Anyone ever seen this kid play? In his second year and I haven't seen the guy do squat! I know he's only young, but he didn't play in the intraclub game, nor any preseason match. Just want to know, what does he do?

he's a tallish defender... was the youngest player in his draft, so is a similar age to a lot of players who have just been drafted...

i haven't seen him play, but he's meant to have plenty of potential...

Bit hard for Tom to get a game at the moment with Garland, Warnock, Rivers, Martin etc occupying the key defensive positions.

He is Heath Neville in disguise

According to the AFL website he has a groin injury and will be out for another 3 weeks which may explain why we haven't seen him running around this summer.

Despite his height my understanding is he was drafted as running defender not a KPP.

Emma Quayle had him as a smoky in her top 25 2007 draft prospects.

From the MFC website

The youngest player taken at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, McNamara spent the 2008 season developing in the VFL with Sandringham. Played a handful of senior games for Sandringham and shows promise as a defender. Was also given a taste of AFL football when he played in Melbourne’s opening NAB Cup game against Geelong. Could move up to the wing or into the midfield as he develops. Reads the play well and is a good kick.

Go Dees - Building for the Future

Could move up to the wing or into the midfield as he develops. Reads the play well and is a good kick.

Interesting Tom's younger then NJetta and only 2 months older then Benell, Strauss.

If i remember correctly, he was one of the real shining lights in our Round 1 NAB Cup clash against Geelong last year. From what i saw of him then, he looked very impressive rebounding off halfback and also in the air. Was Rivers-like in his reading of the play. Likes to float across packs and mark. Too short to be a true KPP but maybe still growing, he's probably more likely to be a Paul Wheatley-type tallish running defender, but much better than Wheaters overhead. Still very young, but if he can get his body right, could really be anything. It's a shame his pre-season has been so injury riddled, as i'm really looking forward to seeing how he turns out.

Has been suggested that he would probably have been a 1st rounder this year had he not been picked up in last years draft.

If i remember correctly, he was one of the real shining lights in our Round 1 NAB Cup clash against Geelong last year. From what i saw of him then, he looked very impressive rebounding off halfback and also in the air. Was Rivers-like in his reading of the play. Likes to float across packs and mark. Too short to be a true KPP but maybe still growing, he's probably more likely to be a Paul Wheatley-type tallish running defender, but much better than Wheaters overhead. Still very young, but if he can get his body right, could really be anything. It's a shame his pre-season has been so injury riddled, as i'm really looking forward to seeing how he turns out.

Has been suggested that he would probably have been a 1st rounder this year had he not been picked up in last years draft.

I had a chat to him last season & he'd like to play as a Key Posi player eventually.

I see him also as a tall running/dashing defender who will read the play nicely & deliver the ball forward nicely. 3rd tall type for me at this stage, but could turn out to be anything as he grows.

In the melbournefc magazine which arrived in the mail yesterday Dean Bailey talks about how well McNamara was going in October/November before he suffered those injury setbacks. Suggests he will develop at Casey this year under Peter German which means "don't expect to see him in the AFL any time soon".

A class above his age group when I have seen him play here in Adelaide..... Showed sublime skills and also read the play better than anyone on the ground.... The way he reads the play is very similar to one Mr Rivers! Unfortunately it looks like he may also have the same luck with injuries.....

Once he gets his body right, everyone will know who Tom McNamara is.....

If things don't work out for him this year, is there any guarantee that he'll still be with us next year? I don't really know, but if he doesn't get too much game time in Casey, is he good enough that we'd be likely to stick with him?

If things don't work out for him this year, is there any guarantee that he'll still be with us next year? I don't really know, but if he doesn't get too much game time in Casey, is he good enough that we'd be likely to stick with him?

At his age you'd have to think so!

I might be wrong but i think he's still younger than Jetta and only 2 months older than Bennell & Strauss.

Any draftee needs time to at least grow into their body.

Bit hard for Tom to get a game at the moment with Garland, Warnock, Rivers, Martin etc occupying the key defensive positions.

I spoke to one of the backmen and he said,

there are 11 players going for the back 6 spots, so for him to get a game would make him no 12, going to be hard.

I spoke to one of the backmen and he said,

there are 11 players going for the back 6 spots, so for him to get a game would make him no 12, going to be hard.

Trade table next couple of years for a few of those 12 i think... for draft picks of course.

Gold coast wouldn't mind some experienced defenders, i don't think. Petterd may want to head home too.

We don't want rejects, we want to grow our own.

Tom was an AIS academy graduate, and was one of Champion data's tips for top 25 in that draft (of course, Champion Data makes those tips early in the year, bu they are pretty good usually). And you've got Emma Quayle mentioned above as having him as a smoky for top 25. And that was all despite him being so very young - a year later he's still about the usual age for a draftee. Only Blease and Watts are significantly younger than him on our list, despite seven new draft picks plus some rookies coming in.

I think the club would be outright derelict to push him on right away, even if he has an ordinary year this year. Both in the sense of giving him a fair go and in giving the club the best chance of putting together another good tall. He's still got three seasons left to win the Rising Star Award!

I think the club would be outright derelict to push him on right away, even if he has an ordinary year this year. Both in the sense of giving him a fair go and in giving the club the best chance of putting together another good tall.

I think you're probably right.

Given his age I think some need to cut him some slack.