Dan McKenzie

[D.B.Cooper]

D-Mac is at GC now.
I believe he’ll get a 1 year deal.

In regard to D-Mac the way I see it is we have numerous players who can play 1/2 back and wing as well, with some significantly better than D-Mac.

Potential Half backs: NWM, Bonner, Sinclair, Clark, Ross, McLennan, Hastie

Potential Wing: Hill, Henry, Wood, Pou, Byrnes, Owens, Wilson

Yes DMac is AFL standard when fit, but is he significantly better than other options we have and is he best 18 or depth?

When similar replaces similar there is little result, we need A grade talent to replace our weak areas such as midfield class, and another forward ruck (Keeler?) to step up.

[skeptic]

D-Mac is at GC now.
I believe he’ll get a 1 year deal.

In regard to D-Mac the way I see it is we have numerous players who can play 1/2 back and wing as well, with some significantly better than D-Mac.

Potential Half backs: NWM, Bonner, Sinclair, Clark, Ross, McLennan, Hastie

Potential Wing: Hill, Henry, Wood, Pou, Byrnes, Owens, Wilson

Yes DMac is AFL standard when fit, but is he significantly better than other options we have and is he best 18 or depth?

When similar replaces similar there is little result, we need A grade talent to replace our weak areas such as midfield class, and another forward ruck (Keeler?) to step up.

In addition to this… and this is a personal opinion, you had the challenge of carrying so many injury prone players even if they weren’t like for like.

Billings
Jones
Dmac

Unlike say Gresham who was pretty durable until he had those big injuries that ended his season… the three above felt like a change in breeze direction may have ended their nights prematurely.

My personal take was that after 5+ years of these guys barely able to string a game together with the odd good year, 2 of them just needed to go through sheer can’t carry all these injured players.

Of the 3, I felt Jones is the most talented and critical for us as a type of player we need. But IMO going into 2023, he seemed the most fragile. Seemed like an explosive action would result in a calf.

Dmac was my preferred but he just had another season of being out with a calf that never mended. Based on his aggressive style and history, IMO it was the right call to cut him loose. Way too unlikely to stay on the park.

Bilinga is pbly the most talented of the three and seemed to be the one least plagued with soft tissues problems… but there was something about his attitude that was a real red flag to me.
Hard to describe but it felt a bit like “I know better and I’m not going to do that”. I don’t subscribe to the theory the RTB whilst competing for finals simply didn’t want to give him a go… kid doesn’t seem to want to do what he’s told.

End of the day, it worked out the way I hoped but I just think Billings is the most likely of the three to play in any meaningful way in 2024

[B.M]

Billings was an absolute pro - an elite preparer

Last two years his body has let him down

[IluvHarvey]

It's amazing what 12 months can bring.
Before the start of last season, I thought D-Mac was the type of player that would thrive under Ross.
12 Months later he is on a 1 year contract at Gold Coast.

[Selhurst Saint]

I read yesterday that he strained his hammy training with Freo and now isn't going to the Gold Coast to train.

Very sad for Dmac, that maybe it for him now.

[magnifisaint]

D-Mac is at GC now.
I believe he’ll get a 1 year deal.

In regard to D-Mac the way I see it is we have numerous players who can play 1/2 back and wing as well, with some significantly better than D-Mac.

Potential Half backs: NWM, Bonner, Sinclair, Clark, Ross, McLennan, Hastie

Potential Wing: Hill, Henry, Wood, Pou, Byrnes, Owens, Wilson

Yes DMac is AFL standard when fit, but is he significantly better than other options we have and is he best 18 or depth?

When similar replaces similar there is little result, we need A grade talent to replace our weak areas such as midfield class, and another forward ruck (Keeler?) to step up.

He never made it to the GC. He's injured his hammy in WA.

[CQ SAINT]

Mckenzie is done poor bloke. He was finished with us the minute we swapped picks and drafted Garcia, who will be pushing for a game by 2025.

[WellardSaint]

How old is DMac?
28?

[D.B.Cooper]

D-Mac is at GC now.
I believe he’ll get a 1 year deal.

