hey, where are the anti Benny mob?

[Vivien]

I have never understood what the issue is with Ben Matthews. I was quite surprised to discover so much negative sentiment being expressed toward him on the RWO boards. I had always thought of him fairly highly. Perhaps that it just a reflection of my poor judgement and/or lack of understanding of the game.

One thing about Matthews is that you never seem to notice him like you do a Barry Hall or Adam Goodes. In 2003 and 2004, he could rack up loads of posessions without you really realising. It seems that he's playing a more defensive role now, but I still don't see how he's that bad. Sure, he makes the occasional poor decision or ineffective disposal but they ALL do - I don't see how he is any worse than some of the other players. Feel free to enlighten me!

The thing I like about Matthews is that he seems to be a real quiet achiever. He goes about his business without looking for attention or acknowledgement, and he seems to have tremendous respect from the player group and coaching staff. Roosey is always talking about how he is one of their most consistent and valued players. I agree that hes probably not having his best season, but I don't know that his season has been that bad either.

[j s]

Re: hey, where are the anti Benny mob?

Originally posted by redunderthebed
Been two weeks and they have been silenced .Oh, the usual crap about him not likely to be captain BUT no 'he play's crap' line of attack.
Come on boys, give Benny a serve, he played bloody well, didn't slow the play, kicked accurately and handled Bell pretty well.
Multi posting 'experts'....where are you?

That's Captain Benny now!! How can we criticise our captain?

[Mike_B]

Re: Re: hey, where are the anti Benny mob?

Originally posted by j s
That's Captain Benny now!! How can we criticise our captain?

Didn't stop us with Stuey!

[Newbie]

Ben who?

He is one of those usual culprits whose performance are very poor when we lose. It might be that his influence is significant or it may be that he is one of those downhill performer. A bit of both could be a more accurate description.

A problem with Benny is that he cannot go forward nor he could play at the centre. And if he cannot perform in his role, he is liability. In games where our list is stressed by injuries or unfavourable matchup and flexibility is required, we can not rely on Benny to offer us any extra option.

It is a disgrace that he is appointed captain. I though, he would be the ideal candicate for trade bait at the end of the year.

[Legs Akimbo]

Originally posted by Vivien
One thing about Matthews is that you never seem to notice him like you do a Barry Hall or Adam Goodes. In 2003 and 2004, he could rack up loads of posessions without you really realising. It seems that he's playing a more defensive role now, but I still don't see how he's that bad.

I think the Pro-stats player rankings that were put up recently said it all.

B.Mathews 28.9 86%

<30 struggling or lack of game time

Hang on, he's getting a lot of game time and he is averaging 14.6 disposals a game, so what gives? It is this...his disposal is woeful. Trully aweful.

Matthews wins a fair share of the ball, but his score was in the 'bad season' category. Why? Because he is the clanger king. I watched the Freo match again and the bloke just consistently screws things up and chooses bad options. He is the master of handballing to a stationary team member under pressure. He is perhaps the least penetrating player in the AFL. Can't handball, can't kick. Maybe people don't notice notice because LRT takes all the attention away.

He even said it himself in the article about his captaincy. He brings '110% intensity' to the team - euphenism for 'needs to concentrate 110% when kicking the ball just to get it to go straight'. Problem is it seldom does. I can't find the clanger stats, but am very confident they would support my character assassination.

If you counted his clangers as possessions to his opponents the opponents stats would look a lot better. Maybe they are happy to sit back and let him get the ball.

My only hope is that the cunning Roos, by giving him the captaincy, is setting him up for trade bait at the end of the season.

Having said all that, I am sure he's a lovely bloke.

[Nolie]

At least he had the guts to stand up to Plugger to keep the number 4 when Plugger wanted to make his comeback.

[Nico]

Originally posted by Wil
You are wrong. Mathews KNOWS how to get the ball - thats the problem! He shouldn't touch the damn thing but he is very good at getting it. If got less possession there would be less reason to not like him.

Bulldust. He is an outside gimmee, gimmee, gimmee player who has real trouble going hard at it unless it falls into his hands, then he folds up and holds on to it.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Nolie
At least he had the guts to stand up to Plugger to keep the number 4 when Plugger wanted to make his comeback.

That's about as important as saying at least he has nice hair or at least he's friendly to supporters!

[Sean]

Ben & LRT must account for 70% of posts on these boards - what would we talk about without them?

To sum up Ben all I can say is that there is a lot more to footy than what you do when you get the ball. If all that mattered was disposals we'd be close to last in the AFL at the moment. He is one of those players that helps the team in ways that most supporters don't seem to see but his repeated top 10 B&F finishes would suggest that the coaching staff do.

He beat Bell on the weekend - that helped us win. He did the job assigned to him and he'll get more B&F votes for it. He's nowhere near being one of the best in the AFL but he's a long way from the worst as well.

[Vivien]

Originally posted by Sean

To sum up Ben all I can say is that there is a lot more to footy than what you do when you get the ball. If all that mattered was disposals we'd be close to last in the AFL at the moment. He is one of those players that helps the team in ways that most supporters don't seem to see but his repeated top 10 B&F finishes would suggest that the coaching staff do.

Yeah, I agree. He is very much a team player - very selfless. Granted, his disposal is not always the best, but he seems to work pretty hard and supports his team mates in defence. I admire that sort of approach.

You're right to point out that he's finished in the top 10 on the B&F list for a few years running now. That sort of consistency is what we need from other players.

[Wil]

Originally posted by Nico
Bulldust. He is an outside gimmee, gimmee, gimmee player who has real trouble going hard at it unless it falls into his hands, then he folds up and holds on to it.

What has "going hard at it" got to do with getting possessions!? You say it yourself - he is a gimmee player. He knows how to get into position to get the ball from someone but can't do anything with it. Though he tends to get a lot of hospital passes.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by Wil
Though he tends to get a lot of hospital passes.

And gives off plenty more!

[chammond]

Originally posted by Vivien
Yeah, I agree. He is very much a team player - very selfless. Granted, his disposal is not always the best, but he seems to work pretty hard and supports his team mates in defence. I admire that sort of approach.

You're right to point out that he's finished in the top 10 on the B&F list for a few years running now. That sort of consistency is what we need from other players.

Mathews took a while to get a permanent spot in the senior side, and he acquired a hard-core of slaggers even while he was running around in the reserves as a youngster. But once he got his chance, he's hardly missed a game in 6 or 7 seasons. Now he's nearly chalked up 150 AFL games and he's about to debut as club captain.

I'm not sure that's it's possible for a crap player to reach those milestones.

In fact I'd go so far as to say that the only conclusion that can possibly be drawn is that one of the following groups is made up of complete tools:

a) two highly respected AFL coaches and 6 years of Swans' match committees; . . . or . . . .

b) Mathews' critics.

I'm pretty sure I know which group has the more credibility.

[NMWBloods]

I thought in this new enlightened age of RWO we weren't allowed to call people names?

[chammond]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I thought in this new enlightened age of RWO we weren't allowed to call people names?

Eh?

Stated a few well-known facts.

Drew a reasonable conclusion.

Expressed no outrageous opinions.

Named no names.

Explain yourself!