Crows in the SANFL Round 11

[Pietmans]

I was also impressed with Davis and the amount of time he always seems to have. Disposal is good and he found space easily. With another 7-8 kilos of muscle he could be just the KPP we are looking for.

Dare I say Martin looked alright as well. He had quite a number of possessions and whilst he turned a couple over quite badly I didn't think his disposal was that bad - certainly well up on his pre-season games with the Crows.

And just a mention for Rory Sloane. He certainly didn't have buckets of possession, spent a bit of time on the bench but boy did he impress me with his in close work - those reflex handballs under pressure were just fantastic. (Probably a number of them would have been too quick for the stats man I'm guessing too.)

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

I was also impressed with Davis and the amount of time he always seems to have. Disposal is good and he found space easily. With another 7-8 kilos of muscle he could be just the KPP we are looking for.

Dare I say Martin looked alright as well. He had quite a number of possessions and whilst he turned a couple over quite badly I didn't think his disposal was that bad - certainly well up on his pre-season games with the Crows.

And just a mention for Rory Sloane. He certainly didn't have buckets of possession, spent a bit of time on the bench but boy did he impress me with his in close work - those reflex handballs under pressure were just fantastic. (Probably a number of them would have been too quick for the stats man I'm guessing too.)

I was suprised with how quick Sloane is. For some reason I was under the impressioe he was a bit of a plodder.

We really do have some good young talls at the moment when you consider Rutten and Bock are both only 26.

 

[Pietmans]

We really do have some good young talls at the moment when you consider Rutten and Bock are both only 26.

This is the best position I think we've ever been in.

Should Sellar develop into an AFL player, or one of Will Young, Tom Lee, Ricky Henderson or Brian Donnelly (and we hold on to Tippett) we will surely be in a wonderful position. Once you have the talls, it is much easier to top up the list with midfielders IMO.

 

[Crowman32]

Will Young - best player for nwd reserves
Aaron Kite- 6th best, 4 goals for nwd reserves
Brian Donnelly - 3 goals for Glenelg reserves

According to sanfl website

 

[Jars458]

Thought Davis was good also and used the ball very well, other than one ocasion where he missed the target, followed up but missed the tackle as well. Hard to really judge in a game where Sturt werer disgraceful for 3 quarters.

Sloane looks to me to have the goods. He is a clearance and quick hanball specialist. Seems to know what the right option is and to have the time to not necessarily go with the first option out of a pack but find the right one. Looks like a quicker version of Scott West to me if I had to compare him to anyone.

Martin was obviously not in the play much but got a bit of it in the last quarter but sprayed it a bit. Jury still out there.

Gill was also good as he is at SANFL but did do a chicken win tackle and the STurt guy went of on a stretcher. Should be ok at the tribunal though.

North were terrific though. Former Crow Archard was brilliant as were Allen and White

 

[Drummond]

Will Young - best player for nwd reserves
Aaron Kite- 6th best, 4 goals for nwd reserves
Brian Donnelly - 3 goals for Glenelg reserves

According to sanfl website

Young is a superstar.

Young and Kite both stayed for the league game and went out to the ground at the breaks. I'd expect both to come in next week.

As for the league game, Myke Cook was inconsistent. Some very, very good things and some shocking mistakes. IMO turned the momentum of the game in the third quarter when he won a holding the ball decision in Norwood's attacking 50. He then kicked across goal with a shocking, floating kick and it resulted in a goal to Norwood. He would've had about 20 possessions and as usual displayed some genuine promise and then at other times showed how raw he is. A lot to work with but a long way to go. For three quarters I thought he was one of South's best.

McKernan was a bit quiet. Rucked for most of the day and dropped back into defence. Took a couple of marks standing by himself in the defensive fifty. Took one extremely good pack mark in the last quarter when he showed his amazing reach. Not his most influential performance but he wasn't shocking either.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Davis at #10 was a good choice. Anyone think he'll play this year?

