Who will be our best-performed midfielder in 2014?

[Eastern Rangers]

Getting Selwood out into space is crucial. His defensive pressure around packs is excellent but he's a butcher when it comes to contested disposal.

Shuey had 8 contested possessions and four clearances from 14 disposals over three quarters, while Selwood had 6 contested possessions and 2 clearances from 29 disposals over four.

It will be interesting to see how far we can go without a genuine elite midfielder. Assuming that remains the case, we're going to have to play a pretty disciplined, hard-working style of pressure footy. That's where Selwood sets the standard.

Which is why Hutchings will be crucial.

 

[Dark Sharks]

I'd have to agree with Dargies call on this one. My vote goes to Selwood for our best performed in round 1

 

[Ian Dargie]

I'd have to agree with Dargies call on this one.

Clarity feels good.

Join me.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

Selwood was definitely good yesterday. Priddis not even close to best on field thankfully.

 

[Roobs321]

Masten has followed a similar trajectory to Rosa. There was a point there where Rosa improved about 10% for a few years in a row, and Masten is doing that right now.

Masten is clearly a bigger deal though.

 

[Ian Dargie]

There was a point there where Rosa improved about 10% for a few years in a row

I must have been out getting a snack at that point.

 

[Keys]

I must have been out getting a snack at that point.

That's a long snack

 

[Ian Dargie]

That's a long snack

I tried to eat the weight of my own awesomeness. It took me four years.

 

[Keys]

I tried to eat the weight of my own awesomeness. It took me four years.

Not surprised. Finding it would have been as elusive as the search for MH370

 

[Ian Dargie]

Not surprised. Finding it would have been as elusive as the search for MH370

You're right. Finding enough food to make the weight was hard.

 

[Xsess]

I'm shocked Lecras hasn't been flagged in this thread. For the first time in two years he's fit with a top pre-season under his belt. One of the classiest players we have, deadly around the sticks, creative around the ground and good overhead. Has noticably bulked up too. I reckon he's the smokey of our squad, could play up the ground as a deadly attacking midfielder. Already has on BOG to his name and 5 goals.

 

[Shupe]

If Shuey was a little more 'high volume' he'd be a shot. He's a goal kicker and can run and carry. But it seems like there are long patches where he's unsighted. He bobs up in the third quarter today and does a couple of great things - I had almost forgotten he was out there.

The other team certainly knew when he was around - you can't underrate that effect.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

I'm shocked Lecras hasn't been flagged in this thread. For the first time in two years he's fit with a top pre-season under his belt. One of the classiest players we have, deadly around the sticks, creative around the ground and good overhead. Has noticably bulked up too. I reckon he's the smokey of our squad, could play up the ground as a deadly attacking midfielder. Already has on BOG to his name and 5 goals.

As a purely offensive mid he could be quite good but his tackling is horrendous, even the smallest of players can break his tackles

 

[Milenko]

Lolwut? I'd say we're stuffed if LeCras is our best midfielder.

 

[Ian Dargie]

The other team certainly knew when he was around - you can't underrate that effect.

Turn it up.

We're not going to start rating midfielders based on whether 'the other team knows they're around'.

 

[Chris_6678]

I'm shocked Lecras hasn't been flagged in this thread. For the first time in two years he's fit with a top pre-season under his belt. One of the classiest players we have, deadly around the sticks, creative around the ground and good overhead. Has noticably bulked up too. I reckon he's the smokey of our squad, could play up the ground as a deadly attacking midfielder. Already has on BOG to his name and 5 goals.

Needs to play like that against the top 4 teams.

 

[Xsess]

Needs to play like that against the top 4 teams.

They all do.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Turn it up.

We're not going to start rating midfielders based on whether 'the other team knows they're around'.

They tagg him and not Scooter for a reason.

 

[Ian Dargie]

They tagg him and not Scooter for a reason.

So Shuey is better because he gets tagged?

 

[Eastern Rangers]

So Shuey is better because he gets tagged?

If being more influential and damaging with ball in hand makes you "better" then yes.

 

[Ian Dargie]

If being more influential and damaging with ball in hand makes you "better" then yes.

I don't think he's more influential.

 

[Xsess]

Our best performed midfielder will have to play most games and be in our top 5 or so players most weeks. Shuey has never done that.

 

[Roobs321]

Shuey always seems like an Essendon player to me. Always get premonitions of him as a bomber, he just looks and acts the part.

 

[Xsess]

As a purely offensive mid he could be quite good but his tackling is horrendous, even the smallest of players can break his tackles

Remember, he had a broken arm last year. The thing is we have the buffetting, defensive players like Selwood and Priddis, we need some flair on the outside. If our structures hold up, I can see Lecras killing it.

 

[Xsess]

Priddis not even close to best on field thankfully.

How does that work.. ? The more players close to best afield the better.