Toast Welcome to St Kilda Jackson Macrae

[Diehard Saint]

Does this have a vibe reminiscent of more recent ex- Carlton recruits, and our #14 and #15?He has become a fringe player at the Bulldogs as the other two were at Carlton?

And their supporters have come on here to wish us all the best.??

Im worried if he’ll be dangerous ..and also wondering if we’ll give Seb Ross a call for the Supplementary list along with Rhce Stanley.

As I may do on the Pies board if Timmy lands up there.

 

[Nutsngum]

They were as cocky as hell post the 2016 grand final. Almost unbearable. Not sure how we’ll all react if we finally get there. We have shit put on us relentlessly so it will be interesting how gracious we are if it ever happens.

Winners are grinners I suppose.

The dogs currently are a lot like us in the 2003 - 2010 period. Made a bunch of finals, have been pretty strong with a couple of periods of shakiness and making two grand finals. The difference being they managed to get one of those over the line.

The reason they havent been more successful with their list as good as it has been is the exact same reason we weren't more successful.. we are both minnow clubs who have to battle uphill with worse facilities and access to top end coaches and administration.

I think we are now moving out of that era with Moorabbin being actually extremely good facilities now and our coaches now actually highly rated within the industry. The problem now is getting the list up to scratch with talent that can go the next step and also maintain that high level.

 

[Munga]

Maybe but I’ll personally never forgive Peter Gordon the second they get their shit together suggesting that not all clubs should survive post Covid, clearly aimed at us. I seem to remember a lot of their fans agreeing as well.

Yeah, I suppose it's mostly a different generation of fans now, 30 years on.

 

[jwikked]

Maybe but I’ll personally never forgive Peter Gordon the second they get their shit together suggesting that not all clubs should survive post Covid, clearly aimed at us. I seem to remember a lot of their fans agreeing as well.

As far as I'm concerned, they are all scum after that moment.

 

[SG34]

As I may do on the Pies board if Timmy lands up there.

EDIT: the caveat here is that I don’t know diddly squat about McCrae as a player. BUt that said…..


I am weary of ‘heart and soul’ players who ‘still have a lot to give’, that’s all.
Especially when they come as exports, with the blessings of their former fans.
I’m a child of the ‘80s too. Even if I was a young adult then.
Geary played too long.
I’m wary.
Remember when Kent came to us. Same. Parker. The two Carlton imports have been OK. Stocker gives it a crack.
Josh Battle was always lauded as bleeding the red black and white. And I’m sure he did, didn’t he.
Tom Mitchell.

I am going to be optimistic and say Bevo was wrong and played McCrae in the wrong position. Even if he is 6/10 the player he was he will still help us. As I’m sure Matt Crouch would have too had we taken him two years ago (when we should have)

We need to be competitive in an environment that we are structurally and systematically built into that is not helpful for that. By dint of being a minnow Melbourne club.

 

[SteeleSaints]

The dogs currently are a lot like us in the 2003 - 2010 period. Made a bunch of finals, have been pretty strong with a couple of periods of shakiness and making two grand finals. The difference being they managed to get one of those over the line.

The reason they havent been more successful with their list as good as it has been is the exact same reason we weren't more successful.. we are both minnow clubs who have to battle uphill with worse facilities and access to top end coaches and administration.

I think we are now moving out of that era with Moorabbin being actually extremely good facilities now and our coaches now actually highly rated within the industry. The problem now is getting the list up to scratch with talent that can go the next step and also maintain that high level.

Unless they win one in the next year or two they will be floundering for a while. They have a great young forward line but look at the age of their star midfield Bontempelli, Libatore, Treloar plus their key defenders it wont be long until they see decline. They do have some kids coming through but Bontempelli and Libba are a once in generation players.

Its the obvious reason why they encouraged Macrae to leave, they are aware the midfield is aging quickly.

 

[Joffaboy]

I dont make a habit of posting on opposition boards and when I do I am very polite. The other day I went over and posted how we had appreciated the kind words about Macrae on here and that he will always be a Bulldogs premiership player.

