After another inept performance by the AFL team, we ask ourselves whether there is selection pressure coming from the VFL players? The good news is that there is and unless there is some inflexible ranking system that sees some players as undropable, we could see many promotions this week.
Let’s begin with the defence. Do the taller defenders like Laverde, Kelly and Ridley have anything to worry about?
Francis - I had stamped “Delist” on Francis’ papers long ago but his game had me reaching for a wet sponge to see if I could blot out the stamp’s ink. His low powerful kicks were a weapon in the breezy conditions and he read the ball better than others to take a lot of important marks. If we hope to get any trade value for him, he needs to be promoted for the last game. Either Kelly or Laverde could make way.
Reid - Started the game in the forward line where he showed he was good on the lead. He also showed he was strong below his knees and a quick decision maker. Dropped back into defence in the third where he was still good but didn’t have the same wow factor. Bit ordinary back in the forward line in the last. Not at Ridley’s standard but Ridley would need to ensure he has a good pre-season.
Hurley - Played in defence. Looked ok without being great. Would the AFL team be weaker by giving him a farewell game at the expanse of Kelly or Laverde? Yeah, but not by much.
Eyre - Cost us some early goals with a bad kick and infringement but otherwise was good. Although Brand is likened to Fletcher, I think Eyre is better at getting that arm in to spoil inspector gadget like when out of position. He was also great with picking the ball off the deck to clear the contest and took a strong contested mark on the goal line. Kicking is the main issue.
McBride - Last week McBride showed good contesting marking, This week his kicking into and with the breeze was a strength. He doesn’t get a lot of the ball but is good in what he does.
Brand got out bodied a few times but compensated with a couple of strong marks, few deft taps ons and some long kicks with the wind.
Let’s move onto the smaller defenders like Hind, McGrath and Heppel. Are their positions safe?
Ham would be the main threat. Ham provide selection pressure? Surely you jest I hear you say. Well, it’s partly jest as Rutten seems to favour the tried, tested and failed, which has seen Ham get many games in favour of the unknown. That said, credit where credit is due. Ham was good on the weekend where he provided a lot of mobility to what is generally a stagnant half back line full of tall timber. I doubt he would have the same success in the AFL as I can’t see the likes of Heppel, Hind and Redman deferring to Ham the Backline General.
Lord played the best game I’ve seen him play and it was a game that showed what a weapon he might be one day. Many defenders go sideways or backwards once they take possession of the ball, which in turn allows the opposition to re-set their defences. Lord, however, cut straight back into attack, usually with a run, but he also added some attacking handballs that put the Tigers on their heels. Added to this, he drifted forward where he kicked a great snap into the breeze in the third quarter and almost added a second. Hind better show some respect to Rutten as Lord is starting to make a case for promotion.
Time to head to the key position forwards. Since it is only Wright playing in the AFL, selection of VFL forwards would be more of a case of filling a void rather than AFL players making way.
Sad to say that Jones didn’t put his hand up for a recall. He was bad for three quarters and really annoyed me with his constant hair adjustments. After losing the contest, you want your players thinking about how they are going to win the next contest, not how they need to make their hair pretty once more or pull it out of their eyes. Jones was better in the last but it didn’t make up for the sloppy first three quarters and constant hair adjustments. Before a recall, he either needs a haircut or a firm Hooker style man bun so that hair is taken completely out of his onfield thinking.
Baldwin was not a match winner like he has been but you always get a good contest when the ball is in his vicinity. Time to pull up stumps on the season and celebrate a good year.
Voss played around the ball as well as half forward. He was great! If the ball was in his vicinity, he attacked where he either got it and broke a tackle (or three) or layed a strong tackle on the opposition. He also kicked two crunch goals and held some strong contested marks. For me, he would be an easy in for Langford. If you lost by 100 points with a team of Vosses, at least you would know that you would know the loss was not due to lack of effort, appetite for the contest or mental fragility.
Now let’s look at the smaller forward positions. For much of the year, it seems that there has not been a great deal of pressure on Perkins and Stringer to defend as they were the attacking goal kickers. In contrast, Snelling, Smith and Guelfi rarely looked like kicking a goal but still held their position due to their defensive pressure. But could there be a forward that kicks goals AND provides defensive pressure? Yes, yes there could be and that forward is Menzies. He ran hard to defend, constantly created options, won contests and kicked the winning goal. For me, he would be an easy selection this week. Wright selected first and Menzies second. After that, you just see what other positions are needed but no one else is automatic in the forward line.
I thought Hird took some nice marks on the lead. I think he might have had 2 or 3 shots at goal under pressure than didn’t make it to the goal line. Then again, he might have just been trying to move it forward. I wouldn’t say he exerted selection pressure but maybe a bit of list pressure.
Waterman didn’t repeat last week’s heroics but was still a presence up forward. I wouldn’t be against him getting selected again.
Although he is not on the list, special mention needs to made of Davey. He played forward and on the wing but didn’t get much of it. He did, however, snap a goal with his first kick and almost had a second with his next one. I liked the snaps as we do have a tendency to over hand ball in the forward line. He also laid a few tackles in the last at key moments of the game. For those missing Tippa, the tackles and snaps were a cause for some optimism. Would it be wrong of me to hope he grows some dreads?
Finally, we come to the ruck. When your ruck division is shown up by Finlayson, it would be easy to clutch at straws and think Phillips might have been the answer. Although he had a good game, he would have lacked mobility against Finlayson as well. McBride probably would have been the best match up. Think we missed a chance to try out a new player last week.
So final thoughts on whose worthy of promotion? I wouldn’t mind seeing 10 changes. Not really fussed who. Whole VFL team played with heart that was lacking in the AFL.
Merret, Martin and Caldwell just need to be grateful most of the midfielders in the VFL can’t be selected.