The Oscar McDonald Appreciation Thread

[dimmy 1,308]

56 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

100% correct mate, we have some supporters with absolutely no idea.

OMac is never going to gain Brownlow Votes. That is not his role. But he was pretty good again tonight in his role.I would not say their big forwards were dominating tonight so credit is due.

[DeeSpencer 26,496]

Played an ok game but geez you could see him visible start to shrink towards the end there. Second guess himself with attack on the ball and get caught deer in the headlights with it.

A big question I'd have is why did he play 97% of game time, with Lever playing 100% and May 95%.

Surely we rotate these big boys a bit more and make sure they don't tire out come crunch time.

[Demons1858 1,793]

4 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Played an ok game but geez you could see him visible start to shrink towards the end there. Second guess himself with attack on the ball and get caught deer in the headlights with it.

A big question I'd have is why did he play 97% of game time, with Lever playing 100% and May 95%.

Surely we rotate these big boys a bit more and make sure they don't tire out come crunch time.

the old oscar came out towards the end ... was in slow mo ... maybe a rest will help ... good post

[Devil In Disguise 2,278]

He won't be rested. Will be needed against Port's tall forwards.

[Jack Russell 80]

1 hour ago, Elegt said:

Whilst our defence wasn't necessarily poor tonight they were really not at the standard we need them to be to challenge for finals 

Dazzle et all are right we kept them to 53 points which is a premiership formula Harley Kozzie or Weids kick one of those gettables and we win - our defence is not the problem Oscar helps our structure end of story

[Jack Russell 80]

39 minutes ago, Demons1858 said:

the old oscar came out towards the end ... was in slow mo ... maybe a rest will help ... good post

Resting a key defensive player please NFI Oscar has a cruisy running style that is not the problem ...we need our defence playing together Q I have is Nev I’m even worried he’ll get knocked out shortly 

[kallangurdemon 551]

no I also thought Oscar was poor tonight particularly in pressure situations .Seems to just freeze .

[rjay 25,355]

He was fine...bit stiff with holding the ball near the end but that's such a raffle no one including the umpires or AFL have a clue.

[binman 44,717]

58 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Today was Brisbane's second-lowest score for the year, just 1.1 off their lowest (which was when they lost to Geelong).

They scored 7 goals from 42 inside 50s.

They only took 7 marks inside 50 (their season average is 10.5).

And Brisbane is possibly the best side in the comp right now. So if we're doing all that against them (on effectively away territory, given the crowd), then I think our defence is absolutely at the standard we need to challenge for finals.

Once again it was not the opposition bigs that hurt us. It was their smalls and mediums.

We were  statistically even in almost every key stat (though they edged is in clearances). Except ground balls.

I hate to say it but I think jetts might have played his last game of AFL football. Looked slow. Has in the games he has played this year. And gifted Cameron his first because he has lost his confidence getting getting the ground ball.

They had to move Hibberd to him, which meant he couldn't be as offensive.

I like Lockhart back there. Rivers seems the obvious one to come back in but that would be two inexperienced small defenders.

[binman 44,717]

51 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Played an ok game but geez you could see him visible start to shrink towards the end there. Second guess himself with attack on the ball and get caught deer in the headlights with it.

 

Fair dinkum for a generally good poster that is an absolute rubbish paragraph.

Just not true.

 

[spirit of norm smith 16,655]

5 minutes ago, kallangurdemon said:

no I also thought Oscar was poor tonight particularly in pressure situations .Seems to just freeze .

He was okay. Defended as needed. Stays in but you could see him struggle under pressure. Not smart.  Needed to clear the area not pickup the footy when under pressure. 

[Grr-owl 1,258]

We need Oscar in there. Balances the team.

[rjay 25,355]

18 minutes ago, binman said:

Once again it was not the opposition bigs that hurt us. It was their smalls and mediums.

We were  statistically even in almost every key stat (though they edged is in clearances). Except ground balls.

I hate to say it but I think jetts might have played his last game of AFL football. Looked slow. Has in the games he has played this year. And gifted Cameron his first because he has lost his confidence getting getting the ground ball.

