Damien McCormack - The season ahead

[OldSchool]

McCormack only played about 10 or 11 games for the Bee's senior team in 2005 but really impressed. Played in a couple of finals games for the Bees and also got named as an emergency for the Dogs late in the season.

He can play in a variety of positions, posses very good skills and is already looking significantly stronger than when he arrived at the club 12 months ago including being 3cm taller. Really seems to be responding well to his 2nd pre-season with the club. He is a good decision maker and is a solid mark for his size.

I suspect McCormack might surprise a few people here and actually work his way into the Wiz Cup comp teams and I rate him a strong chance to get a few senior games for us in 2006.
Given our strong midfield group does anyone expect him to be able to break into the senior line-up?

[gridlocked]

McCormack only played about 10 or 11 games for the Bee's senior team in 2005 but really impressed. Played in a couple of finals games for the Bees and also got named as an emergency for the Dogs late in the season.

He can play in a variety of positions, posses very good skills and is already looking significantly stronger than when he arrived at the club 12 months ago including being 3cm taller. Really seems to be responding well to his 2nd pre-season with the club. He is a good decision maker and is a solid mark for his size.

I suspect McCormack might surprise a few people here and actually work his way into the Wiz Cup comp teams and I rate him a strong chance to get a few senior games for us in 2006.
Given our strong midfield group does anyone expect him to be able to break into the senior line-up?

I like the look of this kid and really hope he makes it. However, he has got some stiff competition to break into the senior side, whether it be as a midfielder or half forward or half back.

All the best to him.

[The_Bulldogs_Bite]

Saw McCormack play a few games in the second half of the season down at Werribee, and he impressed. Did some nice things. Thought he had a decent game in the Grand Final too. Took a spectacular mark and went back to nail a goal from about 45/50 meters out.

IMHO, he will play somewhere between 1-5 games of Senior Football in 2006 unless he explodes onto the scene forcing Eade to give him a few more games, but I don't think they'll be looking to rush him in.

No doubt he'll play all of the Wizard Cup games though. He'll be a solid player in a few years. Nice to see he is developing pretty quickly and has grown a further 3cm.

[Mofra]

There was a big write up in one of the bulldog mags sent to members, and Eade also mentioned in an interview he expected McCormack, Williams and perhaps one other player to make a senior debut in 06.

I think he can make a debut, but I'd expect to see him in the forward line / forawrd flank much the same way Cooney was groomed in his first season. Has the finishing skills to make some impact with his time on the ground.

[ben.carbonaro]

McCormack only played about 10 or 11 games for the Bee's senior team in 2005 but really impressed. Played in a couple of finals games for the Bees and also got named as an emergency for the Dogs late in the season.

He can play in a variety of positions, posses very good skills and is already looking significantly stronger than when he arrived at the club 12 months ago including being 3cm taller. Really seems to be responding well to his 2nd pre-season with the club. He is a good decision maker and is a solid mark for his size.

I suspect McCormack might surprise a few people here and actually work his way into the Wiz Cup comp teams and I rate him a strong chance to get a few senior games for us in 2006.
Given our strong midfield group does anyone expect him to be able to break into the senior line-up?

Really like the look of D Mac, hope that he gets some AFL games next year and he really impressed with his VFL performances this year.

He could of played this year and had it not been the coaching staff decision to play Streeta due to conditions in Adelaide he could of played his debut game. That day he flew back to Melbourne and rushed to Bendigo for our game against the Bendigo Bombers.

[OldSchool]

Really like the look of Damo, hope that he gets some AFL games next year and he really impressed with his VFL performances this year.

He could of played this year and had it not been the coaching staff decision to play Streeta due to conditions in Adelaide he could of played his debut game. That day he flew back to Melbourne and rushed to Bendigo for our game against the Bendigo Bombers.

Thanks for that Ben. I had forgotten that he was that close to getting a senior game.

[ben.carbonaro]

No worries, he should play some games next year in my opinion.

Very quiet guy who keeps to imself, but does all the right things on the field and is a team player.

Have never seen him do anything arrogant on the field, unlike some AFL listed players playing in VFL games.

[OldSchool]

No worries, he should play some games next year in my opinion.

Very quiet guy who keeps to imself, but does all the right things on the field and is a team player.

Have never seen him do anything arrogant on the field, unlike some AFL listed players playing in VFL games.

I think he has some Lindsay Gilbee type qualities and should become a very good player for us.

[ben.carbonaro]

I remember hearing someone say that, he plays a style of football similar to that played by Gilbs.

Also hope that D Mac develops into a super player and continue to be a great bloke to have a chat with during the reserves game of a Saturday or Sunday morning at Werribee.

[Gilbo_Fan]

There was a lot to like about Dmacs development. He was one of the better players in the grand final and just looks a likely prospect. He has a good size frame, is good over head and is a really long kick. Plus he seems to make efforts to do the team things (unlike Brad Murphy).

