Player Watch Harry DeMattia

[Bianconeri]

What do you see it being? I don’t think he’s any chance of breaking in as a mid now that he’s one more down the pecking order following Anderson’s recruitment. You then add Prindable who’s a similar size, style and possesses similar traits which tells me the club aren’t sure either.

Even if he does get a shot through the middle following a run of injuries I doubt we’d get more out of him than Macrae because he’s a small body with questionable skills at state league level (let alone the top level). From what I’ve seen he plays a straight line go ahead game so I thought that might be his avenue off HB, but that’s a hard road at Collingwood with our back half stacked at senior level with McInnes and Parker the next two in.

I didn’t think he was much chance of breaking in as a mid before the draft either so I don’t think this changes much for him.

Even at the end of the year he was moved back to the wing to make way for Macrae so I think the club view was the same.

This is draft is more likely the result of HDM and Allan not being good enough inside mid prospects rather than cause of them not making it in that position.

Whilst half back is stacked at AFL level and there’s a few ahead of him in the twos that can change very quickly if Perryman and Daicos move to the middle I don’t think it will take much for HDM to leapfrog McInness as a running defender and he could have a point of difference over Parker if he can start breaking the lines as half back.

It’s still a long shot at half back and there’s longer he goes without a debut the longer that shot becomes but it’s a long shot for most draftees in most positions.

Is he a Marley Williams type?
Put him in the backline to play on small forwards

I don’t think he has Marley Williams lateral movement he looks more like a shorter Crisp straight line type to me or a less explosive Sam Murray type.

 

[Anzacday]

I really liked Marley, but I don't think a Marley type gets a game in defence in the current game - ball use not up to it.

In that case WanderingDude - trade for pick 105 it is

 

[Bianconeri]

I really liked Marley, but I don't think a Marley type gets a game in defence in the current game - ball use not up to it.

John Noble still gets a game in the modern game.

 

[WanderingDude]

In that case WanderingDude - trade for pick 105 it is

combine 105 and our two r4 picks to move up the order.

 

[No SPIN]

I didn’t think he was much chance of breaking in as a mid before the draft either so I don’t think this changes much for him.

Even at the end of the year he was moved back to the wing to make way for Macrae so I think the club view was the same.

This is draft is more likely the result of HDM and Allan not being good enough inside mid prospects rather than cause of them not making it in that position.

Whilst half back is stacked at AFL level and there’s a few ahead of him in the twos that can change very quickly if Perryman and Daicos move to the middle I don’t think it will take much for HDM to leapfrog McInness as a running defender and he could have a point of difference over Parker if he can start breaking the lines as half back.

It’s still a long shot at half back and there’s longer he goes without a debut the longer that shot becomes but it’s a long shot for most draftees in most positions.


I don’t think he has Marley Williams lateral movement he looks more like a shorter Crisp straight line type to me or a less explosive Sam Murray type.

HDM is shorter, small bodied , and slower than Reef who won the sprint in his draft year. So I can’t see how he gets past Reef.

 

[Bianconeri]

HDM is shorter, small bodied , and slower than Reef who won the sprint in his draft year. So I can’t see how he gets past Reef.

I think you tend to over value body size on these discussions.

 

[manicpie]

HDM is shorter, small bodied , and slower than Reef who won the sprint in his draft year. So I can’t see how he gets past Reef.

Straight line sprinting can be deceiving. Ed Allen is an example. They need break away speed through traffic like Butters

 

[WanderingDude]

HDM is shorter, small bodied , and slower than Reef who won the sprint in his draft year. So I can’t see how he gets past Reef.

Understand the argument. But how many games did Tony Shaw play. He would possibly be an outlier but player battles are not clear cut.

 

[granniewolf]

 

[sr36]

His name being shortened to three letters bodes well. I can't think of many three letter blokes who haven't played a lot of senior footy.

 

[No SPIN]

Understand the argument. But how many games did Tony Shaw play. He would possibly be an outlier but player battles are not clear cut.

True - but the discussion was about defensive run, from HB, TS could not play that role.

 

[No SPIN]

I think you tend to over value body size on these discussions.

Noble lost his spot to Markov in the GF for reasons including body size. I think it’s a salient differentiator in the same context for Reef and HDM.

 

[sr36]

Noble lost his spot to Markov in the GF for reasons including body size. I think it’s a salient differentiator in the same context for Reef and HDM.

They're not going to be in contention for the same roles anyway so it's a bit of an odd discussion.

