Matthew Bate

[Guest unstable punt]

Having watched Bate the last 2 games at the MCG, apart from the first half of his first game back, he's been our best and he is going to be our most important player very very soon. This guy has the potential to be a star of the highest caliber, when he's playing the team seems to straighten up, go more direct.

[grazman 7,436]

Having watched Bate the last 2 games at the MCG, apart from the first half of his first game back, he's been our best and he is going to be our most important player very very soon. This guy has the potential to be a star of the highest caliber, when he's playing the team seems to straighten up, go more direct.

Agree 100%. When he actually realises how good he can be - he is going to dominate games.

[do it 4 robbie 1]

Couldn`t agree more. Nearly posted the same thing myself yesterday. If he can stay on the park he could also be the leader we`re looking for. As much as i love Brock i think the Master could be the level headed, mature young man we need .

[Neita3000 37]

He certainly is extremely under rated. Showed how flexible he is by going into the midifeld on the weekend.

[Jaded No More 68,965]

I still think that the midfield engine is ultimately the most important thing to a team, which is why McLean probably shades Bate at the moment.

However Bate is incredibly important to us structurally. He and Miller leading up the ground is really helping the game plan and moving the ball quickly and with purpose.

Bate's chase and tackle on Sunday was a thing of beauty. He was timid and at times lazy when he first started, but he has really grown up and matured and his work-rate is terrific at the moment. He made every contest on Sunday and his disposal was spot on. This is precisely what we should expect from someone of his talents.

With Bate coming on nicely, and Garland, Frawley and even Warnock showing promising signs, we can finally start to assemble something that resembles a decent spine... something we haven't had since the Neitz/Ox/Gary era. Now all we need is a FF, and no Newton is no FF.

Edit: I wish Bate would kick for goal when he's 60m out. He needs to practice those long shots at goal, because too much sharing around usually ends up in complete failure.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

With Bate coming on nicely, and Garland, Frawley and even Warnock showing promising signs, we can finally start to assemble something that resembles a decent spine... something we haven't had since the Neitz/Ox/Gary era. Now all we need is a FF, and no Newton is no FF.

I agree: I've loved Bate his whole career, and he's now beginning to develop into a star player of the AFL. Lovely kicking action too...

Jaded's right about FF though, we've no real prospects here unless Zomer comes through. I doubt Newton will make it. Hope he does though, for his sake and Melbourne's.

[Adzman 2,154]

Best Ginger in the AFL!

Possibly a better ginger then Vossy??.......time will tell.

[Demon Disciple 12,174]

Going on the last few games, Bate has really come on. At the end of last year, and even pre-season i felt that he had plateaud, but he has come on very nicely.

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, it has only be 3 games. But one can't not get excited by what he is producing. He will be one of our most important and best players in a couple of years, if he isn't already.

[Diablo 1]

Best Ginger in the AFL!

Possibly a better ginger then Vossy??.......time will tell.

He'd definitely be better at special comments...

Its amazing how, two years running now, Bater was in ordinary form, and then a switch just flicked. Last year I think it was against Port Adelaide. He had been dropping everything and not getting a kick. His first half against Freo this year was the same. But the beast inside came to life and his hands went from cement to venus fly-trap with a taste for aggot. His short kicking seems to have improved out of sight this year as well.

He's filling out nicely and if his arms just get a bit more melon-like at the top, he'll be looking every bit the marauding CHF. Very exciting game by him on the weekend, and it's not the first time he's done it.

[Nasher 33,616]

He's still only 21, which is easy to forget when he's flying. Still in the early part of his career.

Very exciting.

[Tex 68]

He's still only 21, which is easy to forget when he's flying. Still in the early part of his career.

Very exciting.

I reckon he has trimmed down a little.

He looked a lot more mobile, quicker and agile on the weekend.

Very excited.

[DemonDave 1,089]

Its worth noting that Bate came 3rd in our best and fairest last year. From 19 games. I think that shows how important he is to the team. And I think at this stage he's flown under the radar as far as other clubs are concerned when they do their matchups. What type of player do you put on him? He's very uniquel in his size/athletic capabilites in that he marks like a key forward, but runs around like a midfielder collecting posessions up around the half forward line/wing.

It seems the clubs decision to nurse him along with his hamstring injury has been vindicated.

[Gouga 570]

I reckon he has trimmed down a little.

He looked a lot more mobile, quicker and agile on the weekend.

Very excited.

I reckon he looked taller on the weekend. Is he still 192cm?

[Pipefitter 2,163]

Hes gonna be a big part of our future. He was always a genius pick by CAC. In fact i think he was touted as a No 1 pick at one stage.

[Gouga 570]

Now all we need is a FF, and no Newton is no FF.

Did I miss something? If Newton has a future as an AFL footballer (which I believe he does) it will be as a CHF/FF.

If Newton is not a FF then what is he?

[ummm21 0]

He definately wasnt rated as a number 1 pick, was a relatively unknown until he wont the tac u18 best and fairest, He wasnt selected to play at the nationals so clearly he wasnt highly rated at that stage. Having played against him in juniors i was preying we would pick him up.

[Nasher 33,616]

If Newton is not a FF then what is he?

Nothing at this point.

[Gouga 570]

Nothing at this point.

I thought Garland and Warnock would have taught us all a lesson about writing-off players.

The season is long and Newton will get chances in the second half to prove his worth.

[DemonDave 1,089]

Wasnt Bate picked 'under-age'? ie.A year earlier than expected, from what I remember he was the youngest player drafted, and if he had've stayed in the U18's an extra year would've been considered a top 5 pick the next year but we took the risk and got him early.

[mo64 5,875]

I thought Garland and Warnock would have taught us all a lesson about writing-off players.

The season is long and Newton will get chances in the second half to prove his worth.

Well said Gouga. Even if Newton doesn't play a senior game this year, he is definitely worth persisting with. He's played less than 20 gamse as a key position forward, and people want to write him off.

[mauriesy 7,299]

Wasnt Bate picked 'under-age'?

Bate, Dunn and Newton were all bottom-aged when they were picked in the 2004 draft. There's 27 days age difference between the three of them.

[Nasher 33,616]

I thought Garland and Warnock would have taught us all a lesson about writing-off players.

The season is long and Newton will get chances in the second half to prove his worth.

Sure. But he's still nothing at this point.

[Dee*ceiving 1,674]

He definately wasnt rated as a number 1 pick, was a relatively unknown until he wont the tac u18 best and fairest, He wasnt selected to play at the nationals so clearly he wasnt highly rated at that stage. Having played against him in juniors i was preying we would pick him up.

Wasnt Bate picked 'under-age'? ie.A year earlier than expected, from what I remember he was the youngest player drafted, and if he had've stayed in the U18's an extra year would've been considered a top 5 pick the next year but we took the risk and got him early.

Correct, I am aware both Bate and Dunn were taken bottom age in 2005 because the thought at the time was they would all be highly sought after the following year

[Gouga 570]

Sure. But he's still nothing at this point.

He broke into the side last year playing the last 10 games. He kicked 14 goals at CHF/FF and took mark of the year.

I'm not sure why you think he is 'nothing'. At the very least he is a young player with very good potential.

[mauriesy 7,299]

Correct, I am aware both Bate and Dunn were taken bottom age in 2005 because the thought at the time was they would all be highly sought after the following year

2004. In 2005 we took Jones, Buckley, Bartram and Neville ... Buckley is in fact a month or two older than Bate, Dunn and Newton.