Is the age of the ‘big bodied mid’ over?

[qwertyboy]

Like everything in life things evolve and right at this moment in 2024 on the dawn of a brand new season are we seeing big bodied mids go the way of the dinosaur? For years we have seen big bodied mids put on the top the mountain for recruiting and trading but now it seems in a twist the game which has been so kind to them has past them by? Watching cripps tonight look like an old schools full forward lost back tracking into defence it really hit that the dream of having a 194cm 100kg workhorse might be over. No speed no agility but undeniable smarts and contested work just doesn’t seem to cut it in 2024. Wines, cripps being pushed to the wayside by contemporaries that are inches smaller and kilos lighter but so much more likened to the new age game.

 

[00Stinger]

Cripps has had one good year in the last 4.

Bad example

 

[liz]

Dunkley’s doing fine. He’s a big bodies mid. Wait for Green to dominate tomorrow.

One player not having his best game does not make a trend.

 

[qwertyboy]

Dunkley’s doing fine. He’s a big bodies mid. Wait for Green to dominate tomorrow.

One player not having his best game does not make a trend.

Dunkley has taken a back seat and become a role player practically.
Green is a 22 year old with unbelievable ability and power at the moment. The shelf life of a Tom green is sadly about 5 years till he becomes useless

 

[Mofra]

A lot of the talking head media types think Bontempelli is the best player in the game

 

[And_ROOS]

Petracca?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Nah. Players will keep getting bigger just like they have been for 150 years.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

A lot of the talking head media types think Bontempelli is the best player in the game

Yeah, odd thread.

 

[kreuze_missile]

No, it’s not.

Kind regards,
Carlton’s midfield

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Isn't everyone described as 'big bodied' these days?

I can't really think if a small bodied midfielder off the top of my head.

 

[Shane Heard]

I think so. I think we’ve all been reminiscing about Kouta for way too long and meanwhile 6’1 mids have been chopping it up for 25 years.

Ground ball gathering skills are the key.

And parish and Zac (in an Essendon perspective) say ..you don’t need a giant in there around the packs.

Bont an exception. No one can bring him down in the clinches.

 

[And_ROOS]

Thread aged like milk instantly. Cripps was super important tonight for Carlton and without him they don't come back and win.

 

[Shane Heard]

A lot of the talking head media types think Bontempelli is the best player in the game

But he is. From a pure Australian rules footy perspective.

He is literally unstoppable because he’s a giant and highly skilled.

He breaks free and his kicking is sublime.

 

[Shane Heard]

Thread aged like milk instantly. Cripps was super important tonight for Carlton and without him they don't come back and win.

True. Cripps is a big friggin unit of a man.

He used to be a boy. Now he’s a massive bulldozer that no one can rake down.

Always gives off the pill.

 

[LordLucifer]

I feel that the age of the big-bodied mid hasn't ended just yet but agree that is now a greater focus on the regular sized midfielders purely because there is more of them around.

 

[Obeanie1]

Geez I hope not.

My mob twouldnt go near them for years........but that changed and its all they draft these days.

And talls.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

And parish and Zac (in an Essendon perspective) say ..you don’t need a giant in there around the packs.

You haven’t won a final since forever.

To declare that small mids are enough because Essendon have some is weird.

 

[Truckosaurus]

The Eagles have finally started drafting some so probably, yeah.

 

[WillHayward]

Like everything in life things evolve and right at this moment in 2024 on the dawn of a brand new season are we seeing big bodied mids go the way of the dinosaur? For years we have seen big bodied mids put on the top the mountain for recruiting and trading but now it seems in a twist the game which has been so kind to them has past them by? Watching cripps tonight look like an old schools full forward lost back tracking into defence it really hit that the dream of having a 194cm 100kg workhorse might be over. No speed no agility but undeniable smarts and contested work just doesn’t seem to cut it in 2024. Wines, cripps being pushed to the wayside by contemporaries that are inches smaller and kilos lighter but so much more likened to the new age game.

I'm old enough to remember when everyone said Koutoufides was the "prototype"

 

[WillHayward]

But he is. From a pure Australian rules footy perspective.

He is literally unstoppable because he’s a giant and highly skilled.

He breaks free and his kicking is sublime.

He is the best. But so was Koutoufides.

Other top players in AFLCA votes are Neale, Rozee, Butters, Daicos, Serong, Merrett, Gulden.

AFL Coaches Association Votes Leaderboard: Zak Butters earns 2023 honour | Sporting News Australia

Each week, all 18 AFL coaches give out 5,4,3,2,1 votes as they see fit.

www.sportingnews.com

The idea that tall big bodied mids will dominate the game is a homoerotic fantasy not based in fact or data.

 

[gandaal]

Next time maybe wait until the match is over before starting a thread.

 

[Kenny Hunter09]

Geez there are some stupid reactive threads started on this site…but this one would have to be the all time champion

 

[WillHayward]

You haven’t won a final since forever.

To declare that small mids are enough because Essendon have some is weird.

Ok but not sure the Pies, Tigers, Cats or Demons have any massive beast midfielders and they all just won flags.

 

[WillHayward]

s**t canning Cripps I don't like.

He is obviously an absolute gun.

Simplifying things to size isn't smart. Each individual has their own attributes that balance out.

I think it's silly to talk about dinosaurs.

Also silly to say small blokes can't make it in the "modern" game when we see blokes like Butters, Nick Daicos and Gulden dominate.

 

[Blue1980]

Cripps has had one good year in the last 4.

Bad example

Err Cripps was pretty good last year and played finals with busted ribs.

Went ok tonight too.