 

[Granit1962]

His name being shortened to three letters bodes well. I can't think of many three letter blokes who haven't played a lot of senior footy.

how about two letter nicknames

 

[Bianconeri]

Noble lost his spot to Markov in the GF for reasons including body size. I think it’s a salient differentiator in the same context for Reef and HDM.

It’s a wonder Bobby Hill got the Norm that day with his lack of body size

 

[sr36]

how about two letter nicknames

It's a sliding scale. I think two letters is pretty good, 3 letters much better. Once you hit just the one name which is a nickname or abbreviation, you're off the ****ing charts. Hence NWM is gradually becoming Nas. Gaz, Buddy, Plugger, Diesel - that's the pinnacle of the sport.

 

[leon123]

It's a sliding scale. I think two letters is pretty good, 3 letters much better. Once you hit just the one name which is a nickname or abbreviation, you're off the ****ing charts. Hence NWM is gradually becoming Nas. Gaz, Buddy, Plugger, Diesel - that's the pinnacle of the sport.

For N. Buckley, is it better to be Figjam or Bux?

 

[sr36]

For N. Buckley, is it better to be Figjam or Bux?

At the time it was Hirdy, Vossy, Bux - it was a strange period where the natural order of things didn't apply. We'd lost touch with our traditions.

 

[Granit1962]

It's a sliding scale. I think two letters is pretty good, 3 letters much better. Once you hit just the one name which is a nickname or abbreviation, you're off the ****ing charts. Hence NWM is gradually becoming Nas. Gaz, Buddy, Plugger, Diesel - that's the pinnacle of the sport.

In special rare cases, for the most revered, it may reach 2 words, such as, the Macedonian Marvel, but my limited memory stalled from there.

 

[Mollythedolly]

I didn’t think he was much chance of breaking in as a mid before the draft either so I don’t think this changes much for him.

Even at the end of the year he was moved back to the wing to make way for Macrae so I think the club view was the same.

This is draft is more likely the result of HDM and Allan not being good enough inside mid prospects rather than cause of them not making it in that position.

Whilst half back is stacked at AFL level and there’s a few ahead of him in the twos that can change very quickly if Perryman and Daicos move to the middle I don’t think it will take much for HDM to leapfrog McInness as a running defender and he could have a point of difference over Parker if he can start breaking the lines as half back.

It’s still a long shot at half back and there’s longer he goes without a debut the longer that shot becomes but it’s a long shot for most draftees in most positions.


I don’t think he has Marley Williams lateral movement he looks more like a shorter Crisp straight line type to me or a less explosive Sam Murray type.

Spends too much time ball watching for mine to be a mid at senior level. Got tired of seeing his opponent hit the footy at pace and be 10 yards clear before HDM even moved. Add that to his disposal and decision making woes and I’m not holding my breath.

As for HB, I thought the reason they moved him into the midfield was because he was poor defensively. Not an interceptor, doesn’t lock down, doesn’t break lines. McInnes has him easily covered in all those aspects.

Needs a really big preseason to turn that around all that.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Noble lost his spot to Markov in the GF for reasons including body size. I think it’s a salient differentiator in the same context for Reef and HDM.

Noble’s spot in defence was taken by WHE. Markov was already in the side.

 

[WanderingDude]

Spends too much time ball watching for mine to be a mid at senior level. Got tired of seeing his opponent hit the footy at pace and be 10 yards clear before HDM even moved. Add that to his disposal and decision making woes and I’m not holding my breath.

As for HB, I thought the reason they moved him into the midfield was because he was poor defensively. Not an interceptor, doesn’t lock down, doesn’t break lines. McInnes has him easily covered in all those aspects.

Needs a really big preseason to turn that around all that.

The ball watching bit has always bugged me about our VFL matches. My TV needs ear plugs I yell at it so much. Because it impacts so many players I have wondered if it is the coaches instructing players not to overcommit at the contest.

 

[No SPIN]

It’s a wonder Bobby Hill got the Norm that day with his lack of body size

False equivalence like this doesn’t help the discussion.

 

[No SPIN]

Noble’s spot in defence was taken by WHE. Markov was already in the side.

Pretty sure the general consensus here at the time was that Markov took JN’s spot.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Pretty sure the general consensus here at the time was that Markov took JN’s spot.

Noble dropped from the team (playing defence), only addition to the defence was WHE, Markov was already in the team in the defensive group. You can paint it any way you like, im just telling you what the reality was.