Midfield Dominance

[_Wang_]

I am absolutely pumped about the how strong our midfield will become.
Coupled with Hardwicks insistance on relentless defensive pressure, we are laying the foundation of something beautiful here fellow Tigerheads.
Dont look back in anger but gaze forward to the Powerhouse we will become.

 

[nugget_12]

Lets just hope we dont lose Axel from that midfield!

Otherwise i agree, we will have a extremely good midfield!

 

[coke_zero]

If we get another mid at pick 6, Chances are they will become atleast a solid player. But we are finally getting some quality depth into our midfield. And Deledio is just going to add even more depth if he goes back into the midfield.

 

[TigerTime88]

I am really like our midfield. Imo midfields win premierships coupled with a half decent defence and forward line. We have a coleman medailst down forward he just needs some mates and we have a nice looking backline that is coming together but gee the midfield is awesome.

Cotchin: Absolute class player who will be our captain. Good inside and outside will be copping the number 1 tag.

Martin: Cotch's number 2. I want to see him get more outside ball and build a tank and he will be a gun player.

Deledio: Imo could be the best of the three. I know people love him on the HBF and I do too but I can see him being a midfielder for most of his career. The guy has a great shoe can run and will now have support. He never had Cotch and Foley around to take the heat and protect him around the ball. Honestly believe he will be destroying teams for the next ten years with the other two.

Foley: I pray to god that he doesn't get traded to Geelong because even if we get pick 11 it will not equal a Foley like player. The guy was our best player for a good 2 years. The other thing is he has always copped a tag along with Deledio and will be amazing without having anyone follow him around. The other thing is he is our best clearance and even though last year we were one of the best in the league in the clearances he barely played. Cannot wait to see his influence with the other three next year.

Morton: I think he will be the guy that can make it to the same level as the other three. He has some serious talent and I am stoked with his move. I think he is the outside player that we need. The port game showed how damaging he can be as a wingman having 28 touches and three goals. His ball use will be greatly appreciated by one Jack Riewoldt.

Pick 6 (Jarrod Polec) - Having this kid on the other wing or even a HFF and rotating on ball for the first few years will be awesome. Raking left shoe he is our own version of Stephen Hill.

Edwards - Is a good depth midfielder and provdes some good run.

Grigg - Will take Tuck's position in the side. I was initally disspointed that we traded Collins but I am very happy with his inclusion. He is an upgrade on Jackson and will replace Tucky over the years because he is getting to the end of his career.

Tuck/Jackson = depth mids...harsh on Tucky probably not depth but I am talking long term.

This midfield looks potent and will take us where we need to go....loving life.

 

[Rustof]

Yep agree with Amrce. Also IMO Morton is what Collins would probably have been anyway, and i'd much rather Morton in that role than Collins. He's a beautiful set shot if he needs to go forward and he is a much bigger body for the contested ball.

 

[Cutty]

definitely think we are building something really good here

If pick 6 is used on the best available player it will be a mid also

i know that you are confident we will take polec amcre but i am hoping we get caddy or smith, super p***** off at bris for chopping heppel

 

[Dustin Credible]

I am really like our midfield. Imo midfields win premierships coupled with a half decent defence and forward line. We have a coleman medailst down forward he just needs some mates and we have a nice looking backline that is coming together but gee the midfield is awesome.

Cotchin: Absolute class player who will be our captain. Good inside and outside will be copping the number 1 tag.

Martin: Cotch's number 2. I want to see him get more outside ball and build a tank and he will be a gun player.

Deledio: Imo could be the best of the three. I know people love him on the HBF and I do too but I can see him being a midfielder for most of his career. The guy has a great shoe can run and will now have support. He never had Cotch and Foley around to take the heat and protect him around the ball. Honestly believe he will be destroying teams for the next ten years with the other two.

Foley: I pray to god that he doesn't get traded to Geelong because even if we get pick 11 it will not equal a Foley like player. The guy was our best player for a good 2 years. The other thing is he has always copped a tag along with Deledio and will be amazing without having anyone follow him around. The other thing is he is our best clearance and even though last year we were one of the best in the league in the clearances he barely played. Cannot wait to see his influence with the other three next year.

