Seagulls vs Scorpions @ Casey Fields

[GVGjr]

I ventured at to Casey Fields today to see the Seagulls take on Casey Scorpions.

The ground was in terrific condition and the weather was brilliant with barely a cloud in the sky although it did get to about 26 or 27 by the end of the main game.

The Seagulls reserves team had an easy win and were clearly too strong for their opponents.

For the Bulldog listed players:
Sam Reid played midfield probably ruck rover and was one of the best players on the ground. Whilst his left hand is still bandaged from the fracture it didn't impeded him at all even spoiling a few marks with his left hand. He ran tirelessly and was typically coming off around the 15 to 20 minute mark of each quarter before head back on about 5 minutes later.
Jarrad Boumann played as the CHF and at times showed his ability but equally he also looked disinterested at times. Even at the quarter and 3 quarter time addresses he wasn't fully focused on the messages the coaches were trying to get through. He injured his shoulder in a marking contest where he eventually hit the ground and was off the park for about 10 minutes before reappearing.
Henry White played in a variety of positions but probably mainly played as a defender. Its fair to say that this season is purely a development one for him but he started to get a bit of the footy later in the match.
John Shaw played in the ruck and was rotated on and off the field a fair bit. His ruck work was generally good and he even held a few marks around the ground. A few of the other spectators I was talking to seemed to think he was great selection for us.
James Mulligan and Easton Wood didn't play but both were at the ground. Mulligan looked fit enough so I'm not sure what the problem was.

For the Seagulls, Jayden Post had a big game as a key forward and in the 3rd quarter in particular he was leading well and holding his marks and then converting his chances. Very good game for him.
Murray Boyd was solid in defence. Dean Galea who reported last week in the firsts and will be missing against Werribee next week was lively around the forward line.


For the Seagulls senior team who had another impressive win against a Scorpion team that had the likes of Michael Rix, Andrew McQualter, Ben McEvoy, Sean Dempster and Brendan Goddard running around.

For the Bulldogs listed players:
Wayde Skipper started on the bench and was used in the ruck and up forward. Clearly short of a gallop, Skip got better as the game went on. He still had his leap and held a few marks.
Callan Ward roamed around everywhere and seemed to start in the midfield before moving forward. He ran strongly and of course read the play very well even displaying a pick pocket effort when he was outnumbered that resulted in a goal. Perhaps a career as an David Copperfield type illusionist awaits Cal.
Andrew McDougall played in defence and was a solid performer. He missed some opportunities to really make his mark but it was a 4 quarter effort by Doogs today.
Jarrad Grant played as a forward and while he didn't stamp himself on the game at all he started to get into the groove as the game wore on.
Guy O'Keefe was a very solid performer probably one of the best listed players. He speed, decision making and kicking were all very good and on top of that he ran hard throughout the game. Often his kicks into the forward 50 hit their mark.
Tim Callan was used as a defender and a midfielder who pushed into the forward line. Unfortunately for Callan his disposal let him down and he missed two very gettable opportunities in the 3 quarter which took the shine off his game.
Jarrod Harbrow made a return today and displayed his normal hard running. Like a few of the guys coming back from injury he got better as athe game wore on and probably needs at least one more week before he could be considered for higher duties.
Paul O'Shea had a very quiet day and really wasn't noted that much.
Peter Street played as the main ruckman as you would expect and did a good job.

Players named on the score sheet but who didn't play consisted on Giansiracusa, Eagleton, Higgins, Addison and Stack.

For the Seagulls, Ben Jolley, Callum Urch, Brett Johnson, Cameron Lockwood (BOG in my opinion) and Jason Cloke all performed well.
There was some big marks today from Urch and Cloke which was a bit of a highlight.

I'll be out for a few hours but will try and answer any questions you might have.

[Raw Toast]

Ta muchly for the report, GvGjr.

Do you think O'Keefe is a chance to debut this year? He had a decent intra-club and has been fairly impressive in his other hit-outs.

What kind of game-plan was Williamstown playing and what was the forward-line set-up like?
And how did McEvoy go?

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Sam Reid sounds quite a good prospect, I'm really warming to his reports, sounds exactly the type of player we need. Is he any chance to play in the seniors next week for Willy?

Nice to hear Ward is doing well, too. From early signs, it appears as though Clayton has picked up a couple of good midfielders which I'm sure the club would be very happy with. Our depth in mids is ordinary, but with these sorts of players coming through we'll be looking pretty damaging again.

