VFL Round 3

[shawthing]

Carlton in front at half time. This is a scrappy game with no players showing any indication they are ready to play AFL (forget Johnson, Markov and Macrae). And if our VFL team is supposed to be playing the same game style as our AFL team I can't see it. If so, then we are stuffed because the quality is terrible.

[RudeBoy]

Steene was looking good, but went off with a rolled ankle in the 2nd quarter, forcing Johnson to share ruck duties with Begg.

[shawthing]

[shawthing]

[Haff]

#freekickcarlton

[Haff]

Another play on that wasn’t there against the pies. I don’t watch VFL often but if this is the umpiring standard I won’t again. Woefulz

[Haff]

3 in a row. Holding the ball first.

[Big T]

Pies win by 1 Point!

[stui magpie]

Better quality game in the second half. Not seeing anything from the AFL listed players screaming that they be in the AFL team.

[Culprit]

The VFL game was fantastic to watch. It was pressure football with many lead changes and we just got over the line. The VFL players showed up their AFL players in many instances.

[DT]

Macrae looks ok

[Pies2016]

In a high intensity and four quarter pressure game, I thought Bytel and Jaith’s polish with the ball both stood out.
Jaith looks like a class act. He reads the play and ball drop so well and provided he sets himself up with a huge preseason, I don’t see why he at least wouldn’t make the step up sometime next season.
MacRae was given best on the ground but at some point he has to carry that over to the higher level. Overall, it was hard to get a read on players today, with so much pressure on but that in itself would please the coaches immensely.

[blackmissionary]

A very physical, tight, and scrappy first half. Hard to get a read on a lot of players under those circumstances, other than to notice who was and wasn't getting amongst it. The game opened up in the third quarter, and we finally started moving the ball in the way the seniors do at their best - aggressive off half back and through the corridor, not allowing the opposition to get set in their structures.

Markov looked good in the third quarter when we finally started getting some run and carry off half-back and through the middle, but otherwise barely noticed. When he did have the ball, however, he looked noticeably more assured than most of his teammates.

Macrae accumulated, but wasn't particularly impactful. Some important hard ball gets in the last quarter though when the game tightened up.

For a young player, Jiath makes good decisions, a good attribute to go with his good foot skills. Not likely to become a lockdown defender, but if he shows signs of being able to read the ball well, he'll make a good interceptor with the ability to hurt the opposition going the other way. Was exciting to watch him run off half back to get the handball receive in the corridor.

Johnson wasn't quite as poor as his stats line would suggest. Thrown into the ruck when Steene went off injured, he got in amongst it. Unfortunately Ash also copped a knock which had him off the ground for a bit. His inability to use his body in marking contests makes him a one trick pony, however - and he wasn't helped by his teammates, who kept delivering the ball to him in ways that didn't play to his strengths. But if you're not going to be a contested marking forward, then you've got to work harder to get loose - some signs of that today, but need more.

Carmichael was very quiet until he was thrown up forward and kicked three goals, but is that why we recruited him?

Harrison is very, very quick, but needs to make better decisions with the footy.

Dean took some good marks, but still working up to AFL calibre.

Begg was everywhere, but he is not and will never be an AFL ruckman. Struggles to win hitouts, gets muscled out of contests consistently, and not polished enough to get away with being a tall mid ala Grundy.

[joemamone@gmail.com]

I really liked the game of McDonald newcomer to the VFL team. I was also impressed with Glover - in fact I was impressed with him all of last year. Great mark and able to play as defender or forward - when put forward, he always kicks multiple goals. I am surprised he has not been picked up by any club.

[Dark Beanie]

Thanks for the updates everyone.
Working around the house today (council hard rubbish collection does motivate to get things done) so only saw occasional scores.

Final score:

Pies 12.11.83 defeated Blues 12.10.82

Goals: Crocker & Carmichael 3, Hutchinson 2, Sparkes, Richards, Long, Kennedy

Top disposals: Macrae 29, Long & Allan 23, Glover & Bytel 21

AF points: Macrae 122, Long 102, Glover 91