They had to move Hibberd to him, which meant he couldn't be as offensive.

I like Lockhart back there. Rivers seems the obvious one to come back in but that would be two inexperienced small defenders.

With Robbie Grey running around that could prove dangerous.

...but Nev is badly out of form/touch/confidence

[DeeSpencer 26,496]

27 minutes ago, binman said:

Fair dinkum for a generally good poster that is an absolute rubbish paragraph.

Just not true.

 

Attempted to break about 3 tackles despite not moving with any force and was caught holding the ball. Lucky not to be caught on the wing when he barged in to a tackle and spat out a tiny handball instead of going around, over or through a tackler.

Gave up prime position to McStay at the last contest, searched for the body when a good run and jump would've seen him first to the ball.

It's all there.

Port Adelaide are an even higher tempo team than Brisbane. The last few weeks have made it clear Oscar can play but 2019 also showed when he's down on form and fitness it's not pretty. All I'm saying is maybe cut him down from 97% game time to 90% and a rest every quarter so that when he's out there he's assertive and not fatiguing. 

[DeeSpencer 26,496]

20 minutes ago, rjay said:

With Robbie Grey running around that could prove dangerous.

...but Nev is badly out of form/touch/confidence

A match winning goal has hidden just how poorly Robbie Gray's been going too, although he might find form quickly. Same for Rozee.

I think Hibbo's been better deeper anyway, then he can pick and choose when to run off. Too much Hibberd with the ball hasn't been a good result this year. 

[rjay 25,355]

Just now, DeeSpencer said:

A match winning goal has hidden just how poorly Robbie Gray's been going too, although he might find form quickly. Same for Rozee.

I think Hibbo's been better deeper anyway, then he can pick and choose when to run off. Too much Hibberd with the ball hasn't been a good result this year. 

He's getting near the end but wouldn't put a kid on him.

Maybe one last shot for Nev, neither could run out of sight on a dark night so maybe a fair match up.

Hibberd as you say could be the answer.

[rjay 25,355]

The structure works better with the extra tall, in this case Oscar down there.

We don't have many other options at the moment with Petty being out for the season.

Tommy or Tomlinson are the only others who could fill a KPD role.

[binman 44,717]

1 minute ago, DeeSpencer said:

Attempted to break about 3 tackles despite not moving with any force and was caught holding the ball. Lucky not to be caught on the wing when he barged in to a tackle and spat out a tiny handball instead of going around, over or through a tackler.

Gave up prime position to McStay at the last contest, searched for the body when a good run and jump would've seen him first to the ball.

It's all there.

Port Adelaide are an even higher tempo team than Brisbane. The last few weeks have made it clear Oscar can play but 2019 also showed when he's down on form and fitness it's not pretty. All I'm saying is maybe cut him down from 97% game time to 90% and a rest every quarter so that when he's out there he's assertive and not fatiguing. 

Sorry ds, still rubbish.

The best you have of evidence of going to water,  a dear in the headlights is a holding the ball, a non holding the ball and being outmarked?

Attempted to break 3 tackles? Not sure which one you mean but if it is the one 40 out he shouldn't have had to grab that ball. Two players before him failed to clear. And there were 8 players around that pack. And he got his first to it.

The othet play you are referring he attacked the ball, cleverly didnt take possession, rightly wasn't pinged and got it out of bounds. Where's problem?

And being outmarked? Sure McCray outmarked him. The only time he did so in the match. By that measure may also went to water being outmarked, one on one by a string been. Twice.

[Dr.D 1,771]

59 minutes ago, rjay said:

He was fine...bit stiff with holding the ball near the end but that's such a raffle no one including the umpires or AFL have a clue.

He should have soccered it off the ground but I don't expect many players to have high footy IQ. Let alone Oscar McDonald 

[DeeSpencer 26,496]

7 minutes ago, binman said:

Sorry ds, still rubbish.

The best you have of evidence of going to water,  a dear in the headlights is a holding the ball, a non holding the ball and being outmarked?

