Opinion Mitch Brown

[iameviljez]

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.

Tarrant wasn't brilliant... which is, in a way, my point.

 

[bulletproof]

He wasn't even our worst player today. West took that gong.

Brown and Horlin-Smith would love the sort of latitude Smedts gets from mc.

 

[cynical]

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.

Varcoe was soft as butter who would constantly go missing.

Hawkins didn't do enough and couldn't kick.

Lonners was just hopeless, terrible kicking, clumsy.

Taylor doesn't count he was a mature age from the wafl.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

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

He'll be back as soon as any of Mackie, Taylor, Lonergan or Rivers needs another break, which will be pretty regularly. As an example, this week he was always going to play on Tarrant or Hansen. If he played next week (which he probably won't), he'd be on Andrew Walker. The week after, it would be someone like Andrejs Everitt. And the week after that, maybe Tory Dickson, or Bob Murphy. Along with us, North probably has the biggest forward line in the league.

 

[Sttew]

He'll be back as soon as any of Mackie, Taylor, Lonergan or Rivers needs another break, which will be pretty regularly. As an example, this week he was always going to play on Tarrant or Hansen. If he played next week (which he probably won't), he'd be on Andrew Walker. The week after, it would be someone like Andrejs Everitt. And the week after that, maybe Tory Dickson, or Bob Murphy. Along with us, North probably has the biggest forward line in the league.

What Brown showed today, IMO, is that he is no backman.

 

[FredLeDeux]

He wasn't even our worst player today. West took that gong.

Brown and Horlin-Smith would love the sort of latitude Smedts gets from mc.

West's comeback to break even in the hitouts in the 2nd half was crucial.
He was significantly ahead of Smedts and Lonergan, as well as Brown.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

What Brown showed today, IMO, is that he is no backman.

As Lonergan did in 2009.

 

[Sttew]

As Lonergan did in 2009.

Fair comment. Hope you're right.

 

[Cursed Cat]

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.

largely agree with this Senatorguesty; he lost a couple of key contests but I too liked the way he used his smarts when the ball was on the deck, you don't get many big blokes with under 10 senior games who have the composure to do stuff like that - I actually thought he showed some really good signs and he will get a clearer picture of what he needs to do to improve with every senior game he gets.

 

[Partridge]

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.

And you know that for sure because.........?

 

[Partridge]

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...

Two marking contests in particular that both led to goals. They were poor efforts. Otherwise I thought he was ok. Based on the first half I can't believe he's the only player criticised.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Two marking contests in particular that both led to goals. They were poor efforts. Otherwise I thought he was ok. Based on the first half I can't believe he's the only player criticised.

To be fair, I think West, Smedts, Lonergan and Taylor have been copping a whack too.

 

[you pick one]

If this was a racing form guide it might read something like this.Stepped up in class and has Failed to impress in his last 6 spasmodic outings, didn't go the journey fresh back from a spell at Etihad 7 April,prefer others.

 

[My5t3r10u5]

I love how players get written off on the basis of a few minutes of football and how some people only see the bad stuff a player does. Mitch did a couple fantastic things, beating his player and setting up play but noone seems to comment on that. Was he great? No. Is Rivers ahead of him? Yes. But I can see plenty to like in Brown and have confidence in the Cats' coaching staff to work with him on his deficiencies and turn him into a good, even great, player. Is this a certainty? Of course not - some players improve (see Lonergan) while others don't (see Gillies). But improvement takes work, time and patience (a commodity in short supply for some posters on this forum).

 

[geelong_boy]

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 !!!

Just saw a replay of that play and all you see Chris Scott saying is 'Mitch Brown'. Sure he lost body contact with Tarrant but that ball should've been killed by West. Selwood thought the same thing, watch his reaction.

I don't think MBrown was that bad today, but agree with other posters - he needs games.

 

[giggler99]

Sadly can't see him fitting in to our structure, can't play back and we have no room for him up forward.

trade bate at best end of season.

 

[fpm84]

Reminds me a bit of Jack Watts - he's clearly skillful but seems to lack that competitive edge that guys like Selwood and Chapman have. Maybe he's a bit timid because of the amount of injuries he's had, maybe that's just him.

I certainly haven't written him off though. Would love to see him get 4-5 games in a row to hopefully build his confidence.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I love how players get written off on the basis of a few minutes of football and how some people only see the bad stuff a player does.

But I can see plenty to like in Brown and have confidence in the Cats' coaching staff to work with him on his deficiencies and turn him into a good, even great, player. Is this a certainty? Of course not - some players improve (see Lonergan) while others don't (see Gillies). But improvement takes work, time and patience (a commodity in short supply for some posters on this forum).

