Macaffer's role next year

[Heater39]

The club has promoted him so they obviously see a role for him.

Where will he fit into our forward line though?

If Rocca and Rusling are injury free next year, along with Medders that's 3 lead up forwards, with Cloke at CHF, all ahead of Macaffer. Small forward role will be either Davis/Dick/Corrie with Dids at HF imo, leaving no obvious spot for Macaffer.

Could he possibly used as a lead up HFF ala Ryan O'Keefe or Robert Murphy perhaps?

So where do you see Macaffer playing next year?

 

[shawthing09]

I'd say it's more of a reward for effort thing TBH. He had a good year and it would be a bit of a blow to all rookies, future or possible rookies and listed players if it ended with him being told thanks but no thanks. On top of that it's alsoi good list management. Considering his a relatively free hit and we have room for draft picks etc (especially after Thoolen's delisting) he is more value on our list then delisted.

In all honesty I don't see a permenant role for him either next year or long term. We have the best small foward brigade in the league. Medhurst plays his role with far more X-factor and a better leap. He could probably play a lead up O'Keefe role but so could Trav or Ried, and having a taller player do it usually results in a taller defender going to him which creates more space / takes a big body out of the foward 50.

It's an unfortunate case of being listed by the wrong side and being born into the wrong body. If he was a big FF his footy smarts and straight kicking would see him being a great prospect at his size and height you really need some massive X factor beyond footy smarts. Either great pace, a great leap, great hands or great goal sense / freaky goal kicking ability. He doesn't have these things. I have used the comparison before but Edwardes for North kicked 120 goals in the VFL and is yet to show his really AFL worthy in a side that needs KPP. Maccaffer is not that dominate at VFL level and trying to break into a side with a surplus of players who play his role.

 

[nihh]

I'm not as sceptical as above poster. I am thinking Medhurst could be relieved of his forward line responsibilities and become a close to full time midfielder, he is after all very strong over the ball (Medhurst that is).

 

[shawthing09]

Medhursts worst football this year came when he played in the midfield. It may have even cost him the copeland. Didak is a good midfielder and a better HFF. Medhurst hasn't shown signs of even being an average midfielder and is an elite HFF. We need to fix the midfield problems with midfielders.

Even if all of Davis, Didak , Thomas and Medhurst rotate through the midfield there will still always be one in the foward line, add to that Shaz and J-Mac both seemingly being blodded into AFL footy of the HFF and Tarks and Swanny both being given the occasional stint their.

 

[Heater39]

Medhursts worst football this year came when he played in the midfield. It may have even cost him the copeland. Didak is a good midfielder and a better HFF. Medhurst hasn't shown signs of even being an average midfielder and is an elite HFF. We need to fix the midfield problems with midfielders.

Even if all of Davis, Didak , Thomas and Medhurst rotate through the midfield there will still always be one in the foward line, add to that Shaz and J-Mac both seemingly being blodded into AFL footy of the HFF and Tarks and Swanny both being given the occasional stint their.

I disagree about Medhurst, while he is a better forward player, our surplus of forwards and lack of midfielders could see him move to the midfield. We've all been crying out for a strong bodied player in the midfield, it could be Medders.

Not a good long term option, relying on our flankers to do our midfield work, which is why we must draft genuine mids, but i think he could do a more than servicable job next year.

 

[shawthing09]

His decision making and field kicking are not up to it in the midfield. How many worm burners and absolute clanggers did we see from Medders all year and have a look at how many of them came from up the ground. His a great player but I highly doubt he has any real midfield role other then part time even then I see it being a negative on side structure and even then I don't see it opening a role for Maccaffer.

 

[DoubleO7]

There will be injuries and players will drop in form.

 

[DavidInellaFanClub]

I'd say it's more of a reward for effort thing TBH. He had a good year and it would be a bit of a blow to all rookies, future or possible rookies and listed players if it ended with him being told thanks but no thanks. On top of that it's alsoi good list management. Considering his a relatively free hit and we have room for draft picks etc (especially after Thoolen's delisting) he is more value on our list then delisted.

