Alex Neal-Bullen - AFL top 10 in distance covered in game

[Earl Hood 5,789]

1 minute ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Would much rather a player who would run half that amount but actually have an impact both with the ball in hand and when it’s in their area.

Posters believe he is playing his ‘role’ because he’s in the team. He might be playing, but he’s not performing at all. It’s no use winning the ball and then doing nothing with it.

He, like Harmes and Melksham (and some others), has started the season in a very underwhelming way.

Interesting isn’t it that after last year’s agonising miss of the finals, we were led to believe that the list was burning with desire to make amends this season. Well four games in they may be burning with desire but who is in form? Yes we have some important players injured but it seems nearly everyone is off their best form! 

It is easier to say who is in form, Max, Jones, Oliver, OMac. The rest seem to have dropped a cog or two. As someone pointed out we had 3 players in the AA squad last year in the back half but now we have Hibberd battling, Lever and Jetta struggling and Hunt at Casey. As is Pedo and the small forwards are all struggling. Why is this so, changes in coaches and game plan or just one of those things that afflict us but not top clubs, e.g. Hawthorn? 

[DeeSpencer 23,189]

His skill level was never great last year but he had his hits with his misses and that made him a good player overall. Needs to pick it up this year but I think this thread is fair to say good on him for running his backside off. 

The Hawks aren't just masters of pressure, skills and team work, they run hard through the midfield as well.

If the rest of the midfield could run 17km in a game including some hard and smart defensive running our backline surely wouldn't be under so much strain.

[DeeSpencer 23,189]

6 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

Interesting isn’t it that after last year’s agonising miss of the finals, we were led to believe that the list was burning with desire to make amends this season. Well four games in they may be burning with desire but who is in form? Yes we have some important players injured but it seems nearly everyone is off their best form! 

It is easier to say who is in form, Max, Jones, Oliver, OMac. The rest seem to have dropped a cog or two. As someone pointed out we had 3 players in the AA squad last year in the back half but now we have Hibberd battling, Lever and Jetta struggling and Hunt at Casey. As is Pedo and the small forwards are all struggling. Why is this so, changes in coaches and game plan or just one of those things that afflict us but not top clubs, e.g. Hawthorn? 

The backline are very much under the pump but Wagner and Vince are probably doing as well as can be expected given the stage of their careers and talents.Hopefully the midfield can pick up their defensive work rate and Hibberd, Jetta, Lever and Hunt can find form. Second half v Geelong, long periods v Brisbane and the majority of the North game our backline was rarely troubled. If we find the right match ups and the right pressure up the field they can look good but when it's bad it's awful.

Petracca is in and out of games both mid and forward, but I wouldn't say he's not playing well (outside of Sunday). Salem is building pretty well in the midfield. Combined with Max, Jones and Oliver it's a start of a decent midfield but there's not the same talent on the outside. Tyson played ok but the wing doesn't seem right for him. Harmes and Gus aren't really suited on the wing. It's a mess.

Hogan is in form as a forward. Kent seems to be back in much better form than he showed last year. Melksham was never reliable at Essendon and is a big disappointment right now. Fritsch is new. Bugg and Garlett would combine for a great footballer but otherwise they are what they are. Bugg is full of effort but no skills or smarts, Garlett has the talent but is afraid of contact.

We might just struggle all year finding a reliable 2nd key defender, hard running wings and trustworthy small forwards.

[Adzman 2,085]

Would love to see him with some more challenging tagging assignments. With that sort of distance covered he would be able to run with just about anyone in the comp. Free Vince and Jones up to be accumulators.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,219]

1 hour ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Would much rather a player who would run half that amount but actually have an impact both with the ball in hand and when it’s in their area.

Posters believe he is playing his ‘role’ because he’s in the team. He might be playing, but he’s not performing at all. It’s no use winning the ball and then doing nothing with it.

He, like Harmes and Melksham (and some others), has started the season in a very underwhelming way.

How much time does an individual player spend with the ball in his hands and how often running to spread, pressure or get to the next contest. Granted he needs to clean up his use but a player than can cover that type ground can be massive structurally.  Particularly in a team like ours where many of our players can cover no more than the standard ground of an average midfielder. 

