Malceski needs to be dropped

[Swans120]

From the Swans website

Made me laugh:

“I didn’t really like it back in the reserves, so it was good to get back. I wasn’t out of form; I just wasn’t in the form that I wanted to be in,” Malceski said on Wednesday.

Interesting way to look at it i guess...

http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7106/newsid/77702/default.aspx

 

[SM]

Still isn't in the right form.

When I saw an article on Eski's form I thought "Shit there's definately a Swan reading this site and seeing we're still not happy with him," until I saw everyone basically saying he was back in form.

 

[db swannie]

Well he's been retained, which will irritate some and please others (me included)...From memory he's had some good performances at Manuka, and he could be crucial, especially because of the weather. It's generally very windy down there and kicking becomes a very hit and miss affair. When Mal is on song his left footers are not only very accurate, but he tends to spear most of his kicks rather than loft them, which works well in windy conditions. We shall see...

 

[SM]

Needs to go again. May as well not catch the bus back from Canberra as that's where he'll be next week.

 

[vonn]

Ha. BYE MAL. I'll send you a postcard.

 

[Skystyler]

He is single-handedly killing my super coach team. I was so sure he'd come back from being dropped with a vengence - and I was so wrong. 50% effeciency is not what we pay him for. Gia was giving him a bath until he got shifted off him. Did take a nice contested mark and kicked a nice goal, but not doing enough.

Wasn't our worse though - that was Rhyce Shaw for mine. LRT, Ablett, Moore, Richards - we had plenty of duds today.

 

[CAS79]

Whats up mal.

We all loved his work in 2007. We accepted 2008 was a knee problem but 2009?

There are a few things it could be.

Injury: When coming back from a knee injury soft tissue injuries follow you around as the muscles have been under worked during the recovery period and it takes time to get the kicking back. But 2 weeks ago he ran ragged in the 2s and showed the following week he was at least running to the right positions. With his form if he was injured he would definitely have been rested if the med staff reported he had some injury. Question though. Was there some permanent damage that has lowered him a cog, not dramatic but enough to effect the difference at the highest level.

Attitude: A theory which is begging to b e mentioned on here is his hunger the same. Again being dropped the 2s he didn't sulk it he went back and got a lot of the ball.

Original Overrated: Sometimes players build up a reputation quickly on the back of a few strong performances and get talked up and never deliver. Dale Thomas. But I don't believe this either. he looked the real deal and was damaging.

Opposition: Have the opposition given him more attention and shut him out of games. Next year we will see Craig Bird given more attention as he takes a more senior role in the midfield and he will need to learn to deal with it. But Malceski is clearly not getting a specialist tag from the opposition.

Confidence: In my mind this has got to be it. The belief in himself from where he was has not returned, he's scrapping for the ball and carrying himself like a junior player, He's not got that strut on his face he had where he was demanding to be treated among our best players. What to do about I don't know, he had his run in the 2s and showed himself to be a class above Canberra even in this state but he's a class below whats expected of him right now. Is an extended period in the 2nds required, if he's not currently in our top 22 than yes if it's for his benefit I don't know. But for the coaching staff they clearly have a challenge.

 

[Stevie Ray Swan]

It will take him 12 months to get his condifence, run and feel back. If the swans can persist, and he doesnt re-injure, it will pay off. however to watch him in the mean time is a sad and sorry site, because he had elite athletic and skill potential.

 

[Dangas]

So much for the "radical" knee surgery, he might as well had taken the conventional method. It's not his form IMO, it's his knee!

 

[MF]

Whats up mal.

We all loved his work in 2007. We accepted 2008 was a knee problem but 2009?

There are a few things it could be.

Injury: When coming back from a knee injury soft tissue injuries follow you around as the muscles have been under worked during the recovery period and it takes time to get the kicking back. But 2 weeks ago he ran ragged in the 2s and showed the following week he was at least running to the right positions. With his form if he was injured he would definitely have been rested if the med staff reported he had some injury. Question though. Was there some permanent damage that has lowered him a cog, not dramatic but enough to effect the difference at the highest level.

