"Mad" Mick Malthouse has always had the knack of getting something out of a couple of players who are on the fringe and possibly destined for delisting. Undoubtedly, his two success stories this year are Sam Rowe & Simon White.
I have always thought White was a reasonable player but has never been given a dedicated role in the team and accordingly have suggested he would be cut. Rowe has never impressed me looking too slow at this level and was some sort of token listing by Ratten. This year, both have turned those thoughts on their head and were two of the first picked most of the time.
The thing is, I'm really wondering whether their emergence as frontliners was on the back of and out of pure necessity by Malthouse or were they always destined to make it in this manner ??
Our defensive unit currently has those two plus Yarran, Docherty, Buckley, Jamison & Tuohy (Henderson should be there two) which is quite thin overall.
Are Rowe & White real defenders now and if so, for how long too ??
I still believe they are stop-gap measures in the short-term !!
Up until the last few games I had serious concerns that Rowe had possibly out performed himself and would be in danger of slipping back to mediocre again. I no longer have those worries as, to quote MM, he has truly crossed his Rubicon. He knows he can match it with the best now and has gained tremendous confidence. I'm sure he has established himself now, knows his calling and will go on with it for us.
Not so confident with White, but there have been some encouraging signs. Maybe he'll make that river crossing next year?
Rowe is a serious defender and at 198cm we need that size down back...good footballer and I enjoy watching him....he can play and be a KP player for us for a while IMO.
White..not so sure about, has a go and you cant knock his application but he is more of your poor mans Goldsack without the latter's kicking skills....if Giles can make it then I reckon White will be handy backup at best...
I saw an interview with Push Up King on the Marngrook Footy Show. Something really hit home for me. His biggest plus is the fact that he is selfless. Everything he did was for the team. Team first, self second. People like him, Rowey and Whitey are coaches dreams. They are given the less glamorous roles and they do these and worry about nothing else. The more of these type in your team the better.
But it does help if you can play as well. Happy that I was proven wrong with Rowe but White is mediocre at best IMO.
Rowe is a now a very good defender, up with the best. White's hard at it, takes no sh1t, something we needed alot, reasonable talent only but plays a role well just like the many similar types the Swans have recruited over the years. Swans are experts at developing similar types as simply role players. They play their own role properly then you have a good player.
I like the fact that both of them have mongrel, and give it out from time to time. If they can maintain a half decent skill level as well as the mongrel, will be happy to have them in the back 6.
Jamo and Rowe are good staples down back... Complement each other nicely (as long as Jamo's shoulders aren't rooted).
Simon White, role player but that's it for me.
Stop gaps. Neither will be elite defenders and am happy for them to prove me wrong.
Until we can get Henderson back, I worry.
Rowe has established himself as the real deal. White is hit and miss too often. Needs a break out year next season or it's curtains.
But it does help if you can play as well. Happy that I was proven wrong with Rowe but White is mediocre at best IMO.
Same, I had writtent off Rowe, and happy to admit it.
White I am still not so sure about. He has held his own a few times, but still doesn't look a genuine AFL player for mine.
Rowe took a solid season in defence for MM to nurture him as a gun defender, White may need another year to prove us all wrong. I hope he's right.
I reckon Rowe is starting to fulfil the potential that was evident when he was drafted. Of course, his illness was a setback but his performances this season aren't far off the highlight footage that we saw when he was drafted. He still has some improvement in him and I believe that he will be an important player for many seasons to come.
I'm not convinced about White. He had a few decent games but also several where he had no impact whatsoever. He needs to become a more consistent player.
I reckon Rowe can be the real deal, in fact I would be disappointed now if he doesn't prove that to be true.
White - good role/depth player. Good player to keep until our depth improves significantly.
Rowe will be as good as Brian Lake......without the brain fades. Maybe not quite as attacking, but as good body on body.
Rowe will be as good as Brian Lake......without the brain fades. Maybe not quite as attacking, but as good body on body.
I'd say he is potentially as good as Lake but not yet, he is certainly as important to our structure as Lake is to the Dawks.
I love Rowe but I still seem him as a stop gap for now. He can very well be the real deal, but needs to back this year up with a solid next year to convince me he is more than a stop gap.
