Luke McPharlin Appreciation thread

[E Shed]

How good has Luke Mac been going lately pulling down marks, running off his man? I just love the way he has been straightening up, backing his pace and just running down the middle.

Harvey mentioned him as being in the top 2 or 3 fullbacks going around at the moment and while there are a few that might argue with that I think, along with Pav, Rodger r& Rhys, Elvis has been a real shining light in a season of mostly gloom.

Let there be love for Luke.

 

[chook2734]

Luke has taken his game to the next level this year. He's combining the run from half-back that he provided in 2006, with the dour defender and tight-checking of 2007. His leadership has also gone to another level. Would be right up there in the Doig for '08 and one of the top 2 or 3 most important players to the team.

 

[Memories]

Pav -> Hayden -> Pharlap.

I'd sooner rather see Hayden appreciation threads over Pharlaps since he barely gets a mention anywhere.

 

[E Shed]

Rodger gets plenty of love here. Almost always figures in peoples voting and many here claim the Genius as their favourite or one of their favourite players. It was because I felt Luke hadn't had much recognition this year compared to Rodger and Rhys I started the thread.

 

[chook2734]

Pav -> Hayden -> Pharlap.

I'd sooner rather see Hayden appreciation threads over Pharlaps since he barely gets a mention anywhere.

Well there's some appreciation for you

Perhaps instead of dragging this thread down you could start one praising Hayden - would make a nice change from your usual topics.

 

[Clay Davis]

He has been superb this year, no question.

Our backline works amazingly well given the constant pressure it is under.

 

[Memories]

Well there's some appreciation for you

Perhaps instead of dragging this thread down you could start one praising Hayden - would make a nice change from your usual topics.

Why? I constantly remind people here and on other forums here that Hayden is our #2, and under rated. Maybe you should start a thread showing your appreciation for players since I haven't seen any from you.

 

[estibador]

Let's just all agree that we love both Luke and Roger.

It's definitely out of those two for our second best player anyway.

 

[summerthebat]

Huge man crush on Roger, but hey, this is a Phar Lap thread.

Massive confidence in him in any situation, it's only going to be a few rounds until he lags on his defensive role... allowing his opponent to get a huge head start on the lead, Luke gives chase as the midfielder puts it over his forwards head.... and Luke leaps to the sky, planting his studs into the forwards skull, then leaps a little more and takes the mark 18 meters from the ground. 4 back flips on the way down.

 

[Memories]

Pharlap is certainly in our top... 5-10.. that much I can say. But I don't really ... trust him... the same way I trust Pav or say Hayden. Maybe it was his stint up forward a few years back where he just missed everything for a while there but yeah. Can certainly take a good mark, is somewhat above average in defense and average in his disposal. Well above average disposal in our team, but league wide, average.

Donno, when Hayden is out we play like shit, when Pharlap is out we seem to do okish. We have no real back man wizard like Hayden to replace whereas we have the likes of Mundy/Mi Johnson/etc to fill Pharlaps role somewhat. Certainly don't want to get rid of him as I like him but he could improve his game in my mind.

In my mind the core players we can't lose are

Pav/Hayden/Sandi/Hase/Palmer, if those 5 are in and playing at 80% or better output we would win more than we lose. Given we have lost most games this season just barely, you would recognize the input Hase would have given us.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Love him. Has been doing the work of 2-3 people most weeks.

Would be right up there for HBF AA. Just such a stereotypical HBF. Right out of the text book. Seems to be very good in crunch situations as well, which is kind of opposed to his "vibe". But lost count how many times over the years he has taken crucial marks at the right time.

 

[Belnakor]

Has got to be one of the top fullbacks in the league, considering the amount of quality ball coming in against him. He was unbelievable on the weekend, absolutely dominated across the half back line, it reminded me of his 2006 form where he was BOG a couple of times from CHB. Has been absolutely killing it last 3-4 weeks.

 

[Belnakor]

Pav/Hayden/Sandi/Hase/Palmer, if those 5 are in and playing at 80% or better output we would win more than we lose. Given we have lost most games this season just barely, you would recognize the input Hase would have given us.

If our core players fire, we rarely lose. We're a bit like saint kilda.. we have about 10 or so top notch players, and 10 or so very average players. Luckily most of the average players are old in general.

Mcpharlins pace has really come to the fore the last couple of games. I reckon he can play thorton's role of running the ball out of defense because he actually will kick the ball and dodge tackles. And let me just say he was BOG last weekend.

 

[Memories]

Mcpharlins pace has really come to the fore the last couple of games. I reckon he can play thorton's role of running the ball out of defense because he actually will kick the ball and dodge tackles. And let me just say he was BOG last weekend.

Yah true, he has been pretty good recently I guess. He has quick acceleration. I wouldn't say he is that great a full back though, he has to play on the more wirey types of players like say Reiwolt. Fevola, Brown, etc, would kill him.

 

[Belnakor]

Mcpharlin did well on the Fev this year.

 

[pinkus maximus]

Yah true, he has been pretty good recently I guess. He has quick acceleration. I wouldn't say he is that great a full back though, he has to play on the more wirey types of players like say Reiwolt. Fevola, Brown, etc, would kill him.

he kept fevola to 1 goal remember, and he beat bradshaw too

 

[Belnakor]

Fev has had one "day out" against Freo in about 10 games... we normally have the cattle match up on him, Mcpharlin or Grover etc.

 

[summerthebat]

he kept fevola to 1 goal remember, and he beat bradshaw too

He also beat Brown, he moved to JB in the 2nd half and I think he only kicked 1 behind in that time and had 4 possessions.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Can't remember the last person to beat him actually. Can anyone?

