Eels Blogs

Replies

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  TopEel March 9, 2015 at 8:56am

  My picks from the Matthew Harold team would be the number 1,3 & 8.
  Nobody really stood out to me in the SG ball team maybe because they were in a beaten team.
  P.s that tackle by the number 3 had to be one of the biggest tackles I've ever seen. Also thanks for the trouble you go to putting together these videos.
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    Ham Sammich > TopEel March 9, 2015 at 9:45am

    1) John Fonua 3) Tui Afualo (The one to watch imo) 8) Josh Curran

    I know it's hard to see particularly in these videos but our halves, Travis Turnbull and Alex Seve, have been playing really well. Both are lightning quick for halves and also deliver some nice passes and are taking some good options in attack. Keep an eye on these two, I think at least one of them will be a first grade player.
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  The True Parra fan March 9, 2015 at 9:12am

  Sg ball we were ripped off bad ref calls . Denziel didnt play this weekend he was the differnece two weeks ago.
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    Forty20 > The True Parra fan March 9, 2015 at 9:17am

    Hate to harp on the reffing since we were also sub-par for large portions of the game but gee the ref struggled that game. No control over the 10m or the ruck on top of several dubious calls throughout.

    They missed Denzal Tonise in the ruck massively. He tends to lead the team in line speed in defence while also contributing strongly in attack. Will be interesting to see where he is named tomorrow.
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  TopEel March 9, 2015 at 10:20am

  The only thing I'm worried about is at that age players like Tui are naturally bigger,quicker and stronger. What happens when the body sizes start evening out and technique is what differentiates the players. How many times have we seen players have it easy in their youth because of natural talent but just can't get to first grade quality. Lasolo(spelling)?
  
  Personally I think the biggest downfall of the eels junior system is that our youth are naturally more suited for footy in their younger years and excel without struggling. When the time comes to struggle they can't because they've never had to. Sorry dude I don't even know what I'm ranting on about just some food for thought lol.
  
  Anyway thanks for the names I'll keep an eye out.
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    Ham Sammich > TopEel March 9, 2015 at 10:39am

    I think the thing is Tui isn't massive for his age, yes he's big but he still works hard so that he can be more powerful than the rest. I also believe that we have the right people in the right places so that we aren't hindering his development into first grade. I'm sure that if he needs to be promoted then Anthony Field will do that when it's time, and that Paul Devlin will make sure that he's eating the right foods and keeping at a good weight so that he isn't overly big.
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    Forty20 > TopEel March 9, 2015 at 10:50am

    Legitimate concern TE. It is always difficult to divine how far a given junior can go and even the best in the business make mistakes every now and then. There are so many variables along the pathway to first grade that even when the club undertakes initiatives to minimise or control them some will always prove beyond their power to manage.

    I will say this about Tui Afualo, he is no simple bash and barge powerhouse like say Jacob Loko who as we all know was (and still is) a prodigious talent that cruised through the District Reps purely on his ability to run through and around anyone. Afualo has good speed and superb leg drive and as such is dominant through contact but he is a perceptive centre and will always look for his winger. At some point, probably NYC but maybe SG Ball, his peers will start to catch up to him physically but he has a build not unlike Konrad Hurrel that will always make him tough to bring down due to his lower centre of gravity and great core strength.

    As far as favouring physically blessed players over the old school line of thought of 'football' players, I think the club is striking the right balance. Bevan French in the NYC along with Alex Seve and Travis Turnbull in the Harold Matts fit the mould of the latter well, as do Joey Tramontana and Troy Dargan in the SG Ball. Of course there are some monsters in both teams but even then they are doing fundamental stuff well. There are also guys like Jesse Cronin, Josh Curran and Cameron King who blend both schools of thought with lovely classical football skills and excellent physiques.

    I completely understand where you are coming from as our junior systems have had the balance wrong for the longest time but I think we are finally getting it right. The current crop of kids coming through are going to be an exciting bunch to follow. The SG Ball has some outstanding individuals in it that will be staples of the NYC team for the next few years while the Harold Matthews teams is an all-round dynamite bunch. It is a good time to be an Eels fan!
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      TopEel > Forty20 March 9, 2015 at 11:47am

      Thanks for the insight guys definitely will take it on board.
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  ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER March 9, 2015 at 10:31am

  thanks Forty20 I like the looks of 3,6,8,10 in the Matthews cup whats there name

  I like the looks of 9 in SG ball to
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    Ham Sammich > ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER March 9, 2015 at 10:40am

    3) Tui Afualo 6) Travis Turnbull 8) Joshua Curran 10) Samuel Lilomaiava

    9) Joseph Tramontana