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Player Watch Max Michalanney

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Just when we think some credit is due to the coaches - nope!
Maybe credit the coaches for not dismissing it out of hand???

No???

Ok, play on!
 
You can see why - coaching for his career. Needs to play in, and ideally win finals this year. So Smith over Edwards in that you get a more known quantity.

Problem with that is it feels like we've been in this mode for 5 years now.

he did the same thing in 2023 until the side lost so much form he had to bring in new players.
 
The thing I like most with this lad is his maturity and composure. He’s just clinical with whatever he does - chasing a bloke, running away from a bloke, kicking out of defensive 50, kicking into defensive 50, kicking from a set shot - he’s got the same poker face and calmness about him and rarely does he lairise.

In short, he makes you feel safe when the ball is in his hands.
 

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You REALLY think a player asking for a game was the reason he got one ??

To be fair, there is a bit of a pattern here. Dawson also requested to play midfield... we know that Rachele and Rankine have both requested it too, to various levels of response.

I'm sure what's happening in reality is that Nicks has discussions with the players in which they feel included, rather than dictated to.
 
To be fair, there is a bit of a pattern here. Dawson also requested to play midfield... we know that Rachele and Rankine have both requested it too, to various levels of response.

I'm sure what's happening in reality is that Nicks has discussions with the players in which they feel included, rather than dictated to.
The big difference is Rachele never said please.
 
To be fair, there is a bit of a pattern here. Dawson also requested to play midfield... we know that Rachele and Rankine have both requested it too, to various levels of response.

I'm sure what's happening in reality is that Nicks has discussions with the players in which they feel included, rather than dictated to.
I think the overall pattern is we’re encouraging a team of versatile players. The modern game is dictating this trend, but we have a current crop who is adaptable, which helps!
 
I'm guessing that the big difference is that the others had "paid their dues" by playing their given role at AFL level for a while before requesting a new one.
I reckon Racheles record up forward for us was probably better than rankines without looking.
 
he kicked one career goal before yesterday
Had kicked 1 goal & 3 points up until yesterday...

About as accurate as doc's posting. ;)
 
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Yeah, this is the bit I didn't like. It seems like we're inventing reasons to keep both Laird and Smith in the team.
Yes, exactly.

We could have still played Max forward & brought in Edwards or moved Cumming back rather than prioritising Smith.
 

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In a interview after the match Max said it was his idea to play forward (confirmed by Nicks in his presser) and he also said he’d played forward a lot as a junior, so not exactly new to him
Bit like Dawson suggesting to mix he move from defence into the midfield.

Perhaps needs more suggestions from the players...
 
Will be interesting to see if we try it again on a team like Hawthorn over the next month. Impey smashed us from that position a few weeks ago.
I was surprised at how tall he is was standing next to DC who, at 197cm, looked barely taller than Max
 

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Good coaches take opportunities to put games into young players. Its a fair conclusion Nicks is incredibly poor at doing this. Curtin is smashing it, yet Nicks wanted him to play full back in the Sanfl...this is not a coach who is making sound decisions.
This is one of the more obnoxious myths on this board. Curtin played one game as a genuine KPD at SANFL level, because of a lack of alternative personnel. His other games at that level were all spent in different positions, including on the wing and in the midfield. God forbid he may have learnt some things from those experiences. He played a blinder yesterday, why not just appreciate that?
 
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This is one of the more obnoxious myths on this board. Curtin played one game as a genuine KPD at SANFL level, because of a lack of alternative personnel. His other games at that level were all spent in different positions, including on the wing and in the midfield. God forbid he may have learnt some things from those experiences. He played a blinder yesterday, why not just appreciate that?

He also played KPD in his first trial game for the club at Alberton in Feb '24 to be fair, I know this as he lined up right in front of me :eekv1:
 
He also played KPD in his first trial game for the club at Alberton in Feb '24 to be fair, I know this as he lined up right in front of me :eekv1:
Okay, fair enough. So a trial game and one SANFL game out of necessity. I still don't think it constitutes evidence that Nicks was determined to cruel his career by turning him into Daniel Hartigan, or whatever the original claim was.
 

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Player Watch Max Michalanney

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