And he's the only backman in the league that can match up on Buddy.

Has the speed to keep up with him off the mark so he can body him in the contest, which Lance hates... and has the leap and reach to make great, effective spoils.

Wonder what he can run for the 400 these days. Was at 47 seconds at one stage. Pretty bloody quick.

 

[chook2734]

Pharlap is certainly in our top... 5-10.. that much I can say. But I don't really ... trust him... the same way I trust Pav or say Hayden. Maybe it was his stint up forward a few years back where he just missed everything for a while there but yeah. Can certainly take a good mark, is somewhat above average in defense and average in his disposal. Well above average disposal in our team, but league wide, average.

When? He's always been good when he's gone forward and has really only been a part-timer when he's there anyway. His conversion wouldn't be any worse than the league average.

His kicking style is not attractive, but his accuracy has improved dramatically over the years and he hits a target more often than not.

Donno, when Hayden is out we play like shit, when Pharlap is out we seem to do okish. We have no real back man wizard like Hayden to replace whereas we have the likes of Mundy/Mi Johnson/etc to fill Pharlaps role somewhat. Certainly don't want to get rid of him as I like him but he could improve his game in my mind.

In my mind the core players we can't lose are

Pav/Hayden/Sandi/Hase/Palmer, if those 5 are in and playing at 80% or better output we would win more than we lose. Given we have lost most games this season just barely, you would recognize the input Hase would have given us.

Well if that's not a put down then I don't know what is. Hasleby, the unfittest player in the competition (according to you) and a 19 year old who has played 10 games are more important than McPharlin?

Mundy and Johnson wouldn't fill McPharlin's back pocket. They might be fine on their own, but both struggle when they are faced with an opponent (although MiJ is improving in this aspect of his game).

You won't find anyone on this board that doesn't think Hayden is a superstar, but McPharlin is right up there with him. Just watch him for the next 2 or 3 weeks and you might gain a bit more of an appreciation for his abilities.

 

[Memories]

When? He's always been good when he's gone forward and has really only been a part-timer when he's there anyway. His conversion wouldn't be any worse than the league average.

His kicking style is not attractive, but his accuracy has improved dramatically over the years and he hits a target more often than not.

2005 I think, I remember he had a few good weeks up there after the Melbourne? game was it, but then just went down hill, missing most of his shots.

Well if that's not a put down then I don't know what is. Hasleby, the unfittest player in the competition (according to you) and a 19 year old who has played 10 games are more important than McPharlin?

Mundy and Johnson wouldn't fill McPharlin's back pocket. They might be fine on their own, but both struggle when they are faced with an opponent (although MiJ is improving in this aspect of his game).

You won't find anyone on this board that doesn't think Hayden is a superstar, but McPharlin is right up there with him. Just watch him for the next 2 or 3 weeks and you might gain a bit more of an appreciation for his abilities.

Never said Hase was the most unfit, simply that he needed to lose fat to enter the elite and reduce his injuries. He is/was our number one midfielder for a few years now, even with his injuries. And Palmer is more important than Pharlap because he's a midfielder, pretty much the most important area of the game these days.

A car might not be able to stop without the brakes (backmen like Pharlap) but the car can't even start without a engine (midfielders like Palmer/Hase).

I've seen us too many times cope without Pharlap to think he is one of our most important cogs (top 5), though as I said before he's in the top 10.

 

[Rabbitoh]

Luke has been outstanding this year, but as with Roger's outstanding form last year and this year, both will not even get a sniff of AA selection.
Grover , Luke and Hayden, when all firing, are the best backline in the league.

 

[chook2734]

2005 I think, I remember he had a few good weeks up there after the Melbourne? game was it, but then just went down hill, missing most of his shots.

I'm not quite sure where you got that idea from. His worst 'miss' return is 2 behinds, and his lowest number of goals when he's kicked 2 behinds is 1. (http://finalsiren.com/PlayerStats.asp?PlayerID=518&SeasonID=ALL&Sort=Behinds Desc)
Hardly terrible and worthy of losing your 'trust' in him.

Never said Hase was the most unfit, simply that he needed to lose fat to enter the elite and reduce his injuries. He is/was our number one midfielder for a few years now, even with his injuries. And Palmer is more important than Pharlap because he's a midfielder, pretty much the most important area of the game these days.

A car might not be able to stop without the brakes (backmen like Pharlap) but the car can't even start without a engine (midfielders like Palmer/Hase).

I've seen us too many times cope without Pharlap to think he is one of our most important cogs (top 5), though as I said before he's in the top 10.

Pavlich is the only player in the team who is a level above in terms of importance. There is 3-4 players below him who would rank of equal importance and another 3 or 4 behind that. McPharlin would be in that first group, due to his ability to excel at either end of the ground and his record of performing when shifted forward. That's not a quality that many players have.

 

[Blue Dimension]

I was going to make a thread about McPharlin. Seriously, one of the best backman going around in the game. Highly underrated. And with his ability to swing forward he is an absolute gem.

In all honesty, i firmly believe he does not get the appreciation from opposition fans that he deserves.

He is a GUN.

Fev has had one "day out" against Freo in about 10 games... we normally have the cattle match up on him, Mcpharlin or Grover etc.

Not Grover as much but Haddrill used to shut Fev out completely. Mcpharlin has done a fantastic job in recent times.

 

[chook2734]

Not Grover as much but Haddrill used to shut Fev out completely. Mcpharlin has done a fantastic job in recent times.

Grover has taken Fev more often than not in the past few years and done a very good job on him (who could forget Fev spitting the dummy at Subi). McPharlin prior to last season was played more as a CHB than FB.