Matthew White scope for improvement??

[Greggy]

Matthew White is one of those players that has always had the athletic pace and endurance to be a really damaging player, I think we all recognise his apparent flaws, decision making, kicking and often fumbling seemingly easy handball recieves and marks. Will he be in our best 22 in 2 years? I'm just a little unsure of his role in our team going forward, if he's to hold down a forward flank he needs to kick 30 goals a year and to date he's produced only 32 over 5 years.

I love it when he takes on his opponent and slots it from 50 but it's rare that he does it, he seems capable of some great individual moments, is it consistancy as much as anything?

 

[carn tigez]

Good workhorse and depth player, not one we should rush to delist. I've been watching some Richmond highlights lately, and almost every time we start to come back he's the one who kicks the real crowd boosting goal that gets the momentum right behind us. Eg the Port game last year, Brisbane 2008, Melbourne 2008 to name a few.

In other words, he probably is a genuine front runner, but I don't think it hurts a team to have one of these.

*That's not to say he doesn't try when we are losing, more that he's only effective when we are winning.

 

[TJTIGER]

Matthew White is one of those players that has always had the athletic pace and endurance to be a really damaging player, I think we all recognise his apparent flaws, decision making, kicking and often fumbling seemingly easy handball recieves and marks. Will he be in our best 22 in 2 years? I'm just a little unsure of his role in our team going forward, if he's to hold down a forward flank he needs to kick 30 goals a year and to date he's produced only 32 over 5 years.

I love it when he takes on his opponent and slots it from 50 but it's rare that he does it, he seems capable of some great individual moments, is it consistancy as much as anything?

I agree Greggy with most of what your saying. For me he like the team is awork in progress. One of the things I noticed about the team last season is they seemed to have more time because of the way they played (game plan) but also what they started to do for each other (protect the ball carrier more) this gave those with the ball that bit more time and to me made a big difference . I think we'll continue to see this style of play and it will become reflex for the guys to do it for eachother. To me it's a very underrated part of our game but can do a great deal to bond a team or the reverse. So in short I hope he's still there as an improved player because as you say he can do some great things.

 

[happy_punter]

matt white fumbles cause he starts his 100m gold medal run before the ball is in his hands. he's done it since day 1 and seeing that hasn't changed in the nab cup i dont think he will.

definately agree though with the OP

 

[Greggy]

I agree Greggy with most of what your saying. For me he like the team is awork in progress. One of the things I noticed about the team last season is they seemed to have more time because of the way they played (game plan) but also what they started to do for each other (protect the ball carrier more) this gave those with the ball that bit more time and to me made a big difference . I think we'll continue to see this style of play and it will become reflex for the guys to do it for eachother. To me it's a very underrated part of our game but can do a great deal to bond a team or the reverse. So in short I hope he's still there as an improved player because as you say he can do some great things.

That's a good point, if we can learn to create more space for guys like him, it will definitely help him with his decision making under pressure.

 

[Roachy8]

I generally don't tee off on our players but Matt White has lost me!

Has pace & a passion for The Tigers... that's about it.

Will make way for one of the youngsters picked up over the past 18 months, probably almost from round 1!

 

[peejay]

We have seen Matthew at his best. Is it good enough ? right now yes, in the future no.

Will he get back to his best? i don't know.

 

[CallMeAl]

two things he needs to do;

1 get the pill more often
2 learn when he's got time to settle before he disposes of it.

 

[Greggy]

two things he needs to do;

1 get the pill more often
2 learn when he's got time to settle before he disposes of it.

I think they call it composure, sadly hasn't shown a lot of it in the past.

 

[Greggy]

We have seen Matthew at his best. Is it good enough ? right now yes, in the future no.

Will he get back to his best? i don't know.

You really think there is no improvement left in him? I think we've seen his best occassionally during games, the question is could he produce that on a more consistant level in games and the season as a whole? because I think his best is pretty good.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

Hes fast, we all know that, and the fittest as he got the best time round the tan last month. Just not sure whether or not we are getting the best out of him.

 

[Heisenberg_]

We will be a far better side when he isn't getting regular games, lacks composure and a very average kick, tries really hard and loves the Tigers but sadly he just isn't good enough.

 

[IluvHarvey]

I go to a lot of Richmond games due to Mrs IluvHarvey so I hope you don't mind me butting in.

Matthew White seems to suffer from a lack of development from the Wallace era. I actually thought he became quite a good defensive forward/half forward last year. To me he just needed a specific role. He is lightning quick and one thing I have noticed that hasn't been said yet is that he is a very tough tackler. His disposal does let him down at times but his work ethic during a game is one of the best I've seen (watch him next time he goes to the bench you will never see someone sprint as quick as he does).
If I was a tigers supporter I would actually wait until the end of this season to really judge him as it will be his second year in a specific role as opposed to just filling gaps like Wallace had him doing. I can see enough in him to become a 100+ game player but will never be a star of the team. A bit like Jason Blake from the saints a good honest work horse.

Anyway all the best for the season and I hope that some players like White really hit their straps for you guys this season.

 

[docko911]

As the OP said needs to kick 30 goals to be a value in the forward line but i doubt he can. I think the only alternative is he goes back to Coburg and plays midfield only and tries to mold his game on one Nathan Foley. He is quick, good tackler but that's about where the cookie crumbles. He doesn't have th height to cause any aerial damage up forward and thus needs to assert himself into the midfield otherwise i think his number will be the second called following nahas at the end of the year.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

I go to a lot of Richmond games due to Mrs IluvHarvey so I hope you don't mind me butting in.