 

[James23]

Wouldnt be surprised to see him play a game or 2 like Otten did last year, to give him a taste of what is needed and expected over preseason

 

[macca23]

I'm happy to add my name to those who think we've got a really good'un in Davis.

I can think of only one contest man on man that his opponent beat him, while the rest of the time he either won out or spoiled the opposition effectively.

He's very cool and calm about his footy, and like all good players he has time. He has the balance, movement, mobility and disposal of a mid-fielder and is a genuine team player, using a lot of handball to good effect.

One unusual aspect of his play is that although he is right-footed his standard handball is left-handed, only handballing right-handed when forced too.

I think it was John Reid who said that this lad could play anywhere on the ground including mid-field and after watching him today I have no doubt that he could.

Like others, I can see him taking Otten's BP next year releasing Otten into the mid-field.

Long term he might end up anywhere on the ground depending on what Tippett decides to do.

Sloane showed some good signs without starring, as he didn't get a huge amount of time on the ground. He lacks nothing in courage, has good pace and good disposal.

I'll be amazed if long term he doesn't play AFL.

I'm not sure about Martin. He has a lot of pace and is a genuine goer but his disposal is very mixed. I'm not sure what he would add to our side apart from pace, as the players he would be trying to displace are genuinely better than him. While he might be delisted at year end, he's definitely not a dud.

 

[Drummond]

I'm happy to add my name to those who think we've got a really good'un in Davis.

I can think of only one contest man on man that his opponent beat him, while the rest of the time he either won out or spoiled the opposition effectively.

He's very cool and calm about his footy, and like all good players he has time. He has the balance, movement, mobility and disposal of a mid-fielder and is a genuine team player, using a lot of handball to good effect.

One unusual aspect of his play is that although he is right-footed his standard handball is left-handed, only handballing right-handed when forced too.

I think it was John Reid who said that this lad could play anywhere on the ground including mid-field and after watching him today I have no doubt that he could.

Like others, I can see him taking Otten's BP next year releasing Otten into the mid-field.

Long term he might end up anywhere on the ground depending on what Tippett decides to do.

macca, you are a mind reader!

I'm watching the game right now and I couldn't help but noticing that he handballs left-handed, very unusual!

I absolutely love the look of him as a player. So poised, always has time, very balanced, pretty much everything you just mentioned. The only thing I question is his pace, but when you read the play as well as he does and have so much time it becomes less of an issue. He is like a smoother, taller version of Andy Otten. I'd love to see him move forward to see whether he's got the capabilities of playing there.

I honestly would’ve been happy if he played a handful of league games this year and yet here he is playing a key defensive post in one of the best teams in the league. He is 18 and yet is comfortably holding his own at league level and getting better with every passing week. I think we've got a gem.

 

[jackster83]

McKernan was named 4th best for South on the SANFL website, so sounds like he did ok.

Pity about Armstrong and this swine flu. FFS I am sick of this hysteria about something that is no bloody worse than the regular flu.

Gill wasn't too bad today, he seemed to play a floating role helping out in defence and occasionally running forward. His hands were good and his kicking wasn't too shabby either. I'm not too sure that the AFC want to see him running around in defence though as we have 2 perfectly good, AA quality tall defenders playing there already.

Sloane didn't get big numbers but I thought he showed some encouraging signs considering he's only played a handful of SANFL games. He looks most at home as an inside mid, and does a handy job as a tagger.

Davis was excellent at half back today, racking up 20 disposals. He appears to have excellent footy smarts and he uses the ball very well, particularly by hand. The only thing I didn't like about his game was the way he laid on the ground for ages after getting that hit from Chambers. In those situations, you've gotta get up straight away to say to the opposition "that didn't hurt." I wouldn't mind him having a crack in the forward line at some stage, but with Schwarze, Alleway and White up there, him and Gill don't look like getting a shot up there any time soon.

