Toast Dale Thomas

[Football God]

If you stop by the supermarket or milkbar some time get an issue of March's issue of Alpha Magazine.. got a massive article on DT in it.

Title is: Dale Thomas: Why you'll never doubt him again.

 

[GibboPAL]

Don't tell the Giants, its our little secret.

Haha, couldn't agree more there.

 

[Jelly Bean]

They are very different players. I don't think they can be compared.

They are not all that different players, and when evaluation draft selections you must compare (even across player types) because that is what recruiters have to do. It doesn't matter if one is a ruckman and one is a rover, the recruiters (and therefore those evaluating the recruiting) must compare.

I don't think either club would change their selection on these two. It is the next two picks that those clubs would regret, because Pendles is clearly top 3 from that draft in hindsight.

 

[Damon_3388]

I don't think either club would change their selection on these two. It is the next two picks that those clubs would regret, because Pendles is clearly top 3 from that draft in hindsight.

TBH, I'd have it:

1. Scott Pendlebury
2. Marc Murphy
3. Dale Thomas

Thomas could potentially nudge ahead of Murphy this year too, as he has more of a defensive side which rounds out his game a bit more.

 

[Thommo 42]

I'd have it

1. Pendles
2. Gilbert
3. Thomas
4. Swallow
5. Murphy

Varcoe, Kennedy & Clark next

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

TBH, I'd have it:

1. Scott Pendlebury
2. Marc Murphy
3. Dale Thomas

Thomas could potentially nudge ahead of Murphy this year too, as he has more of a defensive side which rounds out his game a bit more.

A defensive side: This is something which im totally confused about. How does one judge a players defensive side. With the rotations now in place, how can anyone one of us (not involved in the inner sanctum of a footy club) know really who the players direct opponent is.

Its far to difficult to truly understand who is on who at any given time.

Don't know if you agree with me (probably not) but wouldn't tackles one of if not the best measure of defensive aptitude? I think case, Murphy whilst playing 4 games less than Thomas had 10 more tackles. Again I don't want this to turn into a Murphy vs Thomas slagging match, as like Thomas being view as soft, Murphy with an average of 4.5 tackles per game for mine shows enough defensive pressure.

 

[Damon_3388]

I'd have it

1. Pendles
2. Gilbert
3. Thomas
4. Swallow
5. Murphy

Varcoe, Kennedy & Clark next

I was just rating those three. I'd definitely have Swallow in the mix though if we're going with the whole draft though.

A defensive side: This is something which im totally confused about. How does one judge a players defensive side. With the rotations now in place, how can anyone one of us (not involved in the inner sanctum of a footy club) know really who the players direct opponent is.

Its far to difficult to truly understand who is on who at any given time.

Don't know if you agree with me (probably not) but wouldn't tackles one of if not the best measure of defensive aptitude? I think case, Murphy whilst playing 4 games less than Thomas had 10 more tackles. Again I don't want this to turn into a Murphy vs Thomas slagging match, as like Thomas being view as soft, Murphy with an average of 4.5 tackles per game for mine shows enough defensive pressure.

I don't know, Thomas just seems to work harder in that area. Could just be perception though.

 

[mdc]

A defensive side: This is something which im totally confused about. How does one judge a players defensive side. With the rotations now in place, how can anyone one of us (not involved in the inner sanctum of a footy club) know really who the players direct opponent is.

Its far to difficult to truly understand who is on who at any given time.

Don't know if you agree with me (probably not) but wouldn't tackles one of if not the best measure of defensive aptitude? I think case, Murphy whilst playing 4 games less than Thomas had 10 more tackles. Again I don't want this to turn into a Murphy vs Thomas slagging match, as like Thomas being view as soft, Murphy with an average of 4.5 tackles per game for mine shows enough defensive pressure.

Tackles might be the worst measure, the only information it gives us is where the player plays (Luke Ball leads tackles because he plays the most in congestion). Rotations or not, it's pretty obvious which players work hard both ways, which players chase outside their direct opponent, which players pay attention to their current opponent and so on. It's no secret that Thomas does all of this, and Murphy does none of it. Murphy's a very good one-way player, and better than Thomas offensively, but you've got your head in the sand if you're not willing to admit his defensive deficiencies.

