Cameron Mooney

[azyboy]

Let me preface this by stating that I'm a big fan of cam. He is vital to our structure and his rise as afootballer over the last 3 seasons or so has definitely had a major bearing on our success. He is the spiritual leader if you like.

However, what I love about cam seems to be missing. His aggression and intimidation made him one of the most feared forwards going around. Backemen would think twice about dropping into holes and his opponents didn't want to play him to close for fear of him knocking them out. Granted he needed to improve his discipline after 2006 but I feel he has gone too far the other way. In a recent column, one current player was asked about sledging and said that big bad cam goes out of his way these days to be liked. Even last night, 10 goals down, he was helping Heath Shaw up from a contest. Pfft! The old Cam would have stomped on him.

I think he needs to grow the hair back, regain the wild man swagger and start hitting a few packs with that old vigour. Yes, be cognisant of not getting reported but start letting people know that he's hell bent on attacking the football and anything that gets in his way. He gets this back and suddenly his team mates walk that little bit taller. At the moment I think he's lost. Thoughts?

 

[Ling Sting]

yep spot on. I mentioned him in another thread. He is just missing this year.

Last year he bobbed up for 1 or 2 clutch goals every game. Lets hope he can turn it around in the second half of the year because we will not win big games with him and SJ not playing to their 2007 form.

 

[PoidaCat]

It's the midfield and either their a) poor delivery b) ignoring him when 1 out.

 

[rizzo]

It's the midfield and either their a) poor delivery b) ignoring him when 1 out.

He is also getting molested by his opponent and the umpires are giving him nothing. THe amount of times he has been pushed/scragged in the contest is borderline on becoming a joke.

 

[catattack007]

How many farging times does the ball get kicked over his head when he is on a lead at full steam !!!!!!!!!!

Loved the hit on the supposed tough man who is actually an incipid weed of a human Maxwell, I had to take something from the night and that was it.

Good work big fella!!!!!

 

[PoidaCat]

He is also getting molested by his opponent and the umpires are giving him nothing. THe amount of times he has been pushed/scragged in the contest is borderline on becoming a joke.

totally agree...

I think he needs to have is arm snapped or shoulder dislocated to get a free...IT IS A JOKE....

You only have to place a finger on lloyd or look at reiwoldt the wrong way and they get a free.

 

[Catman]

He is also getting molested by his opponent and the umpires are giving him nothing. THe amount of times he has been pushed/scragged in the contest is borderline on becoming a joke.

And that won't change with the amount of abuse he gives them.

I don't blame him one bit for doing it but those precious little men don't like being told they're wrong. He's clearly got his papers stamped "never to be given a free, no matter how obvious it may be".

 

[JUBJUB]

However, what I love about cam seems to be missing. His aggression and intimidation made him one of the most feared forwards going around. Backemen would think twice about dropping into holes and his opponents didn't want to play him to close for fear of him knocking them out.

The problem these days is no player can be too aggressive.Just look at S Burgoyne this week.The AFL want footy to be more like netball/basketball.

Mooney was at least having a go last night.Crap delivery from the midfield and backline doesn't help him.Maybe he needs to take out his aggression on a few teammates.

 

[PoidaCat]

Nice to see other people watching the game as a whole...

There was one passage of play where Mooney had about 15- 20 off his opponent running around half froward S.Stand side and they ignored him and went for a miracle pass into the Middle and turned it straight over to Collingwood...

I'm surprised Mooney didn't to a Richo dummy spit.

 

[rizzo]

Nice to see other people watching the game as a whole...

There was one passage of play where Mooney had about 15- 20 off his opponent running around half froward S.Stand side and they ignored him and went for a miracle pass into the Middle and turned it straight over to Collingwood...

I'm surprised Mooney didn't to a Richo dummy spit.

Mooney ran near us on a lead on the ponsford stand side, and was totally ignored. You could literally see him biting his tongue off as he tried to contain his anger. I was expecting him to turn around and thump NJB square in the face Barry Hall style.

Dasher was another one that looked really really angry. Haven't seen it before from dash but he was on the prowl as well.

 

[darren forssman]

It's the midfield and either their a) poor delivery b) ignoring him when 1 out.

too true, i actually thought the midfield was kicking it to pies defenders (wakelin must have pulled on cats jumper with the amount of kicks going to him) more than mooney/hawkins.

mooney played well considering the delivery and limited chances he had.

 

[Fraz]

totally agree...

I think he needs to have is arm snapped or shoulder dislocated to get a free...IT IS A JOKE....

You only have to place a finger on lloyd or look at reiwoldt the wrong way and they get a free.

So far this year Mooney had had 13 free kicks, Lloyd has had 9 and Reiwoldt has had 8.