Boumann is a little worrying; sounds as though he has talent, but uses it according to his watch. Not what you want, but he is only young, so perhaps maturity will come. Nevertheless, his attitude to football clearly needs to improve or else he'll find himself clubless in a few years time.

Anybody know why Wood hasn't played? If I recall correctly, he's yet to play a match? Has he been injured all pre-season?

[GVGjr]

Ta muchly for the report, GvGjr.

Do you think O'Keefe is a chance to debut this year? He had a decent intra-club and has been fairly impressive in his other hit-outs.

What kind of game-plan was Williamstown playing and what was the forward-line set-up like?
And how did McEvoy go?

Just some quick answers as a I am about to walk out the door.

O'Keefe should be very much in the mix and should get some senior experience during the season. He still has some more work to do fitness wise because the intensity at the next level is far greater.

The forward line set-up often revolves around Cloke leading and either marking or knocking the ball to advantage. Most goals are scored by the midfield and half forward line

McEvoy was quiet. The played him as a deep forward and the Seagulls didn't make it easy to get the ball into him in a one out contest and when he was in the ruck he had either Street, Skipper or Meyer competing with him. Not an easy introduction for a developing ruckman/forward today.

[The Coon Dog]

Anybody know why Wood hasn't played? If I recall correctly, he's yet to play a match? Has he been injured all pre-season?


I thought these were interesting SCross, particularly for Easton Wood who is coming off a shoulder operation, and not even having played TAC cup footy last year.

Is there a reason you expect him to play more games than OKeefe?

Have you seen any of Reid at training? or in nat champ games?

Found this...

[Bulldog Revolution]

Great report GVGjr - great to hear how the rest of the squad is doing,

OKeefe has been very impressive so far and Shaw must have been a little unlucky not to have been selected in the seniors having been pretty impressive in the preseason.

I am of the view that it doesn't really matter what level the first year players are playing at this stage of the season, as long as they are getting the right development opportunities (which I guess is positional play balanced with game time).

As you have mentioned previously its probably better to ease them in to the workload keeping them injury free, whilst allowing them to get stronger and fitter,

[BulldogBelle]

GVG, an excellent report - thank you!

The report you had on Sam Reid is very impressive, I have heard elsewhere that this kid is so keen to succeed and that he is the type that will push himself right to the max. Looking forward to watching him develope.

[hujsh]

Was this another practice match?

[Mofra]

Players named on the score sheet but who didn't play consisted on Giansiracusa, Eagleton, Higgins, Addison and Stack.
Held back as a pure emergency for tomorrow?

BTW excellent report.

[GVGjr]

Was this another practice match?

Yes. More on the interchange bench than would be the norm.
The intensity was pretty good though and the Scorpions would have been well pleased to get game time into the likes of Goddard.

[GVGjr]

Held back as a pure emergency for tomorrow?



It's a big question and I'm not sure what the answer is. He wasn't at the game



BTW excellent report.

I realised last year that guys like Templeton31 and a lot of the guys interstate and overseas were sweating on news from the VFL listed players so when I get to a game I'll try and get a report up for them.
The Werribee reports last year were a little brief in my opinion so I'll try and expand on some of the details if possible.

[hujsh]

Great reports GVGjr, similar to the old ones by Atkins on the dogs site, would you say that Cal Ward is similar to DalSanto and if not are there any players he is like?

[GVGjr]

Great reports GVGjr, similar to the old ones by Atkins on the dogs site, would you say that Cal Ward is similar to DalSanto and if not are there any players he is like?

Dal Santo is an interesting comparison but Cal might end up a bit more versatile than him. There might not be a direct AFL comparison for Ward and I am loathe to say the one or two players that he does remind me of at this early stage because it can be a burden for anyone so young.. mjp might be in the best position to answer this anyway.

By the way, for what it's worth I didn't rate Atkins reports that highly last year. Good to read if you didn't get to the game but average when you did go.

[mjp]

For the Seagulls, Jayden Post had a big game as a key forward and in the 3rd quarter in particular he was leading well and holding his marks and then converting his chances. Very good game for him.

Interesting. Post is playing TAC Cup again this year under the 19yo rule. I watched him take Calder apart in a TAC Cup trial game two years ago and he was good as a CHB for the Jets last year. A real talent.



For the Seagulls, Ben Jolley, Callum Urch, Brett Johnson, Cameron Lockwood (BOG in my opinion) and Jason Cloke all performed well.


