Farewell Oscar McDonald

[Slartibartfast 17,598]

2 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

lol, Oscar's performance last night has been blown right out of proportion.

Due to a multitude of factors.

I'll comment on how he must feel and I'm happy for him.

At least it looked like he was playing free of worry. 

You're a fish flapping in the shallows Steve.  You said he wasn't AFL standard.  He is.  You were wrong. 

It's time for you to move on and stop flogging a dead horse.

[NeveroddoreveN 1,034]

16 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

I think we have a very even list of 4 parts. An equal ammount of elite players, average players, young unproven and for want of a better word...plodders. 

Also a few elite players have gotten older and lost pace and skills.

Watching Richmond last night is a complete elite list.

Small forward or two would be excellent.

With Brayshaw having topsy turvy seasons snd Viney injuries, suddenly our glorified midfield looks lacking.

Browns injury is a huge blow because Weid although has shown glimpses has in no way shown signs of being an elite forward.

Trac, Gawn, Oliver, Lever, Salem and Langdon I think are the only players I would call elite.

 

I reckon Salem is much better than your average AFL player but not quite in the elite category as yet.

Watching Saad play in the same position  last night is where Christian should be aiming.

He needs to run and carry, as well as taking on the tough kick inboard a lot more often before coming elite imho.

[chook fowler 19,528]

3 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

I reckon Salem is much better than your average AFL player but not quite in the elite category as yet.

Watching Saad play in the same position  last night is where Christian should be aiming.

He needs to run and carry, as well as taking on the tough kick inboard a lot more often before coming elite imho.

 

3 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

I reckon Salem is much better than your average AFL player but not quite in the elite category as yet.

Watching Saad play in the same position  last night is where Christian should be aiming.

He needs to run and carry, as well as taking on the tough kick inboard a lot more often before coming elite imho.

I don’t think Salem has the pace of Saad.

[NeveroddoreveN 1,034]

Just now, chook fowler said:

 

I don’t think Salem has the pace of Saad.

Agreed he does not have the same pace.  He does have elite kicking skills though but "chooses' to take safer options way too often.  Salem can be so much better and have a much higher impact than what he currently does though.

I have expected Salem to really step up for few years now...imo he just seems complacent and not pushing hard enough to go to the next level/s.   Hopefully this year!

[rjay 25,075]

2 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

Agreed he does not have the same pace.  He does have elite kicking skills though but "chooses' to take safer options way too often.  Salem can be so much better and have a much higher impact than what he currently does though.

I have expected Salem to really step up for few years now...imo he just seems complacent and not pushing hard enough to go to the next level/s.   Hopefully this year!

I think he gets underrated around here and by the so called experts.

He was very good last year.

...but agree he still has another gear.

Should step up further this year and get the recognition he deserves.

[Little Goffy 14,639]

Oscar at Carlton has 'cult hero' written all over him. 

What a birthday.  Not only do you come out and play some of the best football of your life on debut for a new club after being delisted, but you also get your own trivia night question forever by being the first ever 'medical sub'.

Hugely happy for him.

I don't think it was a mistake to delist him and it's not like he is going to kick a goal every quarter for the rest of his career, but he never deserved the whinging hate that was aimed at him and I'm really glad he's made a good start with the nuffies off his back.

 

[Dr.D 1,771]

people that are against the Goodwin bashing are the ones missing the point. It doesn't matter if it's one game or not. That's the best game of footy Oscar McDonald has arguably played. At the very least, it's the best game of football as a forward he has ever played. That can't be argued.  So even if Oscar Mcdonald plays like the Oscar we know, the one thing that can't be argued is that Goodwin didn't have the creativity to put him forward more.  Are we surprised no? Goodwin is a bad coach and will be gone by mid-season, which was a a year too late. 

So what excuses does Goodwin have for not trialling him more forward when he showed so many deficiencies as a backman? None 

 

[Neil Crompton 5,613]

5 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

people that are against the Goodwin bashing are the ones missing the point. It doesn't matter if it's one game or not. That's the best game of footy Oscar McDonald has arguably played. At the very least, it's the best game of football as a forward he has ever played. That can't be argued.  So even if Oscar Mcdonald plays like the Oscar we know, the one thing that can't be argued is that Goodwin didn't have the creativity to put him forward more.  Are we surprised no? Goodwin is a bad coach and will be gone by mid-season, which was a a year too late. 

So what excuses does Goodwin have for not trialling him more forward when he showed so many deficiencies as a backman? None 

 

Time to let it go D - we are all very well aware of your thoughts by now. 

[Dr.D 1,771]

2 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Time to let it go D - we are all very well aware of your thoughts by now. 

I didn't start the topic.

[DeeZee 7,445]

I’m very happy for Oscar, but it doesn’t say much for our brains trust that we never tried him up forward, even at a time when we were desperate for tall marking players.

