The Shae Mac Experiment

[FootyontheBrain]

A year on I'm curious how the Collingwood faithful rate the progress of the big yank. I understand he had a bit of a breakout game in the last game. Is he on the verge of breaking through or clogging your list.

Mike Pyke was a bit of a revelation for us last season, but the yank looks like he could be better skilled from the few vids I've seen of him.

 

[mwalker]

From all I read on here I think that he is progressing well. I am not in Aust so have not seen live, but most ppl are pretty positive about him. Not many have suggested list clogger, but I think we all expect him to come along this year and if he stagnates then maybe that is that?????

As you said, he looks to have fairly good skills and he seems to have come along way and he is very athletic. Heres hoping.

As I live in Canada I have been watching the big Canuck with interest and talk him up all the time to the locals

 

[Jelly Bean]

A year on I'm curious how the Collingwood faithful rate the progress of the big yank. I understand he had a bit of a breakout game in the last game. Is he on the verge of breaking through or clogging your list.

Mike Pyke was a bit of a revelation for us last season, but the yank looks like he could be better skilled from the few vids I've seen of him.

I doubt Shae will make it as an AFL footballer (or even a VFL footballer), and I think "breakout game" is a bit of a overstatement when describing his last game.

The only skill he puts to good use is his leap, and shows that he can consistently get first hands on the ball at the centre clearances. But in terms of around the ground play, including marking and decision making, he still has a long long way to go, and I don't see him getting there. His agility is poor even for a big man as well.

 

[Ed D]

He's not really a list clogger being on the rookie list, but he has a lot of development to go to make it as an AFL player. It's hard to say if he'll ever put it together because he's not that close to getting a senior game.

 

[mattys123]

Shae's an interesting one.

If you saw him play in the VFL last year, and had no idea who he was, you would probably say he will never make it, especially at his age (24 or so?), but you also have to remember that 12 months ago he knew nothing about our game, and had never been involved in a training session, let alone a real game of Aussie Rules.

He showed glimpses of talent, his ruckwork was "ok", and that was probably his most impressive are, and he seemed to be used most often as a 2nd ruckman resting up forward, where he managed to trouble a few better know VFL players at times.

I'd give him another 12 months to see how he develops before making any real judgment on whether he will "make it" or not.

His mobility is ok for his size, and I believe a full pre season with the pies may improve that even more.

I wouldn't be "shocked" to see him promoted to the senior list for the 2012 season, but he would have to improve dramatically in 2011, that's for sure.

 

[daics_35]

He will make it, just needs time.

 

[TradeDraft]

He will make it, just needs time.

But will he get the Time he needs to Develop?

 

[Visions]

I think his knowledge of the game was summed up with one passage of play this year where he kicked the ball to a teammate standing 3 metres away instead of handballing it to him.

Hasn't got the nous that you need in the game, if he was younger then he might be able to pick it up, but at 24 wont have enough time to become a constant AFL player.

 

[Daicos Mullets]

His skills are reasonable enough & have shown improvement, so I don't think that's a major issue. However, he doesn't know the game or read the play well, so he doesn't get many possessions. Due to his lack of knowledge of the game his decision making can be quite poor. He just looks lost out there quite oftne. In terms of skills/physicality I think he could make it, but in terms of actually being able to play the game, I don't think he will make it. As an international rookie I think the club can keep him on the list for up to 3 years before promoting him, so there is some time to work with him. It would be a bonus for us if he plays in the seniors, but on balance, I don't think he will.

 

[Jelly Bean]

But will he get the Time he needs to Develop?

No. He will be 26 next year.

He will not make it.

 

[Swooop]

No. He will be 26 next year.

He will not make it.

I haven't completely lost hope he may play a bit of seniors.

He may be 25-26, but he is on a different and steeper upward trajectory to many others possibly, with his very recent taking up of AFL footy.

I watched one of his games late last year and thought he was very serviceable. He did some very skillful things that day.

I also saw the initial training videos he made and the difference was mega mega amazing.

Also, he likely has less wear and tear on his body than the average 26yo due to not having already played 7-8 yrs of AFL

If that learning curve continues another year or maybe two, i see it as a distinct possibility he could play the odd game, admittedly in the event of injury most likely.

Also Eddie, bless him, is Eddie, and the marketing potential in the USA of a yank playing a game for Collingwood could be mindblowing, in the event if it was a 50/50 decision re Shae vs XXX for a call up.

 

[bucksisbest]

This year will be more instructive. He has had some very good moments , and a great purple patch forward vs Gold Coast , but at other times his lack of game feel made it akin to playing with 17.
His attributes and attitude make him worth a go , and gives him a reasonable chance.

