Dale Thomas.

[rustyg70]

What are your expectations for Daisy this year?
Will he play more midfield minutes?
Will he be used more in the forward line?
Can you see him being used as an attacking half back flanker?

I personally expect to see his best season to date.
The guy oozes talent and class.

When on, he is one of the most creative and damaging players in our side,maybe even the league.
He can turn a game in one 5 minute burst.
He is versitile and is capable of playing in ever position I've mentioned above.
He is good/ very good over head, tackles hard/tackles VERY hard and often, runs extremely hard both ways, chases hard when he doesn't have the ball, kicks goals, stands up in the big games and has that all important X factor.


Am I over rating him and expecting too much?

 

[SpongePie]

My fav player, however he had an average 2012, partly due to injuries.
Provided he stays injury free, I can see him playing a mid/fwd rotating role.

As a runner off half back, would be interesting...

 

[Lockyer24]

Midfield. 25 touches and 1.5 goals a game. Please.

 

[Optimax]

Playing midfield/wing like he did 2010 and 2011.

No idea why he played as a deep forward and half forward first half of the year, his best each game was the midfield cameos he had. After the ankle injuries I could see the thinking.

Hopefully midfield from round 1 in 2013

 

[mattys123]

I'd actually save him for the finals, for mine he is the best match winner or match breaker that we have, as shown by those few minutes of magic in the semi vs the Eagles.

The problem seems to be for Daisy is that because he trains so hard, and runs himself into the game each match, that by the end of the season he is likely to be carrying something that is restricting him from performing at his best.

I'd play him more as a half forward in 2013 during the home and away rounds, and at times even play him as a permanent forward without even rotating through the middle, because if Dale Thomas if fit come September, we can win the flag, if not we can't IMO.

 

[Lockyer24]

Playing midfield/wing like he did 2010 and 2011.

No idea why he played as a deep forward and half forward first half of the year, his best each game was the midfield cameos he had. After the ankle injuries I could see the thinking.

Hopefully midfield from round 1 in 2013

I can understand why he gets thrown forward, we lacked forward class without Krak and Dids when injured. Too many toilers.

 

[Rusty22]

will start to dominate games.

 

[Optimax]

I can understand why he gets thrown forward, we lacked forward class without Krak and Dids when injured. Too many toilers.

Yeah I suppose, I just felt we missed his maniac running through the midfield. Also wasn't one to not work back when required.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Shouldn't this be in the Adam Oxley thread...?

 

[Cory]

It really depends on how the contract talks go, I mean look at how it affected Cloke, now i'm not saying that he'll hold out for money aswell it's just you don't know how much it'll effect him as there will be pressure on him from the get go of 2013 on whether he's staying or not.

Hopefully he'll brush it off like 2011 which was one of his best seasons in his career.

I can see him playing more of a midfield role which i personally think suits him,mainly playing on the wing along with young.

 

[carnthepies19]

I'd be happy if he played as well as he did this year. Honestly, if he improves on this years performance I will be stoked. But I'm not going to set the bar too high yet.

However he is STILL in a moon boot after ankle surgery and having missed the trip to Utah and it will likely further impact the second half of his preseason in that he will still be regaining fitness and strength after a fair chunk of time in the horrid boot. So realistically, when he gets back to full training he will be a bit behind, but luckily he will have Goldy with him so theyre both in it together. I don't think we will see the best of daisy straight away, but he should be right when It matters come September.

I reckon we will see a bit more of forward flank Daisy at the start of the season - purely due to his injury and lack of preseason. In saying that, I think he won't spend the whole year there, returning to his old midfield spot after he's settled into the season.

 

[rustyg70]

The problem seems to be for Daisy is that because he trains so hard, and runs himself into the game each match, that by the end of the season he is likely to be carrying something that is restricting him from performing at his best.

.

How do you stop a player that trains as hard as he does from not producing the same on the field come game day?

 

[mattys123]

How do you stop a player that trains as hard as he does from not producing the same on the field come game day?

