2020 Player Reviews: #28 Oscar McDonald

The tall key defender struggled to maintain consistency and was in and out of the side. His position on the club list was in question at year’s end.

Date of Birth: 18 March 1996

Height: 196cm

Weight: 100kg

Games MFC 2020: 7

Career Total: 81

Goals MFC 2020: 0

Career Total:  1

I feel a bit sorry for Oscar he has played 81 games in mostly developing sides but I am not sure that he is in our top 22-26 players now.

Good luck Oscar what ever pans out for you..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need either he or Tom in case either of our key backs fall over

It is absolutely laughable to think that once Goodwin and Mahoney push Oscar out, May (29 shortly, and never played more than 19 games in a season) will be the only genuine key defender on the list. Smith and Hore are undersized, Tomlinson is an oversized wingman and Lever plays well below his weight. None of these is capable of matching up on Hawkins / Cameron or Kennedy / Darling.

Yes, Oscar has his flaws, but to me these mostly relate to lack of confidence. Surely the coaches can get around him and build him up, rather than dropping him every second game.

As an aside, we made it to a preliminary final with Frost & Oscar in the key defensive roles. Two years later, Frost is gone, Oscar seemingly likewise, and we haven't played finals since even after splashing out $1.4M/yr on Lever & May.

 

3 hours ago, DeeZone said:

I feel a bit sorry for Oscar he has played 81 games in mostly developing sides but I am not sure that he is in our top 22-26 players now.

Good luck Oscar what ever pans out for you..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was just  thinking the same only the other day. Not given much of a go and now that Lever and May had found good form Oscar wasn't given enough time for the 3 to work together. I still think he could play a role.

He certainly is out of favour if Joel gets a contract. I am scratching my head on that one. 

I'd assume Oscar is heading out more because of difference in financial expectations. 

At 24 years old with 81 games under his belt, there is a spot on a list for him. 

But being 3rd in line at the MFC isnt great when a) a lot of cap space is going to one and two, and b) we have semi capable other options in Petty, Hore and Smith (even if I dont rate him) that are possibly cheaper for the reserve role.

I'd be very surprised if he doesnt play 10 games next year somewhere.

i think he'll be picked up as a dfa by another club

he could easily play another 80-100 games at afl level; he's not old, he's not terribly skilled, and he clearly has his head screwed on right

i did love the synchronicity of the brothers being picked up by the same club using the same draft pick and both of them being whipping boys in a backline that was - for the most part - under constant strain due to the inadequacies of those further afield

On 11/4/2020 at 12:44 PM, stinga said:

We need either he or Tom in case either of our key backs fall over

no we dont. Oscar isnt afl standard.  never has been

9 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

no we dont. Oscar isnt afl standard.  never has been

I always get confused by this type of statement. 

There are 18 teams, so a minimum of 396 players are by definition AFL standard. Assuming "AFL Standard" alao includes at least some of the reserve players who are in the teams in each week due to injury then there are say 450 AFL Standard players in the comp.

Do you mean "a player who would make the best 22 of a top 4 club"? Because even that would depend on list need.

How do you judge that?

Dissapointing season from a sub AFL standard player. Good luck to Oscar for the future and thanks for your contribution but it definetly won't be at the dees.

5 hours ago, deanox said:

I always get confused by this type of statement. 

There are 18 teams, so a minimum of 396 players are by definition AFL standard. Assuming "AFL Standard" alao includes at least some of the reserve players who are in the teams in each week due to injury then there are say 450 AFL Standard players in the comp.

Do you mean "a player who would make the best 22 of a top 4 club"? Because even that would depend on list need.

How do you judge that?

Just to explain further here because of @DeeZones shocked face: OMac has played over 80 games putting him in the top 15% of most games ever played for the MFC. So is the arguement that only 1 in 5 playeras who have pulled on the guernsey are AFL Standard? And if so how do you define AFL Standard, if it isn't defined as someone who played more AFL games than most players who ever get drafted?

Edited November 7, 20204 yr by deanox

13 hours ago, deanox said:

I always get confused by this type of statement. 

There are 18 teams, so a minimum of 396 players are by definition AFL standard. Assuming "AFL Standard" alao includes at least some of the reserve players who are in the teams in each week due to injury then there are say 450 AFL Standard players in the comp.

Do you mean "a player who would make the best 22 of a top 4 club"? Because even that would depend on list need.

How do you judge that?

That's correct. I think Oscar is borderline vfl, potentially even vfl reserves. That's just my opinion. Ive thought this for a long time and haven't waivered from my opinion. And i could name a dozen other players in country leagues that would be better.

I think the fact that he's played 80 odd games is quite embarassing. And i'd much prefer a guy to make mistakes having a crack (ala Frost) than a guy making mistakes because he is indecisive and timid. 