There is a very large gap between the potential and impact of ANB compared to Harmes and Melksham. No chance he will be dropped. Will be very surprised if the other two and Bugg survive for Anzac eve.

[McQueen 17,864]

The most disappointing player on the field.

Just not a good player.

If he’s not dropped I’ll be amazed and extremely [censored] off.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,177]

Have been a big wrap for ANB but he has been diabolical this year and a liability tonight.  Very disappointing as he was someone we needed to step up this year... huge step backwards.

[Stretch Johnson 2,581]

Has shown signs in the past but has gone nowhere this year. 

Unfortunately not on his own though.

[Elegt 872]

how do players get drafted with such poor disposal?! what do they teach them in u18s? how is he getting paid a full time wage and [censored] himself every ime the ball comes near him? you know your club is [censored] when you can't tell who is the worst out of the worst 

[Mazer Rackham 14,969]

Just now, Elegt said:

how do players get drafted with such poor disposal?! what do they teach them in u18s?

The amazing thing is, there are players on every club with no left foot. (Or "wrong" foot.)

Tonight, many times players (both teams) had a clear kick with their wrong foot but chose to bang it on the preferred boot because that was their least worst option.

These are the best players in the land. They can't kick the ball.

[deeko 937]

If the G didn’t have a fence he’d be running in the car park as he looked terrified tonight when he was near it.

The fence is all that keeps him close to the action.

Both Stretch and him were absolutely awful

 

[leucopogon 1,468]

Add Harmes to that list, and Tyson, the two tortoises.

[FarNorthernD 5,848]

I was saying to a mate tonight that ANB is an almost player - he almost takes the mark, almost almost handles the ball cleanly and almost nails a pass. And then ANB did the bizarre out on the full in our forward line with the outside of his boot and my mate said that he almost kicked the correct side of the ball. 

Can’t fault his endeavour but just another player that has gone backwards this year and needs to find form at Casey.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

He is playing as a HFF, but does not have the composure and class to execute like we need someone to do in that role.

[MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday 499]

I reckon I could run a quarter of the 17.1kms and get more kicks. This guy is horribly out of form.

[deespicable me 1,435]

Can only ever be a role player at best and he doesn't seem to know what he's meant to be doing, so just stuffs it up instead.

This is a bit of a coaching issue coz Richmond are a team full of role players and they know their role and how to play it within their abilities. All our NQR players in ANB, Harmes,Tyson and Stretch to name a few don't know what to do out there and played terribly. Every time they touched the ball it ended in a Richmond goal. At least we now know. But boy we need to find some form soon or the whole thing might just unravel. It's almost back to the drawing board.

[DeeSpencer 23,189]

9 minutes ago, deespicable me said:

Can only ever be a role player at best and he doesn't seem to know what he's meant to be doing, so just stuffs it up instead.

This is a bit of a coaching issue coz Richmond are a team full of role players and they know their role and how to play it within their abilities. All our NQR players in ANB, Harmes,Tyson and Stretch to name a few don't know what to do out there and played terribly. Every time they touched the ball it ended in a Richmond goal. At least we now know. But boy we need to find some form soon or the whole thing might just unravel. It's almost back to the drawing board.

McIntosh and Grigg run the wings for the Tigers and are high quality ball butchers. Kane Lambert plays the high half forward/midfield role and for his first couple of seasons he would spud it up as well. Castagna is a defender playing forward who can't kick for goal and makes dumb choices around the ground. Townsend is a cheat and a scrubber, nice shot for goal but holds his man all the time and otherwise does nothing but cheap shot tackles.

They are strong over the ball and they are good athletes - quick, fit and strong. But otherwise they aren't exactly skilled. 

Stretch, Tyson, ANB, Harmes and Melksham filled those roles for us. Stretch, ANB and Harmes were particularly disappointing, whilst Tyson had good and bad.

ANB and Stretch covered the most ground for us. Stretch, ANB then Harmes did the most high speed running. Harmes had our most tackles. As role players they did a lot of what they were supposed to do. I wish they were better but maybe the gap between us and the Tigers isn't that there role players are better but at the other end. Role players always look better in winning sides. Consider the top end talent:

Petracca is no Dusty.
Salem can't seem to keep his impact up for a full game and even he found the Tigers pressure hot after 1/4 time
Oliver can't get anything fluent with Gawn and can't find a target from his kicks
Hogan made some bad decisions by hand and foot and missed goals
Garlett was a steaming pile of trash on a night when Higgins kicks 3 at the other end.

