McKinley Exploring His Options

[Eagle87]

And yet this supposedly inept forward kicked 42 from 18 with some of the worst delivery ever seen at this club?
I'm not saying he should be FF, quote me if I have. I think he would be a great third leading option, what phil matera should have been, as lecras gets more midfield time.
My gripe is the criticism of mckinley, and he perception that he is shit, while he has been comprehensively played out of position whilst far less proven players have been given more of an opportunity deep in the forward line.
67 goals in 32 games, he is not a throw away player.

Jason Heatley was better at the same role, was 5 cm taller and a better kick. He played 3 tall in St Kilda's GF year alongside Hall & Loewe. He kicked 73 goals in 20 games that year.

Of course, footy was a different game in 1997. Heatley was let go by WC at the end of 1996 after kicking 6 goals in his 2 games that year - Micks view was that he was too small to hold down FF permanently.

After 1997, his production reduced and he managed 40 more games before being delisted at the end of 2000 at age 28. He played 63 games for 171 goals and had one champagne season. He was a great kick and mark FF in an era in which positional play and one position players were far more common than now.

He is the best case scenario for McKinley .... and again, McKinley is shorter and not as good (IMO) and plays in a very different era.

There are plenty of blokes who have been relatively ordinary footballers who have kicked 2 goals a game and never really amounted to much - I mean James Cook kicked 36 goals in 14 games one year...

 

[bodazoka]

He doesn't crumb goals. When was the last time he roved a ball away from a contest, ran away and kicked a goal?

He isnt a crumbers arseh*le.

You mean roved a ball and snapped a goal? I cant remember seeing him do a Judd but I have seen him rove and snap goals.

I am trying to figure out exactly what role you see him playing as a FP/HFF type? I mean give me some comparisons??

Right now I see McKinley as a FP who rotates between the bench and the forward line with stints at HF. His main job right now is to provide another option in the forward line when LeCras is moved into the midfield. Regardless of size when in the forward line he is incredibly dangerous, and capable of kicking multiple goals. He is our best third tall option right now.

In the future he could still be our best third tall forward, we have some potential talls who could over take him but Wilson has less class, Notte isnt exactly kicking bags (yet), Lynch I hate seeing take marks in the 50 and wasent setting the world alight when he was down there early this year. Brown isnt a lock as a forward (could replace Hunter), Naita only rests there and arguably plays small.

The height problem may not be as much of a factor as we have Kennedy + Brown/Notte who will inevitably get the best tall defender/s which can free McKinley up.

 

[bodazoka]

Nice way to post 5 paragraphs and miss the point.

I note bodazoka hasnt been along to answer my question either. What is this magical role that McKinley will play inside the forward 50 as some sort of FP/HFF?

Any player comparisons?

I do have a life outside BigFooty...

 

[spEKTre]

All this bickering about who to keep and who to delist is moot, we are crap and for the next 3-4 years we have nothing but misery ahead of us. The only way I can look at this situation in even the slightest light is that the sour taste of these down years make our next flag oh so f@!#$$%% sweet.....and yes you Frocker Fans, our next flag is inevitable unlike your pathetic losing club ( if you can call it one ) who haven't even played off for one.

 

[UpsideDown]

All this bickering about who to keep and who to delist is moot, we are crap and for the next 3-4 years we have nothing but misery ahead of us. The only way I can look at this situation in even the slightest light is that the sour taste of these down years make our next flag oh so f@!#$$%% sweet.....and yes you Frocker Fans, our next flag is inevitable unlike your pathetic losing club ( if you can call it one ) who haven't even played off for one.

absolutely, our next win is in 3-4 days

 

[Brave Sir Robin]

All this bickering about who to keep and who to delist is moot, we are crap and for the next 3-4 years we have nothing but misery ahead of us. The only way I can look at this situation in even the slightest light is that the sour taste of these down years make our next flag oh so f@!#$$%% sweet.....and yes you Frocker Fans, our next flag is inevitable unlike your pathetic losing club ( if you can call it one ) who haven't even played off for one.

It's not very often I read something and instinctively know that it's one of the stupidest comments I've ever read, and then someone like you comes along. Well done sir.

 

[larrikin]

All this bickering about who to keep and who to delist is moot, we are crap and for the next 3-4 years we have nothing but misery ahead of us. The only way I can look at this situation in even the slightest light is that the sour taste of these down years make our next flag oh so f@!#$$%% sweet.....and yes you Frocker Fans, our next flag is inevitable unlike your pathetic losing club ( if you can call it one ) who haven't even played off for one.

The door's that way

 

[INSANE]

All this bickering about who to keep and who to delist is moot, we are crap and for the next 3-4 years we have nothing but misery ahead of us. The only way I can look at this situation in even the slightest light is that the sour taste of these down years make our next flag oh so f@!#$$%% sweet.....and yes you Frocker Fans, our next flag is inevitable unlike your pathetic losing club ( if you can call it one ) who haven't even played off for one.

your funny.........................................................................

 

[swannies]

Jason Heatley was better at the same role, was 5 cm taller and a better kick. He played 3 tall in St Kilda's GF year alongside Hall & Loewe. He kicked 73 goals in 20 games that year.

Please, don't bring no heart Heatley into this. I think someone else asked the question "can McKinley reduce his body size and shape, to play a more running role?" I guess reducing the size will impact on his ability to take contested marks etc and does he have the appetite to turn into a running forward, rather than a leading forward? Interesting times ahead for the young man I suspect.

