Brent MacAffer's future

[didaka]

Congrats to the boy, he was good last night, did some really nice things, and kicked an important goal.

It just shows if you're determined to make it and work hard on your game and physique you'll be rewarded. We would've been talking him up a lot more if he had also nailed his other chance in the 4th.

I actually saw the boy down my local shopping center a while back walking with a young handicapped boy. He's a big boy when you see him up close.

Anyhow about a year or so ago, maybe more, I floated the idea of developing MacAffer into a midfielder favoring the inside midfielder option due to his physique.

I still think this is the go. His body is big and strong and could bang and crash a few blokes around. Also when he get's the footy on the inside he seems to be able to find that little bit of time to use it properly.

One of his efforts last night was supreme. In the last quarter he gathered the footy Pendlebury like surrounded by about 3-4 players. He quickly moved around Adelaide players hunting him, found space and delivered the footy by hand, he then pushed hard to influence the play and was rewarded by kicking a crucial goal from 50.

Where do we see this bloke playing in the future. I listened to Malthouse post game talk about how Brent would have been in the senior side a while back if not for his ACL injury earlier in the season. I think he'll play quite a lot of footy next year in the 1's and grow with each game.

Has a good first name also.

 

[Optimax]

Lol Luke would be better imo

But i think he can be a big bodied wing men/center quite easily

I dont think he will ever be a full blown mid, but the fact he can play deep forward, high half forward, wing and HBF is fantastic.

Definitely has a future and the way Malthouse spoke of him last week he is considered best 22 material

 

[mattys123]

Malthouse mentioned after the game that there is room in his team for players that perform in finals, and MaCaffer definitely did that last night.

He was helped by the fact his debut was on ANZAC day, and that last night wasnt even the biggest game he has been involved in.

He is likely to play as a very versatile player, spending time in the midfield rotation, but also with the ability to go forward, or play as a roaming half back.

Definitely a big part of the future success of the team, great to see.

 

[the mighty T]

i never thought that he played a bad game in any of his first three. He always seemed like a pretty solid player.

But i think this is a great illustration of how well our VFL project has worked out. We look at MacAffer who developed brilliantly in the twos all last year and was out best player

This year we've uncovered blair as a potentially good player for the club. Not to mention we've been able to watch rusty develop faster than we couldve hoped and in a year weve turned ben reid into a CHB...Im just so glad that weve invested our time into this VFL project, its one of the best decisions the club has made

Well done Collingwood

 

[barrydiggs]

Been tearing it up off a half back flank in the quarter back role in the magoos

 

[Axl the great]

Its just so heartening to see that when the chips are down its the kids rather than the same senior players that dragged us out of the crap and more than contributed, im just so proud of the whole group.
Now if you will excuse me ive gotta go, i have something in my eye.

 

[Kirby]

I quite like the boy. He has a great build on him and can really use the ball. Playing off half back in the VFL has really improved his game.

 

[shawthing09]

I too think he has more upside as a player further up the ground. HBF has been good for him in the two's but we have a lot of guys who can play that role well in the 1's. The most similar to him probably being Shaw. I hope he can take a Ryan O'Keefe type line of progression. Working into the wing type link play and eventually playing more as a mid then a foward.

 

[shawthing09]

I quite like the boy. He has a great build on him and can really use the ball. Playing off half back in the VFL has really improved his game.

Yeh I remember we both had similar likes with him as a VFL foward and doubts about whether simply being a smart footballer was going to be enough as an AFL foward. Getting him up the ground more is certainly a good idea.

 

[Frankie23]

Reminds me of Robert Murphy for some reason...

 

[well left]

The ball use of both Macaffer and Sidebottom was a highlight for me last night. The fact that both of them had so much composure in a final is very very promising and we need to find a way to play players like that as often as possible.

A high forward position like O'Keefe plays and stints in the middle look the way to go for Caff.

 

[lethalburns]

Was huge around the packs in the second half.

I expect him to line up in the middle next week.

 

[Tomozaurus]

I went to school with this bloke. Awesome to see him do well.

 

[Pies_10]

Reminds me of Robert Murphy for some reason...

Ahh very good comparison i fell he is a bit bigger and stronger though than Murphy.

 

[mdc]

I think he can be a full-blown mid, allowing of course for the fact that we rotate like crazy.

Said elsewhere that he has a bit of Matthew Boyd about him. I don't think a comparison to Scott Burns is too far off the mark either. Think early on, rather than the last couple of years. Goes hard at the ball, has a punishing physique, doesn't f around with it, and his skills are clean even under pressure. Also has the versatility to play anywhere.

Will be very good for us going forward regardless of where he plays.

 

[The Norm]

Yeah could definitely see him playing a midfield role.

The thing that's stood out for me most is his composure when he's got the ball - he doesn't panic and uses it very well.

Also a big credit to him and our coaching staff that we accepted he wasn't tall enough to play FF at AFL level but were able to develop other areas of his game so he's not limited to one position.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

The day he did his knee in the VFL he was incredibly impressive in a crap team. Playing a Cox like role, he looked utterly composed as the chief deliverer out of the backline. Great effort from him last night and a smart selection. I imagine Adelaide would have been expecting Dawes again, so a relative unknown like Macaffer, strong and skillful, was wise.

 

[HFF]

Terrific physique on him. Freakin huge for such a young player.

Will be interesting to see where he ends up at senior level.

Was terrific against the Crows in only his 4th game. The goal on the run from 50 at that stage of the game was impressive, ditto the contested marking moments later. Pity about the sprayed shot though.

I think he will end up as a forward/rotating midfielder. I actually wouldn't mind seeing him play a Mark Lecras type role.

 

[TwisTz]

Haha whats with all the different capitalisations of his name?

Isn't it just... Macaffer

 

[wadethompson]

Love this kid and im so happy so see collingwood finally give him the chance to show what his got on the big stage and he certainly didn't look out of place there last night. He reminds me alot like ryan okeefe he looks like a player that will be able to play back forward and in the middle for the next 10 years for us he is a msut have in our 22 his been the player weve been looking for who can swing from one end of the ground to another, he has a strong body very smart and uses the ball well so good luck to him.

 

[Optimax]

Haha whats with all the different capitalisations of his name?

Isn't it just... Macaffer

The way didaka spelt is the correct way i think

But im sticking with Macaffer, because just like my surname random capitalisation confuse people

 

[Magnus the Magpie]

Terrific physique on him. Freakin huge for such a young player. -------

Yeah - that's what got me too - couldn't believe the biceps on him! We definitely need bigger bodies right over the field and this kid has one. Same with JMcC. Both of them have good height as well - around 6'2" in the old money. Just what we need in the mid, HB & HF area.

 

[didaka]

I was getting 20 bucks out of the atm at Rosebud Plaza, and I looked up and thought, wow, who's that spunky man.

It was my reflection, but then I saw Brent MacAffer and though he's even better.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Pretty much in line with the other posters, I dont really care where he plays as long as its at Collingwood.

Strong mark and good kick to make it as a forward, speed and strength to play inside midfield, and tackling ability and football brain to play defence.

 

[magpie_militia]

It seems crazy that a lot of people actually wanted this kid to be de-listed. Will be a gun