Morton: I think he will be the guy that can make it to the same level as the other three. He has some serious talent and I am stoked with his move. I think he is the outside player that we need. The port game showed how damaging he can be as a wingman having 28 touches and three goals. His ball use will be greatly appreciated by one Jack Riewoldt.

Pick 6 (Jarrod Polec) - Having this kid on the other wing or even a HFF and rotating on ball for the first few years will be awesome. Raking left shoe he is our own version of Stephen Hill.

Edwards - Is a good depth midfielder and provdes some good run.

Grigg - Will take Tuck's position in the side. I was initally disspointed that we traded Collins but I am very happy with his inclusion. He is an upgrade on Jackson and will replace Tucky over the years because he is getting to the end of his career.

Tuck/Jackson = depth mids...harsh on Tucky probably not depth but I am talking long term.

This midfield looks potent and will take us where we need to go....loving life.

It's looking promising, but I think you undersell Jackson a bit, and overrate Edwards.

In my mind I've split them into 3 tiers of ability.

Tier 1:
Cotchin,Martin,Foley,Deledio (when he plays there)

Tier 2:
Grigg,Jackson,Tuck,Morton

Tier 3:
Edwards(potential to get to tier 2), a big gap then the rest that we've tried in the middle.

(for the record I thought Collins was in the same bracket as Edwards)

Not sure yet, whether Houli is tier 2 or 3. If one of Grigg or pick 6 can end up in tier 1 and Houli/ Edwards can end up in tier 2 (replacing tuck...yes I know different types of players), then we have sufficent quality and quantity in the midfield to play finals and they're all of an age that their best is still ahead of them.

I'm beginning to understand our drafting stratergy should it all eventuate.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

It's looking promising, but I think you undersell Jackson a bit, and overrate Edwards.

In my mind I've split them into 3 tiers of ability.

Tier 1:
Cotchin,Martin,Foley,Deledio (when he plays there)

Tier 2:
Grigg,Jackson,Tuck,Morton

Tier 3:
Edwards(potential to get to tier 2), a big gap then the rest that we've tried in the middle.

(for the record I thought Collins was in the same bracket as Edwards)

Not sure yet, whether Houli is tier 2 or 3. If one of Grigg or pick 6 can end up in tier 1 and Houli/ Edwards can end up in tier 2 (replacing tuck...yes I know different types of players), then we have sufficent quality and quantity in the midfield to play finals and they're all of an age that their best is still ahead of them.

I'm beginning to understand our drafting stratergy should it all eventuate.

How to rate Houli is as simple as where would you rate Hislop
Or Polo ?

 

[Mr Magic]

How to rate Houli is as simple as where would you rate Hislop
Or Polo ?

Jackson is T3 and Houli T4or T5 ATM

 

[folester41]

if morton puts in performance like the one in round 22, our midfield will go to the next level.

 

[bigstyletiger]

Morton is a massive plus in the equation at the moment. After the form he showed in the last few rounds and with a preseason as a midfielder under his belt we may have unearthed another gun mid. Realistically he could got to tier 1.

Houli is an interesting one. Not sure you can rate him yet until he gets a good run at it. In our side, playing outside mid he is going to receive very little attention and his combination of ball finding ability and excellent left foot disposal could make him a very dangerous player for us.

If we do add a mid at 6 it really could be a very deep midfield with potentially 6 tier 1 players in: Cotch, Martin, Foley, Deledio, Morton, Pick 6

 

[tiggywigs]

Not only talented, but tough. We are on our way to being feared again.

 

[Tigersman]

How to rate Houli is as simple as where would you rate Hislop
Or Polo ?

I think he has both Hislop and Polo covered. He will gather 20 a week for us. No gun but will be in our best side I reckon.

 

[eays]

on potential, and yes, i know its a dirty word, but Dan Connors is definately tier one.