[DeeSpencer 23,189]

ANB needs to just go back to winning the ball and not worry so much about what comes next. His worst mistakes have been attempted kick off the grounds and not the same clean hands (and clean tackling) as last year. He has a side step and a funny little kick that works for him and can handball pretty well, so I'll cop some bad turnovers if he can just win the ball cleanly again. Same thing is true of Jayden Hunt, just win the ball first, worry about what happens after that next.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 5,818]

Congratulations ANB your name will be in the echelons of greats in the AFL for Most Kms in a game, that is fantastic news what a great filet for this a great day for the MFC.

#FML.

[deespicable me 1,435]

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

McIntosh and Grigg run the wings for the Tigers and are high quality ball butchers. Kane Lambert plays the high half forward/midfield role and for his first couple of seasons he would spud it up as well. Castagna is a defender playing forward who can't kick for goal and makes dumb choices around the ground. Townsend is a cheat and a scrubber, nice shot for goal but holds his man all the time and otherwise does nothing but cheap shot tackles.

They are strong over the ball and they are good athletes - quick, fit and strong. But otherwise they aren't exactly skilled. 

Stretch, Tyson, ANB, Harmes and Melksham filled those roles for us. Stretch, ANB and Harmes were particularly disappointing, whilst Tyson had good and bad.

ANB and Stretch covered the most ground for us. Stretch, ANB then Harmes did the most high speed running. Harmes had our most tackles. As role players they did a lot of what they were supposed to do. I wish they were better but maybe the gap between us and the Tigers isn't that there role players are better but at the other end. Role players always look better in winning sides. Consider the top end talent:

Petracca is no Dusty.
Salem can't seem to keep his impact up for a full game and even he found the Tigers pressure hot after 1/4 time
Oliver can't get anything fluent with Gawn and can't find a target from his kicks
Hogan made some bad decisions by hand and foot and missed goals
Garlett was a steaming pile of trash on a night when Higgins kicks 3 at the other end.

I agree with a lot of what you say especially about Richmonds spud brigade. It actually does give hope that players like ANB can be part of a successful side. As for top end talent.

Rance was sensational. 

But Hogan was better than Riewoldt tonight and Jones, even though he bombs it a bit too much was not far behind Cotchin. Petracca is our best chance in a long while of being a top ten player and I thought he was great for the most part tonight. I think Oliver has been beat up a bit and is a bit sore. Look at Haneberry at Sydney. He has sore groins and just doesn't have the impact. We will need to take care of Clarry. But yes having Dusty and Rance goes a long way towards victory.

[praha 10,283]

No doubt that the fact most of our small forwards are so up and down on form, contributes to our scoring troubles.

Garlett

ANB

Bugg

Melksham

Kent

Harmes

All have mostly had forgettable starts to the season. Garlett's pressure most notably is nonexistent and he should be dropped. Willing to give Harmes another run.

I imagine both Harmes, Kent and ANB out next week for Fristch, Pederson and maybe JKH?

[Elegt 872]

31 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

Congratulations ANB your name will be in the echelons of greats in the AFL for Most Kms in a game, that is fantastic news what a great filet for this a great day for the MFC.

#FML.

Simon godfrey esque ! what an honour

[Coq au vin 754]

Headless chook.

[Coq au vin 754]

10 hours ago, praha said:

No doubt that the fact most of our small forwards are so up and down on form, contributes to our scoring troubles.

Garlett

ANB

Bugg

Melksham

Kent

Harmes

All have mostly had forgettable starts to the season. Garlett's pressure most notably is nonexistent and he should be dropped. Willing to give Harmes another run.

I imagine both Harmes, Kent and ANB out next week for Fristch, Pederson and maybe JKH?

No no no not JKH. Useless.

[Coq au vin 754]

Their = possessive pronoun denoting possession.

they’re= short form of they are

there= all other meanings of there.

Thus endeth the English lesson for low education-achieving Demonlanders.