Confirmed...Daisy to play MUCH more midfield

[Bigness]

...... and Reid being talked up at CHB.

• OUT: Scott Burns. IN: "Daisy" Thomas. The search to replace Collingwood's hard-nosed former captain might not be that simple, but Thomas is ready to take up some of the midfield slack.

Dale Thomas's move from half-forward to the centre square was one of several eye-catching positional changes on show at Collingwood's intraclub match at Gosch's Paddock yesterday.
This was no pre-season experiment -- the Pies have told Thomas he is ready for a massively increased role in the midfield this year.
His fitness is at a career-best level and yesterday he was matched against fellow Gippsland Power draftee Scott Pendlebury.
The Pies yesterday played their third intraclub scratch match in preparation for Saturday night's NAB Cup opener against West Coast at Subiaco, and almost the entire squad was on deck.
Only Anthony Rocca (ankle), Sean Rusling (shoulder), Paul Medhurst (foot) and Irishman Kevin Dyas (hamstring) missed through injury.
Alan Didak was at his brother's wedding in Adelaide.
If Thomas shone in the centre, Ben Reid's new role as a centre half-back was noticeable and Leigh Brown was trying to cement a NAB Cup start in defence.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24986675-19742,00.html

 

[Dave The Man]

That is Great News

 

[Bigness]

That is Great News

Yeah, we all know he's not designed to play the role that Sir Scott played and that was an odd way to start the article, but I can't wait to see Daisy streaming through the guts.

His frame is taking on some serious muscle too. I may get shot down for saying this, but with Daisy's Angular frame, he could END UP with a rig similar in shape to Buckley. For anyone who's read Buckley's book, they would know that he started out as a skinny little runt and look what he became with hard work.....

Having said that, I don't think Butters would be designing that sort of program for him. A rig like that would slow him down too much and detract from his line-breaking ability.

 

[spartan-magpie]

Yeah, we all know he's not designed to play the role that Sir Scott played and that was an odd way to start the article, but I can't wait to see Daisy streaming through the guts.

His frame is taking on some serious muscle too. I may get shot down for saying this, but with Daisy's Angular frame, he could END UP with a rig similar in shape to Buckley. For anyone who's read Buckley's book, they would know that he started out as a skinny little runt and look what he became with hard work.....

Having said that, I don't think Butters would be designing that sort of program for him. A rig like that would slow him down too much and detract from his line-breaking ability.

i think your pretty well spot on there.. i see the similarity in his physique too.. e.g same shape.. thickish mid section not overly broad compared to mid section and not over big set of arms... only thing is i doubt thommo wold be able to add another 10-14 of muscle to really have the buckleyesque gladiator style physique....

 

[Kirby]

H's built more like Hird than Buckley I would have thought. Bucks always had that core strength and muscle through the arse and thighs that Daisy will never have.

Great to read confirmation of more time in the middle. It's time for Daisy to be unleashed.

 

[smiddaz123]

I think I remember Buckley saying in his autobiography that he had a similar body shape to Thomas when he was younger.

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

I'm really excited now.

 

[hellfire]

Good news. I'm not sure if it will be this year or next, but his breakout is imminent. The man will be a superstar of the competition, I have little doubt. We're finally building an imposing midfield: Pendlebury, Thomas, Swan, McCarthy, Beams, Sidebottom, Wellingham... and throw in Leon for the short term. So much talent.

 

[RustyBeams]

Good news. I'm not sure if it will be this year or next, but his breakout is imminent. The man will be a superstar of the competition, I have little doubt. We're finally building an imposing midfield: Pendlebury, Thomas, Swan, McCarthy, Beams, Sidebottom, Wellingham... and throw in Leon for the short term. So much talent.

My sentiments exactly. Would be nice if Daisy turned out like Bucks but i doubt he'll turn out that big, besides if he got that big it might affect his speed across the ground.

 

[swiftdog]

I want Beams to become our Buckley-esqiue (size-wise), gladiator-sized crash and bash clearance player midfielder. Thomas to become our James hird style midfielder. McCarthy to become our Vosslike tough as nails midfielder. Clarke to become our Harveyesque hard-running midfielder. Blight to become a Koutofidis-when-he-was-fully-fit style midfielder. Pendlebury to become... better than them all.

Sounds good enough to me.

 

[Old Spice]

Nah. All fit young footy players are skinny in terms of bulk, but the frame is everything here. Bucks had a skeletal frame to build up into a muscular sized mesomorph, Thomas cannot become another body type, no matter how many weights he lifts.

No matter though, he can be a great player nonetheless. If anyone can become a Buckley, Licuria, Voss size it will be a Beams. You can see already in Beams the outline of a very strong mesomorph type.

 

[Skade]

I want Beams to become our Buckley-esqiue (size-wise), gladiator-sized crash and bash clearance player midfielder. Thomas to become our James hird style midfielder. McCarthy to become our Vosslike tough as nails midfielder. Clarke to become our Harveyesque hard-running midfielder. Blight to become a Koutofidis-when-he-was-fully-fit style midfielder. Pendlebury to become... better than them all.

Sounds good enough to me.

Jeez,ya dont want much. But I hope all your wishes come true.

 

[SteeleBeams]

...... and Reid being talked up at CHB.

• OUT: Scott Burns. IN: "Daisy" Thomas. The search to replace Collingwood's hard-nosed former captain might not be that simple, but Thomas is ready to take up some of the midfield slack.

