View Full Version : Ben Mathews
johnnyhoward
1 Oct 2006, 22:42
I know he's not a favourite among Swans supporters, but something I noticed looking through a review of the Grand Final is that Benny Mathews has 173 games under his belt. He's been around for awhile, which is surprising that he's survived the cut for so long. Turns 28 soon, and could this guy play one, perhaps two more years to become maybe one of the weakest players to reach 200 games?
skipper kelly
1 Oct 2006, 22:44
I know he's not a favourite among Swans supporters, but something I noticed looking through a review of the Grand Final is that Benny Mathews has 173 games under his belt. He's been around for awhile, which is surprising that he's survived the cut for so long. Turns 28 soon, and could this guy play one, perhaps two more years to become maybe one of the weakest players to reach 200 games?
Do you have a point?
johnnyhoward
1 Oct 2006, 22:55
Yes, he's the most useless player that could play 200 games. Will Roosy get rid of him or let him get there is the question.
skipper kelly
1 Oct 2006, 22:57
Yes, he's the most useless player that could play 200 games. Will Roosy get rid of him or let him get there is the question.
Take it elsewhere.
johnnyhoward
1 Oct 2006, 23:51
I thought it would have been an interesting discussion point?
swansgal
2 Oct 2006, 00:01
I agree. Ben Matthews doesn't contribute much to the team.
Matthews and Malceski had identical stats for the grand final, but I know which of the two I would prefer to have in the team!
Ben Matthews = dud. Always has been and there has been plenty of support for this overe time.
is2SWaNz
2 Oct 2006, 13:19
I feel sorry for Benny, he is getting old and has alot of games under his belt and is still unable to influence the game in some way. However, there are a few games he plays pretty well, but never consistentley. Most of our swans fans says he's lucky to be playing, one day he'll play at his best. Just don't know when?
SouthSwans
2 Oct 2006, 13:32
I hate everyone...
he has been a useful contributor throughout his career but like licuria and a few others in the league is not suited to the new quick style of play.
natlovestheswans
2 Oct 2006, 16:53
I don't think he'll be able to hold a position in the team next year. He may get the odd game, but unfortunately he doesn't have all that much to give. His position could be given to a younger fellow who can start getting some experience into him.
mrbehemoth
3 Oct 2006, 07:22
I'm a fan of Mathews.
He can rest assured that on the list of weakest players to reach 200 games, at least Justin Peckett will always be at No. 1.
SWANNIES RULE
3 Oct 2006, 07:46
I think Ben Mathews played well in the GF. He certainly isn't the kind of player that does flashy things but I think he is the type of player who Roosy can rely on to give 100%.
SouthSwans
3 Oct 2006, 11:09
He is an important player. Regularly sacrafices his own game for the benefit of the team. He's well liked around the club and contibutes a lot more than people on this forum give him credit for. He is a true worker and deserves 200 games. He has been there the third longest of any players on the list (behind O'Loughlin and Barry) and is the best tagger (while Crouch is injured) we have. He brings a lot more to the team than say an Ablett or a Dempster because his workrate is the highest of anyone at the club.
Unsung champion of our football club that doesn't get the credit he deserves.
Agree that he gives 100% but if he is ni our best 22 next year then we won't have improved
natlovestheswans
3 Oct 2006, 11:23
He brings a lot more to the team than say an Ablett or a Dempster because his workrate is the highest of anyone at the club.
He doesn't bring more to the club than Ablett. You must be watching two different players than i am. I'm not questioning Ben's workrate but Luke is such a quiet achiever.. i find him so much more valuable to our club than Ben. Dempster is still very young, i would rather have him in our team then i would Mathews. He's getting too old and slow.
SouthSwans
3 Oct 2006, 11:35
Well that says it in one how unappreciative this board is of Ben. It's just not right the way he's viewed on here.
natlovestheswans
3 Oct 2006, 11:40
Well that says it in one how unappreciative this board is of Ben. It's just not right the way he's viewed on here.
Maybe because alot of us don't find him to be in our best 22.
SouthSwans
3 Oct 2006, 23:14
Maybe because alot of us don't find him to be in our best 22.
But there is no reasoning behing that continual point....
CharlieG
3 Oct 2006, 23:18
But there is no reasoning behing that continual point....
Please post your best 22.
Had a stellar year 2-3 years ago, when he was racking up the possesions, struggled badly since IMO. Very tradable i think anyway.
