AFL Player #32: Ben "Buckets" McKay

[VelvetSledge]

Contract: Unrestricted Free Agent 2029
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 30, Dave

 

[Donflicted]

were people booing draper because of the set shot routine? If thats the case man some of our fanbase really suck.

i dont boo but i groaned when i first saw it

 

[Zach Package]

were people booing draper because of the set shot routine? If thats the case man some of our fanbase really suck.

I wasn't there in rd 2 but Draper's snap kicks got a full on ovation last night, I think everyone's worked out it quintuples his accuracy inside 50 lol

Audible groaning, and it seems like Draper has acknowledged it as well

 

[supportyourteam]

The people Bronx cheering him are ****ing losers and fake fans. Dude needs confidence and you're not helping..

He had a better second half when he moved off Georgi

Wasn't derision The cheer) at all. More like clapping when a child takes a first step. It was just happy.

 

[craffles]

Wasn't derision The cheer) at all. More like clapping when a child takes a first step. It was just happy.

It was 1000% a Bronx cheer and it was putrid. Especially as the bulk of it came from the members section.

 

[supportyourteam]

My eyes and ears got it different. (was on level 3 Coventry end right in front of the mark. Had my seat removed from the members. Too one eyed in there.) It was surprise then cheer where I was. Those saying whatever is troubling Harry is troubling Ben as well, could be onto something in it. Persist.

 

[Petrify]

Big F U to the haters tonight from McKay. Almost BOG for us. Didn't lose a single 1 on 1, got back to help as an extra number and killed those contests and he also completely blanketed JVR.

 

[naraku]

He earned every dollar tonight. Excellent game.

 

[craffles]

Love this

 

[Im New]

Big F U to the haters tonight from McKay. Almost BOG for us. Didn't lose a single 1 on 1, got back to help as an extra number and killed those contests and he also completely blanketed JVR.

With the money he’s on isn’t that expected? Credit where credit is due, but about bloody time.

 

[windyhill]

Nice Benny. Nice. **** you norf.

 

[theboxmike]

He did what we expect him to do, keep it up Benny.

 

[yodellinhank]

With the money he’s on isn’t that expected? Credit where credit is due, but about bloody time.

You must be new

 

[P Money]

The problem is he's playing better cos we took him off Georgiades, we brought him in thinking his a lock down defender but he's actually a 3rd man intercepting backman like ridley (minus the assured disposal). It's not his fault, we didn't do our homework. Good thing is reid has done really well since going to georgiades

Is there any evidence the club brought him in thinking he's a lockdown defender? Or is that from fans and the media who see he's a big guy and start drawing their own conclusions? He's always been more of an intercept player than a lockdown defender - (can't believe I'm saying this but) I have more faith in the club than to be as simplistically stupid as our fans and the general footy media.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Is there any evidence the club brought him in thinking he's a lockdown defender? Or is that from fans and the media who see he's a big guy and start drawing their own conclusions? He's always been more of an intercept player than a lockdown defender - (can't believe I'm saying this but) I have more faith in the club than to be as simplistically stupid as our fans and the general footy media.

Yeah I think a couple of others have responded with that too, fair enough. I think he's a very good interceptor and looked his best early last season when Lav was playing the main lockdown role.

 

[P Money]

Yeah I think a couple of others have responded with that too, fair enough. I think he's a very good interceptor and looked his best early last season when Lav was playing the main lockdown role.

I'd assume the plan is that with McKay, Reid and Ridley we'd have three tall defenders who can take a man when they need to but can also peel off and take intercept marks. Two of those three also have exquisite disposal by foot (no guesses which two), so in theory (if they can all stay on the park and the mids/fwds can do their job and pressure the ball coming in) they should be a lethal combo for years to come.

 

[Happyskeret]

I know this sounds a bit mad scientist but I wouldn’t mind mid career they do the Cale Hooker

26

Cale Hooker

Age

36

Ht

198cm

Wt

103kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.2

4star

K

8.2

3star

HB

8.0

5star

M

6.3

5star

T

1.8

4star

MG

213.6

3star

D

11.8

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

6.0

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

0.8

1star

MG

107.0

2star

D

14.6

4star

K

3.2

2star

HB

11.4

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

4star

switcharoo! With him.

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

I know this sounds a bit mad scientist but I wouldn’t mind mid career they do the Cale Hooker switcharoo! With him.

Apparently Norf tried it and it was a disaster.

 

[Happyskeret]

Apparently Norf tried it and it was a disaster.

Fair enough. It’s just a thought. It’s his slow movement that worries me. You can get away with it in the forward line with good positioning. I think in the backline he has been exposed a couple of times. Hopefully it’s due to his lack of fitness.

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

Fair enough. It’s just a thought. It’s his slow movement that worries me. You can get away with it in the forward line with good positioning. I think in the backline he has been exposed a couple of times. Hopefully it’s due to his lack of fitness.

I do think he looked much better on the weekend, admittedly against one of the worst forward lines in football. While West Coast are also a terrible team, they've actually got some fire power in the forward line, so will be a good test to see if Buckets can continue to build on last week's game.

 

[bombersim]

Played better against poor opposition, which hopefully it gives him confidence.
My main concern with Mackay is that he always has poor body language, and looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. I am genuinely unsure if he likes playing football, or if he just does it for the money. Looks like he would rather be anywhere else but on the field.

I think he would be a very different player if we could unlock a greater enjoyment of the game, and help him to be more assertive / dominant.
I’d show him Alex Rance

Alex Rance

Age

35

Ht

194cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

7.7

5star

M

5.7

5star

T

2.4

4star

MG

226.9

3star

No current season stats available

D

17.0

5star

K

5.8

3star

HB

11.2

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

3.6

5star

and Michael Hurley

18

Michael Hurley

Age

34

Ht

193cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

0.9

3star

MG

389.3

5star

D

16.5

4star

K

11.8

5star

HB

4.7

3star

M

6.3

5star

T

0.3

1star

MG

301.2

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.0

4star

(in his first all Australian year), and get him to replicate it.
Things like body spoiling, and controlling an area. I.e. splitting packs etc, rather than apologising for existing.

He was good, but I think he can be better, so I’d like to see a bit more.

 

[jmoo wan]

Played better against poor opposition, which hopefully it gives him confidence.
My main concern with Mackay is that he always has poor body language, and looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. I am genuinely unsure if he likes playing football, or if he just does it for the money. Looks like he would rather be anywhere else but on the field.

I think he would be a very different player if we could unlock a greater enjoyment of the game, and help him to be more assertive / dominant.
I’d show him Alex Rance and Michael Hurley (in his first all Australian year), and get him to replicate it.
Things like body spoiling, and controlling an area. I.e. splitting packs etc, rather than apologising for existing.

He was good, but I think he can be better, so I’d like to see a bit more.

i think it’s moreso he’s weighed down by Harry’s troubles and burdens - you know because he’s a twin

 

[doug85]

Why are there no norf ****wits invading this thread this week?

Oh right, because he played well and they’re very upset by that

 

[bombersim]

i think it’s moreso he’s weighed down by Harry’s troubles and burdens - you know because he’s a twin

Yep. The phantom limb.

I’m not sure how long Harry has had his troubles, but to me what I see in Ben has been pretty consistent for a few years, rather than just being present this year. So, not really sure just how intertwined they are emotionally, but hopefully they can both find happier days.

 

[yodellinhank]

Apparently Norf tried it and it was a disaster.

What if someone else tries it? Think of Friday Night Footy