Matthew SUCKLING

2017 Digest:   A hard luck story from last year’s flag. Battled an Achilles issues over summer and managed through JLT series but kicked four against Suns.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	Coll	Some of his 17 kicks were lasers cutting through the Magpie defence to set up goals. Fine game.	7
2	Syd	Great early when side was under pump. Proving one of the shrewdest pick-ups in recent times for the Dogs.	7
3	Frem	His kicking set the team up for key moments. Had 30 possessions.	6
4	NM	Skill execution was way off and caught with the ball at times but two second-half goals proved critical in tight finish.	6
5	Bris	Used left foot when he got the pill which was 22 times. Missed two chances for goal but was a contributor.	6
6	GWS	Played predominantly across half forward and produced steady output. One goal from 22 disposals and six inside-50s.	6
7	Rich	Worked in attack but only two shots at goal were astray.	5
8	WCE	Kicked short a lot so he couldn’t get the most out of his booming foot.	5
9	Geel	When he got it things looked good for Dogs. Only issue was he didn’t get it enough; seven kicks and no goals.	4
10	StK	Kicked trademark booming goal but rest of game was mixed bag.	4
11		Bye.
12	Syd	Saw a bit of the ball on the very outside, but in games such as this, had to get hands dirtier.	5
13	Melb	Claimed his share of possession but rarely hurt Demons with penetration or creativity.	4
14	NM	Veteran rebounder had it 14 times in the opening two terms then faded right out of the game to end with 21. Great long goal late.	7
15	WCE	Heading for a shocker until some final quarter involvement, although not decisive, rescued his day somewhat.	3
16	Adel	The perfect conditions for his game, get it on the boot and kick long.	7
17	Carl	Used left foot to advantage at times from 24 disposals and four rebound 50s. Handy performance.	6
18	GCS	Kicking at times cut the Suns apart and played his role well enough.	6
19	Ess	One goal, 19 possessions, two inside-50s and a couple of piercing balls to teammates. Steady without starring.	6
20	Bris	Did well until three-quarter time and then just the three disposals in final term when Dogs’ were on their way to victory.	5
21	GWS	Veteran rebounder had some handy patches but also made mistakes at times. To his credit he kept battling.	6
22	Port	Massive early goal from boundary with the wind, then looked to bomb the ball each time he got it.	5
23	Haw	Former Hawk didn’t set the world on fire. Rarely able to penetrate with his slicing left foot despite 17 touches.	4

2016 Season

1	Frem	Started on Danyle Pearce on a wing. Kicking was good as usual, including a snapped goal.	6
2	StK	Continued solid start to life at a new club on a wing.	6
3	Haw	Decent performance against his old club. Lifting third quarter goal.	6
4	Carl	Brilliant game. Used the footy with precision off the left side and kicked a wonderful long goal.	7
5	Bris	Injured leg early when he landed awkwardly in a marking contest and played no further part.	1
6		Ankle.
7		Ankle.
8		Ankle.
9		Ankle.
10	Coll	Crucial long kicks set up goals at vital stages and he booted sealer.	6
11	WCE	Precision kicking a highlight of a steady and poised performance from the back half.	7
12	Port	Six rebounds from defensive 50, but his kicking efficiency was down.	6
13	Geel	Kicked a lovely long goal and used the ball well as usual.	7
15	Syd	Not a big night and tried too often for fancy kicks.	4
16	Rich	Kicked an early goal and provided some rebound from defence. Handy.	6
17	GCS	Set up a lot of play out of back half. Rarely missed a target by foot.	7
18	StK	OK in first half apart from clanger kick-off. Sometimes too clever by half.	5
19		Achilles.
20		Achilles.
21	Coll	Didn’t make usual impact as he only had eight kicks.	4
22		Achilles.
23	Frem	Only 10 of his 20 possessions were kicks so his effectiveness was quelled.	5
EF	WCE	Used ball well mostly but had a few insipid contests where he non-competitive. Has to be better.	4
SF	Haw	Used long kicking to good effect at times.	5
PF		Achilles.
GF		Senior emergency.

2015 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1	Geel	Goes about his business with minimum of fuss and great compliment to others.	6
2	Ess	Ball use wasn’t as clean as usual but found the footy well at half back.	6
3	WB	Tried to be too fancy a couple of times, but good overall coming out of defence.	6
4	Port	Instrumental in the Hawthorn revival with a big last term.	7
5	NM	Started in attack and drifted between positions. OK without starring.	5
6	GWS	Decent contributor in the backline with four rebound-50s.	6
7	Melb	Kicked a goal but move to half forward is taking time to get used to.	5
8	Syd	Looked a little shaky at times and got beaten in a key one-on-one late.	5
9	GCS	Prolific ball-winner coming out of defence.	6
10	StK	OK game but occasional errors punctuated his efforts.	5
12	Adel	Not kicking the footy as sweetly as he usually does.	6
13	Ess	Sub. On early to replace injured Frawley and did a few nice things after half time.	5
14	Coll	Sub came on last change and made impact with long goal.	2
15	Frem	One of his better games this year. Ball use was better and got more of it.	7
16	Syd	One 65-metre goal and was all over the place, particularly in the first half.	6
17	Carl	Used footy exceptionally well and helped send others into space.	8
18		Hamstring.
19	WCE	The Eagles did well to stop his kicking game from coming out.	5
20	Geel	Played a role with his deadly left foot and helped set up teammates.	6
21	Port	Horror start with kicking and one-on-one contest losses. Improved slightly.	5
22	Bris	Two snapped goals and made most of opportunities.	6
23	Carl	Did his bit with ball in hand rarely missing a target.	7
QF	WCE	Kicking errors let him down at times but not the worst.	4
SF	Adel	Much improved effort on last week but effectiveness down by foot.	5
PF	Frem	Goal on three-quarter time was crucial. Found form in nick of time.	7
GF	WCE	Sub came on for Hale and promptly snapped important goal. Got into it.	3

