Mcveigh v Salopek

[caj23]

Well well well, looks like taking the local boy first could be costly.

At this point of their careers, Salopek is clearly far further advanced than our Jarrad.

Lets hope he's a late developer like his older brother.

[TheMase]

Well well well, looks like taking the local boy first could be costly.

At this point of their careers, Salopek is clearly far further advanced than our Jarrad.

Lets hope he's a late developer like his older brother.

It is funny you mention that. I was having the exact same thoughts tonight. I made my thoughts clear when he was drafted.

I hope he can play better football that this. He is decision making is not great, but hopefully we can get some value out of him. Give him a non-tagging role next week and see how he goes.

Still not convinced yet. Has been around for a while now. A player like Malceski is making more of a mark (although he is obviously more talented). McVeigh should be at a similar (if not advanced) stage by now.

[Nico]

Well we know one thing about him. He has just joined the Jude Bolton "Chokers Club". Well he was probably already there but he picked up life membership tonight.

[originalswan]

I just made a similar comparison in the match discussion but also included Schammer in the comparison.

[Chow-Chicker]

We've got the wrong McVeigh. I cringe everytime I see Mark play with such aplomb and class...

[ScottH]

I think it is time for Jarrad to have a run in the 2's and "find his inner player".

He's just not cutting the mustard so far this year. Very disappointing effort so far.

[juliec]

Jarred just gets me so frustrated, can just never do the hard things when we need him, I am just not a fan sorry to me he has not improved

[SimonH]

He has the class. He's a smooth mover and precise deliverer of the pill (yes, yes, when in form). Seeing that we have plenty of bottom-of-the-pack grunt, as a fast-running outside midfielder, he's exactly the type of player we need to become a 150-gamer.

After last night (and a few disappointing weeks prior to it), he does have a big question mark over him right now; but the way he responds in the next few weeks will hopefully be the making of him. A guy who kicked 21.7 in 2006 and 0.6 to this point in 2007 is obviously a guy who has lost form and confidence; not a guy who has no talent or ability. He's old enough, and he's played enough footy now, that he's gotta get it back at the top level. I doubt that going back to the 2s at this point would achieve anything for the player or the team.

And comparing him to another player of similar type taken in the 2002 draft is an utterly futile exercise in retrospective 20/20 vision. You could do that with absolutely anyone (bar perhaps Adam Goodes and Nick Malceski) and, through the infinite power of looking backwards, come up with an (arguably) better player than the one we picked.

[ROK Lobster]

I doubt that going back to the 2s at this point would achieve anything for the player or the team.

Yep. People keep saying that he (and a few others) should go back and get some confidence. I think it would do the opposite. Players should only be dropped if their form warrants it, that keeping them in the team is not likely to improve their form and there is someone in the 2's that will do a better job. At this stage I would say that the only one of those 3 points McVeigh satisfies is point 1, and that is arguable but becomes increasingly more arguable. He has another month, by then there will be someone averaging 125 touches a game in the 2's and pushing for his place.

[smasher]

Steven Salopek is having his best year yet.He came into the side in the second half of 2006.He has had injury problems until then.I think McVeigh is more an athlete whereas Salopek is a footballer.Moore comes from the same junior club as Salopek and the latter won every award possible.

[barry]

I'm off the Mcveigh bandwagon. He jumps around like an ejit. No poise, no skills, just another dud midfielder.

I'm not on the salopek bandwagon yet. Doesnt get the footy enough.

In mcveigh's defence, his brother took a long time to come good, but at the moment, mcveigh needs to either get back to the 2's or be moved to another position on the field.

[caj23]

And comparing him to another player of similar type taken in the 2002 draft is an utterly futile exercise in retrospective 20/20 vision. You could do that with absolutely anyone (bar perhaps Adam Goodes and Nick Malceski) and, through the infinite power of looking backwards, come up with an (arguably) better player than the one we picked.

Cant agree with you there Simon, top 5 picks are few and far between and can't afford to be wasted. The concencus from football experts at the time clearly rated Salopeck a better player than Mcveigh, but we went for the local boy.

I do agree that the later picks in the draft are a lottery, but I feel we made a clanger here. I would love to be proven wrong

[Jeffers1984]

Another factor with Salopek at the time was the possible go home factor. IIRC his mum was extremely sick at the time(she passed away during his first season at Port) which could of effective the decision for the Swans.

I've still got faith in McVeigh but he really needs to start steping up now. Perhaps they should just quash the idea of him being a run with player and make him a 100% offensive weapon (that cant kick for goal straight).

[reigning premier]

Patience people....

He's a quality player with a lot of class and will come good. I don't see how dropping him will help. And let's face it, he got under the radar a lot last year and is now coming to terms with being matched up with better opponents. I'm still confident he'll come good with a few more games.

[SimonH]

Cant agree with you there Simon, top 5 picks are few and far between and can't afford to be wasted. The concencus from football experts at the time clearly rated Salopeck a better player than Mcveigh, but we went for the local boy.

I do agree that the later picks in the draft are a lottery, but I feel we made a clanger here. I would love to be proven wrong

The whole draft is a lottery. A #5 pick is part of that lottery; just with the odds more heavily in the gambler's favour than a #35 or #65 pick.

'A clanger' would be a #5 pick who played fewer than 20 games and has already left or been delisted (and don't worry, there have been quite a few of them picked at 5 or higher over the years, including at Sydney). 'A mistake' might be the highest you can put it; and even then, the fact remains that you're judging a 2002 decision using 2007 data (or 2012 data by the time the jury's finally decided it). I'm quite happy to accept that the consensus from football experts at the time was that Salopek was a better player. The consensus from paid football experts at all 16 clubs at the time was also that Malceski was a marginal prospect at best. The gamblers who have to actually put their cash on the table (the clubs) pays their money and takes their choice.