Game Day NAB 3, Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood. Etihad Stadium 1:10.

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Thought we did ok today. Fought back well when we were under pressure and really should have won the game but its still pre season so not disastrous.

Players I thought did good today

Hunter
JJ
T Boyd
Daniel
Libba
Wallis
Macrae
Jong

Stringer was there but wasn't his best game
I'm a Jong supporter but thought he was pretty bad today, what did you like about his game today if you don't mind me asking?
 
I'm a Jong supporter but thought he was pretty bad today, what did you like about his game today if you don't mind me asking?

I thought early in the game he was quite in the thick of the play and thought he did ok. Id say as the game progressed he faded somewhat. Didn't see much of Dahl today. How did you rate his game.
 
I thought early in the game he was quite in the thick of the play and thought he did ok. Id say as the game progressed he faded somewhat. Didn't see much of Dahl today. How did you rate his game.
Dahls? Was really good in the first half but didn't notice him much in the second. Which is unusual because he is usually one of our better players when we struggle.
Felt Jong was lost out there today, wasn't sure of his role with all our midfielders back. But as I said I'm a supporter of his, he just has too big a gap between his good and bad at the moment.
 

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T. Boyd was impressive today, that mark he took running back in to the pack was great but he also found shots on goal for himself leading up at the ball carrier which is something we didn't see enough last year. Presented well a few times around the ground and even looked good in the ruck where he was able to halve a number of ruck contests.

Wallis was great. Love how he has added goal kicking to his game in the last 12 months. This has been what has taken his game to the next level. Consistent player and a very neat set shot.

Daniel was outstanding today. His third quarter was brilliant in what was an awful term for us. He kept looking to create and setting up the Wallis snap was a brilliant piece of work.

JJ has stepped his game up again from last season. He could be close to AA this year if he's consistent. Liked Biggs game also. Defensive side has come a long way for both of these guys.

Bont's disposal was a little off today and Adams did a good job competing with Cloke, his first real challenge at AFL level. Took a couple of strong grabs and gave Cloke a big fend off. Not many guys can fend off Cloke. Needs to body spoil a little more in some cases but I think he will make it. Still wouldn't mind seeing him used forward even for experience, he wouldn't be a bad fill in for Crameri.

Players still aren't used to Suckling's kicking penetration and are still running under his passes a little. His boot will be a big asset for us when we adjust. Jong was disappointing and Murphy made uncharecteristic kicking errors. Hunter and Daniel both lower the eyes kicking inside 50 which is great for the team and for the confidence of the big forwards leading up.
 
Dahls? Was really good in the first half but didn't notice him much in the second. Which is unusual because he is usually one of our better players when we struggle.
Felt Jong was lost out there today, wasn't sure of his role with all our midfielders back. But as I said I'm a supporter of his, he just has too big a gap between his good and bad at the moment.

Are you worried about our fitness levels. I think we just need to better protect big leads we get in games. Webb didn't play today but how do you see him going? Mclean was involved a bit in the latter part of the game.
 
very good hit out. Can't say i'm pleased with how soft we got in the second half, but the great thing about the NAB is you don't let it get ya. Don't beat yourselves up guys! A lot of players i thought were pretty passive and not switched on, Stringer the king of that castle.

Loved T Boyd today. Looked less gassed in all of his contests and was a genuine aerial threat up forward. Starting him in the ruck would've eased his nerves from the get go, great initiative.

Daniel has locked himself up a spot for round 1. Nice and complete game from him, even the odd bit of grunt work.

JJ looks set for a cracking year.

Hunter is so well and truly best 22.

Plenty of negatives though, pretty half assed stuff from Stringer and Bont. Doubt we'll see them turn in goes like that in the season proper.

We didn't defend the turnover all too well either. That's the least settled i've seen our backline look with Dale, Bob and Boyd back there together, but is it worth worrying about? Probably not. The last five names i've mentioned are all horses i'll back to the hilt.
 
Are you worried about our fitness levels. I think we just need to better protect big leads we get in games. Webb didn't play today but how do you see him going? Mclean was involved a bit in the latter part of the game.
Fitness is a slight concern but I'll make more of a judgement when the season proper starts. The last quarter was pretty even so not sure what happened in the third. We definitely need to work on our tempo throughout games, and Bev knows this for sure. Webb I see as a big part of our future but we may not see a lot of him this year. Hopefully he gets a good crack in the middle for Footscray. McLean was good, a lot to like.
 
yeah just read above and totally agree, Boyd's work in creating uncontested lead up marks for himself are something i've noticed this pre season. Definite evidence of Gia being his coach
 
If Adams was an 18 year old draftee we would all be absolutely RAPT with his performance in the NAB series. I think we have set expectations a bit too high since he is a bit older and more developed. But he is still going to need to adjust to the pace of AFL footy and he is going to have to overcome his nerves. Those things will come in time. He is going to be an absolute gun after he gets a season of AFL under his belt.

Boyd is actually a very good ruckman and don't mind him being used there. In modern footy you have to have more than one dimension to your game to mix things up.
 
I don't really get this "our expectations are too high on our draftees" stuff.

I've been very impressed with Adams and Collins, but I don't want them in my round 1 team.
Agree with this..... expectations are not too high. Personally i just expect a bloke to not be a liability everytime he touches the footy. At the moment that is adams. Let him mature through the VFL.
 
Just about over the Toyd ruck experiment. He was totally knackered today. Taking the kid out of our forward line and throwing him to the wolves in one on one ruck situations, against experienced rucks, beggars belief to me. He will get injured for sure. Whilst he may have the physical attributes to ruck he is still very raw. Let him focus on his forward craft. Leave him forward.

Give the ruck duties to Minno, BTC, Roughie or Big Red. They can be draughthorses of our squad. Toyd rucking is like Phar Lap pulling the poop cart.
I don't mind him doing it in the forward 50 for boundary throw ins and the odd ball up but I agree I wouldn't have him rucking in the centre or around the ground. Let him concentrate on being a forward and improving his 2nd and 3rd efforts.
 

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I don't really get this "our expectations are too high on our draftees" stuff.

I've been very impressed with Adams and Collins, but I don't want them in my round 1 team.
i've got no problem with this. Roberts and Hamling can both read the game and use the pill, give them the key posts until they love them
 
I don't really get this "our expectations are too high on our draftees" stuff.

I've been very impressed with Adams and Collins, but I don't want them in my round 1 team.
This. Too many people confusing "they're not ready yet" with "they'll suck forever".
 
I don't really get this "our expectations are too high on our draftees" stuff.

I've been very impressed with Adams and Collins, but I don't want them in my round 1 team.
I am not worried about the future of Adams or Collins. I don't think Adams is quite ready to play AFL footy but I think he is close. I think it's either he or Wood playing that role at this stage. I believe Collins has shown he is ready from what I've seen and if he plays alongside Hamling and Morris, Wood, Murphy, Boyd, JJ and Biggs he will improve the defensive unit from where it was at the end of last season. I also believe the coaching staff won't throw either in to the rd. 1 side. I think it's worthy of note though that Roberts was selected to play VFL today whilst Colling was in the seniors, albeit as an unused substitute.
 
Adams is in our Round 1 team for me, because his running and intercept ability is very impressive. He's perfect for our pressing up the ground structure.
You don't really notice it until you're at the game but Adams is very much an athlete in his core power and ability to cover territory.
He'll adjust to the pace of the game and his skills will improve. It's much easier to improve that than improve natural athleticism.
 

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Game Day NAB 3, Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood. Etihad Stadium 1:10.

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