Always thought the kid had talent and very good awareness.

Maybe he has found his niche.

He's got a long way to go and spots in the Dee's midfield are tough to get, but we may see him earn a spot in the second half of the season if he keeps progressing.

Good luck to the kid.

From the Casey reserves report.

*Tom McNamara: Tom was probably best-on-ground, playing as a midfielder, which is a new role to him. He had about 30 possessions and kicked three goals, so that was really promising. He’ll put himself right in contention to be promoted on that performance.

Always thought the kid had talent and very good awareness.

Maybe he has found his niche.

He's got a long way to go and spots in the Dee's midfield are tough to get, but we may see him earn a spot in the second half of the season if he keeps progressing.

Good luck to the kid.

From the Casey reserves report.

*Tom McNamara: Tom was probably best-on-ground, playing as a midfielder, which is a new role to him. He had about 30 possessions and kicked three goals, so that was really promising. He’ll put himself right in contention to be promoted on that performance.

Surely if he can keep up that form, he would be in the 22 in no time.

For the Casey reserves... maybe if he was doing that every week in the seniors

For the Casey reserves... maybe if he was doing that every week in the seniors

Exactly what I thought.

For the Casey reserves... maybe if he was doing that every week in the seniors

Try a bit of optimism, the thing I like about our much maligned Footy Dept they are thinking outside of the square, Tom has had am onjury riddled couple of years, coming back again from a fott injury, we have tall defenders let's try something new.....a case in point Rohan Bail....injury riddled first year and a bit...now in Best 22...watch this space

Try a bit of optimism, the thing I like about our much maligned Footy Dept they are thinking outside of the square, Tom has had am onjury riddled couple of years, coming back again from a fott injury, we have tall defenders let's try something new.....a case in point Rohan Bail....injury riddled first year and a bit...now in Best 22...watch this space

rhaz wasn't suggesting it was bad that the football department is playing Tom Mc as a mid - that's a strawman.

What rhaz - and I - were pointing out is that form was displayed in the seconds. He'll need to improve his form to maintain t he same output of disposals/goals.

rhaz wasn't suggesting it was bad that the football department is playing Tom Mc as a mid - that's a strawman.

What rhaz - and I - were pointing out is that form was displayed in the seconds. He'll need to improve his form to maintain t he same output of disposals/goals.

A post from a few months ago, Tom Mac again looking like he is progressing after the weekend, all this from a Footy Dept that is failing at every hurdle according to some

For the Casey reserves... maybe if he was doing that every week in the seniors

Am I missing something here.

He played in Casey seniors and has for some time!

Am I missing something here.

He played in Casey seniors and has for some time!

Look at the date of the posts.

Tommy Mac has had a few games where he has been very very good at VFL level, but to my knowledge they are few and far between.

He still has time, but I see him being more like Nick Lower who is now succeeding at Freo after not coming on quickly enough at Port.

Been going along very nicely at Casey young Tom. Seen him play several times recently and what I like is his grunt and approach at the footy. Runs very straight. Seems to work well with McDonald and Davis.

Don't get too excited folks. I hear from a very good source that he's been offered a big contract by GWS. :D

Look at the date of the posts.

I did see that but I am still lost not sure what the relevance is.

But don't worry i will probably get it later today.

I have always, and still do, see an AFL player in TMac. Might be too late for him to make something at Melbourne, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was rookie-listed by another club and make a career somewhere else.

I'll be totally honest and say I see more in TMac than I do in Maric.

Go ahead.

Still time for young Tom. He's big and strong and is becomming effective. Like em like that. Reminds me of Hawthorn when they were mongrels. Good on ya Tom keep it up we've got plenty of smalls, a number of ( most of ) whom need to pull their finger out.

I have always, and still do, see an AFL player in TMac. Might be too late for him to make something at Melbourne, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was rookie-listed by another club and made a career somewhere else.

I've always felt the exact same thing. His 3 AFL games in '09 were promising. I rated him ahead of Cheney, on talent, when he was at the club, and felt like he was wrongly being groomed as a tall defender when he really just wasn't big enough for it. Always was a very smart, disciplined defender; a "team man" a bit like Bartram. But also a good long kick, sound decision maker, strong mark for his size, could sneak forward and kick goals. Pace was a bit questionable, but carried a lot of niggles early on that he seems to be getting over now.

I'm glad he's now being used as more of a midfielder/occassional swingman, because at 190cm he was never going to make it as a FB/CHB at AFL level, not to mention being behind names at the club like Frawley, Garland, Rivers, Warnock, McDonald etc... Learning midfield & flanker roles gives him a chance at least, although he's gonna have to do something special between now and the end of the year to earn interest from Melbourne or another AFL club.

