Opinion Matt Thomas

[Premiumtrim]

In several occasions have I watched Matt Thomas closely this year. He is a bull, tough nut and effort never seems to pass him by. But if I may take a leaf out of another thread (Daniel Connors), both the attitude and skills are needed in today's game. He has a great attitude but his decision making and skills are just utter poor. His awareness also lets him down on several occasions. It's a 360 degrees game and he seems to play with blinkers.

He has let us down on several occasions and has frustrated me to the core, I only can see it as a blessing that he is injured for the clash against the Hawks. We beat Hawthorn off the back of our kicking efficiency as well as the quick tempo and good decision making. Clarko said it himself at a press conference. It's a chance for Miles to be promoted to the senior team, Dimma must reward effort and penalise poor performances or else players will lose hope. I don't care if it's Martin or Thomas, players must be dropped if they let the team down. Make players earn their stripes Dimma.

Apologies if this has already been addressed - I am more than happy to be proved wrong.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

He's too slow and his skills are terrible. The only justification I've heard for why he is in the side is that he "provides defensive pressure". This is true for the stoppage situations but he isn't fast enough to get back when the opposition runs and carries (Bulldogs), so they carve us up on the overlap.

Hopefully he's played his last game for us.

 

[pebblestone]

I thought he was fantastic in the first two games. But as the season has worn on I've noticed that his desire to get the ball to someone else (probably under instruction) often leads to a dinky little handball to a teammate under the pump and results in another contest/tackle situation. Love his workrate, endeavour and attack but if he could somehow start to flick out a better extraction to release a player rather than trap him he could be very valuable.

Like others have said, I'm not sure Thomas, Jacko and Matt Arnot should line up in the same team regularly.

 

[Spluff]

I said it then, and I'll say it now. Should have promoted Miles.

 

[sante]

He's terrible. Who cares if he tackles. You need to be able to kick to play AFL

 

[DustinsGuns]

We definitely should have promoted Miles. I still think Thomas might have a place to play in the later round when the game slows down. Similar to Tucky

 

[Bojangles17]

Love the guy, but prob 10% of his disposals are constructive! much like priddis! he is very good at getting first hands on the pill then dribbling a 3ft handball as he s dragged to the ground, surprisingly he does this 15-20 times a game ....at vfl he prob breaks those tackles at afl level, rarely

 

[Reservoir tiger]

He is handy to have. In the twos and come in if jacko goes down... No way should he and jacko be in the same team.

Players like this will not take the club forward... They are stop gap players for when someone goes down.

 

[thetradesman]

He's a spud, not best 22.

 

[Dragonss]

He's terrible. Who cares if he tackles. You need to be able to kick to play AFL

Or dish out a 50m handball.

 

[living_in_syd]

Poor miles. Carving it up in the vfl and this guy got promoted in front of him cos hardwick loves a battler

 

[Tiger68]

The decision between Miles or Thomas is marginal and not our problem. Target the softies where the real problem lies.

 

[ohhhBigMalcho]

slow in every aspect

 

[juss]

You can't play both he and Jackson in the same midfield, it just doesn't work. Jackson is the better player of the two, so unfortunately Thomas sits in the VFL. Should go at year's end, he is not the type of player that will take us into the top 4.

 

[Googstar]

He's too slow and his skills are terrible. The only justification I've heard for why he is in the side is that he "provides defensive pressure". This is true for the stoppage situations but he isn't fast enough to get back when the opposition runs and carries (Bulldogs), so they carve us up on the overlap.

Hopefully he's played his last game for us.

Sums it up perfectly for me. You need more to your game to play AFL than try hard.

 

[Cevap_Rolls]

I think he serves a purpose and wasnt such a bad recruit.
He worked well (to the best of his ability) while Jackson was out and now with Arnott coming along he will struggle to be best 22.
Miles will get his chance after the bye.
As long as we dont drop players like Arnott or Miles (when ready) to fit Thomas back in our 22 than he was good pick up.

 

[nobulltiger]

Terribly underrated by minions on this board!

Matt Thomas is easily one of our best players this year thus far!

Don't underrate his tackling!

He averages 20 disposals per game, 4 marks per game, 7 tackles per game and has a disposal efficiency much better than cotchins(not that it would be difficult).

Pull ya heads out of your arses.

 

[Reservoir tiger]

Terribly underrated by minions on this board!

Matt Thomas is easily one of our best players this year thus far!

Don't underrate his tackling!

He averages 20 disposals per game, 4 marks per game, 7 tackles per game and has a disposal efficiency much better than cotchins(not that it would be difficult).

Pull ya heads out of your arses.

Oh god...

 

[nobulltiger]

Another thought

He could be a great replacement for jake king in the forward pocket over the next 2 years, may average 20 tackles a game in that zone. Also rotatable for dustin in the middle.

 

[Stylo]

He's been good depth. And will remain so. Will perform a role if called upon. For pick bajillion in the rookie draft, that's a good return.

 

[TheProwler]

Terribly underrated by minions on this board!

Matt Thomas is easily one of our best players this year thus far!

Don't underrate his tackling!

He averages 20 disposals per game, 4 marks per game, 7 tackles per game and has a disposal efficiency much better than cotchins(not that it would be difficult).

Pull ya heads out of your arses.

Yes those stats indicate he is good but his weaknesses (speed and decision making) nullify each other. He was found to be too slow to get a game at Port and given that style of footy is our best asset he will struggle to have impact other than on the stats card.

Provides depth and I thought that was why he was recruited? I suggest he will struggle to come back in unless injuries deepen in our midfield.

 

[Turmoil]

Most of the team should be dropped if we are basing sections off run/spread, decision making and DE.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Has been one of our best players this season.

Might be regarded as a spud, but it just shows how poorly our "silky smooth, classy" players are playing.

 

[leemo]

I think he is really undeserving of some of the criticism he gets, especially when words like "spud" are thrown around. Slow- yes. Spud- NO. Was one of our best performers in the last few rounds and IMO there are a few others before him that deserve to be dropped- I know i'd rather have a good tackler who puts his head over it and wins the ball who is on the slower side but provides effort, over a super quick outside player who provides little to zero defensive pressure who has decent skills. Would rather someone like Arnot or Miles in the team obviously long term IF they are performing better, but a bloke that has come to the club, embraced it and given his all at his second chance at AFL level doesnt deserve blokes cheering for him being injured.

 

[theflea]

Most of the team should be dropped if we are basing sections off run/spread, decision making and DE.

Fact is fact.