- Aug 22, 2014
- 14,017
- 51,135
- AFL Club
- Carlton
Player by player review, so much to like across the board:
Dow - not a dominant game, but the kind of solid contribution we should now expect. Does what he does very well, and while he's not chasing anyone down from behind he's also staying involved across 4 quarters. Seems happy, teammates seem engaged with him...called it a few weeks back but I think he's a better than even chance of staying unless someone offers him big money. Even then...would he take big money to run around at North or West Coast? Might be willing to take unders to stay.
Motlop - classic quiet small forward game. Had put together a really good month, so this was definitely on the cards. No concern from me.
Fogarty - very Owies-like. You know he's got shortcomings, but he has a knack for making really important plays. When Voss talks about close games being won with "moments", I think Fog is a prime example of a player who steps up in those moments. Tackles well, surprisingly hard to tackle, makes good decisions.
Cripps - the game we needed from the Skip with key outs in the middle. Most pleasing, team-high 9 tackles and slotted the goal when his chance came.
De Koning - didn't dominate the ruck, but who's expect him to against Gawn and Grundy. What he did do was keep them honest and limit their ability to impact outside the ruck, and backed it up with some excellent ground level play. Lucky the dropped mark up forward didn't punish us at the end - probably needs to put some preseason work into marking with the hands at full extension, seems to fall back on the chest mark too often and it brings defenders back into the contest.
Acres - broke even with the vaunted Ed Langdon, but stepped up in the contest when we needed him to which was critical to the win.
Hollands - good defensive wing game, and continues to show top shelf vision and execution by foot when he gets the ball in space. Reckon Acres is a perfect playing mentor for him as well.
Docherty - good contribution, just a very balanced player who is finding ways to impact on every line. Sidenote: very pleased to see that we're happy to make a precautionary/tactical sub of a senior leader even in a close game. Mature and sensible call, and shows faith in the other 22 blokes.
Kemp - looking more and more like the backline roll was the right call for him. Could probably play forward too, but I reckon he'll have just as much scoreboard impact with his ability to intercept and then drive transition.
Martin - full buy-in from this guy and it's great to see. Not playing with any fear of injury, and his contest-work up forward means our mids don't need to be busting their arses to get to every ground ball inside 50.
Marchbank - magic fingers, building nicely, but definitely needs to work on his handballing - gives it a bit too much hangtime, and seems to direct the ball to the player instead of the space ahead of them. Love seeing him throwing the body around though, another who doesn't look like he's holding back in the interests of self-preservation.
Weitering - 17 disposals....all kicks. Had a rough patch with his disposal earlier in the year but he's clearly playing with supreme confidence now.
Newman - coming home with a wet sail, pencil him in for the B&F for sure.
Fisher - last week was exceptional, this week is the kind of game I think we'd expect most weeks. Linked up well, did some really smart things, but a few soft/half efforts on ground balls in dispute were frustrating to see.
Pittonet - did a job, but if he's to be a starting ruck moving forward he'd want to do more. Maybe the expectation against Gawn/Grundy was just for him to keep making a physical contest.
Cuningham - almost game, would have been nice if he could have slotted that set shot. Even when he's not impacting directly, I like the threat he presents around the contest - opens up space for teammates.
Hewett - very complete game from George, finding form at the right time and creates some interesting selection questions as others return.
Charlie - competed, which is all we can expect when he's playing a lone hand KPF role. 2 goals is a good return in a low-scoring game.
Ed - came on late, not much impact. He's sub now, but should be squeezed back out as we reintroduce other mids.
Cincotta - solid defensive game, with his trademark physicality on show. Important role player.
Saad - bounced back well from a quiet game last week, at his best when he turns defensive efforts into immediate attacking plays, and play of the game was him doing just that to set up the Motlop-to-Acres goal.
Owies - what a pest, love it! Limited opportunity, two goals, exactly what we need from him.
Cottrell - quiet, but bobbed up at both ends and undoubtedly played an important role in limiting the ability for guys like Langdon, Hunter and Sparrow to do much damage.
Overall the most pleasing aspect for me was the way we played with our comparative outs. Both sides were missing key forward players, but Melbourne had their full midfield complement while we were short 3 of our top 6 mids. By rights, Melbourne should have won the forward supply battle, and weight of numbers should have carried the game for them. Instead, despite comfortably losing the hitouts, we practically broke even on clearances, shaded them on inside 50s, but managed to grind out the win by maintaining control of the ball for longer periods and sustaining a better pressure game at either end.
Reinforcements on the way. Suns season is over, so we should look for a comprehensive and thoroughly professional win next week - make sure the GWS game is just about jostling for position, not fighting for a final top 8 berth.
