McPhee

[Kickett Punches Read]

I would have to say Thumbs up until we get our injured Broughton, Elvis and the silly MJ. The fact of the matter is that we need a mature and strong body in there for physicality and to impose on opposition teams. The thing is that I would be keeping him forward far more than ever going back.

The interesting thing is that keplar playing so well will place additional pressure on McPhee. Best 22 players? I doubt it. The thing is that teams barely ever get their best 22 out on the park. This is exactly what he was brought to the club for.

And thus, he is doing his job. The excellent thing was that we got to save all of our draft picks for excellent players like Fyfe and Roberton. Well done Freo. Keep plugging away McPhee, you are slowly getting better. I was there at the Essendon game and you are certainly doing better than that.

i'd let MJ sit in the wafl for the rest of the year. but thats another thread

mcphee to me plays the same role as solly, who i loved. i dont see any real difference in their ouputs except that mcphee has a better kick. not sure why people loved solly and not mcphee

 

[Tazmania]

I didn't think he was that bad yesterday apart from the obvious clangers. The clanger count seems to be diminishing each game too. He brings a toughness to the side that would be a little light on without him due to all the youngsters playing, is versatile and gets a couple of goals. Sounds like Pav.

To be fair to him too he's coming on very quickly. Think back to only a few games ago and it seemed every possession ended in a clanger. His improvement is coming on much faster than Tarrants' ever did. If this keeps up he'll start getting Brownlow votes soon.

Harv's seems to have the ability to know how to get the best out of "duds" from other teams coming our way. If this keeps up being Fremantled will mean something completely different in a couple of years.

 

[23cmonShane!]

I would have to say Thumbs up until we get our injured Broughton, Elvis and the silly MJ. The fact of the matter is that we need a mature and strong body in there for physicality and to impose on opposition teams. The thing is that I would be keeping him forward far more than ever going back.

The interesting thing is that keplar playing so well will place additional pressure on McPhee. Best 22 players? I doubt it. The thing is that teams barely ever get their best 22 out on the park. This is exactly what he was brought to the club for.

And thus, he is doing his job. The excellent thing was that we got to save all of our draft picks for excellent players like Fyfe and Roberton. Well done Freo. Keep plugging away McPhee, you are slowly getting better.

Spot on !

 

[Ysaye]

i'd let MJ sit in the wafl for the rest of the year. but thats another thread

mcphee to me plays the same role as solly, who i loved. i dont see any real difference in their ouputs except that mcphee has a better kick. not sure why people loved solly and not mcphee

Totally agree. McPhee's role in the team is to push a bit of weight around and allow guys like Fyfe and Mayne to concentrate on playing footy without having to worry about having to face up to bigger defenders, but be dangerous if he actually does get the ball. Have no problem with him getting games.

 

[dockertor]

I liked his physicality. He does turn the ball over 2-3 times per game. Its almost inevitable. But he makes up for it by kicking straight when in front of goals and winning contests he has no right to win.

Laid 11 tackles and the majority of opposition players would of got up sore. Fremantle are tackling with ferocity and McPhee is definitely one of the players leading the way. I think Crowley, McPhee and Morabito tackle with intent and are wearing players down as the game goes on. They aren't the only 3 but are probably our best tacklers.

You have to be kidding. 2-3 times. Closer to 10 times yesterday. I agree with his effort and effect on some contests but he needs to make sure he gives the ball to our players

 

[paul8241]

Thought that mark and goal on the siren would not have happened 3 weeks ago. He would have dropped it. He stalled there momentum with that effort, and hit them hard in the packs. He is still improving with each outing. I honestly think by season end he'll be in the top handful of players each week.

 

[Selggad]

You have to be kidding. 2-3 times. Closer to 10 times yesterday. I agree with his effort and effect on some contests but he needs to make sure he gives the ball to our players

McPhee's DE yesterday was 67%. The club average was 68%. It was pissing down. Some of the other players

Mundy 44%
Haselby 50%
Duffield 59%
Fyfe 57%
Pavlich 53%
Hill 57%

I wish people would get off the McPhee sucks bandwagon. I think people are pissed off he was given a 3 year contract, comes from Essendon and hasn't been an immediate superstar as the majority of the comments about his playing are complete rubbish. He is playing a pretty valuable role. Makes some clangers for sure, but nowhere near as bad as people make out - though that handball yesterday was a barry crocker

 

[paul8241]

though that handball yesterday was a barry crocker

Still, I think that was only because he doesn't recognise all the voices of his team mates yet. Maybe he needs some voice recognition work. I thought there should have been a player running with him, but I don't think they held their feet in the earlier tackles to re-present.

