a good recipe. Really they were just outclassed at the end of the day and their effort levels dropped off a fair bit from recent weeks which was always going to be an issue if it happened. Still think they've had a great start to the year.
Keays - Never stopped trying and has really got the absolute most out of himself, still, you don't want him as the #1 midfielder and right now he basically is.
Laird - Not a strong game by him, one of the worst kicking efforts I've seen from him. They had a lot of targets but no one really presenting as little sense as that makes and that hurt him.
Mackay - It's amazing this is still a thing but I have to be honest, that was one of the best games he's ever played
Sholl - Exceptional work rate, interest stat line as watched without stats but knowing the final scores and it felt like he butchered it all day and that the final score felt right and then you get the stats and he didn't and I'm confused. He's going to be a player.
Smith - Considering the supply levels, really poor score and game. His ability to go completely missing really is pretty special and must frustrate Crow's fans so much.
Butts - Another really solid game, definitely had plenty of chances!
Berry - When he got up on the wing and some midfield chances in the last quarter he looked a very different player, he's not a forward and it's so weird to see them keep playing him there, especially given how good he looks with midfield minutes.
ROB - Absolutely terrible today. His massive swings in effort levels from week to week also must be driving the fans crazy given that's been the backbone of his whole game to date and seeing him almost appear to have swallowed the bathwater is a bad sign.
Hately - Just can't get midfield minutes, not a great sign given the outs and the guys that are playing ahead of him.
Thilthorpe - A week is a long time in football. Giants put a man on him and he really struggled. Did push up to a wing again and looked solid there and also did some ruck work and looked solid there also. I'm personally not terribly interested in him next week but I think he can score well for a young KPF because he will push to wings and can ruck but still a young KPF at the end of the day.
Murray - Was solid at both ends but a bit overwhelmed down back by the pure supply levels.
Walker - Non-2020 Tex was back today, low effort, complaining to umpires constantly, being beaten to the ball and not chasing or pressuring. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's playing with a significant injury but it's hard to look past this being the norm over the last 8 or so years and especially the last 3. It's been a good run but I reckon this is the moment everyone who picked him kind of knew was coming and the decision is now in front of them... is this a blip and 2020 Tex will return next week or has the fairytale come crashing back down, the decision to bring him in was season defining and this next one might be the season decider!
Rowe - I mean all things considered he actually had a pretty good game, there was no supply and you can see that Walker, McAdam and Himmelberg were all right there alongside him on the scoreboard... there problems were most definitely up the field today.
Giants - Easily their best game of the year, I'm not going to point out the obvious, no wait, I am going to point out the obvious... What a difference playing Kelly on a wing makes, that it was the wing the play went through most of the day was an even bigger factor as he essentially became a defacto midfielder and his handballing genuinely tore Adelaide to pieces. Can't undersell how vital Whitfield also was but they got the ball in the hands of their best player, they got Hopper and Ward to stop trying to kick it and as much as I love his future, they got Green out of the main midfield mix, that Daniels got injured and thus wasn't in it was also a big bonus... Credit to Cameron, in round 7 he seemed to kind of remember who Josh Kelly is!
Taranto - Really strong score from him given that it was a pretty stock standard game by him, the last step for them is to get him to stop kicking as well but that's for another day. Clearance and contest work was top notch and he had a great game.
Kelly - Well colour me surprised... It's almost like he's one of the best midfielders in the league when he plays midfield for a whole game, I know, it's just shocking. Still not getting the prime role but the wind meant there was a dominant wing and he was on it all day and he made the most of it, again, his hands were on another level and there he is going at 85% DE which was just a different level to everyone else and his class just stood out. And now I will hold him for another 5 weeks because I will remember this game when he plays forward pocket next week...
Whitfield - He makes a big difference, relentless running and it was genuinely hard to know he'd missed 3 months, guy is a genuine machine. His kicking was not pure and was definitely the area that he was a bit rusty, just kicking longer to contests more than he normally would but even then he still just changes the dynamic because he gets to the hackers so often that they're not kicking and a bad Whitfield kick is still better than 99% of the kicks Taranto, Hopper or Ward are going to make, he also really helps Taranto and Kelly who work hard into space as marking targets because he actually lowers and hits them, just a stark difference to when Hopper and Ward are left to kick!
