VFL Games 2026

[BRS328]

For all the ressie watchers, how’s Dattoli going? I thought this might be the season he gets some frequent games but looking at his numbers and from the quarters I’ve watched here or there I haven’t seen much to get excited about.

In my opinion he simply doesn’t work hard enough. I have noticed a couple of times he doesn’t chase once the ball is turned over.
There is no doubt that he has talent but he needs to do more and show consistency

[longmile]

Thanks everyone for the Dattoli update. Very disappointing- I thought he could be a Hayward type or an early career Heeney type (ie Heeney as a forward) so I was pretty excited when we got him.

hopefully he can turn it around but he really should be starting to hit his straps in his third year on the list.

[rb4x]

Dattoli and Phillipou both very disappointing.

[dejavoodoo44]

Slightly strange votes this week, with Mellis getting maximum votes in a losing side.

10 Mitch Mellis (SYD)
4 Billy Cootee (SYD)
4 Josh Pollocks (RICH)
4 Harry Scott (RICH)
4 Kaleb Smith (RICH)
3 Mohammed Yassine (RICH)
1 Nicholas Collier (RICH)

[dejavoodoo44]

The team for the match against St Kilda at Tramway tomorrow. It looks a bit stronger than last week, with a few more AFL listed players. One interesting inclusion is James O'Loughlin, who is the son of Michael. He does have skills and goal sense, and he improved during his draft year, where he was probably a reasonable chance of being rookie listed. He was supposed to play this season as an overager, but I assume he was injured, because he only played the final game, where he bobbed up for three goals. Not sure why he's listed at half back?

B: H. Podmore-Taylor (62), P. Snell (41), K. Gibbs (70)
HB: N. Bowman (23), H. Cunningham (7), J. O'Loughlin (60)
C: J. Harrison (65), B. Cootee (25), J. Tidemann (57)
HF: J. Phillipou (18), T. Hanily (40), J. Sutton (54)
F: T. Ryan (64), M. Mellis (50), J. Hamling (29)
R: P. Ladhams (19), C. Warner (37), J. Dattoli (9)
INT: M. Geddes (61), N. Shipley (52), H. Cameron (69), C. Peters (53), K. Harbour (66)
23rd Player: J. O'Loughlin (60)
EMG: J. Callegari (59), B. Laws (55), N. Andreacchio (67)

IN: N. Bowman, H. Cameron, H. Cunningham, T. Hanily, P. Ladhams, J. O'Loughlin
OUT: N. Chamberlain (hamstring), A. Curry (unavailable), J. Longmire (unavailable), N. Andreacchio, J. Callegari, B. Laws (omitted)

[rb4x]

Great to see Bowman listed

[bandwagon]

So we have 10 AFL-listed players while St Kilda have 12. We are coming off 2 losses while they are on a run of three wins, but we are playing at home. Should be an entertaining match, I'm interested to see how Bowman goes.

[Dow]

StKilda has steered strong, our tackling in D50 resulted in 3 goals ouch ! not to much on wrote home about for AFL listed players maybe Ladhams is going ok ? the rest very ordinary. Hope we rookie Malice having a cracking year

[dejavoodoo44]

St Kilda playing well, but I'd quibble with the 9-2 free kick count, especially the ones were they've been rewarded for throwing their heads back in chest high tackles. Some of our ball movement has been enjoyable to watch. Need to improve the clearances. Haven't seen Bowman?

[bandwagon]

Q1 3.0 v 6.2
St Kilda clearly trying to put numbers around the contest and pressure us out of our forward handball game. Wonder if they will try similar in the seniors, 'cos if we do get out, it is easier to score with all their defenders pushed up.

[bandwagon]

Yeah - I reckon St K are coached with the Selwood method of being tackled - the one against Cunningham was a shocker.

[dejavoodoo44]

I've sighted Bowman. Warner is playing well.

[dejavoodoo44]

Phillipou has same class around goal.

[bandwagon]

I wonder if we will ever win a HTB?

[dejavoodoo44]

A better quarter and quite an enjoyable, hard fought game. Warner, Cootee, Cunningham, Mellis and Phillipou amongst our best. Big quarter from Ryan with three goals. He occasionally did that with the academy, but would then disappear, so hopefully he can keep going. He is a strong mark and usually a straight kick. I'm a bit surprised by how well O'Loughlin has used the ball at half back. In his time at the academy, he almost exclusively played forward pocket with the occasional trip up to the wing, but his decision making has been very good in the back half.