Where do you play him?

Great hands, booming kick - i thought he was better out of goal today, but he is wary of Miller, who likes to play 70 - 80 metres out.

I thought he had a shocker today, maybe he needs a spell at Casey?

Where do you play him?

Great hands, booming kick - i thought he was better out of goal today, but he is wary of Miller, who likes to play 70 - 80 metres out.

I thought he had a shocker today, maybe he needs a spell at Casey?

I think he could use a few games like Newton had on Sat.

Can be a very good HFF, but with the awful service and his lack of a second effort it was a really bad day for him.

Where do you play him?

Anywhere, as long as it's for Casey and not the Dees.

Great hands? Not sure about that.

Anywhere, as long as it's for Casey and not the Dees.

you reckon he was that bad? i think he's a confidence/touch player, needs to get a touch early.

he is very coachable, so there's still hope.

What was Bate drafted as?

What position did he play his junior footy at?

Riding the pine at Casey.

I've been calling him to be dropped for some time now yet, we have persisted and persisted and look what we got served up to us today.

Must get dropped and play some good footy at Casey for quite a few games before looking at receiving a recall. If this dosen't happen (which there is a fair chance) Maybe he can start looking for another club. IT'S NOW OR NEVER BATE! UP TO YOU!

Where do you play him?

Great hands, booming kick - i thought he was better out of goal today, but he is wary of Miller, who likes to play 70 - 80 metres out.

I thought he had a shocker today, maybe he needs a spell at Casey?

NOT Enough URgency. Let him go find it for a month. It's out there somewhere down Ol Cranny way.

What was Bate drafted as?

What position did he play his junior footy at?

He played a little down back.

you reckon he was that bad?

Yes. He can't mark, and can't win the ball in a one on one situation.

What was Bate drafted as?

What position did he play his junior footy at?

He played up forward, but late in the season he was moved into the middle with soem success. Alot of recruiters questioned where he'd eventually play at AFL level, sound familiar?

I think he could use a few games like Newton had on Sat.

Can be a very good HFF, but with the awful service and his lack of a second effort it was a really bad day for him.

Needs to go back to Casey...

Even Juice when he had a stinker last week, was still following up with 2nd efforts, laying tackles etc. (layed 4 tackles against Adelaide, 4 against Richmond too)

Bater laid 1 tackle today, 1 against Adelaide last week too... He's had 5 games now and his form has been horrible, really needs to go to Casey and find some form...

As for his ideal position, I think he's playing there... I can't ever see him playing down back, or in the midfield. He either plays in a forward pocket, or on a half forward flank.

give him a crack at left right out...

He played up forward, but late in the season he was moved into the middle with soem success. Alot of recruiters questioned where he'd eventually play at AFL level, sound familiar?

I seem to recall he was playing back but didn't strike Morrish Medal winning form until moved forward.

Addendum from Footy Draft:

Matthew Bate

Details:

Club: Croydon/Eastern

DOB: 24 May 1987 Hgt: 190cm Wgt: 85kg

Position: Centre Half Back/Full Forward

Natural Foot: Left

Honours:

Morrish Medal (best player in TAC Cup) 2004

Interchange in TAC Cup Team of the Year 2004

National Draft Camp 2004

TAC Stats:

2003: 13 games, 8 goals, 11.6 PPG

2004: 22 games, 45 goals, 15.9 PPG

Strengths: Bate is a red-headed utility who was only given an exemption to the draft in September, a week after he was declared the winner of the Morrish Medal. His main asset is his versatility - Matthew can play great footy at either end of the ground. He was excellent in defence early in the year, before moving forward late in the season, where he has kicked several big bags.

There is a lot to like about his game. He is a long and accurate kick, good with his hands and very good at mopping up in defence. He has great goal sense as well, capable of the freakish snap as well as the set shot.

Weaknesses: Can fumble a few marks still, although he gets first hands on it a lot of the time. Needs to work on his right side.

Footydraft.com comment: His late nomination will have thrown a few clubs, but his versatility and scope for improvement would make him a great selection.

he had a good season last year in the midfield.. they should have left him there!

I seem to recall he was playing back but didn't strike Morrish Medal winning form until moved forward.

Yeah, I think I got it wrong although I'm certain he spent time in the middle.

In the 2's.

Its one thing to be out of form but Bate doesn't work hard when he hasn't got the ball. He runs around in circles and takes short steps in a contest. He has no intensity in his game. I said last year he should have been traded and we could have picked up a handy player with another draft pick. By years end he won't have much trade value as most teams have figured out he is soft and play him accordingly.

Of course he will play the occasional good game usually against weak opposition in a game where there is little intensity. Unfortunately for him when you are on the bottom of the ladder there aren't too many games like that.

Ideal position is out of the team.

We may as well be playing with 21 at the moment. He simply is not providing a contest. He is too slow, his turning circle is massive, and he often takes short steps. I thought he was going to be a handy player, and I hope he proves me wrong, but he is quickly becoming the thorn in this team's side.

What was Bate drafted as?

What position did he play his junior footy at?

Junior footy on a wing for Croydon.

Full forward and a little bit on-ball for Eastern Ranges

Where do you play him?

Great hands, booming kick - i thought he was better out of goal today, but he is wary of Miller, who likes to play 70 - 80 metres out.

I thought he had a shocker today, maybe he needs a spell at Casey?

Sadly I thought he was a bit better today, by no means was one of our best but thought he was at least in the play a little bit more. He needs to play on a wing. Gives him the space to run and he just seems lost playing as a stay at home forward. This may mean needing to play Morton or Bruce a little closer to goal, but I think they would cope with it better then Bate has been.

Bate's ideal position????

On current form..... CHB

CHB = Centre Half Bench

Casey 2nds

Sadly I thought he was a bit better today, by no means was one of our best but thought he was at least in the play a little bit more. He needs to play on a wing. Gives him the space to run and he just seems lost playing as a stay at home forward. This may mean needing to play Morton or Bruce a little closer to goal, but I think they would cope with it better then Bate has been.

I reckon you might have hit the nail on the head. Give him the left wing and Morten the right. Move Bruce forward. He can get the ball and there is no way he can always kick so badly.