A closer look at Round 1

Written by Nathan Sepe

Each week, we will take a closer look at the best performing player on each ling

Forward – Oscar McDonald 

Following the misfortunate of Jack Silvangi’s shoulder injury before half time, former Demon, new recruit, Oscar McDonald made the most of his opportunity, playing with intent to conceal his spot in a side developing stronger levels of depth.  McDonald showed great potential in the practice game versus St Kilda and proved the talent he had on offer, which was shown quickly against an all-star Richmond team with class all-around the ground. McDonald finished off with nine disposals, going at 67% disposal efficiency, 63% effective kicks. McDonald collected three marks and slotted two crucial goals when the Baggers needed it most.

McDonald made a big impact early on in the third quarter, coming on as the new ‘medical sub’. McDonald put early pressure on the Tigers defence, the highlight of the game for McDonald who kicked his first goal in the Navy Blues colours. McDonald was influential down the ground, pushing forward to help assist the wingers in his half-forward role. There was a smart passage of play between McDonald and Fisher, evading Grimes and Baker, followed up by a great pressure act, tackling Baker and winning a holding the ball call. McDonald followed up yet again later in the third quarter, laying a crunching tackle on Pickett to stop a quick offensive transition from the Tigers.   

McDonald found himself yet again in another goal scoring position setting himself away from opposition at the fifty, in which he was able to roll around the man on the mark and slot his second for the night. McDonald’s six pressure acts was ultimately a big factor in the Baggers switch in transition and impact down forward, where most forwards struggle to take a hold of the game. Whilst McDonald had minor statistical impact his pressure and efficiency with the ball earns him forward of the game.

Midfield – Sam Walsh 

From the start of the 2019 Round 1 clash versus the Tigers it was clear that Sam Walsh was going to be booming midfielder that would come to help solidify the Carlton midfield and revitalise a midfield that had been predominantly carried by the likes of Patrick Cripps. 2 years on and Walsh is bigger, faster, stronger and showed his off-season improvements, dominating the midfield for the Baggers against the Tigers last Thursday night. 

Walsh played a critical role in dominating the midfield run throughout the game, compiling 31 disposals, the top disposal getter on the ground for the Baggers. A key highlight of Walsh throughout the game was his ability to accelerate through congested stoppages whilst also using strong off ball reading skills to pick out outside runners when pushing forward, mostly off defensive transition. 

Walsh statistically stood out from the rest of the midfield group, with a disposal efficiency of 87.1%, 1.2% lower than Setterfield, in which only totalled 17 disposals. Walsh displayed his effective kicking skills, nailing 10/12 kicks at 83.3% kicking efficiency. Walsh’s ability to read the football directionally, stood out with 63% of his possessions coming from uncontested scenarios where Walsh was able to break out through space and open the ground up without significant contest. Walsh was not afraid to put his head over the ball, showing a newfound intensity and pressure when attacking the ball.  Walsh ended the game with 12 ground ball gets, highlighting the strength that Walsh has gained through the off-season. 

The main highlight from Walsh’s game was his fast run through the middle of the ground speeding past Shai Bolton, to hit up McDonald, to reduce the margin down to five points. Overall, this performance from Walsh played an integral role to lessening the pressure of other key midfielders in Cripps to open up the centre ball gets. As well as this Walsh’s ability to bring in the key wingers in Setterfield and Newnes helped effectively to bring some much needed ball skill along the outer wings of the ground.  Walsh may be a good chance for some Brownlow votes come the end of the year.

Defence – Adam Saad 

The former Don took little time to impress the Carlton faithful last Thursday night, with his run and carry a significant improvement to the evolving Carlton defensive lines. I mist highlight that whilst Saad had a great impact on the game, the efforts of Lachie Plowman should not be disregarded who played an instrumental role in shutting down Richmond’s offensive transition into the forward line. 

Saad proved influential on the ground statistically, finishing with 25 disposals at 80% disposal efficiency. Saad had sixteen kicks on the night, 12/16 effective kicks going at 75%. Saad displayed his run and carry with the ball, with eight intercepts off the halfback line and provided strong, down the line kicks to running wingers in Setterfield, Newnes, Murphy, Walsh and others. Saad was our best score involver for the defensive line with three score involvements to conclude the game, highlighting his brilliance to involve himself around the ground when needed. 

A key feature of Saad’s game is his ability to pressure contested clusters and break through to expose open areas of the ground. Saad racked up 18 pressure acts throughout the game, averaging 4.5 per quarter. Whilst Saad had some heart in mouth moments, his finesse and quality to read the play and accurately hit up others led him to a stand out night in a Baggers defence that conceded 75 inside 50s. Saad also accumulated four tackles on the night, equal highest with Cripps, a key insight to the Baggers stoppage of Richmond’s forward line having pure domination. 

The moment of the night for Saad came deep in the fourth quarter, with the game on the line for the Baggers. Saad showcased the insanely important speed he possesses and had an amazing run down tackle on Aarts, bringing the crowd to it’s feet, keeping the Baggers in the game with the margin at ten points with ten minutes remaining. For the Baggers, we hope this is a reoccurring performance each week, in which the talent and skill level that Saad possesses will be a key to further developing the game style of this emerging Carlton side.