Ken McGregor

[Mad Dog]

Where is Kenny at in his career ?

This PS could well be a significant time for Ken. (and we could single out a heap of players in this category)

Much has been said about Ken’s 2006. No question he seemed to carry some kind of chronic leg/lower body injury that affected his kicking, and appeared to restrict him in his movement and ability to run much faster than ¾ rat power. Add to this the fact that he and Trent were the only tall forward options to play more than a handful of games – and Ken really did suffer physically in a lead up role that IMO he is just not suited to.

I think Ken has only 3 options on the ground – CHB, CHF, and Fwd Pocket.

• Given that Craig’s game plan revolves around a running, attacking CHB line – I’m thinking these days have passed him by.
• Does Ken have the endurance, and mobility to cover the sort of ground a CHF needs too ?
• Does this just leave Ken as a stay at home marking target ?
• Can we afford to have a one-dimensional player in a side that is not overflowing with KPP flexibility?

…..but hold on – Kenny is only 26 years old, yet he looked like a 36 year old this year. Most of us hope that Ken can have a massive preseason and recapture some of the form and presence that had him hailed as one of our most important and flexible big men.?....remember ????.....whenever there was a hole to fill – Kenny would fix it. Was that a measure of the man’s talent – or was it a condemning commentary on our thin KPP stocks ???

Although it may sound like it – I’m not having a crack at Ken. I actually hope he can get his body right and become an important part of our forward line.

My point is – we have many, many more stars in our line up who will no doubt exert considerable influence on our side’s chances in 2007 – but one of the big issues for me in terms of team structure will be how Ken can respond over the PS – and the influence he can bring to the team. My fear is that without something special from Ken – he might struggle to retain a place in the 22.

 

[Stiffy_18]

No one is denying that Kenny hasn't had a great year by his standards. You are right in saying that he has been our Mr. Fix it over the years. Something was not right about him and as much as his bashers like to point out that thats Kenny, they are wrong.

He has never been the most mobile or agile player but this year his agility and mobility was as worse at it has been and that tells me there was an injury that we didn't know about. Was it OP or was it something else. He couldn't kick over 40 meters and I have seen him kick goals from 50 out as recently as 2005. No one can convince me that Kenny was right.

Fit and firing I see him as a walk up start in our 22. No ifs or buts. He is our most flexible tall and has shown over the years that he is capable in all 4 KPs.

With Craig's game plan, he is no longer the first choice CHB because he doesn't provide a lot of rebound from defence. That honour has gone to Nathan Bock.

As a result I either see Kenny as a forward or as a FB, releasing Rutten forward. Kenny is still EASILY our best contested marker and people forget just how good he can be as a forward. Remember his finals series in 2005. Even his 2nd half of 2005, when he was moved forward, was VERY good.

Hopefully Kenny can recover and get back to his best. He is still only young and has plenty of football left in him. I suspect he will play mostly as a forward next year and will be rotating between FF and CHF, depending on the opposition and the structure we want to go into the game with.

I am confident that Kenny will be back better next year and there will be plenty of humble pie going around

 

[kimirocks]

I'm not one of Kenny's greatest fans, but I do like him. I think it completely depends on Perrie on where he plays. If he (Sarge) can regain the form he had before his back injury, then he will play as CHF/HFF, and Kenny will play FF/ FP. If Perrie struggles, then Kenny will have to move to CHF/HFF. I think we need two talls on the HFF line and 1 on the FF line, so unless we pick up Riewoldt in the draft (and even if we do, he prob wont play much next year) we need Bock and one of either Perrie or McGregor on the HFF line.

2007 is Kenny's year, like you said, having a few people eating humble pie, by showing that 2006 was a blip on the radar and nothing more.

 

[Cap]

as Stiffy said Kenny is by far our best contested mark

my preference for him would be a making a contest in or around the goal square with minimal leads within the 50m arc in need. This can then lead Perrie and Bock/Hentschel/Steven/whoever else to be the leading go to men down the wings and at true CHF.

Hopefully Ken gets himself right this pre-season.

 

[Vader]

Kenny Mac could well be another player in the "last chance saloon", along with Welsh, Massie and Jericho.

I'm more than happy to accept that his form in 2006 was a "blip" caused by injury. Actually, you have to give him credit for being prepared to play as long as he did while carrying the injury - knowing that Adelaide had nobody else to call upon if he succumbed to the injury.

However, if he were to have a bad year in 2007 then he could find himself on the chopping block. That would make consecutive bad seasons, for a player aged 27 with the body of a 36 year old.

 

[Mong]

McG had a disappointing year, no noubt. But that was his first poor year for many years. His previous two or three had been outstanding.

He is crucial to our team and I can't really see anything changning in that regard. He'll have better years and will be a regular for seasons to come.

 

[conVINCEd]

Kenny for FF, IMHO.

Welsh or Roo can still lead out from the square, but Kenny can offer us the long option.

Mad Dog - why do you say we are 'not overflowing in KPP flexibility'?

I just don't understand that. Perrie is the only tall that can't play at both ends. Kenny, Rutten, Bock and Hentschel are all flexible.

 

[macca23]

No one is denying that Kenny hasn't had a great year by his standards. You are right in saying that he has been our Mr. Fix it over the years. Something was not right about him and as much as his bashers like to point out that thats Kenny, they are wrong.

As a result I either see Kenny as a forward or as a FB, releasing Rutten forward. Kenny is still EASILY our best contested marker and people forget just how good he can be as a forward. Remember his finals series in 2005. Even his 2nd half of 2005, when he was moved forward, was VERY good.

