What is Nick Maxwell??....

[Bigness]

Just to make one thing clear early on.....this is not an invitation to Maxwell bash, nor is that where I intend to go with this thread. I'm just interested in the ever-evolving general consensus on Maxy and where he fits in our 22.

He is obviously one of the best leaders at the club and probably the most courageous player on the list. In fact if I recall correctly I think he played the last month of '08 with a broken hand or wrist.

Last year we saw him in a different role when he smashed Scott Thompson as a tagger in the middle and kicked a couple of goals while he was at it.

In the past we've seen him appear in the back half and whilst he's a good defender when playing third man up, generally he gets soundly beaten by bigger-bodied and quicker forwards. Many on this board have said that he isn't talented, strong or quick enough to player one on one in the defensive 50 on many of the modern day forwards.

We've seen him used (rarely) in the forward 50 for inconclusive results. His defenive pressure and 1 %pers have been well spoken about. He's arguably the best in the side when it comes to that aspect of the game.

So where does he fit? you have to weigh all of the above against the fact that he's a tremendous leader and probably one of the first picked each week by MM, albeit without a set position. Is he the quintessential utility of yesteryear? And, do we just accept that each week, MM is going to sum up the opposition and just stick Maxy in his 'best fit' position depending on match ups?

Personally, I can't see him holding down any key position, and I would doubt that he would nail down a permanent midfield tagging role. This leads me to wonder where he will line up and will he continue to be an automatic selection in 09?

 

[Pie eyed]

Maxwell is the guy who is not blessed with so much talent that you'd call him a natural. He is blessed with an enormous amount of determination to get the best out of himself and a belief that he has something to contribute to the club. He knows where he stands in the order of things and he knows how to make sure he is of value. He throws himself into every contest without consideration for any personal danger and in doing so sometimes pulls off some fantastic and inspiring passages of play whether tackling, spoiling, running down into the forward line and kicking some fantastic goals.
He is the meat and potatoes of the side and without him we would be a lesser side and a lesser club.

He is the type of player who other players look up to and respect immensely and who coach's love to coach.

Other players of his type were Andy Collins-Hawthorn, Kevin Sheedy-Richmond and Mick Martin-North Melbourne.

Every time he plays he makes me smile.
Every time someone knocks him he responds.

 

[Bigness]

Maxwell is the guy who is not blessed with so much talent that you'd call him a natural. He is blessed with an enormous amount of determination to get the best out of himself and a belief that he has something to contribute to the club. He knows where he stands in the order of things and he knows how to make sure he is of value. He throws himself into every contest without consideration for any personal danger and in doing so sometimes pulls off some fantastic and inspiring passages of play whether tackling, spoiling, running down into the forward line and kicking some fantastic goals.
He is the meat and potatoes of the side and without him we would be a lesser side and a lesser club.

He is the type of player who other players look up to and respect immensely and who coach's love to coach.

Other players of his type were Andy Collins-Hawthorn, Kevin Sheedy-Richmond and Mick Martin-North Melbourne.

Every time he plays he makes me smile.
Every time someone knocks him he responds.

Absolutely agree with all of your comments.......where do you see him lining up though? What role would you play him in if you were MM?

 

[Buckyg75]

If only he was bigger-bodied, he'd be the 'Jarrod Molloy' of the team.

However I cannot answer your questions other than to say they'll probably start him up back as per normal and as you've suggested, move him around as required. Either way, I personally think we're a better team when Maxy's in it.

 

[Parallel Andy]

Maxwell is a utility. Really he can play anywhere.
Where would I like to see him? In the middle or on the wing.
My thoughts are that he will become a permanent backman.

 

[FIGJAM]

Utility, best suited as a third tall / medium forward defender. Works better with a strong KP defensive unit (eg. alongside a combo of Presti, Wakes and Clemo).

Showed strong potential as a run with player against Thompson in the first final. Pushes himself hard, is quick enough to keep up with midfielders, is tidy when he gets it and plays accountable, tight footy. This may be a future niche, but one game doesn't form a trend line.

 

[Bloben]

I'd like to see him try the tagger role again in 09. I was really quite impressed with his performance on Thompson who was in red hot form previous.

Also thought he did as good a job as any of our defenders on Buddy 2nd time round too so he still definitely has a role

 

[smiddaz123]

He fails when he is used as a permanent negating backman.

He should be just roaming the ground using his toughness and aggression at contests. He's actually a fantastic set shot on goal as well, and a decent mark.

The role he was playing late into 2008 worked very well for him, and he performed it well. Before that he was quite poor as a permanment KP defender.

 

[shawthing09]

Utility, best suited as a third tall / medium forward defender. Works better with a strong KP defensive unit (eg. alongside a combo of Presti, Wakes and Clemo).