Matthew White seems to suffer from a lack of development from the Wallace era. I actually thought he became quite a good defensive forward/half forward last year. To me he just needed a specific role. He is lightning quick and one thing I have noticed that hasn't been said yet is that he is a very tough tackler. His disposal does let him down at times but his work ethic during a game is one of the best I've seen (watch him next time he goes to the bench you will never see someone sprint as quick as he does).
If I was a tigers supporter I would actually wait until the end of this season to really judge him as it will be his second year in a specific role as opposed to just filling gaps like Wallace had him doing. I can see enough in him to become a 100+ game player but will never be a star of the team. A bit like Jason Blake from the saints a good honest work horse.

Anyway all the best for the season and I hope that some players like White really hit their straps for you guys this season.

...fair call...

...always interesting to read other supporters opinions of tiger players......thank you...

...if it came down to moving nahas, kingy and white on...which i am sure is going to happen at some stage because of pressure from our new quality draft picks...i would like to see white be retained before nahas and kingy...because he is fast, he tackles and is a great team man...but he must reduce his occassional fumble and poor disposal and improve his composure to have any future at the club...

 

[Haggard H]

Plenty.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Most definately plenty, the concern is we also have a number of players very similar Connors, Nahas, Edwards and most likely Nason and Webberly.
Similar because of a few very important aspects of their game which is extremely common with players who have gone through their junior football with exceptional pace.
When headed they have limited options, all are very one sided by foot, have limited ability by hand and don't excell in the ability to break through a tackle.
They tend to attempt to side step with very little forward momentum and either end up tackled holding the ball or turn the footy over .
If any of these can improve their ability, to become not so one dimensional, they all have huge scope.

 

[Spanish_Fly]

I thought he took quite a big step forward last year but probably needs to take another step this year to cement a place moving forward. The game against Hawks where he stood up to Campbell Brown and didn't look intimidated was a big step IMO, I think he just needs to believe in himself more.

He still seems to suffer from that lack of composure as others have mentioned, I think he sometimes plays to not make mistakes rather than just relax and play footy, recipe for disaster for a player at any level.

I saw him in the rooms after a game last year (Dees I think, R4 or 5) where he was quite poor and the guy was absolutely distraught after the game. Certainly has his heart in the right place, tries hard enough and has some natural abilities you can't buy, if he can relax and play footy you just never know, he may surprise quite a lot of us.

 

[THE_GUN]

The list will need to be turned over by about 4-5 players & I believe 3 is compulsury.

White & Nahas are the 2 players in the gun, If they dont step up to the next level both will be & shoild be delisted.

Hicks and McDonald will be given their go after 2011 is done. Sadly i dont see either nahas or white improving enough to hold their spots on the list.

 

[Roachy8]

Most definately plenty, the concern is we also have a number of players very similar Connors, Nahas, Edwards and most likely Nason and Webberly.
Similar because of a few very important aspects of their game.....

Only my opinion, but I would have Connors & Edwards significantly ahead of the others.

 

[TheProwler]

Where is his best position?

He has the pace to run from HB but lacks the consistency with his disposal which gets him caught out when the ball comes straight back. If he plays HB where does Connors, Grigg, Houli, Newman, Lids, Farmer, etc play?

I haven't seen enough of him forward of the ball to gauge how he could be a 30 goal a year player and transforming him now at the expense of a Taylor, Helbig, Dea type could be counter productive.

We are starting to build a list with alot of similar style players to White and unless he does something extra ordinary this year he will likely be delisted at seasons end. Thats the tough game that is AFL, sooner or later someone younger and better pushes you out.

 

[santa claws]

an out and out dud. no ifs buts or maybes.
seriously hes 24 in april hes entering yr bloody 6, and those deficiencies that saw him slip all the way to the psd in his draft yr still remain patently obvious.
hes had 5 yrs to do something about how shit his skills and decision making are and they have not improved one bit. now in yr 6 those weaknesses are going to magically improve.
please give me a break open your bloody eyes and get your head out of the sand.
hes exactly what you dont want in a sml mid/for.
but geez he looks fast.
if this bloke is in our best 22 we will get the spoon.

 

[Rustof]

Unless he kicks 3 goals a game this year, he's gone.

 

[THE_GUN]

an out and out dud. no ifs buts or maybes.
seriously hes 24 in april hes entering yr bloody 6, and those deficiencies that saw him slip all the way to the psd in his draft yr still remain patently obvious.
hes had 5 yrs to do something about how shit his skills and decision making are and they have not improved one bit. now in yr 6 those weaknesses are going to magically improve.
please give me a break open your bloody eyes and get your head out of the sand.
hes exactly what you dont want in a sml mid/for.
but geez he looks fast.
if this bloke is in our best 22 we will get the spoon.

One of the very few times , I agree with claw on this one.

 

[TigerTime88]

I have always stated that he is a very average footballer. Hard tryer and very quick but absolutely no idea. Can't see him ever kicking 30 goals a year which is what he should be kicking but even if he did I wouldn't be confident in his abilities. Our small forwards are probably the position we lack any sort of quality on the field and I think McDonald and others need game time ahead of White this year.

One thing I will say that just occured to me was that maybe they should try him as a tagger. He is our best runner both endurance and is also lightening quick plus he has great work ethic. Could be the perfect role for him and I think is the only thing he will ever be able to do.