Attitude: A theory which is begging to b e mentioned on here is his hunger the same. Again being dropped the 2s he didn't sulk it he went back and got a lot of the ball.

Original Overrated: Sometimes players build up a reputation quickly on the back of a few strong performances and get talked up and never deliver. Dale Thomas. But I don't believe this either. he looked the real deal and was damaging.

Opposition: Have the opposition given him more attention and shut him out of games. Next year we will see Craig Bird given more attention as he takes a more senior role in the midfield and he will need to learn to deal with it. But Malceski is clearly not getting a specialist tag from the opposition.

Confidence: In my mind this has got to be it. The belief in himself from where he was has not returned, he's scrapping for the ball and carrying himself like a junior player, He's not got that strut on his face he had where he was demanding to be treated among our best players. What to do about I don't know, he had his run in the 2s and showed himself to be a class above Canberra even in this state but he's a class below whats expected of him right now. Is an extended period in the 2nds required, if he's not currently in our top 22 than yes if it's for his benefit I don't know. But for the coaching staff they clearly have a challenge.

I think it's probably a combination of injury/confidence.

He looked fully committed to all the contests I saw him in on the weekend. I was particularly impressed with something he did in the opening minute or two of the game (buggered if I can remember what it was now?). I think he's lost the pace he had in 2007 and for some reason, the accuracy and penetration in his kicking as well. It's understandable that if his body isn't capable of letting him do the things he was doing in 07 that he'd be down on confidence. I at least hope the coaching staff have a better idea of what the problem is.

I'd really love for Roosy just to sit him on the half back flank and leave him there for a couple of weeks. At least then it would be a little easier to see exactly what the problem is. At the moment he just floats in and out of the game and unless you're at the ground you have NFI where he's actually playing.

 

[Skystyler]

he was in the forward line a lot in the 2nd half, I know that much. He seemed to be on Gia for a while but was getting a bath. Of course, thats gonna happen when we turn the ball over because he has run off his man and then gets caught out.

As for his pace and penetrating kicking, he has shown at times this year that both are still there. It must be a confidence thing.

Roos has made it clear some of the seniors are on borrowed time. He mentioned Moore as a young bloke, so its not him. Shaw had a shocker but would have to be safe. LRT likewise. I'm thinking Ablett, who is hurt anyway, Monte and Mal would be who he has in mind. Get some games into Thornton, Nick Smith, M'OD, Laidlaw and Vespa.

 

[bungee]

Mal is a 65 gamer with only a few full years under his belt. He's already shown he's capable of brilliance and none of our youngest seniors have. His upside is huge. He's a developing player. Why the F*..*& would Roos replace him with one of the kids ?

I wish this ill-informed debate of replacing our future seniors with un-proven juniors would cease and desist. Mal, Buchanan, Ablett, Mattner, LRT, Shaw, McVeigh etc. These 50-120 odd gamers are our next senior crop. AFL footy requires experience, hard bodies, skills and stamina. Roos must try to get these guys to lift another level (as McVeigh has already done).

How good was Kirk at Mal's age ? Or Leo, or ROK ? None of these had reached their potential. Roos persisted with Leo long after we'd all written him off as just an entertaining frequent flyer flanker.

Sure some players can get a Brownlow at 23. Some in their 30's

 

[legend166]

Mal is a 65 gamer with only a few full years under his belt. He's already shown he's capable of brilliance and none of our youngest seniors have. His upside is huge. He's a developing player. Why the F*..*& would Roos replace him with one of the kids ?

I wish this ill-informed debate of replacing our future seniors with un-proven juniors would cease and desist. Mal, Buchanan, Ablett, Mattner, LRT, Shaw, McVeigh etc. These 50-120 odd gamers are our next senior crop. AFL footy requires experience, hard bodies, skills and stamina. Roos must try to get these guys to lift another level (as McVeigh has already done).

