Jesse Smith returns for North Ballarat Roosters

[Chappas]

So how did 'pencil legs' Smith go?

 

[deadlyroos]

2008 VFL Seniors
North Ballarat 4.4 6.9 10.12 12.14 (86)
Sandringham 0.1 3.3 7.6 10.10 (70)

GOALS:
North Ballarat: Driscoll 4 Wundke 2 Greig Searl Chester Lower Grima Goodes
Sandringham: Newton 4 Maric 3 Martyn 2 Carroll

BEST:
North Ballarat: Sansbury Sharkey Grima Sewell Driscoll Greig
Sandringham: Crowe Biddlecombe Williams Liddell Frawley McConnell

 

[jschwag]

Watched the ressies. Cruize had a much better game and looked a cut above for the most part. I also caught up with Cruize after the senior match and he was buoyant and very hopeful that he had done enough for the seniors against Collingwood at Princes Park next Sunday!

Grima was terrific again around the clearances. Got called done in a tackle a couple of times, but that's because he was willing to take on opponents and had some real classy clearances!

Lower's goal came from a free and a fifty, and wound up coming after the final siren. He did have a pretty good game, though. Some good tackling.

Swallow was very active and played a good game. Work rate was terrific.

Sansbury was given BOG. I'm not sure why, but he did have a good work rate and a high possession count. He also turned the ball over and dropped a number of marks. He could and should have been dominanat. I thought he blew an opportunity!

Josh Smith worked hard and did the things you don't get stats for. Got the ball to ground when outnumbered, resulting in goals to team mates. He tackled well and spelled in the ruck. Certainly not a great game, but much improved without a lot of stats for the effort.

Wundke kicked two first half goals and had a poster later on. He played well and is always a good kick!

Jesse Smith played like he hasn't played much. Wasn't always in best position and sometimes just outside of contests. He did some exciting Jesse Smith things. Like breaking through three tackles and driving the ball forward, taking players on and watching them slip down as he went by. He played his way into the game. His fourth quarter was definitely his best. Best of all, he walked away with no damage or backward steps!

Sandringham looked like they were going to over-run NB. They dominated large patches of the second half. The last five minutes, North Ballarat finally steadied and held them off. Not a vintage NB win, but it gets the points!

Grima and Lower definitely had shorter stints on the bench when they came off today. Just an observation. Looks like Blake did enough to earn a flight to Adelaide. Lower and Swallow will be in the mix as well, I would think. Not sure if Jesse is expected to play more VFL or not before joining the senior side.

 

[The Zebra]

Jesse Smith played like he hasn't played much. Wasn't always in best position and sometimes just outside of contests. He did some exciting Jesse Smith things. Like breaking through three tackles and driving the ball forward, taking players on and watching them slip down as he went by. He played his way into the game. His fourth quarter was definitely his best. Best of all, he walked away with no damage or backward steps!

Sounds good. A half to shake the cobwebs off and then slipping into Jesse mode by the last quarter.

One of the few guys who could play on such limited preparation, but would be worth leaving him home for Port and bringing him back for the big Collingwood match the following week I reckon.

Great to hear Grima and Swallow continued on with their form of last week. Not so excited about Eddie throwing his hat in the ring.

 

[GoNorth]

Thanks for the report, jschwag! Much appreciated!

 

[HeLMie]

In: Grima
Out: Power

 

[Event Horizon]

In: Grima
Out: Power

I'd be surprised if that's the only change...

 

[NICK_ROOBOY83]

Jesse Smith played like he hasn't played much. Wasn't always in best position and sometimes just outside of contests. He did some exciting Jesse Smith things. Like breaking through three tackles and driving the ball forward, taking players on and watching them slip down as he went by. He played his way into the game. His fourth quarter was definitely his best. Best of all, he walked away with no damage or backward steps!

Thats good to see. Hope he he has a blinder next week & we see him in for the Pies game. Friday night, on the big stage.

 

[Urkel]

Leave Jesse in Melbourne and make sure he is 100% right for the finals run.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

Jesse won't travel to Adelaide.

Was very rusty in his game on the weekend.

He says his hammy held up very well.

 

[Mr Reliable]

Thanks for the report, jschwag! Much appreciated!

Ditto

 

[NICK_ROOBOY83]

Jesse won't travel to Adelaide.

Was very rusty in his game on the weekend.

He says his hammy held up very well.

Good to hear. Does he reckon his a chance for the Pies next week?

 

[The Filth Wizard]

Good to hear. Does he reckon his a chance for the Pies next week?

I would say that with another VFL game unscathed, he is a walk-up start.

 

[jschwag]

I would say that with another VFL game unscathed, he is a walk-up start.

I agree with Filth! Jesse looks like he could use another game. If he gets through it, he's a definite starter. On the other hand, if you saw him bust through three would be tacklers (simultaneously), you would want him back straight away! Definitely showed the signs of rust, though!

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

I hope that "General Soreness" doesn't get the better of him again.

Yeah, General Soreness is proving to be the equivalent for Jesse of General Winter was for the German boys at Stalingrad.