Oscar McDonald is one of the least ready AFL key defenders I've ever seen. 

I understand they're getting games into him, but why posters on here would be critical of those that question this decision is beyond belief. 

I'm all for playing young players and always have been, but McDonald is so far off one must question the decision.  That said, we're not playing finals and looking towards the bigger picture, so my care factor isn't huge.

One McDonald is enough to give you an ulcer.  I'm struggling with two. 

  On 05/06/2016 at 09:17, picket fence said:

Understand your rationale BUT he is so SLOW!! As mentioned elsewhere only Glen Giles was slower!!

Are you talking slow off the mark because his draft camp 20m sprints came in at 3.01 sec, which is pretty good

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2598574/rebels-improve-on-times-at-draft-camp/

Or is it endurance speed over the game, because his time trials early in the year were also impressive.

"...with impressive performances coming from the likes of Oscar McDonald, Billy Stretch and Alex Neal-Bullen — all of whom have played 11 games or less for the club and either ran or were close to personal best times."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-youngsters-impress-coaching-staff-after-strong-time-trial-performances/news-story/b4f237069e7044c56fa90e7834a7a4ba

Maybe you are thinking slow to make decisions, which is understandable given he's played only a handful of AFL games.

Like everyone on here (despite what some might think), I don't know if OMac will be a long term player for our club. But for the first time since the Northey era I think this FD know what they are doing.

  On 05/06/2016 at 09:17, picket fence said:

As mentioned elsewhere only Glen Giles was slower!!

Peter ?

Nice avatar Prodee.

  On 05/06/2016 at 07:57, bing181 said:

There's not much wrong with O'Mac that a) improved skills under pressure and b) a bigger body won't fix. 

In the absence of anyone else, happy to see him playing, and I just don't know who people think would or should take his place or who he's keeping out. Dunn is not the answer, as his continual non-selection confirms.

OMac dawdles towards a contest. He has no urgency to kill the ball or keep it from his opponent. That is appalling from a backman.

OMac is becoming the new Jack Watts on DL. Those for and those against. Opinions after opinions none better or more informed than the rest. It's becoming tiresome particularly thinking that this may go for a long time. I agree with Moon, let's leave the judgement call with the FD. He is going to be retained or dropped and if he is dropped there has to be someone better to replace him. And that becomes another argument.

  On 05/06/2016 at 12:50, hemingway said:

OMac is becoming the new Jack Watts on DL. Those for and those against. Opinions after opinions none better or more informed than the rest. It's becoming tiresome particularly thinking that this may go for a long time. I agree with Moon, let's leave the judgement call with the FD. He is going to be retained or dropped and if he is dropped there has to be someone better to replace him. And that becomes another argument.

Thank you, o arbiter of what should be discussed on this forum.

This place would be pretty boring if we all just stopped giving opinions and agreed with the FD.

It's kind of the point.

  On 05/06/2016 at 12:17, jnrmac said:

OMac dawdles towards a contest. He has no urgency to kill the ball or keep it from his opponent. That is appalling from a backman.

I actually noticed this as well a few times on the weekend. Limp open handed spoiling attempts that big forwards just power straight through. Needs to hit those marking contests harder and kill the ball more effectively.

  On 05/06/2016 at 21:22, Undeeterred said:

Thank you, o arbiter of what should be discussed on this forum.

This place would be pretty boring if we all just stopped giving opinions and agreed with the FD.

It's kind of the point.

I like opinion and argument but not endlessly when there is nothing new to add. I suppose I also have some sympathy for Oscar, a first year player trying to do his best and being so heavily criticised. That's all.

I just see the whole thing as one big familiar story.

A few years ago, we had the same problem with our midfield:

Due to the lack of depth, experience and talent etc we were playing guys who simply wouldn't have been playing had circumstances been different. McKenzie, Bail, Nicholson. We know the story.

The same now applies to our backline. It's clear the coaches have lost faith and trust in past regulars in Dunn and Garland. Which leaves us with who? O-McDonald and Frost. Both of whom are miles off the pace. Miles off. 

And it's simply because we have no other options. Our lack of quality KP defensive players is awful.

Will hopefully be addressed by year's end and it won't be a problem next year.

The fact we have Hunt and Wagner as another two really inexperienced backmen also makes life difficult. Tom McDonald's job has also become less simple as he is shouldering a lot of the load and is making bad decisions simply because I reckon he thinks he is the lynchpin and therefore tries to fly for spoils when he doesn't need to go up etc.

It's a shambles back there. Of that, I'm aware.

 

  On 05/06/2016 at 22:44, hemingway said:

I like opinion and argument but not endlessly when there is nothing new to add. I suppose I also have some sympathy for Oscar, a first year player trying to do his best and being so heavily criticised. That's all.

I'll contrast the comments about Hunt with OMac. Hunt makes quite a few errors but is manic in his attack on the ball and the player. We can see what he brings and what the footy dept is trying to do.

With OMac I am not sure what he brings other than height. His attack on the footy and player is not great, his disposal is 'iffy' and he gets outbodied regularly. He lacks urgency and looks quite lost at times down back.