I hope if we are ever fortunate enough to win a flag, our departing players are given the same grace.

I live in Bulldogs territory and my whole family and many of my friends are diehard Bulldogs supporters (as am I in the AFLW as my niece plays for the Dogs) and to a person they have all told me their disappointment in
a) Macrae leaving
b) the way he was played out of position (although this is really a supporter thing, I can see why they have gone that direction)

All reckon his best is not behind him, and if he is not quite at his peak, he is very very close.

They go with good feelings to him and Daniel. Not so much Smith I must say.

 

[Diehard Saint]

EDIT: the caveat here is that I don’t know diddly squat about McCrae as a player. BUt that said…..


I am weary of ‘heart and soul’ players who ‘still have a lot to give’, that’s all.
Especially when they come as exports, with the blessings of their former fans.
I’m a child of the ‘80s too. Even if I was a young adult then.
Geary played too long.
I’m wary.
Remember when Kent came to us. Same. Parker. The two Carlton imports have been OK. Stocker gives it a crack.
Josh Battle was always lauded as bleeding the red black and white. And I’m sure he did, didn’t he.
Tom Mitchell.

I am going to be optimistic and say Bevo was wrong and played McCrae in the wrong position. Even if he is 6/10 the player he was he will still help us. As I’m sure Matt Crouch would have too had we taken him two years ago (when we should have)

We need to be competitive in an environment that we are structurally and systematically built into that is not helpful for that. By dint of being a minnow Melbourne club.

Fact is
1. We need him in that position right now. Have a huge hole in there.
2. He’s a whole lot better player than Dean Kent.
2. He appears to be extremely durable and has played the vast majority of every season, ever. (someone posted about this earlier). A whole lot more so than Hanners - we all admit a shocking decision.
3. Every club takes players from other clubs, and I’d rather the “heart and soul” Macrae than a Stringer type.

 

[True Believer]

Yeah he’s definitely the accumulator. I had an Essendon supporting mate (gross, I know) tell me he doesn’t hurt you with his disposal.

You should’ve seen his face when I showed him that Macrae actually averaged more score involvements per disposal in 2024 than Merrett.

To be fair, Essington supporters generally are surprised by reality......

 

[SG34]

I dont make a habit of posting on opposition boards and when I do I am very polite. The other day I went over and posted how we had appreciated the kind words about Macrae on here and that he will always be a Bulldogs premiership player.

I hope if we are ever fortunate enough to win a flag, our departing players are given the same grace.

I live in Bulldogs territory and my whole family and many of my friends are diehard Bulldogs supporters (as am I in the AFLW as my niece plays for the Dogs) and to a person they have all told me their disappointment in
a) Macrae leaving
b) the way he was played out of position (although this is really a supporter thing, I can see why they have gone that direction)

All reckon his best is not behind him, and if he is not quite at his peak, he is very very close.

They go with good feelings to him and Daniel. Not so much Smith I must say.

I am doing a lil wee bit of reading (in between following the calamities of Pakistan’s vs England in their test - if you like test cricket it was a ripper)

So far,

Yes, Bevin certainly has a will of iron!

Dropped three all - Australians from their team in the first month.

Including MacCrae (I am finally spelling it correctly- apologies)

So he;

1) lost his vice-captain role last summer
2) was cut from the leadership group last summer
3) blew a hammy in January
4) there was definitely no hurry to rush him back - played VFL and was left out of crucial early games
5) made it back to the team but again was subsequently dropped
6) was dropped way, way back pre-premiership? year, ala Dal Santo and co and came back and dominated

So I’m left with the impression that he was given a rough ride and perhaps Beck used him as an example

He’ll definitely be good for a few years for us UNLESS that hammy blows up again - and we know they do

No question, he is a player.

