Joel Macdonald

[Keyser Söze 0]

Dead right, Voss doesn't have many petrol tickets left, but I put a lot of blame on those that appointed him.

The amount of control he was given, coupled with inexperience, was a surefire recipe for disaster.

No senior experienced mentor on-board to guide things.

Terrible overestimation of the playing list (& possible recruits).

And Joel Mac is not a match-winner.

At this stage, they are better having a kid developing in the spot he'd take up.

The result of a recent NAB cup match is hardly relevant.

It's not even real NAB cup! A twisted watered down version.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

No, they're not fringe players.

Moloney doesn't have too long left though.

Is he really only 26?

I thought he'd be a year or 2 older.

Doesn't matter, Voss was right in a way.

I doubt he's a premiership player.

And I'm not so sure he'd walk into Brisbane's side, like many claim.

He'd have to contend with Adcock, Drummond, Rockliff and a host of others who can play HBF.

And they are in a rebuilding stage, so need to play the kids.

Steven Armstrong is a Premiership player, so is Mark Blake. That argument means very little.

[Keyser Söze 0]

Ok, assuming you don't get what I mean, a premiership team might be able to squeeze in one of those fringe players, often due to injury, but a team will not win a flag with a handful of these players in the side.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Ok, assuming you don't get what I mean, a premiership team might be able to squeeze in one of those fringe players, often due to injury, but a team will not win a flag with a handful of these players in the side.

We are not talking about a handful, we are talking about one and Joel Macdonald is above those players anyway.

[Fork 'em 6,971]

Ok, assuming you don't get what I mean, a premiership team might be able to squeeze in one of those fringe players, often due to injury, but a team will not win a flag with a handful of these players in the side.

The Aints nearly did . Twice .

[Keyser Söze 0]

We are not talking about a handful, we are talking about one and Joel Macdonald is above those players anyway.

You overestimate him.

[rpfc 28,070]

You overestimate him.

He's a role player.

Half a Premiership winning team is.

This isn't the Premier League. Teams cannot cultivate talent in all positions due to the salary cap.

He's young enough if he's good enough.

[Keyser Söze 0]

He's not a good enough role player to play HBF in a premiership team.

We're not talking nuggety BP, do-a-bit-of-everything utility, tagger or backup ruckman.

A back flanker needs to be able to do what he does and provide drive from the backline.

He's not good enough in the latter.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Dead right, Voss doesn't have many petrol tickets left, but I put a lot of blame on those that appointed him.

The amount of control he was given, coupled with inexperience, was a surefire recipe for disaster.

No senior experienced mentor on-board to guide things.

Terrible overestimation of the playing list (& possible recruits).

Voss isnt 17 and vulnerable is he??

He is coach. He is responsible and accountable. Already a Chairman and CEO have fallen on their sword for agreeing to this without going to the Board. The Chairman and CEO would only work on the recommenation of the Board appointed head of the football department...the Coach.

And Joel Mac is not a match-winner.

At this stage, they are better having a kid developing in the spot he'd take up.

Irrelevant whether he is or isnt.

They had stacks of kids out there the other night. Did not seem to do them alot of good though.

He's not a good enough role player to play HBF in a premiership team.

Its such a flaccid argument when there have been many others to have won a pennant or two without being standout footballers.

[Keyser Söze 0]

I think the half back flank is too important and area in modern football to have "passengers".

[Disco Demons 92]

Macdonald needs to find another gear! good player but others around him and just getting going...based on current form has two years left.

[Roost It 1,434]

He's not that good. I actually agree that the HBF role is too important to have a limited player such as Joel. Can't see him playing much footy beyond this year.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

I think the half back flank is too important and area in modern football to have "passengers".

Aaron Davey receives and delivers off half back, does he play there, no.

You're right in that the half back line is absolutely important in modern football. That's why the good players run through there and receive the ball.

You still need lock down defenders to play a role, if a medium half forward is killing us and Chip and Garland have the keys to deal with, of course Joel is next in line.

I'm sure collingwood would rather stop Ricky Petterd kicking 4 than have Shaw pick up cheap possies.

I can't believe someone said they'd bet on Joel Mac one on one in the square though. His body work when the ball is coming in is terrible, was set aside and out marked on numerous occasions last year, for me it's his biggest weakness. I prefer him on the move in contested situations.

[John Crow Batty 8,816]

Interesting to see how many now are focusing on his deficiencies. And he does have some. Kick and think a little better but he's given us some sorely lacking hardness. But currently everyone on our back line except Frawley and to a lesser extent Garland need to add something to their game if we are to seriously improve this season. All the other guys including MacDonald have room for improvement unlike the recently departed Bruce who had nothing left to offer.

[nutbean 8,838]

He's not that good. I actually agree that the HBF role is too important to have a limited player such as Joel. Can't see him playing much footy beyond this year.

I'm a fan of Joel Mac - however I think this idea of him or anyone as a HBF is a moot point. I dont think there is any player that is any position these days. Everyone is set a task - we dont have a centreman or ruckrover or rover anymore - we have 6 players running through the midfield. We have Watts playing high up field and then out of the goal square. We have Davey behind the ball, on the ball and in front of the ball. We have Frawley minding the full forward ( Reiwoldt) one week and then playing in pocket against the small the next and Joel Mac is no different. He gets allocated what the FD considers suitable tasks. He has played full back, CHB, back pocket and HBF in equal measure - just depends who they play him on. I beleive they will use him in a backline shut down role and try to free up Grimes to be the play maker.

[Rogue 585]

Been great value.

Probably benefits most from Bruce pissing off.

Indeed.

Good value, but to me he's nowhere near as good as some people are suggesting.

He reads the ball well and works hard, but will get squeezed out of the side if we get anywhere near as good as I think we will.

The Joel Mac pick up has been a beauty, In a lot of ways it reminds me of Ingerson when he arrived.

Very low key but so important.

I don't think he's anywhere near an Ingerson, but we'll see.