VFL Round 1: Essendon vs Williamstown, Hangar, Saturday 22/03/25, 3:05 PM

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

The VFL team has started using the ball a little bit like the seniors after a nice start.

 

[Yoda_]

The VFL team has started using the ball a little bit like the seniors after a nice start.

breeze to the left of screen so not unusual to be how topsy - turvy its been

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

What a flurry in the 5 mins since my last post. Way to fight against a flag favourite.

 

[brutus76]

94-83 we win

Lewis Hayes had 11 touches in Q1 when the footy was hot - ended up with 27
Hately 28
O'Neill 25
Zak Johnson 19
Angus Clarke 17
Gerreyn 3.1 from 12 touches might get a game to replace Jones or Caddy

 

[Yoda_]

Good game of football, ebbed and flowed all day. Went into the last with a bit of a challenge but fought it out till the end and came away with an 11 - point win.

3 goals to Sellars, Gearyn, Nyko, singles to Lual, Unwin, Peris Eckersley and Day-Wicks put on an all round good performance on the day.

My best 5 were;

Jackson Lately, 28 possessions, 7 clearances didn't stop all day
Cam Nyko, finished with 3 goals from 17 possessions, worked into in the second half and really stood up
Lewis Hayes, 27 possessions and 16 marks. A rock, was very good but dont get sucked into his stats. The old chip around, Michael Hurley style padded out his stats.
Zak Johnson & Jayden Nguyễn were both good in defence, constantly tried to make things happen. Think they both could surprise later in the year

Onto Weribee next week (11:05am, NEC Hangar) where we will find out where we are at

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

So used to the seniors and their pea hearts that I thought we were cooked, great win.

Hayes surely needs to get a game over Prior next week. Johnson and Clarke are still a bit raw, but I can see them getting a crack in seniors in the back half of the year. Nguyen is incredibly impressive for someone his size, wouldn't mind seeing him get a game later in the year too.

 

[naraku]

Sounds like Hayes REALLY needs to come into the side with Zak, ADW, Clarke and Nguyen to possibly get look ins soon.

At least that's something positive from today.

 

[Yoda_]

May as well go through each of the AFL listed guys;

Angus Clarke (mainly rebounding defender), really impressive kid. uses he ball well and looked to take the game on. Often got him confused with Johnson but a big positive for mine.

Alwyn Davey Jnr (fwd) a bit of a nothing game, didn't see a whole lot. Had one moment of magic that led to a simple shot on goal which he flunked but overall, is just going after a bit of time off.

Archer Day Wicks (fwd) put his first shot on goal through and thought he'd got a second but impressive signs playing a hybrid fwd/mid role roaming up to half back.

Saad El-Hawli (wing) another who was a bit of a nothing, tried hard but went missing in the second half, may have been injured/rested but yeah. Nothing really major to note.

Kayle Gearyn (full fwd), showed some really impressive fwd craft at times and finished with 3 goals 1 from 12 touches. Impressive athlete who may surprise at the back end of this year.

Todd Goldstein (ruck) rucked almost exclusively all day, took the honours against Tom Downie and tried to get around the ground. Not a huge day but did enough.

Lewis Hayes (full back / centre half back), dont be fooled by his stats, a lot of kick mark when shifting the defence side - to - side. Still, he did what needed to be done against a very good VFL forward (in Brodie McLachlan). If needed, a KPD may be debuting next week

Zak Johnson (defence) another who was used behind the ball alot. 19 possessions in a debut season outing was impressive. Overall seemed to use it well enough. Liked his dare.

Luamon Lual (utility) played a bit of everywhere, a typical Lual game. Showed endeavour but lacked polish to really turn the game on its head. I liked what he did today and think he may be trying to turn a corner. whether it becomes anything by years end who knows, but can see something is clicking.

Jayden Nguyễn (small defender), another who was used behind the ball, thought his decision making was top notch which has always been a strength. Ran himself into trouble a couple of times but overall thought he performed really well. Again, another who won't surprise me to debut later in the year.

