Andrew McQualter's Running

[scubaboytellem]

I was at the game last night and noticed him a few times running hard into space, reminded me of robert harvey. Just want to know everyone's thoughts on him? His skills are quite good and has some sort of composure (his first goal is an example of that), the only worry would be his leg speed......

 

[Fehring]

I was at the game last night and noticed him a few times running hard into space, reminded me of robert harvey. Just want to know everyone's thoughts on him? His skills are quite good and has some sort of composure (his first goal is an example of that), the only worry would be his leg speed......

I'll stop you there...

 

[dg102]

He was saintsasional last night!

 

[scubaboytellem]

I'll stop you there...

I'm not saying he's like or is going to become robert harvey, just saw a fleeting glimpse of him in mcqualter...

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

I got him mixed up a lot with Harvey...was due to his look though haha.

Mini is talented, he wasnt pick 17 for no reason...no doubt theres a decent player in there somewhere, just gotta find it!

 

[BigManFromMiniTown]

Mini has been playing great footy since the game against the roos at the gold coast last year, where he shut out Brent harvey for the 2nd and 3rd qtr to get us back in the game.

Hasn't missed a game since and thats because of his hard running and tackling. Tackles on Monday equal with Lenny hayes and always in the top. Thats the reason he hasn't been dropped and wont get dropped.

He does the job, doesn't get much media reward for it, so he goes unnoticed and always gets his name thrown in to the mix when looking to drop people. But hes not going anywhere!! I'd take 1 mini over 10 raph clarkes. Cant buy courage and hardness!!

No one can be Robert Harvey but hes Andrew Macqualter and hes got a tank like harves and attacks the game like Lenny!!

Great work Mini keep it up!!!

Peace out to my man Nancey in the land of the four leaf clover and the black liquid guinness!

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

I must say when he kicked his first goal in the 3rd quarter, it was Harvey like in the way everyone seem to be mesmorized by him thus allowing him to slot the sausage.

 

[StFly]

Dawson had the Harvs moment for me as the pie forward line dissolved around his sidesteps.

 

[bubblegoose]

I must say when he kicked his first goal in the 3rd quarter, it was Harvey like in the way everyone seem to be mesmorized by him thus allowing him to slot the sausage.

You don't mind a Mini goal, do you brother?

 

[Squizz]

I liked his game from a tackling perspective (was credited with 9), so not really a player I'd compare to Harvs who wasn't prolific in this area (mainly cause he had the ball most of the time).

Particularly liked the one where Maxwell took him on, and then cried becuase the umpire didn't agree that breathing heavily on the ball does not constitute an effective disposal.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

You don't mind a Mini goal, do you brother?

I don't mind Mini full stop my brother. Not the most skilled, but leaves everything on the field and does his job to the letter. Has worked his backside off to get to where he is at. Every side could do with a Mini. He is a perfect example of being rewarded for hard work. Nearly all of his 7 goals have resulted directly or indirectly from the pressure that he has applied in the forward half.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

I gotta say, I wasn't the biggest Mini fan last year but i all aboard. He's been a reason for our success. Fringe players like him standing up is just fantastic because our best handful of players match it with anyone but we're unlike Carlton in our bottom players are holding up their end of the bargain. Keep it going Mini!

 

[north of the river]

I liked his game from a tackling perspective (was credited with 9), so not really a player I'd compare to Harvs who wasn't prolific in this area (mainly cause he had the ball most of the time).

Particularly liked the one where Maxwell took him on, and then cried becuase the umpire didn't agree that breathing heavily on the ball does not constitute an effective disposal.

For mine was his 2nd goal.

Stoppage happening in our FP, Wallingham slipped his tackle, as Wallingham weaved again around another Saint, mini had jumped up and then tackled him again, pulling one arm back for Holding the Ball - then slotted it through.

THATS PRESSURE - THATS REWARD FOR EFFORT

 

[Squizz]

Agree that wasn't too bad at all, and always nice to finish it with a goal, although Wellingham runs around like a headless chook waiting to be tackled. Maxwell is much bigger than Mini and had a head of steam.

This is the same tool who cost Collingwood their TAC sponsorship for "moving his car" whilst half cut.

 

[Fehring]

Dawson had the Harvs moment for me as the pie forward line dissolved around his sidesteps.

Zach has a wicked sidestep. He's very agile. As far as i'm concerned 2009 is now Maxy's swansong. His protege is ready for his closeup.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

On the topic of sidestepping.

Who jizzes in their pants when Gilbert does it 5 times a game?

 

[Papa Juggs]

Untouchables

Did anybody else think we let too many through in the Dogs game?

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

On the topic of sidestepping.

Who jizzes in their pants when Gilbert does it 5 times a game?

I've learnt my lesson and am now well prepared with tissues

I'm a big fan of the Gilbo-Plug, but just thought his disposal has been a little off the last couple of weeks. Have seen a few simple turnovers, under almost no pressure. I can just see him running around Lloyd this weekend though

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

I don't mind Mini full stop my brother. Not the most skilled, but leaves everything on the field and does his job to the letter. Has worked his backside off to get to where he is at. Every side could do with a Mini. He is a perfect example of being rewarded for hard work. Nearly all of his 7 goals have resulted directly or indirectly from the pressure that he has applied in the forward half.

