List Mgmt. Irish Rookie Mark O'Connor upgraded and will debut

[AM]

Came across in the interview as a very well balanced, intelligent, and likeable kid. Great pity his folks can't be here to see the game. Go Mark!

 

[catswhiskers]

Just looking for a chance to waste another gold coin and I saw this:
Dangerfield / O'Connor in a 30 possie / 3 goal night @$23. Dangerfield to get 30 maybe / O'Connor to kick 3 --- I don't think he has ever taken a shot at goal with an oval ball. They must have some very good mail to have it that short!

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Just looking for a chance to waste another gold coin and I saw this:
Dangerfield / O'Connor in a 30 possie / 3 goal night @$23. Dangerfield to get 30 maybe / O'Connor to kick 3 --- I don't think he has ever taken a shot at goal with an oval ball. They must have some very good mail to have it that short!

View attachment 369648

I might need glasses.

 

[Cataholic]

I might need glasses.

Just stay away from the beer ones.

 

[Live in hope]

All about team balance this

Match committee finally decided they had to drop Murdoch. Also needed to replace Lang and Parfitt's agility. They also no doubt are aware of how quick half backs have killed us the last 2 weeks. They obviously felt that Mark was the next best option ~ agile, reasonable pace and tackling and probably with a forward defensive role (so little expectation on stats)

 

[catswhiskers]

Classic Lingy. Took the ball with in the goal square with about 20 second left and scores level. Could have snapped on his right, but took an eternity to wheel back around onto his left. He then got run down and the game ended in a draw.

1 week later he kicked it out on the full from the goal square.
I quickly thought "Slow, no awareness, no agility, can't kick, can't jump, too short. He'll never make it."

Lingy may have proved me wrong on this one.

I watched these early games (with my kids) hoping for something. I declared then "that he is a spud and would never be any good". I have been reminded a few times.

 

[PhatBoy]

Gee I really hope he's reading these comments.

'I'm in a foreign country playing a foreign game that I've picked up well enough to the point where I'm employed by one of the 18 major clubs in Australia, and essentially I have to be one of the best in the field in my first top level match in order for the people who claim to love that club to give me their approval.'

 

[Cursed Cat]

I watched these early games (with my kids) hoping for something. I declared then "that he is a spud and would never be any good". I have been reminded a few times.

another here who thought we'd drafted a dud after seeing Ling's early games - wasn't until I saw him absolutely dominate a VFL game as a midfielder that I had second thoughts; was clearly a level above.

 

[dangerwood]

For those that have seen him play, is he quick?? Explosive?? What sort of dynamics does he have?? Or is he more leaning towards the athletic agile side of things aka a Blicavs.

Details?? Nakia??

Not explosive. He's best attribute in gaelic was his marking.

 

[catswhiskers]

Not explosive. He's best attribute in gaelic was his marking.

Thats good news. I have no doubt the mail from the green Isle is accurate.

However, I haven't seen him take an overhead mark as yet in VFL . He has just been doing the job set for him.

 

[Matthew Jelley]

Very excited for this young fella. Lets hope he has a solid debut and also shows something exciting

 

[Seeds]

From this board

Why is it a blowtorch? Just as much if not more requests from this board for Murdoch, Cowan, Lonergan, GHS, Lang and recently Stewart to be dropped. Are they also under a blow torch?

 

[Willo_]

How precious are people getting here? Unless i haven't read this thread properly I haven't seen people bagging him

People have questioned the selection, but you also can't dispute it is a left field call..

I do think i read that he won BOG in a couple of grand finals - albeit junior ones - but I dare say composure won't be an issue for him

 

[Gman12]

I heard an Irish caller tis morn on SEN... said the same thing , also mentioned some people being a bit miffed at loosing him. Dare say there would be a fair bit resentment being built up over there about the AFL pinching their best and brightest. Gman12 ?

I think the whole AFL pinching talent has run its course to some extent. When Ricky Nixon was over first running his workshops and sending bunches of players over, a good few people were unhappy with it. However, with the vast majority of them returning within 2 years, I dont think the resentment is there anymore and most seem to have the opinion of "fair play to them for giving it a go". O Connors debut has been getting very good press here, and most of the reaction has been at how well he must be doing to get going so quick. I havent seen any comment begrudging his decision to leave.

Plenty of players here end up quitting for one reason or another, so if a handful finish because of AFL, whilst it is unfortunate for their team, in the greater scheme of things its not much you can do. Players have to look after themselves first of all. If they get an opportunity to play professional, I'm happy to see them give it a go, and if it works, great, and if not, they can come back with some great experience of sport and life in general.

Paddy Brophy has just left the Eagles after 2 and a half years of playing for East Perth and never really getting near the Eagles side. And he'll just go back and revert to where he was before, but at least having given it a go and learning from it. He'll have a good ten years now of playing Gaelic football for his county, so if they take a year or 2 out, then I wouldnt begrudge them at all. Although, I am saying that as someone who follows and knows AFL, you will still have those who see it as an abomination of a sport on the other side of the world.

