St Kilda Development Coach and Sandringham Senior Coach Jake Batchelor runs through each AFL-listed player's performance following this weekend's VFL practice match against Collingwood.

On the game

We started the game well, controlled the ball and looked dangerous going forward but we butchered it going inside-50 and didn’t make the most of some good plays. We had our opportunities but didn’t kick straight early on and the pressure mounted from there and they got on top of us. They challenged our defence well and it took us two quarters to get back into it.

We got outhunted and we couldn’t break their tackles. We ended up changing our tactics in the last quarter and went back at them, which worked well so we took some confidence from that. It was disappointing to lose but that’s what practice matches are for – to figure out what is working, what isn’t and make those changes before there are four points up for grabs.

Tom Highmore

Tom was probably our most influential throughout the game, he was impressive.

The one thing with Tommy is that he’s never going to die wondering, he’s always going to do what he can to help his teammates and he’ll be proactive with his positioning.

Sometimes he’ll get caught out but more often than not he is making good decisions. There was a couple of aerial contests he’d like back, flying when he didn’t need to however that is his strength, so you like to see him going for it.

Jarryn Geary

Gears played on the wing, he had 85 minutes and got through well. His shoulder was good, so the main thing was to get some kilometres into his legs and get a bit of contact. He led well, he organises everyone around him and it was good to see him back out there again.

Cooper Sharman

Cooper had a good start to the game and got involved early on. He was at both sides of our inside-50 connection during the first quarter, he is always moving and trying to provide an option for us.

Our ball movement probably hurt him a bit when we got a bit stagnant. When our ball movement was slick, that’s when he was in the play. His aerial contest stuff is still a work in progress and he has to get a bit better at that with the way we are going to play but his attitude is fantastic and he just wants to keep getting better.

Ben Long

Longy had a mixed game, he started well and could have been on the end of some attacking plays that we didn’t complete. He looked dangerous at times, but he probably didn’t get the opportunities when we went inside-50. His contest work was good and looks impressive whenever the ball gets in his hands, so we just need to keep figuring out ways to get the footy to him.

Leo Connolly

Leo had a big focus on trying to support the ball carrier and provide an option, and not necessarily get the ball but just be in good spots when we need him because he’s got a lovely kick on him.

He did that this week, and he didn’t get a heap of the footy, but he got to his spots, he ran hard and he was proactive in where he needed to be. There are still a few positional things he can work on from stoppages to give himself space, but the attitude change was pleasing to see.

Jarrod Lienert

Jarrod played the first half of the game before heading off to Marvel Stadium as an emergency for the senior side. His positioning was good down back to give us an option to help a teammate, but he probably just needs to work on his connection in the air with everyone. But he is a good leader and he’s still learning our game plan, so for only a half of footy, it was a good outing for him.

Marcus Windhager

Marcus was promising, he had a good game. He got himself in some good spots and got the ball in some dangerous areas, he just got caught in a couple of tackles trying to take guys on, but it was good to see him being proactive in trying to break tackles and putting himself in the right areas. We put him in the midfield in the last quarter and he certainly didn’t look out of place. He is progressing nicely.

Oscar Adams

Oscar played well this week, he played as a mid-to-high half-back and had a couple of good aerial contests where he looked out of it but then managed to get a fist in. He is more than happy to tap the ball onto a teammate or get a fist to the ball. He’s got little go-go-gadget arms and can just get to the ball. He is progressing nicely and coming out of his shell which is good to see. He can probably get a bit more proactive with his positioning as he has a strong run-and-jump.

Matthew Allison

Matty played on the wing and looked promising. He had a couple of shots at goal and worked back well defensively as well as challenged going forward. He looked good, he had a purpose around the contest, and I think he would be able to take a lot out of it.

Darragh Joyce

Darragh had an okay game, he was similar to Jarrod. His positioning was good, but he gave away a couple of free kicks and didn’t have that synergy with the other backs when the ball was in the air. He was disappointed with his game, but I like that about him. He’s willing to cop it on the chin and work to get better.

Tom Campbell

Tommy was good, it was an improvement from last week. He would get the ball out of the ruck but either got tackled or couldn’t get it to a teammate. This week, he played like the 110kg monster that he is. He drove through tackles and fed the ball out to teammates.

There is still some connection stuff there that he has to work out with Max Heath but he’s a great leader, a great person and I’m looking forward to seeing his progression leading into next week.

Max Heath

Max continued his development in a pretty good game. He kicked two nice set shots and had a couple of chances up forward which was nice to see.

The one thing with Max is that he is never getting out-marked. He’s not always grabbing them, he’ll clunk a few but he isn’t getting out-marked. It’s comforting to know we can kick it long down the line and the ball isn’t going to get marked by the opposition. He’s not getting a huge amount of ruck time with Tommy in the side, so we are just trying to find the right balance for both Max and the side.

Jack Peris

Jack is improving, he fought, tackled and chased really well and looked as though he had a chip on his shoulder which was great to see. He played half-back and was cracking into contests. Similar to Leo, there are some positional things we can work on so he can get in better positions to help his teammates but his desire to scrap, fight and compete was on show.

Josiah Kyle

Josiah was pretty good this week, he started slowly but built into the game and got some good opportunities in front of goal. He had about four or five shots on goal and his pressure was good inside-50 so he is going to be tough to play on if he keeps progressing.

He needs to keep focusing on the fundamentals of being a forward, like chasing when it is your time to chase, or when you have to get out and help defend, and he is starting to do that more and more.