Footy Tragic

St.Kilda vs Richmond:

Looking Good:

• Brendon Goddard: Was the architect of the Saints wins – his 38 disposals came all over the ground as the Tigers were unable to shut him down. Possibly his best game of the year!
• Jack Riewoldt: Riewoldt was sensational and almost looked like getting the Tigers over the line with some amazing plays in the third quarter. He amazingly seemed too strong and too agile at ground level for his veteran opponents, Sam Fisher and Jason Blake (who even double-teamed him for a while, yet still to no avail!).
• Raph Clarke: The often maligned, often criticised half-backer from St.Kilda looks to be coming into some reasonable DT form over the past couple of weeks. He is regularly left free by the opposition thanks to his penchant for turnovers, allowing him to plenty of the ball. He could be an inconsistent option, but for his current price does present as reasonable value.

Disappointing:

• Robert Eddy: I still am unsure why he gets a game – he does work hard, but can’t kick, can’t mark and regularly goes to ground.
• Adam Schneider: Hungry, hungry, hungry. Those with Hayes in their team would have cursed Schneids as he attempted to mark a Hayes goal, only to just get a finger on it, causing a rushed behind… This was not his only hungry effort – in fact, if a possession doesn’t end with a goal at the moment for Schneids, then it’s a possession not worth having. Needs to play the team game or have a run in the VFL.
• Mitch Morton: Had only two opportunities to kick a goal (and surprise, surprise he played on and missed) and didn’t get much else done for the game.

Blip on the Radar:

• Stephen Milne: Milney was at his best on Friday night, kicking 5 goals as the Saints leading forward target. Whilst he missed all of his set shots, his kicks on the run and dribbling from the boundary were brilliant! He has become a better player in Riewoldt’s absence, but he is still one for inconsistency. He rarely plays well interstate or in big games, however in his 200^th game next week, look for another bag from the little man.

Carlton vs Melbourne:

Looking Good:

• Jarrad Waite: Kicked three goals as a CHF and looks really suited to the position. As one of Carlton’s few tall marking targets in the forward half, the ball does end up in his hands a bit and he finished with 10 marks.
• Ryan Houlihan: Really started Carlton’s surge with 3 goals in the first half and kept presenting. The only worry is that he only scored 90 points in a near BOG performance…
• Colin Sylvia: Whilst still not quite where we want him to be, he is looking a bit better, although still playing on a forward flank. He does present well upfield and his tackling is a strength – hopefully his form can both can continue and improve.

Disappointing:

• Bryce Gibbs: After a huge week last week, he was relegated to a tagging job on Green which really makes no sense – why play one of your best playmakers as a stopper!? I don’t understand Ratten sometimes – and it now seems Gibbs cannot be trusted regularly for a good score, just like Carrazzo.
• Jack Watts: Only the one goal this week – he looks good in fits and bursts and will come good eventually – nothing better than a bench option for you at the moment unfortunately.
• Brad Miller: The main reason Watts will remain in the team is because of the poor contribution from senior players such as Miller. The effects of his big bag a couple of weeks ago may have worn off now, possibly paving way for the return of Newton or Hughes.

Blip on the Radar:

• Cameron Bruce: This is probably one of the bigger calls, as Bruce is arguably still a very good DTer. However, the role of senior players in the Melbourne squad seems very speculative at the moment, and a player like Bruce is not unlikely to be stuck in a back-pocket for a few games, killing his DT scoring. Despite his ability to score well I would still avoid him, thanks the fact he could turn sour any week.

Adelaide vs Fremantle:

Looking Good:

• Scott Thompson: Really carried his team in the midfield, especially in the third quarter. He hasn’t been as damaging recently as in previous years, so hopefully this game could represent a turn of form for him.
• Michael Barlow: Came back from injury with style, racking up 32 disposals and kicking a bonus three goals. Palmer is the still getting the most attention from taggers, allowing Barlow to rack up the ball free of any attention.
• Graham Johncock: Dominated on Ballantyne (until he fired up in the last quarter) and played a great rebounding game, whilst also dropping forward on a couple of occasions. Looks in good form after his injury and suspension and appears to be pretty good value.

