Opinion Mitch Brown

[iameviljez]

Oh, that was bad. That really was awful to watch - one, because he was on our side and having an awful game, and two, because I felt for him.

He seems to have no confidence in his ability at AFL level - or, that said, in his body. A number of times he seemed to refrained from backing himself into a contest or tensed up out of sheer nerves before the contest actually came to him.

I'm thinking of three moments in particular - in the second quarter when he ran around the ball to pick it up instead of attacking it, again in the second when he nervously fumbled a simple mark from a teammate's pass, and in the third when Tarrant just seemed to walk in front of him to outmark him.

The thing is, though, that his performances as a young, skinny tyro at the level below show that he *can* play. You don't kick nine goals or take 10+ marks in the VFL by being awful.

It was the worst game that I'd seen a Geelong player play since Mark Blake, but it seemed that it wasn't for lack of talent - it just looked like he believed that he didn't belong and couldn't match it body-on-body in the AFL.

I want this kid to make it in the AFL and I know he's barely played at the top level, but he needs to find some way to show himself that he can do it.

 

[Commando]

Has the ability but needs to get stronger.

 

[vinum coupe]

Oh my....

 

[cynical]

Hawkins and Varcoe played equally poor games in their first 50 games.

His disposal is A grade and he is very good as a loose 3rd man. Just needs to work on 1 on 1.

Still needs to get games against lesser teams.

 

[vinum coupe]

The other thing I noticed today was that there is a bullshit comment going around that he is a stick figure.
Stand him next to Lonners etc and yes, he is behind.
But he's no stick figure.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

It was the worst game that I'd seen a Geelong player play since Mark Blake

It wasn't even Brown's worst game.

All defenders look silly at times; it's part of the job. 5 kicks, 5 marks and 2 goals to his direct opponent. Lonergan's been torched worse than that in two of his last three. Brown will be back in the VFL next week, if all our other defenders got through unscathed and Rivers is right. Have a lie down or something.

 

[iameviljez]

It wasn't even Brown's worst game.

All defenders look silly at times; it's part of the job. 5 kicks, 5 marks and 2 goals to his direct opponent. Lonergan's been torched worse than that in two of his last three. Brown will be back in the VFL next week, if all our other defenders got through unscathed and Rivers is right. Have a lie down or something.

Lonergan was beaten badly, yes, but by Petrie who ran hard and marked well. Brown was isolated by Tarrant deep forward who beat him so easily. The game's not always about stats - sometimes it is, but that's not everything..

 

[Vdubs]

Oh, that was bad. That really was awful to watch - one, because he was on our side and having an awful game, and two, because I felt for him.

He seems to have no confidence in his ability at AFL level - or, that said, in his body. A number of times he seemed to refrained from backing himself into a contest or tensed up out of sheer nerves before the contest actually came to him.

I'm thinking of three moments in particular - in the second quarter when he ran around the ball to pick it up instead of attacking it, again in the second when he nervously fumbled a simple mark from a teammate's pass, and in the third when Tarrant just seemed to walk in front of him to outmark him.

The thing is, though, that his performances as a young, skinny tyro at the level below show that he *can* play. You don't kick nine goals or take 10+ marks in the VFL by being awful.

It was the worst game that I'd seen a Geelong player play since Mark Blake, but it seemed that it wasn't for lack of talent - it just looked like he believed that he didn't belong and couldn't match it body-on-body in the AFL.

I want this kid to make it in the AFL and I know he's barely played at the top level, but he needs to find some way to show himself that he can do it.

You were looking too hard to conclude that.
He is not that skinny any more.
Needs to be shown the confidence and opportunities that Lonergan was afforded.

 

[MisterMarcus]

After having so many injuries and setbacks, it's not surprising he will be a bit down on confidence and "touch".

Needs to learn to trust his body and his skills, which will only come with experience, so he should be persisted with.

 

[Partridge]

Hawkins and Varcoe played equally poor games in their first 50 games.

His disposal is A grade and he is very good as a loose 3rd man. Just needs to work on 1 on 1.

Still needs to get games against lesser teams.

Absolutely they did. So did just about everyone on our list. Lonergan was making us avert our eyes - as a key defender - as recently as 2010. Varcoe might as well have been in Row Z in some early games he was that far from the contest.

The block we have mid-year when we play Gold Coast and GWS could be that time. He needs consistent time to gain the confidence. He does have talent.

