blackshadow
Hall of Famer
Finally , I reckon we've got a footy team again! I feel genuine signs are there for everyone to see, not just us glass half-full types.
Bringing in Jack Darling, Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel has been brilliant. These guys have brought sorely missing leadership we've been crying out for for years. You can see the impact by the way the younger players are carrying themselves and staying positive when things get tough.
How good is Tristan Xerri right now? X is hands-down the best ruck in the competition at the moment. He gave the old master Max an absolute hiding yesterday.
Our midfield depth is becoming seriously impressive. Luke Davies-Uniacke is showing he’s the star we always knew he'd be, but now he's got some real talent around him. Harry Sheezel's pure class, Colby McKercher showing maturity beyond his years, Tom Powell with those clean hands, and young Finn O'Sullivan already showing his talent in his first season. Getting George Wardlaw back from injury will be huge for our contested ball. It's a real headache for opposition coaches. Tag LDU? No problem, Sheezel will tear you apart. Try to shut down Sheezel? Wardlaw, Powell, and Parker will make you pay for it. We finally have a midfield with both quality and depth.
The forward line is clicking with Larkey, Zurhaar and Curtis all in great form. Darling has made a massive difference - providing structure, leadership, and drawing defenders away and he actually leads at the ball carrier! Hansen Jr and Kostanty look promising too - our forward stocks are only going to improve.
Charlie Comben yesterday was exceptional! Showed everything you want in a key defender and has the talent to become one of the best in the competition. I was sceptical about moving him back but it’s looking like the right choice. Daniel's been a great pickup, bringing experience and elite ball use. Corr is holding down his spot well, and we'll be even stronger when we get Logue back from injury and Archer back from suspension.
Bailey Scott deserves a mention - his running capacity has gone to another level, and he's starting to hit the scoreboard regularly. His work rate and two-way running shows how much the fitness standards have improved across the whole squad.
We still turn the ball over too much, but our ball movement is the best it's been in years. When we click, it's fantastic to watch - fast, direct, and damaging.
Most importantly, this team has genuine belief now. They don't drop their heads when they're challenged - unlike North teams of recent years. Clarko and the coaching staff deserve huge credit for building this mindset of an expectation to win rather than just hoping to compete.
The rebuild is starting to pay off, and while we're not the finished product yet, we're building something special. For the first time in years, it doesn't feel like we're just making up the numbers.
Get excited!
Bringing in Jack Darling, Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel has been brilliant. These guys have brought sorely missing leadership we've been crying out for for years. You can see the impact by the way the younger players are carrying themselves and staying positive when things get tough.
How good is Tristan Xerri right now? X is hands-down the best ruck in the competition at the moment. He gave the old master Max an absolute hiding yesterday.
Our midfield depth is becoming seriously impressive. Luke Davies-Uniacke is showing he’s the star we always knew he'd be, but now he's got some real talent around him. Harry Sheezel's pure class, Colby McKercher showing maturity beyond his years, Tom Powell with those clean hands, and young Finn O'Sullivan already showing his talent in his first season. Getting George Wardlaw back from injury will be huge for our contested ball. It's a real headache for opposition coaches. Tag LDU? No problem, Sheezel will tear you apart. Try to shut down Sheezel? Wardlaw, Powell, and Parker will make you pay for it. We finally have a midfield with both quality and depth.
The forward line is clicking with Larkey, Zurhaar and Curtis all in great form. Darling has made a massive difference - providing structure, leadership, and drawing defenders away and he actually leads at the ball carrier! Hansen Jr and Kostanty look promising too - our forward stocks are only going to improve.
Charlie Comben yesterday was exceptional! Showed everything you want in a key defender and has the talent to become one of the best in the competition. I was sceptical about moving him back but it’s looking like the right choice. Daniel's been a great pickup, bringing experience and elite ball use. Corr is holding down his spot well, and we'll be even stronger when we get Logue back from injury and Archer back from suspension.
Bailey Scott deserves a mention - his running capacity has gone to another level, and he's starting to hit the scoreboard regularly. His work rate and two-way running shows how much the fitness standards have improved across the whole squad.
We still turn the ball over too much, but our ball movement is the best it's been in years. When we click, it's fantastic to watch - fast, direct, and damaging.
Most importantly, this team has genuine belief now. They don't drop their heads when they're challenged - unlike North teams of recent years. Clarko and the coaching staff deserve huge credit for building this mindset of an expectation to win rather than just hoping to compete.
The rebuild is starting to pay off, and while we're not the finished product yet, we're building something special. For the first time in years, it doesn't feel like we're just making up the numbers.
Get excited!
