YOUNG Blues Paddy Dow and Sam Walsh have impressed Senior Coach David Teague with their performances in the Round 16 win against Fremantle.
Speaking following the hard-fought 16-point win against the Dockers, Teague praised the efforts of both midfielders, believing that their work both in and around the contest was crucial to the team’s success.
Dow was particularly impressive against Fremantle, setting the tone from the first bounce as he collected 11 first quarter disposals and six clearances.
The 21 year old would go on to finish the game with 22 disposals, a goal, 13 contested possessions and a game high eight clearances with Teague believing fans are starting to see the fruits of Dow’s hard work on the track.
“I think the last two weeks have shown that he’s ability to impact games,” Teague said
“We’ve known it’s there and it’s probably been a little bit of belief. He had to do it and now he’s starting to do it.
“I thought his power, his ability to win clearances and his ball use going away from there is something that he’s worked real hard on and something that we’re starting to see the fruits of.”
In another starring performance, Sam Walsh once again came up clutch for the Blues – delivering the knockout blow to the Dockers with a Goal of the Year contender late in the fourth quarter.
Aside from his game-winning heroics, the hard-running Blue worked tirelessly around the ground, playing a selfless role away from the contest collecting 25 disposals and bringing the pressure with eight tackles.
Teague again praised the competitiveness of Walsh as well as revealing his willingness to play his role for the team and spend more time on the wing to provide the run that the Blues required.
“Sam was great for us again today. We needed him to play a little bit more on the wing today,” he said.
“We needed a bit of run and he put his hand up and said ‘Yep, coach. No worries.’ I thought he played out of the wing well for us and we had Matthew Kennedy and Paddy Dow who probably had a bit more on-ball time.
“Walshy allowed them to do that by being selfless and playing his role on the wing.”
