What do you guys think Neeld has in store for Bate as far as a role in the side goes? Im flummoxed that the club hung on to him (thought 39 was fair) , which has me curious as to what Neeld has in mind.

What do you guys think Neeld has in store for Bate as far as a role in the side goes? Im flummoxed that the club hung on to him (thought 39 was fair) , which has me curious as to what Neeld has in mind.

I believe Neeld plans to use Bater as a hard leading forward flanker - left side of course.

This way Bate could bomb it forward side of the wing - into Clark.

Expect to see Bate leading further up the ground next year.

I know that Bate sees himself as a midfielder, but he has to let go of that as I believe

he doesnt work hard enough and lacks the mongrel that is needed to play in our midfield.

I dont rate Bate, but only due to his lack of work ethic and Im critical of Bate moreso than others,

because I believe he does have the talent - but mentally he is probably a bit soft.

Hopefully he can turn this around because the bloke can play.

I believe Neeld plans to use Bater as a hard leading forward flanker - left side of course.

This way Bate could bomb it forward side of the wing - into Clark.

Expect to see Bate leading further up the ground next year.

I know that Bate sees himself as a midfielder, but he has to let go of that as I believe

he doesnt work hard enough and lacks the mongrel that is needed to play in our midfield.

I dont rate Bate, but only due to his lack of work ethic and Im critical of Bate moreso than others,

because I believe he does have the talent - but mentally he is probably a bit soft.

Bate has got an uphill battle but it isn't because of a bad work ethic.

I think that we should give up on this leading flanker nonsense and leave that to Howe, Watts, and Green. Bate is a liability defensively in the press and, oddly enough, I believe the midfield can hide those deficiencies in the same way Ling has been able to carve a fantastic career on slow wheels and poor agility in the guts.

Plus we have a dearth of big bodies in the midfield in 2012 so he has a chance.

Bate has terrific work ethic. I reckon last year he was a classic case of a player whose confidence was smashed, was played in the wrong position and played accordingly. With confidence he played well, albeit a lower level, at Casey.

At the start of last season i could not believe how much weight (muscle) he had put on in his legs and bum. I reckon they were trying to build him up to be more of KP type. But it made him even slower and in any case he's not tall enough for a KP. He was always at his best leading out out hard and running back.

My take is Misson will be charged with slimming him down, making him more of a runner. If this is achieved he has a big chance of at least rotating through the midfield. It also may alow him to be a good sub player - capabable of playing in the midfield if required, up forward and at pinch of the half back flank.

Edited October 18, 201114 yr by binman

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/national-draft-looming-small-for-most-clubs-20111018-1lyr3.html

I think this article could explain a lot, particularly "Clubs are holding out until next year's draft, with many promoting rookies and making minimal delistings, with the 2012 draft crop already considered highly talented and of great depth."

I don't think people are thinking laterally.

http://www.theage.co...1018-1lyr3.html

I think this article could explain a lot, particularly "Clubs are holding out until next year's draft, with many promoting rookies and making minimal delistings, with the 2012 draft crop already considered highly talented and of great depth."

I don't think people are thinking laterally.

Yes, we are trying to push some deletions until next year.

But let's not be so cynical when we are talking about the career of a young man.

If you are on the list, you have the chance to do a Garland or a Martin.