Remove this Banner Ad

Luke McPharlin

  • Thread starter Thread starter mattis117
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

mattis117

mattis117

Premium Platinum
SuperCoach Club Board Winner Veteran
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Posts
8,514
Reaction score
17,834
Location
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Manchester City
I think we should have a dedicated thread to discuss just what to do with McPharlin. There is plenty of talk in other game day threads, but lets focus our thoughts here.

So, from what I have heard, McPharlin is out until at least finals time as he succumbed to another injury. This raises some serious doubts over the merit of bringing him back into the team for the finals series.

What we know:
Ross will have no sentimentality when it comes to Luke playing. If he does not believe he is up to it, he won't play.

So what is our opinion on the matter?

For me, I think he should retire now. From what I have seen over the last few games, he cannot be trusted to fulfill his role during the game, nor can he be relied upon to make it through a game unscathed. We cannot have a player enter a final who has a high chance of getting injured.

I would bring Silvagni in as his replacement. He has three games to prepare and get in form for the finals.

There is one other option - play McPhalin as a forward - now this may have some merit. We need a solution to our forward line, perhaps he can be used as a stay at home forward. This is only a desperation move IMO. Again, I wouldn't play a guy who we cannot rely upon to stay healthy.

I hate to be saying this kind of stuff, because Luke is one of my favourite Dockers of all time. He is an absolute champion. We simply have to put the team first though.

My favourite game from him - Round 21 2005 vs St Kilda. Took a screamer - made a game winning tackle, set up the game winning goal.
 
Good call on thread and correct, he has been an all time great. No question. But unfortunately all good things must come to an end and I feel his is imminent. I reckon if we weren't in the top 8 he would have called curtains on his retirement already but feel he will hold out until seasons end.

I like the idea of throwing him forward, I even suggested it last week but I believe it got shot down. He has played there before, I heard a stat on the weekend that 5 times he's kicked bags of 5. Great folly for Pav and reads the play well. I have full faith in Silvagni to fill the void down back and would probably prefer him over Macca at the moment injury aside.

The other question is how far away are guys like Vandeluer, Smith and Pearce to filling a key back position?
 
What's that three or four injuries this year? Hard to contribute and get into form if you can't get on the ground. If continues will become a liability as we end up using the sub too early in each game he gets injured in. His time may be up unfortunately.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Let him play on but with Silvagni as the priority key-defender in 2015 and Macca to come in for any injuries. Having him as back-up defender would put us in an amazing good position and don't think Lukey would take too massive an ego hit from it. If not give him a shot in forward this year or even next, I think he'd do surprisingly better than many people think, and we just don't have any other viable tall targets apart from the ageing Pav.

I think a major reshuffle could be just what the Dockers need to be a flag contender this year.
 
It's such a hard one for Luke because he's been amazing for the club, and when he is 100% he's still one of the better defenders in the competition.

I think if he's going to continue to be a liability because we're playing him whenever he's available, then maybe he should retire.

On the other hand, if we decide to only play him from now on when he's legitimately 100% fit with absolutely nothing niggling, then keep him in as backup for the other 3 talls. Let Silvagni have the number 3 tall defender spot because he's certainly earned it.
 
mattis117 said:
I think we should have a dedicated thread to discuss just what to do with McPharlin. There is plenty of talk in other game day threads, but lets focus our thoughts here.

....

For me, I think he should retire now. From what I have seen over the last few games, he cannot be trusted to fulfill his role during the game, nor can he be relied upon to make it through a game unscathed. We cannot have a player enter a final who has a high chance of getting injured.

....
Click to expand...

Nah, I disagree. While there is still a chance of McPharlin contributing later in the year, he should keep trying to get himself right so that he can help the team win. If Silvagni comes in and plays well, he has the chance to take McPharlin's place on merit, not just because Luke is injured. But if Silvagni doesn't hit the kpis that he needs to, even an injury prone player would be better, so long as he has recovered from this current injury.
 
I like the idea of Elvis becoming a 'back-up' rather than automatic starter - but that would be an unusual way for a player to finish off their carrier.

