Matthews Observation

[reigning premier]

Constantly turning the ball over with poor disposal ?? Stopping forward attacks with dithering sideways/ backwards play ?? "one of the best team players we have" ???.....I think not.

You're entitled to your opinion.....

[NMWBloods]

AFIK, AFL is still a team game where every player has a role to play. And Benny Mathews, is one of the best team players we have.

He does his role, but he's not a team player. His focus is only on his own opponent and rarely keeps his eyes up to help out. That's not the mark of a team player - it's the mark of someone who wants to keep his place in the team.

[Layby]

He does his role, but he's not a team player. His focus is only on his own opponent and rarely keeps his eyes up to help out. That's not the mark of a team player - it's the mark of someone who wants to keep his place in the team.

Doubt Roos would agree, he rates him very highly.

oh my god i agree with RP !

[reigning premier]

He does his role, but he's not a team player. His focus is only on his own opponent and rarely keeps his eyes up to help out. That's not the mark of a team player - it's the mark of someone who wants to keep his place in the team.

Perhaps that's the instruction?? "Keep your man shut down..." Not really an unusual role for someone who's primarily a tagger/stopper.

As for not helping out, perhaps if his team mates did as good a job on their opponents as him, he wouldn't have "help out".....

[NMWBloods]

Fact is that in a fluid game like football you must help out your team mates - it is inevitable that players will get free for a variety of reasons and it is far more important to concentrate on the man with the ball rather than solely on your own man.

When a player runs to his own opponent and away from an opponent with the ball, then there is something wrong, particularly when it happens in defensive 50!

[reigning premier]

Fact is that in a fluid game like football you must help out your team mates - it is inevitable that players will get free for a variety of reasons and it is far more important to concentrate on the man with the ball rather than solely on your own man.

When a player runs to his own opponent and away from an opponent with the ball, then there is something wrong, particularly when it happens in defensive 50!

Fair enough that you have to work for each other.

But...... There's nothing surer than if you go off your opponent to attack the ball carrier, your opponent will get posession and hurt you and your team.

[NMWBloods]

But...... There's nothing surer than if you go off your opponent to attack the ball carrier, your opponent will get posession and hurt you and your team.

Yes, but the first thought needs to be the ball. If an opponent has the ball in space and is a threat, you need to leave your man and attack the man with the ball, and hope that your own man is then covered. That's not to say you do that every time - on certain occasions it may be better not to, however those occasions are far less frequent. Mathews often runs away from the ball toward his own man - hence he (and others) can say that he had a good game because his man didn't get many possessions. Fails to take into account other aspects though.

Roos might like him, but he also likes certain other players who seem to be delivering very little. He seems to play favourites.

[reigning premier]

Yes, but the first thought needs to be the ball. If an opponent has the ball in space and is a threat, you need to leave your man and attack the man with the ball, and hope that your own man is then covered. That's not to say you do that every time - on certain occasions it may be better not to, however those occasions are far less frequent.

C'mon... You've got see the contradic'ting statements in all of that??

It's like your disagreeing but arguing my point...

In any case, I think both of our opinions have merit. ...on certain occassions..... but not every time.....

Case of damned if you do.... Damned if you don't

[NMWBloods]

I don't see it as being contradictory. On most cases you should go to the man with the ball. Occasionally you shouldn't. Mathews has the ratios around the other way. He usually stays with his man and ignores the ball. I think that is selfish football.

[reigning premier]

I don't see it as being contradictory. On most cases you should go to the man with the ball. Occasionally you shouldn't. Mathews has the ratios around the other way. He usually stays with his man and ignores the ball. I think that is selfish football.

Not if he's been told to put the saddle on and ride his opponent it isn't. I'd humbly suggest that those are his instructions.

[NMWBloods]

Not if he's been told to put the saddle on and ride his opponent it isn't. I'd humbly suggest that those are his instructions.

I doubt his instructions are to ignore the ball.

[reigning premier]

I doubt his instructions are to ignore the ball.

Sometimes I wonder......

But as a tagger, stats aren't his game.

[shaun..]

A very frustrating player. His pass to Hall in the first quarter was sublime (only for Hall to miss). But in the second quarter he is stupid enough to have a shot with his non-dominant while O'Keefe right beside him is left high and dry..

[ScottH]

A very frustrating player. His pass to Hall in the first quarter was sublime (only for Hall to miss). But in the second quarter he is stupid enough to have a shot with his non-dominant while O'Keefe right beside him is left high and dry..

That was quite bizzare, I didn't notice ROK, but he did have more time to kick with his right.