Hopefully Kenny can recover and get back to his best. He is still only young and has plenty of football left in him. I suspect he will play mostly as a forward next year and will be rotating between FF and CHF, depending on the opposition and the structure we want to go into the game with.

I am confident that Kenny will be back better next year and there will be plenty of humble pie going around

as Stiffy said Kenny is by far our best contested mark

my preference for him would be a making a contest in or around the goal square with minimal leads within the 50m arc in need. This can then lead Perrie and Bock/Hentschel/Steven/whoever else to be the leading go to men down the wings and at true CHF.

Hopefully Ken gets himself right this pre-season.

McG had a disappointing year, no noubt. But that was his first poor year for many years. His previous two or three had been outstanding.

He is crucial to our team and I can't really see anything changning in that regard. He'll have better years and will be a regular for seasons to come.

I'm unashamedly a Kenny Mac fan, and the posts above say it all for me.

A fit Kenny in 2007 is important to us having a balanced forward structure, which is a must have IMO.

 

[- PC -]

Kenny for FF, IMHO.

Welsh or Roo can still lead out from the square, but Kenny can offer us the long option.

This one for me

And get a haircut and shave while your at it Ken

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I'm unashamedly a Kenny Mac fan, and the posts above say it all for me.

A fit Kenny in 2007 is important to us having a balanced forward structure, which is a must have IMO.

With Hentschel out for the year, both Kenny & Sarge will be crucial to our forward structure, as the 2 mainstay talls. Kenny's work should be in goal-kicking range between FF & HF line, with Sarge mainly from HF leading up ground.

 

[Mad Dog]

Mad Dog - why do you say we are 'not overflowing in KPP flexibility'?

I just don't understand that. Perrie is the only tall that can't play at both ends. Kenny, Rutten, Bock and Hentschel are all flexible.

You're right - flexibility in positions within that group is there. As you rightly point out - most of them can play forward or back.

When I said we're "not overflowing in KPP flexibility" - I meant more in terms of who we can bring into the side.

With Trent nowhere on the radar - After McGregor, Rutten, Stevens, Perrie, and Bock - there is no-one else in the squad ready made to play key position.

Given that we will probably play all 5 to give us 3 tall forward options and 2 tall defenders - there is no-one left in 2007 to bring into the side and that's where we have no flexibility.

Loss of form or injury will see us playing flankers like Bassett or ruckmen like Meesen in key roles, which could be to the detriment of the rest of our structure.

This is why I'm highlighting Kenny's return to form and fitness as being one of the more important foundations for a successful 2007.....given we are already missing Trent and Biggles.

 

[thegossip]

I still think Ken Mcgregor is the best chb on the crows list. last year he had a bad year mainly playing up forward the year before i think he was in your top 5 players at chb. stevens is more suited to hbf so can run off.

 

[conVINCEd]

You're right - flexibility in positions within that group is there. As you rightly point out - most of them can play forward or back.

When I said we're "not overflowing in KPP flexibility" - I meant more in terms of who we can bring into the side.

With Trent nowhere on the radar - After McGregor, Rutten, Stevens, Perrie, and Bock - there is no-one else in the squad ready made to play key position.

Given that we will probably play all 5 to give us 3 tall forward options and 2 tall defenders - there is no-one left in 2007 to bring into the side and that's where we have no flexibility.

Loss of form or injury will see us playing flankers like Bassett or ruckmen like Meesen in key roles, which could be to the detriment of the rest of our structure.

This is why I'm highlighting Kenny's return to form and fitness as being one of the more important foundations for a successful 2007.....given we are already missing Trent and Biggles.

For sure - we definitely lack KPP depth.

I don't have Perrie in my First XXII at this stage, because I'd like Bock to play forward in 2007, but then go back when (hopefully) Trent returns in '08.

It would be a huge boost for us if Kenny could get back to his best form.

 

[lacrow]

Been saying this for a while now... Bock will be our new revelation in the forward lines. Way back, almost 2 years ago, I made the claim that he would end up being better than Rutten or Hentschell and - while I have to take a step back and say that Hentschell fully fit is an amazing player (and better than Bock) - the Bockster WILL show us his true ability this coming year.

So... I predict that Bock will end up as our #1 CHF, with Kenny at FF. Furthermore, I am going out on a big limb to say that Bock will win his first AA selection at CHF.

All of this, of course, is based upon an injury-free season from Bock. Now, where that leaves Perrie, I have no idea.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Kennys not mobile enough to be a CHF and his kicking from 50 is questionable.

I think Kenny might just fill CHB with Bocky going to CHF.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Kennys not mobile enough to be a CHF and his kicking from 50 is questionable.

I think Kenny might just fill CHB with Bocky going to CHF.

Too many people are judging Kenny on a season when he played injured - how quickly past seasons seem to be forgotten. With a good pre-season, he will return back to his old self.

IMO, Kenny is more valuable to us as a forward & Bock as a backman, than the other way around ... though it is good to have the flexibility.

 

[-VC-]

I like Kenny playing deep in the goal square with one of Welsh/Roo leading out. The lead creates a one on one and he is very good in those body on body scenarios.

 

[Crow-mo]

if you concede that he was hampered by some sort of leg injury, any discussion on his season is fairly redundant. If you don't, then shouldn't the discussion be on that very point, whether his season was affected by injury?

I'm of the camp that it was, so don't what there is to say. he's been very good for us for a number of years, and this season (imo) seemed hindered by physical issues.

 

[-VC-]

I agree Crow-mo. I still think his best role is one out in the goal square. I still have vivid memories of him destroying Richmond in the goal square on the night Danny Frawley got spat on.

 

[Damp Squarie]

With a good pre-season, he will return back to his old self.

Lets hope that includes his ability to kick long distance...