Depth and quality in midfield = flag

[PendlePie]

Look at the two best teams this season:

Geelong
A Grade:
Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Selwood, Ling
B Grade:
Kelly

Hawthorn
A Grade:
Mitchell, Lewis, Sewell, Bateman, Hodge (when used as a mid)

The depth in their midfields is incredible. Ours at the moment stands as:

A Grade:
Swan, Pendlebury, Didak
B Grade:
Thomas, O'Bree

No secret that the teams with the best midfields are the ones that are flag contenders. No use having a good forward line unless we have a midfield that can win it's own ball and deliver accurately. Both teams have absolute hard-nut in-and-under players (Selwood and Bartel for the Cats, Sewell and Mitchell for the Hawks). Our hardest/most in-and-under midfielder as it stands is Shane O'Bree...

Imagine a midfield looking like this:

A Grade:
Swan, Pendlebury, Kerr, Didak
B Grade:
Thomas, #11 Draft Pick

The 4 A grade mids are all class and would bring us so much closer to a top 4 spot and a tilt at the flag. If we don't address this deficiency we'll keep finishing around 5-8th and not really challenging.

 

[thecig]

i had a terrible dream last night we decided to not pick ANY midfielders in this years draft... it made me very sad

 

[PieLebo87]

Look at the two best teams this season:

Geelong
A Grade:
Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Selwood, Ling
B Grade:
Kelly

Hawthorn
A Grade:
Mitchell, Lewis, Sewell, Bateman, Hodge (when used as a mid)

The depth in their midfields is incredible. Ours at the moment stands as:

A Grade:
Swan, Pendlebury, Didak
B Grade:
Thomas, O'Bree

No secret that the teams with the best midfields are the ones that are flag contenders. No use having a good forward line unless we have a midfield that can win it's own ball and deliver accurately. Both teams have absolute hard-nut in-and-under players (Selwood and Bartel for the Cats, Sewell and Mitchell for the Hawks). Our hardest/most in-and-under midfielder as it stands is Shane O'Bree...

Imagine a midfield looking like this:

A Grade:
Swan, Pendlebury, Kerr, Didak
B Grade:
Thomas, #11 Draft Pick

The 4 A grade mids are all class and would bring us so much closer to a top 4 spot and a tilt at the flag. If we don't address this deficiency we'll keep finishing around 5-8th and not really challenging.

Mate, Shane O'Bree is more of an A grade midfielder than Alan Didak. Didak is an elite forward who can pinch-hit in the midfield, thats about it.

I'd say Pendlebury is on the way to becoming an A grade midfielder, because he is nowhere near the level of the other A graders you just named. Swan is definitely up there, but even he is a bit suspect when it comes to disposal skills.

From an outsider's prespective, we don't have A grade midfielders but we've got plenty of younger midfielders with the potential to become A graders.

What we should aim at/hope for is-

2010-

A grade:
Pendlebury, Swan, Thomas, McCarthy, Clarke

B grade:
Davis, Wellingham, Cook

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I wouldn't rate Jordan Lewis as A-grade, TBH. He may make it one day.

 

[hellfire]

I wouldn't rate Jordan Lewis as A-grade, TBH. He may make it one day.

He is probably B+ for me.


I'd say ours are:
A ---- Swan, Didak, Davis.
B+ --- Pendlebury (should be A next year if he takes the next step)
B --- Thomas (should be at least B+ by end of 09), Clarke (could be anything, full-time midfield next year will show us).

 

[joefootylover]

Hawthorn's midfeild is not deep, its shallow, they have Mitchell, and that is it for A graders, because Hodge plays back, Sewell would be close because he is such a good tagger and gets so much of it himself, but he is not quite a star like Hodge, or Craf a few years back. They beet Geelong with a great gameplan, more accurate conversion and a sense of underdog self belief, but Geelong's midfiled is miles better and deeper, Ablett, Corey, Bartell and Selwood are A grade IMHO, Ling is the best tag in the bizness...

Hawthorns win is more like the Swans win over the Eagles a few years back, they had the weaker midfield, but won the contests and scrapped better on teh day.

