Player Watch #44: Shaun McKernan - Out for 6 to 7 weeks with a high grade hamstring tear - 6/4

Towno78

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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.
Don't put words in my mouth... I don't think he should be exempt from criticism. He was woeful, injury or not.
I would just be critical of other things before his work rate and conditioning given he would barely have been training.
 

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CBombers17

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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.
If you've heard Bomba talk about Belly you'd know he's got form on the lazy front.

Might have been a perfect storm for him with the injury and poor/no backup but his reputation was earned.
 

hurlygurdy

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Had a left field idea... What about Mckernan as a CHB? Was thinking it might play to his strengths if it's true that he struggles with contested marks (only saying that because i've almost never seen him take one)?
When thinking on the Hooker question, I just wonder if the club can afford to play a 50 goal+ forward as a defender, even if he is a lock for AA in that role?
We've all been burnt with Carlisle/Hurley fiasco which makes one naturally wary, but Hooker really did tick all the boxes even while our midfield was a shambles!
I feel like there is this natural inertia to him going back to defense, and i agree that if there is no one else then we don't really have a choice. But i will damned if i don't want every stone over turned to find a replacement KPD. If it could be done, then we could make 2015 a distant memory in no time flat.
 

eth-dog

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Had a left field idea... What about Mckernan as a CHB? Was thinking it might play to his strengths if it's true that he struggles with contested marks (only saying that because i've almost never seen him take one)?
When thinking on the Hooker question, I just wonder if the club can afford to play a 50 goal+ forward as a defender, even if he is a lock for AA in that role?
We've all been burnt with Carlisle/Hurley fiasco which makes one naturally wary, but Hooker really did tick all the boxes even while our midfield was a shambles!
I feel like there is this natural inertia to him going back to defense, and i agree that if there is no one else then we don't really have a choice. But i will damned if i don't want every stone over turned to find a replacement KPD. If it could be done, then we could make 2015 a distant memory in no time flat.
He's a great Contested Mark. Averages 1 per game in the AFL and 1.6 in the VFL.
 
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Had a left field idea... What about Mckernan as a CHB? Was thinking it might play to his strengths if it's true that he struggles with contested marks (only saying that because i've almost never seen him take one)?
When thinking on the Hooker question, I just wonder if the club can afford to play a 50 goal+ forward as a defender, even if he is a lock for AA in that role?
We've all been burnt with Carlisle/Hurley fiasco which makes one naturally wary, but Hooker really did tick all the boxes even while our midfield was a shambles!
I feel like there is this natural inertia to him going back to defense, and i agree that if there is no one else then we don't really have a choice. But i will damned if i don't want every stone over turned to find a replacement KPD. If it could be done, then we could make 2015 a distant memory in no time flat.
I just pictured McKernan lining up on Buddy and I think I had a brain aneurysm.
 

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Big Fresh

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Buddy can't take a contested mark, doesn't mean he's not a forward, can imagine him generating many assists.
Not really the point of your post, but that's a myth. Buddy's not great overhead but he's very strong. He's had a few seasons averaging over 2 contested marks per game - he was equal first in contested marks per game in 2014.
 

Rack Watts

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Not really the point of your post, but that's a myth. Buddy's not great overhead but he's very strong. He's had a few seasons averaging over 2 contested marks per game - he was equal first in contested marks per game in 2014.
This surprises me, I watch him a fair bit and have always considered him an average contested mark.
But as you say, this might have been skewed by what I have heard people say about his marking game.

Has anyone thought of maybe using him in a similar role to Blicavs? I swear McKernan just needs to be 7cm shorter, he'd be a midfielder for sure.
 

Rack Watts

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He has confidence he can play as a forward at least:
Article from 2011 (lol).

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...-to-stake-a-spot/story-e6freck3-1226005826578

"
ADELAIDE forward Shaun McKernan has issued a challenge to Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker - "I'm coming after your spots".

The Crows' latest exciting key forward prospect said he was no longer content to walk in their shadows and was ready to make his mark on the AFL"
 
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