Welcome to Demonland: Xavier Lindsay

[Macca 17,113]

Very neat player with excellent kicking skills (a bit like Craig McRae) 

Gets to contest after contest which makes him a bit of a ball-magnet.  Looks an ideal link player from HB to HF

I'd expect Lindsay to get some games early and then it's a wait and see.  He'll be a player, sooner or later.  Like his fellow draftee, Langford, he looks like he's got a head for football

Interesting that both he and Clayton Oliver both won the Morrish Medal

[fr_ap 2,541]

5 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

It’s not a great sign that we drafted his replacement but if Salo gets through preseason I really hope he’s got more in him. If not I’d actually try to reinvent his role.

I have so few doubts on Bowser. I reckon he was set for a big year before injury last year and early training reports are positive. With the shackles released on the game plan and a fit midfield he should show his smarts and skills.

Bowey is very ordinary 1v1 and can't be trusted to win 1v1 contests in d50. Not enough people talk about this. 

[DeeSpencer 26,266]

Just now, fr_ap said:

Bowey is very ordinary 1v1 and can't be trusted to win 1v1 contests in d50. Not enough people talk about this. 

I disagree, he’s super clever in the air for his size and doesn’t need to win 1 on 1 contests in d 50, he should always have 2-3 defenders behind him. He didn’t give Bailey Smith an inch in the grand final.

[fr_ap 2,541]

Just now, DeeSpencer said:

I disagree, he’s super clever in the air for his size and doesn’t need to win 1 on 1 contests in d 50, he should always have 2-3 defenders behind him. He didn’t give Bailey Smith an inch in the grand final.

This isn't really up for debate - watch some games over the last two years and focus on him specifically. We ship goals to his opponents, and him losing defensive contests is often to blame.

He has attributes - with the ball - ok in the air - but I don't think he'll ever be a natural defender. 

His first year he was playing in an exceptional system and team that was humming...he had Gus covering for him defensively off the wing a lot as well. 

If Nevjet was a small defender you could trust to stop good small forwards, Bowey is not even beginning to enter that conversation 

[Adam The God 30,602]

2 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

This isn't really up for debate - watch some games over the last two years and focus on him specifically. We ship goals to his opponents, and him losing defensive contests is often to blame.

He has attributes - with the ball - ok in the air - but I don't think he'll ever be a natural defender. 

His first year he was playing in an exceptional system and team that was humming...he had Gus covering for him defensively off the wing a lot as well. 

If Nevjet was a small defender you could trust to stop good small forwards, Bowey is not even beginning to enter that conversation 

Nah.

[DeeSpencer 26,266]

1 minute ago, fr_ap said:

This isn't really up for debate - watch some games over the last two years and focus on him specifically. We ship goals to his opponents, and him losing defensive contests is often to blame.

He has attributes - with the ball - ok in the air - but I don't think he'll ever be a natural defender. 

His first year he was playing in an exceptional system and team that was humming...he had Gus covering for him defensively off the wing a lot as well. 

If Nevjet was a small defender you could trust to stop good small forwards, Bowey is not even beginning to enter that conversation 

Last year he clearly was a mile off his best, nasty arm break so couldn’t do weights for months, in to ankle and other stuff. He’s not playing Jetta’s position. We need to find a Hibbo replacement but if Judd can’t stay there it will be Hore, Howes or AMW based on the current list.

Most sides have half back flankers who can’t defend a lick. 

Lindsay has ok height but isn’t much of an aerial player, I’d back Bowey over him to defend most half forwards. But both can be excellent rebounding half backs.

[Sydee 4,632]

18 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Last year he clearly was a mile off his best, nasty arm break so couldn’t do weights for months, in to ankle and other stuff. He’s not playing Jetta’s position. We need to find a Hibbo replacement but if Judd can’t stay there it will be Hore, Howes or AMW based on the current list.

Most sides have half back flankers who can’t defend a lick. 

Lindsay has ok height but isn’t much of an aerial player, I’d back Bowey over him to defend most half forwards. But both can be excellent rebounding half backs.

Lindsay you would think would play more of a Nick Daicos type HBF role where he runs to receive and then deliver with precision to teammates up the field 

Anyone thinking he’s a lock down defender who will win most 1on1 contests might be missing where his skill set is 

[Willmoy1947 4,198]

Looks, plays and runs like Xavier Tanner.

