Player Watch #30: Reece Conca

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Don't rate him but didn't vote because at the moment it's hard to say. He isn't playing at the moment. It's just annoying that he isn't particularly good physically or skills wise. He's like a poor mans Marc Murphy....and both are too small to play their respective position now days. The diving on the ball and contact below the knees rules have shot these guys. It's all about standing up and holding your ground, which is why these 190cm beasts like Kennedy, Watson, Mundy....(Macintosh?? ;)) are becoming more influential in the game at the moment.
 
Things I like about Conca;
  • His attack on the footy - A few people have mentioned his tackled which can be measured with a stat but one thing that doesn't get mentioned is how hard he goes in, one thing I can never knock about him is how hard gets into the contest.
  • His ability to keep his feet in a contest - Clearly evident in his draft year was how 'poised' he was by not going to ground and being able to move laterally in a contest to avoid being tackled.
  • Cuddles- Nuff said.

Things I dislike about Conca;
  • Disposal - This is what frustrates me the most about him, I actually think he is a lovely kick! You see him hit some bullets but then he just lets you down with some absolute howlers. I don't know if its a 'confidence' thing with him but it can be frustrating at times.
  • Heppel - Wouldn't be a Conca thread without mentioning Heppel.
  • Fitness - Obviously injuries have hurt him but it's clearly fitness has been an issue for him. I'd love to see a fit (injury free and improved endurance) on the field, his ability to apply that defensive pressure all over the ground and win the ball back would earn him a spot in the 22.

So.. in saying that.. A FIT and HEALTHY Conca should be in our 22.
 
Morro said:
I know you are not basing your opinion off that one incident, but if you have watched him enough when fit you would see how hard he works defensively.

Some players will never have an Adonis physique, that doesn't mean they don't work hard.

Interestingly, many other posters see his defensive attributes the same as I do, might be worth another look TRIB.

Ps. Just saw Docs post above, re-inforces my opinion and actually surprises me alot.
Click to expand...
My opinion includes pre being drafted Morro as well as during his AFL career .
I suggest you take a good look and see how many times his direct opponent gets the footy, especially at clearances .
There is more to defence in football than tackling stats .
I form my own opinion if your opinion is the only which is permitted on here feel free to let me know .
 
Our best defensive mid and has been stated by our coaching staff.

Is in our best 22, a strong tackler and our best,with lids, at shielding and blocking around packs for Cotchin.

His disposal is usually pretty good. his career effiency is 74% which is pretty good. I think it's s bit of Shane Edwards from a few years ago syndrome that people pay real attention to the bad disposal but gloss over a lot of the good.

He is a much better handballer then Ellis who is really poor in that area and at least as good a kick as Vlastuin.
 

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I do expect more from him but also think his game style takes longer to develop. In a way if you look at someone like Jobe Watson who took years before he reached his peak because he was predominantly inside, I think Conca may be the same. As our team gets better and he gets older he will either get better or get delisted. I'm backing him to have a big year once he's back on the park.

These 9 days breaks are too long.
 
Im sitting on my comfy and well used fence with Conca.
I think if Conca can get himself injury free and have a consistent run of games he can be best 22, he needs to keep improving though.
Theres plenty of spots he could take if their form drops, Grimes/Batch/Gordo/Lloyd/Grigg/Hunt/Morris, its all up to him.
With McIntosh staring and Lennon and Ellis waiting in the wings we are getting ourselves into a good position depth wise, and the standard required to break into our midfield is rising.
 
Still hurts seeing Heppell developing into one of the premium midfielders in the competition while Conca produces average games. It's frustrating to see that Vlastuin is already better than him. Conca is still best 22 but we have around 20 players that you'd choose before him which isn't exactly what people want to see from a #6 and the 'he's young and had injuries so he needs time' statement usually applies to key position players at his age not midfielders who can always develop off a back flank (Vlastuin) or forward flank (Martin) if they don't have the tanks just yet. Right now he offers more on the trade table than he does on field....
 
I remember two years ago going to a Friday night game versus the Saints. I think it was Round 2. We were favoured to win, but the Saints still had some veterans and good players so it was going to be a contest. And it was, we played relatively poorly and kept right in touch with us until the final siren. I think Jack kicked 6 that night.

Anyway, I remember saying it at the game, and watching it that night that Conca was our best player - certainly our best midfield player - and by a significant margin. He won the hard ball, worked hard defensively (two game saving defensive acts in the last quarter) and used the ball extremely well - finishing with a tight kick from a tight ankle that went in between two St Kilda players and hit Maric (Ivan) on the chest (Maric converted and put the game out of the Saints' reach).

It was from that game on that I was always a stout Conca supporter. He doesn't necessarily get the plaundits he deserves - especially defensively. He is also key to our ability to make a push into the top 4 this season. It will be the improvement of him, Vlastuin and Lennon which we require to make that push. His best is certainly good enough. His worst also isn't that bad. Consistency in my mind is his real issue. And that could be put down to playing multiple positions, roles and injuries that have occurred from his first season.

Correct me if I am wrong but this was the most complete pre-season he has ever had. And he still got injured (some may argue this is a concern in of itself - which may be a reasonable statement). AFL isn't like 5 years ago where doing 75% of pre-season was sufficient. You have to close to 100% to have the base level fitness and readiness to compete at a high level.

Long story short, I thought he was pretty good against the Roos in NAB 3 this year playing as a defensive role in the back line and rotating through the midfield. If Conca was fit for the Blues, I would suspect he would have lined up instead of Newman.

Answer: Yes.
 

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Player Watch #30: Reece Conca

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