Hopper - Still kicked it too much but was better at least and genuinely looks for Whitfield and Kelly to run behind him so he seriously benefits from having them because he can really wing the ball and he can make 2-5m handballs with regularity!
Perryman - The 3rd horseman but also important in the ecosystem!
Green - Junked pretty hard for this score and I'm not sold he deserved it. Did some nice things but he sure butchered it today.
Cumming - Just keeps ticking along nicely. Whitfield didn't take kick-ins and was up the field so he got to keep doing what he's been doing.
Ward - See Hopper...
Ash - He was hurt a bit by Whitfield as he's been getting it higher up the field than Cumming but he was still solid and he'll work into the mix nicely, also copped a corkie in the 3rd (iirc) which did limit him a bit in the last quarter.
Green - He's going to be a special midfielder but right now he's an overload of the same thing in there and it was great to see him go forward and have a genuine impact on the game. He's big enough to be a forward target and really tough matchup given if you bring it to ground he's most likely going to beat you there so you kind of have to try and outmark him. Forward craft will take experience but he good there. Like him for shorter midfield bursts right now if they're going to play Ward as he can't play anywhere else.
Hogan - Solid game, definitely gave them something and the other guys benefit from the trickle down as well.
Idun - Solid again.
Mumford - He's actually playing some really good football, not what I want with Flynn there but it's hard to argue. He absolutely smashed ROB today who is a pretty decent player.
Hill - He had a couple of cracks at mark of the year today, inconsistent as all hell in his efforts but god he brings the excitement factor!
Quick Thoughts - Saints vs Hawks
General - Absolute massacre, I think the Hawks might still be down in Tassie preparing for this game because they were unsighted at Marvel Stadium! Seriously though, it's really hard to get any read from this game, Hawks just not there and Saints stomped them despite really not feeling that good either. I don't know if the Saints are back or I just saw a bottom 8 side curb stomping a bottom 4 side...
Saints - You take the win and you take the way they started, I'm not sure if you're as happy with the tackling as the game went on or the overall pressure levels, perhaps the best defense to that is it's hard to do it with the ball but the Hawks scored a bit easy when they went forward for my liking. To Ratten's credit, he tinkered a bit and got some really good results on it, some of them were fixing stupid mistakes he'd made in the past but a couple were good moves also.
Jones - Monster game, really set the tone for the Saints, I don't know if I've ever seen someone get that hot and the opposition team do literally nothing to adjust to it, they genuinely looked happy for him to torch them.
Clark - Moved to a wing/HF today and really worked into the game well, still not the role I'd want him playing but have to understand how much they've invested in one dimensional midfielders and that Clark is the guy who can do other things and thus pays the price. Was really solid and a good move to get him involved, although to be fair it was a good move more for the other half.
Ross - I really don't get him in the AFL at this point, guessing he's one of those really great guys that are awesome clubmen that you have to reward.
Crouch - Much better game from him.
Sinclair - Really strong game.
Hill - Yet another example of how HBF has become the easiest position in the sport by a country mile. He goes from looking like a very lazy slug dogging his team to an absolute star by shifting behind the ball and this was the real win of Clark to the wing, not only does Clark run both ways and a lot harder while using it just as well but Hill now gets all the pressure and workrate requirements halved and he just has to run one way. I do look forward to what happens when he actually has to defend but worry about that in the future against a team trying, was a great move for this week.
Billings - I mean we all focus on Josh Kelly but this guy has been copping the same thing to an even higher degree for the last month and just like Kelly it's amazing what getting your best players and ball users into their stronger positions and the ball in their hands can do for everyone else, all of a sudden the forwards have a reason to lead because they will be hit on the tit instead of left in a manic depressive state by Ross, Crouch and Co butchering it. He was excellent.
Steele - Copped a decent level tag from Cousins and then spent most of the 4th resting up forward, never really got out of first gear in this one as he didn't need to. Scored pretty well all things considered.
