IT'S ONLY A SCRATCH MATCH =0
SF won by 51 points.
Was a pretty hard at it game and tough inside. A little congested but SF were able to use slick handball to eventually break open the game. Cl kicked the first 3 and only goals of the first quarter going with a strong breeze to SF 5 behinds I think it was. Pretty even at half time with SF 4.8 to Cl 4.5 roughly. We then managed to kick 4-5 goals into the breeze and kept them relatively scoreless and did the same in the last kicking 4 goals to 1.
What impressed me most was the quickness of the midfield. Swarmed Cl in the end and were able to break away from congested areas as the game wore on. Fitness seemed really good too.
Sellar looked very impressive. Won his battle with Seaby, took marks around the ground and ran hard to get forward. Quite mobile he is and could have a big year.
Pullman played, offered a target, Saunders kicked 4 or 5 and looked dangerous although he attacks the ball like a crazy man!! Hams bobbed up with 2 or 3 and looked dangerous one out on the square. Strom was used as the 2nd ruckman and down back as a KPP and did well.
But the most exciting thing tonight was watching the 3 aboriginal fellas in Pickett, Kelly and Martinez take the game apart with pure class, skill and speed. Pickett would have to be one of the quickest blokes across the turf I have ever seen. He played off half back for a bit and ran through the middle several times bouncing the ball and doing what he wanted slicing through who ever was there and delivering the ball beautifully. Martinez and Kelly seem to ready to really have a big impact now after 2-3 years experience. Very exciting!!
The backline of Ross, McIntosh, Strom, Mills (tall fella from QLD) at times and Whitey did very well swarming and running off.
Bewick played and did some good things and got plenty of it. Schloithe and Hams showed steadiness, Cook and Gugs saw enough of it and Sokol, Maskos and Verrier did some good things too.
Haze very calm at qu time etc - they seem very much organised and they know what they have to do this year to be in it. Miller is like a coach out on the field which is a huge blessing for us.
Ressies lost by 48 points which was surprising. Playing in that side were Parry, Collica, Carter, Bairstow, Borovac, Bolger. Didn't notice any of the following playing in the league or ressies - Gulley, Monaco, Gillespie (was listed on the team sheet), Burnett, Shergza (think he is injured, did see him there tonight), Andreoli, Lewis Harvey.
Colts lost by 10 points but saw none of that one.
For Cl - Matt Goyder came off with a bad leg injury it seemed and late in the game Sam Fong limped off also. Blackwell, Murphy, Orzel and Foster had enough of the ball to know they will be a handful again but they may not have enough help as they have had in previous years? Only kicked 6 goals for the game against a very inexperienced SF backline may be an issue . . . but it is only a scratchy.
Not a bad crowd there tonight also. Had a private function inside the clubroom tonight so couldn't even get in there, maybe that's why the crowd seemed a little more than usual scratch matches.
Peel next week @ Peel. We shall see who comes in and who goes out and how we go.
Good signs so far - good youth and pace with some damaging talls.
Cheers =)