McVeigh is useless

[ROK Lobster]

I'm still trying to work out who Mark Papers is?

It's all explained in the other thread.

[cruiser]

It's all explained in the other thread.

No, it wasn't. That's why I'm still confused.

[DST]

Probably the worst game I have seen McVeigh play - destroyed by Grant, fumbled and couldn't hit targets. Very disappointing - he has gone seriously backwards this year. The only option left is permanent small forward.

MNWBloods, I watched him closely during the warm-up just before the game and he was having trouble then holding onto the ball and hitting targets and he looked very sore.

I wonder if due to his body size and shape that he finds it hard stringing 5 games together because of the knocks to his body.

I just get the feeling that giving him hard checking jobs is not suited to having playing a full 22 games plus finals.

Maybe it's time to release him on a wing and let him try and run players into the ground both ways.

DST

[NMWBloods]

One would have thought so. He's light, but quick, so I would have thought make the opposition chase him.

[swantastic]

He's light, but quick, so I would have thought make the opposition chase him.

Spot on NMW we should use him as a wide receiver with his pace and not a go getter he is too lightly built.

[liz]

One of McVeigh's problems at the moment is that his hands aren't clean. He's fumbling on the ground and second grabbing at receives. He ought to be a player who can gather, run and carry but if you don't take the ball cleanly you lose that second of time you have to get away from a crowd.

Maybe it is a confidence thing? I can't recall in previous years thinking his handling was particularly good or noticeably bad but at the moment he can't seem to tag, doesn't look like fulfilling that outside midfield role (which is where I think his greatest value probably is) and nor does his kicking inspire confidence that he could provide that mid-sized forward role that he's done pretty well in the past.

Just on the clean handling thing, I know last night was a downer all around, but one moment that did have me smiling was O'Keefe's one-handed pick-up without breaking stride followed by the best kick into the forward line all night. That's what we need to see more of!

[NMWBloods]

That was sweet! One of only a couple of highlights for the game.

Many of our players have 'hard hands' (as Dermie describes it). Not enough one grabs, too many fumbles.

[liz]

Hopefully it runs in the family. I've only seen DOK for a game and a half and he hasn't really stood out yet. But one thing I have noticed him do a couple of times is exactly that same move - keep running, bend down, one handed pick-up and take off.

[ScottH]

Just on the clean handling thing, I know last night was a downer all around, but one moment that did have me smiling was O'Keefe's one-handed pick-up without breaking stride followed by the best kick into the forward line all night. That's what we need to see more of!

You left out after a four way grab for the ball, he kept his feet, leapt over a fallen player, and scooped it up one (right) handed....

[Snake]

Soft. No skill. No heart. Rot in Canberra you turd.

I cant believe how poor he was tonight. Everytime he was second to the footy, and he has no idea of moving the ball on. There was one time in the 3rd Q when he took a pass just back of the centre circle and was at least 10 metres in the clear but just stood there like a statue and just let North block up the half forward area. Just appalling.

What hope do our forwards have when types like him have no idea. Fair dinkum blokes like O'Keefe and Kirk work their guts and see their work wasted by MCVeigh.

Yes, Yes, Yes totally agree. His footy smarts are absolutely disgusting , I saw him on Grant, only to leave him to help out in a spoil with Ted Richards who almost a full foot taller than him, to only see the ball goto Grant who was now on his own to go and kick a goal, what the in the hell was he thinking? If Richards cant mark that ball did he really think being a full foot smaller her would? Why leave the Kanga's best player? He a pathetic player who clearly doesn't deserve his spot in the team....

[Chow-Chicker]

Is there any possibility that we can swap him for Mark McVeigh? Sheesh, what a contrast!

[Bloody Hell]

Maybe it is a confidence thing? I can't recall in previous years thinking his handling was particularly good or noticeably bad but at the moment he can't seem to tag, doesn't look like fulfilling that outside midfield role (which is where I think his greatest value probably is) and nor does his kicking inspire confidence that he could provide that mid-sized forward role that he's done pretty well in the past.

Foot disposal is one of the defining characteristics of the outside midfielder...don't think he'll ever be able to forfill it. His real problem is he doesn't look the goods, and every alternative roll he could fill could be filled better by others.

Alot of the swans youth are suited to the small forward role...surely McVeigh would be well down that list.

(Someone refered to him as Mark McVeigh's brother....if he continues the way he's going it will be the only thing he's known for.)

[RogueSwan]

I have been a McVeigh supporter from very early on, as some of you may know. Back when he had more hair on his head than his face.
I think he has the skills, but really needs a month in the 2's to rediscover them. Maybe they can give Jack McVeigh's role. Then give Jarrad an offensive role (remember those Roos?).
Another thing, I think Fosdike has really improved over this season and last. He used to be a favourite whipping boy on RWO but whilst he is not yet a star he is solid and I feel confident in what he doing. This is what McVeigh should be aiming for.

[Nico]

I love Fozzie because he is so consistent. He doesn't have a big kick but gets it very often. His shocker on Sat. was in our forward pocket and he tried to pop it to the top of the square and he just got a toe on it.

He works far harder, longer and faster as a combination than any of our midfielders.

[liz]

Foot disposal is one of the defining characteristics of the outside midfielder...don't think he'll ever be able to forfill it. His real problem is he doesn't look the goods, and every alternative roll he could fill could be filled better by others.

Alot of the swans youth are suited to the small forward role...surely McVeigh would be well down that list.

The role I'd have him pegged for is a mid-sized forward role, rather than a traditional small forward. It is the role that Robertson does for Melbourne, and O'Brien or Nicks used to do for Sydney - ie still a marking target but as a complement to the power forwards rather than just a crumber. It is the role that Davis is probably filling at the moment - with varied success.

In fact, given both were very disappointing on the weekend for different reasons, I'd switch the two of them around for a few weeks and see what happens. McVeigh couldn't possibly contribute less up forward than Davis did at the weekend - not just in kicks but in work rate and pressure skills. So there is no downside and potentially some upside.

And moving Davis onto a wing (but with an offensive but accountable brief rather than a predominantly defensive brief) would get Davis into the action a bit. He couldn't possibly contribute less defensively than McVeigh did at the weekend, and there's a good chance he'd use what ball he did get more constructively than McVeigh is likely to at the moment.

I actually think McVeigh's skills - hand and feet - are good enough. Not great but probably basically sounder than Fossie's. He just seems to be second guessing himself and completely down on confidence at the moment. So either he goes back to Canberra to regain that confidence by ripping games to shreds, or he gets given a different role in the senior team, just for the sake of shaking things up a bit.