Whispering_Jack

The title of the thread has been changed back to The Mac Andrew Thread because it’s only fitting that he should get the recognition he deserves. There have been differing views as to how he measures up in the draft scheme of things, much of it based on how he performed in the Under 19 challenge match between Vic Metro and Vic Country earlier this month. Here’s vision from the game now released by the AFL:- https://www.afl.com.au/video/651642/u19-challenge-match-vic-metro-v-vic-country?videoId=651642&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1627002802001

The great Cal Twomey now has him in the top 10. Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' July ranking

Anyone heard about this bloke before this?

I’m down to do this week’s match preview but haven’t started it yet. Spoiler: There’s every chance it will be late. In the meantime, does anyone have a line on our form at TBC?

They played lots of games together in the early part of their careers but then John Townsend injured a knee in 1966 and missed the best part of that and the next season. Then it was Emselle’s turn and he played 1 game in 1968 and another 2 in 1969 when he was mainly in the reserves - he won the Gardiner Medal for b & f in that competition that year.

Stand up Melbourne and show us what you’re really made of after some inexplicable lapses against the supposedly weaker sides. It’s unacceptable to give up a 26 point lead against the second bottom team.

Not so fast - nobody has drafted Mac Andrew yet and there are four months to go to the National Draft. Someone has to risk a top 20 pick to get him and, as far as I'm concerned, there’s still a disconnect between the swooning in some quarters over him and the limited evidence of consistent performances that would put him in the top 10 or 15 as claimed. This is what we know - After some good form in the opening two NAB League games, his form dropped and then he was concussed in the first 5 minutes of a game on 20 June and missed a few weeks as a result. In the meantime, there was that 9 possession game with low hit out and marking numbers for the Academy team v Geelong in late April with the majority of the stats accumulated in the last quarter in a team beaten by over 100 points. The vision is available and it's not spectacular. His only other game since was the 2021 U19 Challenge where he represented Vic Country and received mixed reports. Not everyone is on board over Mac at this stage - he still has to prove himself. The lockdown isn't helping his cause.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNXIYBStPfA

I have a grandson aged 15 in one of the Saints' academies. Next game up if it happens (depends on lifting the lockdown) is against a Demons NGA team. Already feeling a conflict of interest.

I don’t know how the bloke (Nash) who was left out because he was put in isolation would have gone but his replacement Cousins played a very good game. Covid19 costing us again.

I watched the replay of the last three minutes over again and it was horrific. Just needed some steadiness and smart football and we had all of the opportunities in the world to save the game and wasted the lot.

They persecuted us for years on end. They beat us up, mocked us and kicked us in the teeth when we were down. Let’s show them how to win in style …

ESPN’s Chris Doerre (Knightmare) says Mac Andrew is the real thing ~ AFL Draft Weekly Wrap: NGA prospect Mac Andrew stands out for Vic Country, launches into first round contention

The VFL is a complete sham of a farce. It’s not their fault but Southport is currently in second place with nine games for eight wins. That sounds like a fantastic record in any competition and the Sharks could not have done much more to get into that position. But ... They were drawn to play the lowly Northern Bullants this week in what I considered a danger game for them. Why? The Bullants have won a few games of late and are playing with great spirit and look at who Southport have played to date - Round 1 Carlton (14th) win by 1 point Round 2 Apsley (21st) win by 14 points Round 3 UWS Giants (8th) lose by 30 points Round 4 North Melbourne (18th) win by 107 points Round 5 Apsley (21st) win by 109 points Round 6 Gold Coast (15th) win by 83 points Round 7 Northern Bullants (17th) postponed Round 8 Sydney Swans (19th) win by 15 points Round 9 Bye Round 10 Brisbane Lions (16th) win by 107 points Round 11 Gold Coast (15th) postponed Round 12 Bye Round 13 Brisbane Lions (16th) win by 109 points Round 14 Northern Bullants (17th) postponed/bye To come Werribee (10th), Coburg (13th) Frankston (6th) and (for the third time this year) ... Brisbane Lions who they’ve beaten twice by more than 100 points. This needs no further comment.

I love puzzles with a bit of a twist. ?