 

[Quicky]

At this stage of his development all I look for are features of his game which are AFL standard. I think his ruckwork, athleticism and marking all show this promise. There is definitely something to work with. He lacks gamesense and consistency. Who knows whether he will develop these but it is encouraging that he continues to improve. I think bucksisbest is on the money when he says next year will be more instructive. Long shot yes but it's early days yet and he has shown some good signs.

 

[Swooop]

This year will be more instructive. He has had some very good moments , and a great purple patch forward vs Gold Coast , but at other times his lack of game feel made it akin to playing with 17.
His attributes and attitude make him worth a go , and gives him a reasonable chance.

Eww, that's the only game I saw him in, so my comments are narrow and solely based on his best ever game!

 

[shawthing09]

Given the nature of the international rookie scenario Shae is pretty much a free hit. With that said if you had to make the call right now smart money would be on him not making it.

Luckily we don't have to make the call right now and in these cases I much prefer to show imagination in terms of how their strength could serve us at AFL level, rather then focusing on what is lacking from their game currently. On an athletic basis there is plenty to work with and he has shown some promise as a ruck. As others have mentioned he still has miles to go in terms of picking up the game and understanding it but he has another couple of years on the rookie list to do that. I wouldn't be confident about him making it but he certainly has enough about him that I wouldn't right him off just yet.

 

[Smokeyr67]

Given his age and experience, perhaps he's being groomed as our "US recruiter"?

 

[MarkT2]

Is he really going on 26? What role would he ever play? By the time Jolly retires he will be 30. I can't see the point keeping past this season unless he is good enough to get a game this year and that seems very unlikely. No issue with having a crack but pull the plug and use the rookie list spot for someone else - even if it is a similar punt.

 

[Kirby]

Having seen him a few times last year i would be absoltely shocked if he ever made it.

Whilst he has some great attributes he was miles off.

By all means see how he goes this year but he'd want to take a monumental leap.

 

[Mickaman]

If Guy Richards & David Fanning can make it he must be a slight chance.

 

[Quicky]

Is he really going on 26? What role would he ever play? By the time Jolly retires he will be 30. I can't see the point keeping past this season unless he is good enough to get a game this year and that seems very unlikely. No issue with having a crack but pull the plug and use the rookie list spot for someone else - even if it is a similar punt.

He doesn't take up a rookie spot on our list. He is an international rookie outside the list. He essentially costs us nothing except his salary. Well worth giving a chance. Also I thought he was 25 next year.

 

[Ed D]

He turnes 26 in May, so yeah, it doesn't leave him with much time to play by the time he's ready, maybe 3-4 years max.

 

[Quicky]

He turnes 26 in May, so yeah, it doesn't leave him with much time to play by the time he's ready, maybe 3-4 years max.

You're right but in June not May. Not much difference anyway. He may be speculative but as he costs us nothing it's worth the chance that he will make it.

 

[Ed D]

Sorry I was going of fanfooty but I trust the Pies site is correct!

Exactly right with it being worth a shot too. It's not like he'd be getting paid much, and we don't exactly have international recruits lining up to play each year.

 

[Markfs]

There must be more to this than getting Shae to play a game of AFL football. I thought it might have something to do with the American market and he has showed some promotional qualities...but that doesnt convince me. Maybe it's an experiment with american basketballers. We've already seen how Scott Pendles can weave through traffic like a point guard in basketball. I really think athletic american basketballers would bring something to the game - if they could be taught to kick and tackle. Maybe Shae is the test pilot... And then of course, they might have been impressed by his enthusiasm and never-give-up attitude. He might be used to get the other boys motivated to improve. I dunno if any of these reasons are right but there must be something more than just teaching a yank to kick...

Personally, I cant see him making it unless he's "given" a game....but I admire his persistence...

 

[shawthing09]

There must be more to this than getting Shae to play a game of AFL football. I thought it might have something to do with the American market and he has showed some promotional qualities...but that doesnt convince me. Maybe it's an experiment with american basketballers. We've already seen how Scott Pendles can weave through traffic like a point guard in basketball. I really think athletic american basketballers would bring something to the game - if they could be taught to kick and tackle. Maybe Shae is the test pilot... And then of course, they might have been impressed by his enthusiasm and never-give-up attitude. He might be used to get the other boys motivated to improve. I dunno if any of these reasons are right but there must be something more than just teaching a yank to kick...

Personally, I cant see him making it unless he's "given" a game....but I admire his persistence...

I think your looking a bit too much into it, simply due to cash we are highly unlikely to be able to lure any top line basketballers. The money they can make playing ball even throughout europe would trump anything we would be able to offer. I think it's as simple as the guy was a super athlete with good size and there was / is nothing to lose by giving him a go and seeing if he can get the hang of the game, obviously if he does with his athletic weapons he is going to be a decent player.

I am sure the marketability of a having a yank and the lure if he was to make it was considered but I don't think it featured highly in the decision making.