Analysis Midfield, Ruck and On-ball - A bull and some class? Depth ruck?

[JayJ20]

Inside mids. Contested players. Clearance. Big bodied. Grunt. In and under. Clean hands and below foot.

Plz

 

[Fear Boner]

Inside mids. Contested players. Clearance. Big bodied. Grunt. In and under. Clean hands and below foot.

Plz

Not under Dodoro mate

 

[yodellinhank]

Inside mids. Contested players. Clearance. Big bodied. Grunt. In and under. Clean hands and below foot.

Plz

Clean hands really sticks out as a big one.

 

[BrunoV]

I hope that yesterday emphasises for fans that we're not a Martin or Kelly away from being a challenger. I also hope that it brings the football department 'back to the drawing board'.

It would be a strange thing for a side like ours to continue to plug holes with veterans as though we are in touching distance of being able to do something meaningful.

 

[Knight Ryders]

Our next mids in line that look like (or already are) great are small in stature, ie Zerrett, Parish and McGrath. Definitely need some grunt midfielders to support these guys.

For those who have watched, how would you describe Mutch? Is he somebody who could fulfill this role?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Seagrave_Holmes]

Clean hands really sticks out as a big one.

I prefer inside mids that aren't afraid to 'get their hands dirty'.

 

[Doss]

I prefer inside mids that aren't afraid to 'get their hands dirty'.

To an extent, but I think clean hands is more pertinent to us. We have too many who are fumbly. Colyer is the worst offender but he's not alone.

 

[BrunoV]

Our next mids in line that look like (or already are) great are small in stature, ie Zerrett, Parish and McGrath. Definitely need some grunt midfielders to support these guys.

For those who have watched, how would you describe Mutch? Is he somebody who could fulfill this role?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's hard to say where Mutch finishes up because he's quite slight but I think he's grown quite a bit. He was 6-6'1 according to draft profiles but he's a fair bit taller than that now, I'd say 187cm to 188cm.

He is definitely a natural inside midfielder but I don't know if he is providing a whole lot of grunt at AFL level in the next 12 to 24 months.

 

[Seagrave_Holmes]

To an extent, but I think clean hands is more pertinent to us. We have too many who are fumbly. Colyer is the worst offender but he's not alone.

Was more indulging in a pun with my comment, I agree with what you are saying. Clean hands are better, we miss too many targets by hand.

 

[Yoda_]

I hope that yesterday emphasises for fans that we're not a Martin or Kelly away from being a challenger. I also hope that it brings the football department 'back to the drawing board'.

It would be a strange thing for a side like ours to continue to plug holes with veterans as though we are in touching distance of being able to do something meaningful.

That "negative conotation" I used earlier is even more apt.

We can either plug holes as we feel we are close to being a contender or we take a step backward in 2018 (and develop the kids we bloody well recruited) for a genuine crack in 2019 and onwards.

 

[Bomberbuzz1]

I'm backing our list to develop. However we need to land a gun midfielder to get us through the next 2 years as the upcoming midfielders at this stage are still a few years too young.
The biggest development needs to be the midfield, they need to defend or hold before they attack. Look at the 4 winners this weekend they all defend before attack. We looked one dimensional, we put way too much emphasis on first touch and when it comes to that type of pressure and the ball is jumping around like a hot potato we lost our midfield structure.
A lot of people have said it and I agree, all players with emphasis on the midfielders to develop their hands in the telephone booth; clean hands, flick the handballs around, ride the bumps and hold the structure until we can get it to the outside.

Additions to team over the offseason - trade in one prestige midfielder and to draft a mix of elite running wingers and defensive minded mids that can start their career through the backline.

 

[Laverde2Smack]

Our next mids in line that look like (or already are) great are small in stature, ie Zerrett, Parish and McGrath. Definitely need some grunt midfielders to support these guys.

For those who have watched, how would you describe Mutch? Is he somebody who could fulfill this role?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mutch is a good size for a first year player and is tough as nails. Long term he is a good inside prospect but he will always have the outside part to his game.

Clarke is most suited to being the bona fide inside bull dishing it out by hand. You just don't want him kicking it very often. He could end up a similiar type to Priddis.

Sent from my F3115 using Tapatalk

 

[Laverde2Smack]

It's hard to say where Mutch finishes up because he's quite slight but I think he's grown quite a bit. He was 6-6'1 according to draft profiles but he's a fair bit taller than that now, I'd say 187cm to 188cm.

He is definitely a natural inside midfielder but I don't know if he is providing a whole lot of grunt at AFL level in the next 12 to 24 months.

Mutch has a decent enough frame already. You don't have to be Josh Kennedy size to make it as an inside player.

