by Booney » Mon May 28, 2018 9:54 am
A look at the Magpies and the form of the AFL listed players -
Ventured around to Alberton on the weekend, not sure why, it was dead set ugly.
Most notable was the game plan and how it differs from the good SANFL sides ( I've seen the ugly losses to Sturt and North this year ). The SANFL sides hold their shape, there's no KPI's for km's covered or pressure acts in defence for the key forwards, they hold their shape and the style we play ( Hinkley / AFL style ) plays into their hands.
We chip, chip, chip and arse around in the back half and gain no territory, by the time we do go longer to a contest we're outnumbered as the opposition don't have 5 blokes on the "fat side" away from the ball / contest. It was so evident on the weekend it wasn't evenly mildly amusing.
Player watch :
Pittard, 30 of the most uninspiring touches you'll ever see. He would have had 10-15 of his 17 kicks travel no more than 25m and 6-7 of his 10 marks would have been from kicks under 25m in the defensive 50. Got beaten in several one-on-ones, looks badly out of form.
Trengove, tried at least, but again too many short passes or quick gives to players under pressure. Spent too much time across half back looking for give-and-go's and not enough at the feet of the big man trying to make a contest when we kicked long down the line.
Barry, showed some pressure when the ball was in his area at least demonstrated some endeavor when he didn't have the ball, but that's because he doesn't get it enough.
Amon, less said about his performance the better, looked disinterested and was barely sighted when the chips were down and someone needed to stand up. Very disappointing.
Johnson, didn't get much opportunity in the front half as when the ball did make it down our end the numbers were heavily in North's favor ( see above, holding shape ) but for someone with his pace and endurance should have got to more contests.
Marshall, fantastic to see him back out on the ground with his mates and the AFL listed lads on the Allan Scott balcony certainly were happy to see him out there. Little impact, again, not a game plan that was helping the forwards.
McKenzie, held firm on a few occasions when under aerial assault, played fairly in the first half but dropped away in the second. All the talk about his super boot and I rarely see it used. If it's a weapon, fire the bloody thing!
Thomas, kicked Port's first and then got involved in some undisciplined stuff ( surprise ), then was barely seen until late in the third quarter when he kicked his second, half of our goal total for the day.
Hayes and Frampton won the hitouts 51-17, pity their opposite number kicked 8 goals including 3 in 3 minutes in the second quarter and had 6 I50's too boot. When Hinkley said there was no ruckman at SANFL level ready to play at AFL level he was right. Hayes looks the pick of the two at this stage.
Toumpas, Atley, Snelling all had very, very little impact on the contest.
I'll dig deep for some positives, Hewett looks to be developing in his midfield role, is a good ball user and can find space. Irra and Garner both try and take the game on when coming from defence, although the way the senior defenders run the ball out they might get in trouble for not following instruction.
All in all a very disappointing day on two fronts. The difference in game plan is glaringly obvious at SANFL level and just doesn't work against the simple structures the SANFL coaches employ. The senior players did little when the side was copping it, other than try to play keepies-off. Not enough forward impetus and I felt for the guys in the front half who spent most of the day wondering what the back half was doing.
PAFC. Forever.
LOOK OUT, WE'RE COMING!