Attempted to break 3 tackles? Not sure which one you mean but if it is the one 40 out he shouldn't have had to grab that ball. Two players before him failed to clear. And there were 8 players around that pack. And he got his first to it.

The othet play you are referring he attacked the ball, cleverly didnt take possession, rightly wasn't pinged and got it out of bounds. Where's problem?

And being outmarked? Sure McCray outmarked him. The only time he did so in the match. By that measure may also went to water being outmarked, one on one by a string been. Twice.

After a very decent game in the last few minutes he looked slow and sluggish and not the confident player he's been the last two weeks. 2 errors and 1 lost opportunity - the piece of play on the wing was a genuine chance to get an intercept possession, give it to a team mate and counter attack. 

I feel like May is similar but different. When he fatigues he goes too gang ho instead of playing it safe, starts flying for big pack marks or going for high risk kicks. Both would benefit in my opinion from being kept fresher so they don't end up losing composure.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 11,024]

2 hours ago, binman said:

I like Lockhart back there. Rivers seems the obvious one to come back in but that would be two inexperienced small defenders.

Rivers seems to play with a pretty mature head on him, so I think it could work.

[Dr.D 1,771]

1 hour ago, binman said:

Sorry ds, still rubbish.

The best you have of evidence of going to water,  a dear in the headlights is a holding the ball, a non holding the ball and being outmarked?

Attempted to break 3 tackles? Not sure which one you mean but if it is the one 40 out he shouldn't have had to grab that ball. Two players before him failed to clear. And there were 8 players around that pack. And he got his first to it.

The othet play you are referring he attacked the ball, cleverly didnt take possession, rightly wasn't pinged and got it out of bounds. Where's problem?

And being outmarked? Sure McCray outmarked him. The only time he did so in the match. By that measure may also went to water being outmarked, one on one by a string been. Twice.

Sorry Binman. I don't agree. McDonald has no real feel for the game. he has no closing speed, he is weak for his size, his foot skills are ok but his decisions are tentative and that's why he is consistently a whipping boy. 

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

5 hours ago, Dr.D said:

Sorry Binman. I don't agree. McDonald has no real feel for the game. he has no closing speed, he is weak for his size, his foot skills are ok but his decisions are tentative and that's why he is consistently a whipping boy. 

Appears to do a good job of negating the more stay at home forward types, even the strong overhead ones, at least for 2.5 to 3 quarters anyway.  Is he still lacking a serious AFL tank?

I'm not as convinced as some when he's asked to play on more athletic mobile types, including at ground level.

Horses for courses at the selection table for mine.

Maybe Marty for those types when he returns and finds fitness and some form.  Oscar for the less athletic stay at home 2nd string options.

[binman 44,717]

8 hours ago, Dr.D said:

Sorry Binman. I don't agree. McDonald has no real feel for the game. he has no closing speed, he is weak for his size, his foot skills are ok but his decisions are tentative and that's why he is consistently a whipping boy. 

He is a whipping boy because so many people simply do not understand modern football.

As an example he is not fast. But his relative lack of speed is often highlighted and exacerbated by the position he plays in our structure.

When the ball is up the ground and in our hands we have a triangle with may, lever and omac as it's points, with omac deep as a sweeper.

If we turn it over - as we so often do - the ball comes in fast to an open opposition forward line (which is incidentally how we concede the majority of out goals).

And if it gets past the final line, that leaves omac to try and scramble to get across to any free player,  making him look reactive and slow.

But he usually gets there which is why he often leads our one percenters.

The real questions should be why did we turn it over and who was supposed to run with the opposition player who has run into space, so often a small.

Langdon has been huge for us in this respect as he is one player who has the tank and speed (and perhaps more importantly the desire) to get back hard defensively. 

And weak? Please. Out marked once by McStray who is a pretty solid fella. If they were concerned about his strength may would have taken him.

Speaking of may, would you call him weak? He got put muscled by hippwood. A player who does not get wet in the shower.

Edited July 26, 2020 by binman

[chook fowler 19,735]

The focus shouldn't be on him for our loss. The midfield were the issue by not connecting with Gawn and turning the ball over through poor execution. He is definitely needed against Port.