The JC Form Report: Rounds five and six
With the TAC Cup season well underway, the form report will look at the top 10 players from the last two weeks, commendable performances, and those who, while they might not have performed to the top of their ability last week, have shown enough throughout the season to suggest they are someone to keep an eye on.
Round six performers:
1. Bailey Rice (MID) – Dandenong Stingrays
Rice’s draft value has exploded over the last two weeks. He took 14 marks this week, six of which were contested.
Stats: 27 disposals (74% DE) and 14 marks (six contested).
2. Brett Blair (Med FWD) – Geelong Falcons
The 188cm Blair had a blinder in the win over the Knights. He contributed six goals from nine shots and of his nine marks, six were contested.
Stats: Six goals, three behinds, 12 disposals (66% DE), nine marks (six contested)
3. Brayden Fiorini (Med DEF) – Northern Knights
Fiorini doesn’t miss targets. He only recorded one ineffective kick for the entire day. Although he is a purely outside player, any club could benefit from such an excellent ball user.
Stats: 31 disposals (97% DE), 15 marks (one contested) and three tackles.
4. Jade Gresham (MID) – Northern Knights
The most in-form player of the TAC Cup continued his stellar run with 28 disposals and goal in a losing side. Gresham had 19 effective kicks of his 22, which is a big tick considering his ball use can be shaky at times.
Stats: 28 disposals (82% DE), one goal, six marks (one contested) and six tackles.
5. Nash Holmes (MID) – Gippsland Power
The Power dominated the Jets, with Nash Holmes being just one of many to find plenty of the ball and hit the scoreboard.
Stats: 29 disposals (62% DE), three goals, two behinds.
6. Matthew Kennedy (MID) – NSW / ACT Rams
Kennedy was the match winner for the Rams, with his three goals being the highlight.
Stats: Three goals, one behind, 24 disposals (71% DE) and six marks (one contested).
7. Kieran Lovell (MID) – Tasmania
One of several key performers for Tasmania; Lovell provided drive on the outside, being used as a link up player. His 18 handball receives stood as the most for anyone in the competition this round.
Stats: 33 disposals (79% DE), 18 handball receives, six tackles and three marks (one contested).
8. Rhys Mathieson (MID) – Geelong Falcons
Mathieson has been unsighted for a few weeks, but he returned to form against the Knights.
Stats: 29 disposals (76% DE), nine handball receives, seven marks and three tackles.
9. Nick O’Kearney (MID) – Calder Cannons
O’Kearney had his usual 31 disposals to be the best for the Cannons.
Stats: 31 disposals (74% DE), eight marks, five frees for.
10. Lachlan Tardrew (MID) – Bendigo Pioneers
Tardrew was his usual self, racking up the ball on the outside, but also putting plenty of effort in defensively with seven tackles.
Stats: 31 disposals (65% DE), seven tackles, 12 handball receives and seven marks.
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Commendable performance:
Kieran Malone (Med FWD) – Northern Knights
Malone is the x-factor for the Knights, with his forward pressure, speed and miraculous goal kicking ability. He can get the ball at times, with his 25 disposals this week being a testament to that.
Stats: 25 disposals (52% DE), three goals, nine marks (one contested) and five tackles.
Nick Dodge (Med FWD) – Tasmania
Dodge was excellent up forward, slotting four from six shots. His field kicking however was hit and miss with just six of his 14 kicks hitting the target.
Stats: Four goals, two behinds, 22 disposals (55% DE), six marks (one contested).
David Mennen (MID) – Murray Bushrangers
Mennen was one of many excellent performers for the Bushies, with his outside running a real weapon against the Cannons.
Stats: 29 disposals (62% DE), 15 handball receives and five marks (one contested).
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Season Watch:
Tom Templeton (MID) – North Ballarat Rebels
The 19 year old followed up his excellent four goal performance last week with another two goal game.
Stats: 26 disposals (73% DE), two goals, five tackles and nine handball receives.
Sam Skinner (Key FWD) – Gippsland Power
The Academy big man had a day out up forward, although he’ll be wishing he kicked a bit straighter.
Stats: Four goals, three behinds, 13 disposals (53% DE), nine marks (two contested).
Tom Wilkinson (MID) – Sandringham Dragons
If Wilkinson was a better ball user, he’d be the talk of the town. His effort is unquestionable, but four behinds and 49 per cent efficiency is really disappointing.
Stats: 37 disposals (49% DE), four behinds, eight marks (two contested), 10 handball receives and five tackles.
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Round 5 performers:
1. Darcy Tucker (MID) – North Ballarat Rebels
43 disposals in what was the best performance for the round. Tucker is firming for a top five spot.
Stats: 43 disposals (72% DE), one goal, one behind, 21 handball receives, six marks and four tackles.
2. Jade Gresham (MID) – Northern Knights
No one even comes close to the production Gresham has put on so far this year. His goal kicking on the run is astounding. He’s got Travis Boak written all over him, with his massive engine and class around the ground.
Stats: 37 disposals (70% DE), two goals, two behinds, 14 handball receives, 10 marks and six tackles.
3. Ben Keays (MID) Queensland
If he wasn’t a Brisbane Lions academy prospect, the Christian Petracca clone could have gone as a top five pick. His 43 disposals and nine marks are a testament to his ball winning ability, and although 65 per cent disposal efficiency isn’t great, we know he is capable of better.