An example of the good press O Connor is receiving here.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaki...nor-to-make-afl-debut-on-saturday-789234.html

Also in the same paper is the other guy I mentioned who is arguably a much greater prospect than O Connor was:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...errys-teenage-star-david-clifford-449891.html

If he does go, that will certainly create bigger drama with Kerry losing their best 2 prospects for a long time in consecutive years

 

[catswhiskers]

How precious are people getting here? Unless i haven't read this thread properly I haven't seen people bagging him

People have questioned the selection, but you also can't dispute it is a left field call..

I do think I read that he won BOG in a couple of grand finals - albeit junior ones - but I dare say composure won't be an issue for him

Just lots of banter about running patterns and guarding space. Thats OK. Its what we see tomorrow that counts, as everyone would agree (I hope).

I would like to think he gets some clear air for the rest of this season THEN we might think 2018

 

[MacStradbroke]

Of all the players that have been given chances to date and havent taken them ( and find themselves back in the VFL ) Lang is by far the biggest dissappointment - because hes got the attibutes to be a very good player - hes got good pace - that goal he kicked on the run in the last qtr - either the Nth Melb or Saints game - you need decent skill to do that

You contrast that to GHS - hes slow - he cant do anything about that - but its a major limitation - Cowan is light on for ability - and Murdoch most of the time has got no football nous whatsover

So something is missing with Lang - i can remember they asked Neil Balme why didnt Podsiadly make the grade alot earlier - because Balme was Collingwoods football manager ( 1st time around ) when Podsiadly started off their as a young bloke( and ive seen Pods highlights at the Pies and he looks a player - and Balme said he wasnt mentally mature enough at the time - and i reckon Lang suffers from the same problem - because he should be playing seniors

Agree with all assessments.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

What a disappointing thread this is.

Here we have a kid who is clearly an elite athlete given his chance to test himself at AFL level. This, in an environment of high level criticism of the teams performance in the last couple of weeks and calls for a clean out.

So the kid is given a chance, and what do we get in this thread before he's even made it up the race?

Read it for yourself.... and believe it or not this come from supporters of our boys....******* disgraceful.

This board has turned into
An echo chamber full of pathetic negative losers who have nothing but whining tears - about a club that have played finals every year at one since winning a flag, while rejuvenating a list simultaneously. It's actually jaw dropping to read the entitled, arrogant, sooky filth that some of these morons post. And what this all does is keep sane and rationale contributors away. The bay offers more decent content than this board these days.

 

[Seldom Seen Kid]

First of all, congrats to young O'Connor on his promotion, it'll be very interesting to see how he gets on. A different era perhaps, but it's not too long ago that Marty Clarke had a similarly meteoric rise to the seniors in his first season - I think he played maybe 10 VFL games before promotion and went on to earn a rising star nomination and many of you will recall his outstanding performance in that epic prelim in 2007. So there is a precedent there for this to be a success.

From recollection it has happened a few times in recent years, but tomorrow's game will have 3 Irish playing in it. Obviously Tuohy is an established and respected player at this stage but it will be interesting to compare Conor McKenna and O'Connor. McKenna has played around 15 AFL games and is in his third year - He would have been similarly highly touted coming over, but more for his explosiveness and athleticism. I'd consider O'Connor the more natural footballer and reader of the game of the two.

I heard an Irish caller tis morn on SEN... said the same thing , also mentioned some people being a bit miffed at loosing him. Dare say there would be a fair bit resentment being built up over there about the AFL pinching their best and brightest. Gman12 ?

Most Irish are disappointed but completely understanding of the situation. Who could possibly resent a young lad for chasing the dream of professional sport in a great country? Although if Kerry lose David Clifford as well as O'Connor the complaints may ratchet up a notch or two!

Thats good news. I have no doubt the mail from the green Isle is accurate.

However, I haven't seen him take an overhead mark as yet in VFL . He has just been doing the job set for him.

You've got to remember that he was taking those overhead grabs against 17 and 18 year olds, with a different ball, playing in a position conducive to doing so in a one on one situation. I have little doubt it's string he'll add to his aussie rules bow over time - even the most highly drafted talls take a couple of years to start clunking overhead grabs at senior level.

 

[catswhiskers]

Agree. He is a novice.
If he can take them in the Gaelic he has a good chance to take them in the AFL when he he gets his feet on the ground. So to speak.

 

[longtimecat]

Obviously havent seen him play myself

Re - the Bolded - give us some examples as to what you mean

Thanks

I now know what I didnt know then , it was his second ever game of football, he was all at sea , didn't seem to know where to run to make position and he got very little of the footy.

 

[catswhiskers]

I now know what I didnt know then , it was his second ever game of football, he was all at sea , didn't seem to know where to run to make position and he got very little of the footy.

Yes he did look like he was playing a foreign game early. His last VFL game gives me hope though. Can but stand back and watch now.

 

[Clubber79]

Can he even speak proper Australian yet?

 

[Catdog]

Can he even speak proper Australian yet?

Hopefully better than you can type!!!

 

[RegHickeyStand]

He better win the game for us. That's all I've got to say.

 

[Mahlepi]

Why is it a blowtorch? Just as much if not more requests from this board for Murdoch, Cowan, Lonergan, GHS, Lang and recently Stewart to be dropped. Are they also under a blow torch?

Is Cockatoo under the same heat -No
Is MCCarthy - No

different players are put in the gun very quickly whereas excuses are made for others