Sent from my F3115 using Tapatalk

 

[ezard15]

I'm backing our list to develop. However we need to land a gun midfielder to get us through the next 2 years as the upcoming midfielders at this stage are still a few years too young.
The biggest development needs to be the midfield, they need to defend or hold before they attack. Look at the 4 winners this weekend they all defend before attack. We looked one dimensional, we put way too much emphasis on first touch and when it comes to that type of pressure and the ball is jumping around like a hot potato we lost our midfield structure.
A lot of people have said it and I agree, all players with emphasis on the midfielders to develop their hands in the telephone booth; clean hands, flick the handballs around, ride the bumps and hold the structure until we can get it to the outside.

Additions to team over the offseason - trade in one prestige midfielder and to draft a mix of elite running wingers and defensive minded mids that can start their career through the backline.

Unlikely to find an established gun midfielder.


On iPad using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Jivin Jackel]

IMO are clearly lacking two big inside midfielders. I know everyone talks about 'pace' but our inside work has been poor for most of the year. You would imagine the club would be hopeful Lav and Langford would take those two positions up next year. A Rockliff would improve our midfield quite considerably.

With McGrath playing further up the ground (potentially taking Coyler's spot) and Kelly's retirement, we will need to find two mid-sized defenders. Hopefully a Ridley, Francis, Redman or Dea can fill at least one of those roles well. We really cannot afford to lose McKenna in the offseason.

I think our forward line worked quite well this year overall. Hooker helps straighten us up and Stewart improved during the year. Our small forwards worked well and I would be playing young Begley over Green. If we picked up a Crameri, he would be competing with Stewart for the third tall role and long term I think it would be better to stick with Stewart. I wouldn't be against bringing in a young tall forward to develop.

Unless something radical happens over the preseason, I can't see us improving dramatically next year and I would expect to finish between the 6-12th.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Big body mids and more defense.

 

[Killer_Mike]

This is a great read and this is why all this talk about drafting and trading for inside midfielders never makes sense to me.

The head coach of the Patriots talks about doing the opposite to what everybody else was doing so that he was maximising the quality on his list and creating gameplans/tactics around that.

Clarkson is the obvious example of an AFL coach that is doing that.

If everybody is creating contested/tackling football then e need to be creating speed. Why do the same as everybody else....

For the record I like the strategy we are currently using in building a midfield that can rotate all around the ground rather than a contested based midfield like Sydney and most other teams. It may not be paying dividends right now but it will.

http://www.sportingnews.com/au/nfl/...t-picks-new-england/2temew6x7a0g13jpr4227l5uv

 

[eth-dog]

If you look at the 22 that ran out on Saturday (plus, Hooker and say, Langford for Kelly and Watson) who's in the core, or "locks" in the 22?

Hurley, Parish, McGrath, McKenna, Gleeson, Hooker, Merrett, Heppell, Daniher, Raz, Walla, Goddard, Zaharakis

What sticks out to me is that:

1. It's very young
2. It's very light

With that core we have 12 players that will play another 4 or more years at the club. If we can address the big bodied issue (which with Clarke, Langford, Laverde, Francis and Begley I think we can) we'll be much better placed in 2-3 years time

 

[BrunoV]

This is a great read and this is why all this talk about drafting and trading for inside midfielders never makes sense to me.

The head coach of the Patriots talks about doing the opposite to what everybody else was doing so that he was maximising the quality on his list and creating gameplans/tactics around that.

Clarkson is the obvious example of an AFL coach that is doing that.

If everybody is creating contested/tackling football then e need to be creating speed. Why do the same as everybody else....

For the record I like the strategy we are currently using in building a midfield that can rotate all around the ground rather than a contested based midfield like Sydney and most other teams. It may not be paying dividends right now but it will.

http://www.sportingnews.com/au/nfl/...t-picks-new-england/2temew6x7a0g13jpr4227l5uv

Your perception of Sydney is interesting and may by why, with respect, you just don't get it.

Heeney and Parker could have careers as permanent forwards. Mills could spend a career at half back. Zak Jones plays defence and mid and is genuinely quick.

If Hannebery and Jack are one dimensional ball winners they run harder, faster and longer than any midfielders we have.

Of the other players who run through the middle and from the flanks on Saturday, Lloyd, McVeigh, Cunningham are all elite runners. Papley has some speed.

They have one player who is a genuinely one-paced, one-dimensional ball winner and he's also their best mid.

 

[Killer_Mike]

Your perception of Sydney is interesting and may by why, with respect, you just don't get it.

Heeney and Parker could have careers as permanent forwards. Mills could spend a career at half back. Zak Jones plays defence and mid and is genuinely quick.

