Electric youngster Noah Cumberland was recalled to the extended squad for the clash with GWS after the coaches saw a “spike” in the deficiencies that earnt him a rebuke from Hardwick before his departure.
After breaking into the team in round 10, Cumberland kicked six goals in a three-game stretch from rounds 11-13 but struggled for the next two games and was dropped back to the VFL.
Hardwick put Cumberland in the gun and said he had to realise “how hard he has to work in the game of AFL footy”.
Cumberland went back and booted four goals in a best-on-ground performance and McQualter said the coaching staff were happy he’d worked on the defensive elements as asked.
“We did see a spike in that part of his game,” he said.
“We know his ability to win the contest and to score, but he‘s just looking to improve as a young kid still in terms of footy in the amount that he’s played.
“So we have seen a spike from him and we’ll look to keep improving that for the rest of the year.”
Source: Foxsports.