That's the question isn't it, I liken Daisy a bit to Gavin Brown (all be it a different type of on field player) in that he trained and played so damn hard that he struggled to get through many full seasons in his career.

We have to manage Daisy, and I reckon with our increased midfield depth this year, Thomas and others should be rested against the easier sides so that there's more chance of them being fit come September.

 

[Shellz]

Hope it's better than 2012.

 

[Jelly Bean]

It is a good question.

I think Daisy is most productive when he has space to run with the ball. That doesn't typically happen in the forward line (it is more of a mark, or get and kick instantly position). This suggests that moving him back to a wing is the way to get his best. However, I have also long been an advocate of trying Daisy off half-back, despite having no reference for it other than the games he played for Australia against Ireland where he dominated in this role.

He is the only player in our club that can play that role that Davis played so well in 2011. He is quick, super attacking, super defensive (tackling), but also strong in the air and an above average kick. I would play him in that role while he builds his fitness, and then move him into the midfield rotation from mid-year.

I also wouldn't be against leaving him off a half-back flank and letting him run and carry... It would give the opposition headaches to have to worry about his / Shaw's / (and Russell's...?) attack from the backline - notwithstanding it would need to come at the expense of Maxwell or Harry.

 

[JollyBallsUp]

What are the chances of Thomas, Goldy, Dids, Toovey, and Maxy heading to the US for an altitude training camp late January early February were they could speed up their training programs to have them fit and ready to contribute to later rounds of the NAB cup and more importantly have them ready for round one?

 

[rand corp]

Unencumbered by injury, I see Dale tearing up and down the right wing and getting time forward for the odd goal.

 

[Vicky Park]

This thread makes pleasant reading after the argy bargy on the Marley Williams thread. For me, Daisy getting back to something like the form he showed in the 2010 finals series would be fantastic for us in 2013. He was outstanding in that month, a real 'coming of age' as a footballer. He will also be another year into his 'separation' from MM, and bonding with Bucks, which should help.

 

[jimmy35]

That's the question isn't it, I liken Daisy a bit to Gavin Brown (all be it a different type of on field player) in that he trained and played so damn hard that he struggled to get through many full seasons in his career.

We have to manage Daisy, and I reckon with our increased midfield depth this year, Thomas and others should be rested against the easier sides so that there's more chance of them being fit come September.

Surely his training loads are monitored so he isn't running himself into the ground at training.

 

[Knightmare]

At this stage I do consider Dale somewhat overrated and I'd put Sidebottom in that same group where his profile far exceeds what he has done. Some big performances in big games have warped the views of what opposition supporters in particular think these two are capable of with the incorrect perceptions that Sidebottom is an elite midfield with an elite kick with Thomas being spoken about in a similar and also incorrect way.

On Thomas specifically this year I'm still exceptionally worried about his body. It is very hard to see his body holding up and I can see another similar, but with luck slightly less poor season again in 2013.

He needs to play more midfield this year and be used as a combo inside/outside mid. Outside I don't see nearly enough offensive run and he really needs to improve in this regard and additionally his footskills are below average as an outside type and also need to improve. Then as an inside type he needs to continue to improve his stoppage game, winning more of his own ball, winning more clearances and he needs to get his energy tackling game back to previous levels. Endurance also needs to get back to 2011 levels if not improve so there is plenty of room for improvement but I'm not seeing it in 2013 specifically until I've seen it and as a result my expectations of Thomas after 2012 have really dropped markedly and in my mind a pass mark is just a more consistent season where he goes from 5 minute impacts, once a month to becoming a 120 minute, 22 game player who can give more consistent effort over a game, every game.

 

[Prestigerrycomo]

Make him grow the Blonde locks back as well....he seemed to go better before the shaved head hehe

 

[PremierPie13]

At this stage I do consider Dale somewhat overrated and I'd put Sidebottom in that same group where his profile far exceeds what he has done. Some big performances in big games have warped the views of what opposition supporters in particular think these two are capable of with the incorrect perceptions that Sidebottom is an elite midfield with an elite kick with Thomas being spoken about in a similar and also incorrect way.