 

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

That's correct. I think Oscar is borderline vfl, potentially even vfl reserves. That's just my opinion. Ive thought this for a long time and haven't waivered from my opinion. And i could name a dozen other players in country leagues that would be better.

I think the fact that he's played 80 odd games is quite embarassing. And i'd much prefer a guy to make mistakes having a crack (ala Frost) than a guy making mistakes because he is indecisive and timid. 

 

If your opinion is that you think the majority of the 400+ players are AFL Standard but there are a few across the league like OMac who genuinely aren't, I can understand your position.

However I do think it gets thrown around more often than that as an insult rather then as a meaningful commentary.  ANB, OMac, Tomlinson, Hunt are 4 on our list with 80+ games played that I think people say that about. Spargo, Smith, Weid, Lockhart are others who are developing and playing regular AFL football that peoppe say it about. That's nearly a quarter of our list and probably 5-6 out of our 22 each week

I think its fair to say that players who play a bunch of games but never cement a spot probably werent up to the standard (which could be any of the second group) but the first gave consistently been AFL players for 3-6 years.

 

 

FWIW though I disagree with your assessment of his faults, Wakefield vs Frost. If anything his strength is reading the play and knowing when to leave his player to get to another contest, so I dont underatand timid. He is definitely cautious with ball in hand, but as a KPD his job isnt to launch attacks. I'd prefer a guy who plays a role within his limitations and gets the best out of himself and improves his teammates then a guy who refuses to follow team rules, doesnt understand his limitations and keeps turning it over to the detriment of his team.

Frost might look exciting and OMac look boring, but one was more effective in their time at the MFC.

2 hours ago, deanox said:

If your opinion is that you think the majority of the 400+ players are AFL Standard but there are a few across the league like OMac who genuinely aren't, I can understand your position.

However I do think it gets thrown around more often than that as an insult rather then as a meaningful commentary.  ANB, OMac, Tomlinson, Hunt are 4 on our list with 80+ games played that I think people say that about. Spargo, Smith, Weid, Lockhart are others who are developing and playing regular AFL football that peoppe say it about. That's nearly a quarter of our list and probably 5-6 out of our 22 each week

I think its fair to say that players who play a bunch of games but never cement a spot probably werent up to the standard (which could be any of the second group) but the first gave consistently been AFL players for 3-6 years.

 

 

FWIW though I disagree with your assessment of his faults, Wakefield vs Frost. If anything his strength is reading the play and knowing when to leave his player to get to another contest, so I dont underatand timid. He is definitely cautious with ball in hand, but as a KPD his job isnt to launch attacks. I'd prefer a guy who plays a role within his limitations and gets the best out of himself and improves his teammates then a guy who refuses to follow team rules, doesnt understand his limitations and keeps turning it over to the detriment of his team.

Frost might look exciting and OMac look boring, but one was more effective in their time at the MFC.

if you think OMac was better than Frost then that probably sums it all up. 

 

23 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

if you think OMac was better than Frost then that probably sums it all up. 

 

I said more effective, not better. Frost definitely had a higher personal ceiling. But OMac plays his role in the team system much better. So even if Frost is a 20% better footballer than OMac, the team was a better team with OMac.

Edited November 8, 20204 yr by deanox

18 hours ago, deanox said:

I always get confused by this type of statement. 

There are 18 teams, so a minimum of 396 players are by definition AFL standard. Assuming "AFL Standard" alao includes at least some of the reserve players who are in the teams in each week due to injury then there are say 450 AFL Standard players in the comp.

Do you mean "a player who would make the best 22 of a top 4 club"? Because even that would depend on list need.

How do you judge that?

Hope this solves your confusion.

Oscar is the slowest over any distance from 1-100m at our club except for Preuss on a bad day. He's quite capable over distances beyond 500m because he does have natural endurance, but that's not really useful when you are an AFL defender and required to keep up with your opponent on the lead.

1 hour ago, Deespicable said:

Hope this solves your confusion.

Oscar is the slowest over any distance from 1-100m at our club except for Preuss on a bad day. He's quite capable over distances beyond 500m because he does have natural endurance, but that's not really useful when you are an AFL defender and required to keep up with your opponent on the lead.

He is one of the tallest guys in the squad so it's likely he is down the order somewhere. Someone needs to be second last. 

He is also reasonably quick at reading the play so rarely gets caught out of position when he leaves his man to impact another contest.

But, I'll take your point. If you can show me a clip where we concede a goal because he runs 100 m too slow, this might have some relevance. However I'm sure while you are looking you'll find tons of clips of Frost running really fast and watch the ball coming back over his head for a goal.

Maybe realising that will solve your confusion?

 

 

FWIW I agree Oscar isnt good on the lead. And Frost is (if he stays where he should). But if we are trying to defend leads, then we have already failed in our zone defence. It's secondary at Melbourne.

