Dale Thomas - Half Back

[TheClokes]

Watching the international rules game last nite, one thing hit me: Dale Thomas looked physically bigger, a lot more self-assured, and very comfortable playing the creative half-back role. Is Malthouse in the process of developing Thomas into this type of role permanently next year?

 

[FIGJAM]

He looked good behind the ball. Ran into trouble too much on that postange stamp they call a ground, but it wouldn't happen too often on a full ground.

Did look bigger. Both him and Pendles have been in the gyme.

As usual he backed into packs without fear and was bullet fast.

Daisy's occassionally scrappy footskills don't put him into the Heath Shaw / Luke Hodge "quarterback" role. But if his cardio goes up, I'd like to see him on the ball for longer periods. He does have some inside-4 sharking ability and may win an above average amount of pill.

 

[OnceWeWereKings]

Watching the international rules game last nite, one thing hit me: Dale Thomas looked physically bigger, a lot more self-assured, and very comfortable playing the creative half-back role. Is Malthouse in the process of developing Thomas into this type of role permanently next year?

Where would Heath Shaw play? Wouldn't think you could have 2 creative halfbacks in the one team, someone needs to play the defensive role. Has Shaw built the tank to move into the midfield next year?
If Daisy can add that 5 to 10 kg of muscle that he needs, I'm sure he can develop the consistency he needs to add to his game.
The kids just need time. Will be a star in the next 1 to 2 years

 

[Godfrey Jones]

He looked good behind the ball. Ran into trouble too much on that postange stamp they call a ground, but it wouldn't happen too often on a full ground.

Did look bigger. Both him and Pendles have been in the gyme.

As usual he backed into packs without fear and was bullet fast.

Daisy's occassionally scrappy footskills don't put him into the Heath Shaw / Luke Hodge "quarterback" role. But if his cardio goes up, I'd like to see him on the ball for longer periods. He does have some inside-4 sharking ability and may win an above average amount of pill.

since he aint wearin black and white the kids on the main board have finally noticed his work rate off the ball and hardness. ffs one poster said "now if he can only do this for collingwood"

dale chases, tackles, throws his body around week in week out. pisses me off how he ges called soft for no reason at all

 

[King Woodie]

I think h would be a great half back / midfielder. It would provide us with a good option if he is getting tagged out of the game in the forward line. As I said, he did well back there at times in 07, and his run, attack on the man, and courage should see him capable of being a valuable contributor.

I think you could certainly have both he and Heath back there at the same time - it may help alleviate the issues with Heater getting tagged ie, you tag Heater and Daisy runs amok. We still get drive.

 

[thatday]

Thomas the Tank has an all new meaning.

 

[Snag Breac]

I thought that both Thomas and Pendles looked bigger. In fact I thought Pendles might even have grown an extra inch. But I wondered if they just looked more like Chesty Bonds because of the material in their jumpers, and because they weren't wearing stripes, which make you look thinner.

What happened to Pendles kicking? Go Ireland!

 

[didak04]

Encouraging signs last night from Thomas. As mentioned by others in this thread he was noticeably bigger in the body and this augurs well for a push into the midfield next season.

Anybody who has read Nathan Buckley's book will notice some similarities arising here between the two players. Bucks openly admitted that he become a much better player once he bulked up and gained the ability to do some "inside" work. Now Thomas will obviously never be another Buckley but by adding another string to his bow he has the potential to be a very damaging player.

 

[King Woodie]

I thought that both Thomas and Pendles looked bigger. In fact I thought Pendles might even have grown an extra inch. But I wondered if they just looked more like Chesty Bonds because of the material in their jumpers, and because they weren't wearing stripes, which make you look thinner.

What happened to Pendles kicking? Go Ireland!

I think it ws due to the relativity, Snag. He wouldn't have grown much since the season ended. He was just surrounded by short people because they are better at that game than big blokes, so he looked taller by comparison.

 

[beez]

I'd be disappointed if he played a half-back role next year. Creative? Yes. But too many turnovers still which would be punished more playing in the defensive half.

 

[Dave The Man]

since he aint wearin black and white the kids on the main board have finally noticed his work rate off the ball and hardness. ffs one poster said "now if he can only do this for collingwood"

dale chases, tackles, throws his body around week in week out. pisses me off how he ges called soft for no reason at all

2nd that, Funny when a Pie Player plays for someone else all of a Sudden he is a Gun but When he comes back to us he will get the crap again

 

[Pie eyed]

I thought that both Thomas and Pendles looked bigger. In fact I thought Pendles might even have grown an extra inch. But I wondered if they just looked more like Chesty Bonds because of the material in their jumpers, and because they weren't wearing stripes, which make you look thinner.

