Tom Mac - better year than Frawley

[Soidee 1,496]

First impressions good. Better skills than chipper

[dazzledavey36 49,373]

lol no his skills aint better then chip.. but his desperation and work ethic is there. reeeally needs to work on his kicking though!

[jumbo returns 6,547]

Both guns!!!

Chip has been sensational this year.

Two players who have performed magnificently under massive pressure - wave after wave of inside 50s from opposition teams.

Our back line is developing nicely. Most posters aren't a fan, but I think Dunn adds something.

[Moonshadow 16,411]

Better skills than Chip?!!!

Must be a typo.

[titan_uranus 22,790]

First impressions good. Better skills than chipper

Great thread, and agree with the sentiment, he's been better than Frawley this year.

Terrible post, however. Absolutely no way his skills are better than Frawley's. His skills are worse than almost every other player on our list. He's in the top 5 worst kicks at Melbourne, which has tough competition, and he continually turns it over by hand as well as foot. Sorry, that statement is ridiculous.

Luckily, he's got the art of defending worked out really well. His bodywork is exceptional despite his small frame and he has good pace and leap. Skills will hopefully come, such that he turns into a star defender.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Chip has been playing sore for a while and that's why he didn't play today; he will benefit from a bit of rest.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Great thread, and agree with the sentiment, he's been better than Frawley this year.

Terrible post, however. Absolutely no way his skills are better than Frawley's. His skills are worse than almost every other player on our list. He's in the top 5 worst kicks at Melbourne, which has tough competition, and he continually turns it over by hand as well as foot. Sorry, that statement is ridiculous.

Luckily, he's got the art of defending worked out really well. His bodywork is exceptional despite his small frame and he has good pace and leap. Skills will hopefully come, such that he turns into a star defender.

Or Forward.

[titan_uranus 22,790]

Or Forward.

Really? Don't see why. He's dominating a FB. Let him stay there. Can't see a forward in him as yet. Or ever.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Really? Don't see why. He's dominating a FB. Let him stay there. Can't see a forward in him as yet. Or ever.

We only have one focus up forward, Clark, and we have quite a few who can play down back, Chip Sellar Garland Rivers plus smalls and it wouldn't hurt to rotate him with Garland up forward. both of them can take a mark and have a bit of leg speed.

[DemonWorshipper 296]

Tom has been fantastic this year and has been regularly beating his opponents at FB or CHB. Yes, his skills and decision making are still sub par but one thing that can't be forgotten is that he is still 19 years old!

There is plenty of upside with McDonald, he is going to be a ripper.

Edited August 11, 2012 by DemonWorshipper

[Tassie Devil 28]

T Mac makes his share of mistakes, but that's to be expected from a kid - especially in an ordinary team.

Could be our best CHB since Gary Hardeman. But knowing our luck will be more like Paul Prymke.

[Soidee 1,496]

Don't get me wrong, I am a big chipper fan but his composure this year has been off. And some of you are harsh on Tom...I reckon he will go past chipper.

It took chipper much longer to develop at the same age.

[jurrahcane 70]

His skills are worse than almost every other player on our list. Turnovers are killers

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

has to be said at this stage his disposal makes him a liability. Cannot have any player with those skills in a premiership side.

[The heart beats true 16,486]

has to be said at this stage his disposal makes him a liability. Cannot have any player with those skills in a premiership side.

By the time he plays in our premiership side he'll be one of the best key position players in the comp. He can work on skills but Tom has great aerobic capacity and the ability to take the game on and those aren't things you can teach.

[Moonshadow 16,411]

His skills are worse than almost every other player on our list. Turnovers are killers

Great, insightful post.

Soooooo... I guess your suggestion is trade him or delist him. After all, "turnovers are killers".

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,337]

Can someone tell me who has beaten Frawley this year? I would call beating him kicking 4+ on him?

[jumbo returns 6,547]

Can someone tell me who has beaten Frawley this year? I would call beating him kicking 4+ on him?

I think Pav kicked 5 on him, from memory?

But, let's keep it in perspective - every team this year has about 60-80 inside 50s against us, due to poor pressure from our our midfield.

I think Chip and Tommy will become the best defensive pair in the AFL. There, I've said it!

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

By the time he plays in our premiership side he'll be one of the best key position players in the comp. He can work on skills but Tom has great aerobic capacity and the ability to take the game on and those aren't things you can teach.

true, I noticed today how good his awareness and composure are, there were times when he had the play in 'play-on' mode, and he was looking around to find an option, he never looked sideways or anything but was moving very slowly with no panic, looked like he would get run down but he knew he was fine, can't teach that either, Grimes has that too

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

He is 19 years old. How good is that stat!?

Edited August 11, 2012 by The Song Formerly Known As

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

He has been a damn good player at 19 years old and at pick 53. He plays on some of the best forwards and can dominate a game if his disposal was better. Is he better then chip? Not at this stage but once he works on his disposal and his team mates run and spread for him to make an easy target he will be an all australian

[daisycutter 28,691]

Can someone tell me who has beaten Frawley this year? I would call beating him kicking 4+ on him?

massage it any way you like but Chip has had a very ordinary year by his standards

if you went to games it would be obvious

[PeterJames 46]

His skills are worse than almost every other player on our list. Turnovers are killers

This, tries to do far to much when he simply cannot handball to a player 3 metres away. 6 turnover that have resulted in goals in 2 weeks! Having said that is only young and will hopefully learn/be taught to be better.

[Juicebox 628]

Not quite sure if it's T Macs skills that are poor, but it's his decision making that kills him.

Some players can get the footy, have a good look around, check themselves out on the scoreboard, then casually hit a target lace out. McDonald constantly runs himself into trouble

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,337]

I think Pav kicked 5 on him, from memory?

But, let's keep it in perspective - every team this year has about 60-80 inside 50s against us, due to poor pressure from our our midfield.

I think Chip and Tommy will become the best defensive pair in the AFL. There, I've said it!

Pavlich kicked 4 on him at Etihad from 57 inside 50's. I think its the only time he has lowered his colours and even that could be debated.