In all honesty I don't see a permenant role for him either next year or long term. We have the best small foward brigade in the league. Medhurst plays his role with far more X-factor and a better leap. He could probably play a lead up O'Keefe role but so could Trav or Ried, and having a taller player do it usually results in a taller defender going to him which creates more space / takes a big body out of the foward 50.

It's an unfortunate case of being listed by the wrong side and being born into the wrong body. If he was a big FF his footy smarts and straight kicking would see him being a great prospect at his size and height you really need some massive X factor beyond footy smarts. Either great pace, a great leap, great hands or great goal sense / freaky goal kicking ability. He doesn't have these things. I have used the comparison before but Edwardes for North kicked 120 goals in the VFL and is yet to show his really AFL worthy in a side that needs KPP. Maccaffer is not that dominate at VFL level and trying to break into a side with a surplus of players who play his role.

You've obviously never watched him play.

 

[King Woodie]

I agree with everything Shawthing has said...

On Maccaffer, more of a reward for a good player thing, and gives us more flexibility if we want to trade away some of our forwardline surplus next year. This year wasn't the year to do it as there was too high a premium on draft picks.

On Medhurst, he is the least promising midfielder of our four small forwards, and I can't see him playing there much until he learns to handball and not kick around corners. Having said this, he is a terrific small marking forward (Macaffer's role, incidentally). There is not room for both of them in the one side.

 

[Kirby]

You've obviously never watched him play.

I've seen him play plenty and I wouldn't say he has great hands. He has good hands, yes, but not great hands like a Medhurst or a Bartel.

I also agree with shawthing's assessment.

 

[Optimax]

He will play 5-10 games, at his very best he maybe similar to aaron edwards of north.

I cant say ill be overly dsappointed if he doesnt become a gun, a good solid player i would be happy with greath depth would also be good.

And to the OP davies go elevated aswell and we never had a role for him

 

[popathon]

Boost his trade value?

 

[hellfire]

Medhursts worst football this year came when he played in the midfield. It may have even cost him the copeland. Didak is a good midfielder and a better HFF. Medhurst hasn't shown signs of even being an average midfielder and is an elite HFF. We need to fix the midfield problems with midfielders.

Agreed.

To me, Thomas and Leon are at their best in the middle, Medhurst is at his best playing forward, and Dids is at his best playing across half-forward and pushing up. So of our little "fab 4" of small forwards, Leon and Thomas should become full-time midfielders. Medhurst and Didak should play the majority of their time forward, but Dids across half forward and pushing up a bit. Corrie, Dick or Macaffer can move forward as replacement/s.

C: Leon Davis, xxxxxx, xxxxxx
HF: Alan Didak, Travis Cloke, Brad Dick.
FF: Paul Medhurst, Anthony Rocca, Sean Rusling.
Foll: xxxxxx, Dale Thomas, xxxxxxx

I'd start something like that. And if Macaffer or Corrie dominate in the seconds, we can move them in and push Didak further up the ground.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

He'll spend 2009 in the VFL, hopefully with a lot of game time in the middle, and hopefully with a few senior games under his belt.

 

[FloreatPica17]

He will play 5-10 games, at his very best he maybe similar to aaron edwards of north.

I cant say ill be overly dsappointed if he doesnt become a gun, a good solid player i would be happy with greath depth would also be good.

And to the OP davies go elevated aswell and we never had a role for him

Agreed he may play 5-10. Give the boy a taste of it at the top level, could even play out of position if need be and perhaps pinch hit forward. He's earnt a shot and no question has talent.
Inevitably throughout the year players go down, suspensions etc. If he gets an opportunity he's probably got to grab hold of it more than most on our list.

 

[daics cousin]

Believe me he"ll fit in no worries,logic tells us that injuries are always rife in our modern game.

 

[rand corp]

Rusling and Rocca have to be at lengthy odds to get through the year without lengthy spells, (hoping they do of course).

I see Didak and Leon spending a lot more time in the middle post Burns era.