What happened to Pendles kicking? Go Ireland!

I thought you'd be happy Snag. I thought of your mixed feeling watching the game last night

I know these games are an "outlet" for national pride but I thought that too much of each individual sport is taken away to make the game overly exciting for followers of either code.
For me far too much of the physicality and urgency is taken away from the AFL side of it.
It also seems both sides players are very vague about the rules and tentative their decision making, which is understandable.
Don't get me wrong the game is interesting, but not even exciting let alone thrilling.

 

[Shutty05]

He is a goal kicking midfielder who needs to develop his clearences and then he can break the lines and kick the goals. Because he doesnt have a big tank yet and gets pushed around when around the packs mick is getting other players to get it to him then he can break lines which makes sense.

People seen what Hodge done and thinks every good player should do it, as if Calton would waste Judd by playing that roll. We need him to just develop his body and it will all click. Every please relax he will be the gun we drafted him to be.

 

[Snag Breac]

I thought you'd be happy Snag. I thought of your mixed feeling watching the game last night

I know these games are an "outlet" for national pride but I thought that too much of each individual sport is taken away to make the game overly exciting for followers of either code.
For me far too much of the physicality and urgency is taken away from the AFL side of it.
It also seems both sides players are very vague about the rules and tentative their decision making, which is understandable.
Don't get me wrong the game is interesting, but not even exciting let alone thrilling.

I don't care, it was better than watching Taggert. Admittedly it wasn't as much fun as AFL, but I didn't have any mixed feelings at all - except about the excruciatingly awful rendition of our national anthem. But I was relieved that neither Pies player was hurt.

I think it was a shrewd move by MM to include Thomas. He won't have the time to do any serious, prolonged drinking before the pre-season, so should come back in great shape.

 

[Pie eyed]

I don't care, it was better than watching Taggert. Admittedly it wasn't as much fun as AFL, but I didn't have any mixed feelings at all - except about the excruciatingly awful rendition of our national anthem. But I was relieved that neither Pies player was hurt.

I think it was a shrewd move by MM to include Thomas. He won't have the time to do any serious, prolonged drinking before the pre-season, so should come back in great shape.

Too true and I have to agree, my biggest fear was a knee injury to our boys.

I don't think it is just Ireland's NA which gets slaughtered. I can't remember the last time the good old Aussie anthem was sung properly, probably Julie Anthony.

 

[Snag Breac]

Too true and I have to agree, my biggest fear was a knee injury to our boys.

I don't think it is just Ireland's NA which gets slaughtered. I can't remember the last time the good old Aussie anthem was sung properly, probably Julie Anthony.

They should get the Pogues over to do it - if they aren't all dead yet.

Or maybe Brian Kennedy.

 

[DoubleO7]

Should try it in a game, to see how it goes.

 

[Pie eyed]

They should get the Pogues over to do it - if they aren't all dead yet.

Or maybe Brian Kennedy.

The Pogues....great band....

 

[well left]

I think we will get enough drive off half-back next year from Heater, Harry and JA.

Midfield is where we have some deficiencies and where we need Thomas next year. He is slowly getting stronger and with this his midfield time increased this year.

I hope he has a big pre-season and spends the majority of his time in the midfield. I think he can develop an inside game and be a great all-round mid with explosive pace for us.

 

[shawthing09]

I don't see it being a permenant role for him. I do think he needs to continue getting a range of roles while he develops to give him the best education and hopefully get him into the midfield. I think stints behind the ball off a hbf in a Burgoyne or Johncock role would be good for him. As well as playing midfield. He gets a bit of a rough rap on these boards for playing too much like a selfish oppertunist but thats because he spends most of his time in a position where that is encouraged.

Giving him stints behind the ball as well as in the midfield will keep him in the game for longer periods of time. He will have to be safer and more accountable because mistakes in the back half are more costly. It will help him develop. Obviously my preference is to get as much midfield time into him as possible but I would not be against stints on a HBF.

 

[Skade]

How long would it take Dale to build up his tank to be a full time mid. This seems to be something you can't do in a year or two.
Or could it be he never will, like Rocca, just not in their genes or whatever.

 

[wixism]

Dale half back
shaw center
dale is best playing deep forward and jumping on peoples heads