Disappointing:

• Adam McPhee: Played at full-forward and did very little except for fall over. Showed some form in the past two weeks, but is clearly now back to his old ways.
• Kurt Tippett: Not surprisingly, Tarrant did a number on him, allowing him to only the one goal. He looked much fitter against the Saints last week, so surely his best isn’t far off.
• Jason Porplyzia: Well held by Duffield and was hardly sighted – he even missed a set-shot, which is totally unlike him. He may be cheap at the moment, but doesn’t look any good.

Blip on the Radar:

• Tyson Edwards: Played a brilliant last game, but unfortunately it was just that – his last game. Goodbye to one of the greater Dream Team players of the past decade!

North Melbourne vs Brisbane:

Looking Good:

• Tom Rockliff: Stepped up in the second half with the rest of the team and seemed to be everywhere, racking up 29 touches for the game. After two tons in a row, questions will begin to be asked about where this kid sits in everyone’s teams – is he still first emergency, or does one of the underperforming premiums get the flick?
• Andrew Swallow: Found himself under every pack through the game, and whilst only touching the ball 21 times, his 7 tackles and two goals really buffered his score. He was a big reason for the Roos win.
• Travis Johnstone: Johnstone spent plenty of time steaming off the backline, playing just the kind of footy he loves – uncontested. Plenty of kick-to-kick games did buffer his score, although he did work hard for plenty of his 37 disposals and 16 marks.

Disappointing:

• Ash McGrath: After I put the weight of the DT world on his shoulders the past two weeks, he succumbed to a hamstring injury in the second quarter. Bugger.
• David Hale: Did nothing. Maybe just a little bit? No – nothing.
• Jared Brennan: Vossy was spruiking before the match “I got Brennan back a week early from his ankle injury!” But what he meant to say was “I got Brennan back a week TOO early…” Was clearly underdone and performed accordingly!

Blip on the Radar:

• Lachlan Hansen: Played the game out at full-forward and looked OK, but nothing amazing. The last thing you want to do at this time of year is trade ANOTHER inconsistent performer into your team.

West Coast vs Geelong:

Looking Good:

• Beau Waters: Mark, kick, mark kick, etc. This was pretty much Beau’s game – not that I’m complaining in the slightest, but he played on a HFF and was treated to plenty of marks and then kicks before the ball entered the Eagle’s forward-50.
• Paul Chapman: Was the main driver for the Cats and one of their only consistent performers across the four quarters. He finished with 32 disposals for the game, but hardly tackled which was disappointing. And still, he hasn’t scored below 100 once this season.
• Jimmy Bartel: It wasn’t his type of game, but still he played reasonably through the midfield. He did actually produce a lot of turnovers, but at least continues to win the hard ball and tackle hard – all we ask of him for dream team.

Disappointing:

• James Podsiadly: Had a game to forget – firstly, he didn’t kick his mandatory five goals, then he got reported for an errant elbow and also seemed to injure his groin late in the game. We will now be watching how his week unfolds closer than usual.
• Scott Selwood: Needs to learn from his brother (Adam that is – Troy wouldn’t help…) the art of winning his own ball whilst also shutting down an opponent. Moved to Gary when Adam was injured it and hardly touched it after.
• Cameron Mooney: Rolled his ankle early on and struggled for the rest of the game with only 6 disposals and no goals.

Blip on the Radar:

• David Wojcinski: Wojo’s game is perfectly suited to Subi – in fact, if he played for West Coast or Fremantle he could be a much better player. But unfortunately, he only plays on the wide ground twice a year, and in between those two games he does very little in many other games. He is a pure impact player and does very little in the DT department.

Sydney vs Essendon:

Looking Good:

• Jude Bolton: Played off Watson and had a stellar game, not only racking up 36 disposals, but laying 12 tackles too. He is a great grunt-work player and this game really suited him.
• Shane Mumford: Is fast becoming one of the better tap-ruckman in the league, finishing with over 40 tap-outs for the second week in a row. He is beginning to look very consistent and could be a great mid-priced option for those in the market for a ruckman.
• Patrick Ryder: Only the 12 possessions, but worked hard across the ground, laying 7 tackles and having two shots on goal. Is capable of stepping up if Hille misses with his hamstring injury.

