Geelong vs Brisbane
General - Watched 3 quarters. Such a stark contrast between this game and the Hawks/Pies game, just a totally different sport and so much better to watch when there's some bruises involved! Cats missing a lot of players, Lions at almost full strength, it wasn't as uneven as the scoreboard either. Good solid hitout with solid indicators of the players involved.
Lions - Was interesting to see them playing such a "slingshot" style of footy, went a heavy defensive flood and then rebounded with speed, particularly interesting because they were so slow out of defensive 50 the last couple of years and it's definitely a big change. Lot of things looking good for them.
Robertson - Played a wing, rotating 3 younger guys through the wings so be interesting to see who wins it and if any of the senior guys will play there at all.
Daniher - He was brilliant, pushing very high up the ground and was 2nd ruck in the first quarter which is more important for OMc than Daniher. Looks set for a big year.
Dunkley - Looked every bit as good as his final score. If anyone can unseat him as the top scoring forward they've had a ripping season or he got injured! Looks primed for a huge season. Will be interesting next year as a pure mid option as think he should push towards 120 this year.
McCluggage - I can't help but be tempted. Again played a pretty pure inside midfield role which he's historically pushed towards the 120 range in also, he's clearly their 3rd mid right now and I don't see who unseats him from that. Not sure where Lyons is at and Zorko will be out a bit and they're the obvious names to look at but Clug is so much more consistently impactful inside so he really should stay, especially if the kids can hold down the wing.
Ashcroft - Was rock solid, his first half score of 37 is most indicative of role/scoring, imo. He played HF with midfield stints in the first half, went into a pure on ball role in the 2nd half and lifted his scoring rate as a result. He's an automatic selection and should be on field, if he plays that role in season he'll even pick up FWD, not that I think that's as useful as it normally would be with us probably needing the midfield rookies more. Should be one of the last rookies upgraded based on junior and preseason evidence.
Neale - Looked to have no ill-effects from either of his injuries last week and was at his glorious best, just taking it easy on his way to a nice ton. He looks cherry ripe also.
Rich - Same old role for him, I think there might be too many chefs this year down back but he should be the top chef.
McCarthy/Cameron/Gunston/Hipwood - All playing forward as expected, Hipwood picked up a big cork and was subbed, he was also 2nd ruck in Q2, again only relevant for OMc.
Rayner - Playing defense, he was actually good early but faded a fair bit, showed plenty though and could be a sneaky good option in draft leagues.
Prior - Was one of 3 young guys rotating through the wings, I'd say he was the most impressive of the three but it wasn't a landslide and he started in 3rd place.
McKenna - Played HB, was really solid, didn't score great but will have games where he scores much better, especially where they get held up and kick sideways a bit more as he was working to space well and finding some dangerous spots, just wasn't needed because Cats were letting them over the top a lot. Looks a solid rookie option, ideally you'd loop him but he's fieldable in a pinch and probably in the top half of rookies on that criteria.
Tunstill - Played a really good game at HF, sure looked like Zorko's role, probably a good sign for the more relevant Wilmot as he had the role that appears available right now as opposed to the one a former captain and star player will almost certainly fill but he played well.
Andrews - He was outstanding, don't think I could pick a KPD but he's underpriced by a lot and wouldn't be a terrible place holding starter type if you were looking for one.
Fort - He only came on after Hipwood went off and then took a decent chunk of the ruck work, looks like they want to go one ruck. IMO that's a much better structure for them.
Bailey - Was the 5th midfielder, got some CBA work. He was solid, definitely scored better than I expected but reckon the DT score was closer to his game and probably his season projection. Ashcroft just looks a better midfielder and then Zorko and Lyons fit in somewhere which says to me he'll get squeezed back into last year's role.
Starce/Payne - Roles as expected, didn't see Payne's injury so can't comment but he was having a great game prior to that.
Wilmot - Role was strong, scoring was not. Found some decent spots but wasn't used, similar to McKenna, he'll have better games where they use the shorter options more but wasn't on in this one. I've seen nothing to suggest he's much more than a strong bench option outside his role and that he gets to good spots in it. I actually think he's a potential on-field guy but he sure hasn't showcased it! Has to get picked obviously and will be one of the sub options I daresay if he is.
OMc - Really poor scoring outing but everything else about his game was good if anyone is looking his way. Hard to pick him after that obviously but the role/structure was what you want in the main part of the game. Tough sell though for an unproven guy who isn't that underpriced despite the Fort issue last year.
