Ratings v Geelong (NAB CUP)

[IvanBartul13 2,564]

Simon Buckley - 6 - flashes of excitement and quality and is a definite point of difference with his line-breaking. Still lacks polish and I'm not convinced totally that he is an AFL-quality player yet, but it was a positive first step to the season.

Nathan Jones - 6 - a lot of the footy, obviously worked hard, but lacks the class to be an elite player at this stage

Ben Holland - 0 - a totally loathesome performance

Matthew Bate - 4.5 - came on and provided a spark, but there were some inexcusable moments, such as giving up on the mark near the boundary, that were disappointing.

Paul Johnson - 2 - his opponent had very little influence but neither did he. Played out of his comfort zone.

Colin Sylvia - 4 - looks obviously sore but did some good things up forward. Gets caught too much. Will he ever shake this core injury?

Adem Yze - 4.5 - was consistently cool in defence with his decision making and disposal, bar one kick-in howler, without having a signifacnt impact

Brad Green - 3.5 - largely anonymous early before lifting his workrate and dispsal count later in he game

Addam Maric - 2.5 - didn't do a hell of a lot, but showed in his few touches that he is a sublime user of the ball by foot

Colin Garland - 5 - three goals is good output. He displayed excellent athleticism, but needs to improve his disposal execution and attack on the ball.

Daniel Bell - 2 - very disappointing that he didnt lift and be a contibutor in such a decimated line-up, and his decision making hasn't improved. Vastly overrated

James McDonald - 3 - very quiet, like an 8yo group horse just getting some miles in the legs

Russell Robertson - 1 - a chance to be a real leader and example-setter, but disappointed in both this capacity and as a key forward option

Kyle Cheney - 0 - unfortunately was a completely invisible debut

John Meesen - 3 - didn't do alot of ruckwork, which was disappointing, but moves well and his hands in close, barring a defensive goalsquare howler, were quite neat Isaac Weetra - 2 - started well with a teasing goal, but then all but disappeared. Too light at this stage, but has a touch of the exctiement machine about him

Michael Newton - 2.5 - a couple of decent contests and grabs but no real influence

Tom McNamara - 3.5 - a good start, showed poise, a willingness to throw himself around and decent ball usage. One for the future!

Stefan Martin - 4 - probably the biggest highlight of the game for Dee fans was this bloke who has the makings of a good key defender, quick and athletice, just needs some excellent coaching to be a good one.

Jeff White - 3.5 - very disappointing as a ruckman, but helped the defence well by dropping back as the extra man

Trent Zomer - 2.5 - another youngster who showed a little bit and looked a natural forward - missed goal from the square blotted a decent first appearance

Matthew Warnock - 2.5 - had a dip and did some OK things, but is a notch below AFL level.

Austinn Wonaeamirri - 3 - chased and harrassed very well, but didnt display the finishing ability of the quality indigenous players

Mark Jamar - 3 - rucked decently and made a difference there, but was mediocre in all other facets

Jace Bode - 1 - very poor performance, decision making and usage were below par

Shane Valenti - 5 - tried his guts out and won plenty of footy, but it was a performance in which his strengths and weaknesses were on display in equal measure. That said, he has probably enhanced his stock somewhat in the eyes of those, like myself, who are of the belief that he is too small and slow to be an AFL player.

[gOLLy 401]

I didnt want our big names near the ball. Not even close to the buisness end. our youngins show more than a bit

[Diablo 1]

Very stiff on Daniel Bell goodoil. He didn't get much help from a midfield that was getting hammered, and a host of rookies down back. I thought he was just OK given the circumstances.

Regarding Valenti, alot of people said similar things about Sammy Mitchell. If he turns out to be half as good as Mitchell I'll be stoked. He maybe a little bugger, but he has the ball on a string, and you cannot teach that, nor fix it in the gym.

Pretty much spot on regarding Buckley, I think. It would be fantastic to see him hit the jets and back himself all the time. He looked sensational in full flight. Almost Judd-like. The thing that let him down yesterday was his decision making, because he certainly kicks nicely. But then it's tough to make a good decision when your forwards are stagnant and not presenting.

Hard to disagree with the rest of those ratings, particularly Holland, Robbo and Bode.

[Damo 3,000]

Thanks Goodoil.

I hope you make this a regular.

[Yze_Magic 3]

3 for Meesen?

Umm, no

He was a shining light. Id give him a 6

[kramer 0]

I didnt want our big names near the ball. Not even close to the buisness end. our youngins show more than a bit

why bother playing then?

[John Dee 438]

I wish Valenti all sucess; having said that, he is a clone of Adam Fisher.

[45HG 1,539]

i thought meesen had a very impressive debut in the red and blue. buckley showed a lot, and valenti, as he settled, showed somewhat of what i think he can achieve.

[Demons 32 235]

As my signature has said for a few weeks.

Buckley is the next big thing at MelbourneFC.

I rated Meeson, definately better than Jamar/PJ already.

Valenti went hard, loves to get tackled haha. Reminds me of a lesser Sam Mitchell.

Bode proved what I said last year, he isn't top 22 standard and now im shattered he is on senior list while Woenamirri and Valenti aint.

Woenamirri, my god is he quick!!! He could be the next Byron Pickett with that stocky body and pace (the good bits of Byron).

It was a shame we didn't get much of a look at our forwards, including Robbo.

Weetra, Newton, Robbo, Woenamirri, Maric etc, the ball just wasn't there enough.

Sylvia did some good things in the third, loved when he used his body legally and knocked that Geelong bloke down.

Overall, the only guys I see getting a game in Round 1 that weren't in last years 22 are Meeson, Newton still and Buckley. The usuals should and will take the other spots.

I would include Aussie and Valenti pushing for 22 but seeing as they can't get in the senior team permantly being rookie listed.