Dale Thomas

[DidaksLeftFoot]

Been floating across the backline a lot lately. Particularly earlier in the piece against the Power, he seems to be learning a lot more about the game by sitting behind centre, picking up somewhat cheap touches but he reads the play beautifully.

I think it's great for his future that he could play off a back flank as Bucks did for the early part of his career. Also did a defensive job on Murphy against the Blues for a bit.

Thoughts?

 

[magpies42]

Been floating across the backline a lot lately. Particularly earlier in the piece against the Power, he seems to be learning a lot more about the game by sitting behind centre, picking up somewhat cheap touches but he reads the play beautifully.

I think it's great for his future that he could play off a back flank as Bucks did for the early part of his career. Also did a defensive job on Murphy against the Blues for a bit.

Thoughts?

i have a query over his disposal and decision making at times, i have no doubt this will be ironed out, but am not willing to put my neck on the line and say he will be an out and out champion until this has been sorted out.

 

[Angelus512]

I've noticed he's forward or back lately but not in the midfield like Pendlebury is in that regard Pendle's has steamed ahead of Thomas in terms of usefulness.

Hope its a conscious decision or is Dale a bit tired like last year?

 

[prO]

I've noticed he's forward or back lately but not in the midfield like Pendlebury is in that regard Pendle's has steamed ahead of Thomas in terms of usefulness.

Hope its a conscious decision or is Dale a bit tired like last year?

I think the switch in position is more related to matchups, while developing him as a player so that he has more strings to his bow. Pendlebury has been played pretty much everywhere this year. Watch the Eagles game ( if you have it ) and you will see what I mean.

 

[Optimax]

I think the switch in position is more related to matchups, while developing him as a player so that he has more strings to his bow. Pendlebury has been played pretty much everywhere this year. Watch the Eagles game ( if you have it ) and you will see what I mean.

same thing happened with Buckley during his early years with us and the bears went from Half back to half forward and the wing before he finally got put in the midfield. Its to teach Dale to read the game, get the hard ball, cober his man, become deadly with his disposal etc.

 

[Darpy]

Been floating across the backline a lot lately. Particularly earlier in the piece against the Power, he seems to be learning a lot more about the game by sitting behind centre, picking up somewhat cheap touches but he reads the play beautifully.

I think it's great for his future that he could play off a back flank as Bucks did for the early part of his career. Also did a defensive job on Murphy against the Blues for a bit.

Thoughts?

im not sure if he did a job on Murphy, murphy was rampant in the first half and had a generally good game.

Im one of Thomas' biggest fans, but its kinda annoying me what MM is doing with him. I think he is getting blooded slowly, to get a taste of different aspects before he settles down somewhere.

i think the other factor is that he got a big head earlier, and had to be bought back down to earth a little, so MM might be cautious in that respect.
i still beleive he is a better long term prospect than Murphy. Murphy was always going to shine faster at the blues cos they were desperate for decent players and he got chucked in the deep end. we play a more team oriented game, so Thomas can develop more slowly

 

[Darpy]

Hope its a conscious decision or is Dale a bit tired like last year?

having seen him play at games, i am also amazed by the amount of ground this guy can cover.
Id rate him one of the fittest players on the ground.

 

[Soups]

You have to try our younger players out in different positions time to time. He went alright down back and was a good learning curve. He gave us some dash off the back flank but sometimes his kicking was poor. He is one of those players who is willing to learn every game he plays and this is what he is doing atm.

 

[Coin_Toss]

I've noticed he's forward or back lately but not in the midfield like Pendlebury is in that regard Pendle's has steamed ahead of Thomas in terms of usefulness.

Hope its a conscious decision or is Dale a bit tired like last year?

Pendlebury has played across the half-forward line swapping on-ball, so it's not as if he hasn't been used in different positions, like Dale.

What's the problem? Dale will learn a lot from this experience, he's being taught to be accountable for a man, help his teammates, and become more proficient with his decision-making.

 

[Paul.]

Pendlebury has played across the half-forward line swapping on-ball, so it's not as if he hasn't been used in different positions, like Dale.

What's the problem? Dale will learn a lot from this experience, he's being taught to be accountable for a man, help his teammates, and become more proficient with his decision-making.

I agree.

Malthouse wants players who can play in multiple positions anytime anywhere.

Thomas will learn from it, and good for him.