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Toast Mathew Stokes

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David the Cat

David the Cat

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Well there were quite a few sticking the boot into this guy before the season started, with plenty predicting a VFL career for Stokes when the season began.

Well here is one player who has really stood up under Chris Scott. He has played midfield, defence and forward and has played well on each occasion. I was impressed when he moved into defence against the Hawks, and today with 30 possessions and 3 goals would certainly have been in our best.

AND...he nails goals!! Chappy aside, he is as good a kick for goal as we have in the team.

The guy has really stood up this year. Well done Matthew Stokes.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

I've never questioned his spot in the side this year. Even on the votes thread you'll find people not rating his game. Unfairly maligned. Don't understand how Blake can have people defending (in the past obviously) him but Stokes doesn't seem to have many more.
 

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Re: Matthew Stokes

I'll admit I was one that said he'd never play for us again when he got in trouble with the law, but I'm glad he and the club proved me wrong. He's like watching Tim Duncan from the Spurs play, you don't notice much that he does, but then you rewatch a game or check the stats sheet and you think, huh, how did I not see that.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

He is a dead eye dick when it comes to goal kicking. Played well today but it was against a poor oposition so that negates it a little IMO. But he has been playing decent footy this year I agree.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

I was a harsh critic of him last year, but he is alot better this year. If he has more games like today he would be amazing.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

Haven't been a fan, but gave him b.o.g. today pretty easily. We have a nice problem- who to malign and who to drop.? No candidates.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

I had a pretty hardline opinion of Stokes after his cocaine charges - regardless of the severity (or not) of the allegations, I took issue with the reputation Geelong had fought hard to earn since 2007 going down the toilet in a similar fashion to West Coast. I've been cool on him ever since, but he's been consistent and low-profile this year. I applaud his commitment to getting on with the job, and I expect him to be a solid contributor for the remainder of the season. He's competing with Byrnes, Christensen and Varcoe for a similar role in the team (Varcoe's words) so I would imagine he knows the standard he has to maintain to keep his gig.
 

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Re: Matthew Stokes

I always trust Stokesy.. Stokesy took the wrap and also a great player for the Cats.. Massive ups for this man..
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

Hard at the ball, clean skills, good decision maker, good overhead and great kick for goal. I am often baffled by comments on here but those who wanted Stokes dropped earlier in the year really stumped me. A great 15-20 man on your list.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

A smart playmaker that also burrows in when needed- is important to our structure .
Bobs up all over the ground (when off the leash)
Another player benefitting from the absence of Ablett (And Byrnes !)
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

Not sure I ever bashed him.
But I admit to being a bit stunned when someone on this board said at the start of the year that Stokes should play a lot more midfield this year.

Well I think yesterday proved that he should. A damn good mover and even though he is small he doesn't get pushed out of the contest.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

I don't think the criticism of Stokes has so much been what he does with the footy, it's what he does (or doesn't) do when he doesn't have it. His lack of defensive pressure as a small forward was woeful over the past couple of years.

I agree he had a very good game against the Kangaroos. But let's not get carried away just yet (they are a bottom 4 team) - I want to see how he performs on the big stage next Friday night - whether he is able to help lock the ball in our forward half and stop the rebound that the pies get from the likes of Heath Shaw.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

As good as his game was this week, Stokes' strongest attribute is as a team player. He is very vocally supportive of his team mates, and he seems to be popping up all over the place slapping backs, patting bums & generally reinforcing his peers' sense of self belief.

I heard his interview on K-Rock after the Norfs' game, and it was pure gold. He struck me as being very modest, incredibly funny and highly intelligent, and the hard row he's had to hoe to maintain his place in a fabulously successful side has worked wonders for his character.

My opinion of him has grown considerably since the personal nadir of that non-football incident, and it's appropriate for him to attract a tribute thread such as this.
 

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Re: Matthew Stokes

I think I can relate to most of the posters on here , it would be interesting to have a " where do you stand on...." thread so we all could benchmark these issues.

I called for him to be gone when the club stood by him. As others have alluded to , there may be more to this than the superficial support of one bad mistake. Did he take the bullet so others and the club kept their rep? Not sure , it certainly hurt his personal relationships off field.

On his playing , my pov is that all players must grow and perform an appropriate function in the side for age and experience. This is even more important when it comes time to escalate the list Forward pocket to me is spot for the early gamers , starting at the bottom their efforts are important but kids with the right attitude should be able to do it.

So at his age and our lists age , I felt at the start of this year , it was time him to step up to another role clearing the spot for the likes of his Bundy , almost a doppelganeger of him or others. We can not blood the kids with middle aged fringe players in these starting roles.

What role should he play. Well , he should be ripe for the midfield. His defensive resolve is questionable , so tagging is probably a bit doubtful but his body , skills and experience says its time for him to man up and help out where the big boys play.

So far to my eyes he's doing that. He played back and thru the middle and its allowed the likes of Menz and Dunc to play more games. Against the Pies will be a tougher assignment .

If I was GWS I would really look at him. The flavour he brings would be perfect for a side thats will be trying to build a club from scratch.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

Stokesy has a reasonable records against the Pies too. It all adds to the intrigue of next Friday's clash.
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

Credit to Carlos Von Stokes....he has been exceptional this year and is really relishing the midfield opportunities.

Just another example of why it is important not to write off a player so quickly! (i.e. Lonergan, Mackie, J.Hunt and Byrnes)
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

I have been a massive critic but he has made some adjustments

The thing that really used to bug me was he went to ground very easily, then took quite a long time to pick himself off the ground and get going again

Yesterday? Straight back up and runnning. It was great to see

Chris Scott has clearly made a difference as players like Stokes, Lonergan and even Joel Corey and Milburn seem to be making positive adjustments even at this late stage of their careers which is a sign of good coaching
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

OldStyle2007 said:
I have been a massive critic but he has made some adjustments

The thing that really used to bug me was he went to ground very easily, then took quite a long time to pick himself off the ground and get going again

Yesterday? Straight back up and runnning. It was great to see

Chris Scott has clearly made a difference as players like Stokes, Lonergan and even Joel Corey and Milburn seem to be making positive adjustments even at this late stage of their careers which is a sign of good coaching
Click to expand...

^ What he said
 
Re: Matthew Stokes

vinum coupe said:
Not sure I ever bashed him.
But I admit to being a bit stunned when someone on this board said at the start of the year that Stokes should play a lot more midfield this year.

Well I think yesterday proved that he should. A damn good mover and even though he is small he doesn't get pushed out of the contest.
Click to expand...

I wonder who that might have been.:D
 

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