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

Howard Moon

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Dermie "that was a live kill"

its funny, how many ruckmen do you see doing that?

He is a different beast, midfielders need to be on guard around him, he will get his hands dirty and take you down like any other smaller player.
 

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Dermie "that was a live kill"

its funny, how many ruckmen do you see doing that?

He is a different beast, midfielders need to be on guard around him, he will get his hands dirty and take you down like any other smaller player.
Yes and if we field a midfield of midgets with Smith, Parish & McGrath - it could be handy for Mckernan to do this. Leuy has never done it that I recall, and Belly despite the size doesn’t throw around his weight as much.

A very angry ( but fair ) Mckernan could be an asset if we play the dwarf midfield.
 

MightyDon

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This is why I suggested playing him as a mid not a ruckman, though could be the old school ruckrover around the ground. I don’t know how big his tank is but as mentioned he’s done plenty of pre seasons and is more athletic than Jobe
 

hurlygurdy

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Yes and if we field a midfield of midgets with Smith, Parish & McGrath - it could be handy for Mckernan to do this. Leuy has never done it that I recall, and Belly despite the size doesn’t throw around his weight as much.

A very angry ( but fair ) Mckernan could be an asset if we play the dwarf midfield.
You're on to something there.
What about TBC rucks in the forward half and Smack rucks in the back half? We have good pressure already in the forward line, but in defence we could use that follow up pressure. Play Smack as the seventh defender and allow TBC to frequently sneak forward into space.
Adding to the weird right here!
 

EnolaGay

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You're on to something there.
What about TBC rucks in the forward half and Smack rucks in the back half? We have good pressure already in the forward line, but in defence we could use that follow up pressure. Play Smack as the seventh defender and allow TBC to frequently sneak forward into space.
Adding to the weird right here!
So Smack can be outsized by genuine opp rucks and let them hit to advantage in their forward line? Or, better yet, Smack gives away a free trying to compete against said genuine rucks gifting a shot on goal?

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hurlygurdy

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So Smack can be outsized by genuine opp rucks and let them hit to advantage in their forward line? Or, better yet, Smack gives away a free trying to compete against said genuine rucks gifting a shot on goal?

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Yeah i reckon i'm genuinely not on to something
 

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I think he’d make a good roaming third tall, appears to have a decent tank, can ruck part time, good mark and very aggressive around the contest.

Unfortunately Stewart falls in to the same category, and is younger.

If he was a couple of inches taller I think he’d actually have been a pretty good ruckman, instead he’s a bit too short at AFL level to be a number one ruck.

Good backup to have, can pinch hit in the Hooker, Stewart or Ruckman role, and if he’s happy to play VFL and be a backup I think that’s all we can expect at this point.
 

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Ambrosia

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Just played the quarter today. Still in the mix to play against the tall timber of Adelaide in round one?

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Not at all I don't think. He played exclusively in the ruck if he was in the mix for selection he would have been given an opportunity as a forward.
 
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Not at all I don't think. He played exclusively in the ruck if he was in the mix for selection he would have been given an opportunity as a forward.
Nah - He is in the mix.

The reason he wasn’t given much of a run today was due to the inclusions of T Bell / Hooker & Stewart.

The fact he got a run means that they are considering him. Did ok with only a few mins game time.

Still in the pool for me.

With Gleeson going down, and Ambrose woeful against Hawkins -might we see a shake up down back.

Hooker hasn’t done much of a preseason but I think he may be of significantly more value to the team down back.

If that’s the case, maybe Mckernan could replace him. Who knows?
 

Ambrosia

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Nah - He is in the mix.

The reason he wasn’t given much of a run today was due to the inclusions of T Bell / Hooker & Stewart.

The fact he got a run means that they are considering him. Did ok with only a few mins game time.

Still in the pool for me.

With Gleeson going down, and Ambrose woeful against Hawkins -might we see a shake up down back.

Hooker hasn’t done much of a preseason but I think he may be of significantly more value to the team down back.

If that’s the case, maybe Mckernan could replace him. Who knows?
Harsh on Ambrose. Hawkins got 3 goals from frees all of them soft/not there.

I'm a Mckernan a fan and think he has put himself in a position where the selectors are taking notice but I think it's quite clear Stewart is a better fit as the 3rd forward with his leg speed and tackling pressure.

I can't see the club moving Hooker back especially given he's not really a great match up for any of Adelaide's KPF.

Overall I think Mckernan getting a run in JLT 2 as a ruckman was more a the coaches acknowledging his JLT 1 performance whilst sending a message to Luenberger just how far off the pace he is.
 
