2nds Welcome to GWS Giants Matt De Boer

[Stevey_J8888]

I really hope MDB can lift to the next level. There's nothing wrong with the guy - just needs to attack the footy more and get the 'selfish spark' to kick a couple of goals. Always thought when I watched him play, he was too selfless and never had the confidence to get hungry and kick goals like more ruthless players.

 

[Vic pokiesmon]

Macreadie

In next 2 years u think?.In My opinion Macreadie wouldnt have have been in our best 25 in next 2 years.We still got 6kids if u include Sproule.To me Deboer is looking more and more like a wise pick

 

[coniglio_number1]

In next 2 years u think?.In My opinion Macreadie wouldnt have have been in our best 25 in next 2 years.We still got 6kids if u include Sproule.To me Deboer is looking more and more like a wise pick

It was more that macreadie was such a highly rated player, played a position of importance, we moved him to Sydney. All the signs pointed at a sure thing and we got a bloke we could've got as a DFA

 

[Vic pokiesmon]

It was more that macreadie was such a highly rated player, played a position of importance, we moved him to Sydney. All the signs pointed at a sure thing and we got a bloke we could've got as a DFA

Did it matter whether we got him as a DFA or in the Draft.We could only list 38 players so its not like we could have got MDB and Macreadie...unless we didn't draft TIziani

 

[Bokonon_]

Did it matter whether we got him as a DFA or in the Draft.We could only list 38 players so its not like we could have got MDB and Macreadie...unless we didn't draft TIziani

Bite your tongue.

 

[coniglio_number1]

Did it matter whether we got him as a DFA or in the Draft.We could only list 38 players so its not like we could have got MDB and Macreadie...unless we didn't draft TIziani

Well if he was a DFA then it wouldn't have come at such a surprise to pass on academy talent while we have it

 

[captainMyCaptain]

The reason I was not as disappointed we passed on Macreadie as others was he had been with our neafl side for the whole year apart from when he was away for the u18 champs so given we had so much time with him our decision couldn't of been any more informed, but still may turn out completely wrong.

That said if we ever want to move another kid up to Sydney prior to his draft year it will be a much tougher sell.

 

[dlanod]

Well if he was a DFA then it wouldn't have come at such a surprise to pass on academy talent while we have it

I think the reason he wasn't signed as a DFA is because they wanted to see who else would be available on draft night. There could well have been other kids we like more who might have slid, but they didn't so MDB... come on down!

 

[Bokonon_]

2016 Draftee: Matt de Boer
GIANTS TV speaks with ex Fremantle player Matt de Boer about the move to Sydney to join the GIANTS.
Not Making Up Numbers
By Adam Curley - AFL Media

8 December 2016 11:37 AM

• 
  

Former Fremantle midfielders Matt de Boer and Tendai Mzungu have hit back at critics who have labeled them little more than back-up players at their new club, Greater Western Sydney.

The pair had their careers revived by the GIANTS after falling out of favour at the Dockers in 2016, with de Boer taken with the club's last selection (58) at the NAB AFL draft, and Mzungu landing in Sydney via the rookie draft.

With the amount of talent on the GWS list, there's little doubt that both men face an enormous task to force their way into Leon Cameron's best side, but while some outside the club might see them as purely depth players or insurance against an injury crisis, de Boer and Mzungu see it differently.

De Boer, who was in Vietnam on an off-season trip when he found out the GIANTS were interested in extending his career, played 138 games in eight seasons for Fremantle, but managed just four appearances this year, and never played two in a row despite dominating at WAFL level.

The 26-year-old finished runner-up in the Sandover Medal after averaging more than 30 possessions in his 16 games, won the best and fairest at Peel Thunder, and helped the Dockers' WAFL affiliate to an historic first ever premiership, and told AFL.com.au that he and his good mate Mzungu hadn't come to the other side of the country to chase kicks in the NEAFL.

"I'm here to play senior games and help this team win; I'm not here to make up the numbers," he said.

"We'll be bringing our experience, and that mindset and attitude to every session to push the boys.

"They're driven and united, and that’s why they did what they did this year.

"I expected it to be a competitive environment, but to see it first hand the way they go about it, it's phenomenal the way they prepare.

"It's such a high standard and I feel like I'm going to thrive in this environment.

"There's no sense of entitlement here, we're just looking to work hard, grow, and see what's possible."

"Just to be part of this group is something special, so I'm open to any challenge and any opportunity; I can play as a pressure forward and do stints in the midfield, but if Leon (Cameron) wants me to play in the back pocket or in the ruck I'll do it."

While de Boer has a tough job ahead, Mzungu is coming from even further back, and has to wait for a spot to open up on the senior list before even thinking about playing at the highest level again.

The 30-year-old also spent most of the 2016 season with Peel and was dropped four times by Ross Lyon, but told AFL.com.authat he hadn't given any thought to those who doubted the GIANTS’ decision to give him another chance.

"It doesn't faze me in the slightest. I know internally we're really driven and we think we can help this group," he said.

"From what I've seen, the standards are really high and we believe we can deliver on that too.

"It's not daunting, it's exciting to me. I want to play in a great team and I see some real possibilities here.

"I know I need to work incredibly hard, and if an opportunity presents itself then I'm sure I'm up for the challenge.

"I treat it as a real opportunity at a team that is really on the rise and driven for success."