 

[Higs]

Another mixed bag. He definately looks hungry for the ball though he looks like he knows he has something to prove, hopefully he keeps getting better

 

[masai]

I would have to say Thumbs up until we get our injured Broughton, Elvis and the silly MJ. The fact of the matter is that we need a mature and strong body in there for physicality and to impose on opposition teams. The thing is that I would be keeping him forward far more than ever going back.

The interesting thing is that keplar playing so well will place additional pressure on McPhee. Best 22 players? I doubt it. The thing is that teams barely ever get their best 22 out on the park. This is exactly what he was brought to the club for.

And thus, he is doing his job. The excellent thing was that we got to save all of our draft picks for excellent players like Fyfe and Roberton. Well done Freo. Keep plugging away McPhee, you are slowly getting better. I was there at the Essendon game and you are certainly doing better than that.

Agree with that.

 

[hoss]

McPhee's DE yesterday was 67%. The club average was 68%. It was pissing down. Some of the other players

Mundy 44%
Haselby 50%
Duffield 59%
Fyfe 57%
Pavlich 53%
Hill 57%

I wish people would get off the McPhee sucks bandwagon. I think people are pissed off he was given a 3 year contract, comes from Essendon and hasn't been an immediate superstar as the majority of the comments about his playing are complete rubbish. He is playing a pretty valuable role. Makes some clangers for sure, but nowhere near as bad as people make out - though that handball yesterday was a barry crocker

Good post. Saw the same dumbass douchebags comments out on the Taz witch-hunt in his first 2 seasons for us.

 

[hoss]

McPhee was pretty ordinary today. Don't know why anyone would be happy with his performance.

Watch the replay.

 

[Clay Davis]

I was at the Essendon game and the Sydney game. He was infinitely better against Sydney.

Thought that mark and goal on the siren would not have happened 3 weeks ago. He would have dropped it. He stalled there momentum with that effort, and hit them hard in the packs. He is still improving with each outing. I honestly think by season end he'll be in the top handful of players each week.

Actually, that's exactly the kind of thing McPhee does. Ask any Bombers fan. He has this tremendous ability to pull off pieces of play that you'd only expect Pav to do. That clutch mark and goal was tremendous, practically reversing all his 3rd quarter blues in a single moment.

I reckon it might be worth having a sports psych getting inside his head, because he can absolutely muff the basic pieces of play, while pulling off a Brown/Pavlich "captain's goal" a couple of minutes later. It's a mental thing rather than an ability thing, IMO.

 

[surfsup]

He just keeps doing stupid things. Handballing straight to the opposition, comically kicking it out on the full, getting in the way of our players and delivering the ball to team mates that are under the pump.

The reason he keeps getting a game is that he offers flexibility that others don't. He can play forward or back and even on the ball (albeit quite poorly) and he is extremely hard at it. Because of this flexibility he keeps blokes like Dodd and Murphy out of the team.

We need players that can play in numerous positions in order to be able to both cause problems for the opposition and to hopefully plug holes when they arise.
if Mcphee can improve his disposal and his thought process then he may be a real useful contributor this season.

The versitility of players is fantastic this year.
Bradley/Johnson - all over the ground especially spelling sandi in the ruck
Hase - mid to small forward.
Sandilands - as a power forward

I've been a critic ,but I've got to bight my tongue regarding McPhee after reading Puregolds post. Even though he had 6 clangers yesterday, resulting in 2 direct goals to Sydney Puregold hit the nail on the head with the part I bolded above. He keeps Murphy and his pack of dumbarses out of the team while giving us something they can't offer, flexibility.
He's in a team whose sitting third on the ladder, he must be doing something right. Mustn't he?

Christ I hope he reduces his clanger count because he can be frustrating to watch, and the last thing I want to hear is that eff-wit Hutchie smirking and saying I told you so.

 

[paul8241]

I was at the Essendon game and the Sydney game. He was infinitely better against Sydney.



Actually, that's exactly the kind of thing McPhee does. Ask any Bombers fan. He has this tremendous ability to pull off pieces of play that you'd only expect Pav to do. That clutch mark and goal was tremendous, practically reversing all his 3rd quarter blues in a single moment.

I reckon it might be worth having a sports psych getting inside his head, because he can absolutely muff the basic pieces of play, while pulling off a Brown/Pavlich "captain's goal" a couple of minutes later. It's a mental thing rather than an ability thing, IMO.

Yep, I think he looks to be finding some confidence now. He's a very hard player for opposition to match up because of his size and the way he plays. Like Pav, he'll end up being double teamed if he starts firing.

 

[PapaJ]

The irrational hysteria amongst some for McPhee's blood is fascinating but disappointing too. He's taking a while to get into some form that's for sure, and he's had some poor games agreed. But he's not THAT bad. Yesterday's game is a case in point as already discussed at length. He did some critically good things and he did a few dumb things too - so did some other players but they get nothing like the attention.