Seems to me if our players aren't All Australian they're stop gap.
Seems to me if our players aren't All Australian they're stop gap.
The AA, U22 AA and U23 AA are all as bogus as hell.
How can any AA side have any of EFCs juiced up junkies, that is as good as validating EFCs behavior?
Everything touched by EFC is stained!
How can any AA side have any of EFCs juiced up junkies, that is as good as validating EFCs behavior?
Good point.
People knocling White can tell me this... How many player got a hold of him this year? that we went, Wow he gave Simon White a touch up on the weekend?
Plus his abliity to swing forward...
He'll be in the top 10 or close to it in the B&F. Anyone want to take that bet?
Sorry Shades, think he is very average. Makes stupid mistakes which is acceptable for a developing player but at his age, not for mine.
People knocling White can tell me this... How many player got a hold of him this year? that we went, Wow he gave Simon White a touch up on the weekend?
Plus his abliity to swing forward...
He'll be in the top 10 or close to it in the B&F. Anyone want to take that bet?
I agree he wasn't that bad and doesn't deserve the criticism he is still getting this year, he has worked in well with Everitt and Rowe. Give these guys some continuity as a group and they will get better and better.
Sorry Shades, think he is very average. Makes stupid mistakes which is acceptable for a developing player but at his age, not for mine.
I saw Sam Rowe kick blindly out of defence maybe 10 times this year that resulted in another inside 50 and usually a goal.
don't remember White making to many poor decisions, usually beat his man and kicked goals when moved forward. happy to be proven wrong, but think he had a pretty good year.
Sorry Shades, think he is very average. Makes stupid mistakes which is acceptable for a developing player but at his age, not for mine.
I saw Sam Rowe kick blindly out of defence maybe 10 times this year that resulted in another inside 50 and usually a goal.
don't remember White making to many poor decisions, usually beat his man and kicked goals when moved forward. happy to be proven wrong, but think he had a pretty good year.
+1
And I think even Rowe probably didnt even make it to 10 times this year.
Another bloke who will go well in this B+F will be Michael Jamison. Him and Rowe actually performed tandem roles on a few opponents to good effect.
White is certainly no star but an average foot soldier IMO. Does the job he's given mainly to a competent level and doesn't mind a bit of the rough stuff - doesn't take backward steps. A good ordinary player as Sir Jack Dyer would have said.
I'm hoping he can become more of a stand out next year and lift his game to the next level.
White is certainly no star but an average foot soldier IMO. Does the job he's given mainly to a competent level and doesn't mind a bit of the rough stuff - doesn't take backward steps. A good ordinary player as Sir Jack Dyer would have said.
I'm hoping he can become more of a stand out next year and lift his game to the next level.
I think we'd all hope that, but I'm pretty sure we're already seeing the best of Simon White. He's a reasonable option as a utility but is never going to be a world beater. There are still plenty of flaws in his game and he doesn't really have much spark or x-factor about him. I don't know how else to describe him other than 'solid'. Not that this is a bad thing, every team needs dependable players like Simon White where what you see is what you get.
Defense is all about continuity, whenever I watch teams with a stable defense they always seem to perform beyond their ability. They know when to roll back, offer chop outs, press, zone, it all just happens no directions no instructions.
The group we had this season has only had one season as a group, they look like a solid bunch and given some continuity they will do OK. It's not about individuals.
I think in the long term our problems are all in the middle and forward of center. Our mids don't defend as well as they should, and our forwards are not as consistent as they need to be. Whenever we got busted open last season it was always off the back of piss-weak midfield defensive contributions.
Sorry Shades, think he is very average. Makes stupid mistakes which is acceptable for a developing player but at his age, not for mine.
I saw Sam Rowe kick blindly out of defence maybe 10 times this year that resulted in another inside 50 and usually a goal.
don't remember White making to many poor decisions, usually beat his man and kicked goals when moved forward. happy to be proven wrong, but think he had a pretty good year.
Sorry mate I reckon he is a spud! Don't get me wrong, he looks solid at times but he goes to water under real pressure. Just doesn't have what it takes IMO.
Sorry Shades, think he is very average. Makes stupid mistakes which is acceptable for a developing player but at his age, not for mine.
