Is McQualter finished

[maverick]

Mini, for the last two years, has done what Armo finds difficult to do. He's followed the coach's instructions.

Wow, they were bad instructions in the GF of 2009.....

[Bernard Shakey]

Mini, for the last two years, has done what Armo finds difficult to do. He's followed the coach's instructions.

Wow, they were bad instructions in the GF of 2009.....

He could have won the game if he kicked straight. Can't see a problem with the instructions.

[Zed]

Looks like his career is over.

Actually as a defensive forward - his career is probably over. Sam Gilbert showed exactly why last night.

As a mid, Mini still has some potential life left in him. He played well last night in a game where there was a half strength opposition.. and had a real crack at the spot left vacant by Luke Ball that nobody really has claimed as their own. I hope he can produce that kind of game when the real stuff starts.

Is he in our best 22 ? . i dont think so. But i dont pick the team do I

[ando051]

If mini was a "higher profile" player he probably would have been named BOG last night. If he keeps that up, he will definately stay in the side !!

Joe Blake was named BOG so there goes your "High Profile' theory Eastern. He has never got a brownlow vote.

[maverick]

Mini, for the last two years, has done what Armo finds difficult to do. He's followed the coach's instructions.

Wow, they were bad instructions in the GF of 2009.....

He could have won the game if he kicked straight. Can't see a problem with the instructions.

Yep, very true...

[TwoTowers]

Its a hard job holding down that defensive forward role. If you don't kick plenty of goals and nail every tackle then the criticism comes easily. I was rapt to see him get a fair dinkum run on the ball and he played as good a game as you will see. How good would it be if he can play consistently like that?

[Superboot]

Ingredients

* 1 cup milk
* 1 cup quick cooking oats
* 1 egg
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
2. In a small bowl, combine milk and oats; let soak for 15 minutes.
3. In a separate bowl, beat together egg and oil; stir in oatmeal mixture. In a third bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into wet ingredients, just until combined. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups until cups are 2/3 full.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

In the context of the debate, and your previous comment, this is genuinely very funny

[skeptic]

I don't get why so many ppl leap to Mini's defence with... 'he follows instructions" or "does a role" etc etc

So do most other players in the team and they aren't maligned nearly as much...

Dawson, Blake, Gardiner, Jones, Ray etc all do 'roles' too that aren't particularly exciting.
They don't get as much criticism because they complete their roles more effectively then Mini has (in my opinion).

He had a good game last night.

By and large was very ineffective last year and carried by the team IMO.

I'm very critical of him because i don't see what he brings to the team that warrants selection ahead of a number of others.

Needs to have more of an impact

[BAM! (shhhh)]

What an odd thread.

Mini was stellar on Saturday night. Tied leading possession getter on the ground, 15 contested touches, 92% efficiency, and 2 goals to boot... that's a ridiculous statline. Sure, it's only a NAB match, but it's not like there was a better standard available to be played on Saturday night. BOG by light years...

I saw the Age didn't name him amongst the best and frankly, I've got less respect for the Age as a result. I'll be surprised if we see a better single effort before the Home and Away season starts across the AFL, and when we do, it'll be from one of the competitions guns.

It's not going to make or break his career, but on the basis of that, you've got to at least consider him for a midfield job. Good on him.

Am I missing something, or are people selling him short because his is the identified "available spot" to be given to Armo/Steven/whatever personal favorite couldn't crack the 22 in 2010?

[Con Gorozidis]

What an odd thread.

Mini was stellar on Saturday night. Tied leading possession getter on the ground, 15 contested touches, 92% efficiency, and 2 goals to boot... that's a ridiculous statline. Sure, it's only a NAB match, but it's not like there was a better standard available to be played on Saturday night. BOG by light years...

I saw the Age didn't name him amongst the best and frankly, I've got less respect for the Age as a result. I'll be surprised if we see a better single effort before the Home and Away season starts across the AFL, and when we do, it'll be from one of the competitions guns.

It's not going to make or break his career, but on the basis of that, you've got to at least consider him for a midfield job. Good on him.