Hunt rarely gets criticised but OMac does. Why do think that is?

OMac is not ready and when combined with Hunt, Wagner and TMac we are leaking goals. He is learning the game but should be doing it at Casey.

 

At the moment Oscar McDonald lacks both the intensity in the contest and the strength to fully contribute at AFL level. He also lacks confidence to go forward with ball in hand, which slows the momentum of our attacks.

I am sure we will get some long-term benefit from Oscar playing in the AFL, but I still think most of his development will be achieved in the weight room and through maturity. Personally I would like to see us maximise our chances of winning every week and this means playing another runner like Grimes or Michie at the moment.

  On 05/06/2016 at 23:45, jnrmac said:

I'll contrast the comments about Hunt with OMac. Hunt makes quite a few errors but is manic in his attack on the ball and the player. We can see what he brings and what the footy dept is trying to do.

With OMac I am not sure what he brings other than height. His attack on the footy and player is not great, his disposal is 'iffy' and he gets outbodied regularly. He lacks urgency and looks quite lost at times down back.

Hunt rarely gets criticised but OMac does. Why do think that is?

OMac is not ready and when combined with Hunt, Wagner and TMac we are leaking goals. He is learning the game but should be doing it at Casey.

 

Fair enough

  On 05/06/2016 at 06:19, titan_uranus said:

 

Grimes is clearly out of favour but has played 98 games and hasn't been a regular in the side for a couple of years now.

 

If Grimes is on 98 games and considering he has been in the best players at Casey every game he has played this year and what he has given the club, I would love to see him get his 100 with us. 

TMac will be going unless he signs for unders, we've got Hurley signed up and he and Milkshake will take young Oscar under their wing and next year we will see a bigger, faster, stronger and better tanned young beast than ever you've seen. 

Goodwin has got this, just relax. And if you can't we have something for that as well.

  On 06/06/2016 at 00:16, deespicable me said:

TMac will be going unless he signs for unders, we've got Hurley signed up and he and Milkshake will take young Oscar under their wing and next year we will see a bigger, faster, stronger and better tanned young beast than ever you've seen. 

Goodwin has got this, just relax. And if you can't we have something for that as well.

errr hello? Have I missed something?

If that is the case maybe TMac has the sads and is playing accordingly....

  On 06/06/2016 at 00:16, deespicable me said:

TMac will be going unless he signs for unders, we've got Hurley signed up and he and Milkshake will take young Oscar under their wing and next year we will see a bigger, faster, stronger and better tanned young beast than ever you've seen. 

Goodwin has got this, just relax. And if you can't we have something for that as well.

Source or dream?

 

 

  On 06/06/2016 at 00:29, stuie said:

Source or dream?

 

Common knowledge

  On 06/06/2016 at 00:55, deespicable me said:

 

Common knowledge fantasy

EFA

Oscar lacks intensity and looks a little timid, but I thought his involvement on the weekend was good. He made a few nice critical spoils and also seems to have cleaned up his disposal a bit.

He is still 2-3 years off holding down that spot, but we need some other good mid sized defenders around him- that will be key to his success. We cannot play Frost and the 2 McDonald boys together as they all are pretty average by foot, and what we are lacking is class and composure down back. I think Oscar needs to work on his strength and speed and also focus on his intensity when the ball is in dispute. If he can tick those boxes he will be a good backman.

 

  On 06/06/2016 at 01:40, SPC98 said:

Oscar lacks intensity and looks a little timid, but I thought his involvement on the weekend was good. He made a few nice critical spoils and also seems to have cleaned up his disposal a bit.

He is still 2-3 years off holding down that spot, but we need some other good mid sized defenders around him- that will be key to his success. We cannot play Frost and the 2 McDonald boys together as they all are pretty average by foot, and what we are lacking is class and composure down back. I think Oscar needs to work on his strength and speed and also focus on his intensity when the ball is in dispute. If he can tick those boxes he will be a good backman.

 

but besides speed, strength, composure, kicking skills, class and intensity he's going pretty well though  

Jks.

  On 06/06/2016 at 03:12, Buzzy said:

but besides speed, strength, composure, kicking skills, class and intensity he's going pretty well though  

Jks.

Every player has areas to improve. I am not saying that he is hopeless, but pointing out that if he wants a long career, these are areas to focus on. I feel he is a better kick than his brother already, but his brother is a better runner and better intercept mark and spoiler. His brother is also more experienced and older. Like all players on our list he needs to develop and being young he has time on his side.

It's funny though how supporters can shift their argument to suit their preferred narrative.

Plenty are backing the club with McDonald's selection and lauding the fact that we're "getting games into him".  If he wasn't being selected and others were complaining that he was languishing at Casey I suspect those same people would be saying that "Casey is the best place for him to be developed rather than being thrown to the wolves".  "How is that going to fast track his development ?"

See, it's easy.  Some people can't lose.

  On 06/06/2016 at 03:24, picket fence said:

Ok I'll make it easy and say, IMO he is not the answer and will not make it. 

There... No 50/50 arguements from me!

Yes, then there's you.

  On 06/06/2016 at 03:25, ProDee said:

Yes, then there's you.