[deespicable me 1,550]

I thought Lindsay is more of an upgrade, especially over time on Billings. Billings was drafted to be that half forward connecter role, to do a lot of inside 50 kicking and improve our forward connection. It had limited success, but I think that is why Lindsay was recruited more than the half back role. He may end up there but he is too slight to play half back for a year or two i would have thought.

[Deemania since 56 6,763]

20 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Wild post. Lindsay’s not particularly a pressure player. AMW hasn’t shown he’s afl standard yet. No mention of Chandler, Kolt and hopefully a healthy Spargo who are our pressure players as well as Windsor who’s a more brilliant chase down tackler.

XL is here to provide run and ball use. I suspect it will be half back but it might be wing or forward. This is demons run and spread footy, not the 21 murder ball. 

Yes, it is a valuable realisation to consider the developing assets that we have in our footballing system; so many aspects of recent selections and subsequent experience, development and game style formation place us well for the near and mid-term advantage. Let us hope that 'system' onfield is not a repetition of 'old' errors, fanciful 'learnings' and static fringe dwellers, as we have seen over the past couple of years. 

[jnrmac 20,271]

12 hours ago, fr_ap said:

This isn't really up for debate - watch some games over the last two years and focus on him specifically. We ship goals to his opponents, and him losing defensive contests is often to blame.

He has attributes - with the ball - ok in the air - but I don't think he'll ever be a natural defender. 

His first year he was playing in an exceptional system and team that was humming...he had Gus covering for him defensively off the wing a lot as well. 

If Nevjet was a small defender you could trust to stop good small forwards, Bowey is not even beginning to enter that conversation 

Oh OK 

 

Case closed.

[rpfc 28,894]

48 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Oh OK 

 

Case closed.

[Gawndog98 364]

For me the player he actually reminds me the most of is Salo (prime Salo) with maybe a bit more penetration in his kicking which would still be a great get.

Think he can have a pretty decent impact next year off half back which was great to see us take 2 ready made players.

[spirit of norm smith 16,615]

http://mfcde.es/3Zf9H2h

i like the connections inside forward 50 !!! 

Edited November 22, 2024 by spirit of norm smith
Go

[Mike 329]

18 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

http://mfcde.es/3Zf9H2h

i like the connections inside forward 50 !!! 

Who needs Houston when we have Xavier.

[djr 1,605]

On 21/11/2024 at 18:08, binman said:

Bonus points for managing to make rhe bombers look silly.

Not sure Essendon were as silly as everyone believes. We traded our F1 and 28, 40, 46, 54 and 65 for that pick and they still picked up their man Kako.

[Axis of Bob 11,898]

12 minutes ago, djr said:

Not sure Essendon were as silly as everyone believes. We traded our F1 and 28, 40, 46, 54 and 65 for that pick and they still picked up their man Kako.

It’s a trade that worked out well for both parties.

They may have received more if they traded it on the night but that would have been taking unnecessary risks based on the hope that they got a marginally better deal. They achieved what they wanted (ie, Kako points, a future first plus throw ins) and didn’t have to take the risk into draft night.

But contrast, Dodoro would have dragged it out and not been able to plan effectively for the draft because of the unknowns going into it, just in case they happened to get a slightly better deal in the night. It’s about winning wars, not battles.

Edited November 22, 2024 by Axis of Bob

[58er 6,809]

On 21/11/2024 at 19:06, Macca said:

Very neat player with excellent kicking skills (a bit like Craig McRae) 

Gets to contest after contest which makes him a bit of a ball-magnet.  Looks an ideal link player from HB to HF

I'd expect Lindsay to get some games early and then it's a wait and see.  He'll be a player, sooner or later.  Like his fellow draftee, Langford, he looks like he's got a head for football

Interesting that both he and Clayton Oliver both won the Morrish Medal

Lindsay will be a more impactful player than McRae who was a very good half forward flanker. XL will be a very strong versatile and exciting connector from half back wing or half forward as well as an outside mid. He might even share the centre position in time with the Duke.

Looks like his disposal is very good and I suspect he is quite tough to beat one in one Irvin the clinches. 

[old55 23,833]

55 minutes ago, Axis of Bob said:

It’s a trade that worked out well for both parties.

They may have received more if they traded it on the night but that would have been taking unnecessary risks based on the hope that they got a marginally better deal. They achieved what they wanted (ie, Kako points, a future first plus throw ins) and didn’t have to take the risk into draft night.

