Not if Collingwood are actually starting to get his groin right, which was the big risk with Ball. He was a pretty good sprinter as a junior, and clocked up a good 20 m dash time at draft camp.

Going on yesterday's runs and his kicking action of late, I'd say they've managed to do it.

McLean is miles ahead of Bentick for touch, skills and vision, and much stronger over the ball and in providing the block than Hadley. He's actually everything we covet in the two players combined. I'm personally surprised we didn't try to secure a fourth round pick from Melbourne, or a third round pick swap... something of that ilk. We did overpay slightly.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

You are joking aren't you Jimmae. When has he demonstarted any of these qualities? Certainly not this year. He is woefully slow, can't break a tackle, certainly can't tackle as well as Bentick. is a poor kick and provides little grunt. I know what we want him to be, it is just that he is not any of the things we wanted. Don't get me wrong, I didn't think AB was up to it, just wondering why we delisted him and then swapped pick 11 for a guy at about his level.

What you desribe is what he is suppose to be jimmae, but I think the description of your expectation of him, well, he is not delivering, and as a result imo you are overrating his contribution thus far in 2010.

The real question is what have we gained by trading pick 11 and delisting Bentick for McLean, not what we might gain.
More importantly though, given that the trade is water under the bridge now, what does McLean have to do/change/improve to earn his spot in the 22.

Should he be an automatic selection given we traded pick 11 for him?
That's what seems to be the case for me...ala Johnson last year. I might be wrong, but it seems that History is repeating itself.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That's what I'm talkin bout. We found it so necessary to have a player like this we decided not to play AB for the entire 2009 season. Even though he was our best tackler for 2008 and in-and-under player. So we delist him a gift Melbourne another 1st rounder for Brock.

I'd be okay if he was a PSD pick, or a late 2nd rounder, but first round picks are golden - surely we've learnt that by now?

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end of message

Brock will be fine. It's some of the reactionaries on here that are an embarrassment.

My view of McLean yesterday is summed up in one word - lazy.

1st quarter got bumped off the ball like a 10 year old kid. Result? Goal.
2nd quarter Fraser had the ball for an eternity on the boundary line. McLean didn't go in for the smother or apply pressure. Was happy for the ball to be hoisted over his head into the forward line. Result? Goal.
2nd quarter failed to land a tackle on Sidebottom going through the middle. Resembled a a concrete pillar. Result? Goal.
2nd quarter that shocker of a lazy kick that went straight to one of the Collingwood forwards. Had my head in my hands at this time so didn't pay attention to who it was. Result? Goal.

All of these and more were lazy efforts. He should be expelled from Carlton and be mothballed for the rest of the year. No heart. Lazy selfish player. We've lost one in Fevola and gained one in McLean. I'd take Grigg over him for all his deficiencies any day.

Mclean was part of the Juddless midfield that took Brisbane's much vaunted midfield to the cleaners this year.

Brock kicked a wonderful goal on the run from fifty in that game, yet he's now an utter slow coach and a replacement for Bentick.

If Mclean is at Bentick's level, then our supporters are more clueless than I first thought.

The Usual Suspects who lined up to pot Yarran and JR have Henderson and Mclean in their sights.

What kingkerna said.

Any chance of getting that sprinting guru who was down at the Hawks a few years ago, to come into Visy Park and teach Brock how to sprint? He needs some serious work on his speed and agility.

Sorry to upset you kouta, but on form-to-date he's shown very little in terms of value to the team. That may change and for his and our sakes I hope it does. But after round 6 he's given us 2 goals in 5 games - not what you'd expect for a mayure age recruit that cost a first rounder.

Luke Ball kicked 3 yesterday and din't even raise a sweat. What did Collingwood pay for him?

I only hope he's not fit - he doesn't look fit - he should be fit - and I hope if he's not fit - he gets fit.

