2-0, hard to fault!

Yep, looks like abandoning the single direction passing is the go - 3 INTs and 37.5% is a shocker. But if you chose a set direction then how did 4 WR/TEs make catches - was it attack down center?

Also, looks like Gibson's stamina was an issue too maybe?

I think I have a fairly firm grasp concerning pass direction orders now and what to use and when to use it. I'd tell you all, but then I'd have to kill you (mostly because it's a public forum and everybody will see it haha). I suppose I'm open to PMs though (and it's all theory anyway).

Gibson's stamina has always been an issue. It's very surprising that it's as low as it is given the club he's at, and the rest of his build (very sensible vanilla one). His stamina is why he was not used last cycle, but this cycle his other skills were at a much better level than last time (so it was a choice between quality vs stamina). I personally don't like how his match ratings fade out so much, but up until that game he had been very good. I wish we got some friendlies or experimental games though, as I really want to see how Marco Watters will do (given one fairly unique aspect of his build along with the standard 19 speed, good catching/agility), but can't bring myself to play him over our top 3 WRs currently.

Burgoyne is a funny one. I think some players just 'have it' and others don't. Ted Simpson has the same impressive physicals, more agility, more tackling, more tacticals, double the footwork, more intel/consistency, same BPOS, and so on. Doesn't have the dual BPOS nor the blocking (as part of that) and less stamina. Only the last thing should have any effect on his performance as a DE, but yeah... I remember there being some talk/rumour mongering a long time ago, over blocking being a skill DLinemen benefit from, but I'm not sure.

Riggio has more BPOS and a significantly higher skill level in most areas (higher than even Pat Hampson), but poorer physicals. His physicals were some way poorer though, so I can see Burgoyne being better overall quite logically. The Simpson vs Burgoyne one is a bit of a head scratcher personally (unless they've implemented size and BMI physical limitations without telling us, given Burgoyne is 2 inches taller and the BMIs of both are at different levels). Hampson on the other hand, is probably the only DE lock. Speed demon with decent strength (has 1 more point combined physicals than Simpson & Burgoyne who both have 20s...), and high skill levels all around.

Regardless, make no mistake, we'll be back much stronger next time around.

To the blokes that have been NC - how far do you go in your scouting efforts?

All of the Div 1 teams? (obvious)
All of the Div 2 teams?

I guess it varies from region to region depending on how deep the divisions go?

The other thing I noticed is that we have a lot of Aussie players in the top 100 earners that aren't on the NT - I assume they all have poor physicals/INT/CON/secondaries?