Malceski back to the HB line

[Bloody Hell]

What's going on in this guys head?

The lesser thinking time further up the field doesn't seem to agree with him. Back to the HBF?

[Triple B]

He'll be doing well to avoid a spell in the seconds.

What happened to the guy who was prepared to put his body on the line and get smashed by Daniel Chick in a Subi final?? He doesn't appear to have any willingness to engage in physical contact at all and his disposal has deteriorated at a similarly alarming rate.

Easily my most disappointing player so far this year.

[573v30]

It seems to me that the knee injury has changed him, and not for the better.

[Nolie]

I think he is believing his own publicity. He has been lauded as having a magnificent "exocet missile" like kick. Impressive when done correctly. However it seems to me he tries to drill it as hard as he can, or is trying to impress the crowd or something and simply over does it. Result: some shocking mistakes.

[liz]

It is often said that it takes players a good 12 months to get back to their best after a knee reco. I think many of us hoped that his accelerated return last year would shorten that but he looks to be struggling physically and his confidence looks shot.

Don't think he will gain much by going back to the magoos. I think- or hope - that he will get closer to what we know he can do but it will take time, whereever he plays. Question becomes whether there is someone else who can do a better job for the team, or whether a younger player can come in and, if not do better, at least benefit from getting a taste of senior footy.

Bird needs to come back into the team, Crouch isn't far away, and I suspect Smith may only be another solid seconds performance away from getting another chance. Laidlaw is another that Roos has spoken about being excited about, plus Barlow is still on the fringes. On today's performances, Thornton was pretty marginal and would probably benefit from continuing his education in the twos and getting more game time, while sadly (because he's close to my favourite Swan) Eski would probably be the next on the chopping block.

[Triple B]

I'd be real disappointed if Thornton got dropped and Eski stayed up.

As we all agree, he is very, very low on confidence and it is affecting all areas of his game.

His defence had never been a strong point, but he now seems to avoid all contact. His kicking which was a feature has gone backwards and he gave not one, but two shockingly weak looping handballs today in the first quarter which put teammates under EXTREME pressure and could have easily conceded goals if not for his mates covering.

I can't see why a run in the 2's won't help him. It's not like he's a gun player who is down on form because they are struggling to deal with a hard tag week in, week out. Those type of guys need to stay in the seniors and work through it, but Eski needs to go back to the 2's and find some touch.

[swantastic]

Cmon u guys Melcho is a gun he is just feeling his way back into the side,and imo he will play a midfield role more than as a back man.He has even said to me face to face that he would prefer to play midfield than back.We need pin point accurace into the forwrd 50 and he is that and then some.

[Nico]

I'd be real disappointed if Thornton got dropped and Eski stayed up.

As we all agree, he is very, very low on confidence and it is affecting all areas of his game.

His defence had never been a strong point, but he now seems to avoid all contact. His kicking which was a feature has gone backwards and he gave not one, but two shockingly weak looping handballs today in the first quarter which put teammates under EXTREME pressure and could have easily conceded goals if not for his mates covering.

I can't see why a run in the 2's won't help him. It's not like he's a gun player who is down on form because they are struggling to deal with a hard tag week in, week out. Those type of guys need to stay in the seniors and work through it, but Eski needs to go back to the 2's and find some touch.

Talk in the bar at half time was simply: a serious decision has to be made about this bloke.

Today he was always behind his man, if he chased it was slow and half hearted, avoided contests at all costs and his decision making and skill both by hand and foot were poor. In a marking contest in the forward pocket in the 3rd q he was knocked off the ball with ease, and he got up holding his hip and limping the mark of a player wanting to hide but nowhere to hide.

One comment was; he might indeed be an elite sportsman, just not in this sport.
In the last Q he actually let go of a tackle that he should have crunched and a goal resulted. I believe he was dragged after that.

Whilst I don't disagree with Liz regards his injury, I just don't think you can carry an outside midfielder who essentially takes a handpass who really doesn't want to be in a contest. His type went out 20 years ago. He has got to offer something else in his game to keep his spot. I rather keep Buchanan in the side regardless of team balance because at least he has a go, and yes his disposal is appalling but no worse than Malceski.

[Triple B]

...In a marking contest in the forward pocket in the 3rd q he was knocked off the ball with ease, and he got up holding his hip and limping the mark of a player wanting to hide but nowhere to hide.

Even though I only had the TV view of the game, I clearly remember the exact contest u are talking about.

Not good enough.

[giant]

Currently playing with no confidence and little endeavour - time to take a break I think.

[Jeffers1984]

Time to play him in the midfield. Bring Laidlaw to help at HBF.

Eski on the wing.

[ugg]

What game were you guys watching? The Age has him amongst our best

Slow start, big finish for Geelong - RFMatchReport - realfooty.com.au

[SimonH]

Not among our best, but (at least as far as you can tell from the TV) not playing at droppable level either. His disposal when he gets it right is still in our best few (if not our #1), and he's showing enough glimpses of getting it right to persist with him.

Even though his physical toughness has dropped off (which ain't a good thing), we had similar arguments about McVeigh and toughness circa 2006-7. That is to say, you don't win games of footy by having 18 Brett Kirks and Jude Boltons out there.

I just hope that that those saying 'lose Eski, nothing but an outside receiver, too soft, avoids contests' aren't the same people saying, 'what a cliche these Bloods are, get smashed and put on the Brett Kirk party hat and you're in the brotherhood and guaranteed a spot, doesn't matter if you can't play football'.

[Plugger46]

Not among our best, but (at least as far as you can tell from the TV) not playing at droppable level either. His disposal when he gets it right is still in our best few (if not our #1), and he's showing enough glimpses of getting it right to persist with him.

Even though his physical toughness has dropped off (which ain't a good thing), we had similar arguments about McVeigh and toughness circa 2006-7. That is to say, you don't win games of footy by having 18 Brett Kirks and Jude Boltons out there.

I just hope that that those saying 'lose Eski, nothing but an outside receiver, too soft, avoids contests' aren't the same people saying, 'what a cliche these Bloods are, get smashed and put on the Brett Kirk party hat and you're in the brotherhood and guaranteed a spot, doesn't matter if you can't play football'.

I've been a Malceski fan but I think it's time he had a spell in the reserves.

I haven't seen the glimpses that you speak of. All I've seen is Malceski running past blokes who can kick (eg Grundy) for a cheap disposal and then kicking it out on the full or turning it over. He is totally against any form of physical contact at the moment. He was never what you'd call a 'hard player' but that didn't matter as you need outside players who can use the footy but right now, he's barely finding it and when he actually does, he's not using it. Since his injury, I can only recall him playing one decent game - against the Eagles at subi last year.

I don't know if a stint in the reserves will help him but we need to do something with him, as he's not helping us win games of footy at the moment.

[Jewels]

I've been a Malceski fan but I think it's time he had a spell in the reserves.

I haven't seen the glimpses that you speak of. All I've seen is Malceski running past blokes who can kick (eg Grundy) for a cheap disposal and then kicking it out on the full or turning it over. He is totally against any form of physical contact at the moment. He was never what you'd call a 'hard player' but that didn't matter as you need outside players who can use the footy but right now, he's barely finding it and when he actually does, he's not using it. Since his injury, I can only recall him playing one decent game - against the Eagles at subi last year.

I don't know if a stint in the reserves will help him but we need to do something with him, as he's not helping us win games of footy at the moment.

I thought he went well and showed glimpses against The Hawks and I thought he was coming good but it's been downhill all the way since.