Matthew Bate

[titan_uranus 25,020]

I've always thought Bate would become a star, but this year has made me question that. Only 2 or 3 good games, the rest of them he's been ineffectual. When he's playing well he does everything right, but when he's not playing well he looks slow and fumbly. What do others think, because I'd give him my vote for the most disappointing player for us this year

[Redleg 40,926]

I've always thought Bate would become a star, but this year has made me question that. Only 2 or 3 good games, the rest of them he's been ineffectual. When he's playing well he does everything right, but when he's not playing well he looks slow and fumbly. What do others think, because I'd give him my vote for the most disappointing player for us this year

Wouldn't think Newton has been tearing the place down either.

Bate has played some good games and has ability, I am more worried about Newton.

[Guest Schtacker]

as far as the disappointment award goes you would have to look at N.Jones for a nomination too

[Geddy Lee 582]

as far as the disappointment award goes you would have to look at N.Jones for a nomination too

He's 20 and been carrying the midfield all by himself. I am very impressed and proud of his contributions myself. With JMac. has put in more than anyone else this year I would think.

[Guest Schtacker]

He's 20 and been carrying the midfield all by himself. I am very impressed and proud of his contributions myself. With JMac. has put in more than anyone else this year I would think.

i'm glad you find it all so amusing

yes, there have been some tough conditions for him and he has actually done fairly well - but the DISAPPOINTMENT factor is what's being discussed, and this is a player who came 2nd in the B+F in his second year. Was hoping for more.

[tess 19]

Wouldn't think Newton has been tearing the place down either.

Bate has played some good games and has ability, I am more worried about Newton.

When the ball hits the deck in the forward 50, Newton's running style resembles the one eyed monster from the Goonies.

[Yencks 8]

i thought newton had a great chase yesterday and then got rewarded for a free kick (push in the back) from an attempted shepard from the port player

i also think its very hard for our forwards at the moment because they have no space to run into and its very hard to make a good lead inside the forward 50

i dont think i saw one good mark from a lead yesterday inside the 50

[Guest Schtacker]

i thought newton had a great chase yesterday and then got rewarded for a free kick (push in the back) from an attempted shepard from the port player

i also think its very hard for our forwards at the moment because they have no space to run into and its very hard to make a good lead inside the forward 50

i dont think i saw one good mark from a lead yesterday inside the 50

must be tough to make leads when you know there is bugger all chance the bloke kicking it to you is going to give you anything that is actually possible to catch

[mo64 5,874]

i thought newton had a great chase yesterday and then got rewarded for a free kick (push in the back) from an attempted shepard from the port player

i also think its very hard for our forwards at the moment because they have no space to run into and its very hard to make a good lead inside the forward 50

i dont think i saw one good mark from a lead yesterday inside the 50

It's hard to make a good lead inside our forward 50 because usually there's 3 of our forwards against 6 of their backmen. The rest of our team are caught out of position because they're running parallel with the ball carrier.

[Jerry Lundergard 420]

When the ball hits the deck in the forward 50, Newton's running style resembles the one eyed monster from the Goonies.

Michael Newton is Chunk! Nice one.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

I have posted a thread on Bate before saying how I have never rated him. People on this forum punished me for it, but I still stand by what I said.

I don't know why so many people on this forum think he will be a star or a superstar player. He will never be any of those. He is not a natural footballer. He is very Ian Perry like.

I have heard people say he is quick?

Quick?!!! Anyone can be relatively quick once they hit full pace. The problem is, he takes about 73 years to hit full pace. He has terrible acceleration. He has terrible awareness. He is just slow in general. Looks like he is going along in slow motion. I agree sometimes he has good hands but he is not consistantly good with his hands.

Many people may argue that other players need more improvemnt than Bate and I could probably agree with that. However, even if Bate improves these faults in his game, I feel he will still never be a "star" as some people have already labelled him to be.

There are so many other players I am more excited about unfortunately. Bate just doesn't tickle my fancy.

[Demon4Life 603]

Bate played some really good footy last year, and I was sure he was going to be a key player this year. Aside from our vets in Nietz, Yze & White, Bate is easily the player I am most dissapointed with this year. Unfortunately Bailey sees something in him and was talking him up this morning on The Footy Show.

