Prediction 2025 Best 23

[eth-dog]

Bit harsh on Hobbsy. He definitely made a few errors, but I feel like we need to live with them, to some degree. Also, it'd be a bit hypocritical to not play Hobbs because he looks like a 'panic merchant' when we have McGrath as our VC...

Not really. He worked hard but he made more than "a few errors". He had 8 Clangers. 8. And as far as McGrath, his turnovers are mostly at least 50+ metres further along than where he is rather than the exact spot he's standing. He also has an outside game due to his speed and more often than not he finds a target. Hobbs is slow and his kicking is shocking, not to mention he has no idea what to do with the ball when he finds himself in space

 

[ghostdog]

Bit harsh on Hobbsy. He definitely made a few errors, but I feel like we need to live with them, to some degree. Also, it'd be a bit hypocritical to not play Hobbs because he looks like a 'panic merchant' when we have McGrath as our VC...

McGrath's clangers are negligible next to last night's Ben Hobbs.

We didn't play Tsatas last year until he fixed his kicking. Why should Hobbs be privileged an easy in to the seniors?

Setterfield's disposal by foot was far superior. Hobbs needs to go and fix his. It will cost us a game or more the way it is.

 

[bombreys]

Not really. He worked hard but he made more than "a few errors". He had 8 Clangers. 8. And as far as McGrath, his turnovers are mostly at least 50+ metres further along than where he is rather than the exact spot he's standing. He also has an outside game due to his speed and more often than not he finds a target. Hobbs is slow and his kicking is shocking, not to mention he has no idea what to do with the ball when he finds himself in space

Last night wasn't his best on that front, that's for sure. Agree his slow and his mid-long range kicking was/is ordinary - if it were up to me, I'd give him another chance early on in the season. I'd like to see the reward for effort. If he has similar clanger/turnover numbers, then off to the VFL.

 

[bombreys]

McGrath's clangers are negligible next to last night's Ben Hobbs.

We didn't play Tsatas last year until he fixed his kicking. Why should Hobbs be privileged an easy in to the seniors?

Setterfield's disposal by foot was far superior. Hobbs needs to go and fix his. It will cost us a game or more the way it is.

Not negligible - McGrath had two you could argue set up direct Geelong goals. One was a handball at a teammate's feet, which are awful in the D50.

I don't think you can call playing Hobbs an 'easy in'. I'd be fine with Setterfield playing ahead of Hobbs, but I do think some are being a touch harsh on Hobbs.

 

[crackers65]

Didn’t watch much of the game last night. At one stage McGrath had two turnovers that cost goals. He wasn’t trying to take the game on, they were just terrible disposals.CLANGERS!

 

[ant555]

Hobbs not an impact player for me. Gresham was a passenger in the first half but got going in the second half, I don't think that earns him a starting spot.

Hobbs was a panic merchant last night away from the contest, a vital area for him to improve upon. Look beyond the stats. They also play completely different spots, one is playing as a forward, the other a mid. I think Edwards will impact more forward of centre than Hobbs will.

Coach wants pressure. Hobbs provided the most pressure and most tackles including back half pressure. Disposal was crap yes but our focus so far this pre season has been pressure and team defence.
After watching the game a few times there were plenty of crap disposals from both sides.
I may be wrong but they have pretty much played Hobbs whenever he has been fit other than playing Parish in front of him last year.
I think he will be on the bench and part of the midfield rotation and Durham will play a bit more forward.

 

[ant555]

McGrath's clangers are negligible next to last night's Ben Hobbs.

We didn't play Tsatas last year until he fixed his kicking. Why should Hobbs be privileged an easy in to the seniors?

Setterfield's disposal by foot was far superior. Hobbs needs to go and fix his. It will cost us a game or more the way it is.

Setterfield was just as bad and he has no spread.

 

[ghostdog]

Not negligible - McGrath had two you could argue set up direct Geelong goals. One was a handball at a teammate's feet, which are awful in the D50.

I don't think you can call playing Hobbs an 'easy in'. I'd be fine with Setterfield playing ahead of Hobbs, but I do think some are being a touch harsh on Hobbs.

Hobbs handballed directly to Atkins which led to a goal.

Setterfield was just as bad and he has no spread.

I haven't finished watching the game again but that's not how I remember it.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Brad leaked the round one side to me.

B: Ridley - McKay - McGrath
HB: Redman - Reid - Shiel
C: Duursma - Merrett - Martin
HF: Durham - Caddy - Gresham
F: Langford - Draper - Kako
R: Bryan - Tsatas - Caldwell
I/C: Perkins - Prior - Roberts - Jones
Sub: Hobbs

This is the 23. Feels pretty clear after Monday.

 

[ant555]

Hobbs handballed directly to Atkins which led to a goal.

I haven't finished watching the game again but that's not how I remember it.

Hobbs disposal 55% eff
Setterfield disposal 53% eff
They where both poor.

Setterfield looks like he is running in concrete boots. The only real plus I saw for him was he blocked well and had a couple of nice clearances.

I base it on watching the game then looking at the stats and then watching it again. Not really seeing Setters being any better myself.

 

[ghostdog]

Hobbs disposal 55% eff
Setterfield disposal 53% eff
They where both poor.

Setterfield looks like he is running in concrete boots. The only real plus I saw for him was he blocked well and had a couple of nice clearances.

I base it on watching the game then looking at the stats and then watching it again. Not really seeing Setters being any better myself.

I can appreciate that. I probably responded emotionally, having recalled a couple of kicks that looked pretty slick to me. Hobbs' were probably more memorable because he found so much of it, and that kick for goal was a howler.

 

[ghostdog]

Hobbs not an impact player for me. Gresham was a passenger in the first half but got going in the second half, I don't think that earns him a starting spot.

Hobbs was a panic merchant last night away from the contest, a vital area for him to improve upon. Look beyond the stats. They also play completely different spots, one is playing as a forward, the other a mid. I think Edwards will impact more forward of centre than Hobbs will.

Interesting. Was Hobbs worse than Duursma? Hobbs was stronger at contested, and although he fluffed kicks he also gave us lots of opportunity. Why not put Roberts on Duursma's wing and Hobbs or Setterfield on the bench?

 

[bombreys]

Hobbs handballed directly to Atkins which led to a goal.

I haven't finished watching the game again but that's not how I remember it.

Yeah, and like I said, his disposal was poor. But again, if we're going to forgive 26 year old Vice Captain Andrew McGrath, we should also be forgiving 21 year old Ben Hobbs. To say the difference in turnovers is negligible is not accurate.

 

[Bombers36]

Lav McKay McGrath
Redman Ridley Roberts
Martin Caldwell Duursma
Guelfi Langford Gresham
Edwards 2MP Kako

Draper Durham Merrett

Bench: Tsatas Parish Johnson Caddy
SUB: Perkins