Am I missing something, or are people selling him short because his is the identified "available spot" to be given to Armo/Steven/whatever personal favorite couldn't crack the 22 in 2010?

im pretty sure the thread title was a wind-up/sarcasm jibe.

[BAM! (shhhh)]

What an odd thread.

Mini was stellar on Saturday night. Tied leading possession getter on the ground, 15 contested touches, 92% efficiency, and 2 goals to boot... that's a ridiculous statline. Sure, it's only a NAB match, but it's not like there was a better standard available to be played on Saturday night. BOG by light years...

I saw the Age didn't name him amongst the best and frankly, I've got less respect for the Age as a result. I'll be surprised if we see a better single effort before the Home and Away season starts across the AFL, and when we do, it'll be from one of the competitions guns.

It's not going to make or break his career, but on the basis of that, you've got to at least consider him for a midfield job. Good on him.

Am I missing something, or are people selling him short because his is the identified "available spot" to be given to Armo/Steven/whatever personal favorite couldn't crack the 22 in 2010?

im pretty sure the thread title was a wind-up/sarcasm jibe.

From plugger? No, he's always sincere, even when he doesn't really mean it.

It's the rest of the thread that's surprised me. It's as if there are people who are disappointed to see the player step up because he's not the name they wanted. Or don't believe it was that big a deal, because of the name it was.

[SainterK]

I get that vibe as well Bam...as Casey said it best, is he not pretty enough?

[starsign]

firmly believe peops see and believe what they wanna see in relation to topics like this

BAM 's BOG by "light years" has to be a prime example and would be a bloody insult to the Blakey for mine. and I still believe Minnie played a good game , but my jury's still out on a stand-up start each week for him this year, particularly if we can unearth a couple of others who can be strong defensive forwards but have a couple of other important strings to their bow ...ie take a contested mark or two and kick accurate for goal on a regular basis

anyway the bottom line's all good as far as competition for those couple of forward berths are concerned at present and i wish him (Mini) well and ditto the others who maybe in line

ps still not sure Gilbos the answer their either!!

[BAM! (shhhh)]

firmly believe peops see and believe what they wanna see in relation to topics like this

BAM 's BOG by "light years" has to be a prime example and would be a bloody insult to the Blakey for mine. and I still believe Minnie played a good game , but my jury's still out on a stand-up start each week for him this year, particularly if we can unearth a couple of others who can be strong defensive forwards but have a couple of other important strings to their bow ...ie take a contested mark or two and kick accurate for goal on a regular basis

anyway the bottom line's all good as far as competition for those couple of forward berths are concerned at present and i wish him (Mini) well and ditto the others who maybe in line

ps still not sure Gilbos the answer their either!!

I agree that people see what they want to see. I see daylight between Mini and Blake myself, but that still isn't my point. While loose defender is an incredibly valuable but easier role to play than extractor + goal kicker, that's not meant to disparage his 13 or so marks or belittle a great effort.

I keep reading in this thread this "stand up start" kind of idea... surely your bottom 6 (which Mini would have to have fallen into by years end) aren't being looked at as 22 gamers. If ever there were a status where one asks "what have you done for me lately", it's got to be the bottom 6 of a contender.

If you asked that of Mini right now, the answer would be "dominated every facet of the game on Saturday night". Doesn't guarantee him 22 games, but if we were picking our round 1 team today, he'd have to be in it. Like I said, unlikely anyone can hold a candle to the numbers he put up on Saturday night prior to Rd 1.

Until the next game...

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Had a good game - well done. 28 more thanks.

+1. I'll have what he's having, thanks.

[Wrote for Luck]

If you were to automatically use the substitute at half time I could see Mini switching with Armo/Lenny (some games). Always thought Mini could be more effective in the centre. Reckon Steven/Gamble will make half forward flank their own this year.
My feeling is 2009 was such a success mostly because of pressure for places. Max, Ben, Goose etc... Last year we didn't have that.
I get the feeling this year we will. Knock on effect is good for players (such as Mini) and good for the team.
Collingwood had it last year a lot.