Corrie played most of his last year in Brisbane off a half back flank.

Anthony may be called into the backline with our chronic deficiency of KP defenders, Presti must be under the same sort of cloud as Rocca and Rusling, in terms of an injury free run. That leaves basically Brown as our only true KP defeneder.

Medders played a lot of the year further up the ground on a half forward flank.

So it might be only insurance but if his form holds up at VFL level and the cards go his way, I can definitely see the year opening up for young McGaff.

 

[FIGJAM]

He may be a meat and two veg leading forward pocket, but he does what he does in a very reliable manner. Very strong mark, good set shot.

I wouldn't be reading too much into his promotion necessarily. It may be that releasing Medhurst further up the ground is an option. I don't agree with shawthing who said Meds was at his worst in the guts. Without Rus, Reid, Rocca etc. for much of the season, we didn't really try him there too often, although he did push up to half forward on occassions. He is hard over the ball and can win clearances from around the ground bounces.

It may be we thought MacAffer is better than Pick 93 in the draft and is a better prospect than Thoolen who we paid out to open a spot (which is saying something more about poor Toby's potential). Caff may simply have a 1 year shot, and in fairness, he's earnt it.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

I'd say it's more of a reward for effort thing TBH. He had a good year and it would be a bit of a blow to all rookies, future or possible rookies and listed players if it ended with him being told thanks but no thanks. On top of that it's alsoi good list management. Considering his a relatively free hit and we have room for draft picks etc (especially after Thoolen's delisting) he is more value on our list then delisted.

In all honesty I don't see a permenant role for him either next year or long term. We have the best small foward brigade in the league. Medhurst plays his role with far more X-factor and a better leap. He could probably play a lead up O'Keefe role but so could Trav or Ried, and having a taller player do it usually results in a taller defender going to him which creates more space / takes a big body out of the foward 50.

It's an unfortunate case of being listed by the wrong side and being born into the wrong body. If he was a big FF his footy smarts and straight kicking would see him being a great prospect at his size and height you really need some massive X factor beyond footy smarts. Either great pace, a great leap, great hands or great goal sense / freaky goal kicking ability. He doesn't have these things. I have used the comparison before but Edwardes for North kicked 120 goals in the VFL and is yet to show his really AFL worthy in a side that needs KPP. Maccaffer is not that dominate at VFL level and trying to break into a side with a surplus of players who play his role.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I see it too. I've got a bit of time for Macaffer; I think at many other clubs he would have played senior footy by now. But the Collingwood forward line is a tough nut to crack for a player like Macaffer. Still, on his form this year, he'd have been bloody unlucky not to get elevated. He's worked hard for it and deserves his chance.

 

[wixism]

Wouldnt be surprised if played from round 1
doubt it dick will play from round 1 after injury

 

[Somebody]

Sorry but theree's no way they would promote someone just as a reward for effort, with the lists as tight as they are they don't have that luxury. They must think he has definite potential role(s) next year. They must also think he's pretty good considering the apparent strength of the coming draft.

 

[person_pitch]

Why do people often say that there is no room for both Medhurst and Macaffer in the one forward line? Don't mean to disagree/criticise, just wondering. Medhurst seems to often get a mismatched defender, so why wouldn't having two of his type be good?

 

[DoubleO7]

The height difference between Medhurst and Macaffer is pretty wide.

 

[Curto]

Hmm how can he get a spot in our forward line?

Perhaps if he kicks 4 in South Africa or whever it is....4 the next week, plays round 1 and kicks 55 for the year. Medhurst also can kick 40.

Didak, Davis, Thomas, Dick, Rusling, Dawes, Rocca and Cloke can either be great too and stay in the forward line, get a role in the midfield, move to the bench or get dropped.

That's how.

PS: Jack can go back where he belongs and star.

 

[pendles]

He will play 5-10 games, at his very best he maybe similar to aaron edwards of north.

I cant say ill be overly dsappointed if he doesnt become a gun, a good solid player i would be happy with greath depth would also be good.

And to the OP davies go elevated aswell and we never had a role for him

Racial