Is Pav up to playing in the middle a whole game?

[332docker]

Our biggest problem seems to be the midfield. We seem to have heaps of people who can work up forward and down back, but not in the middle.

I reckon we would do well to get Pav back into the middle if he's up to it, to help out all the young blokes and get the middle of the ground back on track.

Seems a bit obvious, but we've got Campbell and Murphy who can play up forward in his place, and the way he comes out of the middle and kicks goals i reckon he'd still be on track to leading goal scorer if he played middle for the rest of the year...

Just a thought, like to hear what others think??

[fat wombat]

I disagree, I think our biggest problem is down back, and presenting targets on the wing. Especially in the final quarters. Perhaps Pav could be used in the final quarters in a Richo like role.

[raffrox]

We need five Pavs. If he's on the wing we lack authority in the forward 50.

Robbibg Peter to pay Paul.

[Lach72]

We need five Pavs. If he's on the wing we lack authority in the forward 50.

Robbibg Peter to pay Paul.

I agree.

Seasons shot...we need to keep developing the mids we have...

[PapaJ]

Our biggest problem seems to be the midfield. We seem to have heaps of people who can work up forward and down back, but not in the middle.

I reckon we would do well to get Pav back into the middle if he's up to it, to help out all the young blokes and get the middle of the ground back on track.

Seems a bit obvious, but we've got Campbell and Murphy who can play up forward in his place, and the way he comes out of the middle and kicks goals i reckon he'd still be on track to leading goal scorer if he played middle for the rest of the year...

Just a thought, like to hear what others think??

Especially if Tarrant is up and firing like he has been the last couple of weeks, then Pav in the middle is even more feasible. But the real problem for mine in the middle, especially when the opposition get some momentum, is defensive pressure - unfortunately I don't see Pav helping in that regard. Mind you, if he's busting his way through there & clearing the ball it may not matter. Can't see him doing it for a whole game though. The amount he did it today (and it was a fair bit), is about his max IMHO.

[Chops_a_must]

Especially if Tarrant is up and firing like he has been the last couple of weeks, then Pav in the middle is even more feasible. But the real problem for mine in the middle, especially when the opposition get some momentum, is defensive pressure - unfortunately I don't see Pav helping in that regard.

I think that is the biggest problem. We seem to have so many midfielders that like to work forward of the play, all wanting glory. But it's harder to win the ball the other way. And it is something we are missing. Belly used to be one of the best exponents of the "two way running" in the league, but as he gets towards retirement, someone needs to fill that gap.

[PapaJ]

I think that is the biggest problem. We seem to have so many midfielders that like to work forward of the play, all wanting glory. But it's harder to win the ball the other way. And it is something we are missing. Belly used to be one of the best exponents of the "two way running" in the league, but as he gets towards retirement, someone needs to fill that gap.

Exactly. You can add an 'in form' Carr to Bell in that regard too. Pav will give you some clearances because he's such a big strong body, and he'll always be at a contest because he's so fit. But when a contest opens up and/or the ball goes to ground, he becomes like many of our guys, an an outside offensive mid watching the play. I know I'm over generalising, but that's the sort of midfield role Pav plays AFAICT.

[Dusty Lee]

Pavlich is the best player you have got. You need to build a side around him. Start a 5 year plan recruiting youth not has beens. Get rid of Mcmanus, Bell , Farmer and the rest of the dead wood in your side. Don't recruit has beens, try and build a premiership not buy one.

If Bell isn't in his last year in AFL football then he's in his second last, he wont be around when you are ready to win a flag so get rid of him.

Change the culture of your side, starting with your name Dockers, most sides have that are either preditorial or graceful. Dockers needs to go. With a name like Dolphins or Pirates and Fremantle still keep a maritime theme. Also you could start cashing in on your nickname as Levis has the patent on the word dockers so Fremantle can't print it on any clothing and must miss out on a fortune in merchandise. Get rid of the anchor coz its weighing you down and where in the hell did purple come from, if you thought of Fremantle football and colours before the Dockers started it was Red, white and Blue.

Fremantle you need to make whole sale changes across the board and now is the time to stand up and be counted.

[Chops_a_must]

Pavlich is the best player you have got. You need to build a side around him. Start a 5 year plan recruiting youth not has beens. Get rid of Mcmanus, Bell , Farmer and the rest of the dead wood in your side. Don't recruit has beens, try and build a premiership not buy one.

