Toast Congratulations Matt Thomas

[itisnt2hard]

It was a compliment to the Tigers rather than a parting shot at the Power, but I have no issues with you guys who takes offence. Regarding his footballing ability, he has had a great pre-season and will play Round 1 and hopefully cement his spot in the side as a tagger/wrecking ball. He may not have set the world alight at Port but there's little doubting his potential importance in the Richmond side from us Tiger fans.

P.S: How is Matty White going? I haven't watched Port this pre-season.

DBF, i dont even like your club. In my view you should have been hauled up in front of the ACCC for promising what you cant deliver over the last 20yrs. Now i am saying that tongue in cheek just as matt said what he said and fair to say how easy it is to take the nothing and turn it extremes. Richmond wanted him for a reason and that reason is to go in and get the ball in close, or at best cause a stoppage. Free up running players and feed the handball out. he will go ok this year.

 

[_DBF_]

Ablett first up is a solid initiation!

 

[Peck]

You are longer Bmt...you dont deserve it.....you are just plain matt thomas.....

Balding ****......

Can you believe this guy what a cheap shot....

Its most likely true, not sure if many of you adelaidians have ever seen a Richmond crowd, but they put us well and truly to shame. Standard for our precious board to be up in arms about it though.

I must admit, the yellow and black has taken him from a straight up 10 to a 7. Not a good looking shirt at all. Still love the guy though, and hopefully I can watch a couple of Richmond's games to see how he goes.

 

[itisnt2hard]

Ablett first up is a solid initiation!

All these footy heads and every one has forgotten the most important factor in 014. Player rotations. late in the game will see some very tired legs and the only three real ways of resting them on field will be (A) using the sub. (B) kicking to contests close to the boundry. (C) holding up play at the stoppages resulting in a ball up. Some clubs are onto this and others will be slow to catch on. Nobody beats Ablett for an entire game but gary will certainly know he played on Matt thats for sure. Every club will need one or two of these guys every game and in every last quarter.

 

[finbarr]

No offense itisnt2hard, but you've been talking up Matt Thomas like he's about to have a break out season for about 3 years now. I'm sure Matty's a lovely guy but please, he's never going to be anything more than a half decent bit player.

 

[itisnt2hard]

No offense itisnt2hard, but you've been talking up Matt Thomas like he's about to have a break out season for about 3 years now. I'm sure Matty's a lovely guy but please, he's never going to be anything more than a half decent bit player.

No Finny i am not. Actually i was really hoping it was all over when we delisted him last year. The club moved him on, he moved on and still he cops rubbish from board posters. The club wanted matt to play like polec. Matt cant do that. polec cant play tough ball like matt and so the change was made. Matts 26 and we have seen what we have seen. One mans trash is another mans treasure and if he stays sound he will serve the Tiges well. I am not talking brownlow votes here and he is starting at the bottom of the food chain (rookie) so he needs to do well. Just doesnt deserve the crap from the closet coaches and could have beens thats all.

 

[finbarr]

No Finny i am not. Actually i was really hoping it was all over when we delisted him last year. The club moved him on, he moved on and still he cops rubbish from board posters. The club wanted matt to play like polec. Matt cant do that. polec cant play tough ball like matt and so the change was made. Matts 26 and we have seen what we have seen. One mans trash is another mans treasure and if he stays sound he will serve the Tiges well. I am not talking brownlow votes here and he is starting at the bottom of the food chain (rookie) so he needs to do well. Just doesnt deserve the crap from the closet coaches and could have beens thats all.

The club never wanted him to play like Polec. Last year he was battling for the same spot as Wines, and that's a battle he was simply never going to win.

Anyway, he's a Richmond player now so I'm really not 100% sure why he's being discussed.

 

[itisnt2hard]

The club never wanted him to play like Polec. Last year he was battling for the same spot as Wines, and that's a battle he was simply never going to win.

Anyway, he's a Richmond player now so I'm really not 100% sure why he's being discussed.

me neither. Some one got bored me thinks and had a crack at a headline. Fair to say i think all of us would give our first test to even play one game of AFL I admire them all from the kid who plays two to the guy that plays 200.

 

[shewho]

The club never wanted him to play like Polec. Last year he was battling for the same spot as Wines, and that's a battle he was simply never going to win.

Anyway, he's a Richmond player now so I'm really not 100% sure why he's being discussed.

Terrific bloke. A loss to our club.

Ken did want him to be something he wasn't. He was in career best form last year but didn't get picked because he wasn't what Ken wanted. That's the vibe I got from talking to Matt who wanted very much to stay at Port and be the hard in and under player that opens the game for the more outside players. I know Ollie plays that role too but there is no reason you can't have two players like that. If we did, maybe we wouldn't have these poor starts where we can't seem to get our hands on the ball.

The reason we are talking about him is because he is a great bloke and one whose value I think Ken underestimated. I hope he goes well except when he plays us.

 

[BIG MATTY WHITE]

Its most likely true, not sure if many of you adelaidians have ever seen a Richmond crowd, but they put us well and truly to shame. Standard for our precious board to be up in arms about it though.

I must admit, the yellow and black has taken him from a straight up 10 to a 7. Not a good looking shirt at all. Still love the guy though, and hopefully I can watch a couple of Richmond's games to see how he goes.

you know how much I love bmt...more then anyone...

But to hear him take a cheap shot like that pisses me off true or not....

I took bullets on here for him and to do that ....

I still love him a little

 

[finbarr]

Terrific bloke. A loss to our club.

Ken did want him to be something he wasn't. He was in career best form last year but didn't get picked because he wasn't what Ken wanted. That's the vibe I got from talking to Matt who wanted very much to stay at Port and be the hard in and under player that opens the game for the more outside players. I know Ollie plays that role too but there is no reason you can't have two players like that. If we did, maybe we wouldn't have these poor starts where we can't seem to get our hands on the ball.

The reason we are talking about him is because he is a great bloke and one whose value I think Ken underestimated. I hope he goes well except when he plays us.

I'm sure he was a terrific bloke. Not questioning that for a second.

Now that he's gone I will say this. I never spoke to Matt personally but do have friends who did. Apparently at one stage he thought his form warranted a game ahead of Brad Ebert (yes, he mentioned him by name). Now Brad had a few poor games earlier last year but c'mon.

Also, we have plenty of hard in and under players around stoppages without Matt Thomas. The thing is they all have many other strings to their bow. Boak, Ebert, Hartlett, Wingard, Wines, Polec....these guys can all win their own ball and use it on the outside. Matt Thomas was an in and under player and nothing more. Hinkley gave him his chance in the pre-season to impress and he blew it. Some of his turnovers in the Sydney trial match last year pretty much sealed his fate I think because he was barely seen again after that. A Hinkley trademark is players who can use the ball. Even Logan improved his disposal last year.

Anyway, he's gone now. I wish him well.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

I think on that note finbarr there's no more to be said.