 

[PoidaCat]

So far this year Mooney had had 13 free kicks, Lloyd has had 9 and Reiwoldt has had 8.

what's your point?

some of the arguments people post on Big Footy are hilarious...

totally irrelevant how MANY Free kicks they have received...

It's how many THEY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED...

 

[Eudes]

I think moons is playing too far up the field... good thing last year was that N.Ablett was our lead up man with nice hands & impressive ground skills... but cos Hawkins is more muscle & still yet to fully develope (Nathan was into his 3rd year & just starting to come on) they play him closer to the goals & moons leads out... i think Mooney is better for that contested mark you need up forward & if he doesn't mark it he's good at getting it down to the small forwards... i think untill Hawkins gets a few more games & footy smarts under him... & untill he uses his muscle a little better... make him play that lead up roll... he's got fairly decent hands on the lead... & push moons back... i think if they did that you would see our forward line run a little more smoother... even if they keep it this way the form will come... just will take some time i reckon... at least the way i said it gives Mooney & the small forwards room to work & gives hawkins confidence & time to progress

 

[kendall_cedric]

He looks like he's aged 3 years since the grand final. I don't think we can completely blame the poor delivery from the midfield.

 

[cancat]

Cam hasn't looked happy all year. At his best he's right in the opposition's faces and then comes away with a big smile on his face.

 

[winty]

totally agree...

I think he needs to have is arm snapped or shoulder dislocated to get a free...IT IS A JOKE....

You only have to place a finger on lloyd or look at reiwoldt the wrong way and they get a free.

And Mooney just needs to sneeze in the general direction of an opponent to give away a free kick.

Will never forget a game against St.Kilda at the Dome in 2005 when Mooney ran in the direction of an opponent who had just disposed of the ball, ran past him and didn't connect, yet an umpire saw it out of the corner of his eye and paid a free kick for what he THOUGHT Moons was going to do. Pathetic stuff. I guess umpires treat him like they do Barry Hall, and just think Moons is big enough to look after himself without getting any help from them. I just hope it doesn't result in Mooney doing a Hall and punching an opponent's lights out for scragging him continuously.

 

[Rubberducky]

Indeed, delivery into our forward line has been very very ordinary unless it's one of the forwards doing the delivering.

We haven't been as sharp and made it worse by moving the ball slower than we did last year.

Moons will be alright, his game against the Tigers was great in the conditions and last night he recieved 1 perfect lace out pass (which admittedly went straight through his hands)...

He hasn't had the opportunities to go one out with his opponents as often this year with 1 of Gamble or Hawkins staying deep with him causing a bigger contest.

 

[Brasil2007]

Indeed, delivery into our forward line has been very very ordinary unless it's one of the forwards doing the delivering.

We haven't been as sharp and made it worse by moving the ball slower than we did last year.

Moons will be alright, his game against the Tigers was great in the conditions and last night he recieved 1 perfect lace out pass (which admittedly went straight through his hands)...

He hasn't had the opportunities to go one out with his opponents as often this year with 1 of Gamble or Hawkins staying deep with him causing a bigger contest.

Mooney's been pretty good at getting the ball (other than the Essendon game), it's his kicking that's been poor. Other than Ablett no one was great but basically it's the midfield that failed last night.

 

[CatFan79]

Other than Ablett no one was great but basically it's the midfield that failed last night.

To all those blaming the midfielders for Mooney's poor 2008 form... Maybe you are overrating him based on his 2007 performance because the constant great delivery he got.

If you break down the mechanics of Mooney's game as a forward his obvious shortcomings are:
- He is very poor in a one-on-one situation as he looks to wrestle with his opponent too much rather than getting in best position to mark the ball.
- He drops too many marks on the lead.

The midfield didnt work hard to push back into the defense like the pies midfield but this shouldnt be an excuse to ignore Mooney's poor 2008 performances.

 

[PoidaCat]

I think Moons is awesome one on one.

 

[Brasil2007]

I think Moons is awesome one on one.

He'd be more awesome if he actually got some protection from the umpires!

 

[The Casey Cat]

How many farging times does the ball get kicked over his head when he is on a lead at full steam !!!!!!!!!!

Loved the hit on the supposed tough man who is actually an incipid weed of a human Maxwell, I had to take something from the night and that was it.

Good work big fella!!!!!

What would help would him not charging underneath the ####ing football all the time. A stupid, ridiculous habit he has got into this year. He does it and looks to turn his defender inside out or even push back and manufacture something. He seemed to have stopped it the last two weeks then last night went back to it.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Mooney was pretty good against Richmond, and he was far from our worst last night. Far from it.

 

[Brasil2007]

Mooney was pretty good against Richmond, and he was far from our worst last night. Far from it.

I'd agree with that. I thought he worked pretty hard all night to try to create something (and indeed did on a couple of occasions). There were other players whose effort dropped off when the team was down. The team will lay down the riot act to one another this week, and hopefully that will put things back on track.