Marshall - Was solid but clearly the 2nd ruck and this was an absolute pantsing of the opponent so no idea how much to read into this. I'm requiring a month from him anyway but this game feels like more of a negative than a positive for his stock.
Byrnes - I thought he looked at home and played pretty well. He did nothing special but also nothing wrong, ratio a concern but finding the ball is step one and he did that.
Hawks - The rollercoaster of this team, they were so utterly terrible this week after showing fight last week to battle back. It's really hard to find any real winners here...
Mitchell - I'm pretty confident that his shoulder is still in the back of his mind because he's just a shadow of the player he used to be at the coal face which is a shame because it's the area he's genuinely an elite player and it's killing him as a SC player. He still finds space for cheap touches like very few can but he's not getting any of the meaningful touches.
Worpel - Actually was decent this week. His stagnation/decline over the last two years has been a real pity as he was looking a good player, was good to see him give us a throwback game.
Scrimshaw - Was everywhere or at least his supply level was all time and he maxed it out.
Impey - Ratio felt brutal to me, he did nothing wrong and was among the Hawks best and kept trying. Interestingly he pushed onto the ball for the last 1.5 quarters and while it didn't slow his DT scoring down it's not a role I want him in for SC long term as his run and carry was clearly restricted by it and he doesn't have a lot of clearance craft to make up for it.
McEvoy - Really solid game against two good rucks.
Hardwick - Just keeps ticking along. Sneaky good pick this year.
Phillips - Just been rubbish, seems to be just totally lost as a player right now.
Kosi - Really solid game, terrible supply levels but he did a great job. The standout again for me was a few big spoils when out of position to halve the contest and give the smalls a chance, the goals were also great work but the JS comes from the other stuff and he was great. That Gunston was utterly putrid and Jeka did nothing sure doesn't hurt the cause. He was quite clearly their best KP forward.
Maginness - He's like 190k and that's about 100k too much. I'm not sure what his tangible AFL skill is still.
Jiath - Really quite game with some serious junk, it's actually amazing that his pure junk, that wasn't even good junk, was graded as more impactful than Impey, who was actually good.
Gunston - He looked so bad, so slow and grounded, he looked like the 40 year old who used to be a really good player but now can't run and jump and just sits in the pocket. Will be better for the run but he looked so far off the pace I'm not sure why he's been rushed back.
Jeka - Tough game for a young KPF, he has great size and moves well but constantly found himself being led to the ball and you could clearly tell he's used to being bigger and faster than everyone as his positioning was that of a guy who's never really had to play on his physical equal. Definitely a good prospect though and I'd be giving him a few weeks of exposure before sending him back to work on his positioning and running patterns. I'd actually be putting him in defense against Kennedy/Darling next week to give him a real insight to it, then give him a forward run against North and Carlton. Be surprised if he's fantasy relevant though as he's still very raw.
General - Absolute massacre, I think the Hawks might still be down in Tassie preparing for this game because they were unsighted at Marvel Stadium! Seriously though, it's really hard to get any read from this game, Hawks just not there and Saints stomped them despite really not feeling that good either. I don't know if the Saints are back or I just saw a bottom 8 side curb stomping a bottom 4 side...
Saints - You take the win and you take the way they started, I'm not sure if you're as happy with the tackling as the game went on or the overall pressure levels, perhaps the best defense to that is it's hard to do it with the ball but the Hawks scored a bit easy when they went forward for my liking. To Ratten's credit, he tinkered a bit and got some really good results on it, some of them were fixing stupid mistakes he'd made in the past but a couple were good moves also.
Jones - Monster game, really set the tone for the Saints, I don't know if I've ever seen someone get that hot and the opposition team do literally nothing to adjust to it, they genuinely looked happy for him to torch them.
Clark - Moved to a wing/HF today and really worked into the game well, still not the role I'd want him playing but have to understand how much they've invested in one dimensional midfielders and that Clark is the guy who can do other things and thus pays the price. Was really solid and a good move to get him involved, although to be fair it was a good move more for the other half.
Ross - I really don't get him in the AFL at this point, guessing he's one of those really great guys that are awesome clubmen that you have to reward.
Crouch - Much better game from him.
Sinclair - Really strong game.
