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Mick Cowan's avatar

What was learnt: (arguably not a lot this week)

1. Time management game – With 4 games to be played over twenty days, it looked as though there was some TOG management across the side, although the two concussions may have had an impact here, limiting the bench to 3 in the last quarter. There were only 3 players who were on the ground for 90%+ of the game – Battle (94%), Chol (90%) and Barrass (90% - 100% in the 4th quarter and didn’t touch the ball). 94% is the lowest match high TOG for the season. The other aspect to this, ignoring the sub players, Newcombe, Moore, Newcombe and Hustwaite were the lowest TOG players. With Newcombe spending some time forward and Hustwaite played across half back in the 4th quarter, their time in the midfield was reduced to possibly look to manage their workload.

2. Kicking efficiency worst for the season – With the overall DE going at 69% which is no where near the norm for the team, only 6 players kicked the ball at better than 70% including Amon and Scrimshaw, plus Barrass. Both Sicily and Battle went at 53%, their kicking now becoming an important part of the defensive structure, given Amon and Scrimshaw being out next week.

3. Meek was a monster – When playing within his weight division, Meek continues to press the claim to be the best of his class and while he may have issue with the athletic ruck opponent, when he plays a fellow bullocking ruck man, he is more than competitive. This week will be a good test against the protype of the bullocking ruck man. The biggest improvement in his game in recent weeks has been his ability to spread from the contest and when in the open, his kicking inside 50 is not the worst. At times, his midfielders do him no favours handballing to him when he is stationary or in a congested area. They must realise his limitations and the old football adage – don’t handball to a ruck man standing still.

4. Tackling was intense – Playing against a younger side, being able to stick their tackles meant that the pressure on the Eagles was intense. With a short training week, it was evident that there was a focus on tackling drills this week.

Observations:

• Both D’Ambrosio and Mackenzie were prepared to use their non-preferred foot – on impact, D’Ambrosio went 1/1 whilst Mackenzie’s one left footer may have been a floater, it did catch the Eagles’ defender out.

• I know some believe I have a “target” on D’Ambrosio’s kicking – can I draw your attention to a play in the 2nd quarter which ended up with Hardwick goal. In the lead up, D’Ambrosio kicked to Moore who had to take a mark under pressure when it could have been put more to his advantage; Moore then passed to Amon, who hit up Hardwick drawing him into the mark closer to the goals. This is the quality of work by foot that is elite rather than neat which is the basis for more discussion. The KE stats – this game: D'Ambrosio (63%) Amon (90%) Season: 68% (ave.11 kicks) / 85% (ave. 24 kicks).

• List depth doesn’t necessarily mean immediate quality list replacement – not an early call, but just an awareness with B. Macdonald coming in for Jiath, it appeared that it was an “apples for apples” swap. Both like to run with the ball, however their use by foot is not too dissimilar as is their capacity to overrun some connections with their teammates. In the 3rd quarter when Ryan kicked a crumbing goal, it was hard to work out where BMac was going, running to the other side of the pack to Ryan – a learning lesson.

• Hustwaite looked the part particularly in the second half when he seemed more prepared to kick rather than handball, although the stats have him 50/50 in both halves. He was one who put Meek under the pump by hand at times.

• Chol/Weddle ruck combination reaped huge rewards with Weddle being able to be a presence forward, particularly 1 on 1. Again, this was another feather in Chol’s cap to be a centre square presence.

• For a team that practises its goal kicking in the elements to miss as many as they did in this game does make you wonder! Again, kicking for goal at 50+m is still an issue – Watson’s run up hook was back in the frame.

• Did the time management/positional trialing of the players impact on the capacity to bank some percentage?

• On percentage, just like car insurance, it’s only important when you need it and you never really know when you’ll need it.

Starting 4: (CBA/CC)

1st Qrt: Newcombe (24/3) Worpel (22/3) Hustwaite (12/0)

2nd Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Mackenzie

3rd Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Hustwaite

4th Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Mackenzie

Meek 27/3 Mackenzie 19/2 Ward11/1 Moore 8/1 Chol 6/1 Watson 3/0

It was interesting that Hustwaite was put straight into the starting square rather than Mackenzie or Ward. Then in the last quarter, he didn’t have a CBA going to half back. Watson had his first CBA in the 3rd quarter and a couple in the last, his pace around the contest would be handy, but this is where his size may become an issue. Moore has a little additional body strength in these contests.

The fact that Meek had as many centre square clearances than the midfielders emphasized his impact on the game.

Issue for the week:

List depth is now being tested with our injury “good karma” seemingly coming to an end and as mentioned previously, it will be a test of the quality of the depth. For the back half to lose Amon and Scrimshaw, along with the kicking errors by Sicily and Battle and the limitations of Barrass in this skill set, the capacity to move the ball efficiently out of the back half could come under the microscope. Based on credits in the bank, Serong would have to be an option as a direct replacement. Maginness and Jiath did their cases no harm with their work at BH on Sunday. The other option could be Hardwick moving back to provide another quality distributor out of the back half which may mean a forward from BH could become an alternative at the selection table.

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Tammy Jackson's avatar

Mick and Stuart ... thank you both for providing such an interesting read with your comments. Let's hope the team can improve on their basic skills and accuracy kicking for goal this week and get the W in this historic match ... Looking forward to reading what Brad's selection dissection says after the loss of Karl Amon and Jack Scrimshaw out of the team.

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