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end of message

I'm far from a Mclean basher and was very pleased to get him but he's critically slow to dispose of the pill in tight - which is primarily what I expected from him. I'd prefer to turn Grigg into a grunter midfielder with a bit of pace who can work both ways and be instructed to get it and dish it out rapido to Judd, SImpson Murphy, Scotland et al - our leg speed strength at stoppages.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Judging by some pics, looks like Bid Red is his fitness advisor

Can someone please point out to me where I said Brock's game yesterday was good?

He's come back from a bad knock to the hip where he tried to play on, missed just the one game and is obviously a bit worse for wear. He has been extremely slick with the ball in his hands thus far and is probably one of the club leaders in first possessions, contested possessions, clearances, tackles & 1%ers.

Let's check:

First possessions: Equal 2nd per game, 4th overall
Contested possessions: 3rd on a per game basis, 6th overall
Clearances: 3rd on a per game basis (equal 2nd at CB), 5th overall @ 55% efficiency (4th at CB)
Tackles: 5th on a per game basis, equal 4th overall @ 71% efficiency (definitely stands out amongst the lead tacklers in our team)
1%ers: 5th on a per game basis, 5th overall (spoils count as 1%ers, so the defenders load up on this stat)

And just to round off the picture:
Disposal efficiency: 74% for the season
Critical errors: 9th on a per game basis, 13th overall
Time on ground: 4th last on a per game basis

Plus he's knocked in a couple of goals.

I'd say aside from getting injured, he's not getting used enough outside of his contested work, something I've witnessed regularly at the ground and on TV. With all the obsessing that goes on around, it stuns me how little some of you glean from the match itself.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

That's from late Jan.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

"Extremely slick with the ball in his hands". Jim, get off the juice son. He is like treacle getting it out and prefers to lock it up for another ball up. For a bloke that's played a 100 games mostly in the guts he showed nothing of that experience yesterday and does not do enough in defence through the midfield. If he's got a knock to the hip he's carrying he shouldnt be playing. If he is playing I want 110%.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Did you read the rest of it?

74% efficiency despite winning most of his possession in the thick of it.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

I have watched him all pre season and have been very concerned from the start. Yesterday just topped it off for me. The better the opposition and the more structured they are he will become more of a liability.

He is slow. Really slow and that will not improve and the issue is that he is also not very quick by hand or foot.

Speed is not something he can drastically improve and like yesterday the opposition will jump on it.

Serious questions need to be asked of our recruiting of players from other clubs over the past few years. It has been a disaster!!!

My question is, what has Brock brought to the side that maybe Hadley, Robinson, Ellard, Carrazzo, Grigg, AJ could not do??

PLUS we could of added one of Jetta, Giesberts, Talia, Tapscott, Black, Fyfe, Colyer to our list. A chance we will not get again for a long long time.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

What are you talking about??

We, or rather Collingwood forced us to, played contested footy in the first half and got pantsed. Absolutely pantsed.

We are much faster than Collingwood and that's what we tried to do during the game but obviously it didn't work out.

Slightly ?...........what in G-ds name ie slightly ?......we just paid 50K for a Hyundai Excel.
Where were the other clubs trying to muscle in on the trade, like occurs with any other player that is traded for a 1st rounder.

Cazz called this draft "2004 all over again"...seems like we were determined to trade our first rounder, but the 1st round talent ran a little deeper come draft day with Jetta, Lucas and others still avail @11
We wouldn't be able to get a 3rd rounder for him at years end.
Nobody wants a mid who is slower and less agile than Themel

And yes to the OP....I am struggling to think of even a ruckman who is slower the Brock.

I am more worried about his fumbling and foot disposal.
Pace was always a question mark. but his disposal and clearance work was previously top shelf.
After Chris Johnson I thought we might have done some extensive due diligence on ex-Melbourne Riley and Raten players.
I have Melbourne supporting friends who told me Chugga Mclean was crazy for for pick 11, and IIRC this went to the media before the steak knives and second round swaps etcetera happened.

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Green Shooter

Maybe he is injured. But if he is injured then Hads should be in instead of him.


Club will be loath to drop him given what we gave up to get him

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it