Hill - Yet another example of how HBF has become the easiest position in the sport by a country mile. He goes from looking like a very lazy slug dogging his team to an absolute star by shifting behind the ball and this was the real win of Clark to the wing, not only does Clark run both ways and a lot harder while using it just as well but Hill now gets all the pressure and workrate requirements halved and he just has to run one way. I do look forward to what happens when he actually has to defend but worry about that in the future against a team trying, was a great move for this week.
Billings - I mean we all focus on Josh Kelly but this guy has been copping the same thing to an even higher degree for the last month and just like Kelly it's amazing what getting your best players and ball users into their stronger positions and the ball in their hands can do for everyone else, all of a sudden the forwards have a reason to lead because they will be hit on the tit instead of left in a manic depressive state by Ross, Crouch and Co butchering it. He was excellent.
Steele - Copped a decent level tag from Cousins and then spent most of the 4th resting up forward, never really got out of first gear in this one as he didn't need to. Scored pretty well all things considered.
Marshall - Was solid but clearly the 2nd ruck and this was an absolute pantsing of the opponent so no idea how much to read into this. I'm requiring a month from him anyway but this game feels like more of a negative than a positive for his stock.
Byrnes - I thought he looked at home and played pretty well. He did nothing special but also nothing wrong, ratio a concern but finding the ball is step one and he did that.
Hawks - The rollercoaster of this team, they were so utterly terrible this week after showing fight last week to battle back. It's really hard to find any real winners here...
Mitchell - I'm pretty confident that his shoulder is still in the back of his mind because he's just a shadow of the player he used to be at the coal face which is a shame because it's the area he's genuinely an elite player and it's killing him as a SC player. He still finds space for cheap touches like very few can but he's not getting any of the meaningful touches.
Worpel - Actually was decent this week. His stagnation/decline over the last two years has been a real pity as he was looking a good player, was good to see him give us a throwback game.
Scrimshaw - Was everywhere or at least his supply level was all time and he maxed it out.
Impey - Ratio felt brutal to me, he did nothing wrong and was among the Hawks best and kept trying. Interestingly he pushed onto the ball for the last 1.5 quarters and while it didn't slow his DT scoring down it's not a role I want him in for SC long term as his run and carry was clearly restricted by it and he doesn't have a lot of clearance craft to make up for it.
McEvoy - Really solid game against two good rucks.
Hardwick - Just keeps ticking along. Sneaky good pick this year.
Phillips - Just been rubbish, seems to be just totally lost as a player right now.
Kosi - Really solid game, terrible supply levels but he did a great job. The standout again for me was a few big spoils when out of position to halve the contest and give the smalls a chance, the goals were also great work but the JS comes from the other stuff and he was great. That Gunston was utterly putrid and Jeka did nothing sure doesn't hurt the cause. He was quite clearly their best KP forward.
Maginness - He's like 190k and that's about 100k too much. I'm not sure what his tangible AFL skill is still.
Jiath - Really quite game with some serious junk, it's actually amazing that his pure junk, that wasn't even good junk, was graded as more impactful than Impey, who was actually good.
Gunston - He looked so bad, so slow and grounded, he looked like the 40 year old who used to be a really good player but now can't run and jump and just sits in the pocket. Will be better for the run but he looked so far off the pace I'm not sure why he's been rushed back.
Jeka - Tough game for a young KPF, he has great size and moves well but constantly found himself being led to the ball and you could clearly tell he's used to being bigger and faster than everyone as his positioning was that of a guy who's never really had to play on his physical equal. Definitely a good prospect though and I'd be giving him a few weeks of exposure before sending him back to work on his positioning and running patterns. I'd actually be putting him in defense against Kennedy/Darling next week to give him a real insight to it, then give him a forward run against North and Carlton. Be surprised if he's fantasy relevant though as he's still very raw.
Quick Thoughts - Crows vs Giants
General - A really one-sided game. For the first time all year the Giants midfield dominated and the Crows got overwhelmed, to be fair to the Crows, their bare bones group has done an outstanding job for this to be the first time given some of the names getting genuine minutes for them. There was a very strong wind in this one that definitely had the teams alternating styles when into it and I have to say it suited the Giants more as their practised style suited the into the wind and the way they should play was heavily encouraged with the wind.