He never got a chance at Melbourne and never will, which is a shame, hopefully someone picks him up next year

I've always felt the exact same thing. His 3 AFL games in '09 were promising. I rated him ahead of Cheney, on talent, when he was at the club, and felt like he was wrongly being groomed as a tall defender when he really just wasn't big enough for it. Always was a very smart, disciplined defender; a "team man" a bit like Bartram. But also a good long kick, sound decision maker, strong mark for his size, could sneak forward and kick goals. Pace was a bit questionable, but carried a lot of niggles early on that he seems to be getting over now.

I'm glad he's now being used as more of a midfielder/occassional swingman, because at 190cm he was never going to make it as a FB/CHB at AFL level, not to mention being behind names at the club like Frawley, Garland, Rivers, Warnock, McDonald etc... Learning midfield & flanker roles gives him a chance at least, although he's gonna have to do something special between now and the end of the year to earn interest from Melbourne or another AFL club.

I would like to see him get a run as a wing / HFF over the next couple of months, even maybe as a sub, just to see whether the very strong performances in his initial 3 games so long ago were a fluke, or true promise. And I am also glad to see that he is no longer regarded as a tall KPP defender, because he isn't! He certainly doesn't shirk any issue like a couple of our more highly rated players do on occasions.

I haven't seen much of him tbh but wonder if part of the reason he was being played as a KPD rather than a midfielder in his first couple of years at the club is related to his fitness and endurance levels?

I'll be totally honest and say I see more in TMac than I do in Maric.

That's hardly a glowing endorsement though is it? Doggo said in the next post that he rated McNamara ahead of Cheney too. The problem is that nobody's said which players he's better than that are actually remotely close to being in the side.

I thought McNamara looked okay in the couple of matches he played for Melbourne, but really he's so far down the pecking order in both the roles he's played (defender and mid) that I can't see how he could possibly make it. He's never been in our best 30 players and I doubt he ever will be. This was my stance last year and it hasn't changed.

Just one of the thousands of players who go through the elite system that just aren't quite good enough.

That's hardly a glowing endorsement though is it? Doggo said in the next post that he rated McNamara ahead of Cheney too. The problem is that nobody's said which players he's better than that are actually remotely close to being in the side.

I thought McNamara looked okay in the couple of matches he played for Melbourne, but really he's so far down the pecking order in both the roles he's played (defender and mid) that I can't see how he could possibly make it. He's never been in our best 30 players and I doubt he ever will be. This was my stance last year and it hasn't changed.

Just one of the thousands of players who go through the elite system that just aren't quite good enough.

No, fair point. However, there are plenty on this site who rate Maric. I don't, which most people know.

I really want to say I see as bright an AFL future for TMac as I do for Bennell. But I don't. Close, though.

I agree, he isn't going to make it here, unless something drastic happens between now and the end of the year (e.g. huge amount of injuries, consistently dominant performances at Casey, neither of which are probable). But I maintain that he can make it at AFL level and if he gets another chance I would not be surprised if he does in fact make it.

No, fair point. However, there are plenty on this site who rate Maric. I don't, which most people know.

I really want to say I see as bright an AFL future for TMac as I do for Bennell. But I don't. Close, though.

I agree, he isn't going to make it here, unless something drastic happens between now and the end of the year (e.g. huge amount of injuries, consistently dominant performances at Casey, neither of which are probable). But I maintain that he can make it at AFL level and if he gets another chance I would not be surprised if he does in fact make it.

He may well do, but I think if he's that far down the 'choices' list for a spot on our in our side, I doubt it would be different anywhere else.

He may well do, but I think if he's that far down the 'choices' list for a spot on our in our side, I doubt it would be different anywhere else.

If he was taken by GWS I can see him starting in their Round 1 side.

At the beginning of the season how was Daniel Nicholson rated, he was a rookie...it is all about opportunity....I actually asked both Dean Bailey and Todd Viney about Tommy Mac, if you ask a question you will be surprised...you actually get an honest answer....T Mac is a rookie, his first two years at the Club he couldn't get a clear run at it because of injuries....they offered him a place on the rookie list and he accepted.

Forward to the start of the season.....he again picked up a slight injury but after discussions Kelly O'Donnell, because we now have some really good tall defenders. suggested to the other coaches that Tommy Mac may make a good midfielder. he has a good footy brain and clean hands.....five or six games in. albeit in the VFL, he is BOG with 31 disposals

The one thing I like about the present FD is they think outside the square with a lot of players......before Roh Bail got injured he was playing a run with role...halfback seemed his natural place........I actually knew this was going to happen because I had asked Josh Mahoney what he thought Roh's future at the club was and he said as a run with...so his pre season was already planned before the end of the last one.....

If Tommy Mac makes it....great, because he is being given every opportunity to do it by the Club...if he makes it at Melbourne even better...

If he was taken by GWS I can see him starting in their Round 1 side.

Wouldn't surprise me either .