THE 50-man Allies squad split in two on Sunday to take on Victoria Country and Metro in a couple of trial games as each squad nears completion in the lead up to the National Championships on Saturday at the MCG. We had eyes on both matches at Ikon Park, and here are our opinion-based notes on some of the standout players from each side.

Allies:

By: Peter Williams

#1 Errol Gulden

Had a mixed bag with some slick kicks, as well as some very uncharacteristic errors. He slipped in the first term in defence and unfortunately resulted in Harrison Jones kicking the first Metro goal of the game from 50m. Gulden’s next contested was terrific, intercepting the ball in a one-on-two and then kicking across his body to a diving Jake Steele. When able to size up his options inside 50 he has the capability of kicking across the body on his left and hitting a target, but made a couple of errors by foot throughout the game as well. Went for a huge mark in the third term but could not quite bring it down. Still remained busy throughout four quarters.

#3 Connor Budarick

A touch of class out there with a dash of hardness. Continued to lay tackles and apply defensive pressure even when he did not have the ball, and when with the ball used it well with great composure. Spent time at half-back and pushing up to a wing, taking some nice intercept marks and hitting up targets in the corridor. He was able to use the ball effectively going forward even when under pressure, and copped contact in the final term in order to free up Will Chandler for a late goal. One of the better Allies players in the match.

#9 Mitch O’Neill

Started on a wing and eventually found the ball across all three thirds. Had a big first half, where he was not only able to get his hands on the ball, but also provide the defensive measures as well. In one instance early he nullified a one-against-three contest at half-back. He was able to fire out quick handballs to teammates in the clear, and found a number of clearances throughout the day. He used good decision making and attacked the contest hard, also drifting back into defence to help out.

#12 Ashton Crossley

After an early blemish which saw him give off a handball but not block for a teammate straight after, Crossley finished the game with a strong outing. He kicked a great snap out of nothing in the first term, then won a clearance at half-forward to get it to a teammate, and used good hands across the ground. He worked well with Tom Green in midfield, often being the one winning ball off a quick handball and kicking it long. Covered the ground well.

#15 Will Martyn

Was not as prolific early, but got better as the game went on and has some pretty important touches. He drifted around the ground and had a couple of intercept marks and then earned a free kick with a big tackle in the second term. He produced a great handball under pressure deep in attack to Samuel Gaden who converted off a step, and then continued to win the ball through the second half.

#19 Sam Collins

After a quieter first half, Collins was one of the best in the second half, being a part of everything in the third term. He showed good hands under pressure in defence, and would bush up to the middle to win the ball and force it back inside 50. He showed great sportsmanship to check on a winded Jay Rantall in the third term, and did well deep in defence late in the third term with the ball bouncing up, to win the footy and clear it out of defensive 50. He was a strong interceptor and long kick out of half-back.

#21 Luke Parks

Desperation personified, Parks just never stopped trying. He would often be found scrambling at ground level in defence, firing away a handball to a teammate running by, or taking an important intercept mark. He gave away a free kick or too, but mostly due to his keenness to win the ball back for his side. He would keep touch with his direct opponent and won a fierce hardball at ground level early in the game and gave the ball off. Later on he put pressure on a kicker going for goal to force a behind.

#22 Tom Green

Absolutely everywhere for the Allies and the standout player. Just put his stamp on the game for most of the four quarters and did what he does best – shovelling out the contested ball and winning clearances. He showed good vision by hand to teammates on the wing, in one instance in the third term he bypassed about four opponents with all the time in the world to find a teammate, then pushed forward to be on the receiving end of a handball and slammed it home from just inside 50. Took a good mark inside 50 but his set shot went to the right later in the quarter. Has a unique ability to bust his way through congestion, get his hands free and handball to teammates in space.

#28 Jackson Callow

The key forward presented nicely at the football and while he did not kick a major himself, pushed up the ground and was often the link between half-forward and deep forward, creating chances for teammates. He showed a nice field kick and a high work rate to hit-up a midfield teammate then pushed back to win it again, and put it out to Matt Conroy leading out in the square. Shared some of the ruck load while up forward as well.

#29 Matt Conroy

Played a strong game out of full-forward and shared some of the ruckload, booting three goals and missing a chance after the final siren to win the game for the Allies. He booted two goals in the second term, after winning a free kick and converting the set shot from 30m out, then snapped a goal late in the term out of nothing. He booted a third goal in the final term through another set shot, and could have had five for the day, but sprayed a set shot in the third term as well. Used his body well and provided a presence.

#31 Hamish Ellem

He might only have finished with one goal to his name, but had he converted more of his chances, he could have finished the game with a bag of five. He was too big and strong for his opponents and almost had an early goal after winning a free kick 15m out, but went too close to the man on the mark and was smothered. Not long after he took a mark 40m out in front and kicked the perfect left foot goal. His third attempt from a similar distance was touched on the line, and then had another couple of chances, winning a free kick in a marking contest which missed to the right, then took a juggling mark in the final term which missed to the left. His set shot kicking itself looked fine, the ball went straight but just stayed to the either left or right, it was not shanked from a poor kick, just misjudging the wind. Still presented all day and was a headache with his marking ability.

#42 James Peatling

Showed some good signs inside 50, but rushed his shots on goal, having a number of snaps and sprayed them. Looked good behind the ball when in defence and kicked long out of the back half. His best chance for a goal came early when he burst out of the middle and kicked an end-on-end bouncing shot on goal which just bounced to the left. Was a bit too unselfish late in the game when squaring the ball up in attack, which was intercepted. Overall had some nice plays as well as some rushed shots on goal.

