On 17/12/2020 at 03:46, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Yeah right on.

Who can ever forgot that nobody Beau Wilkes from St Kilda kicking 5 and 3 goals against us in the same year?

Get Beau on the basis that a player cannot kick 5 goals against you if he's on the same team.

  On 22/12/2020 at 00:20, durango said:

People forget the fact he was asked to play forward because of injuries to Hogan and others in 2017 and still managed to kick 23 goals but 2019 started and he was recovering from injures as well as carrying extra weight, no one predicted 2020 was going to be disaster for Tom.

The MFC changed fitness coaches from Mission to Burgess who had no knowledge that Tom was carrying extra weight that Mission wanted him to carry.

No.

McDonald did s full pre season under Darren Burgess and came even bigger. I'm sorry I know people like to blame Dave Mission for all our past injuries problems but this one is on Burgess. Just remember Burgess had already been appointed in his role at the Dees and started implementing their off season programs by August.

To say that Burgess had no knowledge is an absolute cop out.

 

 

  On 22/12/2020 at 20:05, dazzledavey36 said:

No.

McDonald did s full pre season under Darren Burgess and came even bigger. I'm sorry I know people like to blame Dave Mission for all our past injuries problems but this one is on Burgess. Just remember Burgess had already been appointed in his role at the Dees and started implementing their off season programs by August.

To say that Burgess had no knowledge is an absolute cop out.

 

 

Would Burgess have made the decision though? I would have thought the decision to bulk up was made by the coaching group with Burgess then instructed accordingly.

  On 22/12/2020 at 21:15, Better days ahead said:

Would Burgess have made the decision though? I would have thought the decision to bulk up was made by the coaching group with Burgess then instructed accordingly.

Given Toms' lack of mobility and injuries why the hell would Tom agree to putting on bulk?

beggars belief and really its down to TOM.

  On 22/12/2020 at 21:25, Kent said:

Given Toms' lack of mobility and injuries why the hell would Tom agree to putting on bulk?

beggars belief and really its down to TOM.

Is it? If the FD tell a player to bulk up, can you imagine a non star  player refusing?

  On 22/12/2020 at 23:01, Redleg said:

Is it? If the FD tell a player to bulk up, can you imagine a non star  player refusing?

if he is smart and knows his body of course he would argue against it!

And quite honestly given his  condition and injuries why would they ask him to bulk up ?

It would want to be a very compelling argument  to get agreement form the senior player whose career was at the crossroads.

It’s not unusual for key position forwards to bulk up. I’ve heard commentators advising Weiderman to hit the gym and get bigger. The extra bulk helps when crashing the pack, outbodying opponents or protecting the drop zone.

I think TMac’s problems started with his foot injury. If the foot is ok then he might be able to get back to a reasonable level of performance. Fingers crossed.

  On 22/12/2020 at 23:16, Better days ahead said:

It’s not unusual for key position forwards to bulk up. I’ve heard commentators advising Weiderman to hit the gym and get bigger. The extra bulk helps when crashing the pack, outbodying opponents or protecting the drop zone.

I think TMac’s problems started with his foot injury. If the foot is ok then he might be able to get back to a reasonable level of performance. Fingers crossed.

Yes Crossed here Also

I feel that despite his foot and agility issues we are better off for having Tom on the List, he can provide back up in the back line forward line and ruck and who knows he may have to earn his keep in all three roles going into 2021 and beyond. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if....

if tom is fully recovered from injury

if tom has a good preseason and gets fully fit

if tom can avoid future injury

....then he just might have a very good year. we know his best is very good.

I'm so sick of this McDonald was too big talk. He is slim anyway. he was skinny in 2018 and was slim last year. Does he look in the mirror and see a beast or something. weird

I have gone out on a limb and predicted Tom as the MFC most improved player in 2021.

  On 25/12/2020 at 19:46, CBDees said:

I have gone out on a limb and predicted Tom as the MFC most improved player in 2021.

Wouldn't be hard to improve a lot on what he has produced the last two seasons.

  On 25/12/2020 at 03:27, Dr.D said:

I'm so sick of this McDonald was too big talk. He is slim anyway. he was skinny in 2018 and was slim last year. Does he look in the mirror and see a beast or something. weird

Wrong Dr.

If you couldn't see his bulking up then you are either not looking or maybe a Spec savers apprentice.

Vlearly Tommy has bulked up look at his thighs etc.

I am looking for a renewed Fit and agile player who can play forward back or ruck.

Lets not be stupid an try and play him on a wing  he won't be up to the pace  of our New wingers or Ed .

Good luck Tommy.!

  On 25/12/2020 at 01:46, daisycutter said:

if....

if tom is fully recovered from injury

if tom has a good preseason and gets fully fit

if tom can avoid future injury

....then he just might have a very good year. we know his best is very good.

He’s absolutely recovered and very very fit

Normally I take the time trials with a grain of salt (after all, ANB is currently our best runner), but I think it will be really interesting to see if tmac is back close to the levels he was at a few years ago. That could be a portent of a much improved year. With reduced interchange, I reckon having a player who can play key forward or back, a few minutes in the ruck, and possibly even pinch hit on the wing could give us valuable insurance on match day and more flexibility with team selection. 

He’s better on our list than anyone else’s 

  On 28/12/2020 at 22:32, Roost it far said:

He’s better on our list than anyone else’s 

Not sure that's true considering the price we pay for him. 

  On 28/12/2020 at 21:31, spalding said:

Normally I take the time trials with a grain of salt (after all, ANB is currently our best runner), but I think it will be really interesting to see if tmac is back close to the levels he was at a few years ago. That could be a portent of a much improved year. With reduced interchange, I reckon having a player who can play key forward or back, a few minutes in the ruck, and possibly even pinch hit on the wing could give us valuable insurance on match day and more flexibility with team selection. 

Should the fitness and skills return, this is sound logic - a proven player with an ability to change the course of games in diverse roles - also possessing height, marking capacities and accurate delivery/set shooting - and, he does have a well-grounded knowledge of the rest of the team, team plays in recent years, plus an 'ability to seize the initiative(s) as presented. 

Is Tmac still on the trade table?

  On 29/12/2020 at 06:39, McQueen said:

Is Tmac still on the trade table?

No All trading of players on Club lists is over except for Pre Season recruit or any Mid season recruit in around June.

Too many people are writing Tommy  off and I for  one can't wait for him to ram this back at the perpetrators of hate against him.

If he returns to near 2018 form we will be a finalist and Top4 probably!!

The thing is, his bulk/fitness isn’t his only concern with making it back into the side.

There’s a lot of things stacked against him now - new talls, decision making, skills etc 

  On 29/12/2020 at 06:39, McQueen said:

Is Tmac still on the trade table?

The table was chopped up for firewood.

  On 29/12/2020 at 21:34, Redleg said:

The table was chopped up for firewood.

Ahh!  A fire sale then?