Moved Thread #1: Majak Daw -

[Twinkletoes]

This is your year now Maj.

Go out there, live your dream and prove all these outside doubters wrong!

I honestly hope he doesn't do any media at all this year, let his on field performances do the talking.

Amen mate!

 

[trooroo4life]

This is your year now Maj.

Go out there, live your dream and prove all these outside doubters wrong!

I honestly hope he doesn't do any media at all this year, let his on field performances do the talking.

Well said.

 

[Dodecahedron]

No. 1 guernsey please.
Fresh start.
Train the house down.
Smash the 2016 season.

 

[muttley45]

Huge weight of his broad shoulders now, has handled himself very well during this ordeal. Can concentrate solely on football for once, wish him all the very best, and hopefully a promotion to the senior list is on the cards sometime later due to outstanding form.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

No. 1 guernsey please.
Fresh start.
Train the house down.
Smash the 2016 season.

Bang on actually.

Number change is a great idea.

 

[King Corey]

Agree. He is a superb athlete and done exceptionally well but you can't create a football brain in someone who didn't grow up with the game. Talking with one of the asst coaches not too long ago and he said that Majak is an athletic freak and does things at times that astounds them all, but his strategic skills are poor - he just cannot predict play. Getting better but a long way to go still.

This whole smarts things is seriously overstated.

Blokes like Max Bailey and Mike Pyke are premiership ruckmen and neither are football brainiacs or have some of the attributes Majak has.

The thing that doesn't get enough mention either is that Majak has good skills - disposal, tackling, marking - to go with his athletic gifts.

You'd think every club was fielding 3 Todd Goldstein's the way Majak's weak points are always zeroed in on.

What I'm saying is he can be a very effective AFL player without ever reaching some mythical Sam Mitchell or Brent Harvey footy smarts level that people seem to have determined for him.

 

[War Machine]

This whole smarts things is seriously overstated.

Blokes like Max Bailey and Mike Pyke are premiership ruckmen and neither are football brainiacs or have some of the attributes Majak has.

The thing that doesn't get enough mention either is that Majak has good skills - disposal, tackling, marking - to go with his athletic gifts.

You'd think every club was fielding 3 Todd Goldstein's the way Majak's weak points are always zeroed in on.

What I'm saying is he can be a very effective AFL player without ever reaching some mythical Sam Mitchell or Brent Harvey footy smarts level that people seem to have determined for him.

Exactly. Always blown out of proportion in my opinion.

For me it comes down to one thing...his aerobic capacity. He's had knee issues and last season he finished off the year with a dislocated ankle. If he can stay out of rehab and get a good pre-season into him he won't fatigue so quickly in games.

 

[naturally north]

This whole smarts things is seriously overstated.

Blokes like Max Bailey and Mike Pyke are premiership ruckmen and neither are football brainiacs or have some of the attributes Majak has.

The thing that doesn't get enough mention either is that Majak has good skills - disposal, tackling, marking - to go with his athletic gifts.

You'd think every club was fielding 3 Todd Goldstein's the way Majak's weak points are always zeroed in on.

What I'm saying is he can be a very effective AFL player without ever reaching some mythical Sam Mitchell or Brent Harvey footy smarts level that people seem to have determined for him.

I've had a tough period the last few months and am not sure what I want to say. But will go with- Some ****en people expect Majak to spend an entire game winning a GF ****en sprint.

Also by a third party I managed to get a message to Majak today...

" **** shit up next year".

 

[Lavy_Panther]

This whole smarts things is seriously overstated.

Blokes like Max Bailey and Mike Pyke are premiership ruckmen and neither are football brainiacs or have some of the attributes Majak has.

The thing that doesn't get enough mention either is that Majak has good skills - disposal, tackling, marking - to go with his athletic gifts.

You'd think every club was fielding 3 Todd Goldstein's the way Majak's weak points are always zeroed in on.

What I'm saying is he can be a very effective AFL player without ever reaching some mythical Sam Mitchell or Brent Harvey footy smarts level that people seem to have determined for him.

Max Bailey (whom I never really considered football dumb, but whatevs) and Pyke are clearly a different case to Majak. They were played as ruckmen.

Now the argument could be made whether Majak is a ruck or a forward (I believe ruck), but the fact is that he is a forward who pinch hits in our team because of Goldstein, so he needs to be smarter than just a tap ruckman who gets around the ground a bit (which is undoubtedly his most suited position IMO).

If you have Bailey and Pyke as predominant forwards, they don't play in those grand final teams or their teams lose the game (probably), because they're not up to it playing that role.

For Majak to have a career at NMFC he needs to play forward. The end of the sub will help him in that respect, but not hugely because Goldtstein has shown he can essentially go one out all day, so not much point in changing something that isn't broken.

And for Majak to play for NMFC and be successful he needs to learn and stick to the correct running patterns, something that Brown is so much better than him at. Majak, unfortunately, too often is caught jumping into and over Drew Petrie. He is seemingly incapable of running to make space on exposed form.

I have hopes for Maj, but we'll have to see how the no sub changes things.

 

[Mr Reliable]

This whole smarts things is seriously overstated.

Blokes like Max Bailey and Mike Pyke are premiership ruckmen and neither are football brainiacs or have some of the attributes Majak has.

The thing that doesn't get enough mention either is that Majak has good skills - disposal, tackling, marking - to go with his athletic gifts.

You'd think every club was fielding 3 Todd Goldstein's the way Majak's weak points are always zeroed in on.

What I'm saying is he can be a very effective AFL player without ever reaching some mythical Sam Mitchell or Brent Harvey footy smarts level that people seem to have determined for him.