I just think it's time to back SCOS in and only drop him for injury or genuine form issues. Elvis needs to be 100%, completely injury free to get a game and showing form on the track/Peel that warrants selection to get in - otherwise he just becomes a liability, and you don't want one of our greats being seen that way even at the end of their career.

That's a tough call, but that's how I see it.
 
Sting is about right. Firstly if he is given a good time to recover his injuries are probably overstated by media hungry for a story and pace wise he hasn't lost anything except in that St Kilda game when everyone had.

Silvagni obviously comes in for him going forward now but backups for next year are still thin given Dawson and Johnson are also getting on. Alex Pearce is the next in line and next is Smith but Smith seems injury prone (injured again on the weekend) and Vandeluer is not KPD height is he? For coverage in KPD stocks alone we would need to keep either Macca or Keps on for next year. This year - get him right and consider using him up forward in the finals to give some relief and separation to Pav.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Freeeoo said:
How's Scos travelling, is he fit and available?
Click to expand...
Saw him in full match sim training before the Carlton game at Freo but he didn't seem to play against Souths for Peel. Reckon he would have played for Peel this weekend if not for now needing him against Hawthorn so should be ok to go.
 
Hmm, if he comes back perhaps playing in the forward line might work, He certainly wouldn't have given Harry as much room as Sandi, Pav and Clarke did and could rotate to backline if required.

Never wanted Luke playing forward before but if he could manage his injury better there then maybe consider it. Either way Scos in backline for rest of year.
 
As others have said I'd love for Mcpharlin to play on next year, even if its with the aim of playing 10 or so games and with Silvagni playing the majority of the rest but that's a huge commitment for him to keep it up through the off season, pre season etc knowing that he may not play for much of the season.

Imo he'll only go again if he believes he can stay best 22 and have a reasonable chance of staying fit. I hope he plays on for one more year but won't be surprised if he doesn't and I suppose with Pavlich and Sandilands playing on in 2015, if he chose to retire that's a season to get the backline settled before losing two more key players.
 
Pretty astounding how quick the end came. Half way through this year, he was still an asset when he was on the ground. Now he's not a liability as such, but he's certainly not a lock for the 22 or anything. He's been a great servant for Freo and is the best thing we ever got from bad trading. He was the most important player for a good three or so years, there.

I think there's no point in him retiring until the end of the season. Absolutely zero reasoning for having him in 2015. You lose a spot, and what's the point in having a, what, 34-year old come in for Silvagni when there's young guys who should be coming in then? However, the notion of playing him as a deep forward is a good one. The big pity is that there's no time to test it in the H&A and would you risk him at full forward in a prelim?
 
As others have said,maca gets himself injury free over the next month.
And if Jono,fist or SCOS can't play,maca's in.

We need a settled back six starting from this weekend.
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Oi - Luke is my buddy this year, and as such he's done when I say he's done.

He's not done.

/end thread


Ok... maybe I'm letting a bit of emotion cloud my rational judgement. Sadly, I think he might be just about done. As much as I'd love Pav and McPharlap to both play till they're 40, I can't see Luke going around again.

Hope I'm wrong. :cry:
 
I don't think he was genuinely 100% fit when he came back from the Quad injury. I don't think you lose that much that quickly without there being a niggle or two in there. I don't buy that we don't play players unless they are 100% AFL standard match fit, there are always exceptions with Pav's and McPharlin's.

I think you make a judgement in 3 weeks time as to whether he is fit enough to handle finals pace, then you think about whether you can keep him and Silvagni in the team. Either offers more than Apeness or Taberner at this stage if you want to go down the extra tall route.
 
Tayl0r said:
The grand final seems to have a story of a guy racing to be fit only to put his hand up and rule himself out for the best of the team. I worry that McPharlin will be that man.
Click to expand...

I'd take that if it means we're in the grand final.
 
estibador said:
I'd take that if it means we're in the grand final.
Click to expand...
You can imagine the speech he could give the guys about making the most of their chance pre-game. Telling them all to earn their place with their performance.

It would be like Pav telling them at half time that he is about to play his last half of football.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Similar threads

Tonga Bob
    • Like
    • Love
Toast Welcome to Fremantle Ryda Luke - Category B Rookie via NGA in the 2025 AFL Draft
Replies
23
Views
2K
DQ 4EVER
DQ 4EVER

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom