Big Mac

[VERDUN]

great game - future of the club

[thejiggingsaint]

I'm repeating myself I know from previous threads but this boy WILL be an all-Australian ruckman and future superstar of our club! No doubt about it! His mental attitude and heart in dealing with being dropped for GF1 and his work ethic say it all for mine! ONYA Ben!!!

[saintsRrising]

Ben has improved this year over last...and over the season as well..

That is all you can ask of a young player.

He will get better yet.

[Junction Oval]

It's really great to see his dramatic transformation.

Gardy may have to play a few games at Sandy before coming back!

If we could identify what the reason for his sudden improvement has been, we could try it on a few others - Kosi, Roo, Gram and others.

[Leo.J]

My one issue with Ben is that when rucking in our defensive half he does these little taps where he just drops it at his feet...

This has cost us goals on a few occasions this year.

I'm not sure if he's instructed to do this or someone is not getting into position to take it.

To risky for mine.

Apart from that he's one of the positives atm.

[St Ick]

Zac Smith is widely regarded as a future superstar, he is only SIX months younger than big Mac. Mac is easily playing better footy that Smith at the same age, people don't realise he is just a kid still, a developing kid who is always improving and getting better and better.

As previously said, if it was Kosi playing Mac's first quarter it would be front page news! Well done Mac, his tackling for a big bloke just has me in awe!

[PJ]

Top effort even the taps are improving (awareness)

Gardiner and McEvoy could amke a great combination for the last half of the season.

[plugger66]

Top effort even the taps are improving (awareness)

Gardiner and McEvoy could amke a great combination for the last half of the season.

Not sure about that. Cant see where MG can play when resting from rucking duties.

[matrix]

errrr
forward??

[noreason41]

errrr
forward??

Don't think he's a very good forward.

And our defensive pressure with him would be non-existent.

[plugger66]

errrr
forward??

He couldnt play forward 5 years ago. Doubt he could the way footy is played today.

[matrix]

looked alright up forward there

[St Ick]

errrr
forward??

Don't think he's a very good forward.

And our defensive pressure with him would be non-existent.

4th in tackles, 5th in marks, is an accurate shot at goal, and 5 years ago Mac would have just turned 17. Am I missing something?

EDIT: Missed the MG bit... scratch that thought...

[plugger66]

looked alright up forward there

So did Kosi. What is your point. MG isnt a forward in this day and age.

[matrix]

ok ross

thanks for letting me know

[Spinner]

ok ross

thanks for letting me know

Have a look at one of the wce grand final loss to Sydney. Not a forward. Never has been.

[gringo]

That was his best game in the ruck without doubt. Still good around the ground as well. At least my comments about him be like Dean Cox doesn't look as far fetched now.

[PJ]

Not sure about that. Cant see where MG can play when resting from rucking duties.

He must go forward when he's not in the ruck. In fact i don't think either him or Ben should go off hardly at all. Currently Riewoldt is not working as a tall forward so he is moving up the ground to get his kicks - we seriously need a big target up there at present. He probably only needs to play there about 30% game time, perhaps 10% bench and the rest on ball - although when he begins it'll probaly be closer to 50/50 with Macca.

He will be tried in the forward line for some of the time, there is no question about that or they simply won't pick him. Ross flagged the 2nd mobile ruck position for kosi at the end of last year but I think he's been beaten to it by Ben.

[kalsaint]

Sensational !!

Will get droped for gardy in 2 weeks thats they way the club is going.

No I think he will get his fair share of ruck duty with Gardy playing forward a bit.