DEVELOPMENT coach Brad Miller reviews the Melbourne-listed players who played in the VFL and the AFL Victoria Development League at Casey Fields on Sunday

VFL: Coburg 13.8 (86) d Casey Scorpions 10.9 (69)

Dom Barry: Dom had 11 disposals and two tackles. We found Dom had an average game and didn’t really impact offensively. He didn’t really hurt us defensively either. We’re finding with Dom that he flashes in and out of the contest without actually having any impact. Because of his running ability, it allows him to a number of contests. We just need him to go in and impact more by winning the ball or making a tackle. Often he’s in and around the ball, but doesn’t get used or doesn’t impose himself on the contest.

Sam Blease: Sam had 22 disposals and one tackle. We found Sam won a fair bit of the ball, playing on the wing and high half-forward. However, we got no advantage from the majority of Sam’s possessions. Unfortunately, again, he made selfish decisions on the day and chose to go sideways or backwards with a switch kick, when we need his run-and-carry and ability to drive through the lines and be far more damaging.

Mitch Clisby: Mitch had 18 disposals, two tackles and he played half-back, wing and high half-forward. He started the game down back and was doing an OK job. We found that when we moved him forward in the third quarter, he started presenting at the ball and it was his most productive quarter for the day. He worked really hard as a forward and he led at the ball carrier and he often outworked his opponent. We’d just like Clis to be stronger in the contest at the moment, because when he gets tackled, he can often get thrown and rag-dolled out of the contest, where we need him to hold his ground and drive through tackles more. We also think he can be a little bit stronger when he is tackling his opponent.

Michael Evans: Michael had 15 disposals and four tackles. He had an average game on the day and was a little sloppy as a defender. He allowed his man to get in behind him and lead-up at the ball on occasion and he wasn’t able to close it out. He didn’t play his role on the weekend.

Alex Georgiou: Alex had 12 disposals and one tackle. He played full-back on Lech Featherstone, who is currently second on the VFL goalkicking leader board. We found that last time Alex played on Featherstone he was beaten on the day. Alex had really set himself to make up for that last game and had started the game in good fashion. He competed well all day and was often right up on his man and was able to spoil. What was pleasing about Alex’s game this week was because he was in the right position against his man – he could often peel off and take marks when the kick wasn’t to advantage for his opponent. He took six marks on the day. When Alex strips it all back and plays on his man and beats him, he’s a very important player for us. This was a benchmark game for him and should give him some confidence going forward.

James Harmes: James had 17 disposals and four tackles. He played inside mid and high half-forward. James did some really nice things in the game, and some of his clearance work was really good. He took a couple of nice marks as a forward. However, we’re finding with James that it was his concentration that let him down. When he doesn’t remain in the game mentally – that’s when his opponent can get the footy or he can find himself out of position around stoppage. We see some real upside in James, but he’s going to have to work really hard and commit to doing what it takes to make it as an AFL footballer.

Jay Kennedy-Harris: Jay had 25 disposals and four tackles. He played wing and high half-forward. His intensity on the day really stood out – in and around the contest – and he’s very agile and nimble, which makes him hard to tackle. His attack on the ball was good on the day and he often won some contests that he had no right to win. We’re trying to encourage Jay to maintain a high level of positivity in his body language throughout the game, as it’s an area that can sometimes bring him unstuck however, he finished the season well.

Jordie McKenzie: Jordie had 23 disposals and three tackles. He was tagged on the day, playing inside mid and we thought he played an accountable, honest game of football. He didn’t star by any stretch, but he got his job done and was often good in and around the stoppage. His leadership has been important in organising some of our other younger mids. He’s finished the season in a commendable fashion.

Daniel Nicholson: Daniel had 15 disposals, two tackles and played across half-back on Coburg’s captain Nick Carnell. We were really pleased with Nicho’s job on the day and he stuck to his task all day. He kept Carnell to five disposals and one goal. Nicho competed whenever the ball was in his area and often neutralised the contest or won it himself. His ball use was at a higher standard this week. He was an honest competitor on the day.

Aidan Riley: Aidan played inside mid and a little bit high half-forward. He had 39 disposals and 10 tackles. We were really pleased with Aidan’s game on the day. He started the day brightly, having 21 disposals and six tackles in the first half. He was really good in a contested situation, winning the ball at ground level and driving through the tackle to give the ball to a teammate in a better position. The thing that stood out in Aidan’s game was his toughness around the ball and his ability to make it difficult to be tackled. Aidan has the bad habit sometimes of going forward all the time and handballing, rather than being out in space and using his feet. We’re trying to encourage him to give first give all of the time, as his ball-winning ability can never be questioned.

James Strauss: James had 17 disposals, three tackles and he again played across half-back. We didn’t feel that Straussy was as damaging as he has been over the past month. He didn’t run-and-carry nearly as much, but we what we were pleased with was in the second quarter he became a lot more physical with his opponent and he wasn’t trailing in his man as often as he has done in the past few games. We were pleased with this aspect of his game. Straussy has played some good footy towards the end of the year however we’re still finding some gaping holes in his defensive game and ability to win contests.

Luke Tapscott: Luke had one disposal and two tackles. He started forward and only played about 10 minutes before he injured his back and wasn’t able to continue in the game.

Dean Terlich: Dean had 23 disposals, five tackles and played mainly across half-back. We thought Dean’s first half was really poor. He was trailing his man in far too often and looked to lack the right amount of intensity in the contest. After half-time, he addressed it and he did finish the game much better than he started.

Jimmy Toumpas: Jimmy had 20 disposals and two tackles. Jimmy played wing and high half-forward. Even though he won his fair share of the ball, we didn’t think Jimmy impacted the game. We thought he looked a little unsure at times, with the ball in hand. Some of his disposal wasn’t as clean as what we’d expect from Jimmy. He’s a good user and he needs to back his kick in. He also needs to be a lot cleaner below his knees.

Max King: Max had eight disposals and one tackle. He played forward and in the ruck. We found Max brought some intensity this week and he showed flashes of being at the level in this area. There were times that he competed well and brought the ball to ground in a marking contest, rather than being out marked as he has in the past. We challenged Max before the game to show some competitive spirit and we thought he did that on the day. He didn’t have a big day stats wise and he didn’t really impact the game. But what we liked was his repeat efforts and his ability to compete in the contest.

AFL Victoria Development League: Casey Scorpions 13.10 (88) d Coburg 8.10 (58)

No Melbourne-listed player featured in this match