Disappointing:

• David Hille: After a terrible start with a statless first quarter, he went down with a hamstring injury part way through the second, killing plenty of coaches chances of victory with a measly 10 points.
• Daniel Hannebery: After a BOG performance last week, he was rather ineffective this week with only 11 disposals. He is still my pick for rising star, but up and down form is to be expected from a kid of only 19 years.
• David Myers: There was a lovely interview with Myers in the Sunday Herald Sun where he talked up his newfound consistency and spot in the team – unfortunately he might have spoken too soon, only clocking up 6 handballs and 2 tackles for the game.

Blip on the Radar:

• Mark McVeigh: Whilst ‘Spike’ did step up with rebounding duties in this game and even drifted forward for a goal, he has already proven this year that his role is not typically an attacking one, being stuck deep in defence on a small forward. He may be cheap, but this game is simply a trap!

Hawthorn vs Port Adelaide:

Looking Good:

• Luke Hodge: Played up forward this week (just to change things up!) and kicked 1.5, which was slightly disappointing (just imagine if he’d kicked straight!). He did make up for it with an otherwise great game with 26 disposals and 10 marks by the end of the game.
• Travis Boak: Boak is fast becoming Port’s best player and had his skills on display, nearly giving enough to win the game for Port. He, like the rest of his teammates, has taken tackling to a new level, finishing with 11 himself for the game.
• Domenic Cassisi: Cassisi started with a bang, racking up a whopping five tackles in the first three minutes of play! He ended the game on 14 with 20 disposals to go alongside it.

Disappointing:

• Chad Cornes: Another game up forward for the veteran where he had no effect on the game. It couldn’t even be said he played a defensive forward game as his direct opponent Guerra had 24 disposals.
• Clinton Young: After an injury plagued 2009, Young was finally coming into some form before he injured his quad in the second quarter – he may spend several weeks on the sidelines to recover.
• Matthew Broadbent: After I talked his game up last week, he did very little in this one. Perhaps he is a wet weather specialist, or perhaps he is just inconsistent.

Blip on the Radar:

• Rick Ladson: We have had 11 rounds of football in 2010 to see that Ladson is not going to reach his 2008 level. A role as a midfield tagger and a couple of goals helped his score this week, but I wouldn’t be counting on it too frequently.

Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs:

Looking Good:

• Scott Pendlebury: Won the medal for best on ground in a solid four-quarter performance. He didn’t do anything incredible, but stuck to his job, even when the Dogs pressed late. The Dogs didn’t give him much of an opponent which helped.
• Matthew Boyd: Was huge in the last quarter when the Dogs made their unsuccessful press and finally looked back into some ball-winning form. He combines very well with Cooney in the middle, and if this last quarter was anything to go by, the Dogs might finally have re-found their kicking boots.
• Alan Didak: Was great all game, but especially early. This is one of the first times this year where Didak has really broken a tag. He only looked effected by Picken when he drifted forward and seemed on his own for great lengths of the game.

Disappointing:

• Shaun Higgins: Spent most of the game having his dodgy ankle worked on by the medical staff, meaning he was on and off the ground every five minutes. He finally succumbed in the last quarter and played no further part.
• Daniel Giansiracusa: Played a forward tag on Heath Shaw and saw very little of the ball. I was more disappointed that he wasn’t moved up the ground when Higgins went down with injury – his scoring as a forward this year has been less than ordinary.
• Paul Medhurst: This was his first game back from injury and he was poor – Leon finally fired as the small forward and Medhurst saw very little ball coming his way. May get better, but if you’re waiting for him to dominate a game you may be waiting a while.

Blip on the Radar:

• Will Minson: Played more as a permanent forward than usual and took a couple of decent marks. However, inconsistency has plagued Minson’s career, so don’t expect a turnaround now. Look to Mumford if you want a mid-priced ruck.