Eg. In the second quarter (just watched replay) I say McPhee do two 'dumb' things. One was more bad luck when he 'shinned' the ball out of bounds. In the same quarter SCOS (who I'm a fan of) three times kicked it directly to opposition players when we appeared to have options free. Now I appreciate that maybe we expect more from McPhee being a seasoned player and a traded in one versus a youngish rookie, but the point is that we easily overlook some peoples errors and go hell for leather on whoever happens to be the whipping boy.

I said myself he has been playing on thin ice and I've certainly expected more at certain points, Collingwood game was a case in point and the Essendon game was mess. His fumbles are frustrating and the big stuff ups down right demoralising, but that's not he only thing he does and he's not the only one doing them.

 

[hoss]

I thought he did many really good things in the packs, and even some good dish outs. When he makes an error they LOOK really bad and obvious. On any given week other players such as Broughton, Duffield, Johnno, Roger etc etc could turn the ball over more without anyone hardly noticing. If however any of those players had 11 tackles in a game, most around here would be creaming themselves.

 

[muckypup]

He's not THAT bad. A frustrating but useful player.

 

[purpleblood29]

I can see why many people like him. His endevaour and hardness at the contest. 11 tackles is by gosh fantastic. But his errors and blunders are just not needed. He struggles when the footy is below his knees, he has poor awareness, and some of his mistakes makes you just want to shake him and tell him to wake up. He had a good game yesterday by his standards. Just the mistakes he makes are not up to AFL standard and I would like him to go back to the WAFL to get that ball handling skills up to scratch because everything else is pretty damn good.

 

[j0nni]

I've noticed that he's an excellent tackler

 

[paul8241]

I can see why many people like him. His endevaour and hardness at the contest. 11 tackles is by gosh fantastic. But his errors and blunders are just not needed. He struggles when the footy is below his knees, he has poor awareness, and some of his mistakes makes you just want to shake him and tell him to wake up. He had a good game yesterday by his standards. Just the mistakes he makes are not up to AFL standard and I would like him to go back to the WAFL to get that ball handling skills up to scratch because everything else is pretty damn good.

Sorry PB, this time I have to disagree, what McPhee does bring to the team should not be wasted in the magoos.

 

[imperial_oz]

I like what he brings to the side.

He is a very strong bodied player in a field of kids. If our kids start getting knocked around, you need a McPhee around to warn off the snipers.

He is adjusting to to the team better each week and his confidence is growing as a result. His mark on three quarter time and subsequent goal really snuffed out any Sydney momentum yesterday.

The only valid criticisms I have seen are those pointing out he isn't good below his knees...he isn't! But he still pays his way in the side.

Besides, Harves keeps picking him and I think by now, most people would have clued into the one little fact...Harves knows what he is doing!

 

[E Shed]

Good post. Saw the same dumbass douchebags comments out on the Taz witch-hunt in his first 2 seasons for us.

You say that as if you knew all along he was going to turn in to an AA level Defender. The fact is Taz WAS shit for a lot of his first 2 years. He WAS dropped to the WAFL. We DID sell our future out to get him. Ben Reid will be a 10 year full back for Collingwood long after Tarrant retires. And all that has as much to do with McPhee as your post did.

People are allowed to have a whinge. McPhee does do incredibly frustrating things at times and has an uncanny knack of creating goals for the other team. He's a polarising sort of player for supporters.
Some people think he's worth it, others don't.
FWIW I thought he was pretty good yesterday.
What will be interesting is when McPharlin, MJ are available. Will Keps get the ass again? Personally I think Kepler should be in front of McPhee as a utility on current performance.

 

[Clay Davis]

You say that as if you knew all along he was going to turn in to an AA level Defender. The fact is Taz WAS shit for a lot of his first 2 years. He WAS dropped to the WAFL. We DID sell our future out to get him. Ben Reid will be a 10 year full back for Collingwood long after Tarrant retires. And all that has as much to do with McPhee as your post did.

Agreed. And there's still no guarantee we'll keep Tarrant beyond this year.

People are allowed to have a whinge. McPhee does do incredibly frustrating things at times and has an uncanny knack of creating goals for the other team. He's a polarising sort of player for supporters.
Some people think he's worth it, others don't.
FWIW I thought he was pretty good yesterday.
What will be interesting is when McPharlin, MJ are available. Will Keps get the ass again? Personally I think Kepler should be in front of McPhee as a utility on current performance.

Agreed again.

 

[hoss]

Agreed people can have a whinge. I'd rather have mine against someone who treats his team mates and club with contempt by snorting coke than someone trying their guts out who is one of the sides best tacklers and with a great training ethic. I agree Kepler > McPhee, I also believe Kepler > Johnson.

If Fremantle supporters can whinge and be abusive towards an AFL player with over 170 games of experience and an AA guernsey, I can whinge about Freo supporters and armchair critics with likely not even a WAFL game of experience between them.