The question of Thomas vs. Murphy then comes down to whether you believe Murphy's offensive advantage is greater than Thomas' defensive one. Last year, it wasn't. But last year Thomas had an out-of-the-box season, and Murphy stagnated, so it's very hard to tell what will happen long term with those 2.

 

[Markfs]

I know he was on telly at a young age and he had a cockiness and a cool sense of humour that indicated that he had a degree of self-confidence that normally gets opposition fans upset..... especially if the player is young and hasnt achieved much...

So Dale was perceived to be ahead of himself....people thought that HE thought that he was figjam no. 2 but he was only delivering the output of a half forward who flashed though the game.

But the reality is Thomas never thought he had achieved his potential. He continued to work on every area of his game... like good young players do... and at 22, he has aarrived as a very good player.

You couldnt say he has been slow in getting there becaue he's 22 and a lot of star players dont emerge until they are 25 or 26

I just dont see the evidence of this story being peddled around that he has suddenly morphed into this good player after being gutless and flashy etc. He has merely improved his game through hard work.

 

[Frankie23]

To be fair to Dale many fans have always had high expectations of him which was a bit unfair.

Being a number 2 draft pick, bursting on the scene in his first year, his percieved flashy style which is exacerbated by his looks, and the fact the Collingwood army after a few years of pain were looking for a new hero put unnecessary pressure on his shoulders.

Fact of the matter was that he was always going to be a project type player. He wasn't ready made, he was a twig and had a pretty poor engine. He always had the work-rate and desire, he just wasn't able to run out games with his body. This new percieved work-rate has always been there.

He is a gun player and will improve this season more than what many think, remember he is 23 this season. A permanent role in the midfield/wing is his and he will become and elite player by the end of this season imo.

 

[OniAu]

funny

the perceived "soft" label on daisy is seen by everyone but pies supporters

the perceived "non defensive" side of murphy is seen by everyone but blues supporters

 

[Thommo 42]

I think a few Blues fans are well aware that Murphy has a tendency to run forward of the footy a little too eagerly in many instances.

I wouldn't say he has no defensive side, but the Blues midfield as a group aren't particularly adept at covering the defensive side of stoppages. They spread very well offensively, but not so well defensively.

Could be more of a coaching issue than anything though.

 

[shawthing09]

I think a few Blues fans are well aware that Murphy has a tendency to run forward of the footy a little too eagerly in many instances.

I wouldn't say he has no defensive side, but the Blues midfield as a group aren't particularly adept at covering the defensive side of stoppages. They spread very well offensively, but not so well defensively.

Could be more of a coaching issue than anything though.

I think the players unfairly cop the slack for a gameplan that untill now has been based on betting heavily that they will win the stoppages. Without seeing the stats I'd guess Carlton where involved in most of the higher scoring games, they had a gamplan that pretty much involved getting as many numbers as possible at a stoppage and spreading foward from the stoppage. Meaning that when they won the stoppages and got into space they looked like millionaires but when they where stalled or beaten at stoppages they where found out defensively.

 

[boxy2010]

Gona put a lazy $20 on Thomas to win brownlow this year

What you guys think?

 

[Daicos Mullets]

I think your money would be better spent on Pendles.

 

[Thommo 42]

Unfortunately I think thats the view of GWS too

 

[Pie eyed]

Unfortunately I think thats the view of GWS too

If I was Sheedy, and I'm not, I would not be after 1 superstar, I'd be after 2 potential superstars.
GWS are not going to hit their window until 2-3 years after GC. The last thing you'd want if you're Sheeds is to peak at he same time as GC and possibly miss a chance at a flag.
That's how I'd be recruiting at least.
Pendles, Thomas and Swan, all three, three names mean bugger all in Western Sydney. Swan certainly would not be there for the first flag and it's debatable if Pendles or Thomas would either. Why waste the huge cash on nameless faces with not chance of flag?
I reckon he'd be more interested in the Sidey/Beams age bracket.
Could be mad of course, but you'se can all quote me in November if I'm wrong.
Watch this hand, look I'm gonna hit the Pies....oooh look I pinched another clubs youth.