Former #22 Matthew Leuenberger

Has kicked almost as many goals with Essendon as our second ruck did today!

Was very good again today.
Will destroy Nankervis and Ivan Drago or whatever his name is next week

Best game for the year, hitouts are OK but you need impact around the ground. Good to see him do well with Belly clamping at the bit for a game.

Champing.

Thanks.

Chomping

Crumping

Cranking

Crinkling

As long as heā€™s not crampingā€¦

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First time this year he and the mids were on the same page.

Itā€™s been a long time to see that with Essendon.

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Iā€™d still be giving belly a game ahead of him but he was good on the weekend. Just wish he could clunk a pack mark. Has it ever happened? Serious question. Iā€™ve never seen him do it

Leunberger along with Watson and Zaharakis got the midfield going yesterday - Iā€™ve always been happy with the pressure he applies in contested pack situations - This takes the place of his lack of contested marking.

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Yep. The odd mark around ground to Belly doesnā€™t make up for him being too slow and lacking in mobility to put pressure on. Leuey has been very impressive buttering up at ground level. Throws himself into everything.

And yes Belly is kicking goals but he was pretty much permanent fwd during those occasions. He should be kicking bags against 2nd rate VFL opposition when we smashing them.

I didnā€™t watch game but would be surprised if there was a huge mismatch on the defender he was on.

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Nankervis has been a monster around the ground for the Tigers. On current form, Leuey doesnā€™t compare with him in this department.

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I agree. Been a revelation as a 3rd in line ruck pinched off Swans.

Tigers did same with Maric previously too.

Bellchambers does not have a Nankervis like game in him however IMO.

Berger should use his time in the VFL to try to re-capture his ability to take contested marks. If you check his stats, he wasnā€™t always poor in that area but he has been getting worse year after year since 2012. He has lifted his game in the tackling and contested possessions since he came to Essendon, probably something they have worked on with him.
As regards marks, he gets into the right position often, but just drops the marks if theres any pressure at all.

I would suggest he split the ruck duties 50/50 with Drapes and play as a tall forward in the VFL to see if he can get his marking mojo backā€¦

Thats his issue. You simply canā€™t have a ruckman that canā€™t take contested marks

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We are not on our lonesome there though.
McEvoy and Ryder had 4 contested marks between them last night, Jacobs and Zac Smith 3 between them tonight.

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and belly had 1 last week., so itā€™s not as if lueys replacement is setting the world on fire in that area.

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