So trying to understand why Ellis is so frustrating for supporters I took a close look at Ellis's first quarter and it is abundantly clear to me that he just doesn't have urgency. Whilst he does run high kilometres, it's when there's a ball to be won or a chase required or just needs to get back on a man to prevent them being an out option he shows absolute zero urgency, he just jogs around. Here is my review of quarter 1, did a couple of good basic things but overall just costly to us - contributed directly to 2 goals for Brisbane in that first.
clock at 20 mins: Ellis lines up on wing against Robinson
15: receives handball from Edwards & handball to Graham - simple decision - tick from me
15: Graham starting on wing, Ellis off
11: Ellis back on
11: Ellis ignores Brisbane player Berry on his own inside f50 on his outside to, I'm not sure what, fill a hole? Berry receives the ball for a shot on goal. Ellis stands the mark.
9: free to Tigers, advantage to Ellis, handball to Lambert - again simple decision - tick from me
9: Ball hits ground & ruckman Stef Martin beats Ellis in one on one to get team ball out to team mate - Ellis should be winning those contests on the ground
8: Raynor just runs away with the ball from Ellis - no determination whatsoever - just concedes
7: no urgency from Ellis to get back onto McCarthy as Brisbane looking for an out from backline. Ball goes over Ellis head to McCarthy. Then McCarthy just runs around wing side & no urgency from Ellis on the mark. Concedes.
5: Baker wins clearance, handball to Ellis who fumbles itwith outstretched arms under pressure (it was straight to his chest should have at very least held it in), instead ball spills to opp & Neale kicks a goal
2: Best & worst of Ellis in 1 play: Raynor streams forward, kick is smothered by Ellis. Fantastic work. Ellis then just stands & watches Raynor run past him to receives a kick from the smother rebound& shot on goal. Infuriating stuff. No urgency, no block, no awareness.
1: Ellis receives a handball fro Houli then gives a what 50cm handball to Short who gets collared and turned over. No awareness. Also Short's fault for calling for it.
The problem is he doesn't play the Tiger way. We are so used to our players hassling and pressuring at every opportunity. If you're in the vicinity hammer them, pressure them, niggle them. I understand he's predominantly an outside player but he contributed to 2 goals in just that 1st quarter and he's not even a backman. Crazy thing is I've seen him show an aggressive side, he can do it. I just don't know why he chooses to be, in effect, lazy. Yes he runs a long way but so does a marathon runner. It;'s not marathon runners we need. Only explanation I have is he's switched out, just going through the motions knowing he's leaving.
clock at 20 mins: Ellis lines up on wing against Robinson
15: receives handball from Edwards & handball to Graham - simple decision - tick from me
15: Graham starting on wing, Ellis off
11: Ellis back on
11: Ellis ignores Brisbane player Berry on his own inside f50 on his outside to, I'm not sure what, fill a hole? Berry receives the ball for a shot on goal. Ellis stands the mark.
9: free to Tigers, advantage to Ellis, handball to Lambert - again simple decision - tick from me
9: Ball hits ground & ruckman Stef Martin beats Ellis in one on one to get team ball out to team mate - Ellis should be winning those contests on the ground
8: Raynor just runs away with the ball from Ellis - no determination whatsoever - just concedes
7: no urgency from Ellis to get back onto McCarthy as Brisbane looking for an out from backline. Ball goes over Ellis head to McCarthy. Then McCarthy just runs around wing side & no urgency from Ellis on the mark. Concedes.
5: Baker wins clearance, handball to Ellis who fumbles itwith outstretched arms under pressure (it was straight to his chest should have at very least held it in), instead ball spills to opp & Neale kicks a goal
2: Best & worst of Ellis in 1 play: Raynor streams forward, kick is smothered by Ellis. Fantastic work. Ellis then just stands & watches Raynor run past him to receives a kick from the smother rebound& shot on goal. Infuriating stuff. No urgency, no block, no awareness.
1: Ellis receives a handball fro Houli then gives a what 50cm handball to Short who gets collared and turned over. No awareness. Also Short's fault for calling for it.
The problem is he doesn't play the Tiger way. We are so used to our players hassling and pressuring at every opportunity. If you're in the vicinity hammer them, pressure them, niggle them. I understand he's predominantly an outside player but he contributed to 2 goals in just that 1st quarter and he's not even a backman. Crazy thing is I've seen him show an aggressive side, he can do it. I just don't know why he chooses to be, in effect, lazy. Yes he runs a long way but so does a marathon runner. It;'s not marathon runners we need. Only explanation I have is he's switched out, just going through the motions knowing he's leaving.