How good was Kirk at Mal's age ? Or Leo, or ROK ? None of these had reached their potential. Roos persisted with Leo long after we'd all written him off as just an entertaining frequent flyer flanker.

Sure some players can get a Brownlow at 23. Some in their 30's

There's a difference between playing those who are developing and those who have regressed.

Malceski, since 2007, has regressed. This is not good.

In regards to the other players you mentioned, they should all be performing at a consistant level. LRT (who I think has been fine this year, apart from a couple of dodgy weeks), Buchanan and Ablett were in our 2005 premiership. They are senior players. I don't know why you mentioned McVeigh, Mattner and Shaw. No one is calling for them to be dropped.

The issue of Malceski isn't just about replacing him with a kid. If you've seen my posts, I dislike the idea of playing kids just for the sake of it. But there comes a time when playing a kid is more beneficial than playing an established player. Malceski is currently a liability. His doesn't get enough of the ball, and when he does, his disposal is poor. Even during his best times, his defence work was passable at best, but it was offset by his other qualities. Without those qualities, he doesn't offer much than can't be replaced by a young player.

I disagree with those saying we should play him in the HBF. The opposition knows that he doesn't tackle and they'll put a damaging small forward on him and they'll towel him up.

I don't know what to do with him at this stage. We could drop him back to the 2s or just keep him in the senior side and hope for the best. But Roos needs to tell him that he needs to start tackling and work on the defensive side of his game. He's proven that he can be damaging with the ball, and hopefully, that will return. But what he should be doing is seeing this form slump as an opportunity. An opportunity to work on the skills that he hasn't really had. If we can get a Malceski out of this who can not only use the ball like he used to, but has the chase, tackle and spoil skills of some of our better defenders, that'd be great. That should be the goal.

For that reason, I'd almost advocate playing him as a tagger for the next couple of weeks. Put him on a 3rd midfielder and see what happens.

 

[CAS79]

Mal is a 65 gamer with only a few full years under his belt. He's already shown he's capable of brilliance and none of our youngest seniors have. His upside is huge. He's a developing player. Why the F*..*& would Roos replace him with one of the kids ?

I wish this ill-informed debate of replacing our future seniors with un-proven juniors would cease and desist. Mal, Buchanan, Ablett, Mattner, LRT, Shaw, McVeigh etc. These 50-120 odd gamers are our next senior crop. AFL footy requires experience, hard bodies, skills and stamina. Roos must try to get these guys to lift another level (as McVeigh has already done).

How good was Kirk at Mal's age ? Or Leo, or ROK ? None of these had reached their potential. Roos persisted with Leo long after we'd all written him off as just an entertaining frequent flyer flanker.

Sure some players can get a Brownlow at 23. Some in their 30's

And some players look the goods and are done at 70 games http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_drafts?year=1998&t=N&s=P

Half the players drafted never get started and from there almost all are done between 50-150. There's a reason we celebrate milestone games of 150+

Mal is far far too talented and hard work to join the list of mid run players and I think you will find the vast majority of posts in this thread are more concerned with Mal's playing future than anything else as a lot of players go missing at this stage of their careers and get traded, shipped out or fall off. As I said the coaching staff have a job to bring Mal back to form and I couldn't think of a better coach to do this.

We all know Malceski is far too capable to be among this number, he should be a 200+ game player and my point and I believe most is whats best for him to ensure he does not join the large number of players that fade out at the age of 25.

 

[bungee]

I don't know why you mentioned McVeigh, Mattner and Shaw. No one is calling for them to be dropped.

.

My point - and I apologise if it was long-winded - was that players at this level of experience are the ones Roos must turn into our senior leaders when Hall, Goodes, MOL etc have gone. I'm not saying who should be dropped, only that Roos has no choice but to persist and get the best from these players. Some won't make it, some, like McVeigh did, will finally turn it on consistently. That's why I drew a comparison with Kirk in his mid 20s. He has improved with every year since. Some players peak much later, even winning Brownlows (Riccuto, Buckley). Look at Jude's year. He's found consistency, gone up a notch and is playing better than he ever did. ROK has also found new legs. Roos knows Malceski has it in him and must persist. Injury aside, I'm confident he will become a stand-out player for us. Can Buchanan & Ablett ? Well both are young enough to improve further. Amon is finding some form and improving as his confidence improves. Ablett frustrates like McVeigh used to but he's a hard gutsy player even when he's off key. Perhaps his blood line will eventually show through.