Showed strong potential as a run with player against Thompson in the first final. Pushes himself hard, is quick enough to keep up with midfielders, is tidy when he gets it and plays accountable, tight footy. This may be a future niche, but one game doesn't form a trend line.

Bingo. In all honesty with his other intangibles leadership etc. So long as he can mantain reasonable form he won't be dropped as we saw this year. 1 because no team ever has a list full of superstars and if your not going to be a superstar the best way to give yourself every chance to play is to be adaptable and bring other things to the table. Unless both of Ried and JA play back and become superstars and Goldsack bulks up remarkably without losing and zip or mobility Maxwell will pretty much always get a gig in the defense.

Also as Fig said as our defence gets better Maxwell will get better because he won't be thrown tasks above his ability.

 

[Pie eyed]

Absolutely agree with all of your comments.......where do you see him lining up though? What role would you play him in if you were MM?

Funnily enough someone has mentioned Jarrod Molloy.
I think Maxwell is very much in the mould of Molloy and also Cummins when he came to Collingwood.
I see him filling similar roles too.
Cummins and Molloy both provided that extra bit of physicality, in the forward line and backline respectively, at a time when we had a lot of willowy young players finding their feet and building up to a good physical size.
While Maxie is not in the same weight class, he never shies away from the tough contests, in fact I think he revels in them, and this provides others in the area with confidence and opportunities around the contest. That is if Maxie does not get the ball himself, which he often does.

I would bet that when Maxwell gets home from training or a Club function he takes of the the jumper or the suit and has a shower. Then he goes and puts on some trackies a Collingwood jumper to sit around and relax.....

I really love the guy. I think he is everything the club needs in all the player and the officials.

I said to my father-in-law very very early in his career, maybe his first game I can't remember. "this kid will captain the club one day1" and I still think he will (despite the fact that he has already for a 1-0 win ratio) be the club captain at some stage. He had something very early which just screamed out "leader" to me.

 

[Hal3000]

Troubleshooter

 

[PieLebo87]

Those that believe he doesn't deserve to be in the side because he struggles against stronger opponents in the backline need to realise that if Maxwell is struggling against his opposition, than it is the backline, and Collingwood which is failing, not Nick Maxwell.

He is not our best KPP, he is not meant to be capable of playing on the 2nd, or even 3rd best opposition forward. He is meant to be utilised as a 3rd man up, and loose defender.

If Brown, Presti and Harry O struggle this season, then so will Maxy. To a certain degree, his game is controlled by the form of those around him. When we see the Pies flying, and our defence holding up really well, Maxwell is generally on fire too.

Its all a part of the chain that makes the machine work. Thats why there will always be a spot for him in the Collingwood 22. Because of that, and because of the extras he has to offer which is inspirational to all those around him.

 

[OniAu]

i know some people may say his game against thompson was a first and may not be a regular occurrence. which is a fair call. I think though he could really slot in as our teams tagger, why not ?

we are looking for that in and under player with agression at the ball. could he possibly get his fitness up to a point where he can play in the midfield for an extended length of time each week ?

if the guy hes tagging drags him forward its not going to be a problem as maxwells played most of his career in defense. if the other guy doesnt pay maxy enough attention he has the ability to bomb a goal from 40 to 50 out at the other end.

i see him in the mould of a cam ling , hes got the balls to give his all , all game, aswell as the ability to put his body on the line when it arises. we severely lack that hardness in the midfield atm.

hes proven himself in parts on riewoldt and franklin later in the year, so hes not shy or withdrawn by being placed on a big name.

we havent had a tagger since holland and i feel maxy or maybe even goldsack could fit that role.

to answer the question hes a utility atm, but i feel he could be a hard tough tagger for the pies which is something we are missing atm

 

[mdc]

Nick Maxwell simply is.

 

[Pie eyed]

Nick Maxwell simply is.

LOL


I try therefore I am

 

[wixism]

I Recon he will play as a tagger role and help down back
kinda a role what rhys shaw was doing earlier on

 

[DoubleO7]

I agree. He should play more in a midfield negating role.

 

[Nardz]

IMO he's a player without much of a role.

 

[Snag Breac]

Perhaps his skills are more general than specialised. Let him run wild and free.

 

[sunnyTEE]

Gorgeous <3

 

[Buckyg75]

You know those Chuck Norris Comments...ie When Chuck Norris goes swimming, Chuck doesn't get wet, water get's 'Chuck Norrised' ... well IMO, these comments all apply to Nick Maxwell. In addition to developing a cult hero status, he's actually performing on the field which is what it's all about.

Maybe he'll become Captain and instead of 'Nick Maxwell is playing for Collingwood' it will be 'Collingwood is playing for Nick Maxwell...in a sense'

In short, Nick's vital to the team, as most of the posts below suggest.

Thumbs up to Nick Maxwell.