Players & Form

[JK]

Probably a few more running around, but Ryan O'Keefe is having a shocking start to the year after an excellent 2008 and staying with Sydney, whats happened to Amon Buchanan?? The lad was almost a Norm Smith medallist but I don't think I've seen him play a decent game since Sydney last played in a Grand Final.

On the other side of the equation, a couple of blokes I never really rated in Rhys Shaw and Farren Ray are playing some great footy.

[heater31]

Scott Lucas from Essendon is struggling at the minute. has had some really low numbers in the stats department (kicks in particular) and the blokes on the 5th quarter suggested that if things don't improve a spell in the VFL may be on the cards

[Pup]

Scott Lucas from Essendon is struggling at the minute. has had some really low numbers in the stats department (kicks in particular) and the blokes on the 5th quarter suggested that if things don't improve a spell in the VFL may be on the cards

It is not just his numbers either, he was terrible today, dropped easy marks, spoiled his own players and fell to the ground every time he flew for a mark.

I think he needs a spell at bendigo and if he does not improve there his time may just about be up. At the moment Essendon are carrying him and to a lesser extent Lloyd and they can not afford to do that.

[JK]

Scott Lucas from Essendon is struggling at the minute. has had some really low numbers in the stats department (kicks in particular) and the blokes on the 5th quarter suggested that if things don't improve a spell in the VFL may be on the cards

It is not just his numbers either, he was terrible today, dropped easy marks, spoiled his own players and fell to the ground every time he flew for a mark.

I think he needs a spell at bendigo and if he does not improve there his time may just about be up. At the moment Essendon are carrying him and to a lesser extent Lloyd and they can not afford to do that.

Spot on Pup, he's terribly out of form and down on confidence, which is a shame as he's been such a great player you'd hope he can go out on a high (at least as far as personal form is concerned) ... His penchant for losing his feet, even in uncontested marking situations was terrible, as invariably he'd spill the ball and become completely ineffective, almost rendering his side one man down in each passage of play it happened.

[Hondo]

Brett Ebert seems to be struggling

3 power forwards are also having slow starts in Brown, Mooney and Franklin. Mooney is carving it up to half time today however!

Hodge and Deledio have started slowly however I think their team's form and quality on the field (Hawks caused by injury) is making them the obvious hard tag/shut down targets. If their team-mates can step it up they should find is easier to get loose.

Got to feel for North Melbourne with Boomer's injury just as he seemed to have got over his own slow start. He's so important to them.

[the big bang]

i've been very happy with Josh Frasier's early form

[NO-MERCY]

Josh Frasers early form was good yet on sat he was smashed by a fella ( Ryder ) who's not a recognised ruckman & in all aspects of the game.
Anthony Rocca, Can't get near the footy & is a liability at present to Collingwood.
Brett Ebert - Out of form & needs to go back to the Magpies, has to work on his 2nd & 3rd efforts inside Ports forward line, he has good hands, good kick but struggles to earn a hard ball, he's built to get in & under but fails to do so. ( lurks outside of packs to often)
Scott Lucas - With what i saw Sat he's near enough finished, i know what he's capable of but he's down in confidence & doesn't seem to be moving all that freely.

[hearts on fire]

NO-MERCY, Ebert have a good kick? every time he has a shot for goal (not often) he misses.

[GWW]

I think Ebert is a confidence player, he's clearly down on confidence at the moment and its affecting his kicking. I was happy for him to still be in the side up until now, but having been at the game on Friday night it was obvious he needs a spell in the SANFL. At his best he's a quality player, i really hope he can return to somewhere near his best soon.

[auto]

Brett Ebert is def overdue for a break. The only thing that has saved him is who comes in for him. Besides junior Hoff theres not many options. I would put Peter Burgoyne into that forward role. I would put Shaun Burgoyne into defence on the Milne type players as he has really struggled to break the tag all year and his output has been well below whats expected of him. Robbie Gray has to go into the middle full time, he was our only player on Friday night to stand up. Some of our other players should really have a look at the way he won the contested ball on Friday night.

[the big bang]

and hondo, you may not realise that Buddy is still equal 1st in the Coleman race. i know he hasnt been his normal headline-grabbing-self, not kicking bags of 8 and whatnot. but it could also have something to do with roughead being one of the other players leading the Coleman (the other being surprise packet Eddie Betts).