I don't understand why this bloke cops so much heat from supporters.
He hasn't played 50 games yet, mostly due to injuries, so we have only ever had glimpses of what he can do. But when fit he looks more than capable of mixing it with the best in the league.
For example, here is a head to head between White, Tuohy, Everitt and Casboult. Keeping in mind White and Tuohy play mostly back which naturally attracts less rating points.
FinalSiren (http://finalsiren.com/PlayerCompare.asp?SeasonID=&SelectedPlayers=2003,2293,2147,1767,&Compare=Go)
White's record doesn't justify the beating he cops!
I've always thought he was a pretty good player.
Has what most of our players lack.
MM Turning him into a tagger of mids is an interesting development as I clearly remember a former Carlton coach suggesting he had the tools (if not the tank) to be a mid fielder.
White has developed from a fill in the gaps guy to a very useful member of our team. He is not going to a champion: he is definitely a member of our 'role player' brigade. However, he is an honest performer who is still improving. We have a lot of guys who cannot claim that.
For a while I wondered if there was going to be a spot for him, especially as he was so plagued by injuries. However, he has shown that he deserves to be there. He has shown more intensity than Everitt, more nous than Casboult, and better disposal than Murphy. He has shown determination. There are plenty of guys with more talent who have done a lot less.
I've been on the White bandwagon for a while now. The reason is that he plays football the way it should be played...especially under Mick Malthouse.
You don't have to be blessed with the best football skills in the world, you just need to give your all and put your head over the ball and do what the coach asks of you. If the rest of our, more skilled, players did the same, we'd be finals bound.
I wasnt a fan but he has improved and is a good Indian to have on the list because he does apply himself to the task and gives honest effort.
Would be one of the first picked each week IMO and he would appeal to Mick as a versatile trouble shooter who the coach can play on a variety of players.
He is one of the few guys who can play on talls and smalls.
I've been a bit ambivalent about him in the past but I think now he has something very positive to offer - is he leadership material? Certainly from the way he applies himself he is.
For what we gave to get him it has been an inspired pickup.
He's the type of player some folk might say "You'll never win a premiership with Simon White in your side."
The fact is you don't win a premiership without a few of those type of players ;)
As long as you have the necessary number of A Graders as well Lods! ;)
Don't mind White, he brings both size and aggression which is something we lack. He's not going to do the right thing 9 times out of 10 no matter the circumstances though, which is something we sadly have in abundance.
With all these posts it's hard to work out where the negativity comes form.
One thing is for sure, based on these opinions, there should be quite a few others out the door before White! ;)
That is VERY harsh on the bloke.
I think what IOT was saying is he 'needs' to do the right thing nine times out of ten (meaning he's probably doing it 7-8 times out of ten ;))
Not that he 'doesn't' do the right thing nine times out of ten....which would be harsh (meaning he only does it one time out of ten) ;D
The folk who don't rate him haven't bothered to post . . . yet!
I think that White's biggest problem is that he is more often than not used to fill a gap and hasn't been allowed to settle into a role. His versatility is a strength but it's also holding him back.
I would play him as a lead up forward with spells in the midfield rotation.
@Kruds @Lods White is who he is, we don't have enough great decision makers and that makes it difficult to add guys who possess the hardness but not polish.
I reckon there been a subtle improvement in his play in the last half of 2014....it kind of co-incided with that 4 goal spell he had against the saints.
He's started this year well and I reckon we'll grow to appreciate him a bit more.
We'll wait and see.
If we look back over the decades of real final's contenders/and winners, you will find at least one or two Simon Whites. His skills, though not silk, are good... his courage is elite.
Evidence to his courage is that the bloke has come back from a serious neck scare (and Delidio decided to test this) and yet in the clinches does not flinch... that's a bloke I'd want to be in the trenches with me. All premiership sides have these blokes.
i agree, does not take a backward step. Upside is he will improve. With a club lacking in the cohunas dept, he is a shining light
You're only as good as your last game and White's was exceptional. I look forward to him reproducing the same standard throughout the year.
It's amazing when you think this guy could easily have been cut back in '11 or '12
Simon White is a decent size (190cm & 93kg) but over his career, has been used as a spare parts player. One week he would be used to fill a hole in defence, the next week in attack, the week after off the bench, there has been no consistency at all from the selection committee.
I've always maintained that unless a permanent role could be found for him, he was destined for the axe. Thankfully Malthouse has taken the time to re-evaluate White and found something for him to grab with both hands and look what's happened, he's revelling in the challenge.
Most premiership teams have 1 or 2 Simon Whites in them, players with limited skills but are capable of executing their role in an overall team-plan to perfection.
He is not a dud but he's not a 'great' player either, as Brother Elwood stated, he's a good "indian" because he follows the instructions well. He also has that big of mongrel about him which we sadly lack.
Overall, he isn't going to be the player you build a finals team around, but you can be assured that if you give him a dedicated role in the team, he won't let you down either.
I think one of White's best attributes is that, he doesn't give a stuff what you think! ;)
If only we had a few more players with his outlook, focussed on the football and not social media!
Never doubted him from the day he was drafted. Brettie too...
I do like him through the midfield because he does give us that mongrel we just don't have at the coal face.
If Hodge tried his crap on White he'd get four jumper punches to the bonce and get told to screw off.
Mate I'd love to see that!
He'd be elevated to legend status and would be an instant inclusion every week.
Damn straight :D
Had one absolute stinker that sticks in my mind against Essendon a couple of years back, which had me wavering momentarily, but apart from that, has done far more good than bad as part of our team. Just a good, honest trier, who can seriously play a bit & who has more than a tad of genuine toughness & mongrel about him. After Thursday night he adds yet another string to his bow.....can play forward, can play back & now can also play the run-with tagging role against gun midfielders. Invaluable member of our team right now.