Rhys Unwin (??) not sure where but popped up here there and everywhere including a crucial goal in the last to help confirm the tide in our favour in the last quarter. Has some wheels in one piece of play where he dashed from the back pocket and tried to use it neatly. A nice little player

 

[Yoda_]

Of the VFL guys,

Jackson Hatley and Xavier O'Neil stood tall and competed, think they are very good for the young group.

Cam Nyko is really growing as a player, turned he tide in the las quarter with two really special goals.


Not much else to report, my boy Matt Foley didn't play but can see why with so much AFL youth played behind the ball

 

[Squeaky]

Sounds like Hayes REALLY needs to come into the side with Zak, ADW, Clarke and Nguyen to possibly get look ins soon.

At least that's something positive from today.

Well said

 

[ant555]

Alwyn Davey Jnr (fwd) a bit of a nothing game, didn't see a whole lot. Had one moment of magic that led to a simple shot on goal which he flunked but overall, is just going after a bit of time off.

16 possessions. 4 tackles. 3 score involvements. Sort of there abouts for his first hit out of the year. better than some of his 10 possession 1 tackle games.

 

[Yoda_]

16 possessions. 4 tackles. 3 score involvements. Sort of there abouts for his first hit out of the year. better than some of his 10 possession 1 tackle games.

yeah, was a so-so game. Looked like he wanted to tear it apart but just couldn't get fully going.

Still, one game into the season and build his fitness back up.

 

[dank420_]

Can one watch this anywhere? I need a palette cleanser

 

[ant555]

Can one watch this anywhere? I need a palette cleanser

AFL site. Match center. 2025 VFL

 

[Mercuri Rising]

A few shots from Sat:

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Cam Nyko is really growing as a player, turned he tide in the las quarter with two really special goals.

Have always been a big advocate for taking him. Just a solid base of unrelenting competitiveness. He would be a really nice half forward option for us right now.

 

[Zach Package]

Wouldn’t have been unhappy if we took Nyko as a mid season or end of season rookie. A promising young player in the Archie Roberts mould.

 

[eth-dog]

Got around to watching the replay. Good game against a team that will be in finals contention.The fact that the lead never went beyond 3 goals either way shows how close it was all game. My thoughts (remember this is off a screen, won't be able to give great insights):

#17 Todd Goldstein: Dominated the ruck as he should, against one of the better non-AFL listed rucks in the comp. I think he'll retire before the MSD honestly.
#18 Lewis Hayes: He put together one of his more complete games but I did still see him trailing on the lead a couple of times against Impey.
#19 Kayle Gerreyn: He's raw, he's big and strong and athletic but geez, there's something there. Doubt he plays this year but maybe next year.
#33 Alwyn Davey jr: Only played second half but looked quick and clean. One of the better VFL performances from him, maybe the penny has dropped?
#34 Luamon Lual: He works hard but I struggle to see it with him. His kicking is pretty bad and he doesn't find a lot of it. Only way I can see him making it is as a lock down defender.
#36 ANgus Clarke: Hoofs it. I really really like him, marks well and as I said above, a really good user most of the time. Medium defender of the future.
#38 Rhys Unwin: Didn't see him a lot, only the 12 touches but his pressure seemed good (hard to tell on the laptop) and kicked the sealer.
#40 Zak Johnson: My boy had a very strong start to the year. He played half back very well, looked composed under pressure and kicked well.
#41 Saad El-Hawli: Only played the first half, could be in line for a debut? Thought he used the ball well but again, only played the first half.
#42 Jayden Nguyen: Apart from not conceding a rushed behind in the third and turning it over whilst they were on a roll I thought he played well. Used it well for the most part.
#44 Archer Day-Wicks: This kid has it. Half forward/wing, great left boot and didn't really waste it. Surprised he only had the 11 touches, felt like a mid to high teens game.

Good win against a strong oppo, with the reigning premiers next week.

 

[Yoda_]

eth-dog interesting selections for coaches votes for round 1, cbs working out who gave votes to whom but half and half is interesting enough

(8) Cam Nyko (Essendon)
(6) Jackson Hately (Essendon)
(5) Lewis Hayes (Essendon
(3) Hugo Hall-Kahan (Williamstown)
(3) Tyler Sellers (Essendon)
(2) Nathan Colenso (Williamstown)
(2) Xavier O'Neil (Essendon)
(1) Finn O'Dwyer