Welcome Oscar McDonald

[crashlander]

Not my mate.

He reckons Oscar is exactly what we need. Insurance. I agree.

Of the guys we had challenging for a spot, MacDonald has performed when it mattered - in senior company. Moore hasn't yet. Crocker does sometimes. We haven't seen enough of Maher. But MacDonald is ready to go and fills a need. Our match committee saw it that way, I agree.

Many remember me rabbiting on about getting Jack Newnes to the club. "He won't win you a game, but he'll do a role"....and he did just that.....AND won us a game.

I was not a fan of Newnes, and am I still worried about his long term viability, but he stepped up last year and did what we needed him to do. He was a consistent performer: he had very few really down games and often got his share of the ball. And that last microsecond goal will live in memory.
If MacDonald can do the same, then we have made the right decision. I also have questions about his long term viability, but we need a key defender cum hole filler now.

Oscar is similar.....will do a role. Can't be relied upon to win you a game, but if you need someone to step up and cover an injury. He is highly qualified.

No arguments from me.

Macreadie has never shown that he can perform a role. Has the 'potential' to do it one day. But never performed to the extent that Oscar has already done in 2 practice matches.

Actually, before he was injured, Macreadie looked to be the best of his draft cohort. He didn't panic under pressure. He took some strong marks. His decision making looked good.
Unfortunately, since his back injury he has been a different player. He appears to have lost confidence in his body and he is moving a lot less quickly. That really hurt him, as he just didn't make enough contests. He is cooked, alas.
He also appeared to have lost the joy of playing footy. Maybe he can get it back in the lower grades, but we couldn't afford to keep him on.
Kruddler is right in a way: in the last 2 years he has done less and looked less impressive than MacDonald has done in 2 practice matches.

This goes back to some disagreements i was having with....EB1 i think, in regards to Ben Silvagni (and others). I suggested there'd be plenty of blokes who can and will perform better that Ben right now. Ben has shown us nothing, but the hint of some potential and a nice last name. We need to stop carrying so many of these types on the list for so long. Be smart about it. Recruit a 'discard' like Oscar who will perform at a higher level than a Ben, or Macreadie. Continue to try and recruit a kid in a similar role, or a solid talent from another club, and when McDonald (or whoever) is backup to the backup, then ditch him.

Back in the 1970's and 1980's we would have kept Ben Silvagni on for a couple more years at least, in the hope he clicks mentally. Physically, he has the weapons that Jack lacks. With lists as they are, that cannot happen these days.
I have yet to be convinced that we flicked Ben just to get back at SOS. That sounds too petty even for our administrators. maybe I am wrong, but I doubt it.
Park has shown more in the 2's than Ben did in a season. That has already justified both Park's selection and Ben's delisting.
However, I don't see Park as covering the fastest or the largest: he has his physical limitations. I expect to see us draft more key defender types in the next few drafts, and I expect us to look at other key defenders at other clubs. It makes sense in the recruiting market at present. As Kruddler mentioned, you breed your own when and where you can. For the gaps, you beg, borrow or steal. As we are looked at more favourably, especially if we win consistently, other players will look at us and want to come.