We weren't great, but always had enough power to win the game. We struggled because of Swinton's game plan and off the cuff play. They turned us around early in the tackled count with some great kicks meaning we had the full pitch to go at. Very astute tactics on a day like today.

Am I missing something, who's hyped Booth up? nobody really mentions him and he's just the next young player that Powell seems to have around the first team like Croft, who plays FB. He may have played a few different positions to try them in reserves but FB is what he has done as a junior and was brought in as.

100% true there mate

I haven’t seen any academy games this season but is there any young lads who are showing early promise?

I much prefer the structure of a league. There is an innate pride in being a top team, far more so than friendly games. It also far more mirrors the experience of being in the first team. If done properly it allows partnerships to be created. It’s the regularity of it that makes it work imho.

I think the loss of a full A team comp is the biggest reason that the game is failing to create enough creative players. For most forwards training gives them most of what they need, but HBs in particular need a place to work stuff out.Most Aussie HBs make their name in the reserve grades first.

Full game now on YouTube-

rlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v