Nines squad announced

[BrotherJim05]

I think Simona was playing busted in the Warriors game. He came on with heaps of strapping that wasn't there in game 1 and 2.

BUT I do agree that Simona plays his best footy on the wing. Maybe he just didn't get enough ball at centre last year but still...he's a bloody good winger.

If Lawrence successfully gets back to FG form and Richards retires at the end of the year I could see 2016 back line shaping up as:

1. Tedesco
2. Nofoluma
3. Naquama/Fine
4. Lawrence
5. Simona

 

[madunit]

Simona definitely needs to be on the wing.

A possible move to centre for Nofoaluma in the not too distant future.

Wingers are easier to come by than decent centres.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Good centres and good second rowers provide so much attack for teams....and we lack both.

I hope some of these young guys develop but gee this is going to be a steep learning curve for some of them this year.

I know the nines is a totally different game and I only saw the Saturday games but did anyone seem to show they will be good enough fill our second row? That is the position I see as our biggest weakness.

How did Lovett, Santi et al go?

 

[macnaz]

I thought they both went pretty well , , Santi has beefed up a lot and could be a surprise this year.

 

[Tiger05]

Santi looked good. He surprised me. Lovett didn't look great imo however way too early to write him off.

 

[Shanghai Charlie]

Santi is a NSW Cup footballer. Nothing more. Good footballer but no quality about him.

Lovett has genuine promise and was very good last year. Was poor in the nines though.
Could very well start season in the backrow considering our lack of depth there.

 

[macnaz]

We shall see. He is 22 , so he isnt allowed to improve ?

 

[Vic Mackey]

Santi could be our Shaun fensom, Dallas Johnson IMO, however has a bit more in attack.

 

[The Rosco]

I thought Santi went well.
I was more impressed with the difference in Buchanan.
Thought he really put in a much improved effort in both attack and defense.
TBH, when I thought back to our lack of forward power . . . then looked at our boys on the field, I wondered what the worry is.
Some of those kids were massive. They looked like they had stuffed turtles under the skin of their upper arms !!!
That's why they wore the AFL style singlets. If I had arms like that, I'd cut the sleeves off every shirt and jacket I owned too !!
Santi, Funaki and especially Buchanan looked like they were proving a point to JT.

 

[gronkathon]

The highlight of the 9's for me was watching Ava making metres with multiple bodies hanging off him.

2015 should be his breakout season.

Huge fan

 

[chopsy_05]

Thought the same thing gronkathon. Ava looked great - fast and powerful. Buchanan was solid but he lumbers around a lot and we already have Galloway for that.

 

[The Charlatan]

Buchanan looked better for the run, I'll be interested to see how much of a run Taylor gives him this year, since the front row is one place we are more well than covered. At least Galloway will have to aim up with so many on his heels pushing for a spot in the 17.

 

[madunit]

Ava has great feet and moves laterally really well.

Despite his good showing in the 9's, Buchanan is still slow laterally. He was improved greatly with ball in hand. Strong leg drive too.

Both he and Ava kept pushing through the advantage line

 

[macnaz]

I also liked Browns aggression , he stood up to the big Warriors forwards I thought.

 

[gordsy]

Has anyone thought about putting Simona and Nofo at centre nad having Richards and Kevie N on the wing with Lawrence to nsw cup ?

 

[The Charlatan]

Has anyone thought about putting Simona and Nofo at centre nad having Richards and Kevie N on the wing with Lawrence to nsw cup ?

It'd make more sense to have Nofo and Kev Banana in the middle with Richards and Simona on the wing. Simona does his biggest damage on the wing.

 

[madunit]

I don't think kev or pat are very good centres.

 

[gronkathon]

I think Fine would make a very good right centre option. He is not the quickest but he is strong and is very good at setting up his outside man