Lonie...

[D.B.Cooper]

Lonie was absolutely elite at positioning himself front and square and at the fall of the ball and reading the ball off hands from a marking contest.
As good as anyone I’ve seen.

I guess he lacked the foot speed or evasion skills or tricks to capitalize on that skill like a Cameron, Betts, Milne etc.

Milne was a great player, very underrated.

Was also very durable and a great trainer.
He was always talking, enthusiastic and up and about on the training track.
I reckon his teammates would have loved that about him.

[Rubyjo]

If lonie was 6 foot 6 ..he would be the next buddy .

[skeptic]

I don’t get the too small thing - size has zero to do with it?

Small forwards are generally small

Betts was 3cm shorter than Lonie
Daniel 6cm shorter
Boomer 6cm shorter
Milne was 1 cm taller

Size is not a pre requisite to being a good footy player

It matters when it comes to style I think.

Lonie tried to win contested ball and stick tackles on bigger opponents and he was easily easily pushed off. It’s very easy to conjure up images of him just being brushed off or swatted away by opponents.

100% agree that in terms of effort he was above reproach and certainly should have played any game ahead of Kent.

But it’s like I said before… whether it’s more ability or the way he was coached/instructed… Lonie just didn’t have the attributes to play the style of game that he wanted to play at AFL.
IMO he was never going to make it as a throw your weight around, tough contested ball winning, tackling machine. Likewise, I think he was too slow and inaccurate (at this level at least) to be a make something happen out of nothing type.

Ultimately I guess he just lacked the mental toughness and that bit of luck for everything to click for him.

That patch in 2018 (I think) where he had 3-4 really good games in a row pre big injury and he looked like he had gone up a gear. A 10 game patch playing brimming in confidence is the type of thing that happens to players/clubs that all of sudden shakes the doubts and leaves them feeling like they belong. For Lonie, that injury was unfortunately likely to be a definitive moment for him

[B.M]

He kicked probably the goal of the year in his last season.

I’ll say it again

Most small forwards are small - it’s even in the name - SMALL forward!!!

He wasn’t ever meant to be a ‘bull’ inside mid

He was courageous, clever and skilful- but simply did not take his chances, and execute - at the highest level.

His conversation of 45% was not good enough.

[B.M]

BTW

I think people are conjuring up images… fans see what they wanna see

[skeptic]

I’m curious as to what’s going on in your head when you wrote that…
Did you just miss my point?

Yes most small forwards are small. You said that.

Most don’t try to play bigger and tougher than they are.

[D.B.Cooper]

I’m curious as to what’s going on in your head when you wrote that…
Did you just miss my point?

Yes most small forwards are small. You said that.

Most don’t try to play bigger and tougher than they are.

Hayden Ballintyne, Toby Green & Tom Papley say hi

[skeptic]

I’m curious as to what’s going on in your head when you wrote that…
Did you just miss my point?

Yes most small forwards are small. You said that.

Most don’t try to play bigger and tougher than they are.

Hayden Ballintyne, Toby Green & Tom Papley say hi

Point taken. I should add… if they’re not good enough to do so

[B.M]

Did Lonie ever win a free kick for being antagonistic?

Almost part of the job description to annoy

[asiu]

His conversation conversion of 45% was not good enough.

only coz
thats the second time you've done it

teacher

[Yorkeys]

Speaking of teachers, Jack was a teacher's pet. His being on the list and playing so many games had a big opportunity cost development wise. Almost symbolic of the terrible waste of the Watters/Richardson eras.

[B.M]

Who should’ve played as a small forward instead of Lonie?

Is every player who plays 50-100 games a waste?

Player earn spots in a team - coaches don’t play them if they are no good?

Btw
I am not an English teacher, and phone has predictive text

[kosifantutti]

I though Lonie was a good pressure forward but he just didn’t have the skills to take the next step. When he’d get just the semblance of a chance, he’d be a bit panicky or fumbly.

[asiu]

... and phone has predictive text

the voice to text thingy is more moronic

[CQ SAINT]

Lonie was absolutely elite at positioning himself front and square and at the fall of the ball and reading the ball off hands from a marking contest.
As good as anyone I’ve seen.

I guess he lacked the foot speed or evasion skills or tricks to capitalize on that skill like a Cameron, Betts, Milne etc.

Milne was a great player, very underrated.

Was also very durable and a great trainer.
He was always talking, enthusiastic and up and about on the training track.
I reckon his teammates would have loved that about him.

All the best Lonie threads should highlight Lonies strengths and then for good measure, end the post talking about Milne.