SouthSwans
3 Oct 2006, 23:30
B: L Barry..............C Bolton.......k...T Richards
HB: B Mathews..L Roberts-Thomson..T Kennelly
C: A Buchanan.........B Kirk..............J Bolton
HF: L Ablett......k.....B Hall..............R O'Keefe
F: J McVeigh........M O'Loughlin........A Schneider
R: D Jolly,..............A Goodes,.........J Crouch
INT: N Fosdike, S Dempster, N Malceski, N Davis
EMG: S Doyle, H Grundy, D Spriggs
If it were up to me I would mould Dempster into a key position backman and get rid of LRT, but thats beside the point, Mathews is a vital cog in our side and is definetly in our best 22, and IMO in our best 18.
I agree many are too harsh on Benny. But even his strongest supporters would have to acknowledge that for probably the first time in years he had to fight for his spot in the side this year. Possibly it was Crouch and Willo's injuries and the greater depth of experience he had compared to Bevan that confirmed his spot in the finals.
But overall having a highly competitive group pushing for selection is not a bad thing for the club.
SouthSwans
3 Oct 2006, 23:37
I agree many are too harsh on Benny. But even his strongest supporters would have to acknowledge that for probably the first time in years he had to fight for his spot in the side this year. Possibly it was Crouch and Willo's injuries and the greater depth of experience he had compared to Bevan that confirmed his spot in the finals.
But overall having a highly competitive group pushing for selection is not a bad thing for the club.
I very much agree with that post, but for the people in here to treat his career as "finished" and "trade bait" is just ludicrously disrespectful to the servant he has been to the club.
CharlieG
3 Oct 2006, 23:43
I very much agree with that post, but for the people in here to treat his career as "finished" and "trade bait" is just ludicrously disrespectful to the servant he has been to the club.
You've said that 'in your opinion' he is in the best 22 and you've criticised others who have dismissed him for having 'no reasoning behind their opinion'.
So... what is it that you see that Mathews provides, that noone else can see?
SouthSwans
3 Oct 2006, 23:45
You've said that 'in your opinion' he is in the best 22 and you've criticised others who have dismissed him for having 'no reasoning behind their opinion'.
So... what is it that you see that Mathews provides, that noone else can see?
He regularly sacrafices his own game for the benefit of the team. He's well liked around the club and contibutes a lot more than people on this forum give him credit for. He is a true worker and deserves 200 games. He has been there the third longest of any players on the list (behind O'Loughlin and Barry) and is the best tagger (while Crouch is injured) we have. He brings more to the team than some other players because his workrate is the highest of anyone at the club.
CharlieG
3 Oct 2006, 23:52
He regularly sacrafices his own game for the benefit of the team.
Every Swans player does this.
He's well liked around the club
Must be a nice bloke then.
and contibutes a lot more than people on this forum give him credit for.
You've said this. But what does he contribute that we don't give him credit for?
He is a true worker and deserves 200 games.
How sweet. I'm a true fan. I'd love to call myself a true Swans player. Can I have a game please? Just one.
He has been there the third longest of any players on the list (behind O'Loughlin and Barry)
Why is this relevent to his value to the club now?
and is the best tagger (while Crouch is injured) we have.
Taggers generally aren't kept into their late twenties. They either develop into productive midfielders in their own right (eg Kirk) or they tend to fall by the wayside. Crouch is still a valuable player (albeit an overrated one in my long-held view) but it is because he has at least some attacking ability to his game, and he consistently shuts down small forwards when required. Ben Mathews has neither of these qualities.
Tagging isn't a career in itself - it is a learning curve towards becoming a better player. Hence why Ablett, McVeigh, Dempster and Malceski have all been used as taggers in the past three years.
He brings more to the team than some other players because his workrate is the highest of anyone at the club.
This is just airy-fairy motivational speak at best, and absolute rubbish at worst.
You don't appear to have a very firm idea at all about why you're defending him.
SouthSwans
4 Oct 2006, 00:10
You don't appear to have a very firm idea at all about why you're defending him.
K, real reason. He's my cousin. And I'm sick of the crap he cops here.
CharlieG
4 Oct 2006, 00:14
K, real reason. He's my cousin. And I'm sick of the crap he cops here.
Then perhaps you should not read threads about him? Your sensitivities are not sufficient reason for people to not talk about his (lack of) value to the club.
The fact is that he was a servicable player at his best, but that is now past and he's holding back younger, more talented and more useful players. I have nothing against the man and would love to see his career continue... at another club.
Unfortunately I suspect the time to make a move would be right now, as another year like 2006 would make him too old and his best football too far past to warrant another team picking him up. It doesn't look like that move is going to happen, and as a result I suspect that Mathews' chances of still playing AFL footy at 30 are remote.
skipper kelly
4 Oct 2006, 00:34
A good work horse who will always give 100% for his club. I havent watched the GF again, doubt I will, but from what I recall BM did a good job on Kerr in the 1st Q. Not the worst player on the ground.