 

[cmndstab]

The thing I'm loving the most about what I'm seeing of Davis so far is that usually with our top draft picks we see some flashes of brilliance and we wonder if they'll be able to put it all together or not. With Davis it's more that he just seems consistently good, and is 195cm in addition. He looks like the kind of guy that could step in and play AFL now and wouldn't be overawed by it. Just seems to take everything in his stride.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I'm not sure about Martin. He has a lot of pace and is a genuine goer but his disposal is very mixed. I'm not sure what he would add to our side apart from pace, as the players he would be trying to displace are genuinely better than him. While he might be delisted at year end, he's definitely not a dud.

my thoughts on Martin is that I can't differentiate between him and Gallagher.......both got a lot of the ball, both not all that damaging, and definately both not duds.

But in todays AFL all coaches look for mis-matches and I am afraid if your small you have to be so much better otherwise the opposition expose you.

traditionally all Adelaide midfielders have been good overhead marks ......Douglas and Mackay are both good overhead ......not sure Martin can say the same???

 

[WaynesWorld19]

The thing I'm loving the most about what I'm seeing of Davis so far is that usually with our top draft picks we see some flashes of brilliance and we wonder if they'll be able to put it all together or not. With Davis it's more that he just seems consistently good, and is 195cm in addition. He looks like the kind of guy that could step in and play AFL now and wouldn't be overawed by it. Just seems to take everything in his stride.

As we have said with Sellar it's very rare that KPP do much before theyre 22 ........Davis lookes good at 18 in his first SANFL season .....aka Walker

I agree he has a huge upside and provides us with great KPP flexibility

Also agree that the Otten/ Davis swap is very possible .......but would be surprised if we see Davis in Crows colours this year .......his build needs another PS IMO

 

[Riggy1]

Gill wasn't too bad today, he seemed to play a floating role helping out in defence and occasionally running forward.

I agree with the rest but being at the game I noticed this was wrong. Gill had a man in defence all game but when he ran forward the man dropped off, I noticed that in both instances Gill went up forward and took a mark and had a set shot his man would drop off and stay at there CHB. In the first half both Sturt and North had a man behind the ball, and for North it was Davis, while in the second half it was man on man all around the field.

I absolutely love the look of him as a player. So poised, always has time, very balanced, pretty much everything you just mentioned. The only thing I question is his pace, but when you read the play as well as he does and have so much time it becomes less of an issue. He is like a smoother, taller version of Andy Otten. I'd love to see him move forward to see whether he's got the capabilities of playing there.

Here, I agree with everything else. but comparisons to Otten, fair enough, but to me, he reminds me almost exactly of Rutten. He is almost impossible to beat in 1-on-1 contests, with his only weakness being on the lead. But Davis has improved on this facet of his game over the last month or two.

I remember early in the year against Centrals and Port, he would regularly get beaten on the lead. But since then, other players have struggled to break away from Phil.

 

[cmndstab]

One thing confuses me with Davis. Every indication before we drafted him was that he was a brilliant kick. I went and watched him at training a bunch of times and his kicking looked awesome. I've now watched him in some SANFL games and every time he kicks the ball it seems to go to the advantage of a teammate.

Yet every now and then we hear some small hint that the club is trying to work on his kicking. He mentioned recently that his mentor is working on his kicking. I remember when an assistant coach was rating the list and basically gave every single player a good comment but with Davis he said he needed work on his kicking.

Am I just not seeing something? It seems to me that he kicks beautifully.

 

[Riggy1]

One thing confuses me with Davis. Every indication before we drafted him was that he was a brilliant kick. I went and watched him at training a bunch of times and his kicking looked awesome. I've now watched him in some SANFL games and every time he kicks the ball it seems to go to the advantage of a teammate.

Yet every now and then we hear some small hint that the club is trying to work on his kicking. He mentioned recently that his mentor is working on his kicking. I remember when an assistant coach was rating the list and basically gave every single player a good comment but with Davis he said he needed work on his kicking.

Am I just not seeing something? It seems to me that he kicks beautifully.