On Thomas specifically this year I'm still exceptionally worried about his body. It is very hard to see his body holding up and I can see another similar, but with luck slightly less poor season again in 2013.

He needs to play more midfield this year and be used as a combo inside/outside mid. Outside I don't see nearly enough offensive run and he really needs to improve in this regard and additionally his footskills are below average as an outside type and also need to improve. Then as an inside type he needs to continue to improve his stoppage game, winning more of his own ball, winning more clearances and he needs to get his energy tackling game back to previous levels. Endurance also needs to get back to 2011 levels if not improve so there is plenty of room for improvement but I'm not seeing it in 2013 specifically until I've seen it and as a result my expectations of Thomas after 2012 have really dropped markedly and in my mind a pass mark is just a more consistent season where he goes from 5 minute impacts, once a month to becoming a 120 minute, 22 game player who can give more consistent effort over a game, every game.

I don't think people here are overrating Thomas at all. We are not discussing potential here and simply put, he was a proven A-grade midfielder in 2011. People's perceptions of him are therefore based on his 2011 output which showed him to be a consistent, game-breaking player who racked up disposals in the high 20's, kicked goals and overall was another reason we maintained our high standard throughout that year.

Thomas will improve markedly in 2013. Sidebottom I hope will maintain his early form of 2012 throughout the entire season next year and again he is a perfect example of a player who has SHOWN his potential, not left us expecting it.

 

[Markfs]

At this stage I do consider Dale somewhat overrated and I'd put Sidebottom in that same group where his profile far exceeds what he has done. Some big performances in big games have warped the views of what opposition supporters in particular think these two are capable of with the incorrect perceptions that Sidebottom is an elite midfield with an elite kick with Thomas being spoken about in a similar and also incorrect way.

On Thomas specifically this year I'm still exceptionally worried about his body. It is very hard to see his body holding up and I can see another similar, but with luck slightly less poor season again in 2013.

He needs to play more midfield this year and be used as a combo inside/outside mid. Outside I don't see nearly enough offensive run and he really needs to improve in this regard and additionally his footskills are below average as an outside type and also need to improve. Then as an inside type he needs to continue to improve his stoppage game, winning more of his own ball, winning more clearances and he needs to get his energy tackling game back to previous levels. Endurance also needs to get back to 2011 levels if not improve so there is plenty of room for improvement but I'm not seeing it in 2013 specifically until I've seen it and as a result my expectations of Thomas after 2012 have really dropped markedly and in my mind a pass mark is just a more consistent season where he goes from 5 minute impacts, once a month to becoming a 120 minute, 22 game player who can give more consistent effort over a game, every game.

I tell you what...you guys dont ask for much from a footballer. I lost track of the required improvements so I decided to list them

• play better in less important games
• more midfield insider and outsider roles
• outside
  • more offensive run
  • better footskills when he is outside
• inside
  • better stoppage game
  • win more of his own ball
  • win more clearances
• more energy in his tackling
• more endurance
• raise knightmare's expectations - this is a critical one
• more consistent season

I feel very silly now for having wasted the last 10 minutes of my life...

 

[Jelly Bean]

On Sidebottom, I agree, and have always been quite vocal about his level of overratedness (particularly his kicking, which is literally only average on his preferred, and slightly above average on his left).

On Thomas, I disagree only slightly. He was exceptional in 2011, and clearly in the top 15 or so players in the league. Last year, he played more forwardline minutes, which funnily enough is the area of the ground I personally think he is the least suited. Maybe with Krak back, Thomas can resume the midfield role he so dominated in the year before last. Although given his injury set backs so far this pre-season, I am less that convinced that will happen.

 

[Kirby]

^ At least not early in the season Jelly. Hopefully he will increase his level of fitness early on at either HB or HF and by mid season starts to get some serious minutes in the middle, so he hits the finals in full flight.

That's my dream anyway!