Tom McDonald - are his days as a defender over?

[Nasher 33,047]

Today he put forward his case for forward line permanency.  He is as good a contested mark as anyone in our side, and he's become a very reliable set shot for goal for someone whose field kicking looked not too dissimilar to my 5 year old's ball drop at Friday evening AusKick.  He made the comment with Burgs post-match that simplifying his technique has been the main focus of his work (with Troy Chaplin) and getting everything straight is the key.  

His last four games have netted 2, 5, 2 and now 4 goals.  Cam Pedersen, who gets a lot of love on this forum, and has been outstanding in key moments this year, has never kicked any more than 3, in a 70 match career predominantly as a forward.  This is not intended to be a knock on Pedersen, just a matter of context.  Players don't kick 4 or 5 goals often and McDonald has now done that twice in three weeks.  

Simon Goodwin had this to say when asked post-match against Carlton:

"He looks likely to [stay forward], if he keeps marking the ball and kicking straight.  They're hard to come by.  He's done it again Tom, I think every time the ball comes in his area, he looks likely.  He's looked likely since the time we put him down there, but now he's starting to turn that in to goals.  In current form, he'll definitely stay down there.

In some ways it was an experiment, but then we did some training with a couple of marking exercises.  Our coaches are very good at developing some exercises for them to do their contested marking, and he just kept marking the ball."

I read with interest @binmanand @ProDee's discussion on this during the week.  I took the view (with no conviction) that this was temporary and treated the 5 goals against West Coast as something of a novelty, but his form down there is getting increasingly difficult to ignore. 

He wouldn't be the key defender in our history to go on to have an outstanding career as a forward, initially out of necessity.  

Interested in others' thoughts.

[brendan 3,380]

If we got lever they would be, he will only get better as a forward and at the moment he is not needed down back, I think he now takes pedo position forward/ruck 

[bush demon 1,875]

4 minutes ago, Nasher said:

Today he put forward his case for forward line permanency.  He is as good a contested mark as anyone in our side, and he's become a very reliable set shot for goal for someone whose field kicking looked not too dissimilar to my 5 year old's ball drop at Friday evening AusKick.  He made the comment with Burgs post-match that simplifying his technique has been the main focus of his work (with Troy Chaplin) and getting everything straight is the key.  

His last four games have netted 2, 5, 2 and now 4 goals.  Cam Pedersen, who gets a lot of love on this forum, and has been outstanding in key moments this year, has never kicked any more than 3, in a 70 match career predominantly as a forward.  This is not intended to be a knock on Pedersen, just a matter of context.  Players don't kick 4 or 5 goals often and McDonald has now done that twice in three weeks.  

Simon Goodwin had this to say when asked post-match against Carlton:

"He looks likely to [stay forward], if he keeps marking the ball and kicking straight.  They're hard to come by.  He's done it again Tom, I think every time the ball comes in his area, he looks likely.  He's looked likely since the time we put him down there, but now he's starting to turn that in to goals.  In current form, he'll definitely stay down there.

In some ways it was an experiment, but then we did some training with a couple of marking exercises.  Our coaches are very good at developing some exercises for them to do their contested marking, and he just kept marking the ball."

I read with interest @binmanand @ProDee's discussion on this during the week.  I took the view (with no conviction) that this was temporary and treated the 5 goals against West Coast as something of a novelty, but his form down there is getting increasingly difficult to ignore. 

He wouldn't be the key defender in our history to go on to have an outstanding career as a forward, initially out of necessity.  

Interested in others' thoughts.

For older punters, I think that's what Ray Biffen did.

[Dwight Schrute 16,722]

I really like him as a forward, he's strong on the lead, a great contested mark and a good finisher and takes the pressure right off hogan and I don't think our defence is worse off without him 

[Adzman 2,085]

Geez he looked good! Great pair of hands an seems to be a good set shot on goal.

With Frosty and Oscar developing i think Tmac can stay forward.

[Deestroy All 14,261]

I thought the Gold Coast game was easily his worst as a forward. Hardly competed, played a terrible forward's game. That was against some good established key backs. 

But take that out and he's been pretty sensational. I would never have picked it. As a competitive fill in yes, but not a legitimate threat. On top of that he still has to ruck and run all over the joint. 

I feel a lot safer with him as a forward than I do a defender. 

And his set shot follow through is beautiful. 

[leave it to deever 15,136]

He brings all the great forward attributes. Strong overhead mark, breaks tackles and kicks true. He also has a defenders work ethic and locks it in up there. Move over Jesse

[Dr. Mubutu 692]

If I may blaspheme for a moment, perhaps in the Neitz mould?
Drafted as a forward, moved back out of necessity, now blooming as a KPF, knowing all of the tricks?

[binman 37,727]

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

Today he put forward his case for forward line permanency.  He is as good a contested mark as anyone in our side, and he's become a very reliable set shot for goal for someone whose field kicking looked not too dissimilar to my 5 year old's ball drop at Friday evening AusKick.  He made the comment with Burgs post-match that simplifying his technique has been the main focus of his work (with Troy Chaplin) and getting everything straight is the key.  

His last four games have netted 2, 5, 2 and now 4 goals.  Cam Pedersen, who gets a lot of love on this forum, and has been outstanding in key moments this year, has never kicked any more than 3, in a 70 match career predominantly as a forward.  This is not intended to be a knock on Pedersen, just a matter of context.  Players don't kick 4 or 5 goals often and McDonald has now done that twice in three weeks.  

