Smith vs Bate

[melbournemartin]

there has been a lot of talk about these 2 and whether they will play this year, what are your thoughts? who do you reckon should play first this year if at all

 

[Sexiano Ronaldo]

Nick Smith is the second coming of Wayne Carey, hence there's no need for a poll.

 

[jefffff34]

Agreed. I've seen Smith play for Sandringham, absolute gun.

Probably better than Carey and Peter Knights put together.

 

[melbournemartin]

yeh smith makes guys like Brown and Hall look like stick figures out there

 

[Sexiano Ronaldo]

Smith is a colossus.

 

[davey_magik]

Give Smith a go. Bate has plenty more time to debut, while Smith has played a few but that was two years ago and we know he has the potential, he just needs to get out on the park and string some games then some seasons together.

 

[dees_best]

Neither.

If we wanna groom someone for a key forward position, Dunn is the man.

He has some speed, power and aggression. Is a decent mark too. Just needs to work on his goalkicking.

Bate will end up most likely a HBF/midfielder so not too much point playing him as a key forward.

Smith is gone IMO. No confidence at the moment (which has shown in most of his AFL/VFL career to date).

Sure, Smith has had some really good games for Sandy a few years back, but he's done nothing since.

Personally, I couldn't see Neitz, Holland, P.Johnson and Smith in the same side.

 

[melbournemartin]

well i agree with ya last point dees_best but smith would be taking hollands spot. interesting with johnson though, where else could he play when not in the ruck or bench if not a 3rd tall down forward?

perhaps a floating tall in defence?

 

[The Shev]

We should give Smith a go before we ever delist him, even if his form at Sandringham doesn't warrant it. The only reason is because he has certain characteristics in his game (strong hands, good kick, solid build) which are important for a key forward. We spent a first round pick on him, have been developing him for years so I think we might as well give him a shot in the seniors for a couple of weeks, and see if he has it. I'd hate to see him get delisted, picked up by another club and then become a handy key forward. If it was a midfielder who had his form and confidence then I wouldn't care what happened, but key forwards are hard to come by.

 

[The Shev]

well i agree with ya last point dees_best but smith would be taking hollands spot. interesting with johnson though, where else could he play when not in the ruck or bench if not a 3rd tall down forward?

perhaps a floating tall in defence?

We should be grooming him as a ruck/forward, but I can see some value in him as a key defender. Tall, strong, mobile, seems to read the play and use the ball well. We need some defensive options down back so let's be a bit creative.

 

[melbournemartin]

well johnson never gets more den say 5 touches a game. i know he only has limited game time but when he is on, he is just never anywhere near the ball

 

[The Shev]

Give him a chance, don't judge him from 30 minutes a match, and only 5 matches a year. Let's not make the same mistake with Simmonds and Jolly, give our back-up ruckmen a chance to develop.

 

[melbournemartin]

R.i.p. 426

 

[Tulip]

R.i.p. 426

the greatest


...welcome to the throne Aussie

 

[melbournemartin]

His finals appearance vs Fremantle was the single greatest moment of the MFC history.