Some quick thoughts on the game...
General - Was a decent game, Dogs dominated but couldn't score, Pies backs waxed. So basically it was 2019 all over again. Felt a higher quality game than the night before, less fatigue towards the end and both teams actually tackling but still a very open contest. Through two games it's been noticeable how less physical the game has become already. Basically feels like preseason games which is probably fair given normally it would be!
Biggest takeaway was yet again the stoppage count was really low. I don't know when a trend becomes the norm but I'm personally there that this is going to be a thing this year.
Dogs - Dominated the middle, Martin kept Grundy honest and Grundy was so bad that he looked like he was taking over the Treloar gig of give it to the opponents... Their F50 entries were mostly bad and their forwards are still very hit and miss but they've got to be happy.
Macrae - Everywhere, ratio felt brutal to me but to be honest I think most of the ratios have felt harsh so far, even Dusty to be honest. Happy with the pick.
Smith - Pure wing and just everywhere, they played his wing all night, not sure if that was intentional or a coincidence but he made the most of it.
Hunter - High HF role for mine, supports the preseason when he was clearly also in that role. Doesn't slow him down, his more normal ratio seems to be back after last year.
Daniel - Great ability to just keep ticking the score over and his ratio was godly given he basically had nothing but cheap uncontested touches tonight. He was very good defensively though, don't want to sell him short. Did what you'd hope.
Dunkley - Role was very solid, didn't notice him forward much at all. Shame he didn't really go on with his first quarter, just seemed to keep it ticking over after a monster start but played very well. Happy with the pick.
Williams - Was on my radar but I don't have the balls. No reason he can't do this all year for mine, I mean not 121 level but 100+ he's capable. Clearly the other guy to Daniel.
Libba - Had a very strong role, arguably the best role of all the Dogs for traditional SC.
Bont - Not his best game but looks strong. Did rot forward for more than I'd hope if I picked him but he can score.
English - Played as basically a high half forward, enjoyed the role. Was better in the contest and looks a bit stronger. Hard to see him being consistent in that role though but probably not that different to Marshall last year.
Martin - Really solid game, ratio porn going on the back of his clearance work, won't face someone giving as little effort as Grundy did very often though and did struggle to get involved outside the contest. That midfield is going to give every hitout a chance though. Felt like a high end output from him.
Treloar - Played the other wing most of the night. Was solid but not great. Don't love the role for him for fantasy purposes but given no preseason he could well grow into it. Didn't help the ball just lived on Smith's wing.
Vandermeer - Played an absolute blinder, hurts McNeil even more than McNeil did.
Dale - Grab him in your deeper draft leagues, played a really nice rebounding defensive role.
Scott - Was really solid, basically won all his contests and I didn't see him beaten which is what you want. Love his confidence to back himself and run forward, will get better at getting some cheap touches. Confirmed my thoughts he's one of the better rookies.
McNeil - Stinker, just struggled with the pace, to be fair the Pies have one of the quickest and most well disciplined backlines, he was kind of unlucky that every rushed kick/handball found a Pie and was thus a clanger because he actually did a good job winning the ball to start it. Job will certainly be under fire though which was always his risk along with the poor role.
Pies - They were pretty ordinary. Looked like a team who traded out a bunch of senior players and then rushed a bunch of guys on the back of no season but more worryingly, they looked absolutely heartless. Given their o***eason issues it's hard to not link the whole culling players and stabbing them in the media at every chance with the listlessness they showed tonight. Really concerning game.
Pendles - He was alright, the amount of fumbles and miskicks were definitely a concern though given it's Pendles, he hasn't done that more than a couple of games in his career. Still he was their best, and only, midfielder.
Crisp - He was solid, he seemed to push onto a wing a bit at times to me, given the supply down back I'd argue basically all their defenders were a bit underwhelming and the too many chefs theory was definitely at play.
Maynard - Jumped out to a ridiculous ratio and nothing he did after that seemed to ever claw it back so he ended very favourably. Was really solid though and had a good game, just hard to make any case that he deserved to have that ratio compared to Macrae, Smith, Dunkley or Libba on a side that dominated other than the quirks of SC! Even then, they had ridiculous supply and the DT level is a worry.
Noble - Played back in defense a lot tonight after a pure wing role in the o***eason.
Grundy - Was awful. Looked like the same player as end of last year that we all assumed was injured, think he thought he was traded to the Dogs also this o***eason with the silver service he gave their mids. No follow up efforts, no multiple contests around the ground, rarely got behind the ball to intercept. Honestly not sure if it was him or the game but really Pittonet is the only ruck so far who has actually managed to get behind the play consistently. Grundy dogged it tonight, was a really bad game. I've already structured up for him to go out come next week unless something changes. More to do with how bad he looked than the rule change impacts as I'm targeting Gawn with him now but the combination of how bad the rucks have scored into Grundy has made what should be my last tinker with Gawn out...
Moore - Great game by him.
Cox - He was actually really good, much better than Grundy around the ground and even probably in the ruck. Not saying he's a threat to his spot or anything but if Grundy keeps that effort level up he's going to need a kick up the butt...
Howe - Started like a house on fire and then ran out of steam completely. Another who looked like a man with a very limited preseason. Lot of fatigue moments as the game went on.
Adams - Same as Howe, wasn't terrible in the first but got worse as it went on and just never really got on top of the game. I'd say downgrade target but the Pies looked so bad that's even questionable.
De Goey - There's a trend here... but another with no preseason who was pretty good in the first quarter and a half and then just faded to oblivion. Something that has stood out to me is that the guys on limited preseasons are having a really hard time of it through two games.
Sier - Did nothing after the first quarter either.
Daicos - What an absolute stinker of a game. Didn't even seem to be anything wrong with his role he just fumbled everything and then couldn't get near it.
Henry - He did well to score what he did given the Pies midfield efforts. Bit hard to blame the guy at the end of the chain when the whole chain has melted before it got to your turn. Be interesting to see what the Pies do at the selection table this week and whether they've even got anyone to bring in.