 

Edited November 8, 20204 yr by deanox

12 hours ago, Dr.D said:

I think the fact that he's played 80 odd games is quite embarassing

It's embarrassing to you. Someone who has played 80 AFL games is, by definition, AFL standard.

Confirmation bias on stilts.

4 hours ago, bing181 said:

It's embarrassing to you. Someone who has played 80 AFL games is, by definition, AFL standard.

Confirmation bias on stilts.

Right. So a guy who is a key position player, is in the prime of his career, after we've spent years developing him, is in a team with few genuine key defender options yet is delisted.

That my friend is not afl standard. 

17 hours ago, deanox said:

If your opinion is that you think the majority of the 400+ players are AFL Standard but there are a few across the league like OMac who genuinely aren't, I can understand your position.

However I do think it gets thrown around more often than that as an insult rather then as a meaningful commentary.  ANB, OMac, Tomlinson, Hunt are 4 on our list with 80+ games played that I think people say that about. Spargo, Smith, Weid, Lockhart are others who are developing and playing regular AFL football that peoppe say it about. That's nearly a quarter of our list and probably 5-6 out of our 22 each week

I think its fair to say that players who play a bunch of games but never cement a spot probably werent up to the standard (which could be any of the second group) but the first gave consistently been AFL players for 3-6 years.

 

 

FWIW though I disagree with your assessment of his faults, Wakefield vs Frost. If anything his strength is reading the play and knowing when to leave his player to get to another contest, so I dont underatand timid. He is definitely cautious with ball in hand, but as a KPD his job isnt to launch attacks. I'd prefer a guy who plays a role within his limitations and gets the best out of himself and improves his teammates then a guy who refuses to follow team rules, doesnt understand his limitations and keeps turning it over to the detriment of his team.

Frost might look exciting and OMac look boring, but one was more effective in their time at the MFC.

Oscar has ever been a turnover merchant like Tom was in defence.

Oscar lacks confidence strength and nimbleness to compete one on one.

Thsts why he looks poor as he is mostly in the last line vs another player.

Personally I would keep Tom snd hope He thins down snd Recovers fitness and can play Ruck forward or Back.

Oscar  At  best a Rookie fir one year emergency depth if we don't get a trade. 

19 hours ago, Dr.D said:

That's correct. I think Oscar is borderline vfl, potentially even vfl reserves. That's just my opinion. Ive thought this for a long time and haven't waivered from my opinion. And i could name a dozen other players in country leagues that would be better.

I think the fact that he's played 80 odd games is quite embarassing. And i'd much prefer a guy to make mistakes having a crack (ala Frost) than a guy making mistakes because he is indecisive and timid. 

 

Please do. It’s easy to throw rocks from the boundary line, but put your balls on the line and make some calls. It’ll be interesting to revisit your rubbish 2 years from now

23 hours ago, Dr.D said:

That's correct. I think Oscar is borderline vfl, potentially even vfl reserves. That's just my opinion. Ive thought this for a long time and haven't waivered from my opinion. And i could name a dozen other players in country leagues that would be better.

I think the fact that he's played 80 odd games is quite embarassing. And i'd much prefer a guy to make mistakes having a crack (ala Frost) than a guy making mistakes because he is indecisive and timid. 

 

If you're so certain then you can join @Elegt, who "guarantees" OMac won't be on an AFL list next year, and buy a membership at the AFL club he's playing at in 2021.

4 hours ago, 58er said:

Oscar has ever been a turnover merchant like Tom was in defence.

Oscar lacks confidence strength and nimbleness to compete one on one.

Thsts why he looks poor as he is mostly in the last line vs another player.

Personally I would keep Tom snd hope He thins down snd Recovers fitness and can play Ruck forward or Back.

Oscar  At  best a Rookie fir one year emergency depth if we don't get a trade. 

From 2016-2019 Oscar recorded "disposal efficiencies" and "kick efficiencies" between 75-80% for all 4 years. This year he dropped a bit to 64-69%.

Hardly a turnover merchant.

Career average comparisons. 

Vs Darcy Moore, Omac has more disposals, better disposal efficiency, more intercept possessions, less turnovers.

That is a small sample size that means nothing on a true comparison basis, but it does enough to show that OMac is AFL Standard.

He may not be elite. He may be out of favour at Melbourne (with May and Lever entrenched, Omac has got close to his ceiling while Hore, Petty and Smith are still developing). He may not even get another go somewhere else. But that doesn't mean he hasn't been AFL Standard, particularly during 2016-2018 where his numbers were very good.

Also note the change to 666 at the end of 2018 that coincided with his loss of form...

On 11/9/2020 at 7:52 AM, Pollyanna said:

If you're so certain then you can join @Elegt, who "guarantees" OMac won't be on an AFL list next year, and buy a membership at the AFL club he's playing at in 2021.

he won't be on an AFL list, to think he will be is extremly naive