McKernan

[beartoo]

Thought this was worth a separate thread. My feeling is that we are on the cusp of something special here that will make us so glad he didn't go back to Vic. The difference in this bloke in this pre-season to anything we have seen before is astronomical. McKernan seems to have found out how to play footy at this level. He is competing much harder and is showing that he has great athleticism combined with good footy skills. He confidence seems to at last be there and he is taking the game on, Those two bursts out of the centre and long kicks into the forward line against GWS were something pre-2014 Shaun would not have been capable of. I love the fact that he is clunking marks just as he did in SANFL footy.
I know it is only pre-season form, and that can be misleading, but I'm excited about the possibilities here. If he continues in this vein we have found a winner, and importantly he will take a load off Jacobs. McKernan's rucking this year has been very good.
Thoughts?

 

[simmo97]

No he has been unable to show any real consistency in the sanfl for 5 years. I doubt he will start now in the afl and plays so dopey.

 

[Tex200]

I'm happy to have been in the Smack supporter camp since day 1. I've always thought he would make it and still do.

However we all need to be realistic. There seems to be a perception that he is the type of player who will one day just click and dominate the AFL.

I don't think that will happen. I'm hoping to see more games like this pre season, and enough to see a string of games to continue development.

He's still only 23 and his prime will be 25- 29 ish I think.

All I hope this year is for him to play 20 odd games, enjoy his footy and stay with us - not leave as a FA.

 

[Footypie32]

I really see him as our future Full Forward, with Tex at CHF. His decision making is what lets him down, so I would leave him in the goal square where he only has to think about putting them through the big sticks.

 

[Tex200]

No he has been unable to show any real consistency in the sanfl for 5 years. I doubt he will start now in the afl and plays so dopey.

Can particularise just exactly what he did v GWS that was dopey?

 

[Tex200]

I really see him as our future Full Forward, with Tex at CHF. His decision making is what lets him down, so I would leave him in the goal square where he only has to think about putting them through the big sticks.

I think he is a born ruck man but is now ideally suited in the 2nd ruck/ forward role

 

[Marty64]

Excluding injury and brain fades.

Nobody in Melbourne wanted me I better get my act together so I can get a new contract.

Or

Nobody in Melbourne wanted me I should improve so I can move back home.

Just a guess that a years deal is wanting to move, rather than a value disagreement. Given the need for a 2nd ruck/forward in todays game we would have to hope he gets motivated to stay put if his good form continues.

 

[simmo97]

Can particularise just exactly what he did v GWS that was dopey?

I only care what he does in the home/away and possibly finals.

 

[Tex200]

I only care what he does in the home/away and possibly finals.

So in other words you can't - just as I thought

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

It all comes down to confidence!

Sando appears to believe in him.

Give him a decent month injury free.

Something about his eyes that he finally looks switched on.

Would be the missing link to our line up as crucially gives sauce chop out

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

promising pre-season form however the jury is still out

 

[GROTTO]

I love the fact that he is clunking marks just as he did in SANFL footy.

If he replicated this form in the AFL, we would be one of the scariest teams going around.

 

[spenze]

I think everyone knows the potential is there, just hasn't been realised yet. He has done some really nice things this pre season and to be honest, this is his big, super mega last chance to prove to himself that he does belong in the AFL. It must have been a fair whack to his confidence with what happened at trade week but he seems to have used it as motivation, I guess we will see how it transforms to proper footy in the minor round.

I have my fingers crossed because I have seen some of the special things he can do and he needs to make the gap between that and his ordinary much, much smaller for him to succeed this year

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

If he replicated this form in the AFL, we would be one of the scariest teams going around.

Has a great set of hands & can kick like a mule.

Confidence & concentration for the whole game are the keys.

Has the potential to be better than Tippett as can physically match him & has better natural football talent.

 

[GROTTO]

Has a great set of hands & can kick like a mule.

Confidence & concentration for the whole game are the keys.

Has the potential to be better than Tippett as can physically match him & has better natural football talent.

Some of those kicks are a solid 60m too in that youtube clip.

If Pods (who I understand has been helping him) can turn it around for him, it will be the biggest "recruit" for our starting 22, by having a powerful Smack.

 

[remy]

I went down to the game on Friday to see for myself and I came away very impressed. The thing about the oval at he Bankstown Sports Centre was that it ws like watching parklands footy. About 400 spectators on a smallish ground where we felt right next to the action and we could hear everything that was being said on the ground. The whole interchange interaction was like a chess game switching players with last second instructions etc.... Back to McKernan.... in that game he was as good as any bigman on the ground which included Jonathon Patton and Jeremy Cameron both very good players in their own right. McKernan's intensity and desire to win the ball was evident and had he kicked straight he would have bagged 3 goals in a shortened match. He took some great marks and once in possession of the ball was quick to react to moving the ball on to advantage. In other words he was focussed and switched on. If Pods is mentoring him than that can't hurt. Which begs the question which current Crows bigman could have mentored him previously - Tippet, Walker, Jacobs, Jenkins - I don't think so.

 

[Cap]

Signed a 1 year deal. Pretty clear what his intention is any way.

 

[hippyhippy]

Signed a 1 year deal. Pretty clear what his intention is any way.

was there any option from the club for any more years?

Anyways, had he signed with another club, i doubt anyone would care right now.

Im just glad hes showing confidence, i really hope he makes it whether hes here or elsewhere. I hope he can prove Rendell right.

 

[Huntercrow]

after watching that youtube clip all I can say is...Who was that masked man?

If Smack's improvement has resulted from Pods mentoring then this was the smartest signing of 2014.

 

[Thylacinus]

In addition to some great SANFL highlights I saw him take the game on against the Power a year or two ago and was very impressed, but then saw some mediocre games with some good glimpses but being AWOL for too long. This pre-season I have consistently seen what I saw in that game against the Power where I did rate him. As I have said elsewhere if he can continue this form it will be a big win for him and for the AFC. Certainly far better skills than the Tiprat and possibly more upside. The mind boggles but I won't let me get a head of myself. Smack's immediate job is to take his pre-season form into the home and away games.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Good to hear Jpod is mentoring Smack as someone who is in need of a good mentor.

Tex was mentored my Tredrea.

Doesn't help when we don't have a specialised forward as the forward coach.

 

[Deaneus!]

Good to hear Jpod is mentoring Smack as someone who is in need of a good mentor.

Tex was mentored my Tredrea.

Doesn't help when we don't have a specialised forward as the forward coach.

Sadly, I can only like this once.

Doesn't help when we don't have a specialised forward as the forward coach.

Doesn't help when we don't have a specialised forward as the forward coach.

Doesn't help when we don't have a specialised forward as the forward coach.

Doesn't help when we don't have a specialised forward as the forward coach.

Every time I reflect on this... i have a tiny little aneurysm.

 

[The Big Sauce]

Signed a 1 year deal. Pretty clear what his intention is any way.

Pretty much.

I'm expecting him to make enough improvement to get an offer to go home and for him to announce it the moment our season ends and it to be the talking point of this board for the summer.

 

[GROTTO]

Signed a 1 year deal. Pretty clear what his intention is any way.

There is no way we could have given him a 2 year deal after last year, what he does this year will shape the next 3-4 years of his life potentially.

If he has a stellar 2014, I can see him leaving personally, especially given he was depressed about residing in Adelaide.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Pretty much.

I'm expecting him to make enough improvement to get an offer to go home and for him to announce it the moment our season ends and it to be the talking point of this board for the summer.

Hopefully Smack has a breakout season, JPod continue to mentor him & take him umder his wing, & he re-signs for another 2-3 years.