Crows - Just a rough day, they kicked very badly at goal, got an absolute hiding at the stoppages and didn't kick terribly well in general, not a good recipe. Really they were just outclassed at the end of the day and their effort levels dropped off a fair bit from recent weeks which was always going to be an issue if it happened. Still think they've had a great start to the year.
Keays - Never stopped trying and has really got the absolute most out of himself, still, you don't want him as the #1 midfielder and right now he basically is.
Laird - Not a strong game by him, one of the worst kicking efforts I've seen from him. They had a lot of targets but no one really presenting as little sense as that makes and that hurt him.
Mackay - It's amazing this is still a thing but I have to be honest, that was one of the best games he's ever played
Sholl - Exceptional work rate, interest stat line as watched without stats but knowing the final scores and it felt like he butchered it all day and that the final score felt right and then you get the stats and he didn't and I'm confused. He's going to be a player.
Smith - Considering the supply levels, really poor score and game. His ability to go completely missing really is pretty special and must frustrate Crow's fans so much.
Butts - Another really solid game, definitely had plenty of chances!
Berry - When he got up on the wing and some midfield chances in the last quarter he looked a very different player, he's not a forward and it's so weird to see them keep playing him there, especially given how good he looks with midfield minutes.
ROB - Absolutely terrible today. His massive swings in effort levels from week to week also must be driving the fans crazy given that's been the backbone of his whole game to date and seeing him almost appear to have swallowed the bathwater is a bad sign.
Hately - Just can't get midfield minutes, not a great sign given the outs and the guys that are playing ahead of him.
Thilthorpe - A week is a long time in football. Giants put a man on him and he really struggled. Did push up to a wing again and looked solid there and also did some ruck work and looked solid there also. I'm personally not terribly interested in him next week but I think he can score well for a young KPF because he will push to wings and can ruck but still a young KPF at the end of the day.
Murray - Was solid at both ends but a bit overwhelmed down back by the pure supply levels.
Walker - Non-2020 Tex was back today, low effort, complaining to umpires constantly, being beaten to the ball and not chasing or pressuring. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's playing with a significant injury but it's hard to look past this being the norm over the last 8 or so years and especially the last 3. It's been a good run but I reckon this is the moment everyone who picked him kind of knew was coming and the decision is now in front of them... is this a blip and 2020 Tex will return next week or has the fairytale come crashing back down, the decision to bring him in was season defining and this next one might be the season decider!
Rowe - I mean all things considered he actually had a pretty good game, there was no supply and you can see that Walker, McAdam and Himmelberg were all right there alongside him on the scoreboard... there problems were most definitely up the field today.
Giants - Easily their best game of the year, I'm not going to point out the obvious, no wait, I am going to point out the obvious... What a difference playing Kelly on a wing makes, that it was the wing the play went through most of the day was an even bigger factor as he essentially became a defacto midfielder and his handballing genuinely tore Adelaide to pieces. Can't undersell how vital Whitfield also was but they got the ball in the hands of their best player, they got Hopper and Ward to stop trying to kick it and as much as I love his future, they got Green out of the main midfield mix, that Daniels got injured and thus wasn't in it was also a big bonus... Credit to Cameron, in round 7 he seemed to kind of remember who Josh Kelly is!
Taranto - Really strong score from him given that it was a pretty stock standard game by him, the last step for them is to get him to stop kicking as well but that's for another day. Clearance and contest work was top notch and he had a great game.
Kelly - Well colour me surprised... It's almost like he's one of the best midfielders in the league when he plays midfield for a whole game, I know, it's just shocking. Still not getting the prime role but the wind meant there was a dominant wing and he was on it all day and he made the most of it, again, his hands were on another level and there he is going at 85% DE which was just a different level to everyone else and his class just stood out. And now I will hold him for another 5 weeks because I will remember this game when he plays forward pocket next week...
