Player Watch Ned McHenry
- Thread starter Deaneus!
- Start date
- Tagged users None
That's the frustrating part, we keep gifting him games when we should be giving opportunities to new players
He's not AFL standard but the problem is being exacerbated by our coaching staff, who seem to think he is a crucial cog in our high-pressure defensive strategy and want him to be 1000mph for 100% TOG, even though he just doesn't have the skills to execute at that intensity when he does get the ball.
If they let him slow down a bit and actually play as a real, central midfielder, he would have more impact. But I still don't think it would be enough to keep the SANFL candidates behind him.
25 years ago he would have been a cult back pocket, 10 years ago he would be a great run-with tagger. Today, with our gameplan relying so much on quick, accurate ball movement, his continued selection is baffling given the modern game.
If they let him slow down a bit and actually play as a real, central midfielder, he would have more impact. But I still don't think it would be enough to keep the SANFL candidates behind him.
25 years ago he would have been a cult back pocket, 10 years ago he would be a great run-with tagger. Today, with our gameplan relying so much on quick, accurate ball movement, his continued selection is baffling given the modern game.
If he had been selected at 36 or 46 instead of 16 in 2018 would he have reached 60 something games?
I doubt it.
Surely his continued selection is the AFC still praying he will miraculously turn into a player worthy of drafting at 16 - we can all see it, somehow they can’t ,much better fisherman than footballer.
I doubt it.
Surely his continued selection is the AFC still praying he will miraculously turn into a player worthy of drafting at 16 - we can all see it, somehow they can’t ,much better fisherman than footballer.
Personally think he needs a breakout game at SANFL level first.
Watched him yesterday. He's got plenty of skills, way more than a few players in the side currently. Was impactful, especially in the 2nd half when he got some mid minutes.
he isnt up to it and shouldnt be playing. set to be overtaken over coming weeks / months by a number of possible players. even Murphy is better
We have a lot of likely delistings at the end of the year and Mc Henry only survives on minimum chips more as a good clubman and class clown
- May 16, 2015
- 13,252
- 17,919
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- WWTFC,Chelsea,Glasgow Celtic,Lech Poznan
The last bit is a poor statement about any AC player.
That'd been evident since his first season. Think he just needs a really big game to make sure his confidence is up when he comes in.
not sure if being serious about 'class clown' offence but, to clarify, the substance of my point is he is clearly a fun, quick witted, engaging and entertaining character and team mate (based on his 5AA stuff). I would think IF he stays on the list its for other reasons besides purely footy ability.
He had one great passage of play where he smothered a ball and then got it off to Tex, and we ended up with a goal out of it. That is what a player like McHenry is supposed to provide to the side - relentless pressure, getting in the face of the opposition, sweating off for the slightest error so he can pounce on it and hurt you the other way. It's a shame it has taken 67 games for him to do it once, but I guess once in 67 games is better than none!
More seriously, his inability to handle the ball cleanly, or get off a clean disposal under pressure, cost us momentum so many times last night - and throughout his entire career. It's frustrating because his short kicking is actually very good. A player like that with a bit of zip and loads of endurance, who can execute those low 20m passes to a leading forward... he should be a good player. He should be able to run around 50-80m from goal, burn off an opponent to get free, receive the ball, and nail a short kick to a leading forward. But he just... can't. Almost every time the opportunity is there he just fumbles at the wrong minute, or drops the mark, or runs into trouble, or just screws the pooch somehow.
More seriously, his inability to handle the ball cleanly, or get off a clean disposal under pressure, cost us momentum so many times last night - and throughout his entire career. It's frustrating because his short kicking is actually very good. A player like that with a bit of zip and loads of endurance, who can execute those low 20m passes to a leading forward... he should be a good player. He should be able to run around 50-80m from goal, burn off an opponent to get free, receive the ball, and nail a short kick to a leading forward. But he just... can't. Almost every time the opportunity is there he just fumbles at the wrong minute, or drops the mark, or runs into trouble, or just screws the pooch somehow.
That's it. At the end of the day at AFL level you need to be able to execute more often than you fail, even if you're only getting the ball 10-12 times a game. Unfortunately for us and Ned, you're probably running 50% at best in any given game of him doing that when he gets the ball.
It's doubly damaging too because his teammates, rightly, see him in good positions and start attacking. They get off their man to receive the ball, or run forward to be the next link in the chain.
Then, he fumbles the ball, or leaves it behind, or miskicks it, and suddenly those same teammates are scrambling to get back into the play while their opponents just stroll in for an easy possession.
In those situations, it would have been better if he wasn't even there at all. An active disadvantage to the team.
1 good thing follow by 5 bad thing. Maybe there's a Victoria club who only see the good thing, seem to have a supporter in Healy in the media.
- Nov 5, 2009
- 10,308
- 9,704
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
Lachlan Murphy - Pick #38 of the 2017 Rookie Draft.
Nicks woulda played him regardless of draft status.
jackster83
The leader of the bunch.
If he could stop fumbling absolutely everything, he wouldn't be that bad.
Maybe he needs to try a long sleeve guernsey or something.
Maybe he needs to try a long sleeve guernsey or something.
A glove like Aish, marks it like Carey these days.
Drugs Are Bad Mackay?
Moderator
- May 24, 2006
- 77,734
- 153,740
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- Redbacks, Sturt, Liverpool, Arizona
- Moderator
- #2,295
What's frustrating is he's played the same game 67 times
There's been no added composure or any significant improvement really. He's still a small, panicky, fumbly rookie
He's not giving away as many stupid frees I guess
- May 5, 2019
- 4,592
- 4,758
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
So does Ned
He's had some decent games at AFL level and looked like potentially developing into a handy I50 kick player earlier in his career, but you can't be regressing after 5 years in the system.
- Oct 11, 2012
- 4,006
- 6,185
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
Is Ned, is rubbish.
We have to move on from Ned and Murphy and Smith. The better teams don't carry players like this, they are dragging us down Nicks!
We have to move on from Ned and Murphy and Smith. The better teams don't carry players like this, they are dragging us down Nicks!
- Aug 28, 2006
- 2,048
- 2,879
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
The disheartening thing is it feels like our coaching staff have him as one of the first picked each week
