The Rocco Jones Report: Round 5 vs Hawthorn- Now coming after Foreplay

Good News
We won and are 3-2 but I will explain that further in my 'Rocco's final words' bit.

I thought Harris was remarkable with 28 disposals, 15 marks and an amazing 10 spoils. He was dominant in the air and offered us great rebound from defence. Except when the opposition has a dangerous power forward, I would love to see Harris take a weaker opponent so that he can have a bigger overall effect. Yesterday, he was like a Chad Cornes/Dustin Fletcher hybrid. I see him as much more suited to a CHB type role than to the negating FB role. He is so reliant on confidence, so we should let him be attacking whenever possible. I forgot how much of an athlete and great pack/contested mark he is, and going by his seeming lack of confidence in the second half of last season, perhaps he forgot it for awhile too.

The performance from our re-con boys was again positive. Darcy should have kicked 4 or 5 and Bobby looked dangerous. Hahn is going to be back soon and even if the trio don't get to their best this season, they will still provide a massive boost to our forward line. Their increased form allowed Johnno to play further up the ground. Last year he was forced to play the forward anchor role due to injuries around him. He now has the flexibility to play further up the ground, making him even harder to find an opponent for. Play a run with on him and he can go deeper into our forward line, play a taller defensive option and he can expose him for speed and/or stamina on wing/HF. I think he will be more damaging overall than last year.

I remember Wallace describing Westy’s default performance as being worthy of an ‘eight out of ten’, his last two performances have been at a level above his high standard. Yesterday, he was vital against a side that monstered us in the stoppages. It could have got very ugly without him.

It seems like Daniel Cross is playing with injury, however he has not allowed it to compromise his hard running. As cliche as it sounds, a lot of guys in our really need to have a good hard look.

Lindsay Gilbee once again looked like the HBF in the league. It’s a pleasure to see him kick a ball.


Bad News
We had the opportunity to put them away in the last quarter and blew it by kicking 0.7.

We are carrying alot of passengers at the moment, quickly becoming known as down hill skiers. For a side so reliant on running, we are disgraceful at it when it does not involve something that is fun. Eagle will survive due to his stats and Gian offers very little if he isn't busting his gut. He is sloppy with his skills and very poor in a contest. I would give him a chance in a running with role before dropping him. Make his task overtly reliant on working hard. He has shown he has the tank, make him use it.

I'm not one to get into who we should have drafted, but Franklin over Griffen didn't look great yesterday. As a starlet, it can be easy to think you're there, not feeling the need to further development, perhaps the motive behind Eade's criticism of Higgins. I still have a truckload of faith in Griff, he just needs to lift.

We were hammered in the clearances. Being cliché once again, we have to get a lot tougher in physical contests. We rely far too heavily on West, Cross and Boyd to do the hard work. We also have problems in the ruck. Minson still seems too raw and Street is a flat out dud in my opinion.

Cooney is coming off an injury affected season as well as pre-season ruined by it. It's hard to tell how much of it is down to work ethic and how much is fitness related, but Cooney obviously does not look right. The temptation to play him is huge; he only needs a few touches to have a valuable effect. He already has 11 goals and provides us with a pinch hitting option at stoppages. He is just so vital to our future; I hope we aren't risking a lot of long term gain for the sake of a bit of short term return.


Rocco's final words
The win puts in the 3-2 glut consisting of 7 teams, including top 4 prospects in Sydney and Adelaide. Our main strengths are our skill and pace, a base that makes it difficult to win a high amount of games. If we are to do more than make the finals, our default performances need to be of the standard to regularly beat decent sides like Hawthorn. When required, we slipped into 3rd or 4th gear, showing the deadly pace and precision which lead to all the pre-season gushing. We weren't brilliant but how often do top sides like the Eagles, Swans and Crows just do enough? I think the win was more comfortable than the scoreboard and fan anxiety (including mine) portrayed.