OldSchool - Not sure about the Gilbee comparison - do you think he is as quick as Lindsay?

Ben - do you remember how many games he played in the firsts for the Bees in 2005?

[ben.carbonaro]

From memory, he played 10 or 11 games in the Werribee seniors this year, impressed me a lot in each of them.

Played the odd reserve grade game as well.

[Cyberdoggie]

He's a natural clutch player

he's the sort of guy that will be there to kick that goal after a siren
both he and ray are very similar in a way.


I think he'll get a game because he's shown he can come off the bench and have an impact, the selectors will feel more confident that he can contribute to the team rather than be a passenger who's getting some experience before going back to werribee.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

McCormack only played about 10 or 11 games for the Bee's senior team in 2005 but really impressed. Played in a couple of finals games for the Bees and also got named as an emergency for the Dogs late in the season.

He can play in a variety of positions, posses very good skills and is already looking significantly stronger than when he arrived at the club 12 months ago including being 3cm taller. Really seems to be responding well to his 2nd pre-season with the club. He is a good decision maker and is a solid mark for his size.

I suspect McCormack might surprise a few people here and actually work his way into the Wiz Cup comp teams and I rate him a strong chance to get a few senior games for us in 2006.
Given our strong midfield group does anyone expect him to be able to break into the senior line-up?

Thanks for the brief bio and update on McCormack's progress for the year to date OS.
Haven't heard much about him except for his bio on the net, some soundbites from Clayton, Eade & Co from last years draft and a recent newspaper article somewhere.
It surprised me last year where I think for a couple of weeks he was named as an emergency for the Dogs team, and surely says a great deal about the Coaching group faith in his ability and ultimately their future expectations of him.
I'm looking forward to seeing him in action come pre-season.

[OldSchool]

OldSchool - Not sure about the Gilbee comparison - do you think he is as quick as Lindsay?

Ben - do you remember how many games he played in the firsts for the Bees in 2005?

Not quite as quick as Gilbee and does not have the long kick but still moves a fair bit like him. Gilbee was another quiet type around the club as well.

I'm fairly sure he played 11 games with the Bee's and a few with the 2nd's.

[Dog Town]

Not quite as quick as Gilbee and does not have the long kick but still moves a fair bit like him. Gilbee was another quiet type around the club as well.

I'm fairly sure he played 11 games with the Bee's and a few with the 2nd's.Will get a taste this year I think.Possibly be eased nto it with a few minor roles in defence where he can use his kicking.The thing that pleased me most from what I saw was his willingness to compete and his ability in the air.

[OldSchool]

Will get a taste this year I think.Possibly be eased nto it with a few minor roles in defence where he can use his kicking.The thing that pleased me most from what I saw was his willingness to compete and his ability in the air.

That's pretty much how I think it might pan out for him in 2006 and I agree that he is a competitive type who is stong in the air for his size.
A junior Monty?

[Gilbo_Fan]

Not quite as quick as Gilbee and does not have the long kick but still moves a fair bit like him. Gilbee was another quiet type around the club as well.

I'm fairly sure he played 11 games with the Bee's and a few with the 2nd's.

From what I have seen Dmac is a very long kick, he kicked a 55m goal against Box Hill in the ABC game of the day that sailed through post high.

I dont know that he is as good a kick in-play as gilbee though and his style (i think its the way he holds the ball) is not as classical.

[bulldogtragic]

I expect him to play up to maybe 5 games next year.

[Mofra]

I expect him to play up to maybe 5 games next year.I'd expect every Bulldog fan would be happy with that. Even with 5 senior games that'd be a pretty quick but steady development compared to a few of our current senior crop.

Seems like he has had to work hard for it too, which is another good sign. Guys who have to work hard tend to have a little more longevity to their careers

[OldSchool]

I'd expect every Bulldog fan would be happy with that. Even with 5 senior games that'd be a pretty quick but steady development compared to a few of our current senior crop.

Seems like he has had to work hard for it too, which is another good sign. Guys who have to work hard tend to have a little more longevity to their careers

I think that would be an fantasic result for him if he was able to achieve that. My expectations in 2006 for him aren't quite as high but I think he will get a game or two.

[Gilbo_Fan]

I think that would be an fantasic result for him if he was able to achieve that. My expectations in 2006 for him aren't quite as high but I think he will get a game or two.

Agreed - given that Birss and Power will get more effort devoted to them by Rocket and Montgommery adding more depth to the team. I see Birss and Power getting the same effort put into them as Cross and Gilbee, I am not saying it will yield the same outcome but I do think the coach will be investing more 1 on 1 time in them.

I think we definitely want to see Dmac push forward and make his debut and then its really what he does with his chance as to how many games he does play.