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Harsh on Ambrose. Hawkins got 3 goals from frees all of them soft/not there.

I'm a Mckernan a fan and think he has put himself in a position where the selectors are taking notice but I think it's quite clear Stewart is a better fit as the 3rd forward with his leg speed and tackling pressure.

I can't see the club moving Hooker back especially given he's not really a great match up for any of Adelaide's KPF.

Overall I think Mckernan getting a run in JLT 2 as a ruckman was more a the coaches acknowledging his JLT 1 performance whilst sending a message to Luenberger just how far off the pace he is.
Ambrose was rubbish today. He got minced.

Stewart did ok today, but has he shown more than Mckernan did last week? Not on today’s game.

Hooker as an AA backman is a match up for almost anyone imo.
Certainly a ready made replacement / upgrade of Gleeson.

The most obvious replacement for Gleeson is Dea. Hooker would be vastly better than Dea.
 

Ambrosia

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Wow - Stewart was a million times better than Mckernan if you compare their two JLT games - McKernan should be a long way from selection.
I'm a Stewart fan and he is definitely a better fit for the side than McKernan alongside Hooker and Daniher but McKernan's game in JLT 1 was excellenf and if anything overshadowed Stewarts.
 

blitzer

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I must admit I'm firmly in the Stewart camp. Younger, more agile, more reliable kicking especially hitting up leading targets, does the team things like tackling and forward pressure a lot better. The potential to grow a long term relationship with Daniher (same age roughly) is there.
I think McKernan is stronger and a better contested mark but he's too slow to go along side Daniher and Hooker. McKernan obviously is a better option in the ruck but not a degree that we absolutely must have him to smash the second rucks. On the negatives McKernan gives away a boatload of frees. Our team already gave away 45 frees against Geelong which is absurd.

If there was no Hooker and it was a battle for second key forward I think it would be closer. Credit to McKernan he's come out in a big way this preseason and is worthy depth for both rucks and key forward positions. I just don't think he makes a fully fit best 22 in those spots.
 

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I must admit I'm firmly in the Stewart camp. Younger, more agile, more reliable kicking especially hitting up leading targets, does the team things like tackling and forward pressure a lot better. The potential to grow a long term relationship with Daniher (same age roughly) is there.
I think McKernan is stronger and a better contested mark but he's too slow to go along side Daniher and Hooker. McKernan obviously is a better option in the ruck but not a degree that we absolutely must have him to smash the second rucks. On the negatives McKernan gives away a boatload of frees. Our team already gave away 45 frees against Geelong which is absurd.

If there was no Hooker and it was a battle for second key forward I think it would be closer. Credit to McKernan he's come out in a big way this preseason and is worthy depth for both rucks and key forward positions. I just don't think he makes a fully fit best 22 in those spots.
I don't even think there is a Mckernan v Stewart is a decision. Mckernan is depth for Hooker/Daniher whereas Stewart plays as an oversized medium forward. If Stewart were to come out of the 22 I see Langford, Begley and Laverde as more like for like replacements.
 

blitzer

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I don't even think there is a Mckernan v Stewart is a decision. Mckernan is depth for Hooker/Daniher whereas Stewart plays as an oversized medium forward. If Stewart were to come out of the 22 I see Langford, Begley and Laverde as more like for like replacements.
Perhaps but since Stewart is likely the one that will end up spending time as second ruck when Bellchambers is resting I do think that it may be more of a consideration than you are suggesting. Its clear they don't want Daniher in the ruck as often this year. This requires we play someone else as the relief ruck.

I'd suggest this is a bit of a change in mindset from the debate last year where it was the medium sized guys Langford, Laverde vs Stewart.

Mind you I could be totally wrong and if it Stewart was out, maybe they'd just play Langford there and put Daniher back in as relief ruck.
 

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I must admit I'm firmly in the Stewart camp. Younger, more agile, more reliable kicking especially hitting up leading targets, does the team things like tackling and forward pressure a lot better. The potential to grow a long term relationship with Daniher (same age roughly) is there.
I think McKernan is stronger and a better contested mark but he's too slow to go along side Daniher and Hooker. McKernan obviously is a better option in the ruck but not a degree that we absolutely must have him to smash the second rucks. On the negatives McKernan gives away a boatload of frees. Our team already gave away 45 frees against Geelong which is absurd.

If there was no Hooker and it was a battle for second key forward I think it would be closer. Credit to McKernan he's come out in a big way this preseason and is worthy depth for both rucks and key forward positions. I just don't think he makes a fully fit best 22 in those spots.
Bring in Weideman
 
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