Got run over in the end but pretty stoked how we went rolling with 11 first years. I'll feel a bit better having a couple in the side when we go through injury patches.
Positives:
-Jack's back. Running good, took a great mark in the first quarter and played team footy up around half forward. Great hands.
-Derickx's body. Turned the ball over a bit but saw him several times muscle his opponent completely out of the ruck contest. Ripper kick for goal.
-Ellis. Clean, fast, smart. Got a player here folks
-Elton's guts. After Nob 1 he's still busting into over head contests. The attempt when Derickx got the free and a goal was a ripper. Good kick for goal too.
-Mini Maric. Speed, monster kick and clean.
-Miller. Really mobile and a very, very valuable 3rd tall up forward.
-Morris' aggression. Really needs to work on that disposal, but he is quick and doesn't care about smashing into people and puts his body on the line. Some good run downs and tackles too.
I also thought Connors didn't do too shabby for a first game in so long. Killer tackle on Spurr in the last quarter. Our spoiling was pretty good and defensive pressure is certainly an improvement on last year. Big Maric is a very welcome addition. Like everyone, did a few silly things, but actually takes over head marks and puts the heat on the opposition. Thought his clean take and bomb from the ruck in the second quarter was cool. Edwards is a massive improvement on last year. I also liked how we put together a few good linking plays involving nothing but first years and rookies in the final quarter. They'll slip in seamlessly with the main team should they find themselves in the side during the season.
Negatives:
-Dea. Not sure what the wrap on him from the coaches is. I've found my whipping boy for the year. Can't read the play, can't stop an opponent and can't dispose reliably.
-Webberly. The want looks like it is there. But if it doesn't work, it just doesn't work. Seemed like things went his way in Nob 1, but turned over the footy at way too many crucial points tonight.
-When the heat is on it looks like some of our plans fall apart. I'll excuse this on the all the snot noses on the field, but sometimes when we had possession behind a mark and trying to move into our forward half we were rushing it instead of letting numbers get in front. Other times it wasn't clear if we were meant to be going through the middle or long and wide, seemed like local footy just kicking to contests or anyone with 2m on their opponent.
I'll leave it at that for now. I don't want the negatives to outweigh the positives
