North Melbourne
BigFooty - shimaburnsgrieg
Just a brief comment from myself as most seemed to have covered all the key points.
I was there for the full session and wowsers - JHF. That was as dominant (albeit 30 minute) display from a player that hasn't played an AFL game that you would ever wish to see.
He was up against our first tier mids in Jy, LDU and TT at centre bounces and just tore them a new one with judgment, pace and repeat give and gets. Extraordinary - even in the context of the high praise that he comes with being the number 1 pick. His team work with WAP was just a joy to watch standing on the old grandstand wing position.
The talk of 75% forward for JHY needs to be revised now - he will be at least 50% in the guts.
If JHF continues with this type of form he will our equal premier mid (with TT) by year end and will finish top 4-6 in the B and F.
In terms of 'best 22' the interesting one is X. Clearly improved and if you wanted to rate he and CCJ then X would be ahead. However the actual centre bounce ruck work was side to side competing - they didn't run and jump at each other - and the latter would assist CCJ so maybe its too early to tell.
Lastly - rumours of J Polec's death have been greatly exaggerated. Overall ball use of the group was average tbh - however Polec was his usual self - racking up touches and using the ball well. He will start best 22 on the wing if he remains fit given that display today.
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BigFooty - Sphynx
Alright, there was 2 x real 15m intra club qtrs, then the endzone one which is a lot more powderpuff given the point of it is to practice transitioning the ball from end to end. There was no center bounces, throw ins, stoppages etc in the 3rd qtr. They had some other transitional full ground drills with the umpires and they smashed them in some running drills in between so the intensity was lower.
I missed the first part of the 1st qtr.
JHF - Just a complete phenom. Almost like a kid with severe ADHD, he was just so ferocious around the ball and to the man at the center bounces and stoppages. He was like a wild animal defensively. He probably had 15 touches and 5 clearances in 30 mins and god knows how many tackles, it must have been 5+ in the half. Because of his pace, not just little hand balls out of congestion, he breaks through congestion and runs and carries and knows how to get repeat possessions in chains of play. Noble has discussed 30/70 mid/fwd split, that may still be right, but that 30% is going to have to be in center bounce stoppages. Today was an illustration that he is far to valuable an asset to be sitting on a forward flank all game, just like Thomas was last year. He flat out killed Simpkin and LDU in those center bounces, it was like watching a 3rd year Patrick Dangerfield at times.
Phillips - As has been said, he's was sloppy in some handballing, but he's starting to feel ultra comfortable at the level obviously. As observed last year, he's a metronome in midfield, always moving towards the ball, always around the ball, was everywhere basically. He and JHF really did spank LDU and Simpkin in the center square stoppages and combined really well. Huge improvement in 2021 coming.
Bergman - He continues to impress and there's definitely a serious player there in a few years. He throws his body about, loves and tackle and is a general hard bugger despite looking like a stick insect. Im intrigued to see him at VFL level because he's going to impress a few.
Goater - I've said it before, but I think he's in our Rnd 1 side. I have him ahead of Perez. He lined up with basically the 2021 best 22 backline today and didn't look out of place at all. He took 1 intercept mark floating across 60m out from the attacking goal as the wall, then grubbered that kick I50, the ball came back out and floated in front of a pack to take his second intercept in a minute. He hit 2-3 absolute worldy passes throughout the day, as I said, in space on the run he will cut sides to peices.
Hall, Ziebell, Corr, McKay, Walker - All looked decent enough, the ball was at the other end for well over half of it with a strong breeze to the Fogarty St end. So hard to judge. Hall looks set to replicate his 2021 season IMO, which will be huge.
LDU - He had his pants pulled down in the center bounces, but was really good around the ground, in the latter match sim he was really dominant. At one point he had the ball and JHF was running at him front on, he burst through JHF, JHF had to turn and try and lunge at him, but probably realised how quick LDU is himself and exploded through the second attempted tackle.
Thomas - Like seriously. Was a throwback to the 90's at times. He did what he wanted at times, kicked 3-4 in a half drifting all over the place, most of the goals were crumbs and checksides and banana's through packs. He popped up all over the ground. He is our best player, no doubt about it and is going to capture some souls all year in this role. Watch out AFL defenders and midfielders. He's a top 50 AFL player already imo.
McGuiness - Played CHB on Comben and got taught a bit of a lesson tbh. He dropped an uncontested soda 5m out in his own goal square which got rushed through. He would have been shot out of a cannon into purgatory had he done that in an AFL game. Needs some VFL experience in the role.
Comben - Starts Rnd 1. Crashed packs that resulted in crumbed goals, worked hard up and back, extremely agile when the balls on the deck and he impacts the game whether in the air or on the ground. Best tall on the ground for mine and I don't think he even kicked a goal.
Laz/Perez/Scott - Both little bit disappointing. Perez looks dynamite in some drills, he's one of the best kicks at the club, I don't think he accumulates and reads the plays as naturally as Goater through. I think Goater is ahead of him personally.
Let me know if you want to know about anyone else.
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BigFooty - My Left Foot
Training report, apologies if I double up things that have already been said.
Will Phillips: BOG for me. Winning centre square clearances, one beautiful kick to a leading CCJ at centre half-forward, some great combinations with JHF (when he was moved in to the centre) a particularly memorable handball exchange found JHF streaming in to the F50 (unfortunately he missed the target). Was involved around the ground in link up play too, a complete game from Will.
JHF: A very close second to Will. Not much more to say that hasn't already been said, the thing I especially liked was just how comfortable he was when moved into the centre square as most of the footage I've seen was more in that half-forward role.
Jared Polec. Don't write this guy off just yet, yes he has deficiencies, his run and carry today was great. His left foot is sublime. He starts Round 1 for me.
Jack Mahony: Thought he played really well today, his work between the arcs was very impressive, presented time and time again, was involved in a lot of transition play.
Atu: Another who played well, took a couple of very good marks: one backing back in defensive 50 and another pack mark when the opposition were trying to clear from their D50.
Charlie Lazzaro & Tom Powell: Were on the Pink Team so didn't get a lot of possessions but when the did they didn't waste them both had solid games.
Miller Bergman: His light frame doesn't stop him from getting involved was impressed with today was on JZ at time and more than her his own. I was surprised to see him miss a few targets after everything I've heard about his kicking but nothing to be concerned about.
LDU: LDU did LDU things some great evasive steps and bursts away from packs, bursting through tackles and some over cooked kicks going into the Forward 50.
Lachie Young: Was involved quite a bit, got his hands on the ball often unfortunately his kicking let him down today, a few missed targets.
Eddie Ford & Cam Zurhaar: Thought both played well today.
Aaron Hall: Had a lot of the ball, provided great run and carry out of defence missed a few targets though.
That's about all for me, I think other posters have covered off other players but happy to answers any questions.
Three side bars:
Pretty sure Daniel Harris was talking to Brady, Scotty & Mark on the boundary.
In one of the later match sims / drills Tom Powell was sitting out and talking to Patch on the wing. Boomer called for a footy from Patch, who subsequently tried to kick a top to him and missed by about 15 metres. Boomer then called Tom who then delivered it perfectly to him. Boomer responded with a big smile and a little hand clap.
Flynn Perez was doing a lot of resistance training on the boundary, he looks in ripping nick, obviously not ready for a match sim but surely can't be too far away, really want this guy to make it.
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