His best asset when watching him play mid last year was his work rate exiting a stoppage, runs extremely hard to keep in the chain and seen him be involved at a stoppage on a back flank and have a shot on goal in the FP not long after.
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Now that you’ve said that it probably won’t happen.
He is going to be an awesome back pocket. His ability to rove and get to the fall of the ball in pack contests will really add to our attacking game from the half back setting up Saad and McKenna.
Is it feasible to carry another short midfielder?
Or is the belief that talent without the ideal ‘size’ enough to run a genuine midfield?
His footy smarts and work rate were well known playing both fwd & midfield. IIRC he was being considered as a top 20 pick at one point in his draft year. The kid can play.
He already is physically developed for a young player so should progress quickly.
Good to see already in the frame as an emergency
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Class of 2019: Meet the goalsneak who loves a celebration and the ‘Plugger’ position
By Riley Beveridge, AFL Media on Nov 5, 2019, 11:13am
“Go Plugger.”
It’s a message from the coaches’ box that all Dandenong Stingray players want to hear. It’s also a message that Ned Cahill received quite often throughout an impressive 2019 campaign.
‘Plugger’ is a position the Stingrays have created for players that are running hot. Paying homage to St Kilda and Sydney goalkicking great Tony ‘Plugger’ Lockett, it’s a licence to go to the goalsquare and an instruction not to leave.
Ned Cahill in the huddle with the Dandenong Stingrays.
“It’s always fun when the coach tells you to go ‘Plugger’,” Cahill told AFL.com.au .
“You think to yourself, ‘bloody oath, bugger off boys’. It’s a lot of fun.”
Fortunately, Cahill has the smarts and the nous around goal to make ‘Plugger’ the most natural position for him.
Clean and dangerous on ground level, the 178cm forward has kicked goals in bunches this season and enjoyed some of the NAB League’s most dominant individual games from the forward line.
He kicked three goals from 29 disposals against the Oakleigh Chargers in April, bagged four majors from 19 touches against the Western Jets in May and helped his side win its first final against the Murray Bushrangers with three goals from 21 disposals in August.
Cahill knows where the goals are.
It’s helped elevate Cahill to become one of the NAB AFL Draft pool’s most attractive and intriguing small forward prospects, alongside his Stingrays teammate and close friend Cody Weightman.
The two are tight, and it’s no surprise. Both are energetic and enthusiastic characters, with their blossoming partnership inside both the Dandenong and Vic Country forward lines clear to see.
“I love a celebration, but I normally plan it with a few other boys … like Cody,” Cahill said.
“We’ve got a little handshake thing that we work on.”
Cahill, a boyhood Sydney fan, has long idolised Swans goalsneak Tom Papley.
Indeed, the manner in which Papley plays is reflected in Cahill’s game. He’s clever inside 50, while he has the ability to burst through the midfield – averaging 18 disposals per match in the NAB League this season.
CLASS OF 2019: Deven Robertson
But it’s not just the way they play their football that is comparable. There are also some similar personality traits.
“He’s a bit crazy on the field as well,” Cahill laughed.
“I wouldn’t say I get stuck in like that, but if I’m going alright and if they’re talking a little bit I don’t mind giving a little bit back. I think I’m just up and about as a person.”
Fortunately, Cahill is able to back up that ■■■■■ with his work ethic and output on the field.
His top-10 finish in the 2km time trial at the NAB AFL Draft Combine was reflective of his running ability, with Dandenong Stingrays talent manager Darren Flanigan of the belief that his aerobic capacity makes him an even more dangerous prospect in the forward line.
Cahill (centre) during the 2km time trial.
“He works really hard,” Flanigan told AFL.com.au .
"He’s got a really good 2km time trial, so he works his defender over, plus he’s very good at creating turnovers in the front half and he’s good finisher.
“He’s got a good motor. There’s no reason why, with a little bit more craft around stoppages, he couldn’t spend a bit more time in the midfield. But he’s just so valuable in the front half, especially with his finishing and his pressure.”
Despite his stints through the midfield, it’s forward where Cahill feels most comfortable and forward where he thinks he’ll play his best footy at senior level.
“Last year we had such a strong midfield with the Stingrays, with three or four of them getting drafted, so as a bottom-ager I was never going to be able to get into that midfield group,” Cahill said.
“I had to develop my game somewhere else and that was forward. I really enjoyed that. If I had to pick between the two, I think I’d probably prefer to play forward.”
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Alright Mr Beveridge. No need for profanities
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Pocket Hercules.
Bring him in for Zaharakis!!
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Parish has his spot though
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Cahill have all the position
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Just had a look at the scratch match, looked a class above the level. That pass to Crauford for the goals at the end was
(insert appropriate gif)
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The one early to Moz off his oppo foot was even better…
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Bing!
Watched the Pies scratch match highlights
Iv’e seen enough bring him in
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Ask Jeeves!
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Latest scratch match report
Ned Cahill
“Again, Ned’s one-on-one contest work was very good. That’s two weeks in a row where he’s shown he can match it physically. He kicked a couple of goals, worked hard forward and back and used the ball well. His ball use was excellent – left and right foot. He showed he can play.”
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Bring him in for Zaka
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It’s Time
Bring him in for Zaharakis, he’ll get more than 2 touches
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He won’t come in for Zaka
McKenna will return to defence and Raz goes back fwd in place of Zaka IMO
But it’s good to know we have someone as an actual small fwd worthy pressing their case for if/when Raz inevitably breaks down again, instead of trying to make it work with Begley/Lav etc