Dow - not a dominant game, but the kind of solid contribution we should now expect. Does what he does very well, and while he's not chasing anyone down from behind he's also staying involved across 4 quarters. Seems happy, teammates seem engaged with him...called it a few weeks back but I think he's a better than even chance of staying unless someone offers him big money. Even then...would he take big money to run around at North or West Coast? Might be willing to take unders to stay.
Motlop - classic quiet small forward game. Had put together a really good month, so this was definitely on the cards. No concern from me.
Fogarty - very Owies-like. You know he's got shortcomings, but he has a knack for making really important plays. When Voss talks about close games being won with "moments", I think Fog is a prime example of a player who steps up in those moments. Tackles well, surprisingly hard to tackle, makes good decisions.
Cripps - the game we needed from the Skip with key outs in the middle. Most pleasing, team-high 9 tackles and slotted the goal when his chance came.
De Koning - didn't dominate the ruck, but who's expect him to against Gawn and Grundy. What he did do was keep them honest and limit their ability to impact outside the ruck, and backed it up with some excellent ground level play. Lucky the dropped mark up forward didn't punish us at the end - probably needs to put some preseason work into marking with the hands at full extension, seems to fall back on the chest mark too often and it brings defenders back into the contest.
Acres - broke even with the vaunted Ed Langdon, but stepped up in the contest when we needed him to which was critical to the win.
Hollands - good defensive wing game, and continues to show top shelf vision and execution by foot when he gets the ball in space. Reckon Acres is a perfect playing mentor for him as well.
Docherty - good contribution, just a very balanced player who is finding ways to impact on every line. Sidenote: very pleased to see that we're happy to make a precautionary/tactical sub of a senior leader even in a close game. Mature and sensible call, and shows faith in the other 22 blokes.
Kemp - looking more and more like the backline roll was the right call for him. Could probably play forward too, but I reckon he'll have just as much scoreboard impact with his ability to intercept and then drive transition.
Martin - full buy-in from this guy and it's great to see. Not playing with any fear of injury, and his contest-work up forward means our mids don't need to be busting their arses to get to every ground ball inside 50.
Marchbank - magic fingers, building nicely, but definitely needs to work on his handballing - gives it a bit too much hangtime, and seems to direct the ball to the player instead of the space ahead of them. Love seeing him throwing the body around though, another who doesn't look like he's holding back in the interests of self-preservation.
Weitering - 17 disposals....all kicks. Had a rough patch with his disposal earlier in the year but he's clearly playing with supreme confidence now.
Newman - coming home with a wet sail, pencil him in for the B&F for sure.
Fisher - last week was exceptional, this week is the kind of game I think we'd expect most weeks. Linked up well, did some really smart things, but a few soft/half efforts on ground balls in dispute were frustrating to see.
Pittonet - did a job, but if he's to be a starting ruck moving forward he'd want to do more. Maybe the expectation against Gawn/Grundy was just for him to keep making a physical contest.
Cuningham - almost game, would have been nice if he could have slotted that set shot. Even when he's not impacting directly, I like the threat he presents around the contest - opens up space for teammates.
Hewett - very complete game from George, finding form at the right time and creates some interesting selection questions as others return.
Charlie - competed, which is all we can expect when he's playing a lone hand KPF role. 2 goals is a good return in a low-scoring game.
Ed - came on late, not much impact. He's sub now, but should be squeezed back out as we reintroduce other mids.
Cincotta - solid defensive game, with his trademark physicality on show. Important role player.
Saad - bounced back well from a quiet game last week, at his best when he turns defensive efforts into immediate attacking plays, and play of the game was him doing just that to set up the Motlop-to-Acres goal.
Owies - what a pest, love it! Limited opportunity, two goals, exactly what we need from him.
Cottrell - quiet, but bobbed up at both ends and undoubtedly played an important role in limiting the ability for guys like Langdon, Hunter and Sparrow to do much damage.
Overall the most pleasing aspect for me was the way we played with our comparative outs. Both sides were missing key forward players, but Melbourne had their full midfield complement while we were short 3 of our top 6 mids. By rights, Melbourne should have won the forward supply battle, and weight of numbers should have carried the game for them. Instead, despite comfortably losing the hitouts, we practically broke even on clearances, shaded them on inside 50s, but managed to grind out the win by maintaining control of the ball for longer periods and sustaining a better pressure game at either end.
Reinforcements on the way. Suns season is over, so we should look for a comprehensive and thoroughly professional win next week - make sure the GWS game is just about jostling for position, not fighting for a final top 8 berth.
