Went to my first Coburg game.
Tiger players that played -
Tuck - He had a very good first half, and basically set up the win. Played on a wing and probably BOG I'd say. On his perfromance in the first half alone he should debut against the Hawks this friday. He faded in the second half and I have my doubts over his fitness - came off the ground a few times. For a medium sized player his marking is very impressive. Rate him a much better prospect than Weller on a back flank, as weller aint a key back man and Tuck is a much better well rounded player. He was very good when the ball hit the ground also. Overall a well rounded solid player - nothing spectacular and don't see him tearing games apart. See him slotting in a back flank and would definately give him a game at the moment ahead of Weller, Chaffey, Kellaway in that position.
Foley - I was most impressed with him. He didn't get too much of the ball and spent a bit of time on the bench, but what he did I liked. Moves a bit like Steve Milne. What I liked most about Foley was the way he ran. He is pacy and he zipped around packs like a true rover. Quite good hands and his skills were okay. He is a player definately well worth persisting with and looks a likely type. Would definately promote him in the seniors as he's the type of player that modern football requires. Goes in quite hard aswell. A bit light at the moment but he should fill out. A well rounded player. RFC should be looking at kids like Foley, Roach, Hartigan etc, instead of wasting draft picks on the Wellers the Fletchers and the Flemings of this world.
Gilmour - He was quiet and he seems a long way off. I was more impressed with Foley. Alex is only 17 and he has a long way to go in terms of his physical development. I didn't see too much to get too excited about and I just question RFC's thinking in drafting him with our first pick instead of more credentialed players as Gilmour seems very speculative at the moment and the risk seems very high for a first rounder. I'm sure we could have got him lower down in the draft. However he does move well and has good skills and is worth persisting with. Would struggle in the firsts.
Schulz. He was quite impressive, particularly in the first half. Probably second best after Tuck. Played FF / CHF and took some nice contested marks and presented well. Would play him ahead of Hall and Morrison at CHF and leave him there to just present and make a contest. Has the size and is ready IMO.
Hilton. Paris was the same old. Got cheap kicks and didn't do much. His days are numbered and we wont' or should not be seeing him next year. Has too many deficiencies as a footballer to persist with. Too slow and poor skills. Also was weak at the contest today.
Blumfield. Pathetic. Probably worst for Coburg. He has a long long way to go. I don't know whether he was this soft and this slow at Essendon but this is a real concern. Was bustled off the ball by undeveloped kids from Box Hill. I know he has been injured and is obviously not fit but he should not be beated so easily in a contest as he was.
Fletcher. Was OK but a very ordinary player. What was the thinking of recruiting him. Did we recruit him for Coburg. He struggles to stand out in the VFL let alone having an impact in the AFL. He is at most a yo-yo payer. One that can be selected one week and dropped the next week for the sake of making changes.
Raines. Was more developed than I thought he would be. Quite solid from where I was standing. Didn't do much and spent alot of time on the bench. Flashed in and out of the game and has a long long way to go.
Moore. Started off in pretty good fashion but then faded away. Looks a good prospect at FB but needs to develop some more. Reads the play well and is cool under pressure. Has good skills for a biggish guy. Would definately promote him at years end. Not ready ATM IMO.
Dragga. Did alot of the tough in and under work but was pretty average. His days as an AFL player are limited. His pace and skills are his biggest concerns.
Pettifer. Usual pettifer. Has no awareness, balance, and severly lacks a football brain. He cannot evade a tackle to save himself and always goes to ground. Not sure what they are trying to do with him. They are playing him as a specialised forward flanker and we all know that these types do not survive. One positive about pettifer is that he's probably the best shot at goal we've got. Kicked a couple of nice goals.
Overall good win by Coburg. Would expect Tuck and Schulz to be selected next week and be left in the team for the rest of the year. Most impressed with Foley however and is someone that can turn out to be a real good player.