SouthSwans
4 Oct 2006, 00:39
A good work horse who will always give 100% for his club. I havent watched the GF again, doubt I will, but from what I recall BM did a good job on Kerr in the 1st Q. Not the worst player on the ground.
No where near worst. Never is. Always seems to get 8-18 pos every week. And manages to hold down a quality opponent as well. Never really slips below that marker.
Minkus_Swan
4 Oct 2006, 01:05
Spot on Charlie.
The reality is that he is up against the younger crop of swans fighting for his spot in the best 22 and I think for the best interests of the club - he should not be an automatic inclusion next year.
natlovestheswans
4 Oct 2006, 11:06
Did he play on Kerr the entire game? Personally after the game, just before the Norm Smith was announced i thought that Kerr would win.
SouthSwans - Like Charlie said, maybe you shouldn't read threads about him. What you're saying is completely biased, none of us here have anything againest him as a person or anything at all. I've met the guy a few times and he is a nice bloke, but honestly we're only saying what we think is best for the club.. I would not put him in our best 22 at all. I cannot see him moving to another club. He may get a few games this year, but he will not hold a spot in the 22.
SWANNIES RULE
4 Oct 2006, 15:01
I think he is good trade bait. A premiership player with experience and still has some good years left in the tank.
He regularly sacrafices his own game for the benefit of the team. He's well liked around the club and contibutes a lot more than people on this forum give him credit for. He is a true worker and deserves 200 games. He has been there the third longest of any players on the list (behind O'Loughlin and Barry) and is the best tagger (while Crouch is injured) we have. He brings more to the team than some other players because his workrate is the highest of anyone at the club.
How can you sacrifice your game when you dont have one.
he is not a taggers lemonade.
Has no second efforts.
Lazy player who gets lose ball and has a knack of being deliberately second to the ball so he doesn't have to do the hard stuff.
Regularly handballs to the opposition, regularly (more often than not) misses targets by foot by a long way.
Gives away an incredible number of stupid holding frees in front of the umps.
The only reason he got a game in the GF is that he marginally better than his clone Bevan, and because the selection panel didn't have the guts to go with anyone else. Spriggs is clearly better simply because he has indurance, is at least accountable and gets the pill even if his kicking is rather weak.
But they will hang on to him because he is one of the boys.
WoGiTaLiA
5 Oct 2006, 20:23
How could anyone be bagging Matthews when we have LRT still playing. I still dont get it, guy must have rich family or something because he is useless. He played well in the GF last year and was the major reason we lost this one, he was awful and has been all year. He should be on top of our to trade list or cut. Just get rid of him.
Matthews is a fine player. Very good defensive player who is rarely beaten and a great tackler who plays the swans style perfectly.
natlovestheswans
5 Oct 2006, 20:32
How could anyone be bagging Matthews when we have LRT still playing. I still dont get it, guy must have rich family or something because he is useless. He played well in the GF last year and was the major reason we lost this one, he was awful and has been all year. He should be on top of our to trade list or cut. Just get rid of him.
Matthews is a fine player. Very good defensive player who is rarely beaten and a great tackler who plays the swans style perfectly.
Funny you say that seeing i know for a fact LRT's family is quite well off. Last year when they were playing the GF my mum saw an article about LRT's dad and how their house was going on the market for over 7 million.
ANYWAY. You can't blame LRT for our GF lose, we're a team.. you blame the team, not individuals and if you want to blame an individual, then blame it on our captain.. someone who is expected to stand up when we're in trouble. LRT also has had foot problems since after the Geelong game. It all just caught up with him. He's young and he's improving constantly. He's our tallest defender and has well beaten the likes of J. Brown at the beginning of the season when he was absolutely firing.
LRT won't be going anywhere and i'm sure will hold a permanent spot in our best 22 next year.
SouthSwans
5 Oct 2006, 21:26
How could anyone be bagging Matthews when we have LRT still playing. I still dont get it, guy must have rich family or something because he is useless. He played well in the GF last year and was the major reason we lost this one, he was awful and has been all year. He should be on top of our to trade list or cut. Just get rid of him.
Matthews is a fine player. Very good defensive player who is rarely beaten and a great tackler who plays the swans style perfectly.
I like this guy. A lot.
Never been a fan of his game.
HOWEVER, never doubted his commitment.
Objectively, Ben has been in decline for past year or so. It will be difficult for him to cement his spot in 22.
Please people, let's not delude ourselves. He is NOT a good tradebait.
natlovestheswans
6 Oct 2006, 13:38
Never been a fan of his game.
HOWEVER, never doubted his commitment.
