13 hours ago, Nicko said:

Just watched the GF replay…again! 😍❤️💙

His work rate was impressive, I missed observing it in the first three replays I watched but wow he worked his bum off in the GF!

Yep he was in the Goal square when Johanneson took his mark

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He'll be 29 next year.

Not sure whether it was his back that resulted in this but his form in the back end of the year dropped significantly. We were just lucky the like of Brown, Fritsch, Pickett were able to stand up and kick goals.

I honestly think that IF Weideman is able to have an injury free pre season and get through the pre season games without any hiccups then he may potentially take McDonald's spot.

But right now it's McDonald's spot to lose.

I’m sure Tmac is still NQR. Throughout the finals he couldn’t get off the ground when trying to mark and lost his agility. All since that back injury. But he did some very important role play. He took a mark on the boundary to start our first charge at goal and lots of bullocking work at contests as well as shepherding that Sparrow goal. 

1 minute ago, John Crow Batty said:

I’m sure Tmac is still NQR. Throughout the finals he couldn’t get off the ground when trying to mark and lost his agility. All since that back injury. But he did some very important role play. He took a mark on the boundary to start our first charge at goal and lots of bullocking work at contests as well as shepherding that Sparrow goal. 

Still did a lot of work off the ball, last week in The GF

The Selfless Team game

TMac will kick goals in 2022

56 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

That says a lot more about the poor culture of Norf than about her. 
She is not your typical WAG, and having met her a couple of times thru mutual friends, I can tell you categorically that she is lovely, generous and kind. She just doesn’t think that football is the be all and end all, and wanted better for Ben and her when they were going thru a very hard time personally. 
Norf were not interested in supporting one of their better players. Too hard basket for a basket case of a club. 

Did not seem too hard for us to accept them in.  We are a family club. A lot of our players have kids and have made Ben feel welcomed and at ease with wanting a work life balance and accepted his family first attitude. That is why we are successful and Norf are wooden spooners. You cannot except players and their partners to be robots that fit into your box neatly. We embrace different personalities and our group is as close as any club out there. 
I am so happy for Ben and his family. He’s an excellent football and a lovely guy who just needed a better environment to rediscover his spark. 

Thank you Jaded(NO MORE!) for explaining this. Let’s hope no more disparaging remarks about a player’s partner where they’re not merited. We won the premiership ffs. Let’s bask a little longer! ❤️💙😁❤️💙

For more about Ben's journey and approach to his family and footy, this is a great listen and echoes what Jaded has described.

Ben and his wife Hester talk about his move to the Dees and are very candid about what they appreciate about the club's culture this year. Plus the impact on family of having players away and achieving success without them - a view we don't hear often. Well worth the listen to understand more about the many facets of a club's culture beyond the players themselves.

I watched all 3 finals again, and Bens influence was huge in all 3 games.

Just his work rate, contest work, and goals at crucial times was a very important cog in our line up.

Edited October 4, 20213 yr by DeeZee

On 10/2/2021 at 8:52 PM, Nicko said:

Just watched the GF replay…again! 😍❤️💙

His work rate was impressive, I missed observing it in the first three replays I watched but wow he worked his bum off in the GF!

Was even defending in the dogs goal square.

On 10/3/2021 at 10:58 AM, John Crow Batty said:

I’m sure Tmac is still NQR. Throughout the finals he couldn’t get off the ground when trying to mark and lost his agility. All since that back injury. But he did some very important role play. He took a mark on the boundary to start our first charge at goal and lots of bullocking work at contests as well as shepherding that Sparrow goal. 

yea seemed to struggle ....looked a lot slower in the gf.

But i do recall despite the fact he was almost moved on this year how important he was in our first 11 games where he dominated most of them in terms of our best fwd,

Looking forward to a fully fit and firing BBB come Round 1 next season.

Kicked 25 goals in half a season, 

Leading scorer will be interesting next season between the forwards; will he beat Fritta next season?

This years stats: Fritsch (59), Pickett (40), McDonald (33), Brown (25)

 

 

On 10/3/2021 at 9:17 AM, Kent said:

so what of TMAc next year?

Was superfluous on GF day

TMc didn’t have a big day but he (like Pickett) played his role, took an opponent and there were numerous little off ball moments which contributed to the greater cause. 
Not everyone has a big stat day every week. 

On 10/3/2021 at 8:34 AM, Jaded No More said:

That says a lot more about the poor culture of Norf than about her. 
She is not your typical WAG, and having met her a couple of times thru mutual friends, I can tell you categorically that she is lovely, generous and kind. She just doesn’t think that football is the be all and end all, and wanted better for Ben and her when they were going thru a very hard time personally. 
Norf were not interested in supporting one of their better players. Too hard basket for a basket case of a club. 

Did not seem too hard for us to accept them in.  We are a family club. A lot of our players have kids and have made Ben feel welcomed and at ease with wanting a work life balance and accepted his family first attitude. That is why we are successful and Norf are wooden spooners. You cannot except players and their partners to be robots that fit into your box neatly. We embrace different personalities and our group is as close as any club out there. 
I am so happy for Ben and his family. He’s an excellent football and a lovely guy who just needed a better environment to rediscover his spark. 

FMI, see also SHAW, Rhyce. 

Edited October 4, 20213 yr by Colin B. Flaubert

On 10/4/2021 at 3:32 PM, roy11 said:

Looking forward to a fully fit and firing BBB come Round 1 next season.

Kicked 25 goals in half a season, 

Leading scorer will be interesting next season between the forwards; will he beat Fritta next season?

This years stats: Fritsch (59), Pickett (40), McDonald (33), Brown (25)

On goals per game:

Fritsch 2.46, Brown 1.92, Pickett 1.60, McDonald 1.43.

Edited October 5, 20213 yr by titan_uranus