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Nathan (Axel) Foley [MERGED]
- Thread starter yandb
- Start date
Not much comments on his game last night. All on Martin and co. Bit surprising.
40 touches last night for him was a career record. Not bad a few games in coming back from his injury worries. To me that says not only will he get back to his best he can improve on that as the team improves and there's less pressure on him to carry the workload.
40 touches last night for him was a career record. Not bad a few games in coming back from his injury worries. To me that says not only will he get back to his best he can improve on that as the team improves and there's less pressure on him to carry the workload.
I'm just so happy to see him back playing footy.
As Lids said this morning on the footy show, having him back to near his best (some improvement to go despite 40 touches)) is like getting a number one draft pick.
As Lids said this morning on the footy show, having him back to near his best (some improvement to go despite 40 touches)) is like getting a number one draft pick.
I have no doubt that axel got his career high disposals because for the first time in his career he is playing in a midfield were other players, (the chimp) are getting the opposition attention
Meant to comment on this earlier - very, very surprising.Barnzy said:
Martin should be buying Axel his lunch this week given the amount of feed he provided him, particularly in the first quarter that included his receive to goal. Its early days on his comeback and although his disposal by foot (particuarly at goal) is still a bit iffy it's great to see him back around his best. Works so hard to run and provide an option and always in the thick of the packs. His handball in tight situations is tip-top.
What a difference it makes having him rotate through the guts instead of Edwards and the like.
FWIW AFL teams put up an interesting stats graphic on Axe which suggested he's matching his 2007 figures in terms of av. disposals(24) and clearances(5) and ahead in contested possessions(11) and tackles(6). The relevance was that 2007 was the year he was selected for the AA squad and finished RU in the RFC B&F.
Axel is back. Before last game he was averaging 18 possessions a game, so the 40 possessions helped push that up immenseley. But you can see he's improving every game. Much more composed now than his early games. He's so important for us, and was so influential before his run of injuries. Foley, Cotchin, Martin, Conca, Deledio. Is anyone beginning to get excited for the future?
I thought he was really good last week but the only thing I haven't seen yet is that pace over 10-15 metres that allowed him to break away . I hope that comes back too but it may not.GoodOne said:
But it's great to have him back playing good footy .
Must say after watching him in the preseason and against hawthorn and collingwood, I thought he would take the rest of the season to come good and only really come back to form next year.. he is ahead of where I was expecting him to be.. lets hope he keeps it up, and doesn't get injured again.
people keep focusing on that first 10-15 metre sprint, and it kills me.. who cares.. he maybe gets to do it once or twice a game, and sure its flashy but it isn't anywhere near as important as the huge amounts of contested ball and handballs out he gets when in form.
Very happy to see axe coming back to form, both for the club and especially for him
people keep focusing on that first 10-15 metre sprint, and it kills me.. who cares.. he maybe gets to do it once or twice a game, and sure its flashy but it isn't anywhere near as important as the huge amounts of contested ball and handballs out he gets when in form.
Very happy to see axe coming back to form, both for the club and especially for him
Aekara_Omadara said:
I care. Because winning a heap of contested ball and handball is great... see Daniel Cross. But when he can sprint clear and break lines he creates immediate scoring opportunities.... see Ryan Griffen.
Very few players have the ability to be top notch at both. Axel does... if his sprint comes back.
Juffaricho said:
Agree %100. The ball winning ability is always going to be there for Axel. The injury cannot take footy smarts. But it can take away burst pace. Players that can do that from a stoppage don't give the rolling zones time to set up. With us having Jack sitting in the square this is even more important. Pace by foot and ball movement will give your forwards one out contests.
He is clearly still struggling to regain his 'burst' pace, but he is still quick in his footy brain and has great vision. Keep at it Colac Tiger!