Whitfield - He makes a big difference, relentless running and it was genuinely hard to know he'd missed 3 months, guy is a genuine machine. His kicking was not pure and was definitely the area that he was a bit rusty, just kicking longer to contests more than he normally would but even then he still just changes the dynamic because he gets to the hackers so often that they're not kicking and a bad Whitfield kick is still better than 99% of the kicks Taranto, Hopper or Ward are going to make, he also really helps Taranto and Kelly who work hard into space as marking targets because he actually lowers and hits them, just a stark difference to when Hopper and Ward are left to kick!
Hopper - Still kicked it too much but was better at least and genuinely looks for Whitfield and Kelly to run behind him so he seriously benefits from having them because he can really wing the ball and he can make 2-5m handballs with regularity!
Perryman - The 3rd horseman but also important in the ecosystem!
Green - Junked pretty hard for this score and I'm not sold he deserved it. Did some nice things but he sure butchered it today.
Cumming - Just keeps ticking along nicely. Whitfield didn't take kick-ins and was up the field so he got to keep doing what he's been doing.
Ward - See Hopper...
Ash - He was hurt a bit by Whitfield as he's been getting it higher up the field than Cumming but he was still solid and he'll work into the mix nicely, also copped a corkie in the 3rd (iirc) which did limit him a bit in the last quarter.
Green - He's going to be a special midfielder but right now he's an overload of the same thing in there and it was great to see him go forward and have a genuine impact on the game. He's big enough to be a forward target and really tough matchup given if you bring it to ground he's most likely going to beat you there so you kind of have to try and outmark him. Forward craft will take experience but he good there. Like him for shorter midfield bursts right now if they're going to play Ward as he can't play anywhere else.
Hogan - Solid game, definitely gave them something and the other guys benefit from the trickle down as well.
Idun - Solid again.
Mumford - He's actually playing some really good football, not what I want with Flynn there but it's hard to argue. He absolutely smashed ROB today who is a pretty decent player.
Hill - He had a couple of cracks at mark of the year today, inconsistent as all hell in his efforts but god he brings the excitement factor!
General - A really one-sided game. For the first time all year the Giants midfield dominated and the Crows got overwhelmed, to be fair to the Crows, their bare bones group has done an outstanding job for this to be the first time given some of the names getting genuine minutes for them. There was a very strong wind in this one that definitely had the teams alternating styles when into it and I have to say it suited the Giants more as their practised style suited the into the wind and the way they should play was heavily encouraged with the wind.
Crows - Just a rough day, they kicked very badly at goal, got an absolute hiding at the stoppages and didn't kick terribly well in general, not a good recipe. Really they were just outclassed at the end of the day and their effort levels dropped off a fair bit from recent weeks which was always going to be an issue if it happened. Still think they've had a great start to the year.
Keays - Never stopped trying and has really got the absolute most out of himself, still, you don't want him as the #1 midfielder and right now he basically is.
Laird - Not a strong game by him, one of the worst kicking efforts I've seen from him. They had a lot of targets but no one really presenting as little sense as that makes and that hurt him.
Mackay - It's amazing this is still a thing but I have to be honest, that was one of the best games he's ever played
Sholl - Exceptional work rate, interest stat line as watched without stats but knowing the final scores and it felt like he butchered it all day and that the final score felt right and then you get the stats and he didn't and I'm confused. He's going to be a player.
Smith - Considering the supply levels, really poor score and game. His ability to go completely missing really is pretty special and must frustrate Crow's fans so much.
Butts - Another really solid game, definitely had plenty of chances!
Berry - When he got up on the wing and some midfield chances in the last quarter he looked a very different player, he's not a forward and it's so weird to see them keep playing him there, especially given how good he looks with midfield minutes.
ROB - Absolutely terrible today. His massive swings in effort levels from week to week also must be driving the fans crazy given that's been the backbone of his whole game to date and seeing him almost appear to have swallowed the bathwater is a bad sign.
Hately - Just can't get midfield minutes, not a great sign given the outs and the guys that are playing ahead of him.
Thilthorpe - A week is a long time in football. Giants put a man on him and he really struggled. Did push up to a wing again and looked solid there and also did some ruck work and looked solid there also. I'm personally not terribly interested in him next week but I think he can score well for a young KPF because he will push to wings and can ruck but still a young KPF at the end of the day.