General - Watched 3 quarters. Such a stark contrast between this game and the Hawks/Pies game, just a totally different sport and so much better to watch when there's some bruises involved! Cats missing a lot of players, Lions at almost full strength, it wasn't as uneven as the scoreboard either. Good solid hitout with solid indicators of the players involved.
Lions - Was interesting to see them playing such a "slingshot" style of footy, went a heavy defensive flood and then rebounded with speed, particularly interesting because they were so slow out of defensive 50 the last couple of years and it's definitely a big change. Lot of things looking good for them.
Robertson - Played a wing, rotating 3 younger guys through the wings so be interesting to see who wins it and if any of the senior guys will play there at all.
Daniher - He was brilliant, pushing very high up the ground and was 2nd ruck in the first quarter which is more important for OMc than Daniher. Looks set for a big year.
Dunkley - Looked every bit as good as his final score. If anyone can unseat him as the top scoring forward they've had a ripping season or he got injured! Looks primed for a huge season. Will be interesting next year as a pure mid option as think he should push towards 120 this year.
McCluggage - I can't help but be tempted. Again played a pretty pure inside midfield role which he's historically pushed towards the 120 range in also, he's clearly their 3rd mid right now and I don't see who unseats him from that. Not sure where Lyons is at and Zorko will be out a bit and they're the obvious names to look at but Clug is so much more consistently impactful inside so he really should stay, especially if the kids can hold down the wing.
Ashcroft - Was rock solid, his first half score of 37 is most indicative of role/scoring, imo. He played HF with midfield stints in the first half, went into a pure on ball role in the 2nd half and lifted his scoring rate as a result. He's an automatic selection and should be on field, if he plays that role in season he'll even pick up FWD, not that I think that's as useful as it normally would be with us probably needing the midfield rookies more. Should be one of the last rookies upgraded based on junior and preseason evidence.
Neale - Looked to have no ill-effects from either of his injuries last week and was at his glorious best, just taking it easy on his way to a nice ton. He looks cherry ripe also.
Rich - Same old role for him, I think there might be too many chefs this year down back but he should be the top chef.
McCarthy/Cameron/Gunston/Hipwood - All playing forward as expected, Hipwood picked up a big cork and was subbed, he was also 2nd ruck in Q2, again only relevant for OMc.
Rayner - Playing defense, he was actually good early but faded a fair bit, showed plenty though and could be a sneaky good option in draft leagues.
Prior - Was one of 3 young guys rotating through the wings, I'd say he was the most impressive of the three but it wasn't a landslide and he started in 3rd place.
McKenna - Played HB, was really solid, didn't score great but will have games where he scores much better, especially where they get held up and kick sideways a bit more as he was working to space well and finding some dangerous spots, just wasn't needed because Cats were letting them over the top a lot. Looks a solid rookie option, ideally you'd loop him but he's fieldable in a pinch and probably in the top half of rookies on that criteria.
Tunstill - Played a really good game at HF, sure looked like Zorko's role, probably a good sign for the more relevant Wilmot as he had the role that appears available right now as opposed to the one a former captain and star player will almost certainly fill but he played well.
Andrews - He was outstanding, don't think I could pick a KPD but he's underpriced by a lot and wouldn't be a terrible place holding starter type if you were looking for one.
Fort - He only came on after Hipwood went off and then took a decent chunk of the ruck work, looks like they want to go one ruck. IMO that's a much better structure for them.
Bailey - Was the 5th midfielder, got some CBA work. He was solid, definitely scored better than I expected but reckon the DT score was closer to his game and probably his season projection. Ashcroft just looks a better midfielder and then Zorko and Lyons fit in somewhere which says to me he'll get squeezed back into last year's role.
Starce/Payne - Roles as expected, didn't see Payne's injury so can't comment but he was having a great game prior to that.
Wilmot - Role was strong, scoring was not. Found some decent spots but wasn't used, similar to McKenna, he'll have better games where they use the shorter options more but wasn't on in this one. I've seen nothing to suggest he's much more than a strong bench option outside his role and that he gets to good spots in it. I actually think he's a potential on-field guy but he sure hasn't showcased it! Has to get picked obviously and will be one of the sub options I daresay if he is.
OMc - Really poor scoring outing but everything else about his game was good if anyone is looking his way. Hard to pick him after that obviously but the role/structure was what you want in the main part of the game. Tough sell though for an unproven guy who isn't that underpriced despite the Fort issue last year.
