Tim Harrington just said on SEN that when he spoke to Matty he told him if he couldnt do a trade for him then he will be back at the club for pre season training. Tim said Mark had plans for him. I hope he does because Bate is to good a player to be in Casey.

Im sorry I think he is a good player and with his booming left kicks we need him. Maybe a new coach will help him. Lets remember no one really had a good season htis year.

But what role is going to help a 192cm player who is slow, isn't a good decision maker and isn't great in the air. If he plays in the midfield do you really think he has the ability to win clearances and tackle and chase. His best spot is half forward where he uses his high workrate and long kicking. However with the need to imply forward pressure and now we are improving our tall forwards he's down the order of players in that position. To put it simply he wouldn't get a game in Collingwood's structure so what is he going to do for us if we do improve.

But what role is going to help a 192cm player who is slow, isn't a good decision maker and isn't great in the air. If he plays in the midfield do you really think he has the ability to win clearances and tackle and chase. His best spot is half forward where he uses his high workrate and long kicking. However with the need to imply forward pressure and now we are improving our tall forwards he's down the order of players in that position. To put it simply he wouldn't get a game in Collingwood's structure so what is he going to do for us if we do improve.

Will now be a 5th Tall at best, that would suit alot of players being behind Clark,Watts, Jurrah, Martin, Jamar ect might expose a weak defender

Neeld may see something in the guy, did play some good footy 2-3 years ago

Will now be a 5th Tall at best, that would suit alot of players being behind Clark,Watts, Jurrah, Martin, Jamar ect might expose a weak defender

Neeld may see something in the guy, did play some good footy 2-3 years ago

Actually nothing wrong with his last game against Port. 28 possies mainly in midfield. One of our best that day.

Its nearly worth starting a thread about, but Mark Neeld and 2012 will hold alot of surprises.

Players like Bate may be reinvented our game plan will be different, alot of players get that extra preseason which when you have only done 2 is huge.

writing players off like Bate may be a bit (alot) premature when we consider the massive changes which have already occurred this off season, the Grand final was only 2 weeks ago....crazy busy so far

Another is Dunn, was nowhere last year but i remember his finish to 2010, it was epic

Edited October 17, 201113 yr by Jordie_tackles

Actually nothing wrong with his last game against Port. 28 possies mainly in midfield. One of our best that day.

He had a better period at Casey when played through the centre

and we need a redhead in the team.

Lots of players over the years want to leave a club and end up playing well for their existing team.

We will unfortunately have injuries in 2012 we need more than one set of centre line / Forward players, I am happy he is still with the Dees.

Hopefully one of the new coaches we have appointed can spend some time with him working on his kicking and marking technique.

Well, Bate stays.

To be honest, I don't mind having him and Maric around for another year. If only to see what a new coach can get out of them.

I'd be very surprised if Maric is still on our list next year wise one.

Hopefully one of the new coaches we have appointed can spend some time with him working on his kicking and marking technique.

And I'd like to think the new fitness people can work on his body shape. If he can be made trimmer, perhaps he will be more valuable.

Well that's disappointing. Would have liked for us to move him on. Hopefully Neeld has some sort of grand plan, because right now I can't see Bate being even close to in our best 22.

This draft picks lower thatn 30 will be a lottery anyway.

I think our guys would have said that unless its a pick above 30 forget it and I am sure bater will get a new role.

He may look back on this and say he is glad it didn't get done.

In his hands now.

"In his hands now".

Ha, yes totally, It's all in his hands...

Lets see how we juggle the list, from here on in. Interesting.

Pretty disappointed the club couldn't make this happen. Bate is surplus to our needs and hasn't had a fair crack the last year or so. Obviously the new FD sees a role for him but you would have to think he is little more than depth. Still he is a big body who may come in handy protecting some of our younger kids over the next year or two in the midfield.

If Walsh is worth 37 and 68 then Bate is worth more than 39. 90 games to nil, Gee.

