Jones was never a good kick before this season but he shows that by applying yourself and working very hard you can improve. Now he has a beautiful kick on him.

2013 awaits

Lets not rewrite history .

Jnr was a shocker as well in the kicking dept but had the same G&D as Jordy does.

Wasn't a 'shocker' as such but chipped it like a nine iron. Too much ball flight.

From the look of this thread, Jordie is in danger of becoming the new whipping boy. Still, I think Spencer has shown us all that it's possible to improve disposal with a bit of effort. He's been doing much better with his kicking lately, even with his dodgy technique. I'm sure Jordie is working on his kicking skills as well. Maybe they could pair him with Strauss or Watts to work on it?

Don't think so. Just people pointing out his main deficiency. Work ethic and commitment are outstanding.

I'd like to know what you thought about Nathan Jones in 2009.

Jordie does not have the strength to break clear that Jones possesses (or ling) and for those comparing him to Jnr he doesn't have the agility and toe to break clear that Jnr did. When he wins inside possession he doesn't possess the gifts to get himself into some space.

I don't think he will be a whipping boy, most would love him to succeed. At this stage he remains a very limited footballer and possibly the least gifted on the list. It's a credit to his bloody minded determination that he is playing regular senior footy.

A great bloke to have around the club and will probably eke a few more years out of his career.

Edited December 10, 201212 yr by dandeeman

While I agree he needs to develop his kicking skills, he has great great in and under ability and I see him being in our best 22 for a long time to come. It's actually interesting reading some of the comments and they parallel a lot of what Jones had to work on. Nate has incredible tenacity and desire to improve, and I reckon Jordie is of a very similar mold, he should most definitely use Jones as his inspiration for improvement. I can't see him getting to Nathans level but if he continues to negate key players from the opposition and hurt them by gaining possession for the team then he's done his job. Anything after that is a bonus IMO.

You only need to look at how he's won the last 3 coaches award at the B&F to see how highly regarded he is at the club. Remember everything that's been said about Barty? These are the guys that shape club culture.

Edited December 10, 201212 yr by Pates

Jones was never a good kick before this season but he shows that by applying yourself and working very hard you can improve. Now he has a beautiful kick on him.

Jones kicking has always been technically sound, previously he ran himself into trouble often and disposed under pressure or tried attacking kicks that weren't on.

Have been saying this for years. The flaw was a mental one rather than a physical one.

Edited December 10, 201212 yr by dandeeman

Funny as Demon supporters we now get excited about players that give their heart and soul. Admirable trait but AFL requires much more. Extremely limited footballer. Not sure you can have a guy that can only tackle lining up for the centre bounce.

As Craig said a few days ago " anyone can look good at training" ( not about macca )

I will believe he is a good kick when he stops hitting the opposition on the chest in real Games.

Until then he is a solid player with an ordinary kick.

Saying he was fourth in the B&F does not say a lot in a year when we had 1 genuine win and were uncompetitive in 16 games is not saying a lot.

He was fourth best in a team that may have been the worst side the MFC has fielded in half a century.

Finishing fourth at the MFC in 2012 says more about the team than about Macca.

Are you disagreeing with my post, or just chatting away ?

I said he's an ordinary kick under pressure. I said I don't overly rate him due to a lack of class, but the club clearly does. I said that training doesn't replicate the pressure of an AFL match.

What part are you disagreeing with ?

As evidenced by his top 5 placing in the B&F the club love him. I'm not as much of a fan because he lacks class. And when I pick a best 22 the best I can ever do is scrape him on to the bench. However...

I've been to training about 8 times this year and particularly paid attention to McKenzie's kicking. And I've done this because I consider him a horrible kick. Well, he's not a horrible kick at training. Like everyone he does the odd shocker, but in the main they're very good over most distances, are accurate and spin well. I have to say I was more than surprised. But I also appreciate that pressure in a real AFL game exposes people - training doesn't nearly as much. That said, I suspect much of it has to do with confidence, as he can kick well when not under pressure. And that's a start.

I reckon he's an inside mid who will use his hands more than his feet. When I think of McKenzie I think of Daniel Cross. He's got wonderfully clean hands too and I'd like to see him as a ball finding mid rather than a tagger just to see what happened.

He'll be promoted to the leadership group this year and will be one of the first picked each week.

I reckon he's an inside mid who will use his hands more than his feet. When I think of McKenzie I think of Daniel Cross. He's got wonderfully clean hands too and I'd like to see him as a ball finding mid rather than a tagger just to see what happened.

He'll be promoted to the leadership group this year and will be one of the first picked each week.

interesting

Are you disagreeing with my post, or just chatting away ?

I said he's an ordinary kick under pressure. I said I don't overly rate him due to a lack of class, but the club clearly does. I said that training doesn't replicate the pressure of an AFL match.