Simon Goodwin had this to say when asked post-match against Carlton:

"He looks likely to [stay forward], if he keeps marking the ball and kicking straight.  They're hard to come by.  He's done it again Tom, I think every time the ball comes in his area, he looks likely.  He's looked likely since the time we put him down there, but now he's starting to turn that in to goals.  In current form, he'll definitely stay down there.

In some ways it was an experiment, but then we did some training with a couple of marking exercises.  Our coaches are very good at developing some exercises for them to do their contested marking, and he just kept marking the ball."

I read with interest @binmanand @ProDee's discussion on this during the week.  I took the view (with no conviction) that this was temporary and treated the 5 goals against West Coast as something of a novelty, but his form down there is getting increasingly difficult to ignore. 

He wouldn't be the key defender in our history to go on to have an outstanding career as a forward, initially out of necessity.  

Interested in others' thoughts.

Just opened this thread. Leaving aside the to and fro he does one thing that is super impressive as a forward. He marks the ball. As a defender he has often matches up on a key forward and like all good defenders in that man on man scenario his instinct is to spoil. Freed of that need to spoil up forward he is formidable in the air.

I was super impressed by McGovern for the WC and Casboult for their marking ability - and i have to say Curnow today as well. Tmac is similar in that if he doesn't clunk it it invariably goes to ground.

Loved his around the body snap today. Four straight today. Pretty good.

I assume you are alluding to Netia as the key defender moving forward? Am i right in thinking Netia was AA at CHB?Tmac  has a similar physical presence as Neta. Both big fellas more than prepared to throw their weight around and also both terrific at forward defensive pressure. A great example was the goal TMac set up for ANB. Stayed in the contest. Strong. Then a smart underground handball. Important timing as well. 

Edited July 9, 2017 by binman

[Go the Biff 3,124]

1 hour ago, bush demon said:

For older punters, I think that's what Ray Biffen did.

TMac's already a much better shot for goal than big Ray ever was.

Goodwin mentioned in his press conference that McDonald would be staying forward in the immediate future while Tom himself said post match that he was enjoying playing there. Followed by the obligatory "I'll play where the team needs me". Also said he was learning and working on aspects of forward play

Edited July 9, 2017 by Go the Biff
sp

[What 18,810]

The coaching staff deserve some sort of medal. They've turned him into a devastating weapon.  Exciting times.

[Skuit 9,109]

Thought the GC game would be the end of it. But, just as any other tall, he's benefited from the presence of Pedo and now Hogan drawing defenders since Max's return. Hogan will benefit in kind. 

[bandicoot 1,395]

2 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

The coaching staff deserve some sort of medal. They've turned him into a devastating weapon.  Exciting times.

Coaches need to be careful not to switch him too often as as this might disrupt his game. We don't want another cale hooker situation  

[bandicoot 1,395]

Can hogan, weideman, watts and Tom all play up forward, 

[ucanchoose 1,803]

To me,  he  has a bit of a Nick Riewoldt.   Big Tank and runs people into the ground with really good hands and now and improving kick

[Dwight Schrute 16,722]

3 hours ago, bandicoot said:

Can hogan, weideman, watts and Tom all play up forward, 

Nope but it gives weid the opportunity to develop, improves our depth and makes us a better side. When weid begins to reach his potential he'll be good enough to win a spot 

[deelete my account 1,194]

Said this in the Lever thread. We recruit Lever and keep TMAC Forward. Recruiting Lever has nothing to do with replacing Omac or Frost, but Wiedeman not coming on for the foreseeable future. If Weideman comes on, then at worst, you've got tmac lever and frost with omac as depth. We do need defensive depth too. Garland is probably finished.

Edited July 9, 2017 by DominatrixTyson

[brendan 3,380]

It's a good problem to have, if McDonald keeps up this form suddenly he will get best defender hogan then might get off the leash, then watts comes back and he gets 3rd best defender, And all 3 have good tanks that can run up and down the ground all day with hogan having stints in the midfield it looks a very dangerous forward line 

garlett McDonald hannan 

petracca hogan watts 

[low flying Robbo 979]

I'm amazed at how gunbarrel straight his kicking for goal is... I love it

[pineapple dee 2,892]

2 minutes ago, low flying Robbo said:

I'm amazed at how gunbarrel straight his kicking for goal is... I love it

I'm usually wringing my hands and averting my eyes when some of our players are kicking for goal. When Mc Donald is kicking, I feel a sense of clam and hope.

[monoccular 16,008]

8 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

I'm usually wringing my hands and averting my eyes when some of our players are kicking for goal. When Mc Donald is kicking, I feel a sense of clam and hope.

So you close your eyes tight then?

[pineapple dee 2,892]

3 minutes ago, monoccular said:

So you close your eyes tight then?

As a rule, yes. Not so much when Watts or Garlett are having a ping.

[whatwhat say what 18,761]

T Mac up forward improves our balance and forward direction immeasurably 

His contested marking is brilliant 

Leave him forward as needs be, swing him back as required

Edited July 10, 2017 by DemonAndrew

[Gator 16,890]

I'm skeptical about McDonald as a long-term viable forward option, but there's no doubt he's exceeded every expectation, including his own.

I can't come at both McDonalds and Frost playing in defence as their kicking will crucify us, so for the time being McDonald forward solves that problem as well as being a legitimate scoring option.

Right now, what's not to like.

[jnrmac 18,914]

11 hours ago, bush demon said:

For older punters, I think that's what Ray Biffen did.

And Neitz