Donnington - what a flog, must be a Carlton fan.
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See the other thread:
Did Graham play?
Cheers DJR
Really good team win agains the higher-ranked team in a week in which weāve rested three players and lost others to injury. Despite the rain in the preceding 24 hours the ground was in very nice nick, it drains well. We were vulnerable to their height, especially with the losses and the limited-time return of Brown, but apart from the opening minutes and a Million Dollar Baby burst in the third, we did well to nullify that.
Our key defensive roles were shared primarily between Dea, Darby and Brown (note: Ferry did not play), and they did pretty well. Footscray really had to earn their goals today, very few balls came into our defensive fifty without a contest at the end of it.
Ridley started back and shifted forward in the second half, kicking one goal from a very nice mark running with the ball and almost making Buddy look like a right spud with one long run from the wing.
I didnāt particularly notice Redman till later in the game.
As can be seen we had some serious accumulators through the midfield. Nobby had his usual bunch of high blind thirty metres kicks forward, but also maybe ten really nice passes by foot. Not a patch on Stanton though: his kicking was continually pushing the boundary, and dead accurate. Really broke the game open many times with his kicking.
Langford dominated the first three quarters before fading a little in the last ā should have kicked a game-sealing goal late, but got mixed up between playing on to a teammateās advantage versus taking a relatively easy set shot. Lots of creative disposal, and slipping through packs and past opponents.
Mutch stood up in his place in the last. Heās not overtly flashy, but nearly everything he does is a plus to the team, and he will never die wondering.
Long was good but frustration at some ā ā ā ā umpiring saw him strike out and heāll get suspended a week or two.
Boyse a slow start but took some very useful marks of the wet ball around the ground.
Draper, with a tiny bit of help from Ottavi, had the unenviable job of rucking alone against men taller and heavier than him. Did well, didnāt run out of legs.
[McKernan may well be playing against the Suns tonight.]
Hindās pace down the spine of the ground was put to good use today. Important, and kicked the goal that got us over the line by pure effort.
Lill was a surprise entry in the absence of Ferry and Smack, he and Luxford had a few winning moments today.
PETERS gave us plenty of spark forward, Younan busy but not getting the bunch of goals like last week.
Morgan spent a bit more time up the ground today, was one of his better matches. Showed a bit of his pace, when he simply had to, in a play late in the last quarter.
EDIT: Clarke a middling day. Nominally a forward, roamed plenty. Hocking also forward, mostly, two goals in less than three quarters and was decent.
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Yes. Thereabouts, not a big game.
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Hey DJR interested on your take on Matt Darby today. Sounds like he did a particularly good job on Boyd today, especially early, going by your comments.
Folks, make an effort to get along to VFL games at Windy Hill next year, While it was very cold today, great old school atmosphere & an excellent game, particularly in the last quarter.
Got kids? Bring them out, costs nothing at the gate.
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A wonderful, illuminating report. Ta @theJDR
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We havenāt seen much of āBig Rangaā, as I tagged him after his debut pre-season match before he disappeared for a long time, but today was impressive. The role against Million Dollar Baby was shared, but heās willing to take the play on and took some important marks by outworking the pack and having safe hands. Not awful at ground level, either.
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Thanks DJR. Family acquaintance, played local footy with my son, so I look forward to watching his development next year.
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Ridley looked dangerous forward, possibly moved there to fill the Begley gap. JM and I were discussing this when we got the run down from the bloke next to us who turned out to be grandpa Ridley accompanied by junior ranga Ridley. The riddler has played quite a few games forward last year and during his time at Oakleigh.
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I donāt think he would be as slow as jobe, hepp, hocking etc. and from memory was the best endurance runner at the club.
But but but heās a defender!!!
Loving Mutch and Langford, hopefully both get a crack next week. Ridley too looks promising.
You touched on Brown a little bit DJR, but how was his return? Can he still qualify for VFL finals?
Mutch must be one tough kid, seems to get crunched every game only to get back up and make is way to the next contestā¦respect.
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Heās amazing to watch. Like Darcy gets the game on an instinctive level and is always plugging holes. Heād probably stand in front of a top speed buddy.
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As long as he doesnāt play an AFL game, yes. If we go deeper into finals, he may get to six VFL games anyway, so the above wonāt matter.
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Endurance does not necessarily equate to pace. Heās ponderously slow. And he kicks the ball like itās a balloon - little widow making floaters. Lots of heart though.
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