[old55 23,687]

Yeah I get it, the usual suspects backtracking on their "OMac has no AFL attributes" line and now it's "He was misused by Goodwin"

It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

[Tarax Club 3,953]

15 hours ago, picket fence said:

Time and Space hnmm sounds like Doctor Who

Pleased for Oscar, he has made according to some pundits a spectacular splash in the big pool at the ‘G’. Opening game of season 2021, with  a considerable covid compliant crowd in attendance(?). As would also be expected a sizeable TV viewing audience too.

Did not do a count how often “Oscar” was mentioned by the commentators. In the heat of battle during the 3rd quarter, when the navy blues momentarily, wrested momentum from the tiggers, but would love a ‘tenner’ for each mention.

As perceptively observed by Supermercado this topic has further dichotomised DL posters, into already stridently entrenched for and against camps on matters Oscar. A controversial playing career no doubt, indeed it’s perceived value to the  club, has in its youth waxed and more lately waned here at the Tarax Club.

On threads last year when Oscar’s  selection and consequent performance was at an all time nadir (about the time of Custard’s last stand in Cairns). Debate waged hotly here with the pendulum of opinion swinging strongly towards the ‘delist’ camp. Some wags rather cruelly suggested Oscar was channeling the late, great Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in a Pink Panther movie. 

“Give me 10 men like Clouseau and l could rule the world”

 

That was the yin but how about the yang?

 

After the blues # 39 (as historic first AFL concussion sub), was thrust almost unwittingly, centre stage last night. It could be said Oscar’s subsequent appearance was a bravura homage to the late Peter Sellars as Chauncey Gardner, in his final Oscar nominated performance in the movie Being There.

Some observers have analysed Oscar’s performance and suggested stuff just seemed to happen with the #39 in the vicinity.

Well no Brownlow votes here, but some opportune free kicks appear to have been awarded.

So as astutely noted in the Boxer...

”asking only a workman’s wages

l come only looking for a job

but l get only one offer

a come-on from the blues at princess park”

Finally on last night's performance Blues have only marginally improved incrementally and almost imperceptibly. Beware the Tigers, they're a team to be reckoned with...

Demons... ?

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by Tarax Club
added polish

[Willmoy1947 4,140]

The new "Perc" ........... that's a bit harsh but he don't play for us any more.

[deanox 9,989]

14 hours ago, Farmer said:

Dazzle, they recruited Lever who is terrific if he doesn’t have an opponent. In his great year at Adelaide they played a seven man backline .Just listen to Mick Malthouse on that topic 

We recruited Levee to play with OMac in the Diamond defence / zone defence era pre 666.

The rule change hurt them both by forcing us to play them man on man.

We recruited May to help rebalance.

Omac was not able to adjust up as well as he needed to to keep a spot in the ones, he was let go as part of list management. Could have stayed as back up but we are debating the choice of number 30+ on our list.

Omac trained down back at Carlton and was thrown forward with no preparation after injuries in a practice match. They haven't developed his potential in any way. Maybe a second club or different coach has helped remove psychological shackles he had, but that not to do with Goodwin.

Good luck to him.

[JimmyGadson 3,455]

3 hours ago, Baghdad Bob said:

You're a fish flapping in the shallows Steve.  You said he wasn't AFL standard.  He is.  You were wrong. 

It's time for you to move on and stop flogging a dead horse.

No, actually I never stated that. You and the Oscar fan club keep misquoting me.

I would have said something along the lines of, "there were many times throughout his career where he wasn't playing to the required standard". 

Do you understand the difference? It's not that hard.

Mate, you have the guy as your profile picture. The flapping fish in the shallows is you and your merry-go-round pals who keep bobbing up anytime Oscar performs to the required level. The fact that people are going on about his half of footy last night as if he was the second coming of Carey says more to me about how little clue supporters actually have, being so heavily emotionally invested in an individual.

Go back and look at my posts regarding my thoughts on Oscar and how I thought the club let him down by playing him too often when he wasn't ready as a means of fast tracking development. 

I have nothing to defend. The bloke got delisted at the age of 25. A key position defender who was meant to develop into a really good full back for us! That's what I kept reading over the years from yourself and other unabashed supporters of his.

17 other sides decided not to pick him up as a key position defender after he was delisted. What does that tell you? Carlton gave him a lifeline as a rookie, he comes on as a sub with fresh legs, makes an early impact as a forward by kicking two goals. One from a free kick close to directly in front and supporters lose their minds.

Talk about loss of perspective! Haha.

I would guess that the noise and exaggerated talk regarding his performance last night is simply because  his bar was so low! Nobody, not even Carlton supporters were expecting anything. For years he was completely underwhelming as a key defender for us and ultimately he was delisted before what are the prime years for an AFL footballer. 

Christ my head hurts.

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by JimmyGadson

[John Crow Batty 8,878]

1 hour ago, DeeZee said:

I’m very happy for Oscar, but it doesn’t say much for our brains trust that we never tried him up forward, even at a time when we were desperate for tall marking players.

