Matthew Egan Appreciation Thread

[catempire]

Matty Egan

Really like the way he is progressing as a defender. He doesn't ever seem to get beaten convincingly. He's a really decent size but seems to cover the ground pretty well.

I think we've been really lucky to have him develop at this time when Harley hasn't been able to play. Just think, without him we'd be relying on someone like Playfair, Spencer or Sam Hunt as our second key defender. Instead, we've got Egan who has filled the void with aplomb.

My only criticism - it's noble as a defender to want to play in front of your opponent all of the time. What it means though is that you must be good at holding your ground. Egan does it well a lot of the time, but sometimes he gets caught under the ball. I always say that as a defender the worst mistake you can make is to let the ball get behind you and I've noticed in the first couple of rounds that Egan has been guilty of this on 3-4 occasions. Both times against the Bulldogs it cost a goal. We got away with it against Carlton.

But he's made a great start. I hope he keeps developing. We could even have a future All-Australian CHB on our hands.

 

[cat in sydney]

Re: Matty Egan

Yeah, agree. His improvement has been amazing over the past 12 months.
And also agree on the ball going behind him... although with the new rules of hands in the back, getting pushed under it should be a bit more irregular than in the past.

 

[Inferno]

Re: Matty Egan

Probably the second most consistant player on our team after Chappy. Never plays a bad game but never stands out. Kinda an 'as is' player.

 

[GeeCat]

Re: Matty Egan

He has improved at a nice pace when you consider where he was only a few years back.

Another problem with him (which I considered to be fairly big) was his over-commitment on occasions last season (and prior as well, I suppose). He rarely left himself enough wiggle-room, for a lack of words, when playing the percentages, and that more often than not resulted in the risk beating out the reward.

Anyway, looking at him now, he's learning by the week (legitimately too, unlike some others who seem to 'learn' one week later, only to fall back once more on a consistent basis), and fast becoming one of (if not close to the most) reliable players within our team. In a team that lacks quality thinkers and finishers, his clear mindedness in decisions and oftten reliable disposal is almost a weekly beacon.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Re: Matty Egan

Very reliable. Coming through well.

 

[thejester]

Re: Matty Egan

Love him, but I think he needs to start getting a bit more of it. Really get the impression he has virtually no confidence as a footballer outside of being a defender, which is a pity because if both he and Scarlett were prepared to run off opponents opposition talls would be having fits.

EDIT: Having said that, I don't think he'll ever be the kind of all-conquering Chad Cornes CHB figure that people were suggesting he would be after he towelled Brown in Rd 1 last year. But in some ways its remarkable how little of it he gets outside the defensive 50 compared to defenders.

 

[thegerman]

Re: Matty Egan

He is the guy who doesn't get much possessions, but still is an integral part of the team.

Egan is a fantastic athlete, with good awareness and passion to thump the ball at every occasion. He can also take a contested overhead mark which is a huge bonus.

 

[Geminicatz]

Re: Matty Egan

Yep I really love him too. I was very suprised when he went into the draft that Carlton who were crying out for big backman "Gorilla's" didn't even pick him up. Considering he just finished his debut year with Geelongs VFL & was awarded the VFL fullback of the year, that really puzzled me. Maybe their recruiting staff aren't that great? Oh well thank god we got him with our last draft pick...

 

[WE Are Geelong]

Re: Matty Egan

You wont find too many 23 yos with his ability who havent played 40 games of AFL footy yet. That should amount to 5 senior years and well over 50 games by now. Given it has nothing to do with injury that he has only played 30 odd matches I think its worth comparing him to 2nd and 3rd year players who could well have 10 good years of footy still ahead of them. I think weight will be an issue with him as he gets older. He is a great size currently but it wouldnt take much to tip the scales the wrong way when he has a slight query on pace. Similar to say a Whitnall...one poor pre season and he might struggle for a season or two with fitness and leg injuries from the extra weight. Lets hope it never gets to that.

All in all an outstanding pick up who in reality wont find his peak for another 3 years when he is closer to the 100 game mark and there is no doubt AA honours could well be in his reach by that time at CHB if he keeps his fitness somewhere near its peak.

I think the queries on letting the ball go over the head are more an adjustment to the new rules than anything else. Scarlett has the closing speed to still play from behind whereas Egan has no other option than play in front or from the side. I think as the season goes on you will see improvement which always seems to be the case with this guy...

I hate the cliche myself but he is a very underrated player already.

