Toast John McCarthy

[Swooop]

I thought he was pretty good in the context.

First hit out for the year, where many of our players have been rusty as all getout.

He still did quite a bit IMO

As others have said, getting game time into him will be the key, and then I reckon he'll be a more than useful depth player, or pushing for a spot if he really lights up.

 

[Bay Pie]

Can play, good depth, lots of the haters are talking out their arse-holes. Him, Buckley, Josh Thomas, Rounds, Fasalo and even a few others will get plenty of time in the VFL this year to establish a pecking order before any of them break into the senior side. Krakouer is clearly best 22, so at least one Premiership player already has to make way for him, and 2 more will have to accept halved game time due to the sub rule. Add to that the fact that Dick is a walk up start in our 22 if fit and its looking like quite a queue to crack the side. Davis and Johnno would have disappointed many by playing such good footy last night, as they now look like they are assured of spots also.

One thing for sure is that as of right now McCarthy is ahead of Josh Thomas for a spot, unless Josh has learnt to play on crutches.

This.

I'm starting to like what I see with Leon down back. As pace to get that loose ball and good one touch skills to pick the footy up off the ground on the fly and zig zag out of trouble.I think only once or twice he had to just bang it long due to the pressure on him. Leon is one of our best users of the footy and he is very dual sided. Johnno best game so far. Just working his way in nicely. It must be hard to get up for these games for these veteran players. I hated practice matches myself.

I thought JMac was good for what he did. Had off season hip surgery and has 1 VFL praccy match before this game. plenty to work with. Buckley is looking alittle more comfortable in his role which will only happen with consistent gametime as with JMac.

 

[DThomas]

I thought he was quite good last night. I've been on the McCarthy bandwagon for a few years now. If he can get more time in the seniors then he will be a gun.

 

[DThomas]

Was Great Tonight except for his Goal Kicking and that Contested Ball he Got that Resulted in a Goal was Ball Esquire

Just want to stay injury free and don't be another Rusling

You mean Bill S. Preston Esquire?

EXCELLENT!

 

[MarkT2]

Didn't see the game so can't comment on it but I reckon McCarthy can play. The problem is so can a lot of other midfielders on the list now. The smart move would be to play him against the ordinary sides and build a trade value for him if we can do that without causing issues. Geelong got a price for Prismal on the basis he could play but was behind premiership players.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Didn't see the game so can't comment on it but I reckon McCarthy can play. The problem is so can a lot of other midfielders on the list now. The smart move would be to play him against the ordinary sides and build a trade value for him if we can do that without causing issues. Geelong got a price for Prismal on the basis he could play but was behind premiership players.

Was about to write the same thing this morning. There are a couple of players who (given the strength of our list) could be targets for lower performing teams for reasonable draft picks. This happens with many premiership sides.

People like McCarthy, Goldsack, Blair, etc could all become targets for trades.

 

[HFF]

Considering the team performed well below expectations, McCarthy was very good for mine. I had him down in our bests.

Attack of the footy was great, disposal was touch and go but we are talking about a guy whose preparation has been interrupted for the last 3 years. Prior to this game, he only played a half of a VFL scratch match.

IMO, if he can stay on the park, he will see some game time in 2011.

 

[daics_35]

He was alright and that was against the worst team in the AFL, cant see him at Collingwood from 2011.

 

[Ed D]

I thought McCarthy played really well for it being his first game back from injury, but in the whole of it all he's going to need to improve to play seniors. If he stays fit I think he will get games this year and will offer something to the side. He showed some good signs.

 

[Wooljay]

Was about to write the same thing this morning. There are a couple of players who (given the strength of our list) could be targets for lower performing teams for reasonable draft picks. This happens with many premiership sides.

People like McCarthy, Goldsack, Blair, etc could all become targets for trades.

Blair is going no where, that kid can play and has the drive and hunger required at AFL level. He continues to put his hand up and works harder and harder each week. I would rather lose Sack than Blair at this point.

 

[Quicky]

I really liked what I saw. Some of his footskills where top class especially kicking to leading players. Some good work on the deck too and good overhead. I think criticism of his footskills are coloured by that bad set shot (the Reid effect). Had some rusty moments but overall a positive game for McCarthy.

 

[Markfs]

Is our most naturally gifted clearance winner, when fit. Go the Forehead.

I can see why you get yellow cards with comments like this one...lol. Either that or you're his mother in disguise...

 

[mwalker]

Was Great Tonight except for his Goal Kicking and that Contested Ball he Got that Resulted in a Goal was Ball Esquire

Just want to stay injury free and don't be another Rusling

I think you've been mislead by the spell checker TD. Ball-esque.

That is my favourite "Davism" for 2011. Could be tough to beat.