If Bell isn't in his last year in AFL football then he's in his second last, he wont be around when you are ready to win a flag so get rid of him.


I think everyone knows this. Most of all everyone to do with the club.

The problem is, there is a limit to how many players you can recruit. There were 10 changes to the list last year. That's massive in anyone's language. It will most likely be the same again this year.

If we get rid of every single old player on our list, we run the risk of exposing players to dangers that would normally not be acceptable. We just don't have enough young guys to play. Simple. I'd say we will be looking to trade a lot of hacks for low draft picks, and looking at players with a few years in the WAFL to fill the gaps with those picks. Ballantyne to replace farmer would be a good start as well.

[Avid_Avenger]

I think Pav needs to keep playing the same role he's playing now. We'd lose potency up forward if he played midfield permanently and it would result in us being less direct.

The only thing I'd change is when Pav goes on to the ball I'd like to be a proactive action rather than a reactive one. I think it tends to give the opposition confidence if Pav goes in there to arrest a run on. I thought they worked it a little better against the Blues and he sometimes went into the square after we kicked a goal which was good to see.

The main problem with our midfield is that, except for Palmer, Ibbo, Pav and to a lesser extent Solly, our mids are all reactive - they don't try to make the play, they try to stop the opposition getting the clearance which is a hopeless way to go about it.

At nearly every clearance our midfielders are flat-footed which just allows the opposition to shark Sandi's taps and get a quick handball/kick forward or out to a breaking player. I don't know what German is doing as midfield coach but why doesn't someone tell them they need to be proactive at stoppages?? They need at least one player trying to snare the ball at speed...

Not having Hase, Des and Josh certainly doesn't help around the stoppages and clearances but IMO that just shows how average Schammer, Peake, Macca etc are becoz we're left to rely on two rookies to get the job done in their absence...

[Chops_a_must]

One thing that has changed this year is that Soli is very rarely in the middle at bounces.

At the end of last year under Harvey, he would be in there for the initial bounce at the start of the game, and sometimes throughout the game, and then immediately would run to a flank. That's something I would like to see again.

I'm not exactly sure why they haven't thought of doing that.

[Avid_Avenger]

One thing that has changed this year is that Soli is very rarely in the middle at bounces.

At the end of last year under Harvey, he would be in there for the initial bounce at the start of the game, and sometimes throughout the game, and then immediately would run to a flank. That's something I would like to see again.

I'm not exactly sure why they haven't thought of doing that.


He has been in there each game but I agree not enough.

Against Melbourne he was the only one who could clear the ball and only Solly could have busted a tackle to get the ball to Pav for his 70m goal that day...

It might be an engine thing but I'd say its more likely a personnel thing. Becoz of our unreliable players, Solly (like Pav) is the kind of guy Harvs wants all over the ground - someone he can rely on to win the ball 90% of the time when in a contest.

Harvs had obviously decided we had a deficiency in our back line at the start of the game and for one of the rare occasions since crossing to Freo, Solly spent some time down back. I think he may have swapped roles with Thornton for the first quarter or so.

Then of course we needed him further up the ground coz we were getting pantsed around our half forward line...

We simply need more players who can be relied on to win their positions!

[kiroshi]

Pavlich is the best player you have got. You need to build a side around him. Start a 5 year plan recruiting youth not has beens. Get rid of Mcmanus, Bell , Farmer and the rest of the dead wood in your side. Don't recruit has beens, try and build a premiership not buy one.

If Bell isn't in his last year in AFL football then he's in his second last, he wont be around when you are ready to win a flag so get rid of him.

Change the culture of your side, starting with your name Dockers, most sides have that are either preditorial or graceful. Dockers needs to go. With a name like Dolphins or Pirates and Fremantle still keep a maritime theme. Also you could start cashing in on your nickname as Levis has the patent on the word dockers so Fremantle can't print it on any clothing and must miss out on a fortune in merchandise. Get rid of the anchor coz its weighing you down and where in the hell did purple come from, if you thought of Fremantle football and colours before the Dockers started it was Red, white and Blue.

Fremantle you need to make whole sale changes across the board and now is the time to stand up and be counted.

oh thanks great west coast oracle of truth. we will drop everything and comply to your suggestions right now!

[DCFCFAN84]

Pav is by far a superior Forward to a Midfielder. Besides we need a player like Hasleby that can go in and under get the ball and clear it Pavlich can't do that as good of a player he is he is far more suited too play Forward.