LIKE many people The Standard's journalists are waiting for the coronarvirus pandemic to wane and for life to return to normal.
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Sport globally is on hiatus and our reporters Justine McCullagh-Beasy, Sean Hardeman and Brian Allen are eager to talk sport via The Commentary Box.
SEAN: Well guys another week of no football or netball and the debate is continuing to rise around whether there will be local seasons or not. But I feel we have said quite a bit on that recently and could do with a slight change up of our football discussions this week. What are your thoughts on some of your favourite players from Hampden and Warrnambool and District football netball leagues?
BRIAN: Sean, I have seen more WDFNL football and netball. Here are some of my favourite players to watch but keep in mind I haven't seen all teams in action. Merrivale's Jason Rowan, Kolora-Noorat's Ben Fraser and Nirranda's Jesse Dalton are three forwards I enjoyed watching. Each has a strong presence and regularly kicks goals. The Power's Mark Clissold is always exciting as well. Blue Ben Threlfall also had an amazing 2019 finals series. His teammate Peter McDowall is strong and runs hard through the midfield. Jason Moloney and Scott Judd just glide through that Power midfield. Both skilful. Tiger Blair McCutcheon must be one of the best runners in the game. Seems to be everywhere and uses the pill well. I've seen Old Collegians' Mason Crosier put in some gritty defensive performances. Blue Luke Weel and the Power's Jake Richardson are super reliable on the last line of defence.
JUSTINE: I used to love watching Rowan play for Warrnambool during his time there. He just demands the ball. Everyone loves a goal-kicker. Midfielders get the best-and-fairest votes but the forwards capture your attention. Luke Cody is a dynamic player for Warrnambool and can do the mercurial and his teammate Sam Cowling is powerful - one of the best marks in the competition. Koroit is blessed with the likes of Sam Dobson, Jarrod Korewha and Will Couch, who is an enigma. North has the likes of Jarryd Lewis, a small forward who can turn the game, and Sam McLachlan who is all class in either attack or the midfield. Cam Spence is in that mould for Camperdown, he just glides across the ground and is a great kick. South's Paddy Anderson and Warrnambool's Jackson Bell fit in that category too. Hamilton's Tim Meulendyks, before he suffered cardiac arrest, was eye-catching and boasted an incredible, accurate long kick. As for defenders - Saint Tim McPherson is your quintessential no-fuss, reliable backman - and every team needs one. His teammate Dallas Mooney and Camperdown's Jack Williams are creative from the back line and North's Tom Batten and Camperdown's Brendan Richardson are tough to beat.
SEAN: I agree with both your picks from both leagues guys! We are blessed to see some fantastic talent running around before our eyes. There are also plenty of AFL players that I love to watch and also pick in my fantasy teams. I may be a little bit biased here but I love watching Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae do their thing for my Bulldogs. Both great players and they are both left footers like me so another reason to love them. In terms of opposition players I'd love to steal I'd definitely grab Scott Pendlebury. He is just a classy player and is one of the best midfielders in the game. Having Brodie Grundy as well would be very handy since he nearly demolishes us every time we play the Pies. Who are some of your favourites and players you wish to steal?
JUSTINE: Nat Fyfe is a two-time Brownlow Medallist and carries Fremantle on his broad shoulders and David Mundy is all class. But my favourite current-day Docker is Michael Walters. His skills are sublime and he's a match-winner. His kicking style and effectiveness are a delight to watch. Joel Hamling is an underrated defender and Alex Pearce, if he can get an injury-free run, and Luke Ryan will help consolidate our back line for years to come. I'd love to have Brisbane's Charlie Cameron slot into the Dockers' forward line. He is dynamic. We're still searching for a key forward to fill a Matthew Pavlich-shaped hole. Sean, mind sending Aaron Naughton back home across the Nullabor?
BRIAN: Besides Dusty, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch my favourites would include the Bont, Pendlebury and West Coast's Liam Ryan. Lynch was an unbelievable pick up for Richmond and a crucial player in the 2019 premiership year. Who would add value to the Tigers? It would be great to steal Eagle Jeremy McGovern given Alex Rance has retired. Strong body and takes so many intercept marks.
SEAN: The acquisition of Josh Bruce and Alex Keath at both ends for us has me excited to have a genuine spine for the first time in a long time at Whitten Oval!
Liam Ryan does have a lot of excitement factor about him and can shift a game so quickly, like when we saw him grab the 2018 grand final by the throat in that last two minutes with that awesome screamer. How excited are you guys to see a fixture announced for the AFL?
JUSTINE: I am rapt the AFL will return on June 11. Not so thrilled Richmond will feature in three of the first four Thursday night games. Yes, the Tigers are crowd-puller but I prefer to watch different teams - the powerhouses and the minnows - for variety.
My team will be based on the Gold Coast for the next four rounds and, given the Dockers are an enigma, we could either get on a roll or end up 0-5.
BRIAN: The Tiges have three blockbusters coming up. I suspect each of those games - Collingwood, Hawthorn and West Coast - are going to be close so don't mind them being on Thursday night.
But do marquee time slots even have the same weight they normally would right now?
We're all spending a lot of time at home in front of the TV, especially with no local sport to attend.
Other The Commentary Box entries:
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