 

[Senatorguesty]

He was ok.
Some of his ground work, especially his ability to knock the ball around and then twist to pick it up was good but hes not a tall defender that can mark a tall forward, he is a loose 3rd up interceptor.
The problem today was we were playing a side that unlike most has 3 talented tall forward options so he HAD to mark a player.
I wouldnt give up on him yet, in fact I reckon he will get alot better and carve out a bit of a career down back, if given the chance to settle.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Lonergan was beaten badly, yes, but by Petrie who ran hard and marked well. Brown was isolated by Tarrant deep forward who beat him so easily. The game's not always about stats - sometimes it is, but that's not everything..

And that comprehensive beating translated to eight disposals for his opponent. It's what a defender is judged on, as much as anything. If you want to see a classic example of a key defender looking completely out of his depth, check out some of Lonergan's work in 2009.

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

Can really test the defenders when the opposition gets it through the middle so fast as Nth did in the 1st....However, I thought he was poor at times when a fair contest was to be had...

 

[footscore]

crap thread but not surprising, our board is becoming a joke with people writing off player after player.

One week it's Stokes, next it's Caddy, next it's Corey, next it's Chappy and now it's Brown.
Can you imagine if we were 0-2

 

[iameviljez]

And that comprehensive beating translated to eight disposals for his opponent. It's what a defender is judged on, as much as anything. If you want to see a classic example of a key defender looking completely out of his depth, check out some of Lonergan's work in 2009.

I disagree - defenders aren't judged on opposition disposal count, they're judged on an awful lot more than that. Ability to create a contest, then the ability to win it, then the ability to hurt the opposition in transition.

Football's also no longer a one-on-one game (though admittedly this is less true for key forward/defender matchups).

 

[iameviljez]

crap thread but not surprising, our board is becoming a joke with people writing off player after player.

One week it's Stokes, next it's Caddy, next it's Corey, next it's Chappy and now it's Brown.
Can you imagine if we were 0-2

Different people, though. Also note that no-one has 'written him off'.

 

[JUBJUB]

crap thread but not surprising, our board is becoming a joke with people writing off player after player.

One week it's Stokes, next it's Caddy, next it's Corey, next it's Chappy and now it's Brown.
Can you imagine if we were 0-2

I've said it before and I'll say it again - this board has a lot of drama Queens.
Where's the thread bagging Lonergan or Taylor for their shit games ?

 

[catman 71]

Absolutely they did. So did just about everyone on our list. Lonergan was making us avert our eyes - as a key defender - as recently as 2010. Varcoe might as well have been in Row Z in some early games he was that far from the contest.

The block we have mid-year when we play Gold Coast and GWS could be that time. He needs consistent time to gain the confidence. He does have talent.

Can't say that Allan Christensen stunk in his first 50 games, so not everyone has.

Just sayin'

 

[sarah.13]

When Tarrant took that mark Chris Scott (for those that can lip read) said " who was that...Mitch brown.get him off " says it for me... He's just too timid for my liking.
Anyone can play loose 3rd man in defence !!!

 

[Seeds]

Hawkins and Varcoe played equally poor games in their first 50 games.

His disposal is A grade and he is very good as a loose 3rd man. Just needs to work on 1 on 1.

Still needs to get games against lesser teams.

No he needs to grow shoulders.

 

[catswhiskers]

Thankfully most posters here are positive. Judging Brown on his first 2 1/2 quarters when North were all over us is a bit rough. He is a class above VFL and needs 25 games at AFL level for an informed judgement at that level. He has had 12 months prep for this defensive gig only.

 

[iameviljez]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - this board has a lot of drama Queens.
Where's the thread bagging Lonergan or Taylor for their shit games ?

Taylor was statistically crap, but didn't get beaten as much as Lonergan did.

The issue isn't that Brown was beaten, it was that he seemed to beat himself.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I disagree - defenders aren't judged on opposition disposal count, they're judged on an awful lot more than that. Ability to create a contest, then the ability to win it, then the ability to hurt the opposition in transition.

Football's also no longer a one-on-one game (though admittedly this is less true for key forward/defender matchups).

Ok, I'll be right back...just going to see how many votes Tarrant got on the North Melbourne board. My guess is zero, but you can never be sure.

 

[Seeds]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - this board has a lot of drama Queens.
Where's the thread bagging Lonergan or Taylor for their shit games ?

You guys aren't recognizing the difference between why those guys had bad games early in their career and Brown (although don't remember Taylor having many he was bloody good from the beginning). Unfortunately his problem isn't going to fix itself with games.

 

[Sttew]

Sadly I don't think we'll see Brown in the seniors in the forseeable future