 

[_Mike_]

5) made it back to the team but again was subsequently dropped

He got **** all time on the ground, was not being used properly to the team's advantage. This is a Bevo thing, and although Macrae is not as fast on his legs, he still has the smarts about it.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Including MacCrae (I am finally spelling it correctly- apologies)

 

[austinnn]

They were as cocky as hell post the 2016 grand final. Almost unbearable. Not sure how we’ll all react if we finally get there. We have shit put on us relentlessly so it will be interesting how gracious we are if it ever happens.

Winners are grinners I suppose.

I guarantee we'll be as bad

 

[Armoooo]

I guarantee we'll be as bad

I can't wait until saints win a flag and all of a sudden I'll have a prodigious understanding of every element of the sport as tends to happen to fans of the premiers each year.

 

[seasonedsainter]

Really hoping this can be a great pickup, #45 is a decent deal imo

Welcome to Saint Kilda Jeckson McRay

 

[DognBones]

Bont is a star of course but Jack has been my favourite Bulldog for the length of his career.
He's a true professional, goes about his business without any fuss and has hardly missed a game through injury in his 12 years at the club. Could conceivably become your best midfielder for the next couple of years. The only reason he's been traded is that the coaches believe he lacks a yard against some of the teams that can spread quickly from stoppages. As an inside mid, however, I think he will be a great addition for you. I think you got a bargain and wish him all the very best.

 

[Joffaboy]

Bont is a star of course but Jack has been my favourite Bulldog for the length of his career.
He's a true professional, goes about his business without any fuss and has hardly missed a game through injury in his 12 years at the club. Could conceivably become your best midfielder for the next couple of years. The only reason he's been traded is that the coaches believe he lacks a yard against some of the teams that can spread quickly from stoppages. As an inside mid, however, I think he will be a great addition for you. I think you got a bargain and wish him all the very best.

Everything you say is spot on. We lost our best inside mid in Crouch and Seb Ross has had his day. That left Steele, and a rag tag bunch until we got Clark, Dow and Phillipou back near the end of the season.

Remember mid season when the Saints couldn't score more than 70 points and Lyon made every game into a scrap because our mids had nobody and the opposition just walked it out time and time again.

When we came good we won 6 out of 8 including beating Sydney and Geelong and got pipped by Port by 2 points (Brisbane got a hold of us and gave us a rodgering) we were regularly scoring 100 plus points and looking very attractive. Coincided with King going down but the reason was we got decent blocks of football into Dow, Jones, Clark and Phillipou, a middling but still effective midfield.

Macrae will add to that inside crew tremendously. Yes a pure inside mid that is not quick, well pace is not the be all and end all in the guts, we have Hill, Wilson, Sinclair, Wanganeen-Milera, Webster, and Wood with outside pace.
We wont know if Jack is past his best until we get to see him next season, however if he is still somewhere near his best, he will be such an asset to a team crying out for help for Jack Steele. A 192 cm inside mid bull has been searched for a decade by the Saints. He is also an accurate kick which is a Lyon requirement.
Dalrymple pushed for this trade. He drafted him for the Bulldogs and would know what his qualities are and what they will bring.

 

[Freshwater]

I can't wait until saints win a flag and all of a sudden I'll have a prodigious understanding of every element of the sport as tends to happen to fans of the premiers each year.

One of the best posts I’ve ever read. Sounds exactly like my brother, a Hawthorn supporter, who speaks as if he is somehow a Alastair Clarkson Sam Mitchell clone. Always telling me what Footscray is doing wrong and if they only did it like Hawthorn we’d be winning flags

 

[Pou Steele]

I guarantee we'll be as bad

I would be disappointed if we weren’t worse.

 

[Joffaboy]

One of the best posts I’ve ever read. Sounds exactly like my brother, a Hawthorn supporter, who speaks as if he is somehow a Alastair Clarkson Sam Mitchell clone. Always telling me what Footscray is doing wrong and if they only did it like Hawthorn we’d be winning flags

Well considering you lot have won a flag in living memory, we should be listening to you all.

Macrae straight to the reserves then

 

[Joffaboy]

I would be disappointed if we weren’t worse.

I will be even more insufferable than I am now.