I've been saying for a few years that we have been obsessed with talls and midfielders - where all good teams start - has been an afterthought. It also seems like our midfield coaching hasn't been that good.
With limited list sizes it is dangerous to be so unbalanced.
Recent years we have carried some spots that which effectively reduced our list (Rioli for 2 years, Veneables) and losing some early to concussion hasn't helped either.
All that combined with rule changes hasn't helped. 6-6-6 has meant that Cripps can't tear inter the square like he did up to the rule change giving us an extra at the bounce. The Stand rule has killed off our zoning when we didn't have the ball as the man on the mark just gets run by with no pressure.
Our mids also seem to just bomb the ball into the fwd line hoping that one of the talls mark it - and we invariably have more players flying for it than the opposition and they spoil each other allowing them to have the loose defender run it out.
Kennedy doesn't have that leap any more and Allen has been injured. It is too easy to pick off and teams KNOW it is coming. Surely the Mids should demand a lead to kick to. Maybe play Ryan as a lead up (he does it occasionally)
(I realise some of the above isn't midfield which is what this thread is about)
With limited list sizes it is dangerous to be so unbalanced.
Recent years we have carried some spots that which effectively reduced our list (Rioli for 2 years, Veneables) and losing some early to concussion hasn't helped either.
All that combined with rule changes hasn't helped. 6-6-6 has meant that Cripps can't tear inter the square like he did up to the rule change giving us an extra at the bounce. The Stand rule has killed off our zoning when we didn't have the ball as the man on the mark just gets run by with no pressure.
Our mids also seem to just bomb the ball into the fwd line hoping that one of the talls mark it - and we invariably have more players flying for it than the opposition and they spoil each other allowing them to have the loose defender run it out.
Kennedy doesn't have that leap any more and Allen has been injured. It is too easy to pick off and teams KNOW it is coming. Surely the Mids should demand a lead to kick to. Maybe play Ryan as a lead up (he does it occasionally)
(I realise some of the above isn't midfield which is what this thread is about)