 

[Heater39]

They also have plenty of hard-bodied tough nuts
e.g Ling, Bartel, Selwood, Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell, Lewis, etc

Who do we have? Probably Swan but thats it.

Pendles, Thomas, McCarthy, Wellingham, Cook all these types of players need to lock themselves in the weights room and stack on the weight so we can match the physicality of these sides.

No one in our side has the physical presence to intimidate opponents, hopefully Stanley can come good next year as he's got a good solid build.

 

[didaka]

This statement is so correct. We have to get some more quality midfielders into our football club with the way football is being played.

You really need to tick a few boxes on every player now. They have to be tough as well as good athletes. Yesterday showed if you're going to match the best teams nowadays you have to be tough.

 

[Seeks]

They also have plenty of hard-bodied tough nuts
e.g Ling, Bartel, Selwood, Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell, Lewis, etc

Who do we have? Probably Swan but thats it.

Pendles, Thomas, McCarthy, Wellingham, Cook all these types of players need to lock themselves in the weights room and stack on the weight so we can match the physicality of these sides.

No one in our side has the physical presence to intimidate opponents, hopefully Stanley can come good next year as he's got a good solid build.

That's why we are going to continue to struggle in the midfield.

If we are pinning our hopes on Stanley, then we are really in trouble.

Thomas is the one tho, toughness is under-rated a bit I think.

Please, please Dale DO SOMETHING!

 

[Brahma Bull]

We should give O'brien some stints in the middle. He is a big bustling player who shrugs off tackles well and he could be great there. No doubt he is a good defender, but he also could be the tough inside midfielder.

 

[Professor Knowall]

Look at the two best teams this season:

Geelong
A Grade:
Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Selwood, Ling
B Grade:
Kelly

Hawthorn
A Grade:
Mitchell, Lewis, Sewell, Bateman, Hodge (when used as a mid)

The depth in their midfields is incredible. ...

After not only yesterday (I thought he was unlucky not to get the Norm Smith), but also over the finals series, Xavier Ellis MUST be added to Hawthorns A Grade. He looks like he'll be an outright gun - and will be the best of the the lot.

 

[mdc]

After not only yesterday (I thought he was unlucky not to get the Norm Smith), but also over the finals series, Xavier Ellis MUST be added to Hawthorns A Grade. He looks like he'll be an outright gun - and will be the best of the the lot.

Over-reaction much? He can find the ball, and is a pretty neat user, but he's nowhere near the level of their other guys.

 

[cakewalk_1]

Mate, Shane O'Bree is more of an A grade midfielder than Alan Didak. Didak is an elite forward who can pinch-hit in the midfield, thats about it.

Just on that point (sorry to single that one out or your post). I don't think O'Bree is an A grade midfielder all together.
I think he has been good for the pies but that's all. Can't remember a game he has won for the pies off his own boot.

I know the stats say he leads our clearence. But slamming the ball on your boot towards your goals to a 50/50 is considered a clearence.

 

[Bay Pie]

Also, Straight kicking = flag.

Let's not forget the Cats flogged the Hawks in the middle in the 1st half and probably broke even in the 2nd half.

The Hawks just rarely let the Cats have a one on one contest in their back half.

This zone type defence is going to become the norm over the next few years so you will need to stock up on players with good footskills.

 

[Magpies United]

Mate, Shane O'Bree is more of an A grade midfielder than Alan Didak. Didak is an elite forward who can pinch-hit in the midfield, thats about it.

Just on that point (sorry to single that one out or your post). I don't think O'Bree is an A grade midfielder all together.
I think he has been good for the pies but that's all. Can't remember a game he has won for the pies off his own boot.

I know the stats say he leads our clearence. But slamming the ball on your boot towards your goals to a 50/50 is considered a clearence.

He said O'Bree is MORE of an A grade midfielder than Didak, which does not necessarily ean O'Bree is an A grade midfielder.

Read the second sentence, and you'll see exactly what Didak is at the moment.