[deanox 9,924]

bate is a tall midfielder or a HFF. in effect the position he plays is like wheatly, but forward of centre not as a defender. he has good hands when out in front, but struggles to use his body. he sitn clean below his feet and he cant turn.

this makes him not your number one mid, and not your CHF. these are the things people want him to be. if we had a proper midfield, and a CHF, bate would be very dangerous as a third tall in the forward line. he would be able to do stints in the middle and push forward to create mismatches.

remember when all our KPP were out injured and robbo played at CHF for years and got smashed most weeks, but still chipped in for a couple of goals. it is a bit like that with bate. he is being played out of position to plug gaps, and until players step up around him he wont dominate games.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

bate is a tall midfielder or a HFF.

Exactly. With Neitz and Robbo going down, and Juice going missing for most of the year, Bate has had to spend basically all his time as a key forward which is something he really isn't. I agree that he will never be a superstar player and he is TERRIBLE below his knees but once we get a few talls down there and he can play that HFF role he will be much better for it!

[praha 11,240]

By your logic (OP), every player has under performed, really.

[Bates Mate 4,487]

bate leads up and works hit butt off every game

much of the problem this year is the fact we go sideways 4 times before we kick it direct to him and by the time we kick to him he has made 3 + leads and is buggered. or there are 2 or 3 on him and he bomb it above his head and expect him to mark it.

when we are playing a flowing direct game Bate plays well

have faith

[Jarka 767]

The biggest problem with Bate was that the majority of Demon fans decided he was going to be the next young gun forward of comp, which he never was going to be. He's an ok player with a great work rate but he'll never be a gun forward.

for a club who have been on the bottom for a couple of year we serverly overrate our list.

[Gouga 569]

Bate lacks agility, awareness, speed and allows his opponent too much time to effect a spoil when marking because he puts his arms up late. However somehow he can still be quite an effective player.

Was a bit concerned that Bailey mentioned playing him in the midfield today. I thought Bate's future would be at CHF/FF. Dunn has moved to the midfield because he can't cut it as a KPP. Hopefully Bate move to the midfield doesn't signal the same.

[PeterJames 46]

bate is very unco i think. Will struggle in a poor side but would be handy in a good side. Will never be a star. As long as he has a crack he will be usefull.

[the fork 357]

Bates year has been rather interrupted and the delivery our forwards have received all year has made it very difficult. I don't think that it is fair to be too hard on players like Bate this year. Plenty has gone wrong around him.

[Chook 15,013]

Bates year has been rather interrupted and the delivery our forwards have received all year has made it very difficult. I don't think that it is fair to be too hard on players like Bate this year. Plenty has gone wrong around him.

Absolutely. We get smashed every week in forward-50 entries, but Bate must be close to leading our inside-50s. He is not a superstar, or even a star, but on his day, he is a 20 year old Paul Wheatley played 30 meters up the ground. I'd take that at his age, with the promise of more to come. Give the kid a break!

[the fork 357]

Absolutely. We get smashed every week in forward-50 entries, but Bate must be close to leading our inside-50s. He is not a superstar, or even a star, but on his day, he is a 20 year old Paul Wheatley played 30 meters up the ground. I'd take that at his age, with the promise of more to come. Give the kid a break!

In the game against Brisbane when things are around him functioned in a manner that enabled forwards to play a role, he was fantastic. Problems stem, when discussing Bate, from our Ruck/Centres.

Warnock may assist, but the question I have to ask:

Prismall anyone?

[dee-luded 2,959]

I've always thought Bate would become a star, but this year has made me question that. Only 2 or 3 good games, the rest of them he's been ineffectual. When he's playing well he does everything right, but when he's not playing well he looks slow and fumbly. What do others think, because I'd give him my vote for the most disappointing player for us this year

Remember Bates age, his just a baby, he played well @ CHF when the team was struggling early in the year but I believe he's feeling the pressure of expectation to perform at the top level all the time in a week forwardline also with a decimated midfield supply.

slow & fumbly = confidance.

When the team is all back on the park & Brocky, Grimes, Morton, Petterd, Jones, Buckley, & CJ are delivering the pill forward, I guess the forwards will start to look better.

[Mono 455]

Prismall anyone?

Todays Age has kangas? going after Prismall.

[Red and Blue Flame 187]

ive always said lets get prismal