Well done Brent Macaffer

[Bigness]

No he hasn't been elevated if that is what you were thinking, but I just wanted to say congratulations to him for the way he has developed in his short time at the Pies.

When we think back, he was a TAC team of the year selection, was overlooked in the National draft then picked by the pies as a fairly speculative rookie (I suppose they all are to some extent). In his first year at the pies he spent a lot of time in the Williamstown reserves being tried out in a number of positions. I don't recall him being mentioned in the best too many times.

12 months on and he's really thrown his name up there for senior selection with a series of standout performances in the VFL. At the beginning of this year he wasn't selected for Dubai (I don't think!) and his name was being thrown around as a probable delisting for the end of 2008 by people on this board.

We haven't seen him yet and even if he doesn't make it, his development over the past 12 months is a credit to him and to our development coaches. He's a great example of how quickly players can develop from 'project' type players playing in the VFL reserves, to a player with a genuine chance of debuting at AFL level, in a short space of time.

All the best to him!

 

[Rohan25]

No he hasn't been elevated if that is what you were thinking,

Haha. That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the thread title.

16 goals in 4 weeks for 'Caff.

 

[boulos]

Should be elevated ASAP.

He's clearly done the hard yards, and deserves just rewards.

 

[loki04]

Should be elevated ASAP.

He's clearly done the hard yards, and deserves just rewards.

agree

 

[DavidInellaFanClub]

No he hasn't been elevated if that is what you were thinking, but I just wanted to say congratulations to him for the way he has developed in his short time at the Pies.

When we think back, he was a TAC team of the year selection, was overlooked in the National draft then picked by the pies as a fairly speculative rookie (I suppose they all are to some extent). In his first year at the pies he spent a lot of time in the Williamstown reserves being tried out in a number of positions. I don't recall him being mentioned in the best too many times.

12 months on and he's really thrown his name up there for senior selection with a series of standout performances in the VFL. At the beginning of this year he wasn't selected for Dubai (I don't think!) and his name was being thrown around as a probable delisting for the end of 2008 by people on this board.

We haven't seen him yet and even if he doesn't make it, his development over the past 12 months is a credit to him and to our development coaches. He's a great example of how quickly players can develop from 'project' type players playing in the VFL reserves, to a player with a genuine chance of debuting at AFL level, in a short space of time.

All the best to him!

Didnt make the trip to South Africa due to injury

 

[Dogs_Playing_Poker]

Should be elevated for sure!! Looks a likely type in the mould of a Ryan O'Keefe...

 

[Kirby]

I agree he's going well and good on him. I hope he continues to improve but there is no need to elevate him to the main list unless he gets picked to play in the ones. The incentive is there for him for the rest of the year.

 

[shawthing09]

I agree he's going well and good on him. I hope he continues to improve but there is no need to elevate him to the main list unless he gets picked to play in the ones. The incentive is there for him for the rest of the year.

Agree with this.

I also have a feeling that he is just on the wrong list. At the pies his competing with a few players in his size and mould medhurst thomas even ruz who have a bit over him.

It is also easier for the smarter fowards with less size and athletism at vfl level then AFL level i think. To put it into perspective a guy like Aaron Edwards who is handy to good at AFL level kicked something like 120 goals in a season at VFL level. I think Caff is a good player but I don't know if his tools are enough to carry into AFL.

 

[ralu]

Agree with this.

I also have a feeling that he is just on the wrong list. At the pies his competing with a few players in his size and mould medhurst thomas even ruz who have a bit over him.

It is also easier for the smarter fowards with less size and athletism at vfl level then AFL level i think. To put it into perspective a guy like Aaron Edwards who is handy to good at AFL level kicked something like 120 goals in a season at VFL level. I think Caff is a good player but I don't know if his tools are enough to carry into AFL.

spot on. great post.

dont think macaffer will ever play for the pies

 

[The Dawes]

Agree with this.

I also have a feeling that he is just on the wrong list. At the pies his competing with a few players in his size and mould medhurst thomas even ruz who have a bit over him.

It is also easier for the smarter fowards with less size and athletism at vfl level then AFL level i think. To put it into perspective a guy like Aaron Edwards who is handy to good at AFL level kicked something like 120 goals in a season at VFL level. I think Caff is a good player but I don't know if his tools are enough to carry into AFL.

Good point re the competition for a spot on our list - but if we elevate him, he will provide additional depth and might be helpful as trade bait down the track.