There I go getting long winded again

 

[bungee]

Mal is far far too talented and hard work to join the list of mid run players ...

...As I said the coaching staff have a job to bring Mal back to form and I couldn't think of a better coach to do this.

We all know Malceski is far too capable to be among this number, he should be a 200+ game player and my point and I believe most is whats best for him to ensure he does not join the large number of players that fade out at the age of 25.

I think we are actually in agreement. (must be the drugs)

 

[Corpuscles]

There's a difference between playing those who are developing and those who have regressed.

Malceski, since 2007, has regressed. This is not good.

In regards to the other players you mentioned, they should all be performing at a consistant level. LRT (who I think has been fine this year, apart from a couple of dodgy weeks), Buchanan and Ablett were in our 2005 premiership. They are senior players. I don't know why you mentioned McVeigh, Mattner and Shaw. No one is calling for them to be dropped.

The issue of Malceski isn't just about replacing him with a kid. If you've seen my posts, I dislike the idea of playing kids just for the sake of it. But there comes a time when playing a kid is more beneficial than playing an established player. Malceski is currently a liability. His doesn't get enough of the ball, and when he does, his disposal is poor. Even during his best times, his defence work was passable at best, but it was offset by his other qualities. Without those qualities, he doesn't offer much than can't be replaced by a young player.

I disagree with those saying we should play him in the HBF. The opposition knows that he doesn't tackle and they'll put a damaging small forward on him and they'll towel him up.

I don't know what to do with him at this stage. We could drop him back to the 2s or just keep him in the senior side and hope for the best. But Roos needs to tell him that he needs to start tackling and work on the defensive side of his game. He's proven that he can be damaging with the ball, and hopefully, that will return. But what he should be doing is seeing this form slump as an opportunity. An opportunity to work on the skills that he hasn't really had. If we can get a Malceski out of this who can not only use the ball like he used to, but has the chase, tackle and spoil skills of some of our better defenders, that'd be great. That should be the goal.

For that reason, I'd almost advocate playing him as a tagger for the next couple of weeks. Put him on a 3rd midfielder and see what happens.

Good post... but I beg to differ

When Malceski plays ressies it seems he gets heaps of the ball and runs everywhere sort of permanent midfield,very often used to lead the goalkicking as he did in his one game in 09

He is IMHO more of an "outside" midfielder than a backman... a sorta... less skilled/pretty Nick Dal Santo! Mal can a does often go the losse ball first does not like sweating on opponent for a tackle

Whilst I was one who suggested leave him at HBF..it was more just for stability.. rather than his "ideal" spot. He has been previously towelled up by the likes of Daisy Thomas, PChapman etc .....MAYBE HFF?????

Unfortunately the Swans current gameplan doesn't lend itself to less accountable poor tackling midfielders. Maybe he aint fit enough anyway?

 

[vonn]

Look, Roos needs to pull Mal over and tell him yes we know his coming back from injury, but it's been a year.

His obviously worried about sustaining another injury that may effectively end his career, but if he doesn't pick up his form, confidence and skill, his career will end regardless.

All he is doing is slowing down another player's development that can be elevated from the reserves, and as far as I'm concerned, one good 07 season does not guarantee you the faith and spot in the team that Malceski obviously has.
With the whole dropping and bringing back thing, I don't really get that because he did well in the reserves, but their are players that continuously do well in the reserves that don't get an elevation. That might be cause lacking experience or whatever, but they would be better then what Malceski is showing.

 

[cradle of filth]

No he doesn't, he's in my dream team and i've got enough injuries in my backline!!!

 

[vonn]

Gonna add to your misery then.