Junior

[The Dr]

I got to thinking today about Junior McDonald. What is gonna happen with him next year?

Obviously a great servent for the Dees, and what he's managed to get out of himself is a credit to him and the club.

But he seems to be struggling to influence games like he did as recent as last year - I know he has been playing some different roles but a two-time BnF winner needs to be doing more in my opinion (he's not alone, obviously).

He will be 33 next year.

My questions are:
- will he want to play on?
- will the club want him to play on?
- how will the club handle it if he is keen to play on but isn't wanted?

It's always tricky when a club champion nears the end of his career but I think for us to move forward, he needs to hang up his boots to free up one more space on the list and allow the next generation to come through (along with Yze, Dutchy etc).

Thoughts?

 

[pete82]

i think junior will walk if he's tapped on the shoulder- he's a great club man.

with that said i don't think they will want him to leave. still has plenty to offer, even if its just role-modelling and mentoring for the kids coming through.

still a year in him at least.

 

[w00dy]

i think junior will walk if he's tapped on the shoulder- he's a great club man.

i think he would too... but i also think he will get the tap on the shoulder...

he seems to have moved out of the midfield to a back pocket, to allow Dunn, McLean, Jones etc. to play on ball... which is good, these guys are the future of our midfield... but we have a much better back pocket in Matthew Whelan, who is 2 years younger...

if he's going to play on next season, i think he needs to move back into the middle before the year is out... if that doesn't happen and he stays in the back pocket, i think that will be all for junior...

 

[Bartram_Class]

We're going to lose Yze, Neitz, Holland and Carroll come the years end.

With Robbo no certainty either, I'd give Junior another year, he's only down possession-wise this year because he's been down back. I still think his experience is invaluable and he's got the smarts to make up for any lack of pace.

 

[omit]

the game clearly hasn't passed him, and he has plenty to offer the kids coming through. should be given another year at least. we only have so many draft picks remember