Murray - Was solid at both ends but a bit overwhelmed down back by the pure supply levels.
Walker - Non-2020 Tex was back today, low effort, complaining to umpires constantly, being beaten to the ball and not chasing or pressuring. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's playing with a significant injury but it's hard to look past this being the norm over the last 8 or so years and especially the last 3. It's been a good run but I reckon this is the moment everyone who picked him kind of knew was coming and the decision is now in front of them... is this a blip and 2020 Tex will return next week or has the fairytale come crashing back down, the decision to bring him in was season defining and this next one might be the season decider!
Rowe - I mean all things considered he actually had a pretty good game, there was no supply and you can see that Walker, McAdam and Himmelberg were all right there alongside him on the scoreboard... there problems were most definitely up the field today.
Giants - Easily their best game of the year, I'm not going to point out the obvious, no wait, I am going to point out the obvious... What a difference playing Kelly on a wing makes, that it was the wing the play went through most of the day was an even bigger factor as he essentially became a defacto midfielder and his handballing genuinely tore Adelaide to pieces. Can't undersell how vital Whitfield also was but they got the ball in the hands of their best player, they got Hopper and Ward to stop trying to kick it and as much as I love his future, they got Green out of the main midfield mix, that Daniels got injured and thus wasn't in it was also a big bonus... Credit to Cameron, in round 7 he seemed to kind of remember who Josh Kelly is!
Taranto - Really strong score from him given that it was a pretty stock standard game by him, the last step for them is to get him to stop kicking as well but that's for another day. Clearance and contest work was top notch and he had a great game.
Kelly - Well colour me surprised... It's almost like he's one of the best midfielders in the league when he plays midfield for a whole game, I know, it's just shocking. Still not getting the prime role but the wind meant there was a dominant wing and he was on it all day and he made the most of it, again, his hands were on another level and there he is going at 85% DE which was just a different level to everyone else and his class just stood out. And now I will hold him for another 5 weeks because I will remember this game when he plays forward pocket next week...
Whitfield - He makes a big difference, relentless running and it was genuinely hard to know he'd missed 3 months, guy is a genuine machine. His kicking was not pure and was definitely the area that he was a bit rusty, just kicking longer to contests more than he normally would but even then he still just changes the dynamic because he gets to the hackers so often that they're not kicking and a bad Whitfield kick is still better than 99% of the kicks Taranto, Hopper or Ward are going to make, he also really helps Taranto and Kelly who work hard into space as marking targets because he actually lowers and hits them, just a stark difference to when Hopper and Ward are left to kick!
Hopper - Still kicked it too much but was better at least and genuinely looks for Whitfield and Kelly to run behind him so he seriously benefits from having them because he can really wing the ball and he can make 2-5m handballs with regularity!
Perryman - The 3rd horseman but also important in the ecosystem!
Green - Junked pretty hard for this score and I'm not sold he deserved it. Did some nice things but he sure butchered it today.
Cumming - Just keeps ticking along nicely. Whitfield didn't take kick-ins and was up the field so he got to keep doing what he's been doing.
Ward - See Hopper...
Ash - He was hurt a bit by Whitfield as he's been getting it higher up the field than Cumming but he was still solid and he'll work into the mix nicely, also copped a corkie in the 3rd (iirc) which did limit him a bit in the last quarter.
Green - He's going to be a special midfielder but right now he's an overload of the same thing in there and it was great to see him go forward and have a genuine impact on the game. He's big enough to be a forward target and really tough matchup given if you bring it to ground he's most likely going to beat you there so you kind of have to try and outmark him. Forward craft will take experience but he good there. Like him for shorter midfield bursts right now if they're going to play Ward as he can't play anywhere else.
Hogan - Solid game, definitely gave them something and the other guys benefit from the trickle down as well.
Idun - Solid again.
Mumford - He's actually playing some really good football, not what I want with Flynn there but it's hard to argue. He absolutely smashed ROB today who is a pretty decent player.
Hill - He had a couple of cracks at mark of the year today, inconsistent as all hell in his efforts but god he brings the excitement factor!