2014 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1	Bris	Welcome return to senior side after a knee injury. Kicking good as usual.	5
2	Ess	Two first-half goals dashing from half back. Looks to be finding his feet quickly.	7
3	Frem	Matched on Crozier at start. Untroubled in defence and did as he liked.	7
4	GCS	Kicking is worth watching on its own. Good game.	7
5	Geel	Left foot was used as a weapon but Cats nullified him in the second half.	6
6	Rich	Contributed a solid game.	5
7	StK	Incisive kicking from defence a feature as ever.	7
8	Syd	Swans pressured him well and he rarely got off the chain.	3
10	Port	Marshalled the troops in defence with all the key absentees.	8
11	GWS	Handy at half back without starring. Used the ball well, which was key.	6
12	WCE	When the Hawks took over, Suckling played a big role with his kicking.	6
13	Carl	Two long-range goals early got side off to a flyer. Solid all night from back half.	7
14	Coll	Impeccable disposal by foot off a wing.	7
15	GCS	Not called upon to make big impact.	3
16	NM	North made a point of cramping him at every opportunity to limit output.	4
17	Adel	Kept Walker to two goals while pushing forward for eight inside-50s.	8
18	Syd	Efficiency not as high as it can be but did enough good things to play a part.	6
19	WB	Busy off half back and had usual penetration in kicks.	6
20	Melb	Provided something Melbourne don’t have – elite kicking skills in defence. OK game.	6
21	Frem	Subbed off after providing very little in half-back role.	3
22	Geel	Looked hampered and subbed out with an injury in third term.	2
23		Knee.
QF		Knee.
SF		Knee.
PF	Port	Fired in a trademark low goal and had big second term after shaky opening.	5
GF	Syd	Handy game off half back and kicked soul destroying goal.	5

2013 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1		Knee.
2		Knee.
3		Knee.
4		Knee.
5		Knee.
6		Knee.
7		Knee.
8		Knee.
9		Knee.
10		Knee.
11		Knee.
12		Knee.
13		Knee.
14		Knee.
15		Knee.
16		Knee.
17		Knee.
18		Knee.
19		Knee.
20		Knee.
21		Knee.
22		Knee.
23		Knee.
QF		Knee.
SF
PF		Knee.
GF		Knee.

2012 Season

Played for : Hawthorn

1	Coll	Long kicking a feature despite one howling mistake – 25 possessions.	7
2	Geel	Made a couple of blues with his kicking early.	5
3	Adel	Prepared to work hard in pushing forward.	6
4	WCE	A play maker off half back. Had 21 possessions.	6
5	Syd	Had 19 touches until half time then tapered.	6
6	StK	Important link-man with typically penetrating and pinpoint kicking.	6
7	Melb	Not a factor early but had a heap of the ball after half time.	5
8	Frem	Slow out of blocks then was instrumental in vital second term.	6
9	Rich	Disposal off; for some reason looked slow. Has to stand up when tide against.	4
10	NM	Beaten defensively by Wright but provided his typical rebound and penetration.	5
11	Port	His disposal by his left foot is poetry in motion.	6
12	Bris	Tradesman-like job in defence.	6
14	Carl	Good second quarter coming out of defence.	5
15	GWS	Almost has the most lethal left foot in the game. Match-high 35 touches.	9
16	WB	While others shone he was quiet. One of the few.	3
17	Coll	Couple of blues but for most part was rock solid in the back half.	7
18	Ess	Long kicking raised four goals as he sliced through from defence.	7
19	Geel	Only one rebound and one inside-50 plus no goals after four last week.	4
20	Port	Came on at half time for Rioli and had a good second half.	4
21	GCS	Quiet day by his standards.	4
22	Syd	Swans shut him down reasonably effectively but he still kicked two key goals.	6
23	WCE	Left foot hurt Eagles all night – five rebound 50s and three inside-50s.	7
QF	Coll	Influence nullified first half (9 disp) but lifted a little. OK but can play better.	6
PF	Adel	One lovely goal off a couple of steps, but not a big influence elsewhere.	4
GF	Syd	Jack went a long way to countering his drive. One 70m torp was a gem.	5