Despite the Dockers struggling to just four wins this year, the experienced duo were left to battle in the WAFL while Lyon gave senior opportunities to his younger players, even with Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands, Michael Johnson and Harley Bennell missing for most of the year.

It was a tough spot to be in but de Boer and Mzungu got together late in the season with a large group of Dockers who spent significant time with Peel and decided to turn their situation into something positive, given the cloud that hung over their AFL futures.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't frustrating because it certainly was, especially with the way Fremantle were going," de Boer said.

"But we have high standards so we just tried to get the best out of ourselves at every session, and attacked each game ferociously trying to get something positive out of the year.

"We didn't want to play WAFL all season but if you're going to do it, you might as well do it well, and ultimately we committed to it and won the flag, which we'll have forever."

Like his attitude.

 

[Giant Strides]

As much as the fact that his presence causes me to think of Freo, which makes me to want to puke, I'm actually starting to warm to him and articles like this indicate he should actually be a solid pickup for the club. I'm still like others questioning why we couldn't have taken him DFA after the draft (although potentially that could have allowed another club to grab him) and therefore grabbed another local talent in the draft, but I'll have to accept that list numbers and $ plus a hard-nosed assessment of list needs and the capabilities of the undrafted GWS academy kids are areas in which the club should know best.

He's actually a good profile - similar to Cal Ward in age (mid 20s so should be peaking in skill), height, weight, games (30 less - mostly his relegation to reserves in 2016), tackling pressure, and hard at the inside contest while also being able to go forward. So, I see that if he replaces Palmer he's a likely upgrade, and as a reserve inside mid, he should keep guys like Hopper on their toes to perform, and be the experienced replacement should we have injuries to the experienced guys rather than have to go in with too junior a midfield lineup.

 

[Giant Heart]

He is 26 and when he gets a chance to play as an inside mid will do very well.

Excellent on the eye. Very intelligent.

He surely can't be as bad as the last Freo reject we got; Rhys Palmer.

I didn't know anything about him, but Google images confirmed the emboldened. Cute and intelligent - what more could a gal ask for?

 

[Giant Heart]

I get that, I have relatives in WA and beleive it takes at least 40 years of fierce parochalism to qualify.
Strangest one is Alice Springs where I was for a while and they said you had to see the Todd River running three times to be a local.

Sorry to go O/T but I asked my Dad about this as he lived/worked there for a while. He said "something like that" and he also said when the river is running it's not uncommon to see certain, ahem... locals floating along on/in objects, i.e. industrial bins etc. which have become their semi-permanent homes.

 

[Bokonon_]

Sorry to go O/T but I asked my Dad about this as he lived/worked there for a while. He said "something like that" and he also said when the river is running it's not uncommon to see certain, ahem... locals floating along on/in objects, i.e. industrial bins etc. which have become their semi-permanent homes.

That would be the aboriginals in the town camps, and yep.

 

[Giant Heart]

That would be the aboriginals in the town camps, and yep.

Yes, hence the use of italics for locals. Haha. That's insane! I'm a sheltered girl from Western Sydney, even though I've seen some crazy behaviour from people due to my job. But, the outback and remote communities just seem like another world entirely.

 

[Bokonon_]

Yes, hence the use of italics for locals. Haha. That's insane! I'm a sheltered girl from Western Sydney, even though I've seen some crazy behaviour from people due to my job. But, the outback and remote communities just seem like another world entirely.

It's very different. The issue in Alice is it's surrounded by Aboriginal communities and they've all taken the decision to ban alchohol. These leaves those who wont give up drinking nowhere to go except the town camps. They really are a horror, with incidence of Syphilus and Gonnorea in children hard evidence of the complete breakdown of values within them.
It's generally just put in the tòo hard basket.

It's not the whole story though the communities benefit from being dry. I'm actually not sure about those around Alice but further North near Katherine the Cularno Community has it's own outpost of the NT Uni ( also a Tafe) and the career path of aboriginals is excellent if they graduate. But some communities are clearly dysfunctional as well.
Seems to depend on whether they have a functional elder group in control, and that on the particular tribal background.
Rant over.

 

[Vic pokiesmon]

It's very different. The issue in Alice is it's surrounded by Aboriginal communities and they've all taken the decision to ban alchohol. These leaves those who wont give up drinking nowhere to go except the town camps. They really are a horror, with incidence of Syphilus and Gonnorea in children hard evidence of the complete breakdown of values within them.
It's generally just put in the tòo hard basket.

It's not the whole story though the communities benefit from being dry. I'm actually not sure about those around Alice but further North near Katherine the Cularno Community has it's own outpost of the NT Uni ( also a Tafe) and the career path of aboriginals is excellent if they graduate. But some communities are clearly dysfunctional as well.
Seems to depend on whether they have a functional elder group in control, and that on the particular tribal background.
Rant over.

I didn't expect to check out thE MDB thread and learn more about indigenous issues.Fine by me

 

[Bokonon_]

I didn't expect to check out thE MDB thread and learn more about indigenous issues.Fine by me

Fair enough
Got off topic and shouldn't have ranted. There are threads on BF I know. Apologies to our benelovent Mod.Should I delete?

 

[Giant Heart]

I didn't think you were ranting and it was my fault we went off-topic, Wampeter! Haha. Carry on...

 

[Bokonon_]

I didn't think you were ranting and it was my fault we went off-topic, Wampeter! Haha. Carry on...

Was my post but will leave it