Noticed especially at the couple of games I've managed to attend just how hard he goes in as well. Just seems to want the pill more than anyone else in there

That, plus his tackling pressure, indeed makes him a valuable asset to us. Won't ever get BOG, but certainly a required player

A shame he seems to have done away with the dodgy moustache. He could have been jostling for front spot in the dodgy stakes with Pendlebury and McMahon

 

[oneandone]

don't they call him mini because of the resemblance to banger and the way he plays his footy, obviously tackling and kicking wasn't bangers strongest assets but the hard running, running into space, breaking tackles etc

 

[Squizz]

X marks top spot
By Luke Holmesby 15 May, 2009

Andrew McQualter is not the type to showboat.

So it took more than a few people by surprise on Monday night when the St Kilda utility followed a goal by turning to the cameras and crossing his arms in an uncharacteristic flashy celebration.

The gesture was not about drawing attention to himself, rather he was forming an ‘X’ in tribute to injured teammate Xavier Clarke. “He is one of my good mates and he is going to miss out for the rest of the season (with a knee injury),” McQualter said. “I was out to dinner with him a couple of nights before the game and he mentioned to me that if I kicked one to get around him a bit. I probably carried on a little bit too much but as long as he appreciated it.”

The 22-year-old has developed a close friendship with Clarke and the injured Saint’s little brother Raphael and said he has kept in close contact since Xavier ruptured his ACL while playing for the club’s VFL affiliate Sandringham two weeks ago. “He’s going OK. He understands he’s in for a long road ahead and he is really disappointed. But he has been quite positive about it so far,” McQualter said. “His girlfriend and her family are looking after him at the moment. He will be OK. He will do the hard yards and he’ll be back I’m sure.”

McQualter has played every game this season after fighting his way off the scrapheap. At the end of 2007 he was delisted by the Saints, but given another chance via the rookie list. While he is yet to put a foot wrong this season, he knows only too well how quickly it can all disappear, and is grateful for every minute of AFL football he plays.

McQualter is one of many senior players to have rebuilt a career at St Kilda. Jarryn Geary, Robert Eddy, Zac Dawson, Clint Jones and Stephen Milne all came through the rookie list and McQualter says the experience has taught them to be thankful for their position.“We appreciate it. For me, I was out and gone after I was delisted. I appreciate every game and treat every game as though it is my last,” he said.

McQualter says there is no one thing he has specifically worked on to revive his career but gives praise to senior coach Ross Lyon as well as assistants Tony Elshaug and Leigh Tudor for showing faith in him. He says Tudor, who crossed to the Saints from Geelong last summer, has played a key role of St Kilda’s impressive work up forward. “He has been at successful clubs for a while. He’s been involved in four premierships in the last seven years. He has got a lot of experience and he has been great for us,” he said. “Our forward pressure has been a big focus for us this year. It was meant to be a focus for us last year as well but we just weren’t that good at it.”

While Tudor has been a big help to McQualter’s career, it is an assistant coach at another club whose legacy he says is a big reason the Saints have enjoyed early season success.

Champion Saint and now Carlton assistant coach Robert Harvey was a model for McQualter and every other St Kilda player during his 21 years at Moorabbin, and the young charge said his example is still revered after his retirement in 2008. “Harves has ingrained a work ethic within the footy club where a lot of blokes have looked up to him ever since they’ve been here,” he said. “Everyone has looked up to his standards and work ethic and it rubs off. There are a lot of blokes now who have taken a lot from Harves.”

 

[The Veteran]

I must admit, McQualter had slipped under my radar for a while but i think he has really improved this season. Last year, Ross Lyon seemed to give him an apprenticeship of sorts in a tagging job (Quite a few coaches seem to do that these days). This season he has played more in the small forward position with runs in the midfield but i was wondering where everyone thinks his future lies? At this stage in his career, i don't think he has the fitness levels to be a full-time inside midfielder (and we already have plenty who can play in that position) but i'd definitely like to see him used around the ball more in the coming years.

At this stage i'm very happy with him playing in the forward line too though. He seems to be in some great form of late with a great game against the Cats (first half in particular), a good game against the Eagles and he was again solid against the Crows. What does everyone think about the idea of giving him substantial time in the midfield in the weeks leading up to the finals to see where he's at. I really would have liked to see him get much more responsibility last week (I personally think some players thrive on added responsibility) with Ball dropped but i don't think his midfield time was much greater thanks to the inclusion of Eddy.

I don't think he quite has the leg speed to be a brilliant small forward even though he has great football nouse, is surprisingly creative around the goals and applies a hell of a lot of pressure and is 5th in our tackling at the moment. I'd like to see him given slightly more opportunity in the midfield, except the problem is i wouldn't want to deprive any of our current midfield group. It's a sure case of 'having the cake and eating it too." So anyway what role would everyone like to see him in in the future?

*I wanted to make a new 'thread' but it won't allow me to make one yet.....lucky i found this thread*

 

[The Veteran]

Illbethejudge......i was a huge fan of McQualter's old look. I wonder if he has ever thought of fully regrowing his mustache.

 

[Cuz2Plugger]

McQ doesn't really need pace, he knows where to go and beats everyone else there, but its mostly his composure, his composure is amazing, his decision making seems to be some split seconds quicker than the oppositions, i think this is something that will only improve too. Watch his space.

 

[Bourky23]

don't they call him mini because of the resemblance to banger and the way he plays his footy, obviously tackling and kicking wasn't bangers strongest assets but the hard running, running into space, breaking tackles etc

nah, he's been called mini for years.. was his nickname at school

don't know why though, he left for Melb Grammar or wherever he went when i was in like year 7