2019 NEAFL discussion thread

**MattW** · 25th June 2019, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by ugg

The main Canberra ruckman Maynard wasn’t playing. I thought it was even between the two rucks at quarter time but it was Knoll who was the slightly better as the game went on.

Cheers.

**ugg** · 26th June 2019, 05:50 PM

Rowbottom in pole position as NEAFL MVP voting becomes withheld | NEWS | NEAFL

Canberra v Sydney
10: James Rowbottom (Sydney)
7: Angus Baker (Canberra)
7: Robbie Fox (Sydney)
4: Tom Highmore (Canberra)
1: Tom Faul (Canberra)
1: Joel Amartey (Sydney)

NEAFL MVP LEADERBOARD – Round 12

52: James Rowbottom (Sydney)
41: Matthew Payne (Aspley)
40: Tyler Roos (Southport)
37: Angus Baker (Canberra)
36: Matt Shaw (Southport)
34: Craig Malone (Redland)
33: Ryan Bastinac (Brisbane)
32: Abraham Ankers (NT Thunder)
31: Alex Smout (Canberra)
31: Adam Gulden (Sydney Uni)

Rowbottom has polled in 6 of his 8 NEAFL games this year.

**MattW** · 26th June 2019, 06:57 PM

What do people think: will Amartey play AFL? Seems wholehearted and skilled, but too small for ruck, too poor at set shots to play forward. They seem to be giving him a run as key defender. I hope he gets a go, but if I had to guess either way I reckon he won't play AFL. Has he been an emergency yet?

**Ralph Dawg** · 26th June 2019, 07:10 PM

Agree 100% with you. Key defender will be his best bet but clearly has the L plates on. He is incredibly athletic and is a wholehearted performer. Just seems to lack a bit of skill and overall polish (hasn't stopped Clarke from notching up 50 odd games though!).

**Ludwig** · 26th June 2019, 07:34 PM

I feel very positive about Amartey. He's been put in defence to increase his versatility and still has some adjusting to do back there. He's a similar size to Paddy Ryder with similar attributes, and is best suited to play a similar role, i.e. rotating between forward and ruck as the situation dictates. Amartey is a bit wayward with his kicking, but he can clear the goal posts from a long way out. There is still a lot of development left in him. Maybe he doesn't play senior footy until 2021, but I think his time will come and he'll be a pretty handy player.

**liz** · 26th June 2019, 08:25 PM

To me, Amartey looks as clearly a natural forward as Pink always seemed a natural defender. I don't know if he's being played in defence as part of his education or because we've had a dearth of tall defenders in recent weeks, with Pink injured for a while and then suspended for a week. Either way, he can't hurt his development but I hope we see him back in the forward line for the second half of the season.

**Ludwig** · 26th June 2019, 08:48 PM

Pink and Reynolds are not on the injury list, which indicates (take a guess)___ .

I noticed that Ling was omitted from the injury list last week and hasn't been added back this week, as well as no mention in the injury report. He was last listed as 3-5 weeks with a Plantaris injury. Most likely explanation: Clerical error.

How many will play this week?

**ugg** · 27th June 2019, 08:17 PM

SYDNEY
B: 51. R Barkley 59. J Rayner 54. C Flanagan
HB: 27. J McInerney 41. H McLean 33. R Stoddart
C: 32. J Bell 15. K Jack 6. J Thurlow
HF: 16. Z Foot 47. T Pink 45. S Wicks
F: 49. C Hirst 46. J Amartey 2. D Menzel
R: 60. M Knoll 42. R Fox 4. R Clarke
Int: 55. J Barling 50. C Kilpatrick 48. K McGrath 53. K McKellar 57. L Swaney
Emg: 58. Z Cameron 52. J Pawle 56. K Veerhuis
In: 2. D Menzel 47. T Pink 4. R Clarke 57. L Swaney
Out: 25. B Ronke (AFL) 8. J Rowbottom (AFL) 56. M Geddes (omitted)

GOLD COAST
B: 57. R Buckland 21. J Leslie 45. J Dawson
HB: 43. J McLennan 46. C Graham 31. J Murdoch
C: 33. G Horlin-Smith 35. M Rischitelli 42. C Nutting
HF: 60. C Portelli 29. C Burgess 15. A Young
F: 19. J Corbett 32. B Crossley 37. I Rankine
R: 22. T Nicholls 40. J Heron 54. L McDonald
Int: 59. M Conroy 53. A Davies 50. F Greenwool 52. C Joyce 61. E Semaan
Emg: 51. B Deslandes 48. M Selsby
In: 33. G Horlin-Smith 31. J Murdoch 37. I Rankine 59. M Conroy 43. J McLennan 19. J Corbett 15. A Young 53. A Davies
Out: 49. M Riordan (unavailable) 58. D Koenen 55. J Gore 59. A Crossley 53. C Budarick 58. H Oea (All Allies) 18. B Scheer (AFL).
New: 37. I Rankine 31. J Murdoch

**ugg** · 27th June 2019, 08:39 PM

No McVeigh or Cunningham.

**MattW** · 27th June 2019, 08:42 PM

That's a decent NEAFL forward line, although surprised Pink selected up forward.

Their number 3 pick Rankine plays his first game since injuring himself against us in preseason.