Dale Thomas's move from half-forward to the centre square was one of several eye-catching positional changes on show at Collingwood's intraclub match at Gosch's Paddock yesterday.
This was no pre-season experiment -- the Pies have told Thomas he is ready for a massively increased role in the midfield this year.
His fitness is at a career-best level and yesterday he was matched against fellow Gippsland Power draftee Scott Pendlebury.
The Pies yesterday played their third intraclub scratch match in preparation for Saturday night's NAB Cup opener against West Coast at Subiaco, and almost the entire squad was on deck.
Only Anthony Rocca (ankle), Sean Rusling (shoulder), Paul Medhurst (foot) and Irishman Kevin Dyas (hamstring) missed through injury.
Alan Didak was at his brother's wedding in Adelaide.
If Thomas shone in the centre, Ben Reid's new role as a centre half-back was noticeable and Leigh Brown was trying to cement a NAB Cup start in defence.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24986675-19742,00.html

It says "hard-nosed" something daisy isn't. He really needs to step up and be harder at the ball this year, he took a little step last year, but if he wants to be half the player that burns was, he really needs to lift the intensity.

 

[Seeks]

It says "hard-nosed" something daisy isn't. He really needs to step up and be harder at the ball this year, he took a little step last year, but if he wants to be half the player that burns was, he really needs to lift the intensity.

Clearly, like most non-Collingwood supporters you under-rate his attack on the ball.

When it's his turn to go he goes!

 

[SteeleBeams]

Clearly, like most non-Collingwood supporters you under-rate his attack on the ball.

When it's his turn to go he goes!

I am not under-rating his attack on the ball at all, i am just saying, it isn't where it should be. Yes, he does go hard at the ball on some occasions, but i have seen times where he knows he might not win the ball and might cop a knock, and he backs out.

 

[Quicky]

I hate articles that don't quote a player or coach when they make statements like this.

"...the pies have told Thomas..."

If someone actually said this why aren't they quoted?? Its a kind of cryptic way to write!!

I wouldn't get too carried away with this article. Thomas is much more likely to play HFF, FP and maybe a bit of Wing than in the middle which I reckon he looks uncomfortable in. Guys like Swan, OBree, Pendlebury, McCarthy, Wellingham, Sidebottom and Beams have a better chance to play as centre square midfielders than Thomas IMO.

 

[SteeleBeams]

I hate articles that don't quote a player or coach when they make statements like this.

"...the pies have told Thomas..."

If someone actually said this why aren't they quoted?? Its a kind of cryptic way to write!!

I wouldn't get too carried away with this article. Thomas is much more likely to play HFF, FP and maybe a bit of Wing than in the middle which I reckon he looks uncomfortable in. Guys like Swan, OBree, Pendlebury, McCarthy, Wellingham, Sidebottom and Beams have a better chance to play as centre square midfielders than Thomas IMO.

Yeah, that sounds about right. I would much prefer Daisy playing off the half forward line or in the pocket anyway, thats my opinion.

 

[OniAu]

I am not under-rating his attack on the ball at all, i am just saying, it isn't where it should be. Yes, he does go hard at the ball on some occasions, but i have seen times where he knows he might not win the ball and might cop a knock, and he backs out.

i can see where you are coming from but i dont fully get why.

You think he goes hard enough at the ball but you want him to go harder when he knows he cant win the ball.

Agression and commitment at the ball,player and contest has never been second rate for thomas in my eyes.

If you think im just defending for the sake of it , wind back to the last few rounds of last year where he put himself in the line of player on a few occasions. One particular mark where he actually got injured because of putting himself in the line of another player.

 

[SteeleBeams]

i can see where you are coming from but i dont fully get why.

You think he goes hard enough at the ball but you want him to go harder when he knows he cant win the ball.

Agression and commitment at the ball,player and contest has never been second rate for thomas in my eyes.

If you think im just defending for the sake of it , wind back to the last few rounds of last year where he put himself in the line of player on a few occasions. One particular mark where he actually got injured because of putting himself in the line of another player.

Yeah, towards the end of last season he did put his body on the line more often, and it was good to see.

I'm not saying for him to go harder when he knows he can't win the ball, but he sometimes hesitates.

 

[HFF]

Music to alot of magpie ears!

We are developing an exciting new breed of midfield depth and talent.

Will be a breakout year in 2009 for Daisy.

I don't expect him to win the brownlow but I think his development can mirror that of Adam Cooney.

 

[smiddaz123]

He'll be a much different player, but his development pattern could be very similar to Cooney's, agreed.

 

[well left]

I wouldn't get too carried away with this article. Thomas is much more likely to play HFF, FP and maybe a bit of Wing than in the middle which I reckon he looks uncomfortable in. Guys like Swan, OBree, Pendlebury, McCarthy, Wellingham, Sidebottom and Beams have a better chance to play as centre square midfielders than Thomas IMO.

I agree with part of that. I'm not sure Thomas is a centre square midfielder as you say but it is worth trying him there and seeing if he does improve. He should spend most of his time on the wing IMO so he is running through the midfield, just not necessairly a stoppage type player.

 

[Pie eyed]

If the amount of muscle he appears to have put on is a reality then I think Daisy will be changing some critics perceptions of "softness" big time this year.
Whether or not he does it in the mid-field is largely a matter of whether he is actually suitable for that position or wasted.
I, like a few other, take claims made in media pieces which neither directly quote a verifiable source or even associate the claim with a person at the club.

The claim that Rusling may play back is a good example.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

It would be nice to have a midfielder who can hold his own in marking contests (Swan is good, but the rest arent really much chop above their heads). I reckon Thomas could fill that void we've had for a while. The last midfielder we had who could consistently take contested markswas Gavin Brown.

Whether he becomes a full time midfielder remains to be seen, but these days with huge rotations you can barely tell the difference anyway.

 

[jimmy_clement#8]

Ralph would know more about what Tim Watson had planned for the weekend than what changes we made to our gameplan from last year.

Every time he came into my vision, Ralph was talking and not watching the game.

Let's let Daisy do what Daisy does best. And that's by not playing a Burnsy type of game.

C'mon Jon.