All this bickering about who to keep and who to delist is moot, we are crap and for the next 3-4 years we have nothing but misery ahead of us. The only way I can look at this situation in even the slightest light is that the sour taste of these down years make our next flag oh so f@!#$$%% sweet.....and yes you Frocker Fans, our next flag is inevitable unlike your pathetic losing club ( if you can call it one ) who haven't even played off for one.

Now, c'mon spek, didn't you enjoy the win on Saturday, against a decent opposition? I would have thought the ball movement and running in the first quarter and a half would have warmed the cockels of your heart? And then to have them scrap and fight and guts outs a tight win, it was like old times, no?

 

[spEKTre]

Swannies
I only watched the first half mate, had to sleep for a night shift so I will get to watch it over the next few days. I have to confess I love to wind up the Fanboi's on here mate glad to see your not so thin skinned

 

[swannies]

Swannies
I only watched the first half mate, had to sleep for a night shift so I will get to watch it over the next few days. I have to confess I love to wind up the Fanboi's on here mate glad to see your not so thin skinned

Firstly, I'd stop right there! The first half was the best, it made you think, wow, these kids can mix it with the best. I went to leederville after the first half so I went there on a high, only to be let down by Swans!! But I came home and cheered myself up watching the second half. Anyway, I expect you're a little like me, with Tony Evans being your favourite because of his courage and commitment to the team, so enjoy.

 

[carlos39]

just curious what the definition of a "more traditional" FF would be these days? mckinley doesn't like leaving the 50 arc, can take a decent contested mark and has a good kick. sounds fairly traditional to me.

i think that playing kennedy deep really limits our ability to straighten up - somthing the eagles have been particularly poor at over the years.

lecras i better up the ground where he can create, while chipping in with goals now that he has a better engine.

lynch is not really FF material. yeah he did great in the premiership years playing there, but he is erratic. arguably anyone could kick 50+ goals as a lead up forward with cox, cousins, kerr and judd forcing it down your throat.

i'd say the only reason he's manager is bandying his name around is to pump up his contract value.

 

[Eagle87]

just curious what the definition of a "more traditional" FF would be these days? mckinley doesn't like leaving the 50 arc, can take a decent contested mark and has a good kick. sounds fairly traditional to me.

Doesn't have explosive pace on the lead - which makes him not ideal as a lead up and mark FF.

Can take some contested marks but not top shelf in this area as he lacks any real leap and while strong for a mid-size forward, is not FF strong like Bradshaw, Fev etc

Is 184cm. This makes him at least 6cm short of adequate height. This is an issue if he takes on a genuine full back.

He is a FF in a small/medium forwards body but with the mobility of a tall player....

As a traditional FF, he lacks speed, height and some agility.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Doesn't have explosive pace on the lead - which makes him not ideal as a lead up and mark FF.

Can take some contested marks but not top shelf in this area as he lacks any real leap and while strong for a mid-size forward, is not FF strong like Bradshaw, Fev etc

Is 184cm. This makes him at least 6cm short of adequate height. This is an issue if he takes on a genuine full back.

He is a FF in a small/medium forwards body but with the mobility of a tall player....

As a traditional FF, he lacks speed, height and some agility.

I would still like to see him be given the chance to actually find out if he can fill the role though. I mean as our FF and a serious go to man.

Either way I would like him to stay with us as I think Lecras is going to end up Midfield.
Lynch is still our best FF option and for the people who say anyone can kick goals with it being fed down their throat well thats a silly comment because that is what is supposed to happen. The Midfield is supposed to feed it to them.
Our midfield is coming along nicely and with Lynch at FF it starts to look a pretty solid spine. Lets face it once Cox is back next year Lynch won't be rucking and playing as a midfield type player is not the answer to us going forward.

So its either FF for Lynch or maybe WAFL in my view, unless they go Kennedy FF and put lynch at CHF which also is attractive.

 

[BMckinley#1]

I reckon he's scared to get injured... I do hope he changes this attitude because I know he can be a great player.

 

[Genesis67]

Doesn't have explosive pace on the lead - which makes him not ideal as a lead up and mark FF.

Can take some contested marks but not top shelf in this area as he lacks any real leap and while strong for a mid-size forward, is not FF strong like Bradshaw, Fev etc

Is 184cm. This makes him at least 6cm short of adequate height. This is an issue if he takes on a genuine full back.

He is a FF in a small/medium forwards body but with the mobility of a tall player....

As a traditional FF, he lacks speed, height and some agility.

All true.

But he has excellent positioning for the most part, brought about by the fact that his little finger has a higher IQ than all of Fev put together. That's how he's living and dying as an AFL player IMHO, and as a third forward, it's enough to make up for the physical deficiencies.

He just makes our forward line more dangerous simply by being there. He attracts one of the oppositions better defenders week in, week out, and still manages to snag 2-3 goals. It means that JK and Lecca aren't getting double teamed. That may not be enough going forward in the long term, but in the short term I think most people would say he's best 22. Ask yourself this, who would you prefer playing close to goal for us, Staker or McKinley?

 

[PRANKSTER666]

Ask yourself this, who would you prefer playing close to goal for us, Staker or McKinley?

I would rather put a witches cone in the forward pocket over miStaker.

The ball could ricochet off the cone for a goal or opposition players could trip over it making it far more offensive and defensive then miStaker has ever been.