#46 Noah Cumberland

One of the most impressive Allies players, had a purple patch in the second term with two goals. His first came from a snap off the deck after pouncing on a loose ball, fending off an opponent and putting it through. He showed a nice burst of speed to nail the goal, having just sprayed the quick snap a moment earlier as he was dragged down in a tackle by an opponent. Booted a second goal with a wonky, but effective kick that went straight through after providing good pressure. He set up his teammate late in the term but the ball was spoiled away. Later in the game he attacked the contest with vigour and took a good mark sliding in from the side in defence.

#51 Samuel Gaden

For a taller player, Gaden was able to cover the ground well and had to play a bigger role in the second half after Hamish Allan and Nickolas Haberer picked up injuries in the first half. He kicked a goal from a snap around his body earlier in the game, and almost had a second in the third term but was touched in the goalsquare and rushed through. He burst off half-back in the last quarter to lead a scoring chain down the ground and then provided a target when forward to take a strong mark on the lead. Constantly involved and provided an option in all thirds of the ground.

Country:

By: Ed Pascoe

#1 Ned Cahill

Cahill was creative all day playing mostly forward he would be a handful around goals and would look likely whenever the ball was in his area. Cahill kicked two goals for the day and could have kicked even more, his first goal came from a lead up mark and set shot goal and his second came with a nice opposite foot snap goal. His desperation and linkup play around the ground really stood out.

#4 Sam Flanders

Flanders was a tough player through the midfield and found plenty of the ball and often distributed well by hand and foot. There wasn’t a lot of flash shown by Flanders which is usually his go up forward, but as a midfielder he got down to business and won the hard ball and just used the ball well in general. He had some telling movements in the second half moving the ball forward at every opportunity.

#5 Cameron Wild

Wild started the game in the midfield and was busy early winning plenty of the ball, he kicked a few behinds in the second and third quarters coming from a set shot and a hard checkside kick on the run. Wild’s last quarter was huge playing more forward, he was everywhere winning stoppages and taking marks and laying hard tackle, he would later kick the match winning goal right on the last line.

#6 Riley Baldi

Baldi was a ball magnet throughout the day playing through the midfield, winning the hard ball at stoppages and also working hard around the ground to link up. Baldi’s kicking has often been critiqued but he did well with some hit up kicks with one kick especially hitting up teammate Oliver Henry inside 50.

#7 Mitch Martin

Martin had a strong start to the game kicking a snap goal in the first quarter and was very involved around the ball, he wouldn’t take a backwards step with great attack on the ball and colliding with big bodied midfielder Tom Green. Martin was rather quiet until the last quarter where he would kick a nice running snap goal to swing the momentum in Country’s favour.

#13 Jay Rantall

Rantall was his usual self, winning plenty of the ball through the midfield and showing his class with ball in hand to rarely miss a target by hand. His kicking has often been a query but although not spectacular, his kicking was certainly serviceable throughout the day. He got crunched in a heavy contest in the third quarter needing to be helped of the ground, he would later return to the field but wasn’t quite the same.

#17 Hayden Young

Young took a little bit to get going, he was involved early but skills weren’t quite at the level he would hope, but he would certainly improve in the second quarter – starting with a great chain from defence winning three disposals in quick succession and finishing with a lovely long kick to teammate Riley Baldi in the middle of the ground. His kicking inside 50 that quarter was also stellar with two bullet passes with one coming after a very strong intercept mark. Young was arguably the most dangerous player on the ground.

#34 Bigoa Nyuon

Nyuon played the game out down back and he certainly looked the part intercepting and covering the ground often with ease. If he wasn’t coming from nowhere to spoil he was either intercepting or running of his opponent to try and give an option. He did get caught under the ball a few times but he still managed to take some nice intercept marks and prove to be a hard player to beat one on one.

Metro:

By: Ed Pascoe

#2 Mitch Mellis

Mellis was such a busy player throughout the day always attacking, taking the game on and showing good creativity with ball in hand. Mellis wasn’t able to hit the scoreboard himself but did well to set up teammates with his neat kicking on either foot and run and dash to get away from the opposition. Mellis was still pushing on in the last quarter where he really drove the ball forward for his team.

#4 Eddie Ford

Ford woke up the crowd early with a spectacular mark getting a ride on the shoulders of his opponent and would then slot the long set shot goal from 50 metres. He didn’t repeat a highlight that good but he would continue to be a good target and showed great enthusiasm up forward often flying over packs to try and mark.

#8 Adam Carafa

Carafa started the game through the midfield showing his good attack and clean hands at the stoppages, his hands were often slick and opened up the play. Carafa was moved into unfamiliar territory down back in the last quarter where he looked even more impressive winning plenty of the ball and really using his clean hands and link up to cause headaches. I’d like to see more of Carafa down back because he certainly impressed in that role.

#22 Miles Bergman

Bergman took a while to get involved and he would get his chance to go through the midfield after the early injury to fellow Sandringham teammate Ryan Byrnes, and Bergman certainly made the most of his opportunity to play in the middle where he showed good attack at the stoppages and was often slick by hand and moved really well. His last quarter was superb with multiple hard efforts and did well to work back into defence.

#24 Harrison Jones

Jones was the dominant forward across both games kicking four goals. His first was an impressive goal from long range in the first quarter. His set shot routine was solid with a nice mark and set shot goal in the second quarter and another set shot goal from a free kick in the third. He also showed he had tricks, taking a good mark in the pocket and kicking a nice checkside goal in the third quarter.

#28 Brodie Newman

Newman was one of his team’s better players with his rebound from defence proving to be very important for his side. Newman’s second quarter was strong with some nice intercept marks and also showing great composure and skill with ball in hand. In the third quarter he showed good attack in the air to take an intercept mark and run into goal only to kick a behind. His last quarter was also important showing he wasn’t afraid to go for a run with the ball despite his bigger size.