Bendigo Remain Winless

VFL ROUND 11

Frankston 4.2 6.8 12.10 16.12 (108)
Bendigo Bombers 3.5 10.6 11.10 12.13 (85)

GOALS:
Frankston: Murray 5 Lourey 2 Lombardozzi 2 Proctor 2 Marigliani Conroy Berry Morris Pollard
Bendigo Bombers: Quinn 3 Neagle 2 Redpath 2 Jetta Myers Byrne Slattery Hulme

BEST:
Frankston: Hibberd Marigliani Lombardozzi Murray Pollard Magner
Bendigo Bombers: Flaherty Hurley Jetta Thomson Myers Quinn

By fogdog
In a battle of the bottom teams, Bendigo dominated the match for two and a half quarters, losing the game in the last quarter and a half predominantly by dumb decision making from Essendon listed players (Atkinson, Houli, Nash) as well as terrible coaching.

Although I don’t think any players that played today will play for Essendon on Friday, those that would be in consideration are Myers, Jetta and Bellchambers, nobody else would be looked at.

The following is a review of the Essendon listed players as best as I can remember and saw.

Myers – Easily the best player on the field, I would have thought he had at least 30 possies. He used the ball fairly well apart from his 6 behinds which were all pretty much from outside 50, including one that was a bomb from the centre circle that only just missed. He ran freely, worked hard, tackled and the most impressive thing, talked it up big time in the huddles. I scored Myers 9/10

Jetta – Jetta got a heap of it in the first half and generally used the ball well. For some stupid reason, after playing well off half back and on the wing, he was moved to the goal square for the last quarter and barely saw the ball. He moved himself into the midfield with about 10 mins to go and continued to rack them up. I scored Jetta 7/10

Bellchambers – Without being biased I thought he played a solid game. Whilst he didn’t do a lot in the ruck, he made up for it around the ground. Got a spray at 3/4 time for kicking off one step but ran like a rover and moved well for someone who was coming back from injury. Whilst he didn’t dominate, given our lack of ruck options he may be considered this week. I scored Bellchambers 5/10

Hurley – This kid is ready. He will be a superstar. He dominated the first quarter floating across the backline and continued to play well in the second until he was moved forward. The delivery to him was really poor so he didn’t do a lot up forward and was moved down back. Hickmott was trying to get him on the weakest forward but Frankston were awake to it and kept dragging him back. Wouldn’t think he’d be considered this week after his first game in about 8 weeks. I scored Hurley 6/10.

Quinn – He was excellent and surprised me. Has gotten a little bit bigger and is just as white, but he uses the ball well and kicked 3 good goals. He needs to get stronger overhead and not be shy of the tackle. Someone needs to tell him the opposition are all Andrew Welsh. He will be on our list again next year for sure. I scored Quinn 7/10.

Neagle – His performance was Fevola like. Great one quarter sooky la la the next. Jay worked very hard in the first across half forward, kicked 2 goals into the wind and chased out of the forward line. In the second half he decided to play from behind and was double teamed. Yes the delivery to him was crapola, but he dropped his head and didn’t go as hard as he did in the first half. I scored Neagle 5/10. He got 7/10 for his first half and 3/10 for his second.

Zaharakis – Gee this kid is tough, talented and a great decision maker. Didn’t set the world on fire, but played a game that showed you he was too good for that level. He got KOd and taken off briefly in the last after one of the most gutless team efforts displays by Nash. Zaka was on the wing chasing a ball with Nash close behind. Nash allowed his opponent to run past him so Nash could peel off for an easy handball. Zaka was smashed by Nash’s opponent, Zaka got the ball out but then Nash turned it over. I scored Zaka 6/10.

Nash – Not my favourite player in the world but fortunately Allblack who has been a fan was there with me and will back this up. Nash’s disposal was appauling, bombing it everytime, he wouldn’t commit to the contest, he didn’t shepherd, tackle or do anything tough. He will not play for Essendon again. I scored him 1/10 and that was only because a bomb he did into 50 ended up in a goal.

Houli – I felt sorry for Houli because he tried hard and ran all day. Tackled a lot but got caught out of position too much and coughed up the ball by handball too often. The signs are there that he could be great, but they’re also there to suggest he may not make it. I scored Houli 3/10.

Atkinson – Will never play for Essendon again. Dropped easy marks, made terrible terrible decisions and has poor skills. Waste of a spot on the list and I can’t see what we were thinking when we recruited him. I scored Atkinson 2/10 only because he was better than Nash.

Slattery – Was in and out a lot with our being dominant. Has a fairly mature size about him, but not quite ready. Was smashed in the last and taken off without returning. I scored Slattery 5/10.

Daniher – Played an unusual wing/HBF role and was pretty good. Has safe hands and isn’t scared to contest. Needs to work on his decision making and get a little more involved, but was overall ok and wouldn’t be surprised to see him listed in the best. I scored Daniher 6/10.

Again, overall I was very impressed with Myers, he really is going to be a star, dare I say Pavlich like. Him and Hurley will lead the club one day. Both their leadership skills were evident in the huddle and on the field.