Sorry for no update last week, here's the Round 9 leaderboard for the ORFFL Goldhigh Medal. S. Pendlebury - 16 votes B. Stanton - 14 votes G. Ablett - 10 votes S. Thompson - 10 votes J. Kennedy - 10 votes J. Selwood - 10 votes L. Shuey - 10 votes Most votes: Mount Buggery Disappointments - 39 votes Least votes: Mallacoota Magicians - 15 votes
Top 10 ORFFL players with biggest form slumps from 2011 to 2012: (season average 2011 compared to season average to date 2012) (must have played at least one game in 2012) 1. Andrew Embley (Tarwin Lower) (-71) 2. Ricky Petterd (Queenstown) (-59) 3. Colin Sylvia (Popanyinning) (-54) 4. Paul Puopolo (Merton) (-53) 5. Richard Douglas (Torrumbarry) (-45) 6. Brad Green (Woy Woy) (-41) =7. David Hille (Torrumbarry) (-40) =7. Jeremy Taylor (Coulta) (-40) 9. Stefan Martin (Mount Buggery) (-36) =10. Luke Ball (Humpty Doo) (-35) =10. Josh J. Kennedy (Sarah Island) (-35)
Top 10 ORFFL players with biggest improvement from 2011 to 2012: (season average 2011 compared to season average to date 2012) (must have played at least two games in 2011) 1. Paul Bower (Sarah Island) (+44) 2. Josh P. Kennedy (Sarah Island) (+40) 3. Brad Ebert (Coulta) (+38) =4. Chris Masten (Bonnie Doon) (+34) =4. Mitch Wallis (Tarwin Lower) (+34) =6. Charlie Dixon (Queenstown) (+33) =6. Andrew Gaff (Milikapati) (+33) =6. Ivan Maric (Merton) (+33) =10. Steele Sidebottom (Mount Buggery) (+32) =10. Taylor Walker (Purnululu) (+32)
86 ORFFL free agents played in Round 9. 65 free agents who played Round 9 were playing at least their 3rd game for 2012. 52 free agents who played Round 9 were playing at least their 6th game for 2012.
Jason, the question is about the depth of the midseason draft. Mile wide inch deep. However for those who want to enjoy speculative picks, there are certainly options available for the astute investor. They just might take a while to blossom, but if you have some room on your list for stockpiling, certainly some interesting players for selection. Like at least one of last year's top 10. How did we all miss that one? Because we all think he's crap?
I also think it's a little harsh to look at the players with the biggest drop if they've had an LTI like Ball. Josh J Kennedy at least had a few weeks to put a score on the board. Did JJK also suffer the injury in a game? Did David Hille and Embley also get injured during a match? From memory Douglas has only played the once this year coming on as a sub. Give the bloke some time! And are the rest playing for Melbourne or in the case of Jeremias Taylor, was he overvalued on the strength of only 2 games from previous season. Personally I reckon Stokes is the most disappointing player this year.
Think Douglas has played few games. Came on in one and got injured, subbed within like 10mins and then comeback was sub and came on for like 15mins... Bit harsh i reckon!!
Agree that it is difficult to mark down players who scored low due to injury. But the point is, their coaches would be disappointed with the low output, regardless of the reason for it being an injury or just tendency towards being a . Poowong don't have any of the top 10 improvers or sliders on their list. LTIs have been avoided to date, but surely we'll get our turn from that particular rough-end of the pineapple. Ablett did miss a couple already though.
Embley is a case in point. Missed pre season, played 2 games as a sub before going down again with a LTI. Pretty much all his games effected by the vest or injury.
Hmmm Sniffa v Stiffy a tough call. I guess on the Stokes thing to be dropped effectively for Motlop after averaging 90+ is a bit hard to take, sure some of it might have been fitness, but some was clearly about form. Will be interesting when Bundy returns. I think Stokes is gone again - and he certainly looks shot to bits when Varcoe and Menzel come in. Stiffy has struggled with a new coach who wants to follow the speed kills mindset. Stiffy wasn't quick enough in defence, they didn't value his precision short play, so he got dropped and remade as a small forward (back to the future as he started up forward). In some ways I just have to cop it sweet that his role got changed; effectively downgraded. If he plays there until EOY he might end up learning how to score 75+ ppg in that role, and would be classified as a forward next year, which could change his worth in my team.