Re: VFL 2024 Rd 17 Carlton vs Collingwood at Collingwood
Reply #24 –
I only watched about half the game, so dont really want to comment too much on specifics.
A few have talked about Pittos marking in the past, and use TDK as the comparison.
They are different players who play (slightly) different positions and have different skill sets.
Pittos strength is not so much in his ability to mark. Its in his ability to not get outmarked. He is the dump kick down the line that you want to spill over the line and get a throw in from.
Alternatively, TDK can take some clunks worthy of getting a car, but he also gets outpositioned and outmarked a lot easier. This was very evident when we swung him into defence against the cats and/or giants. recently, but also up forward.
Having said that, i'm not sure pitto ever recovered properly from that finger injury that he suffered a month or so ago which is surely hampering him in that area.
Pitto’s not getting outmarked because he’s not involved in marking contests.
He’s shown that he can take a decent mark in recent games so I don’t think his finger is the problem. He’s not getting to marking contests as a defender and his teammates rarely kick to him and/or he doesn’t present as a marking target.
De Koning’s strength is his ability to launch for marks or spoils rather than outbodying opponents … and that’s why he’ll always be a ruckman/forward and not a key defender.