Round 16 Tips and Discussion

fmd dogs have some fucking talent in that side. not just talent but so much x-factor and uniqueness. Libba, Bonts, MacRae is going to be the next Voss, Aker and Black

 

Bulldogs need

- A primary volume target up forward
- A #1 KPD
- Someone to replace Gilbee
- Outside pace on the wings.

I reckon 4 players who fit that and they're seriously set. Moves like what I'd propose never happen because it'd alienate the supporter base but I really reckon trading out Griffen/Boyd/Murphy to get into the first round of this draft would work.

If they could get a McCartin/Wright & a Durdin in this draft and hope that Fuller ends up filling that Gilbee slot they'd be set. Could bring in some pace next year.

They're just too exposed at both key ends of the ground. Roughead's an ok defender but he's best as the #2 guy just like Crameri works best as a #2/3 guy and Jones isn't ever going to be the #1 guy either.

 

Oh yeah, they wouldn't, but they'd probably net the dogs an upgrade from their second to a mid-late first which would be worth it IMO.

 

does anyone have footage of the monfries incident? was otp

 

Bonts was either going to be ridiculous or a flop on draft day. I really rated him not because he was elite but because at his peak he's the kind of player than wins flags, not the merely ok players you normally get with picks. It's the kind of risk/reward selection clubs need to make to win flags. It's very clear which way he's going now. I just resent him a little because he's taking all the attention away from just how good MacRae has been this season.

MacRae's 2nd half today was a massive step forward and to me confirmed that the Bulldogs just have something on their hands. Bontempelli has the composure, poise, vision and time like Pendlebury but also has a far greater capacity for power and has more x-factor. I don't think he'll ever be as good an accumulator or as good by hand or foot as pendlebury though.

MacRae is already a good kick which Bonts isn't. His technique is bad and the flight is too high but he knows that and still consistently hits targets within 40-45 metres anyway. Even if it's a more lofted ball than one likes, he still hits so many targets and he's already an elite accumulator and has a tank and a half, hence his uncontested mark count. Today he showed me that not only is he an excellent outside accumulator but there's considerable amounts to work with on the inside, he has the natural eye for contested football and reads it so well on the inside and is prepared to go for it and win the ball. There's a bit of Travis Johnstone in how he disposes of the ball in traffic too (Johnstone had his deficiencies but to this day he's still the best kick of a footy under intense pressure to have played the game. You could be slinging him to the ground with two blokes tackling him and he'd still find space to nail a target 30 metres away) so he's the kind of player that can get the ball and dispose of it out of a contested situation with great efficacy - a very rare talent. Coupling that with his incredible evasive ability and he's got the makings of a ridiculously good inside midfielder, especially when he's 191cm and growing already.


I was trying to think of a good comparison for what I think MacRae will become and two came to mind - Watson and Fyfe. He's a more natural outside accumulator than both and doesn't have the raw physicality and handskills under pressure that Jobe has nor does he have the dynamic agility, overhead marking and forward ability that fyfe has.

I certainly do think though that eventually MacRae will move from the wings and the outside into a more inside/balanced centre square midfielder whereas Bontempelli doesn't have that natural inside ability that you'd want to couple his height. He's a more exciting and dynamic player though - shades of fyfe there actually.

tl;dr

at peak

Bontempelli = Pendles cross Fyfe
MacRae = Watson cross Fyfe cross Mundy

words can't express just how good I think these two will be especially when you consider just how good they are already as teenagers. My one worry with MacRae was whether he'd be able to learn the art of an inside game to accompany his size as he just doesn't have the pace to be an A grade outside mid whereas he has enough to be an A grade inside mid.


And it's what I love about tall midfielders - they can go in absolutely any way from a development point of view and even now who the fuck knows how they'll end up. Watson and Kennedy didn't end up being elite until their mid ages, were mediocre for a good while. A lot of water to go under the bridge but it's a premiership midfield, just a little inside biased right now.