Player Watch Esava Ratugolea

[raptalia]

If Esava wants to improve his game he needs to do two things:

1. head over to the gripo factory, that is, the Sticks Kernahan drill where you get a guy to kick the ball really hard at you at close range to get use to marking a very fast, hard ball with soft hands
2. watch tape of leading forwards and backmen to develop the footy IQ

I'll worry about his goal kicking when he can clunk marks in the right position.

Yep, my thoughts exactly. Esava is frustrating at times as he gets hands to the ball but does not hang on to what he really should swallow. I am with you PB and we will worry about his kicking when he gets his marking sorted.
Esava is Fijian by birth and grew up playing Rugby League and soccer. He has been playing Aussie Rules since he was a teenager. Maybe that late start has something to do with his lacking in the basics?

I was prepared to give Ratugolea a go as a forward when we had Dixon and Marshall out but If we can get Lukosius to go with Georgiades and possibly Marshall I think Esava has to play as a defender where spoiling rather than marking may be the go. The problem with Esava down back is our defence functioned much better when he was not there as Zerk-Thatcher and Aliir both performed better without Esava getting in the road. Hmmm- looks like I building a case for Esava being a depth player.

 

[dirty2]

I reckon.. this trade is a fail.