Stats: 43 disposals (65% DE), nine marks, three tackles, 15 handball receives.
4. Ezeikiel Frank (Key FWD) – North Ballarat Rebels
The 190cm forward dominated for the Rebels, having seven shots on goal from just 10 disposals. With Darcy Tucker feeding him the ball all day, the two Rebels had the best one two punch for the round.
Stats: Six goals, one behind, 10 disposals (60% de) and four marks.
5. Lockey McCartney (MID) – Geelong Falcons
Son of former Bulldogs coach Brendon; Lockey was on song with three goals and 25 touches. His best game to date so far, and his name has suddenly gone from an interesting prospect to someone who is pushing for draft contention.
Stats: 25 disposals( 72% DE), three goals, 10 handball receives, three marks and three tackles.
6. Tom Cole (MID) – Bendigo Pioneers
Cole is a wonderful leader and hard footballer, but before this week he hadn’t dominated a game in 2015. His disposal efficiency is very solid considering his crash and bash game style, and six tackles shows how refined his defensive side is.
Stats: 32 disposals (72% DE), seven marks and six tackles.
7. Tom Templeton (MID)– North Ballarat Rebels
The over aged Templeton continued his solid season with a really damaging performance.
Stats: Four goals and 17 disposals (88% DE).
8. Jack Wallace (Key DEF) – Sandringham Dragons
One shining light in the Dragons poor season has been the form of Jack Wallace. After 21 disposals and 10 marks (three contested) last week, Wallace has topped that with 27 touches and five tackles.
Stats: 27 disposals (74% DE), eight marks (one contested) and five tackles.
9. Harrison Himmelberg (Key FWD) NSW / ACT Rams
Himmelberg presented as a really lively forward for the Rams, and he finished his opportunities, with four goals straight. His ability to find the ball and use it effectively around the ground is another tick.
Stats: 4 goals, 15 disposals (80% DE), eight handball recieives, four marks and four tackles.
10. Charlie Curnow (Tall FWD) – Geelong Falcons
On paper, this mightn’t be as impressive as the performances from Gresham, Keays or Tucker, but Charlie Curnow has finally shown why he has such interest from recruiters. His three contested marks (11 in total) go down as the biggest tick, but he was able to have an influence all over the stats sheet.
Stats: 20 disposals (80% DE) One goal, 11 marks (three contested) and three tackles.
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Commendable performance:
Matthew Perry (MID) – Northern Knights
After a solid outing in week four, Perry elevated again with a great outside running performance. The Knights like to over possess and link up with handballs, but you can’t deny a 33 disposal, seven tackle effort, even with that poor disposal efficiency.
Stats: 33 disposals (57% DE), 15 hand ball receives, four marks and seven tackles.
Jackson Volpato (Small MID) – Western Jets
Volpato might be short, but he can find the footy. His 32 touches and 12 marks were astounding, but he’s going to need to work on hitting targets, as 59% efficiency is well below where it needs to be.
Stats: 32 touches (59% DE) 12 tackles, six marks, 14 hball receieves
Bailey Rice (MID)- Dandenong Stingrays
Inside midfielders aren’t usually good ball users, but Rice was unstoppable with his 22 touches, with only one missing the mark. He also laid seven tackles and took a contested mark. This has been his best game arguably to date for the Stringrays.
Stats: 22 disposals( 95% DE), seven marks (one contested) and seven tackles.
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Season Watch:
Jacob Weitering (Key DEF) – Dandenong Stingrays
Yet another masterclass from the likely top five pick. His ability to constantly find the footy and use it so well makes him that Matthew Scarlett type, and his marking is certainly upper echelon.
Stats: 23 disposals (87% DE) and six marks (one contested)
Brayden Fiorini (Med DEF/MID) – Northern Knights
You always know what you’re going to get from Fiorini. 20+ touches, all at a high level. Fiorini rarely misplaces a kick, and at 91 per cent disposal efficiency, it’s just another day in the life from the Grant Birchall clone.
Stats: 23 disposals (91% DE), 10 handball receives and 10 marks.
James Parsons (MID) – Eastern Ranges
Parsons has a bit of Sam Mayes about him, in the way he can play as a high half forward or a midfielder with class. Parsons has also shown his defensive grunt work, with another five tackles.
Stats: 23 disposals (57% DE), two goals, one behind, five tackles and seven marks.
Ryan Clarke (MID) – Eastern Ranges
Only Clarke has been close to Gresham in their consistent dominance. Whilst he isn’t the best ball user, he uses his speed, marking and goal sense to be a threat all around the ground.
Stats: 29 disposals (55% DE), one goal, one behind, nine marks (one contested).
Harry Thompson (RUCK/ Key FWD) – Oakleigh Chargers
Thompson is excellent at ground level, and his transformation from a key forward to a forward-ruck is certainly helping his draftability. Another stats-stuffing day with his 10 marks a highlight.
Stats: 22 disposals( 73% DE), one goal, 19 hitouts, 10 marks (2 contested), four tackles.
Ben Crocker (MID) Oakleigh Chargers
We’re used to seeing Crocker as a classy ball user, so don’t take too much from a poor kicking day. He’s got some similarities to Jack Billings in the way he takes plenty of overhead marks as well as his scoreboard impact.
Stats: Four goals, two behinds, 19 disposals (53% DE), eight marks (one contested) and four tackles.