If Walsh is worth 37 and 68 then Bate is worth more than 39. 90 games to nil, Gee.

I really think the life of our HFF will get more and more enjoyable. With Clark in to take the best defender, then Watts, Howe, Jurrah all needing talls, I can see Bate on a good day adding a dimension to our game. He will never be a prolific goal kicker or a pack mark, but as a lead up, long raking kicking linkman, there may be a role for him yet.

I would take Bate over Dunn any day.

Good decision not too trade. Bulldogs want him they got too pay or him.

Coaching staff will turn Bater into a valuable player...

We're reportedly still only *just* paying the minimum salary cap and Bate is probably on decent $ so keeping him mightve been a necessity... also, we'll have to delist a few players next year, he may end up being an easy choice. There must be good reasons why they didn't trade him to the Dogs.

Good decision not too trade. Bulldogs want him they got too pay or him.

Coaching staff will turn Bater into a valuable player...

I hope so and then we will all be happy.

If Walsh is worth 37 and 68 then Bate is worth more than 39. 90 games to nil, Gee.

But a player is always given additional value when he has yet to display that he is ordinary at AFL level

Well that's disappointing. Would have liked for us to move him on. Hopefully Neeld has some sort of grand plan, because right now I can't see Bate being even close to in our best 22.

It could be that Neeld wants a reasonable group to pick emergencies from.

I still think we can use his grunt in the clinches, with a solid pre season and regained confidence he could turn it around. However, most of the team is in that boat...

I really think the life of our HFF will get more and more enjoyable. With Clark in to take the best defender, then Watts, Howe, Jurrah all needing talls, I can see Bate on a good day adding a dimension to our game. He will never be a prolific goal kicker or a pack mark, but as a lead up, long raking kicking linkman, there may be a role for him yet.

I would take Bate over Dunn any day.

Correctamundo -Bater obviuosly has a fan in Neeld .

I really think the life of our HFF will get more and more enjoyable. With Clark in to take the best defender, then Watts, Howe, Jurrah all needing talls, I can see Bate on a good day adding a dimension to our game. He will never be a prolific goal kicker or a pack mark, but as a lead up, long raking kicking linkman, there may be a role for him yet.

I would take Bate over Dunn any day.

Yep, & I think it'll be a big year for Bater, Dunn & Morton to find that niche'. Competing with one another for a similar type role. It'll be tough for them.

Keeping Bate means two spots still have to be freed up on the list rather than one to comply with AFL rules. I guess the FD decided Bate was more valuable than the two players who will make way. I'm not sure who is out of contract, but I guess Maric will be one and maybe Joel MacDonald the other. I think Bate is better than both of them...but I also wouldn't have been upset if he'd been traded out.

I have it on authority that Bate was told by Bailey that they considered him better than Watts but that they were going to exclusively choose Watts over him to get games into Jack. New coach means a whole new lease on life for Bater and Im personally glad that he's not going, since I think I get most of my rumours from a guy that claims to know him.

I have it on authority that Bate was told by Bailey that they considered him better than Watts but that they were going to exclusively choose Watts over him to get games into Jack. New coach means a whole new lease on life for Bater and Im personally glad that he's not going, since I think I get most of my rumours from a guy that claims to know him.

No way would Bailey have said that to Bate.

He may have thought it and done it. But there is no way he would have told him.

You have made this up and posted it because it sounds plausible. If you didn't make it up then name your source.

Bater is one of those players that seems to have a few fans outside of the club. Wouldn't surprise me if Neeld has plans to utilise him in potentially a different role.

Bater is one of those players that seems to have a few fans outside of the club. Wouldn't surprise me if Neeld has plans to utilise him in potentially a different role.

Mathew Bate has played some good football for Melbourne I thought he was a bit soft at the contest initially but he is a much harder player now and I reckon he gets a poor go on here.

If he has his confidence up he can play ok but he needs a few games in a row to get in to it and I think the more games he plays the better he performs.