But contrast, Dodoro would have dragged it out and not been able to plan effectively for the draft because of the unknowns going into it, just in case they happened to get a slightly better deal in the night. It’s about winning wars, not battles.

Agree, a Kako bid at 5 was probably a real consideration for us at trade time, ultimately we preferred to go with Langford. If Essendon hadn't made the trade, things could have turned out very differently.

[58er 6,809]

On 21/11/2024 at 19:40, DeeSpencer said:

Last year he clearly was a mile off his best, nasty arm break so couldn’t do weights for months, in to ankle and other stuff. He’s not playing Jetta’s position. We need to find a Hibbo replacement but if Judd can’t stay there it will be Hore, Howes or AMW based on the current list.

Most sides have half back flankers who can’t defend a lick. 

Lindsay has ok height but isn’t much of an aerial player, I’d back Bowey over him to defend most half forwards. But both can be excellent rebounding half backs.

Agree about Hibbo he was so tough but had pace and marking ability. If Howes develops more physically he may graduate to that role or perhaps Disco can go back if we need that  role covered as an emergency in games. 

[rpfc 28,894]

1 hour ago, old55 said:

Agree, a Kako bid at 5 was probably a real consideration for us at trade time, ultimately we preferred to go with Langford. If Essendon hadn't made the trade, things could have turned out very differently.

Yes, counter factuals are just tiresome to debate but if the MFC could have brought in two top 15 talents like Essendon ‘could’ have, had they not done that trade - this place would be abominable.

Just insufferable.

[Pink Freud 378]

I came across a poster on bigfooty who I think also posts here GoodoilBartul who has taken a swipe at Melbourne’s drafting and given it his lowest grade. 

This was partly based on his assessment of XL as follows -

“I'm not a huge fan of the pick at a basic level. He's a very good player bursting from stoppage but I worry about his distribution and ability to stand up in the heat of the contest as an inside mid and think his play as a free-wheeling player is over-rated. Happy to be proven wrong, but the Dees could be left with a mediocre receiver type or an inside mid who is too slight for the role.”

This runs counter to everything I saw of him in the National Championships, his disposal was neat, he attacked the ball strongly, got plenty of contested ball and in the deciding game of the series, there was no sign that he shirked any issues. His first quarter was superb. 

Any thoughts?

[rpfc 28,894]

4 hours ago, Pink Freud said:

I came across a poster on bigfooty who I think also posts here GoodoilBartul who has taken a swipe at Melbourne’s drafting and given it his lowest grade. 

This was partly based on his assessment of XL as follows -

“I'm not a huge fan of the pick at a basic level. He's a very good player bursting from stoppage but I worry about his distribution and ability to stand up in the heat of the contest as an inside mid and think his play as a free-wheeling player is over-rated. Happy to be proven wrong, but the Dees could be left with a mediocre receiver type or an inside mid who is too slight for the role.”

This runs counter to everything I saw of him in the National Championships, his disposal was neat, he attacked the ball strongly, got plenty of contested ball and in the deciding game of the series, there was no sign that he shirked any issues. His first quarter was superb. 

Any thoughts?

Yeeeaaaahhhh. Best to just leave it for a bit.

[adonski 12,903]

4 hours ago, Pink Freud said:

I came across a poster on bigfooty who I think also posts here GoodoilBartul who has taken a swipe at Melbourne’s drafting and given it his lowest grade. 

This was partly based on his assessment of XL as follows -

“I'm not a huge fan of the pick at a basic level. He's a very good player bursting from stoppage but I worry about his distribution and ability to stand up in the heat of the contest as an inside mid and think his play as a free-wheeling player is over-rated. Happy to be proven wrong, but the Dees could be left with a mediocre receiver type or an inside mid who is too slight for the role.”

This runs counter to everything I saw of him in the National Championships, his disposal was neat, he attacked the ball strongly, got plenty of contested ball and in the deciding game of the series, there was no sign that he shirked any issues. His first quarter was superb. 

Any thoughts?

More worried about Jason Taylor's opinion than a draft rating before the players have even played a game

Any criticism surrounding the Lindsay pick reminds me so much of the scepticism surrounding Windsor last year

[MrFreeze 2,037]

32 minutes ago, adonski said:

More worried about Jason Taylor's opinion than a draft rating before the players have even played a game

Any criticism surrounding the Lindsay pick reminds me so much of the scepticism surrounding Windsor last year

It will be interesting to see him develop compared to Travaglia who brings a similar skill set but is probably a bit tougher defensively