I just like how he kicks the ball. replaced the void from zac reids absence
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One trait that was prominent with Zak last year but we haven’t seen a lot of yet is that he’s really strong overhead for a guy his size, and he was able to read the play and take intercept marks.
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If you’re looking for comparisons of who he could develop into I’d be looking at someone like Liam baker. Small but good skills and footy IQ. Played down back for years before transitioning to midefield
I reckon it’s as simple as good kicks know how to kick to advantage even down the line. They’ll know the strengths and weakness of their teammates and opponents and adjust the kick accordingly
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I’m sorry but no way.
First off, he’s MUCH bigger than Liam Baker. 185cm compared to 173. He’s much more of a marking player.
Liam Baker is a contested beast who throws himself in recklessly. Zak is… not that. I like him a lot but he’s more of an outside operator.
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with martins ascendancy to hopefully being part of our core midfield rotation, zak opposite X on the wing would be elite.
Yeah I think I’ve mentioned that Zak played wing as a bottom ager for Northern Knights and was really good there. He would need to build up his tank of course, but his kicking skills going inside 50 would be damaging, and if he played it like Dempsey getting deep into either 50 his marking would be a weapon.
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there is a universe where you can position your HBF and HFFs to cover zak maurauding forward, and duursma covers the HBF doing the same.
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Seriously who does his running style remind me of? Kind of cruising with shoulders and elbows out. It’s kind of like Judd or Zaharakis but I don’t think it’s them (purely stylistically nothing to do with pace or play).
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I had a similar observation with Johnson’s kicks to packs against Carlton – it felt like there was something about the arc he put on the ball that made it easier for the intended target to judge it and get to the right spot.
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Had a chance to take a solid mark in defence in the first quarter before laverde spoilt him.
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We are desperate for run and good kicking from defence, and we’ve spent years ■■■■■■■ and moaning about Dodoro trying to turn half-backs into midfielders. This kid has played two games and some folks are already making the midfield call. He’s developing very nicely as a HB, and he’s needed there. I’m happy for him to stay in that role for the foreseeable future.
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We’ve been screaming out for our own “woooooof” player ever since Saad left so I’m putting it on the record…
Zak “WOOOOOF” Johnson
One to track going forward, Lindsay the player dees took with our pick (11) that we traded out vs the guy we got with pick 70
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Did the Dees give us 70?
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The trade is hard to track but they gave us a bounty of picks for pick 11. One way or another we got that pick
Essendon giving its pick 9 and a future third-round pick to Melbourne. In return, the Dees have given the Bombers picks 28, 40, 46, 54 and 65 in this year’s draft as well as their first-round pick in 2025
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I see him playing a bit like Dayne Zorko and Daniel Rich.
I see a bit of Mitch Duncan.
More outside than in. Clean, good user, good mark. Just does things well.
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I thought Duncan in his prime was very much an in and under player.