He's strong, but his leg drive is inconsistent. If you can't plant your feet and balance yourself, you can get knocked over fairly easily. You can also put in a lot of effort to get off the mark, and look a bit worse for wear.

When he plants his feet, McLean is probably our strongest midfielder in tight, bar one C. Judd of course. And spell my user handle right, it's not hard.


I actually reckon he's too top heavy as well preacher-man, but he could definitely lose some of the 'chunk' and strengthen his quads. As I noted just before, he's strong, but his leg drive is a bit weak.


Is there anything about football in this day and age that you actually understand? Some of the stuff you come up with is staggering...

McLean was actually one of the top players in his team (and yes it was just Melbourne), meanwhile Scotland & Ball were barely getting a gig in theirs. The Saints actually wanted a higher pick IIRC, and that's in spite of the fact his groin has been in disrepair since he was 19.

The Scotland/Ball moves were about acquiring surplus and making use of it in another squad in need. We traded for a bloke who amounted to something valuable. If you keep this up I'm going to have to ask that you make a thread full of questions or statements, and we'll all take our time to address them all for you, because in all honesty, you seem to have no idea what you're talking about.

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

Scotty wasn't given a fair go By MM at Cwood.
Showed enough through his early footy to suggest he could play

What Scotland, Ball went for is irrelevant.

The fact is we gave up pick 11 for a guy that hadn't played good consistent football at a lower club.

My question is what due diligence was done on this guy prior to signing him before trade week?

Also, who made the decision that getting him was going to bring more value to the group than what we had plus a first round pick?

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

We've had our moments there over the past 10 years.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

The evidence is there: Judd is doing more damage outside the contest (a direct comparison would be the Adelaide & Geelong games). This is due to Brock & Scotland taking on more of the clearance work.

Tell me the three kids you would have looked at in the draft, and we'll analyse what they would have brought to the team, versus what we'd lose without Brock.

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

[GoogleVideo][/GoogleVideo]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we could have aquired Shane Tuck by virtually giving up nothing. And he would have played for half the contract amount. Was leading the league in CLearances and HBG's before Richmond went mad and dropped him last year..He might be older but his body is in much much better shape than Brocks.

I am sorry but that is just wrong! McLean didnt even play in Adelaide and we looked so much quicker. Brisbane exposed him (and they are slow) as did Essendon* and Collingwood and he was serviceable at best against a very ordinary Richmond.

Judd is actually winning more contested possession and more of his own ball than ever before. The bonus with Judd is that he actually has his leg speed back and his breaking away from contests better. He has also come into the season fresh and in peak physical fitness. I actually believe that Judd better because of Murphy, Gibbs, Armfield, AJ, Simpson, Lucas, Scotalnd who are playing better football. Plus, he is just a star.

McLean is simply the type of player that does not suit the modern game. Speak with ANY player and they will tell you that the game is quicker this year than ever before. WHY?, players sprint for 10-15 minutes then come off. Then go again. No more do they pace themselves for 120 minutes.

McLean simply doesn't have the leg speed or the skills to play that style. He cannot accelerate or go with any other players. Collingwood and any other side who is well structured will expose him badly. These days you can simply not have any of your 22 players who cannot work both ways. Also, turnovers are crucial in modern football and McLean is king of them.

Problem is come finals, his deficiencies will be even highlighted further.

McLean could easily go back to VFL, SANFL etc and be a star because he can work through a game and his endurance will pay off. Modern football is about athletes who can sprint and repeat sprint. Go to training and watch Cordy put the team through 50 and 100 metre sprints. Guess who is last and by a long way.

I have watched him closely since he arrived at the club and I have been concerned since day one and nothing he has done has changed my mind. He is not injured, he is not our of form, he is not playing a role. Simply he is slow and not up to it!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Perhaps he'll come into his own if the AFL decide they need to tinker again and cap interchanges.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

I said it was a useful comparison. Midfield with Judd but without Brock (Adelaide), versus one with both (Geelong).

What happened to giving the guy a couple of months? I would have thought you'd be more patient than this. You certainly give the kids a lot of leeway for the physical progression they need to undergo, why not give Brock a bit for ankle and hip complaints? At his best he is well worth pick 11 in a fairly weak draft.

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

I'm with the Psych on this one, and I don't think we will get 50 games from him, he will just fade away like the previous no 7 who couldn't go the pace of the modern game.

