Toast Mathew Stokes

[candiehappy]

I'd add Kersten to potential omissions, just depends on how many they might want to bring in.

 

[Cattery]

I don't think they need to be equal ability for it to make sense. They just have to have an expectation that the 7 games experience in the younger player would be a longer term gain to the team than the 7 games from Stokes. That line of thinking means current ability is pretty much irrelevant.

Afraid we're poles apart here CE, don't like the idea of giving games to kids who haven't earned it, and certainly not at the expense of an obviously better player.

Also don't see any younger player getting seven games from here, the MC have lost the plot IMO if they pick Cockatoo ahead of Stokes (or GHS) against the Swans and Hawks.
Seemed a pretty pointless exercise playing him for one quarter of footy to begin with, another full game in the VFL learning his craft would have been more beneficial I would have thought.

Surely there's no chance of a debutant on Saturday night, not in such an important game.

Gregson, Stokes, Horlin-Smith and Rivers the only possible inclusions IMO.

Cockatoo, Lang and Smedts the only possible omissions (pending SJ's MRP date).

Pretty much on the money I reckon.

 

[catempire]

Afraid we're poles apart here CE, don't like the idea of giving games to kids who haven't earned it, and certainly not at the expense of an obviously better player.

I'm putting forward an explanation for the selection decision rather than getting behind it 100%. So I don't know if poles apart is right.

 

[Partridge]

Afraid we're poles apart here CE, don't like the idea of giving games to kids who haven't earned it, and certainly not at the expense of an obviously better player.

Also don't see any younger player getting seven games from here, the MC have lost the plot IMO if they pick Cockatoo ahead of Stokes (or GHS) against the Swans and Hawks.
Seemed a pretty pointless exercise playing him for one quarter of footy to begin with, another full game in the VFL learning his craft would have been more beneficial I would have thought.

They've done it in the past, and they'll do it again. Hawkins was finally put in the team and kept there at the expense of (to that point) a much better player in Mooney. West was preferred in the 2011 finals to a clearly better pure ruckman in Mark Blake. From the current team, Murdoch and Blicavs were given plenty of games before they'd demanded it, and Cockatoo was nowhere near ready when he debuted in Round 1. Scott has shown if he likes a particular player, they will be given absolutely every chance and sometimes VFL form is a minor consideration.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Matty Stokes has gone back to the NTFL to play with the Magpies again:

Mathew Stokes is set to play his first game since parting ways with Geelong Football Club at the conclusion of the 2015 season, joining the Palmerston Magpies of the Northern Territory Football League.

Stokes, a premiership player in 2007 and 2011 with the Cats, joins the Magpies again after playing in the club’s 2001-2002 NTFL premiership.

Magpies captain and co-coach Alwyn Davey said he’s excited for the 189-gamer to run out with the team.

“I spoke with Matty this week and he told me he’s right to go for our first home game” Davey told the NT News.

“Stokesy will train with the players on Thursday night and line up for us on Sunday. He’s confident he can run out the game.

Beyond the season opener, Stokes is not making any commitments with the Magpies as he looks to revive his AFL career via the upcoming AFL Draft.
http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2015-10-22/stokes-to-play-ntfl

so might be available at pick 67??

 

[Teriyakicat]

NSFB- read my edit above