St Kilda Development Coach and Sandringham Senior Coach Jake Batchelor runs through each AFL-listed player's performance following this weekend's VFL clash against Box Hill on the MCG.

On the game

It was a slow start from the boys. We were outworked and outhunted in the first half in particular and they shifted the ball across the ground well. They made the most of their attacking turnovers and we didn’t capitalise on our chances early.

We need to work on our movements as a side as well as our decisions when we have the ball in hand, especially having easier shots on goal rather than having to kick from a fair way out or at tough angles. It’s hard to change momentum when you keep missing and the opposition are kicking straight.

We managed to get into the groove of the game in the second-half, we started to move the ball, get some marks and challenge their defence. We started to look good at times so it was disappointing that we basically started the game halfway through the third quarter, but it was a pleasing last term and a half, so hopefully we can build off that.

Tom Campbell

Tommy had a real impact for us on Sunday. He ended up with 12 contested possessions, 10 ground ball gets and nine clearances which is an impressive display for a ruckman. Most of our scores came from stoppages which stemmed from the dominance of Tom.

While his physical output is important for us, it is his team-first approach and desire to connect everyone that makes it so enjoyable to coach him. He just never gives up and was one of those guys that got us going in the last quarter.

He finished the extremely strong and will be putting his hand up for AFL selection should he be required. 

Jack Bytel

Jack had a pretty good game, he worked his way into it and finished with 12 contested possessions and six clearances, which is a solid output from a midfielder.

His running from contest to contest is something we can work on improving with him, the Hawks exposed us a bit in that area, it is something they are good at.

Especially on the MCG, you can get caught out in that area, so we’ll be looking to work on that with Jack.

Mitch Owens

Mitch had a similar game to Jack, he was involved in more few centre bounce plays and had some strong exits which he was a part of.

He got a bit more uncontested ball this week, which was great to see on the ‘G and he was one of the boys that led us in the last quarter to keep fighting. We had a good finish, but the midfield group as a whole will be looking to start a bit better.

Max Heath

Maxxy looked good, he had three scoring shots and was aggressive in the ruck. The boys love playing with him, and I love coaching him, there’s so much to work with. It is really pleasing to watch him progress.

There were a couple of times where he can try to work into a better positions to help out our team attack and team defence, but he’s always learning and trying to get better.

It would have been a great experience for him on the ‘G, he’s so young but he’s progressing well. 

Dean Kent

Kenty was good, he had 21 disposals, four scoring shots and eight score involvements and was more of the guys who led from the front. He played half in the middle and half up forward, which is great as it gives us the option of throwing him into centre bounces when we need some power and explosion.

He had a couple of attacking decisions when we weren’t set behind the ball that hurt us going the other way but he generally has that impact wherever he goes. He could’ve been cleaner in a couple of passages of play but he had a good game.

Matthew Allison 

Matty had a good game on the wing and pushed into the forward-line for us when he needed to. He missed a couple of shots when he went into attack but he is getting himself into good positions up there.

He played on Liam Shiel on the wing and probably learned a bit there about the importance of running both ways. Matty is a good runner but there were a few times where he could’ve got in on our attack and not given the opposition winger time to turn around and face the ball.

It was a good learning experience once more for Matty, he is progressing well.

Leo Connolly 

Leo had a bit of an in-between game, he got himself into good spots, but his role has to be a receiver in our attacking plays, and we just played too straight and didn’t get any shift into the ball until the last quarter, so it was hard for him to be a part of our chains.

When Leo gets the ball in his hands, we look good. He had a couple of plays where we went from D-50 to inside 50 and he was a part of that. He knows when we need to be composed versus when we can be a bit more lively.

Similar to Matty, he probably needed to get inn a bit harder with the opposition half-forward to set us up behind the ball and make sure our defensive bubble is a bit higher but it was a good experience to play on the ‘G. 

Tom Highmore 

Tommy lost his partner in crime in Darragh at the last minute, so he had to play a different role to what we normally use him for. His main strength is intercepting the ball, but we had to take that away from him a little bit to focus on him squeezing the rest of the defenders up.

He didn’t get as much of the play as he normally would, he did get some opportunities, but he didn’t make the most of them. He took a couple of good intercept marks but dropped a couple and fumbled a little bit.

His leadership was super important to use down back and there’s no doubt Tommy will be looking to bounce back this week. 

Cooper Sharman 

Cooper looked solid whenever he had the ball in his hands. He played mainly forward but had some good stints on the wing and didn’t look out of place.

Nine times out of 10, he’s making the right decisions and finding teammates. We weren't composed the first three quarters, except when he had the footy. He settled us and made some smart decisions for us.

Oscar Adams

It was Oscar’s first game for the club, and it was a debut on the MCG no less. It was a good experience for him.

He played on some crafty forwards so he would have learned a bit from the game. He had some good opportunities where he could have won the ball back, but he didn’t quite capitalise with some dropped marks and fumbles, but the basis is there for Oscar, you can see a good player in the future. He just needs to keep working on the fundamentals and basics of what a good defender does. 

Jack Peris 

Jack is still developing - it was only his third game at the VFL level. It was a tough day at half-back, they outworked us a bit so there were a couple of times Jack could’ve got up the ground a bit more and set-up our defence, similar to Leo.

His stoppage positioning is getting better and his drive and using his legs when he got the ball in hand is so important for us, so it’s awesome to see him do that. Next step is making the decision on whether he should kick it, pass it off or hit up a target and just try to sum up the situation when there is so much pressure.

His contest work is improving because he is putting in the work, so I’m excited to see his progression going forward.

Josiah Kyle

Stats-wise, Josiah didn’t have a massive impact, but it is his chase and pressure when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands that is so impressive.

He had three shots on goal, which is always good from a small forward – he’s giving himself opportunities. He sometimes gets caught a little high up but with some further clarity and connection with the other forwards, he’ll continue to improve.

Going forward - Gold Coast at Sandringham

We need to start well. It is so important for a young team to get off to a good start because it is so hard to fight and scrap your way back into a game, especially when you haven’t played together for that long and you also don’t have the proof that you can do it.

Starting well is so important and to get the ball forward against a side that also likes to get the footy up forward. It almost feels as though it will be a case of who can get it inside 50 and set up defensively to not let it out first.

We don’t like up and down win/loss results, but we are learning. We learned a lot this week about using space and it will be a good opportunity for us to do so again this week on a smaller and more narrow ground.