1. Can we assume that one of the wingmen is an appendage? 2. Does this have anything to do with the author, Charles [censored]ens?

I believe the Casey v Box Hill game will be shown on 7.

Sunday as per the tag.

Titus’ books are classic. Highly recommended.

I have no problem with him being picked by another club. Quite frankly, he would have to improve a lot in my view to get to top 10 as Neitz the Great is suggesting and even if he did that, I couldn’t imagine Melbourne giving up the number of draft points needed to match a bid under the old rules given that we have Max Gawn and Luke Jackson in the #1 and 2 ruck positions at the club. The point I’m making is that a number of clubs used the mid season draft to pick up ruck prospects, a few of who I rank more highly than Mac Andrew. Let’s see how it pans out.

The book already commands pride of place on my bookshelf (although I haven’t read it yet because I’m finishing “The Boys Club”). Every Demon fan should go out and buy the book to have on hand for our next hurrah come September. After that, it’s the Nobel Prize for Literature!

Injury Report | Rosman in the clear after VFL concern

Let’s try to throw some logic in as well. The experts might be salivating at the thought of Mac Andrew being snatched out of Melbourne’s grasp with a top 20 pick in the November draft but the question as to what are the odds of it happening? The argument about best pick available vs club needs has been going on since the early days of the national draft. I think it’s fair to say that unless a ruckman is considered in elite company, clubs would be reluctant to risk a high draft pick for a developing tall. That’s why many clubs with ruck needs were falling over themselves to add to their ruck stocks at the midseason draft. I was reminded of this watching the NAB Boys League game between Sandringham Dragons play the Calder Cannons at the weekend. The Dragons played 204cm ruck/forward Max Heath who was selected in the mid season draft by St Kilda at pick 7. They also produced the #1 pick Jacob Edwards who went to North. A number of other clubs also drafted ruckmen - Gold Coast, Carlton, Sydney, Brisbane and Collingwood. The Bulldogs are well stocked for tall timber but will be taking father/son prospect in Sam Darcy. Then there’s the question of who will be in a position to pick Mac Andrew in the draft? Let’s assume that he remains in the current range suggested by the pundits at somewhere between 15 and 25. Let’s look at the clubs that would be in a position to select him and for the sake of the exercise, let’s start at pick 12. Based on current ladder positions the picks with which he could be nominated are - 12. Fremantle 13. Sydney 14. Port Adelaide 15. Brisbane 16. Richmond 17. Western Bulldogs 18. Brisbane 19. Gold Coast 20. North Melbourne Obviously, these will change over the remainder of the season and with trading in the post season but I think that in reality the number of clubs looking to pick a Mac Andrew in that range is going to be very limited.

From AFL Draft Central, their scouting notes on Friday's game (#36 was Mac's jumper number) Scouting Notes | 2021 U19 National Championships: Vic Country vs. Vic Metro "#36 Mac Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays) 12/04/2003 | 200cm/70kg | Tall Forward/Ruck Pushing himself up draft boards after another big game performance, Andrew showed a lot of eye catching traits throughout the contest. Starting up forward, early on Andrew wasn’t holding a lot of his marks due to the pressure, but would treat aerial contests almost as ruck situations in open play, tapping the ball straight down in front of teammates and putting them in dangerous spots inside 50. He kicked the opening goal of the contest after getting separation and taking a mark on his chest, slotting it from about 50 out. Andrew used the ball well through the game, handballing into the right spots and taking safer shorter kicks more often than long bombs, keeping Country in possession. He looked to be the best ruck on ground when rolling through there as well, placing taps well for his midfielders and having moments where he followed up his own taps and won the ball at ground level. The highlight from Andrew’s game was his aerial work around the ground however, demonstrating his positional awareness and athleticism with some high leap contested marks, plus the ability to quickly get separation when up forward. He took one of his most impressive marks when stationed up forward, where at full pace on the lead he was nudged from the side, but managed to hold his balance and juggle the ball with one hand to take the mark. So strong was his aerial work, that Metro started to double team him down the line in an effort to body his leap and nullify his impact."

And a big heads up for some great commentary from Demon star Libby Birch. Channel 7 should sign her up immediately and get rid of some of the boring boofheads they have on their panel!