Well said, KC. If he's going to play back-up ruck he needs to keep on keeping on for as long as it takes. He doesn't have to be Nic Nat.

 

[TooUglyForFugly]

If all else fails ...

He's a rookie pick. He's not taking someone else's spot until he deserves it.

[/have been told the same about Fazza Ray repeatedly]

 

[Black2Blue]

The club obviously took a strategic gamble delisting Maj while the court case was at its hottest with an understanding that clubs would be wary of picking up a guy facing rape charges. At the end of the day, Maj and club have weathered the ugly storm. As others have mentioned, let him focus on being the best footballer he can. The court ordeal, which you wouldn't wish on anyone (says I supporting a friend through a bitter court case), will make him stronger and more resilient and we might see that translate into his approach to footy. Looking forward to seeing him going full bore in pre-season training, mind you I hope the young fella is given a bit of time off to recuperate first.

 

[Hojuman]

Well said, KC. If he's going to play back-up ruck he needs to keep on keeping on for as long as it takes. He doesn't have to be Nic Nat.

Yeh. We don't need a Nic Nat grand final type performance from him !

 

[naturally north]

I admit I'm a huge fan of Majak's rolleyes and it isn't just his amazing speed across the turf, or his leap, long kicking, bear hug like tackles or his deft ruck work. It's his whole story, straight from the boys own magazine. Imagine living as a young fella in Egypt then add in refugee camp in Egypt. Am so glad he's one of us.

In saying all of that, if Petrie and Waite were 23 and 24 respectively Majak would be in the nice to have category. So for me. 2016 Maj needs to work on his match fitness which will mean he's going to be spending a lot more time rucking for Werribee. You don't get match fit standing in the goal square or standing on opposition players heads.

He aint getting a game for North in front of Petrie, Brown and Waite in 2016, his best chance is injury. Not sure that's something we'd be hoping for. Would think another season of development could be on the cards for Maj with a view to either replace Waite or Drew in 2017. Would hope at some point we rest a couple and give Majak a chance especially against some lesser lights, would be fun for us all.

A red hot, super fit and well schooled FF for 2017 should be our aim.

Although hope I'm wrong and he plays every game.

 

[royalblue92]

One day, I would just love to ask Majak which position he likes playing in better..

 

[War Machine]

I admit I'm a huge fan of Majak's rolleyes and it isn't just his amazing speed across the turf, or his leap, long kicking, bear hug like tackles or his deft ruck work. It's his whole story, straight from the boys own magazine. Imagine living as a young fella in Egypt then add in refugee camp in Egypt. Am so glad he's one of us.

In saying all of that, if Petrie and Waite were 23 and 24 respectively Majak would be in the nice to have category. So for me. 2016 Maj needs to work on his match fitness which will mean he's going to be spending a lot more time rucking for Werribee. You don't get match fit standing in the goal square or standing on opposition players heads.

He aint getting a game for North in front of Petrie, Brown and Waite in 2016, his best chance is injury. Not sure that's something we'd be hoping for. Would think another season of development could be on the cards for Maj with a view to either replace Waite or Drew in 2017. Would hope at some point we rest a couple and give Majak a chance especially against some lesser lights, would be fun for us all.

A red hot, super fit and well schooled FF for 2017 should be our aim.

Although hope I'm wrong and he plays every game.

Strike down those evil sinners who dare question this!!!

 

[Bigeasy]

I just love having Majak on the list and I genuinely get excited when he is in the team. Not many players can do that

 

[Saintly31]

For mine he is not tall or strong enough through core to be a fulltime AFL ruck, and as a fwd he still struggles in how/where to lead and play the team role.

Despite this I'm very happy we kept him, important insurance considering our depleted ruck stocks and aging fwds. Maybe the off field issues being taken off his mind might assist him to start delivering better footy.

 

[astrovic]

For mine he is not tall or strong enough through core to be a fulltime AFL ruck, and as a fwd he still struggles in how/where to lead and play the team role.

Despite this I'm very happy we kept him, important insurance considering our depleted ruck stocks and aging fwds. Maybe the off field issues being taken off his mind might assist him to start delivering better footy.

Yeah I agree his height counts against him in the ruck. He's giving away up to 10cm plus arm length which is a lot. Strength wise I think he's ok, especially if he were to make every day leg day this pre-season (which he needs to do anyway).

He remains a massive unknown as a forward for me - if the penny can drop he could be a serious goal kicker. He's built like Fraser Gehrig, but more athletic, and Gehrig could kick goals - I wouldn't mind if he could emulate some of that!

As well as wondering whether the court case has been an millstone for him, I also wonder whether he is a genuine late bloomer (mentally rather than physically) and might only start "figuring it out" in his mid to late 20's, which are the salad days for most forwards anyway. From reading other posts it seems the logic is to run him in the ruck at VFL level to see if it helps him work out what to do on the ground, which hopefully he can then use to develop himself as a forward. Sounds like an odd strategy, but I guess Maj isn't exactly your ordinary player so hey, why not.

Dunno. Still glad we have him on the list to find out, as a rookie is perfect for where he is at.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

I just love having Majak on the list and I genuinely get excited when he is in the team. Not many players can do that

Daw and Wells are the two for me, also Harvey to a degree, but l am used to Boomer dominating teams.

 

[8Ball_]

Gehrig was pretty athletic.

Super fast and agile.

 

[royals1922]

I am not a Majak supporter.

That said , he is on the list, less inhibited by external matters.

The ball is in his court to prove people like me wrong.

 

[astrovic]

Gehrig was pretty athletic.

Super fast and agile.

Yep.

 

[D23D]

Gehrig was pretty athletic.

Super fast and agile.

And bloody strong too

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Gehrig could bench 160+.

Monster.