The lot of a young, tall key defender. No position on the ground is put under more scrutiny and puts more pressure on the inexperienced players who have to play there.

 

[giggler99]

Reminds me a bit of Jack Watts - he's clearly skillful but seems to lack that competitive edge that guys like Selwood and Chapman have. Maybe he's a bit timid because of the amount of injuries he's had, maybe that's just him.

I certainly haven't written him off though. Would love to see him get 4-5 games in a row to hopefully build his confidence.

He's a spud,

will never work down back and we can't fit him up front as long as hawk and pods are their and even then from what I have seen of him up forward didn't convince me he can do a job.

I know he is young and hasn't played much but he has been in the system a while now and I haven't notice much improvement and has constantly been injured as well.

Trade bate.

 

[AM]

He'll be back as soon as any of Mackie, Taylor, Lonergan or Rivers needs another break, which will be pretty regularly. As an example, this week he was always going to play on Tarrant or Hansen. If he played next week (which he probably won't), he'd be on Andrew Walker. The week after, it would be someone like Andrejs Everitt. And the week after that, maybe Tory Dickson, or Bob Murphy. Along with us, North probably has the biggest forward line in the league.

That’s the problem Dollop. By continually making him one of the first selection casualties they are condemning him to almost certain failure as an AFL player. He’ll never feel part of the unit or get into the team rhythm that way.

The selectors have to make up their minds about Mitch. If they think he has the talent to be a regular member of the ones they need to give him a run of games. As they did with Varcoe, Bundy, Motlop, Taylor Hunt, Guthrie et al. And now Blicavs. Many times those players didn’t warrant selection on their performance but the club took the long-term view.

 

[footscore]

am by no means trying to suggest Mitch Brown is a lock for our best 22 but if our supporters wish to highlight him as a liability then it is only fair he is judged for the poor passages of play he is being questioned over by posters



That's every passage of play he was involved in today.

Not quite as bad as some may suggest imo.

 

[catman2006]

Smeldts and Brown need to be given time and play each week they are going to be inconsistent week to week but that's the learning curve

 

[footscore]

Chris Scott and his match committee are really doing some brilliant stuff, not any mention from the media though as that decision to sub a tall for a small was what may have been the difference as the rain started to fall just after Mitch was subbed out and Stokes was as fresh as a daisy

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

That’s the problem Dollop. By continually making him one of the first selection casualties they are condemning him to almost certain failure as an AFL player. He’ll never feel part of the unit or get into the team rhythm that way.

But that's not necessarily how it has to work, if it's a constant rotation like it has been in previous years (particularly once we get to the easier section of the fixture). Remember the musical chairs game we had going in 2011, where Milburn was finally caught out when the finals started (he didn't play a single VFL game during the year)? I've already been advocating for this for during the games when the interchange cap comes in next year and teams will have a defender, a mid, a forward and a utility on the bench. How it can work if Brown shows he is capable at the level is to have a core defensive unit of seven, with Josh Hunt out indefinitely and the unit consisting of Taylor, Lonergan, Enright, Mackie, Rivers, Guthrie and Brown.

So you go the first week with Brown playing in the VFL and the backline set up as:

B: Guthrie, Lonergan, Rivers
HB: Enright, Taylor, Mackie

Second week (Mackie):

B: Guthrie, Lonergan, Rivers
HB: Enright, Taylor, Brown

Third week (Taylor):
B: Guthrie, Lonergan, Enright
HB: Mackie, Rivers, Brown

Fourth week: (Enright)
B: Guthrie, Lonergan, Rivers
HB: Mackie, Taylor, Brown

Fifth week (Lonergan)
B: Guthrie, Rivers, Enright
HB: Mackie, Taylor, Brown

Sixth week (Guthrie)
B: Rivers, Lonergan, Enright
HB: Mackie, Taylor, Brown

That's five games in a row for Brown, if he's good enough to earn his spot. From there, who knows?

The selectors have to make up their minds about Mitch. If they think he has the talent to be a regular member of the ones they need to give him a run of games. As they did with Varcoe, Bundy, Motlop, Taylor Hunt, Guthrie et al. And now Blicavs. Many times those players didn’t warrant selection on their performance but the club took the long-term view.

If he doesn't show enough, he'll be straight in and straight out. But if he comes back in and distinguishes himself, he can hold a spot (at least during the home and away season, as I can't see him displacing any of Rivers, Lonergan, Mackie or Taylor if all are healthy), as we rotate players out for a week and others have the inevitable injuries.

 

[My5t3r10u5]

Love your work footscore - I defy anyone to look at that objectively and deny that some of the things Mitch Brown did today were AFL quality. Sure he made mistakes but there is a lot to be optimistic about too.