Jordie McKenzie

[olisik 4,060]

Should he be in our first 22?

Personally I think he is a nice to have player which should only come in when taggers are needed specifically for superstar mids like Ablett and Cotchin.

No superstar mid = no McKenzie

[rpfc 27,646]

Another one of these 'before a balls kicked' threads...

He needs to work on his kicking and decision making, but as I said a few weeks ago:

WE. DON'T. HAVE. ANY. MIDS. TO. KICK. HIM. OUT. OF. THE. TEAM.

If we didn't gift games to anyone we would forfeit every game.

And Jordie is a hard working tyro with hardness and a great attitude.

[H_T 2,941]

Personally I think he is a nice to have player which should only come in when taggers are needed specifically for superstar mids like Ablett....

For the time being, problem solved. He plays.

[olisik 4,060]

Another one of these 'before a balls kicked' threads...

He needs to work on his kicking and decision making, but as I said a few weeks ago:

WE. DON'T. HAVE. ANY. MIDS. TO. KICK. HIM. OUT. OF. THE. TEAM.

If we didn't gift games to anyone we would forfeit every game.

And Jordie is a hard working tyro with hardness and a great attitude.

Got plenty of fringe mids such as Couch, Evans, Taggart, Magner, Kent who I think will contribute more.

Mckenzies get to the ball 2nd gameplan dosn't do it for me.

[Carrot Top 947]

He's got G&D and that'll do me.

[olisik 4,060]

Another one of these 'before a balls kicked' threads...

He needs to work on his kicking and decision making, but as I said a few weeks ago:

WE. DON'T. HAVE. ANY. MIDS. TO. KICK. HIM. OUT. OF. THE. TEAM.

If we didn't gift games to anyone we would forfeit every game.

And Jordie is a hard working tyro with hardness and a great attitude.

You would prefer no threads?

Hardworking mids do not win u games if they 0 attacking capabilities.

[Sir Why You Little 35,085]

Needed, but must improve kicking....i totally agree there.

Hard work means zero with a turnover.

[stuie 7,374]

Say what you will about his skill level, but he has one thing very few MFC players do... Consistency.

At least with Jordie you KNOW what you're going to get. I'd rather play him for 10 games and get 10 average games with good effort than play someone like Moloney/Morton/Bennell etc for 10 games and get 2 very good games and 8 howlers. Hmmm... wonder if Neeld feels the same seeing those players are gone and Jordie won the coaches award?.....

Edited March 1, 2013 by stuie

[stuie 7,374]

Hardworking mids do not win u games if they 0 attacking capabilities.

Maybe not by themselves, but they do have a massive influence on those around them and the culture of a club, which in turn wins games.

[P-man 13,285]

A great team wouldn't have Jordie anywhere near its best 22, simple. We aren't a great team yet.

[stuie 7,374]

A great team wouldn't have Jordie anywhere near its best 22, simple. We aren't a great team yet.

Not what Adelaide thought when they went after him...

[olisik 4,060]

Not what Adelaide thought when they went after him...

He is a nice to have player, bring him in on specific games to do a role. A role which is not needed in every game. Clean possession is needed in everygame. Taggers who do nothing else are only needed in the occasional game I thinks

[stuie 7,374]

He is a nice to have player, bring him in on specific games to do a role. A role which is not needed in every game. Clean possession is needed in everygame. Taggers who do nothing else are only needed in the occasional game I thinks

I actually think the discussion is more broad than just McKenzie. It may be more about if a tagging role is becoming a thing of the past?

[Deeoldfart 7,828]

If and when Jordie can no longer earn a regular place in our best 22, we will be able to say that our midfield has 'arrived'.

[olisik 4,060]

I actually think the discussion is more broad than just McKenzie. It may be more about if a tagging role is becoming a thing of the past?

When we have a tagger we are instantly behind 1 by 1 attacking player. Center square ball ups can be 3 v 4 or 2v4 (Jamar doesn't help much after the tap).

I can guarantee Mckenzie's opponents have gotten way more center square clearances then he has.

[DeeSpencer 23,523]

If McKenzie is coached properly he can win clearances on good opponents. This thread is largely because of a couple of bad kicks during last weeks games, which aren't actually a bad thing. If Jordie is racking up touches it probably means he's fit and finding the ball. Even as the games progresses last week he learnt his lesson and fired off a nice handball or 2.

[Hannibal 5,814]

The club loves him, but it's diabolical when he has the ball in his hands. A mature body that is presently needed and our best tagger.

The sooner we outgrow him the better. But it won't be in 2013.

[Watts Jurrah Dunn? 735]

When Jamar and McKenzie line up at a centre bounce we are almost 2 players down once the ball hits the deck. Staggering to think they were both signed last year for 3 more seasons.

I don't have him anywhere near my best 22 as he is an extremely limited footballer, but we all know he'll be there. RPFC is right in that there is no one forcing him out of the side yet, and gifting games to kids was what got us in this predicament. Hopefully this new batch of kids are different and the likes of Kent, Tynan and Taggert work hard enough at Casey to force Jordie from the team by season's end.

Also, I'd like to see Nicholson played in a run-with role on the faster midfielders. Will have no problems matching them for speed and endurance. I know he can't kick either but at least he's quick, got good evasion and takes the game on.

[monoccular 16,477]

Surely all will depend on how the other mids develop: he has some positives that others so far have not shown - G&D and tagging ability, but needs to work on his decision making and delivery options.

Time will tell, probably this season.

It would be sad if such a great guy was overtaken, but also good as it would mean that we had put together a really good midfield.

I don't think he fits any other role either.

[stuie 7,374]

When we have a tagger we are instantly behind 1 by 1 attacking player. Center square ball ups can be 3 v 4 or 2v4 (Jamar doesn't help much after the tap).

I can guarantee Mckenzie's opponents have gotten way more center square clearances then he has.

I don't have the patience or time to do it, but would be interesting to go through other teams usual 22 and see how many pure taggers get a game. I would guess it's a fair amount less than 2-3 years ago.

[demonoid 317]

I don't think they put blokes in the leadership group with the intention of playing them in the vfl. If anyone saw his tackling last week and realise he has had his first decent pre season in years would know he is a must

[don cordner 165]

I hate to say this coz I had high hopes for Jordie but I get fustrated when he has the ball coz chances are it will be a turn over, he trys harder than any player in the AFL .... Jordie in your time off mate work on your kicking and u will be a gun..

peace

[Maldonboy38 6,047]

The really good St.Kilda sides of recent years had Baker in their side, who provided very little except tagging, scragging, tackling and stopping. Jordie is a very similar player and I don't want to see Trengove or Toumpas or Jones used in a negating role.

If we have enough speed and talent across the rest of the 22, Jordie is absolutely best 22 as a negative presence.

[old dee 23,081]

Not what Adelaide thought when they went after him...

They can have him for Thompson stuie!

[old dee 23,081]

If and when Jordie can no longer earn a regular place in our best 22, we will be able to say that our midfield has 'arrived'.

That about covers it Deeoldfart