It’s been a great effort by Brayshaw to come back so strongly after Gaff’s violent attack, and you can’t say he doesn’t put his head over the ball and run all day. He’s a ripper. But I reckon he could use a spell. Give him a few weeks in the twos, and maybe even a week off, and help him freshen up. I also think he needs to take stock of his disposal a bit. He’s a dead-set shocker in front of goal, and I reckon he’s in his own head a bit. I’d play him half-forward at Peel for a couple of weeks, and see a few shots go through the sticks.
Cerra has been disappointing. I thought he might grow into a Luke Hodge type reading the ball from the backline and moving into the midfield (I still do), but he’s just not impacting the game. I don’t think that’s his fault; we have a well-balanced backline and he’s a bit of a fifth wheel. Give him Brayshaw’s role while he’s back at Peel.
Hill started the season well and has fallen off a cliff. I suspect we’re just not getting the ball to the outside as much, but he doesn’t look like he’s covering the ground as well to me. I’m not sure that can be pinned on Lyon’s game style when all he has to do is run around all day. That’s what he’s built to do. His tackling numbers are the same as they have always been, for example. Perhaps he’s got a niggle, or perhaps he’s just having a dip in form.
Langdon is the concern for me. He’s a turnover waiting to happen. Early last season he was a monty to slot a goal on the run, and now I’m surprised when he hits a target.
I really thought it would be our inside mids that struggled in Neale’s absence, and I thought our outside runners would be a strength. I was wrong about that. It’s asking a lot of Blakely, but perhaps another clean pair of hands matched with good decision making will mean the ball gets to the outside a bit more. I think I might have underestimated how much Neale contributed there. Fyfe and Mundy are great at crashing through, but Neale was an ace at getting the ball to a player out in space.
I'm not worried about Wilson. Opposition teams are wise to lock him down, but that has led to Ryan having a stand-out season. Eventually coaches will focus on Ryan and Wilson will have more space. That's why it's great having them both there.