I saw Sam Rowe kick blindly out of defence maybe 10 times this year that resulted in another inside 50 and usually a goal.
don't remember White making to many poor decisions, usually beat his man and kicked goals when moved forward. happy to be proven wrong, but think he had a pretty good year.
Sorry mate I reckon he is a spud! Don't get me wrong, he looks solid at times but he goes to water under real pressure. Just doesn't have what it takes IMO.
I wouldn't call him a spud most of the time, but his tackling technique leaves a lot to be desired, really. For a guy who is built like someone shoved a bunch of giant wall nuts under his skin, he sure misses a lot of tackles and has a lot of people break the tackles that he does lay. I think it's because all too often he just throws arms out and expects it to catch rather than using his core strength and driving through his hips and legs.
Like I said, plenty of flaws in his game and he's far from a world beater.
The 'spud' bit was more of a :P for Shades. :))
I like White because he's strong, tough and got some **** in him.
I wouldn't be surprised if some of that goes towards his selection.
He's no introvert .
Sorry Shades, think he is very average. Makes stupid mistakes which is acceptable for a developing player but at his age, not for mine.
I saw Sam Rowe kick blindly out of defence maybe 10 times this year that resulted in another inside 50 and usually a goal.
don't remember White making to many poor decisions, usually beat his man and kicked goals when moved forward. happy to be proven wrong, but think he had a pretty good year.
Agree. And I have a hunch he is well liked and well respected in the group. His skills are not silky but he has shown he can do a job, forward or back. I wouldn't sell his skills too short, though. Has taken some particularly good grabs and kicked truly for goal. Definitely in our best 30. Not perfect. Will take on anyone... has legitimate courage and tenacity. And won't take a backward step protecting smaller team mates.
Wonder if Mick sees both or either of Rowe and White as something similar to Nick Maxwell ? Not White so much, more Rowe.
Prediction time. I reckon if Rowe has a good season in 2015, I won't be surprised to see him in the leadership group in 2016.
Wonder if Mick sees both or either of Rowe and White as something similar to Nick Maxwell ? Not White so much, more Rowe.
Prediction time. I reckon if Rowe has a good season in 2015, I won't be surprised to see him in the leadership group in 2016.
Would not be surprised, Rowe is a very solid citizen and could become a very good role model in the club.
Wonder if Mick sees both or either of Rowe and White as something similar to Nick Maxwell ? Not White so much, more Rowe.
Prediction time. I reckon if Rowe has a good season in 2015, I won't be surprised to see him in the leadership group in 2016.
Would not be surprised, Rowe is a very solid citizen and could become a very good role model in the club.
...and the sort of bloke who will push his way into the leadership group before being offered.
If ya reckon Rowe is a stop gap then you need to watch games more closely. Fantastic season and is an AFL key defender of size, mongrel and strength. We've been crying out for this for how many years now????
Good skill set, is hard & tough spoiler and very good mark. Got some confidence in the 2nd half of the year to go for some marks and did so finishing with over 100 marks for the year as did Casboult. Both came on very well IMHO! And its just the start!
Rowe is one of the first picked now IMO, White handy but ideally Jamiosn takes that 3rd role of 'assister' to two other bigger KPP down back. Maybe look at Beard from the SANFL or Frost from GWS.
If ya reckon Rowe is a stop gap then you need to watch games more closely. Fantastic season and is an AFL key defender of size, mongrel and strength. We've been crying out for this for how many years now????
Good skill set, is hard & tough spoiler and very good mark. Got some confidence in the 2nd half of the year to go for some marks and did so finishing with over 100 marks for the year as did Casboult. Both came on very well IMHO! And its just the start!
Rowe is one of the first picked now IMO, White handy but ideally Jamiosn takes that 3rd role of 'assister' to two other bigger KPP down back. Maybe look at Beard from the SANFL or Frost from GWS.
No bigger critic of Rowe than me at the start of the season. CHB is now his and it will take one hell of footballer to come along and take it off him now. I tips me lid to ya Rowey and eat a massive piece of humble pie.
Rowe should serve as an inspiration to the playing group. He needs to be in the leadership group next year!