Ben McGlynn
Ben McGlynn was traded from Hawthorn to Sydney in 2009 and began his playing career in Rd 1 2010. During 2010, he held down and excelled in a half-forward role that displayed his strong defensive pressure and impressive goal sense, most notably a five goal haul against Adelaide in Round 2. He solidified his position through a consistent display of courage and pressure, kicking 30 goals despite being cut down by injury and only making 14 appearances. Like a breath of fresh air, he also added some genuine pace into the side that was reputed as being too slow and too old.
Despite only missing two games in 2011, his contribution was lower than that of the previous year. He started the first half of the year in good form, kicking 2 or 3 a game. However, this free reign was significantly hampered mid-season as opposition teams began to tag him heavily and his figures fell. Owing to his endurance, tackling pressure and pace, this mid-season slump was addressed by reprogramming McBabe as a tagging midfielder to some success.
This reinvigoration allowed McBabe to work himself into the game via involvement in the midfield action, where he perfected the balance between attack and defence (a certain Geelong game and a quiet Selwood comes to mind) and was again frequently sighted on the goals or goals assisted sheet. What began as a volatile year ended consistently as we have come to expect from McBabe, who was pivotal in the late-season finals burst in his new role and ended up finishing top 10 in Sydney’s Best and Fairest.
2012 should bring more of the same from McBabe– consistent displays of courage, determination, skills and flair. If the NAB cup and preseason form is anything to go by, we are in store for some of the 2010 flashes of brilliance which earned him a few Brownlow votes here and there. Touch wood.
Player review Submitted by vonn
Ben McGlynn was traded from Hawthorn to Sydney in 2009 and began his playing career in Rd 1 2010. During 2010, he held down and excelled in a half-forward role that displayed his strong defensive pressure and impressive goal sense, most notably a five goal haul against Adelaide in Round 2. He solidified his position through a consistent display of courage and pressure, kicking 30 goals despite being cut down by injury and only making 14 appearances. Like a breath of fresh air, he also added some genuine pace into the side that was reputed as being too slow and too old.
Despite only missing two games in 2011, his contribution was lower than that of the previous year. He started the first half of the year in good form, kicking 2 or 3 a game. However, this free reign was significantly hampered mid-season as opposition teams began to tag him heavily and his figures fell. Owing to his endurance, tackling pressure and pace, this mid-season slump was addressed by reprogramming McBabe as a tagging midfielder to some success.
This reinvigoration allowed McBabe to work himself into the game via involvement in the midfield action, where he perfected the balance between attack and defence (a certain Geelong game and a quiet Selwood comes to mind) and was again frequently sighted on the goals or goals assisted sheet. What began as a volatile year ended consistently as we have come to expect from McBabe, who was pivotal in the late-season finals burst in his new role and ended up finishing top 10 in Sydney’s Best and Fairest.
2012 should bring more of the same from McBabe– consistent displays of courage, determination, skills and flair. If the NAB cup and preseason form is anything to go by, we are in store for some of the 2010 flashes of brilliance which earned him a few Brownlow votes here and there. Touch wood.
Player review Submitted by vonn