Not entirely true Jimmae, speak to dees fans and they'll tell you he was way too slow and had been demoted to run with roles those of which he struggled to perform.

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!

No sure it was a weak draft. I think you will find that most players up to about pick 20 will be very good AFL players.

As for patience, I am not commenting on just a few games I am talking about his career of nearly 6 years and 100 games. Most of my family are Melbourne supporters and one actually works for the club and they have long been critical of McLean because he just never influenced a game in the positive. I can't remember one game where he has dominated.

Believe when I say I hope I am wrong as we need all the players we can get and he has cost us a lot but I cannot see how he can improve! His kicking and ball handling has never improved. He has always been slow and this will be more affected by the modern game and he is a poor decison maker.

I have been told by several people that Melbourne couldnt believe we offered pick 11 without Melbourne even asking? He also jumped at the Carlton offer because it was more than double what Melbourne offered and they were not prepared to budge. No wonder the deal was done in one day and prior to trade week! He was going to be offered up as trade bait anyway.

I am not sure but if Mark Riley had anything to do with getting McLean and Johnson to the club, but if he did then questions need to be asked regarding his football knowledge!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

That's another very good point I was yet to bring up. Bailey was very concerned about him last season and ending trying in a purely run with role. The reason was he was slow by hand and foot and other sides were exposing him defensively. Bailey did not see him having a positive role in the future and McLean didnt like the role he was given.

In a nutshell we have bought a lemon!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

AJ has had the heat on him until this week.

Aren't Geelong a well structured side who were taken apart by a quick moving side with Mclean in the middle?

Mclean had 17 touches and 8 tackles against the reigning Premiers, yet he's now too slow for the modern game.

I wonder how Mclean would go at Collingwood if we rotated the players as often as the Pies who carry several slow midfielders like Carlton..

Mclean might look as good as Ball...

Don't throw Ball up as a miss because we passed on him for Lucas.

Carlton could have picked Ball and worked him into the midfield mix in place of Carrazzo if he was that good.


The Saints knew Ball better than Collingwood, yet he's now a champion that we should have drafted.

Supporters take themselves and their knowledge too seriously.

Those who are knifing Mclean were also anti-Yarran last year.

Wojee added more with just one sentence and not a rant...

I am all for robust discussion Kouta but please don't make false accusations.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

Is McClean the slowest player in the AFL?

No.
I can safely say he isn't.


End of Discussion.
Please close thread.

Brock is a part of our team and he is in the best 25, if not the best 22.

If that's true then we are in more trouble than I thought!!

p.s. Apologies Jimmae for the handle!!

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"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?" Billy Connolly

I have not written Brock off yet because i still think an inform Brock is in our best 22.
BUT after last weeks performance he needs to be dropped and a statement should be made.

Lazy, Insipid and slow performance.
To me he looks like he is still not 100%.
I just hope Ratts and co are not playing him to justify why we gave away a first round pick.
Robbo needs to play at least he will have a crack, block, shephard and chase !

If you ever get a chance have a look at the 06` Elimination Final against St Kilda. I was there and he dominated that game. In fact had a very good year.

Believe when I say I hope I am wrong as we need all the players we can get and he has cost us a lot but I cannot see how he can improve! His kicking and ball handling has never improved. He has always been slow and this will be more affected by the modern game and he is a poor decison maker.

I have been told by several people that Melbourne couldnt believe we offered pick 11 without Melbourne even asking? He also jumped at the Carlton offer because it was more than double what Melbourne offered and they were not prepared to budge. No wonder the deal was done in one day and prior to trade week! He was going to be offered up as trade bait anyway.

[/quote]Bailey was very upset at losing McLean and there were plenty of Melbourne supporters furious they had lost him especially after Judd and Warnock chose us. They had him earmarked as the next Captain so obviously still rated him very highly.

I am not sure but if Mark Riley had anything to do with getting McLean and Johnson to the club, but if he did then questions need to be asked regarding his football knowledge! [/quote]

He was pretty good that day but it was 4 years ago.

Watch that game again and see how different the style was and how many rotations there were. He effectively ran the whole game and got better as the game went on. Still ran at one pace but his endurance was a factor.

Today's game is about speed. Leg speed and by hand and foot. He doesn't have it.

As for him being next Captain. That was touted early in his career but certainly not over the last year or so. Wasn't even in the leadership group!

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015