In regard to D-Mac the way I see it is we have numerous players who can play 1/2 back and wing as well, with some significantly better than D-Mac.

Potential Half backs: NWM, Bonner, Sinclair, Clark, Ross, McLennan, Hastie

Potential Wing: Hill, Henry, Wood, Pou, Byrnes, Owens, Wilson

Yes DMac is AFL standard when fit, but is he significantly better than other options we have and is he best 18 or depth?

When similar replaces similar there is little result, we need A grade talent to replace our weak areas such as midfield class, and another forward ruck (Keeler?) to step up.

He never made it to the GC. He's injured his hammy in WA.

What a shame, hadn't heard that until reading it here.

I really felt that he'd get a one year deal at GCS, based on their young talent and D-Mac being a mature body and hard at it, I thought Hardwick could use that style of player for a year or two if he could prove his fitness.

[SaintPav]

Did Bytel get picked up by Colonwood?

[skeptic]

Did Bytel get picked up by Colonwood?

Someone else will have to confirm but I don’t think so…

Not in their squad on the AFL app

[66Iwasthere]

Deadline is Feb 19

[Scollop]

Billings was an absolute pro - an elite preparer

Last two years his body has let him down

He must go really hard at training…because I can’t remember him getting injured in games (I’m talking about Billings of course*)

He’s playing today in a practice match down at Casey. Nothing’s changed…the commentators still think he’s an elite kick (they even stated that a few times)…and then reality hits

One of the commentators calling the play - same one who said he’s an ‘elite’ kick - was about to say what a brilliant pass he just made when he realised it wasn’t!! He finished his commentary with that ‘hung in the air too long’

Also…nothing’s changed in the way he approaches his footy. He runs sideways instead of straight at the ball carrier on the opposition.

*This was the last thread where Billings was discussed. No point bumping a thread with Billings in the title because that goes back to July 2023. Not relevant and current

[Otiman]

Did Bytel get picked up by Colonwood?

Rookie listed.

[Nick DalSanto Claus]

Billings was an absolute pro - an elite preparer

Last two years his body has let him down

He must go hard at training…because I can’t remember him getting injured in games (I’m talking about Billings of course*)

He’s playing today in a practice match down at Casey. Nothing’s changed…the commentators still think he’s an elite kick (they even stated that a few times)…and then reality hits

One of the commentators calling the play - the same one who said he’s an ‘elite’ kick - was about to say what a brilliant pass he just made when he realized it wasn’t!! He finished his commentary with that ‘hung in the air too long’

Also…nothing’s changed in the way he approaches his footy. He runs sideways instead of straight at the ball carrier on the opposition.

*This was the last thread where Billings was discussed. No point bumping a thread with Billings in the title because that goes back to July 2023. Not relevant and current

Great call, Scollop. Enough is enough. Let's confine Billings to the dustbin of history. An overrated GOP, who never went close to realizing his potential. We've wasted too much forum space on him just like we wasted pick 3 on him in the draft. Another Fiora. Next please.........

[Otiman]

Billings was an absolute pro - an elite preparer

Last two years his body has let him down

He must go really hard at training…because I can’t remember him getting injured in games (I’m talking about Billings of course*)

He’s playing today in a practice match down at Casey. Nothing’s changed…the commentators still think he’s an elite kick (they even stated that a few times)…and then reality hits

One of the commentators calling the play - same one who said he’s an ‘elite’ kick - was about to say what a brilliant pass he just made when he realised it wasn’t!! He finished his commentary with that ‘hung in the air too long’

Also…nothing’s changed in the way he approaches his footy. He runs sideways instead of straight at the ball carrier on the opposition.

*This was the last thread where Billings was discussed. No point bumping a thread with Billings in the title because that goes back to July 2023. Not relevant and current

I watched some of that match, with an eye out for Billings.

Still the same old player. Not great at contested footy and doesn't get to the right spots quick enough or often enough to play a damaging uncontested brand.'

Also, I believe today is the deadline for supplementary signings, so hopefully Dan gets a gig at GC still.

[WellardSaint]

On Twitter,
Port Melbourne FC announced DMac has signed