Also, Morton is also a potential Tier 1 without doubt. Since day 1 when he was drafted by WCE, i said he needed to be pushed to become a midfielder. WCE didnt do it and neither did Wallet. No single act that Dimma has done has given me greater faith in him as a coach as him refusing to accept Morton as a mere HFF and pushing him to become a mid (yeah i know, people will say MM went to him to ask, but thats all part of the coaching equation, knowing how to motivate blokes, knowing what roles are not required and saying "hey if you want to be part of the future, these are the roles we need, you decide if you can fill them")

 

[The Rusty Trombone]

I am absolutely pumped about the how strong our midfield will become.
Coupled with Hardwicks insistance on relentless defensive pressure, we are laying the foundation of something beautiful here fellow Tigerheads.
Dont look back in anger but gaze forward to the Powerhouse we will become.

Totally agree Wang. Every Saturday at 2pm next year the big question will be choosing between the Hellicopter and the Octopuss and and what speed or hand to use as it is raining Tiger goals.

I've got a 22 gallon drum of Johnson & Johnsons on order. I bought it off eBay from a European company called Tiagra.

 

[_RT_]

Was just having a look at the list as it stand and there is some real size about the midfield starting to develop.

Grigg - 190cm 84kg
Tuck - 189cm 90kg
Jackson - 188cm 92kg
Deledio - 188cm 88kg
Martin - 187cm 86kg
Morton - 186cm 86kg
Connors - 186cm 83kg
Cotchin - 185cm 85kg
Edwards - 182cm 79kg
Nason - 179cm 75kg
Foley - 178cm 80kg

Then there is also Houli 180cm 85kg to come.
Average: 184cm 84kg. Like I said some real size being assembled in the midfield. This should enable us to go much deeper into quarters with regards keeping up the pressure in the midfield. Depedning on who we add in the draft we could have another couple of players in the 180-190cm range. Another summer in the gym and the strength/weight should improve, which will have me feeling more confident of our midfields ability to go into battle with group of hardened bodies rather than skinny kids that get pushed around too easily. Its taken time but its coming together nicely.

 

[_Wang_]

Totally agree Wang. Every Saturday at 2pm next year the big question will be choosing between the Hellicopter and the Octopuss and and what speed or hand to use as it is raining Tiger goals.

I've got a 22 gallon drum of Johnson & Johnsons on order. I bought it off eBay from a European company called Tiagra.

I will 'numbing up' my left hand exactly 55 minutes after the black nail polish I applied has dried to a high gloss and performing a tantric sherman tank on myself with the only break coming at half time...

 

[tigs2010]

Was just having a look at the list as it stand and there is some real size about the midfield starting to develop.

Grigg - 190cm 84kg
Tuck - 189cm 90kg
Jackson - 188cm 92kg
Deledio - 188cm 88kg
Martin - 187cm 86kg
Morton - 186cm 86kg
Connors - 186cm 83kg
Cotchin - 185cm 85kg
Edwards - 182cm 79kg
Nason - 179cm 75kg
Foley - 178cm 80kg

Then there is also Houli 180cm 85kg to come.
Average: 184cm 84kg. Like I said some real size being assembled in the midfield. This should enable us to go much deeper into quarters with regards keeping up the pressure in the midfield. Depedning on who we add in the draft we could have another couple of players in the 180-190cm range. Another summer in the gym and the strength/weight should improve, which will have me feeling more confident of our midfields ability to go into battle with group of hardened bodies rather than skinny kids that get pushed around too easily. Its taken time but its coming together nicely.

pick 6 is a mid in that range...not heppell...not gaff....not atley. but yes some very impressive size coming along.

 

[Michaels]

Was just having a look at the list as it stand and there is some real size about the midfield starting to develop.

Grigg - 190cm 84kg
Tuck - 189cm 90kg
Jackson - 188cm 92kg
Deledio - 188cm 88kg
Martin - 187cm 86kg
Morton - 186cm 86kg
Connors - 186cm 83kg
Cotchin - 185cm 85kg
Edwards - 182cm 79kg
Nason - 179cm 75kg
Foley - 178cm 80kg

Then there is also Houli 180cm 85kg to come.
Average: 184cm 84kg. Like I said some real size being assembled in the midfield. This should enable us to go much deeper into quarters with regards keeping up the pressure in the midfield. Depedning on who we add in the draft we could have another couple of players in the 180-190cm range. Another summer in the gym and the strength/weight should improve, which will have me feeling more confident of our midfields ability to go into battle with group of hardened bodies rather than skinny kids that get pushed around too easily. Its taken time but its coming together nicely.