On the rare occasions when he played up the ground or forward, he got a lot of ball, was very mobile and clean and smart with his disposal. More or less what we saw last night. However the brains trust preferred him to be a prop for opposition forwards to practice their marking on. 

Edited March 19, 2021 by america de cali

[whatwhat say what 22,932]

he was always a 'smart' footballer; he's never been - and won't ever be - a physical footballer

i think it was around 50:50 on demonland as to whether he'd get another go at another club; i think, from memory, i was one who thought he could easily play another three years minimum at afl level

good luck to him

[picket fence 17,495]

50 minutes ago, Tarax Club said:

Pleased for Oscar, he has made according to some pundits a spectacular splash in the big pool at the ‘G’. Opening game of season 2021, with  a considerable covid compliant crowd in attendance(?). As would also be expected a sizeable TV viewing audience too.

Did not do a count how often “Oscar” was mentioned by the commentators. In the heat of battle during the 3rd quarter, when the navy blues momentarily, wrested momentum from the tiggers, but would love a ‘tenner’ for each mention.

As perceptively observed by Supermercado this topic has further dichotomised DL posters, into already stridently entrenched for and against camps on matters Oscar. A controversial playing career no doubt, indeed it’s perceived value to the  club, has in its youth waxed and more lately waned here at the Tarax Club.

On threads last year when Oscar’s  selection and consequent performance was at an all time nadir (about the time of Custard’s last stand in Cairns). Debate waged hotly here with the pendulum of opinion swinging strongly towards the ‘delist’ camp. Some wags rather cruelly suggested Oscar was channeling the late, great Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in a Pink Panther movie. 

“Give me 10 men like Clouseau and l could rule the world”

 

That was the yin but how about the yang?

 

After the blues # 39 (as historic first AFL concussion sub), was thrust almost unwittingly, centre stage last night. It could be said Oscar’s subsequent appearance was a bravura homage to the late Peter Sellars as Chauncey Gardner, in his final Oscar nominated performance in the movie Being There.

Some observers have analysed Oscar’s performance and suggested stuff just seemed to happen with the #39 in the vicinity.

Well no Brownlow votes here, but some opportune free kicks appear to have been awarded.

So as astutely noted in the Boxer...

”asking only a workman’s wages

l come only looking for a job

but l get only one offer

a come-on from the blues at princess park”

Finally on last night's performance Blues have only marginally improved incrementally and almost imperceptibly. Beware the Tigers, they're a team to be reckoned with...

Demons... ?

 

One of the posts of the year. Yep agree I give credit where its due. He was terrific in the last half. Well done Oscar

[58er 6,553]

2 hours ago, chook fowler said:

 

I don’t think Salem has the pace of Saad.

That's stating the obvious chook but Salo would make less errors but have greater distance covered no doubt. 

[58er 6,553]

Just now, 58er said:

That's stating the obvious chook but Salo would make less errors but have greater distance covered no doubt. 

Salo less distance covered by a fair way. 

[58er 6,553]

3 hours ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

I reckon Salem is much better than your average AFL player but not quite in the elite category as yet.

Watching Saad play in the same position  last night is where Christian should be aiming.

He needs to run and carry, as well as taking on the tough kick inboard a lot more often before coming elite imho.

Was much more positive in last 4/5 games in 2020. Hope he starts the same way in 2021 

[58er 6,553]

5 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

he was always a 'smart' footballer; he's never been - and won't ever be - a physical footballer

i think it was around 50:50 on demonland as to whether he'd get another go at another club; i think, from memory, i was one who thought he could easily play another three years minimum at afl level

good luck to him

And the rest !! 

[Lord Nev 13,512]

16 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

No, actually I never stated that. You and the Oscar fan club keep misquoting me.

To be fair....

On 7/2/2019 at 2:54 PM, stevethemanjordan said:

Oscar at present, isn't up to AFL standard and he's in his fifth year.

 

[JimmyGadson 3,455]

4 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

To be fair....

 

Yeh, Oscar at present (2019). During that season. Wasn't performing to the standard. 

We had nobody to replace him?

A year later we get May and then Oscar is delisted. 

If you're arguing ridiculous semantics, perhaps the semantics that Binman likes. Things like, 'the fact that he's an AFL listed player means that he's AFL standard' then I'm not biting.

We all know players are given opportunities on lists. And many of them do not perform. To the standard. 

[Wells 11 5,422]

3 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

I think we have a very even list of 4 parts. An equal ammount of elite players, average players, young unproven and for want of a better word...plodders. 

Also a few elite players have gotten older and lost pace and skills.

Watching Richmond last night is a complete elite list.

Small forward or two would be excellent.

With Brayshaw having topsy turvy seasons snd Viney injuries, suddenly our glorified midfield looks lacking.

Browns injury is a huge blow because Weid although has shown glimpses has in no way shown signs of being an elite forward.

Trac, Gawn, Oliver, Lever, Salem and Langdon I think are the only players I would call elite.

 

yes agreed, but sub May in fr Salem.