What part are you disagreeing with ?

I was agreeing with you.

and adding That finishing fourth in the B&F at the MFC in 2012 does not prove a lot

Definatly a Cameron Ling type of player and is rarely beaten when matched against another player. Have a look at his games against Goddard and Judd this year

Goddard - Season low 15 possessions / averaged 24 possessions for 2012

Judd - 21 possessions / averaged 26 in 2012

I can't think of another player who could do the job he does

Edited December 11, 201212 yr by Demon Jack

When ever I do a best 22 I always have mckenzie in it. Not because I want to , but I feel I have to.

Interesting that Macca gets so much stick.

He is 3 times as good as Bail and three times better kick.

God delivers us from Bail.

With this years inclusions he might find it hard to make the 22 on a regular basis.

VFL player at best , dreadful skills and a shocking kick, you have to do more than tackle at AFL level.

Yeah, I tend to agree, turn over merchant, shocking skills and lacks pace.

But I guess having him and Magner pushing blokes for spots all year can only help.

I said he's an ordinary kick under pressure. I said I don't overly rate him due to a lack of class, but the club clearly does. I said that training doesn't replicate the pressure of an AFL match.

It's a great point. I looked at Rohan Bail's promo tape when he was drafted and he was a beautiful kick in the QAFL. I was thinking about that when I watched Clisby's tape.

From the look of this thread, Jordie is in danger of becoming the new whipping boy. Still, I think Spencer has shown us all that it's possible to improve disposal with a bit of effort. He's been doing much better with his kicking lately, even with his dodgy technique. I'm sure Jordie is working on his kicking skills as well. Maybe they could pair him with Strauss or Watts to work on it?

Come at Me!

When Jordie's position is under threat we would have to be having an enormous year and our midfield would be leaps and bounds ahead of where it actually is.

So you can say 'that person is a VFL player' till you are hoarse - we still require around 12 players through our midfield and Jordie would be one of the first picked.

Jones kicking has always been technically sound, previously he ran himself into trouble often and disposed under pressure or tried attacking kicks that weren't on. Have been saying this for years. The flaw was a mental one rather than a physical one.

Sure a lot of it was his decision making, but there is no doubt he is technically a much better kick than he was a few years ago. Jordie can learn how to kick, you can't teach the courage and physicality that he already has in spades and is much more valuable than good kicking skills.

He is definitely one of the reasons I can't wait for next season.

I like the 1%er this guy puts in.

His always trying to smuther the ball and but in the second effete's.

Neelds style of game isn't about good kicking it about being hard at the ball and that's what Jordie puts in week in week

Let not try to make him the new wiping boy now Cale Morton Has left?

IIRC Jordie was heavily courted by Adelaide whilst he was a rookie at MFC and chose to stay a rookie so we could use a spot on the senior list. They must have seen considerable potential in him.

First full preseason (so far). With a big tank his kicking under pressure will improve. Nico, Bail and TMac have big tanks and their kicking makes Jordie's look text book perfect.

ATM he's ahead of most in our midfield.

Interesting that Macca gets so much stick.

He is 3 times as good as Bail and three times better kick.

God delivers us from Bail.

With this years inclusions he might find it hard to make the 22 on a regular basis.

OD, I'm sure you've watched enough games to see why Bail gets a game - the guy just goes hard. Neeld will keep on playing him as a template for the others to follow.

Jack V might hold the 'go hard' torch next year, but for the time being, Jordie, Jones and Bail are it.

OD, I'm sure you've watched enough games to see why Bail gets a game - the guy just goes hard. Neeld will keep on playing him as a template for the others to follow.

Jack V might hold the 'go hard' torch next year, but for the time being, Jordie, Jones and Bail are it.

Not saying you are incorrect it is sad fact that if bail is regular selection in 2013 then

we will have a lot of injuries again or we will be as poor as 2012

He is a poor kick, gets caught with the ball a lot and tackles poorly giving away a lot of free kicks.

his only claim to fame is as you suggest he is hard at it and seems to have a big tank.

IMO he is a B grader with a big tank .

I thought McKenzie was slightly poor in 2012, liked him better in the previous two years. And he has some competition for spots now, but I think he's really hard at it and will be a great inside player as long as he stays there

Not saying you are incorrect it is sad fact that if bail is regular selection in 2013 then

we will have a lot of injuries again or we will be as poor as 2012

He is a poor kick, gets caught with the ball a lot and tackles poorly giving away a lot of free kicks.

his only claim to fame is as you suggest he is hard at it and seems to have a big tank.

IMO he is a B grader with a big tank .

Don't forget he's had some major injuries.

I believe he'll get better with the new regime where there's actually some coaching going on and he'll be a terrific stopper or HFF