 

[CF]

Re: Matty Egan

He said he was going to play with leadership before last saturdays game and he did. He came through and impressed me alot. The guy has ticker and the skill to become a prominent defender in the AFL.

 

[sarah.13]

Re: Matty Egan

I have been impressed by him as well,very consistent and seems to take the right options when he has the ball. His confidence is growing week by week and has improved his speed. Good hands,reliable kick , a great pick by the club.
Would like to know who first took him to the club because they sure picked a good one there.

 

[Copernicus]

Re: Matty Egan

I'm very happy with him. I like the way he backs himself and he's probably one of the stronger marks in the team I'd reckon. It's amazing how so few people take note of him but I think he's the perfect back up/replacement for Harley. Good to see how he's come along the last couple of years.

 

[Rosella]

Re: Matty Egan

Would like to know who first took him to the club because they sure picked a good one there.

Wasn't it James Kelly - or something to do with him. Sunbury/Salesian College background.

 

[sarah.13]

Re: Matty Egan

Wasn't it James Kelly - or something to do with him. Sunbury/Salesian College background.

Yes, I think your right! Well in that case Kelly already has a career path for when his football days are over. Put him on the recruiting team, Egan has been a god send and we would have been in real trouble given Harley's injury problems the last few years.

 

[Geminicatz]

Re: Matty Egan

Wasn't he also a Australian Junior Tennis Champion & only just took up footy a couple of years before he joined the Geelongs VFL side.

 

[Kittenish]

Re: Matty Egan

Matty Egad more like it.

the others team's really underestimate the power of the Matty.
And may James Kelly have a prosperous recruiting career in the future!
With the Cats of course....

 

[deadfish]

Re: Matty Egan

Ive always thought egan would play pretty well up forward too, he has a pretty strong grab, and i think it would be worth it to throw him up forward once or twice a game.

Great player, never stands out, but as a defender i think you would rather it that way.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Re: Matty Egan

Wasn't he also a Australian Junior Tennis Champion & only just took up footy a couple of years before he joined the Geelongs VFL side.

Yep!

 

[Partridge]

Re: Matty Egan

Yep I really love him too. I was very suprised when he went into the draft that Carlton who were crying out for big backman "Gorilla's" didn't even pick him up. Considering he just finished his debut year with Geelongs VFL & was awarded the VFL fullback of the year, that really puzzled me. Maybe their recruiting staff aren't that great? Oh well thank god we got him with our last draft pick...

To be fair, it wasn't just the wooden spooners who missed him. He was recruited at pick 62 or something like that, which means that every team had nearly 4 selections each and still passed on him. Just further demonstrates how there are no guarantees, and you don't have to be a high draft pick to become a good player.

 

[Rosella]

Re: Matty Egan

To be fair, it wasn't just the wooden spooners who missed him. He was recruited at pick 62 or something like that, which means that every team had nearly 4 selections each and still passed on him. Just further demonstrates how there are no guarantees, and you don't have to be a high draft pick to become a good player.

And you shouldn't overlook someone just because they are already 21.

BTW would he be the only player at the Cats annoyed with the way they put first name initial and surname on the warmup tops.

 

[DanA]

Re: Matty Egan

I reckon he is a darkhorse to be the AA CHB this year. There aren't a lot of good traditional CHB's at the moment.

He definately needs to work on the attacking side of his game. Great at stopping his man but doesn't hurt his opponent going the other way.

 

[Catman]

From VFL supplementary list to one of the best defenders in the game, all in the space of 3 years.

He's a gun who doesn't get the accolades he richly deserves.

 

[Claude Balls]

Egan has a way to go before he can be regarded as one of the best defenders in the game, in my opinion. He is constantly improving, as is to be expected of a late comer, though he has a way to go before we can regard him in the same league as a Scarlett, Clement or Cornes. Hopefully this year proves me wrong.

Am I too cynical? I just remember many bad kicks he has done and many poor decisions from the last two years...

 

[Catdog]

From VFL supplementary list to one of the best defenders in the game, all in the space of 3 years.

He's a gun who doesn't get the accolades he richly deserves.

Pretty good judge of play why else do you think Matty gets to run down the ground?? Read threads about Hunt but only when he makes a mistake
give credit where its due coz Scarlett must have faith in the boys. Just wish Cats supporters would talk up the positives more like this thread.

Go Cats

 

[jess_555]

Eg's is a gun! Go MATTY! One of my fav's for sure.