 

[Scodog10]

The smart move would be to play him against the ordinary sides and build a trade value for him if we can do that without causing issues. Geelong got a price for Prismal on the basis he could play but was behind premiership players.

Based on what we've seen so far at senior level if I was an opposition team I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole. He's extremely injury prone and would be rated a lot higher by Collingwood than any other team so the likelihood of us getting a good deal for him is pretty slim.

 

[gormanisahack]

I really liked what I saw. Some of his footskills where top class especially kicking to leading players. Some good work on the deck too and good overhead. I think criticism of his footskills are coloured by that bad set shot (the Reid effect). Had some rusty moments but overall a positive game for McCarthy.

This, this and this

 

[MarkT2]

Based on what we've seen so far at senior level if I was an opposition team I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole. He's extremely injury prone and would be rated a lot higher by Collingwood than any other team so the likelihood of us getting a good deal for him is pretty slim.

Unless he plays well in half a dozen games this year...

 

[Frankie23]

He was a real positive last night.

I don;t think he is in our best 22 but it is reassuring to know that he can step into the team if needed and perform at a level like he did last night.

 

[The New Breid]

Haven't seen the game, but it's amazing how divided people are.

 

[KissStephanie]

John McCarthy. Just curious to see how everyone else thought he did tonight.

He seemed to play fairly well, and is a good depth player that can be helpful. Simon Buckley was much better though in his role, and one of our best players.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

I was clearly watching a different game to you guys because I saw nothing, as usual. ONE nice thing he did resulted in a goal. So?

Hasn't he been in the system like 4 years now? I know he's been hampered by injury, but so was Rusling and so is Brad Dick, and both those players show(ed) FAR more when they get their chances.

Seriously, like Richard Cole, just give up on McCarthy. He's not up to standard. I'm more disappointed I still haven't seen Rounds.

 

[Scodog10]

Unless he plays well in half a dozen games this year...

If any club is inept enough to part with something decent on the back of half a dozen good games I say good luck to them! I just really can't see it happening.... But we can always give Freo a call

 

[MarkT2]

If any club is inept enough to part with something decent on the back of half a dozen good games I say good luck to them! I just really can't see it happening.... But we can always give Freo a call

It happens all the time. Players from premiership clubs in particular get over valuedm, even ones held out of the side by premiership players. I'm not saying we could get a first rounder but we could very easily get a decent pick upgrade, even if you were corect about his ability - whoch I don't think you are. He's better than a few that played for St. Kilda in the GF which puts him in the seniors at a lot of clubs. Goldsack and Wellingham being knocked back will make a few clubs look at who we offer in deals.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

Goldsack and Wellingham being knocked back will make a few clubs look at who we offer in deals.

And probably also make CollingwoodFC hierarchy think twice, too. How many of the competition's current "elite" or even A- players have laid claim to playing in a winning GF team? There's a lot to be said for hardworking B+ers...

 

[Scodog10]

I'm not saying we could get a first rounder but we could very easily get a decent pick upgrade, even if you were corect about his ability - whoch I don't think you are.

Where did i question his ability
I said I wouldn't touch him because he's always injured and that in terms of value he'd be worth more to us than any other club. At this point in time imo he hasn't done enough in the seniors (ala Stanley) and 6 good games wouldn't change that a great deal, but Malthouse rates him and that's good enough for me because he very rarely gets it wrong!

 

[shawthing09]

The contested ball that led to the goal was good, the rest of his game was forgettable.

The second coming of Danny Stanley, kills it at VFL level then does enough to tease at senior level but ultimately only gets one or two games, spuds it up and gets sent back to the magoos. Rinse and repeat.

In his defense injuries have robbed him of a clean run at a spot in the seniors.

The difference between Stanley and McCarthy is that McCarthy has some AFL form. As a first year player (and one who missed the pre-season at that) McCarthy came in and performed to a reasonable standard late in the season and in finals after Didak and Heater's incident. Unfortunately he then got injured and missed a large part of the early season the next year. Stanley (who I still think could play a role at another club, and was mainly rated due to our need for an inside player and his ability in that regard) was always fit, where as McCarthy for a long time would spend long times on the sideline with injuries play a handful of VFL games be rushed into the senior side, perform poorly be dropped go back to the VFL and get injured again.

On McCarthy the huge gap in ratings tends to be on the ugly word potential. McCarthy at least a few times in his early games and again on Saturday night showed all the skills you would want in a midfielder, and the ability to do some really sublime things. Perfectly weighted kicks, great hardball gets, good balance, and clean hands when in contested situations. Unfortunately this has over the course of his career being mixed with low possesion numbers at AFL level, and a lack of awareness when carrying the ball in space.

He clearly has a lot of the skills you would want to work with in a footballer, the question will be whether his body gives him a chance to iron out the flaws and whether he is able too. As others have mentioned there is a number of decent options chasing.