^^^ this

For too long now we have been skinny runts, getting bumped and thrown around like rag dolls. Its sensational to see some bulk in the middle. Seeing Martin bashing and crashing is something that most of us arent used to seeing.

The last bash and crash player i remember (although he was more a basher and a horrid footballer) was Tim Fleming.. I loved watching that guy, he never took a backwards step.

 

[Azzleberry]

pick 6 is a mid in that range...not heppell...not gaff....not atley. but yes some very impressive size coming along.

????? Hmmm...
Polec? He is tall but very skinny...
If it is a surprise (As you hint) are you talking about Darling??

 

[tigs2010]

????? Hmmm...
Polec? He is tall but very skinny...
If it is a surprise (As you hint) are you talking about Darling??

nah not its not polec. vic kid as well...smaller than darling

also i dont actually know who player is. just info about him.
discussed with few other posters and we think maybe caddy? not sure

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Yeah Caddy would be great at Tigerland, I reckon he could turn into one of the better players of the draft.

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Just did a bit of research on Caddy, this is my analysis on him.

Postives.
- Reads the ball well, picks it up very well.
- Great tackler.
- Lots of courage, took a fantastic mark.
- Smart footballer, knows where the ball will go before it gets there.
- Busts through packs, not with the intensity of Martin, but has some grunt.

Negatives.
- Kicking is questionable, from the video on youtube, doesn't really hit a target, kicks into advantage of his teammates.


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgS3FSF5N_g

Watch: 4.35, 2.23

 

[Azzleberry]

Just did a bit of research on Caddy, this is my analysis on him.

Postives.
- Reads the ball well, picks it up very well.
- Great tackler.
- Lots of courage, took a fantastic mark.
- Smart footballer, knows where the ball will go before it gets there.
- Busts through packs, not with the intensity of Martin, but has some grunt.

Negatives.
- Kicking is questionable, from the video on youtube, doesn't really hit a target, kicks into advantage of his teammates.


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgS3FSF5N_g

Watch: 4.35, 2.23

Agree with a lot of the above.. First though when I saw him is that he plays very much like Foley..
Kid is a clearance machine, gets the ball and takes off running through the pack. Once he gets strong in the hips. he will be a very good player. The highlights show him banging the ball long a lot but once he gets on a list, I think that will disappear... Is a Vic Kid as well which the recruiters have been keen on in the last few drafts..
Only concern is that he is not really an outside mid, which is our taget. More a clearance king.. Although if him and Grigg come into the side, Cotchin will be allowed to play outside...

 

[bigstyletiger]

Agree with a lot of the above.. First though when I saw him is that he plays very much like Foley..
Kid is a clearance machine, gets the ball and takes off running through the pack. Once he gets strong in the hips. he will be a very good player. The highlights show him banging the ball long a lot but once he gets on a list, I think that will disappear... Is a Vic Kid as well which the recruiters have been keen on in the last few drafts..
Only concern is that he is not really an outside mid, which is our taget. More a clearance king.. Although if him and Grigg come into the side, Cotchin will be allowed to play outside...

Dimma stated we needed outside mids before Mitch Morton staked a claim and we recruited Grigg (versatile wingman/half back/mid) and signalled our intentions with Houli (outside mid)

Adding Caddy to Cotch, Martin, Foley, Jackson, Tuck would almost give us the ability to out play Sydney at their own game. Cotch and Martin aren't shabby on the outside either and I think Caddy has the skill and speed to add an outside component to his game. Can also go forward and has a lot of Bartell about him.

I really like it. The Cats midfield is/was predominantly hard nuts: Bartell, Ablett, Chapman, Corey, Selwood, Kelly, Ling but all 7 of those guys can use the footy and be dangerous on the outside perhaps with the exception of Corey, who is predominantly inside and Ling who is just slow. Looking at the Cats outside mids: Byrnes and Varcoe recently stepped up but it's not as if they had a Dale Thomas, Dal Santo or Stephen Hill in their side when they were winning flags.