VFL Past #65: Shaun McKernan 🐴 - Returns to the Dons

[ant555]

Not sure why people do not think he could make it as a forward. His down side is obviously pace but he is good at ground level, can snap a goal, has a decent side step and his second and third efforts are very good. On top of that he is an above average mark.
Ambrose out, McKernan in.

 

[Rack Watts]

Not sure why people do not think he could make it as a forward. His down side is obviously pace but he is good at ground level, can snap a goal, has a decent side step and his second and third efforts are very good. On top of that he is an above average mark.
Ambrose out, McKernan in.

Sounds weird, but I think he's more of a midfielder than a forward. :\ if only he was 8cm shorter, his position would be more obvious.

 

[blitzer]

I think Mckernan will do fine as our second key forward supporting Daniher. Plus when one of Leunberger or Bellchambers is injured we will be able to use him as a second ruck option which i think we can all agree is a huge upgrade on Daniher who has never had a clue in the ruck. That said we are going to be so immobile: Daniher, Mckernan and Bellchambers/Leunberger. I can only think of one team that has a forward line that tall and that's North Melbourne. Now to be fair they do make it work but are our players prepared to work as hard defensively as theirs?

But Mckernan himself is a good player and i think will do a good job making long leads as a CHF. Also its great having a mature bodied player who can wrestle with defenders given Daniher will still be a bit light (although hopefully not as much next year). We saw how much difference Hooker made down there last year and i think Mckernan could do that job as a forward.

 

[Beerfish]

Sounds weird, but I think he's more of a midfielder than a forward. :\ if only he was 8cm shorter, his position would be more obvious.

If he didn't have a neck like a giraffe he probably would be.

 

[carnthedons]

If he didn't have a neck like a giraffe he probably would be.

even if he's got a neck like a giraffe, it's only got 7 verterbrae in it just like a hooman. fun fact.

 

[hurlygurdy]

Not sure why people do not think he could make it as a forward. His down side is obviously pace but he is good at ground level, can snap a goal, has a decent side step and his second and third efforts are very good. On top of that he is an above average mark.
Ambrose out, McKernan in.

If they thought that was a possibility, why didn't they try him out in the position late in the season? I don't see why not personally, but the club has shown no interest in the idea at all.

 

[JayDon]

And if Jo is getting pushed around...enter SMACK...I think opposition knows he's capable of imposing himself.
Jake carlisle on J Daniher...be careful about getting too pushy! Bellchambers floating around too! Massive handful with our little blokes darting around.
Edwards is also very good and another medium who almosts needs a tall to go with him in the air.
I like it.
And I like Ambrose too. He might head into the midfield like Myers who started life as a FF in Perth.

 

[CBombers17]

Bellchambers lumbering around forward is not a sexy option.

Ruck - Bench.

 

[BrunoV]

If they thought that was a possibility, why didn't they try him out in the position late in the season? I don't see why not personally, but the club has shown no interest in the idea at all.

Because it was more important to teach Giles a lesson for thinking that he could get away with Bellchambers' work rate and level of conditioning.

 

[Towno78]

Because it was more important to teach Giles a lesson for thinking that he could get away with Bellchambers' work rate and level of conditioning.

Comparing a lazy campaigner with someone playing with a broken leg is a totally appropriate comparison

 

[Its Manbearpig]

Comparing a lazy campaigner with someone playing with a broken leg is a totally appropriate comparison

I had no idea Fyfe was on our team.

 

[BrunoV]

Comparing a lazy campaigner with someone playing with a broken leg is a totally appropriate comparison

Bellchambers did not play the game in a different manner to that which he had previously played it. He just had to ruck the majority of time. If he was that injured he would not have played.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

Bellchambers did not play the game in a different manner to that which he had previously played it. He just had to ruck the majority of time. If he was that injured he would not have played.

While the foot came later (though not, as I understand it, as late as the club would have us believe), the ankle was already ****ed at kickoff.

 

[BrunoV]

While the foot came later (though not, as I understand it, as late as the club would have us believe), the ankle was already ****ed at kickoff.

He's always been a bog average ruck. His hit out stats are inflated by a bascket ball tip off style in which he does not use his body to direct the flow of a stoppage.