[SainterK]

My feeling is 2009 was such a success mostly because of pressure for places. Max, Ben, Goose etc... Last year we didn't have that.
I get the feeling this year we will. Knock on effect is good for players (such as Mini) and good for the team.
Collingwood had it last year a lot.

Well said, I too am looking forward to the knock on effect of their being pressure for spots.

[bergholt]

If you were to automatically use the substitute at half time I could see Mini switching with Armo/Lenny (some games).

nah, i doubt it. a midfielder is significantly less effective if they play two quarters straight than if they play two quarters spread across the whole game. i'm betting the sub will be a medium player with ability to play at either end, so that they can fill any gaps that appear during the game.

[BAM! (shhhh)]

If you were to automatically use the substitute at half time I could see Mini switching with Armo/Lenny (some games). Always thought Mini could be more effective in the centre. Reckon Steven/Gamble will make half forward flank their own this year.
My feeling is 2009 was such a success mostly because of pressure for places. Max, Ben, Goose etc... Last year we didn't have that.
I get the feeling this year we will. Knock on effect is good for players (such as Mini) and good for the team.
Collingwood had it last year a lot.

I think you want your sub to be as versatile as possible.

You can't afford to carry 2 rucks... but what if one gets hurt? Specialist players will get squeezed.

I think guys like Lynch, Dempster et al will be the ones who fill the sub spot. Tall guys with good endurance who can mark or play at ground level, but aren't quite top 21.

[SainterK]

If you were to automatically use the substitute at half time I could see Mini switching with Armo/Lenny (some games). Always thought Mini could be more effective in the centre. Reckon Steven/Gamble will make half forward flank their own this year.
My feeling is 2009 was such a success mostly because of pressure for places. Max, Ben, Goose etc... Last year we didn't have that.
I get the feeling this year we will. Knock on effect is good for players (such as Mini) and good for the team.
Collingwood had it last year a lot.

I think you want your sub to be as versatile as possible.

You can't afford to carry 2 rucks... but what if one gets hurt? Specialist players will get squeezed.

I think guys like Lynch, Dempster et al will be the ones who fill the sub spot. Tall guys with good endurance who can mark or play at ground level, but aren't quite top 21.

I (obviously) think Dempster is best 22

However you have a point about Lynch....he can play forward or back. There is also Archer and Stanley who can play ruck or forward.

[BAM! (shhhh)]

If you were to automatically use the substitute at half time I could see Mini switching with Armo/Lenny (some games). Always thought Mini could be more effective in the centre. Reckon Steven/Gamble will make half forward flank their own this year.
My feeling is 2009 was such a success mostly because of pressure for places. Max, Ben, Goose etc... Last year we didn't have that.
I get the feeling this year we will. Knock on effect is good for players (such as Mini) and good for the team.
Collingwood had it last year a lot.

I think you want your sub to be as versatile as possible.

You can't afford to carry 2 rucks... but what if one gets hurt? Specialist players will get squeezed.

I think guys like Lynch, Dempster et al will be the ones who fill the sub spot. Tall guys with good endurance who can mark or play at ground level, but aren't quite top 21.

I (obviously) think Dempster is best 22

However you have a point about Lynch....he can play forward or back. There is also Archer and Stanley who can play ruck or forward.

Does anyone know if the sub rule will allow an unused sub to play VFL ala emergencies?

Otherwise, it could be a bit of a poisoned chalice for players like Stanley and Lynch who are knocking on the door.

Agree to disagree on Dempster, certainly wouldn't surprise me to see the season prove you right... even if your signatures Jimmy Gwilt like hopes are probably optomistic

[SainterK]

He doesn't have to quite reach Gwilt like status, just to be considered best 22 and part of the core group.

[Wrote for Luck]

Mini doesn't have the height but I'd still consider him versatile. can play back, middle, forward.
likewise Eddy; not tall but versatile
Dempster has the versatility as can play back, forward and run with (if CJ gets injured).
saying that we know Ray can tag now too.

maybe we have a lot of versatility!

[SaintQ]

mini is a average player at best

[Con Gorozidis]

mini is a average player at best

yep no other club would draft dempster or mini. lets be honest about it.