Sorry but he should be on an AFL list. If the recruiters think he isn't up to it, they are wrong.

[GVGjr]

Interesting. Post is playing TAC Cup again this year under the 19yo rule. I watched him take Calder apart in a TAC Cup trial game two years ago and he was good as a CHB for the Jets last year. A real talent.


I wasn't aware that he was going around with the TAC again. His leading, marking and conversion today was very good. He is skinny but has one of those frames that would fill out nicely in a couple of seasons. Just looking at him he appeared to be about the same height as Jarrad Grant.



Sorry but he should be on an AFL list. If the recruiters think he isn't up to it, they are wrong.
Lockwood showed today that he was a class above and even when pitted against McQualter he was clearly the better player.
The recruiters sure do make it difficult for the shorter guys.

[hujsh]

By the way, for what it's worth I didn't rate Atkins reports that highly last year. Good to read if you didn't get to the game but average when you did go.

I found them similar for rating each and every player and i was one who didn't see the games.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Lockwood showed today that he was a class above and even when pitted against McQualter he was clearly the better player.
The recruiters sure do make it difficult for the shorter guys.

This is what I can't understand. What's the fixation upon height? Sure, a 190cm athletic midfielder is handy but there are a number of smaller players in years gone by that could have/should have played AFL Football. It's frustrating; too much emphasis is put on how fast a player runs, how high he jumps, what he stands etc.

If a player can cut it in VFL level amongst bigger players, why shouldn't he be given a shot? Pure footballers who can find the ball, dispose of the ball & read the play are just as valuable as 190cm running midfielders.

TAC Cup/VFL are the same, plenty of young guns that have missed out on playing at a higher level because they're "too short". Absolute rubbish.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Found this...

Cheers TCD.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Lockwood showed today that he was a class above and even when pitted against McQualter he was clearly the better player.
The recruiters sure do make it difficult for the shorter guys.

Yep they do make it hard: I know these are guys that made it onto AFL lists but Harbrow, Foley and Jake King are all interesting examples with their own unique path

[mjp]

Dal Santo is an interesting comparison but Cal might end up a bit more versatile than him. There might not be a direct AFL comparison for Ward and I am loathe to say the one or two players that he does remind me of at this early stage because it can be a burden for anyone so young.. mjp might be in the best position to answer this anyway.


I have tried to do this in the past - I still say he is more James Hird than Nick Dal Santo, though I have heard a few people use the Dal Santo one in the past. Just in his ability to read the ball, and win a contested possession (similar to the way described by GVGjr in todays game) when outnumbered and seemingly through finesse or 'magic' rather than via pure brute force. He does things on a footy field that simply cannot be coached. And he can play forward (small or marking), mid, or back as required. As a defender though he tends to play more as an 'angle cutting' Guy McKenna type than as a true one-on-one player.

He is still just a kid though, and a season at Williamstown is not going to hurt him. In fact, I think it will do him the world of good...

[GVGjr]

He is still just a kid though, and a season at Williamstown is not going to hurt him. In fact, I think it will do him the world of good...

I was discussing this very point with Bulldog Revolution the other week. Long term there is no harm in a junior player (particularly someone as young as Ward) being nursed through their first season. Typically the guys who sustain injuries early in their career have a hell of a time getting over them.

Josh Fraser was one of the best junior footballers I have ever seen and really the Pies wrecked him for the longer term by rucking him throughout his first season. He did as good as job as anyone would have hoped for but it took a huge toll on him and he is not the footballer now that he should have been.

By the way Everitt was there today with the brace on his leg. It will be a while before he gets that off.

[hujsh]

Reading about the reserves is sometimes the most enjoyable part of a footy week.

Nothing like reading about how good your 19 year olds are.

[mjp]

I was discussing this very point with Bulldog Revolution the other week. Long term there is no harm in a junior player (particularly someone as young as Ward) being nursed through their first season.

I was discussing a similar thing with Sockeye. But more along the lines of 'most of the players who have come in and done well, actually played and dominated at VFL level first'.

Case study#1: Daniel Cross (Dominated at VFL level).
Case study#2: Daniel Giansiracusa (Very good VFL player).
Case study#3: Dylan Addison (just a good average VFL player when promoted).
Case study#4: Sam Power (just a good average VFL player).