But his left foot kicks are terrible. Maybe that is what is being worked on. Early in the year, I remember a game where him and Armstrong had 5 left foot kicks comming out of defence. IIRC all 5 were clangers.

 

[cmndstab]

But his left foot kicks are terrible. Maybe that is what is being worked on. Early in the year, I remember a game where him and Armstrong had 5 left foot kicks comming out of defence. IIRC all 5 were clangers.

Ahh, maybe that's it. I guess it's a real big disadvantage in the AFL if you're a one-sided player (Knights' goalscoring spree notwithstanding ), hopefully he can get that together.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Also probably consistency. His technique seems fine but sometimes he can come up with the odd floater. However it's more execution than technique and should be fixed in no time. He's a beautiful kick generally, most of the time.

 

[SpiderHibs]

sooo dare I ask...... did Sellar string two good games together?

I saw him play yesterday. I thought he had a quiet game but didn't really do anything wrong. Was moved around the ground a fair bit playing forward, back and in ruck. Ball wasn't played much in his direction and goals tended to be kicked from further out due to the windy conditions. I was impressed by his second efforts in the ruck. There was a few times he went in hard on the ground and won the ball for teammates.

 

[RoosterLad]

What a fantastic performance by North yesterday. Absolutely smashed an insipid Sturt team who were supposed to be the top side. We kept them goalless for 3 of the 4 quarters.

Davis was brilliant, he looks more and more like a League footballer each week. Needs a pre-season before he plays for the Crows but will get the chance to test himself in Finals footy this year for sure.

Gill had his best game of the year. Kicked our first with a great grab in the goal square, not bad considering he started in defence. Made a terrible error just before half time when he was caught holding the ball dead in front and it looked like he would gift Sturt their first goal of the contest but Chambers missed. Haha oh how we all laughed at the Taj. He then tackled Gill to the ground because Chambers is a twat.

I don't recall Sloane getting much of the footy but I loved his attack on the ball. It is great from a young kid and he has a big future ahead of him.

 

[-CG-]

I was reading in the Sunday Mail this morning that Young was apparently best for Norwood reserves and Kite also squeezed into the best.

 

[jo172]

I'm watching the game right now and I couldn't help but noticing that he handballs left-handed, very unusual!

I as a considerably less able footballer do that too. For me it came from when I was a young kid of 3 or 4 first trying to play with large footballs my weak left hand was unable to hold the ball to handball, whereas my dominant right hand was, and it just developed to the extent that my left hand is my natural handball instinct. Does give you a fraction of a second of surprise over blokes trying to stop you which should be an asset for Davis.

My thoughts on the Roosters game were that Davis could play AFL now and do a job, loved his mark in front of Chambers, takes balls to stand in front of him. Will be a very good footballer.

Sloane needs to find more of the footy, but when he does find the footy he's brilliant with it. Had some great handballs out of tight spots.

Martin is looking more a likely type each time I see him. I think his assets mean he'll make it as an AFL player, however, I think like a Skipworth say, he'll have to do it somewhere else just due to the amount of other young midfielders pushing for a place.

Gill, better than last week, still with this weeks form of Davis and Mckernan, and Sellar last week I just see him getting pushed further down the queue.

 

[-CG-]

I as a considerably less able footballer do that too. For me it came from when I was a young kid of 3 or 4 first trying to play with large footballs my weak left hand was unable to hold the ball to handball, whereas my dominant right hand was, and it just developed to the extent that my left hand is my natural handball instinct. Does give you a fraction of a second of surprise over blokes trying to stop you which should be an asset for Davis.

Ricciuto also handballs with his opposite hand

 

[jo172]

Also good to note that Donnelly playing with a broken toe kicked three goals for the Bays reserves (the same as Duldig who is a bloody competent SANFL footballer).

For a bloke who is clearly learning how to play the game to have this seemingly natural knack for scoring goals is very impressive

Out of curisosity Drumm did Shirley/McKernan do anything of note? McKernan's stats seemed impressive in the Mail.