Why Can't Sam Complete his Marks?

[Nasher 33,607]

38 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Max King, StKilda full forward, ex Demon down at Casey - not selected for the big time. Bit of a gun, better than the Weed.

 

lol, no mate. Same name, different player.

[Demonstone 22,182]

14 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Ummmmmm......

Our Max King who was on the rookie list from 2014-16.

Not THE Max King from St Kilda.

[Fork 'em 6,983]

5 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

That would suffice - otherwise we might think (as is the current thinking) that we are a man down per match due to repeated selection.

That's how I've felt every time Nathan Jones has been selected over the past 3 years. 

[Webber 10,448]

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Save yourself a fortune, if still playing and wish to improve the sticky hands situation. Buy some Kiwi Dubbin, use that and carry a rag in your socks. 

Haha, haven’t played since before any of the current team were born, and not since ‘Dubbinning’ my boots to protect against some very sodden ovals. Thanks for reminding me....??

[Webber 10,448]

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

If you think I've dissed Parke too much about his kicking let me add that I still believe he was the best contested mark I've ever seen in red and blue. I remember a game at Moorabbin where it seemed like he took 16 marks on a muddy ground and almost all of them contested. (This is back in the days when statistics on "contested marks" probably weren't collected.)  I also appreciate that memory plays tricks - so his kicking might be better than I remember.

Funny thing memory. I remember Parke as too short for a KPF, too slow, and couldn’t kick straight, or take enough marks. Probably horribly harsh. Now Gary Hardeman could mark. 

[old55 23,313]

4 hours ago, binman said:

But marking isn't my concern really. My issue with Sam is i don't think he plays with enough intensity. That applies to his attack on players with the ball and one on one. Too many half efforts. That is totally fixable.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/946531/western-bulldogs-v-melbourne-afl-round-11-2021?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=946531&playlistSize=111

Images 21, 46 and 49 and 111 seem to suggest otherwise.

[Skuit 10,027]

At some stage over the past year I posted that Sam was closing his eyes on contact. I had noticed it once or twice live and went and closely looked at some footage to confirm. I imagine all players do to some degree but it really stood out to me. I haven't bothered to check again but this would be a fairly obvious reason for failing to complete his marks. Suggested some heavy marking work with the tackle-bags as a possible remedy.   

[Pates 9,649]

I just had a look at “all the goals”, the drop that I think was the most disappointing was the one that ended in Jordon’s goal (great crumbing goal btw). Spargo had pulled the kick perfectly, Sam got separation from his direct opponent and had the leap at it, he got a large piece of it first up but subsequently dropped it and fumbled the second grab. 

Those are the ones you expect a tall forward to gobble up more often than not. 

Edited June 2, 2021 by Pates

[loges 6,767]

8 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

If you think I've dissed Parke too much about his kicking let me add that I still believe he was the best contested mark I've ever seen in red and blue. I remember a game at Moorabbin where it seemed like he took 16 marks on a muddy ground and almost all of them contested. (This is back in the days when statistics on "contested marks" probably weren't collected.)  I also appreciate that memory plays tricks - so his kicking might be better than I remember.

No it wasn't but you're right about the marking.

[leave it to deever 17,506]

On 6/1/2021 at 12:31 PM, Yung Blood said:

Simply confidence and concentration. He does everything else right. His strength and positioning are great now.

I'm expecting them to start sticking the next few games. Thought Friday was a step in the right direction.

He's putting himself in a position to succeed with marking.

He just has to grab the opportunity with both hands....

Hes also under tons of pressure for his spot in the side. Always has been. Bound to play a part in his performance. Some players are gifted games and Im not saying Sam has been great but I feel a lot of its just confidence or lack of thereof.

Ps I was watching the relpay while writing all this. Sam should have marked that pass from Spargo with four mins to go in the first. It was not hard.

Edited June 2, 2021 by leave it to deever

[Fork 'em 6,983]

Some more lowering of the eyes and kicking to advantage wouldn't go astray.
Weren't too bad last week but since Brown and now Weids been there the mids started to get lazy and just bombed it in hoping one of the big units will just take a pack mark.
Wasn't working.

[Stevienic23 1,183]

It's hard to teach 'see you next Tuesday' but that's what he needs. Stick knees into ppl and attack the ball with aggression. He's a big enough bloke but is a 23yr old with an 18yr olds mindset. Naughton for the Dogs this well. 

[btdemon 482]

Aside from his marking, Weed seems to move snd react slowly. It's the opposite to Trac and Kozzy, who's brains seem to be working way faster than the average. Their bodies are making quick changes in direction all of the time. I think this reflects the fact their brains are working very quickly when it comes to spacial awareness and the movement going on around them. Weed seems to be very slow in his reaction time when chasing or reacting to the players around him. This makes him look a little uninterested at times. I have no doubt about his courage or desire. You can see him hitting packs and flying with great determination. Maybe he just needs to start clunking them with more regularity, his confidence will build and he might relax a bit. I'm pretty certain that he feels under tremendous pressure at the moment. TMac is flying, Jacko is quickly developing and Brown is just waiting for another opportunity.