Objectively, Ben has been in decline for past year or so. It will be difficult for him to cement his spot in 22.
Please people, let's not delude ourselves. He is NOT a good tradebait.
Exactly, i can't see him picking his game up and for him to be able to cement a spot in the team, he needs to if he's going to keep getting selected for the seniors.
CharlieG
6 Oct 2006, 13:42
I like this guy. A lot.
Only because he says what you want to hear.
You need to be a little thicker-skinned. Either accept that most people don't rate Mathews or don't read posts about him.
SouthSwans
6 Oct 2006, 20:38
Only because he says what you want to hear.
You need to be a little thicker-skinned. Either accept that most people don't rate Mathews or don't read posts about him.
Some people rate him mate. I can read posts about him so long as I'm getting something from it.
natlovestheswans
6 Oct 2006, 20:42
Some people rate him mate. I can read posts about him so long as I'm getting something from it.
What are you getting from reading them? :confused:
CharlieG
6 Oct 2006, 20:45
Some people rate him mate. I can read posts about him so long as I'm getting something from it.
From what I can tell, all you're getting is upset.
I'm not intending to have a go at you mate - it's just important for you to accept that Mathews is a public figure, and his performance is a fair topic for Swans fans to discuss.
SouthSwans
6 Oct 2006, 20:45
What are you getting from reading them?
I'm getting something from some people. I'm trying to remain positive about Ben's future. I spoke to him a few nights ago and like all the players he's putting on a brave face after the grand final. He's a champion bloke and I really hope he can lift his game at the beginning of next year so he can recapture some of his 2004. I acknowledge he hasn't had the best patch but he is definetly not the worst player on the list.
natlovestheswans
6 Oct 2006, 21:00
I'm getting something from some people. I'm trying to remain positive about Ben's future. I spoke to him a few nights ago and like all the players he's putting on a brave face after the grand final. He's a champion bloke and I really hope he can lift his game at the beginning of next year so he can recapture some of his 2004. I acknowledge he hasn't had the best patch but he is definetly not the worst player on the list.
Out of interest, who do you think are players "worse" then him?
scottwade
6 Oct 2006, 22:10
The fear with the Sydney m/f next year is that they may fall into a negative mindset. Crouch presumably will come back into the team, then you have Ablett, McVeigh, Mathews, Bevan, Dempster, Kirk and possibly Fosdike in 'run with' roles. That leaves J Bolton, Schneider, Buchanan, Goodes and hopefully Moore as attacking on ballers (and resting forward). It seems to me to be an imbalance and at least 2 of the 'run with' players needs to drop out. Dempster offers (with his height) reasonable flexibility, so IMHO Mathews place in the best 22 is in grave doubt, along with possibly Bevan. Although I must admit I'd place Crouch in the same boat as Mathews. Crouch is quick and tough, but his disposal is average at best and even as a tagger just doesn't get enough of the ball.
SouthSwans
6 Oct 2006, 23:37
Out of interest, who do you think are players "worse" then him?
Plenty. LRT for one. Dempster, Bevan, Spriggs, Doyle, Vogels and the kids are the others.
I know he's not a favourite among Swans supporters, but something I noticed looking through a review of the Grand Final is that Benny Mathews has 173 games under his belt. He's been around for awhile, which is surprising that he's survived the cut for so long. Turns 28 soon, and could this guy play one, perhaps two more years to become maybe one of the weakest players to reach 200 games?
I haven't seen him play at all this year but going on previous years i agree he can be a very frustrating player. I remember in 05 he captained the swans against richmond (at the g when we lost by a point). Anyway he made some particularly bad f ups. Like kicking in out on the full when he was 20 meters directly in front of goal.
those f ups have earnt him the nick name "BFM" (ben f%$Ģing matthews) with my brother and i.
Cheer Red Blood
7 Oct 2006, 16:21
Plenty. LRT for one. Dempster, Bevan, Spriggs, Doyle, Vogels and the kids are the others.
Doyle, Vogels and LRT are all better/more important simply because their height is a rariety at Sydney currently. Doyle is easily our best number two ruck, LRT our best CHB, and Vogels can play key forward or key back and has lined up on the wing too.
I wouldn't say Dempster is worse, and even if you do argue he is, he is 21(22?) with a bigger future ahead of him than Mathews. He has a long, accurate kick and pace.
Spriggs didn't get a game all year so is hardly relevant.
Mathews is holding younger players with potential out of the side, yet not offering anything others can't.
You can have Bevan for your argument if you like.
My little bloke has inherited his older brothers #4 jumper from when Plugger was around.
Have to try and forget who wears it now and to think when Lockett returned he wouldn't give the # up.
Wouldn't lace one of Pluggers boots !!!