In 2013 when we bombed 85% of our forward entries to him he hardly got a hand on an opponent when he did not take the mark.

He is the definition of an old fashioned lumberer though he is better as a deep forward than some of the rucks I remember being totally shit house and playing games in the 90s and a lot of the 00s. The main difference we will see with Bellchambers next year is that his facial expression might be that he gives a shit. He'll win a couple of taps and do nothing at ground level because he never has.

 

[Jade]

Bellchambers lumbering around forward is not a sexy option.

Ruck - Bench.

He was a very effective forward pre-injury.

 

[CBombers17]

He was a very effective forward pre-injury.

My recollection was that he was ok - solid up forward when playing in tandem Paddy (Paddy playing most of the ruck time).

If he's playing the bulk of the ruck time I fear the lack of forward output (the old 1 arm raised jog-lead) and if he's to play mostly forward i'd far prefer a more mobile option who is at least capable of some defensive output.

 

[eth-dog]

My recollection was that he was ok - solid up forward when playing in tandem Paddy (Paddy playing most of the ruck time).

If he's playing the bulk of the ruck time I fear the lack of forward output (the old 1 arm raised jog-lead) and if he's to play mostly forward i'd far prefer a more mobile option who is at least capable of some defensive output.

He still averaged 25 hitouts, which says a lot.

 

[CBombers17]

He still averaged 25 hitouts, which says a lot.

Happy to be proven wrong, I just dont see it as a solution.

Admittedly i'd be happier arguing against him forward if we had seen Smac given (successful) game time there.

 

[hurlygurdy]

Because it was more important to teach Giles a lesson for thinking that he could get away with Bellchambers' work rate and level of conditioning.

I take it you are joking? Seriously though, if they had even the smallest glimmer of the idea, surely they would have given Smac half a game up forward? This is a classic case of BF not having access to the requisite information. Can he take a contested mark? I only remember the one which was disallowed...

 

[Towno78]

I had no idea Fyfe was on our team.

Well that's funny isn't it, Fyfe played with a broken fibula and is hailed as a hero, despite the fact that if you looked at his game in isolation of his injury, it was a poor one. Shanked nearly every kick. Naturally in the context of his injury, completely understandable and heroic effort.

Bellchambers played 3 months with a broken fibula and is simply criticized for his laziness.

 

[Kakkle]

Well that's funny isn't it, Fyfe played with a broken fibula and is hailed as a hero, despite the fact that if you looked at his game in isolation of his injury, it was a poor one. Shanked nearly every kick. Naturally in the context of his injury, completely understandable and heroic effort.

Bellchambers played 3 months with a broken fibula and is simply criticized for his laziness.

Are you seriously trying to compare the 2 situations?

 

[efcboy]

Well that's funny isn't it, Fyfe played with a broken fibula and is hailed as a hero, despite the fact that if you looked at his game in isolation of his injury, it was a poor one. Shanked nearly every kick. Naturally in the context of his injury, completely understandable and heroic effort.

Bellchambers played 3 months with a broken fibula and is simply criticized for his laziness.

Bellchambers had the urgency of a snail vs Fyfe busting his arse off to get as many contests as possible. There's your difference. People want effort

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Not sure why people do not think he could make it as a forward. His down side is obviously pace but he is good at ground level, can snap a goal, has a decent side step and his second and third efforts are very good. On top of that he is an above average mark.
Ambrose out, McKernan in.

43 games, 25 years old, 0.6 goals a game average doesn't give you much confidence.

The odd exception makes it this late but gee whiz we need to get lucky.

 

[Towno78]

Are you seriously trying to compare the 2 situations?

I'm not suggesting he's a hero, just that possibly he be cut a little slack given the enormity of his injuries. And for a ruckman, they most certainly are.

 

[Kakkle]

I'm not suggesting he's a hero, just that possibly he be cut a little slack given the enormity of his injuries. And for a ruckman, they most certainly are.

He knew, our club knew, no excuse to be playing him. He was incredibly poor all year. If you are injured and you know you're not going to be able to do your job put your hand up and sit out and get right. If you decide to play injured, you should not be exempt from criticism.