Mathew Bate

[Jonesy2]

Where do you reckon Bate will play this year? Generally people seem to see him as a permanent forward.

I think he should be made into a midfielder/wing, where he generally played the year before. I think he only played up forward last year because we had no one else with all our injuries.

 

[Dez!]

HFF with Dunn on the other flank rotating into the midfield and swapping with Bruce perhaps would be an idea.

 

[Deenamite]

HFF with Dunn on the other flank rotating into the midfield and swapping with Bruce perhaps would be an idea.

Seconded.

 

[JuveRule]

Lead-up flanker delivering into the forward line, will get under the opposition's radar. Has great hands, they seem to be underrated.

 

[master bate]

His high work rate and at the moment slow pace makes him suited to a lead up forward as does his kicking from 50. Midfield is an option but our midfield looks stronger than our CHF line at the moment.

 

[demonfan9]

Half forward line again.

Why would we move him after his good season?

 

[benrey_demons]

when he kicks goals from outside 50 like he does, high half forward flank

 

[jackolegend]

I think his best position at the moment is on the bench. There is no doubting his talent, but he is by far the softest player on our list. All of his possessions are from handball receives. I would say he is our worst player in a one on one contest. The match against Sydney played at the SCG this year was a case in point. Whenever he is in a lone one on one duel he seems to panic and then concede defeat to his opponent, by following him rather than the ball. Gerhard Healey seems to think that he has more potential than any other youngster on our list. I disagree, but I do respect his opinion. If the match against Fremantle was an indicator, he might be on to something but!

 

[demonfan9]

Sorry jackolegend, but I think your post is rubbish.

 

[JuveRule]

Sorry jackolegend, but I think your post is rubbish.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[old_clint]

I think his best position at the moment is on the bench. There is no doubting his talent, but he is by far the softest player on our list. All of his possessions are from handball receives. I would say he is our worst player in a one on one contest. The match against Sydney played at the SCG this year was a case in point. Whenever he is in a lone one on one duel he seems to panic and then concede defeat to his opponent, by following him rather than the ball. Gerhard Healey seems to think that he has more potential than any other youngster on our list. I disagree, but I do respect his opinion. If the match against Fremantle was an indicator, he might be on to something but!

Why bother posting this absolute drivel.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/drivel

 

[Crimson Azure]

HFF with Dunn on the other flank rotating into the midfield and swapping with Bruce perhaps would be an idea.

I like your theory & wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

I thought the same thing also even put Green in there.

 

[demonfan9]

I like your theory & wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

I thought the same thing also even put Green in there.

Unfortunately with Travis gone, we will need Bruce and Green to step up in the midfield, so I'm not sure if we can afford to send them up forward.

 

[2 Dogs]

Unfortunately with Travis gone, we will need Bruce and Green to step up in the midfield, so I'm not sure if we can afford to send them up forward.

Can't say I agree with you, our midfield needs to be built around Mclean, Jones, Sylvia, Moloney, Petterd, Bartram etc. Sure Bruce has a place in our midfield still, but Green has never been a centre-square player, nor will he ever be. Half-back flank for Green, swing man if we desire another option up forward.

I've been on the Bruce for permanent forward '08 bandwagon for a bit now, and hopefully I get my wish. The great thing about Bruce and Green is they are versitile, but to suggest that we can't afford to play them anywhere else is pretty ridiculous.

 

[melbournemartin]

Bate is far from soft. I'd like to see a bit more pack crunching though once he bulks up.

 

[saj_21]

I see him as a ryan o'keefe type player. Plays as a 5th midfielder but does not go deep into our backline stays between the 50 m arcs. but if he can build the endurance to run back deep to the fwd line and be dangerous around goal he will take the next step as a player.

 

[RandB]

Fair dinkum, the guy has absolute bucket hands like Stewert Loewe. Use him where he is the most damaging... HF line sounds good.

 

[Jonesy2]

Yeah I like the comparison to O keffe, thats the sort of player he is capabale of becoming a good runner with great hands. Floating between the centre and forward line. Lets hope so.

 

[MacDemon]

I see him as a ryan o'keefe type player. Plays as a 5th midfielder but does not go deep into our backline stays between the 50 m arcs. but if he can build the endurance to run back deep to the fwd line and be dangerous around goal he will take the next step as a player.

Good call. I'm thinking Master is going to be a big winner for us in the next 12 - 24 months. Especially working across HF with Dunn. He has great hands. Unfortunately I reckon he cooked the ball too much last season, perhaps a sign of the pressure that he and all the other players were under in such a sh**house season

 

[saj_21]

Good call. I'm thinking Master is going to be a big winner for us in the next 12 - 24 months. Especially working across HF with Dunn. He has great hands. Unfortunately I reckon he cooked the ball too much last season, perhaps a sign of the pressure that he and all the other players were under in such a sh**house season

And a lack of confidence, his kicking was shockin in the early rounds, but improved later on in the year. He has an awkward kicking action but its quite affective and he can give the ball a roost from outside 50 and he usually spots up targets around the ground.