The first round picks (Cooney, Griffen etc) are obvious exceptions - and whilst I think Ward has the same level of talent that they posses, everyone needs to remember how far back in the field he was 12-18months ago. When Cooney and Griff (and Everitt, and Higgins etc) played state footy at u15 and u16 level, and were part of development squads for 5 or 6 years, Ward was not even in the '1st team' at Jets u16 level.

[westdog54]

I was discussing a similar thing with Sockeye. But more along the lines of 'most of the players who have come in and done well, actually played and dominated at VFL level first'.

Case study#1: Daniel Cross (Dominated at VFL level).
Case study#2: Daniel Giansiracusa (Very good VFL player).
Case study#3: Dylan Addison (just a good average VFL player when promoted).
Case study#4: Sam Power (just a good average VFL player).

The first round picks (Cooney, Griffen etc) are obvious exceptions - and whilst I think Ward has the same level of talent that they posses, everyone needs to remember how far back in the field he was 12-18months ago. When Cooney and Griff (and Everitt, and Higgins etc) played state footy at u15 and u16 level, and were part of development squads for 5 or 6 years, Ward was not even in the '1st team' at Jets u16 level.

Not only that, but lets not forget he's still completing his VCE.

As far as I'm concerned that should be more important to him than trying to push for senior selection.

As GVG said, absolutely no harm in nursing him through this year.

[mjp]

Not only that, but lets not forget he's still completing his VCE.

As far as I'm concerned that should be more important to him than trying to push for senior selection.

As GVG said, absolutely no harm in nursing him through this year.

I think he has split his final year as well - and will also be completing his VCE next year!

[LostDoggy]

I think he has split his final year as well - and will also be completing his VCE next year!

That sounds like a sensible plan and I hope he sticks with it.

Regarding Cameron Lockwood, is there a comparable AFL player to him ?
He sounds like a player that the Swans could have been interested in because they do seem to pick players based on their ability to do a certain job or to fulfil a need rather than the prototype AFL player that a lot of teams do.

[LostDoggy]

Thanks for that, great stuff about guy, im a real fan of him now, and cant wait to see more of him, especially in the doggies colours.

[LostDoggy]

All this talk about Cal is got me excited.

GVJr-the report in BF mentions Grants taking some pack marks. Anything to add there?

[Go_Dogs]

Great report GVGjr, very pleased to read that the guys not in the senior side all seem to be coming along nicely.

[GVGjr]

All this talk about Cal is got me excited.

GVJr-the report in BF mentions Grants taking some pack marks. Anything to add there?

I saw one good effort and a couple of missed ones. If 'some' = 3 or more pack marks I'm not sure if that is correct but I might have missed it. He did also out mark his opponent in a one-on-one contest.

He has got some spring no doubt though.

[Bulldog Revolution]

I was discussing a similar thing with Sockeye. But more along the lines of 'most of the players who have come in and done well, actually played and dominated at VFL level first'.

Case study#1: Daniel Cross (Dominated at VFL level).
Case study#2: Daniel Giansiracusa (Very good VFL player).
Case study#3: Dylan Addison (just a good average VFL player when promoted).
Case study#4: Sam Power (just a good average VFL player).

The first round picks (Cooney, Griffen etc) are obvious exceptions - and whilst I think Ward has the same level of talent that they posses, everyone needs to remember how far back in the field he was 12-18months ago. When Cooney and Griff (and Everitt, and Higgins etc) played state footy at u15 and u16 level, and were part of development squads for 5 or 6 years, Ward was not even in the '1st team' at Jets u16 level.

Its a very interesting point you make by using the case studies.

Talent (Draft position) + VFL form = Projected AFL form

Whilst it may go without saying, I guess the more I look at things, keeping a recruit injury free for a long period of time is such an important factor in building base fitness and strength as well as VFL form, and confidence.

Case study#5 Andrejs Everitt - at least in season 2007 he was also pretty close to the perfect case, allowed to adjust to the pace of VFL footy as a rebounding defender, his form steadily improved throughout the season to the point he was a very good VFL player. He was promoted and seemed to also steadily improve in the AFL game.

[Mofra]

Lockwood showed today that he was a class above and even when pitted against McQualter he was clearly the better player.
The recruiters sure do make it difficult for the shorter guys.
Not all recruiters - Priddis at WCE would be an example of a player making good after doing well at a feeder comp. Jake King was more than handy for the Tiges as well, he's no giant.
Just need someone to think outside the square occasionally and punt on someone dominating in the VFL- especially seeing how Hudson was snaffled from right under our nose a couple of years back.