keogh wrote:
We won and Kennedy was good.I dont want to be a killjoy but we had to win this one because Essendon* had all their stars out and Sheedy didnt want to win the game.Explain the reason why you would keep a kid on Fevola all day when McPhee was ready and keen.Fevola wouldnt of kicked 7 with Fletcher in the team.
The first 3 quarters was the worst football I have seen with both sides butchering the ball.We made heaps of mistakes and its great to win but many have taken the win out of context.We were shit for the first 3 quarters against a sub standard undermanned team who had their 3 most important players out and lead by a coach who thought it was more important to give a kid experience than win the game.Im talking about Joel Reynolds.
If we play up to that standard we will get beaten by the saints because they have a good engine room.
Saddington was ordinary.Redeemed himself with the long bomb goal in the second but squibbed it early in the first to allow Mark Johnson to mark .That was terrible.Thank god we have Thornton and Whitnall down back.Saddington is ordinary when its a one on one situation.We are lucky that Hamill isnt playing.Thornton was terrific. Best game for a long time.
Look its great to win but I could see the same problems out there.No McVeigh,Hird,Lloyd,Fletcher,Rioli we just had to win with a full strength team in.The dons are crap in the ruck and didnt expose us there.Deluca was ordinary .Has no idea at the centre bounces.Jumps too early.McLaren will get monstered by a quality bigman.
And the guys who have been inconsistent for us get another game and hold the young kids back.We have a chance against the Saints but if we play to that standard on Sunday we will get beaten and I would still make some changes for next week.
Fair points and I agree about the poor opposition and the issue of Saddington not contesting and allowing Johnson to mark....
re: Mclaren..I think he is out best bet in the ruck at the moment....his ruckwork is very good and he does actually palm the ball rather than hit it anywhere and even at 196cm I would be prepared to leave him as No 1 ruckman...agree that vs Cox, Everitt etc he will have his problems but I dont see French doing any better....while French may compete better in the hitouts he would be slaughtered by a player like Cox around the ground and what negating role he woiuld provide at ruck contests would be outweighed by his lack of performance around the ground...
I'm really keen to see Batson and Aisake peform at senior level and see if they have any future as specialist ruckman....I think French is a caretaker ruckman at best, Deluca will never be a genuine No 1 ruckman and Bryan remains a mystery....