Mathews and Ball 2024

Aoake almost bombed it but gets over and Votano slots it from the sideline, 32-0 after 28 minutes. The clock almost caught up.
 
32 - 0 halftime
  • Jermaine McEwen 1'
  • Connor Votano 4'
  • Wilson De Courcey 8'
  • Connor Votano 10'
  • Wilson De Courcey 17'
  • Logan Aoake 26'
Votano kicking 4 from 6 in these conditions is amazing, the wind direction can change 2 or 3 times when the ball is in the air.
 
Lost some steam when Hopwood went off and then lost even more when Hilliar & Whaiapu followed. Lots of energy from Manly to start second half.
 
Fletcher Hunt slices through to score the Knights first of the second half. Votano misses from pretty close. 36-6 after 50 minutes.
 
Full time 54-14. Knights were in autopilot for the second half but still outscored them 22-14. Hopwood & Hilliar didn’t come back on after halftime.
 
mullenmagic said:
Hopwood & Hilliar didn’t come back on after halftime.
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We probably need to give the other forwards enough time for 1 or 2 of them to stand up before the finals.
I think if Malachi Smith returns soon it might take a lot of pressure off our forwards too. He is a strong defender with a high workrate, so basically an extra middle forward in defence.
 
By my maths we are equal second in Ball with the Dragons - both on 8 points with a +96 for and against. so I don't know how they decide who is second and who is 3rd.
We have the better attack and they have the better defence.
 
There's some very useful talent in this SG Ball group. Obviously I've rated Votano very highly and the likes of Hopwood, Hilliar, McEwen, Smith and De Courcey all have the potential to be first grade players.

Also Linnane even though he's unfortunately out for the year. Hunt looks handy filling in.
 
We were told last year, in a Toohey's news article I think, that halfback Zac Herdegan would be staying in Qld for school but flying down to play Ball each week.
When Linnane was fit, we probably didn't need him, but you'd think a Qld rep halfback would be useful about now.
 
Celticman98 said:
There's some very useful talent in this SG Ball group. Obviously I've rated Votano very highly and the likes of Hopwood, Hilliar, McEwen, Smith and De Courcey all have the potential to be first grade players.

Also Linnane even though he's unfortunately out for the year. Hunt looks handy filling in.
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Hunt has been more than a fill in, he has been in our top 2 all season together with Hopwood. He has the football smarts in that side. I was there at the game today and you could hear him calling the plays and directing the traffic. He is going to be a good player and would expect him to be called into the Flegg squad when Ball finishes.
 
Billy said:
We were told last year, in a Toohey's news article I think, that halfback Zac Herdegan would be staying in Qld for school but flying down to play Ball each week.
When Linnane was fit, we probably didn't need him, but you'd think a Qld rep halfback would be useful about now.
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I am glad they haven’t, as the injury to Linnane has allowed Fletcher Hunt to come into the starting side where he has consistently impressed. Lozza has been good at half back, considering he has come up from Matt’s last year and is playing a year up. His exposure to Ball this year will be very beneficial for the side next season, as he will derive confidence like Linnane did last year in his first season of Ball.

Also, as a play maker you should be training for the team all week to build cohesion.

I am excited about the pairing of Linnane and Hunt in the halves for Flegg next year. You could easily play either in the 6 or 7, although I prefer Hunt in the 6 as he is a bigger body and a very strong defender.
 
Just a side note, it has been good to see the club’s hierarchy at home games of Matts and Ball this season.

Head coach O’Brien, GM of Football Peter Parr, Danny Buderus and Wests Director Geoff Coburn (ex-Parra player from the 70’s) were all in attendance at the round 2 Bulldogs games at Cessnock. Then again today Peter Parr was in attendance.

It shows how important the investment in their pathways is to the future of the club.
 
PTB said:
I am glad they haven’t, as the injury to Linnane has allowed Fletcher Hunt to come into the starting side where he has consistently impressed. Lozza has been good at half back, considering he has come up from Matt’s last year and is playing a year up. His exposure to Ball this year will be very beneficial for the side next season, as he will derive confidence like Linnane did last year in his first season of Ball.

Also, as a play maker you should be training for the team all week to build cohesion.

I am excited about the pairing of Linnane and Hunt in the halves for Flegg next year. You could easily play either in the 6 or 7, although I prefer Hunt in the 6 as he is a bigger body and a very strong defender.
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It's too late now to bring Herdegan in, but if they had stuck to the original plan of having him spend some time training with the squad over the school holidays and had him coming down for games, he'd be a handy addition. I don't know much about Hunt, but he looks a good size and like he could play a number of positions.
Lozza is doing the job, but if we are going to have a crack at the title this year, it would be nice if we could use the kid we are paying to stay in Qld till next year apparently.
 
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