Bombers vs Cats
General - I've started this part way through the third because it's such a non-contest and everything has basically already happened. Bombers were embarrassing. Zero pressure, zero structure, zero intensity and predictable outcomes given that. Cats took full value and deserved to win by more but for putting the cue deep in the rack late in the 3rd.
Bombers - Despicable performance, genuinely looked like they hadn't trained all o***eason. Had absolute ruck dominance from Draper but there was zero connection with teammates, the amount of times the Cats exited the front of the stoppage under zero pressure was insane, there will be teams who don't do it that often all season. Were perhaps even worse behind the ball where they seemed to want to isolate Cameron and Hawkins in mismatches for themselves... Honestly one of the worst round one performances you'll ever see,. The only hope is they can't be this bad again, they're not this bad a team.
Martin - The stand out, started nowhere but Langford's injury opened up the perfect role and to say he took full advantage of it seems an understatement. He was everywhere, pushing up and down the wing from a high HF position and massive scoreboard impact. Did it while there was still something resembling a contest as well so not just garbage work, although it's pleasing how much of that he put in.
Merrett - Meh game for him, worked hard to keep scoring and ended with a good game but he was a big part of the midfield problems that ended the game early, surprised he had 4 tackles at time of writing as just didn't seem interested. Went to half back in the 2nd quarter in a desperation attempt to provide some leadership there but really just created more turnovers.
McGrath - Started off half back, made a couple of dreadful decisions that led to goals and then left that region for pretty much the rest of the game, was wing 2nd half with Heppell going back, swapped with Merrett in the 2nd quarter. He worked hard to get his stats but his decision making today was awful, actually shocked his DE% was 67% as that wasn't the eye test at all.
Parish - Nothing game, nothing but cheap touches with no impact. No contest or fight at the stoppages, 1 tackle when 2nd to the ball all day is probably the stat that sums up the Bombers more than anything in this game.
Caldwell - Solid enough, like the rest of the team he was perfectly happy to be an outside receiver in a team full of outside receivers that just ended up watching the Cats go the other way after winning it. Far from their worst.
Hind - Worked hard in the 2nd half when the game was over to get his numbers up but no impact on the contest.
Shiel - Huge first half in numbers but he's just so ordinary with the ball and his chasing efforts were deplorable, there was one play that summed everything up where he just stood and watched two Cats both run past him and he just jogged after them, they got the ball and it was one of the goals. Honestly reckon him not being there last year was addition by subtraction for their midfield. You can't have a one way running butcher who plays no other role in the guts.
Draper - He rucked "well", as in he got clear hands on it over and over but there was literally no connection with the mids, I don't know if it was bad tapwork, bad talk or what but the amount of times the Bombers had the inside ring in the midfield and he hit it clear to the outside or vice versa was uncanny, like he was working on opposites day with the midfield. Not enough work around the ground to push his fantasy up as wont ruck against that low level often. If the Merrett precedent holds he'll miss next week anyway for a swinging arm tackle.
Perkins - Started well, faded hard. Couple of years time he's going to be in starting sides. Rate him.
Ridley - God I hope it comes out that he had COVID or the flu or something this week because that was disgusting to watch. He was so BAD that he got sent to full forward for the 4th quarter. Dropped at least 3 easy marks, never was in a good position to intercept outside those dropped marks, didn't even play on with most of the few kick-ins he took, never took on an attacking kick all game, was cramping early in the 3rd quarter in a game where I didn't notice any other player cramp at all. Now to be fair, the intercept role is quite hard when there is literally zero pressure up field but even if there was pressure he wasn't in position. To cap it all off, Stengle, the easy kill so he could float loose, had a career game on him and made him look very ordinary as a defender. Honestly, reckon this is the worst I've ever seen him play but the more concerning part is the obvious fitness issues, going forward because he was exposed so badly and just the amount of other guys that took kicks and never really looked for him, the teammates treating him like Presti is not a good sign. You know it's bad when you're praying the guy is sick as an excuse... The personification of the team's effort.
Heppell - Started wing and offered nothing, just looked lost. Was a bit better in 2nd half at HB but still not good.
Baldwin - As expected role wise and no chance when the team plays like that, he could have been alone I50 for the whole game and still not scored much more given the team.
Cats - Cats were good, the sad part is they didn't do anything special, they just lined up, won the ball and then did whatever the hell they wanted against some witches hats. They're probably almost annoyed to have a couple of injuries and absolutely no idea where they're at as a side, I mean you take the percentage boost but just impossible when you're so untested physically. Looked good though and was good to see them put the pathetic Bombers to the sword, last year they'd probably have made it a close game by going backwards and sideways constantly.
Danger - Basically went home halfway through the 2nd quarter when the job was done and basically played a restricted forward pocket role from that point onward. Huge game and looked fantastic. Will be one to watch as a target. Hard part is whether his role change at HT was more to do with margin or if it's to be an ongoing plan. If the Cats throw up a few more blowouts he could get DPP
Hawkins - Ditto to Danger, was done at HT and just chilling and avoiding injury from then onward. Dominant.
Stengle - Made Ridley look 2nd rate or was it Ridley making him look first rate
Parfitt - Was really solid, great role, has effectively become the 3rd midfielder ahead of Selwood. Will score decently.
Guthrie - That he didn't have to do anything in the 1st half and they still thrashed them sums it up. Junked hard to put a score on the board.
Stewart - Started like a house on fire and then, like Baldwin, was restricted more from a supply side than anything. Looked great and can't do much more than he did under those circumstances. I wish I'd picked him instead of Ridley but honestly I had him 3rd in a 2 position race and Ridley was the first picked so I can't act like it was that close
Selwood - HF with mid minutes, did get a lot more midfield time in the 2nd half when Danger was in the cotton wool. One to watch for position change but probably doesn't score well enough as a forward.
Holmes - Junked hard, did some nice things early but most of his work late. Role not as good as preseason.
Cameron - Looked amazing before one of the most pointlessly stupid contests you'll see where he injured himself and from footage late appeared to be headed to hospital. Genuinely no idea what the injury was, have to assume a broken rib given the hospital and contest but club said hip pointer so something missing there.
SDK - Knee injury, was looking solid before that but looked pretty ginger and upset so have to assume not good. Didn't do much but what he did was good and pure SC plays. Going to be awkward to replace if needed.