If Hannebery and Jack are one dimensional ball winners they run harder, faster and longer than any midfielders we have.

Of the other players who run through the middle and from the flanks on Saturday, Lloyd, McVeigh, Cunningham are all elite runners. Papley has some speed.

They have one player who is a genuinely one-paced, one-dimensional ball winner and he's also their best mid.

Lol, I dont get it!

Maybe you should ask yourself why Hawthorn always beat them, and in GF when it matters most!

Sydney are as overrated as your posting!

 

[BrunoV]

Lol, I dont get it!

Maybe you should ask yourself why Hawthorn always beat them, and in GF when it matters most!

Sydney are as overrated as your posting!

I was responding to a discreet point. You're saying that Sydney has a one dimensional ball winning midfield that can't do anything else (or words to that effect). That's based on media commentary which attributes structural holes in a zone caused by a largely 1v1 game plan for a lack of speed.

It's also not without a heavy dose or irony that you're citing Hawthorn as the team that doesn't need inside mids 12 months after it sold the farm for two one-dimensional inside mids who genuinely only play the one position.

That Clarkson and Hawthorn pick apart Sydney's game plan, and Longmire cannot adopt his preferred 1v1 style to cope, is another matter entirely. Pity for Hawthorn that they don't play Sydney 25 times a year.

 

[Killer_Mike]

I was responding to a discreet point. You're saying that Sydney has a one dimensional ball winning midfield that can't do anything else (or words to that effect). That's based on media commentary which attributes structural holes in a zone caused by a largely 1v1 game plan for a lack of speed.

It's also not without a heavy dose or irony that you're citing Hawthorn as the team that doesn't need inside mids 12 months after it sold the farm for two one-dimensional inside mids who really only play the one position.

That Clarkson and Hawthorn pick apart Sydney's game plan, and Longmire cannot adopt his preferred 1v1 style to cope, is another matter entirely. Pity for Hawthorn that they don't play Sydney 25 times a year.

Two midfielders last year? That confirms to me that JOM and Mitchell weren't there when the Hawks won the three GF's in a row.

I get the impression that you don't get to a lot of games!? I often find with your commentary that it is all about contested ball and that usually indicates somebody that watches a lot of TV.

My point is and still remains that premiership sides are created not from copying what others do but blazing your own trail.

 

[Jivin Jackel]

Two midfielders last year? That confirms to me that JOM and Mitchell weren't there when the Hawks won the three GF's in a row.

I get the impression that you don't get to a lot of games!? I often find with your commentary that it is all about contested ball and that usually indicates somebody that watches a lot of TV.

My point is and still remains that premiership sides are created not from copying what others do but blazing your own trail.

If you watch the games live or at home or even just look at the numbers we are one of the worst sides in the competition for clearances, contested football and tackles. It something we have to address in the off-season regardless of how we play.

 

[TheGrizz]

Two midfielders last year? That confirms to me that JOM and Mitchell weren't there when the Hawks won the three GF's in a row.

I get the impression that you don't get to a lot of games!? I often find with your commentary that it is all about contested ball and that usually indicates somebody that watches a lot of TV.

My point is and still remains that premiership sides are created not from copying what others do but blazing your own trail.

That got personal quickly. Maybe just play the ball and not the man.

I get your point though that consistently good sides are always changing. I follow the NFL closely and agree that New England is the pinnacle of organizational adaptation. They change/adapt their gameplan better than anyone else in the comp.
But there are also non negotiables in the NFL that all good teams have to have to win.
Stong o-line play, ability to pressue opposition quarterbacks, and perhaps importantly a gun QB (such as brady) is a strong theme in basically all NFL champions of perhaps the last 20 years. Yes the peripherals or the means change, but there are some fundamentals thatcmust remain constant.

In the same way what Bruno (i think) was trying to say was yeah, change your gameplan. Go from the 2012 swans slingshot to the 13-15 hawks possession domination to the 16 doggies manic pressure and handball. But one thing that is constant in all flag winning teams is contested ball and tackling. You dont do that in finals then you lose. SYDNEY is the best at it, but like Bruno said its not all they can do, basically all their mids can play secondary positions really well.
And hawthorn? Yeah they may not have great CP and tackle numbers in the regular season, but you watch the 14-15 grand finals amd tell me Hawthorn didnt come out with an intent to smash them at the contest. The hawks mugged sydney in the contest in 2014 and did the same to WCE in 2015.

You have to do it to win a flag, and so we need to build that contested area as well as trailblaze with our gameplan.

 

[Lore]

Yeah, let's be like Hawthorn, so we can beat Sydney and miss finals altogether