Thing is, we don't really know if he'll make it at AFL level if he doesn't get a chance.

 

[Teak_Pies]

Get him the bloody team MM.

 

[mattys123]

He will be elevated, it is just a matter of time.

A few reasons why this will happen;

1. He deserves it after this years performances at VFL level.
2. Come end of year (draft time) and we have not elevated him, someone will pick him in the draft.
3. With injury concerns long term over rusling and rocca, more depth in the forward line cant hurt.
4. At end of year, we will have room to elevate him, delisting / retiring of 5-6 players will see to this.

Similar to Dawes, Thoolen, McCarthy, i dont really see it as necessary to give him a senior game this year, as the Nathan Brown scenario has shown.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

MacAffer is certainly to be congratulated on his recent form.

I disagree with those saying he shouldn't be promoted as he is too similar to our other medium forwards. He has some similarity to Medhurst, granted, but he is very different to Rusling and has far better ability in picking up the ground ball. Frankly, Rusling is far from a certainty to get through an AFL season given his atrocious run with injury. Making list decisions based upon what Rusling already offers us is rather short-sighted, IMHO.

I think we should lean toward retaining anyone who has shown some ability and the right attitude, MacAffer has both.

 

[MagpieGirl_13]

He had been on our list for a while now so I thought that if he didn't start performing he will probably be delisted at the end of the season. However, I'm SO glad that he has picked up the pace & found some really good form by the sounds of things. I hope he gets the reward he deserves!
If he does come out & play soon, I really hope that people keep the harsh comments (if any) to a minimum. If he doesn't live up to expectations on the first appearance, he'll probably get better.

 

[brspdt201013]

Would prefer Dawes to be given a game first.

 

[shawthing09]

MacAffer is certainly to be congratulated on his recent form.

I disagree with those saying he shouldn't be promoted as he is too similar to our other medium forwards. He has some similarity to Medhurst, granted, but he is very different to Rusling and has far better ability in picking up the ground ball. Frankly, Rusling is far from a certainty to get through an AFL season given his atrocious run with injury. Making list decisions based upon what Rusling already offers us is rather short-sighted, IMHO.

I think we should lean toward retaining anyone who has shown some ability and the right attitude, MacAffer has both.

His ability of the ground is better then Ruslings but no better then Medhurst who is probably the most similar to him on our list. My mentioning of Ruz was more in terms of the role that he would play / has been playing best.

If Ruz was the only one it would be different but Thomas and Medders too. Who are both way ahead of both Caff and Ruz.

Also what I was more pointing out is that I don't know if his strengths are good enough at AFL level that said only time and oppertunity will tell. I just think it is easy to see him preforming consistantly at VFL and wonder why he doesn't get a game in the big time. But the fact is I don't think at this stage he has the tools to preform at AFL level.

I simply don't think he should be promoted this year unless he is getting a game which unless our injury count gets worse (knock on wood.) I don't think he will get. At years end i still think he has probably earnt a seniors spot although second half of the year his form would need to continue.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Needs a game soon.

 

[September Action]

Is Ruz even going to make it back?? My mail is that he is finished - I hope that's wrong but it came from a mate who is good friends with Mama and Papa Ruz.

 

[loki04]

Is Ruz even going to make it back?? My mail is that he is finished - I hope that's wrong but it came from a mate who is good friends with Mama and Papa Ruz.

so we are gonna just pay him out a 3 year contract for nothing?


Highly doubtful..

 

[September Action]

As I say - hope my mail is wrong b/c I loved watching him in last year's finals but if his shoulder is not up to it, it doesn't matter how long his contract is. My mate from SA is good friends with the family who are apparently not very optimistic.

 

[Godfrey Jones]

damn man i hope you're source is full of shit

 

[skelly12]

Don't necessarily think he's a Thomas/Medhurst/Rusling as has been mentioned. Sure he is quick off the lead and has a good grab but he doesn't have the ability to work players under the ball like Medders/ the flamboyance of Thomas or the one dimensional style of game like Rusling (nothing wrong with that though, although you can only have one of these players in a team). If Caff is retained and elevated I would think he would develop into a Ryan O'keefe style of player, he has the potential to develop a large motor and is dangerous around goals. I played alot of underage footy with him and his ability to gut run, accelerate and kick goals from stoppages/on the run was phenomonal.