That Jordan Lewis kid goes ok.

Just now, P-man said:

Jones behind the ball provides a lot of confidence. Looks in ripping nick. 

Hogan will crack 50 goals this year.

O Mac will be a big improver.

Tommy Bugg is a far from perfect but I love having him wearing the jumper.

If JKH can stay fit he could be around the mix for selection throughout the year. Likewise J Smith.

Spencil and Salem the two big stories of the day with their performances. Spencer provides a selection dilemma for Round 1.

Not sure about O Mac. Maybe Frost and Hibberd better placed to play there.

Am I the only one who thinks we need more out of Trac?

He needs to take set shots inside 50 rather then try to pass them off all the time.

Just now, olisik said:

Am I the only one who thinks we need more out of Trac?

He needs to take set shots inside 50 rather then try to pass them off all the time.

That's a bit harsh for a first practice match isn't it.  BTW didn't he slot through the first goal of the game from a decent way out?

Next week we play Carlton. Winning or losing against them does nothing for me.

I would like to see the team practice various game plans for at least a couple of quarters.

Hopefully the Casey Oval provides reasonable match conditions. Weather forecast looks good with a maximum of 22 and winds 15-25km/h

5 minutes ago, olisik said:

Am I the only one who thinks we need more out of Trac?

He needs to take set shots inside 50 rather then try to pass them off all the time.

He does need to become more selfish. If you take a mark 40 meters out on a 45 degree angle you should have a shot unless there's someone on their own in tells goal square, not pass to a 50/50. When he doesn't have time to think he's really good, when he stops and has time to think he makes poor decisions.

There was one lightening switch of play near the end of the third quarter that took us from inside defensive 50 to inside offensive 50 in less than 10 seconds. It was that speed of ball movement and quick change of direction that really caught the Bulldogs off guard. Exciting stuff. And progress. Clear progress.

I only caught the second half, but here are some observations from those quarters:

* Oliver solidifies himself as my favourite player. Those hands are so clean and he showed off that beautiful kicking and vision we know he has.

* Lewis' experience will be invaluable this season. He knows where to be at the right time, floating back across our defensive goal square twice in the last minute. He also took charge of the kicking duties at the end, which was great leadership. But how was Bernie's typical brainfade that almost gave them another goal at the end there?

* Stretch looks in really good nick. He looks tougher and more toned, but doesn't seem to be any slower. Hoping for another step up again from him this season.

* Jesse was good in the moments I saw. Bringing the ball to ground and contesting. High work rate and little negative body language.

* One thing I noted to my surprise and delight was that we seemed to have numbers and be front of centre at the contests off half back, which never happens. It's usually the opposition. I hope that's a sign of things to come. The Bulldogs smashed us in these areas last season.

* Our tackling was ferocious. Our work rate, our numbers around the ball were really, really positive.

* Harmes and Bugg still can't kick and Vandenberg can't handball to save his life (even the assist that led to a goal was at the feet of his team mate). The thing though that I like about the state of our list is that all these guys are vying for similar positions and at their best are contributors. If Harmes could kick, he'd be one of our most exciting prospects, because he works hard and knows how to find the ball.

* My boy Jake Spencer was excellent from what I saw in the second half. Such a good problem to have. Do we play Spencer and Gawn or do we just play Gawn? I'd say the majority of the time we'd go with one of them, but I think we could really expose certain teams if they're both on form.

* Weideman needs to get tougher and he needs to put on some more weight. He's only a kid, but he didn't seem any bigger than last year. Playing up the ground, he gets knocked off the ball too easily.

* Great seeing Salem, Petracca and Gus getting through unharmed. Beautiful kick for goal was Gus' last.

Edited February 20, 20178 yr by A F

Max will need to be spelled, today Spencer did it ably and also with purpose. just what we need.

Petracca needs to take the set shots within 35 meters with little angle.

It was a practice match, first serious hit out, I saw some excellent, some good and some horrible

Spencer   showing the benefit of full pre season, he doesn't know how not to compete

Salem   another class midfielder

Lewis   just experience personified

Oliver   can look horrible on the training track, but put him in a game and with Gus stepping up,  Tyson watching the game knows he has a fight on his hands

Hogan    just getting his touch and range

Joel Smith   have seen him do this at training now in a game

Surrounded by Dogs supporters in the grandstand at the end    silence was deafening   you would think 4 points was on offer

 

24 minutes ago, Pipefitter said:

Love Billy stretch, always seems to make good decisions.

Goes about his business quietly in some ways but he's a beautiful kick. I'm happy when the ball is in his hands.

Glad we've got 5 weeks or so before the saints, hoges seemed to jar his knee a bit and last season when he did during similar he was off for the last few games. He looked great and set for a huge year, but it might pay to give him a spell at least next week

31 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

means nothing - just a practice match

 

 

 

 

well, someone was going to say it

for a top 8 side it meand nothing, but a young side like ours it means more

33 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

-3 votes to Johannisen's haircut.

Yep. Terrible.

Some random thoughts (unadjusted for confirmation bias);

Spencer is no chump and would develop well with a decent run at it. Which he shouldn’t get, because there’s no room in our structure and having a second ruck lessens rather than enhances Max’s influence. That Geelong game was one game, along time ago, before Max had properly come on, and Spencer’s contribution to the win is wildly overstated nonetheless.

Vince shouldn’t be playing half-back.

Garlett is not not a lock for round 1 and his spot is not under threat from JKH. Was in the right positions to kick a couple of extra goals as well if teammates weren’t a step in front. JKH can look busy. But I don’t see a great deal of difference to Kennedy and I remain unsure of where he ultimately plays.

The mechanics of Lewis’s kicking are sublime. Like he has Justin Langer’s cricket-bat for a leg. And it stands out so much more now that the likes of TMac are involved in his kicking chains.

Hogan still has the posture of a teenager with acute lethargy of the limbs but now boasts the chest of an adult. Oh, and he’ll kick a lot of goals in 2017 – with a wobbly run-up or not. Petracca and Oliver will be stars in the freakish category.

vandenBurg and Harmes: it was just a practice game.

 

 

Geat effort today and believe J Smith is a goer. I love how Spence is finally getting there. I am not convinced about Brayshaws speed and disposal.

28 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

He does need to become more selfish. If you take a mark 40 meters out on a 45 degree angle you should have a shot unless there's someone on their own in tells goal square, not pass to a 50/50. When he doesn't have time to think he's really good, when he stops and has time to think he makes poor decisions.

He nailed every pass.

We ebbed and flowed, when we flowed we look like a much improved team but we let the bullies get a couple of easy ones late, still a great effort from our boys and we still have a few to come in. I was also impressed with Smith in his first real hit out. Go Dee's!!!!!

I fear for a few players getting much game time so much depth, when watts in side spencer goes out.

1 minute ago, Stretch Johnson said:

He nailed every pass.

That he did.  I guess some people are saying that it's less of a risk to take the shot yourself - if the pass doesn't come off then you've given up a certain shot on goal and, with such fierce competition, you can't afford to do that.  Today his passes were spot on and it looked good, but I'd also like to see him become a little more selfish and take the responsibility on himself.

Couldn't watch the game but I am particularly interested in how Salem, Stretch and Melksham went. They are crucial for our carrying of the ball on the outside. Tony Shaw said on radio that Melsham struggled...?

1 minute ago, dee-tox said:

Couldn't watch the game but I am particularly interested in how Salem, Stretch and Melksham went. They are crucial for our carrying of the ball on the outside. Tony Shaw said on radio that Melsham struggled...?

Salem was terrific today.  Got plenty of the footy on the inside, used it well and made good decisions.  Stretch was very good too, he is a beautiful user of the footy and he gets himself in the right spots.  Melksham did struggle a little but he looked like a bloke who hasn't played competitive footy for 500 days.  He'll take time.  He did a few good things and a few things that made you cringe, but it's onwards and upwards from here.

Just now, Wiseblood said:

That he did.  I guess some people are saying that it's less of a risk to take the shot yourself - if the pass doesn't come off then you've given up a certain shot on goal and, with such fierce competition, you can't afford to do that.  Today his passes were spot on and it looked good, but I'd also like to see him become a little more selfish and take the responsibility on himself.

I guess different people see different things.

In these games I am looking for something new.  I saw a player other than watts can become offer some silver service into the 50.

While I see your point I don't agree in this case.

Also in the category of new learnings Joel Smith is a competitor with good nous and athleticism.  Gus will be great for us this year and Oliver will work through the levels to elite player very quickly.

Just now, Stretch Johnson said:

I guess different people see different things.

In these games I am looking for something new.  I saw a player other than watts can become offer some silver service into the 50.

While I see your point I don't agree in this case.

Also in the category of new learnings Joel Smith is a competitor with good nous and athleticism.  Gus will be great for us this year and Oliver will work through the levels to elite player very quickly.

I agree that he can provide some great service to our forwards - but when he is inside 50 he needs to take the shot on goal, unless he is on the boundary.  I'd rather him have the shot than potentially turn the ball over, but that's just me.

8 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

Couldn't watch the game but I am particularly interested in how Salem, Stretch and Melksham went. They are crucial for our carrying of the ball on the outside. Tony Shaw said on radio that Melsham struggled...?

When you have 12 months out are you suppose to come in first game and dominate? MEelksham was rusty but no different to Vince or Hunt who were both also rusty.

Shaw is an absolute clown.