 

[rickyp]

You can keep going back as well

West Coast
Judd Kerr Cousins - all big bodied strong players

Brisbane
Voss Black Lappin

Port
Burgoyne's Cornes'

You can even look at the ruckman

Ottens, Campbell, Cox, Sydney guy (can't remember his name...), Lade, Charman

Apart from maybe Campbell, Fraser would not even be half the player those ruckman were in their prime

 

[cakewalk_1]

He said O'Bree is MORE of an A grade midfielder than Didak, which does not necessarily ean O'Bree is an A grade midfielder.

Read the second sentence, and you'll see exactly what Didak is at the moment.

I did? hence why I wrote "Altogether" rather than comparing him to Didak.

 

[Magpies United]

I did? hence why I wrote "Altogether" rather than comparing him to Didak.

I agree O'bree is not a A grade midfielder altogether.

He is a better midfielder than didak, hence he is more of an A grade midfielder than didak.

That's what I think pielebo was trying to say.

 

[Dundalis]

Lewis is an A-grade midfielder. He's a tough in and under type with bullet left foot. He'd be our best mid if he were on our team. Pendles may or may not be better in the future, but right now I'd put him on top of any of our mids, including Swan. Didak is a great player, but he's a much better linking forward/wingman than he is a midfielder.

Hawthorn have a great midfield and ours doesn't even come close. I can't believe someone actually has Davis as an A-grade midfielder for us. We don't have one A-grade midfielder. Pendlebury isn't consistent enough yet to put in that category and as effective as Dane Swan can be, too often he undoes his good work with poor disposal. That flaw will always keep him from being a genuine A-grader. Pendles and Swan are both borderline A-graders but we don't have anyone genuinely cemented in that category. The Hawks also have much better quality versatile types rotating through their midfield than we do. We have a long, long way to go to get to the Hawks level of midfield depth and quality, much less Geelong.

 

[Axl the great]

While Midfeild depth is a part of what makes both Geelong and Hawthorn very very good sides the biggest asset of both teams is the fact that both sides are exremely hard at the man and ball all over the park.
In all positions both teams dont give you an easy kick and when all 22 players attack with such ferocity most weeks they will win because some opposition players will fall away and not want to be out there.
It is that sort of mentality and commitment you need from every player on the list and it should be demanded and expected not hoped for IMO.
Clarkson has done a stunning job in moulding this sort of mentality and expects it every week from his team, and for me he is the best coach going around bar none.

 

[PieLebo87]

I agree O'bree is not a A grade midfielder altogether.

He is a better midfielder than didak, hence he is more of an A grade midfielder than didak.

That's what I think pielebo was trying to say.

That was exactly what I was trying to say, although I'll admit when I typed it I assumed people might mis-interpret what I was saying, but its clear enough that I wasn't classifying O'Bree as an A-grade midfielder if I don't even rate Pendlebury as an A-grade midfielder YET.

As I said before, any Collingwood supporters that wanna throw up names like Davis, Didak and co as A-graders are kidding themselves because although they're some of our best midfielders, it doesn't make them A-graders in the AFL.

As I mentioned before, Swan is our closest A-grader, and even his disposal in general play is suspect, thus minimising his effectiveness as a potential A-grade midfielder.

 

[sirlothie]

Over-reaction much? He can find the ball, and is a pretty neat user, but he's nowhere near the level of their other guys.

He has just about closed the gap on Thomas now... 28 possessions in a winning GF side, even 3 votes in the Norm Smith voting. Might have overtook him with that... Daisy needs to find another level next year and more consistency.

 

[Kirby]

He has just about closed the gap on Thomas now... 28 possessions in a winning GF side, even 3 votes in the Norm Smith voting. Might have overtook him with that... Daisy needs to find another level next year and more consistency.

He was pretty good but he had 24 uncontested possessions and basically mopped up. I dont think he did much damage and didn't have any hurt factor. His direct opponents also got plenty of the ball (Selwood etc).

 

[mdc]

He has just about closed the gap on Thomas now... 28 possessions in a winning GF side, even 3 votes in the Norm Smith voting. Might have overtook him with that... Daisy needs to find another level next year and more consistency.

Thomas is no-where near the level of the Hawks' other guys either

Ellis is a very smart footballer, and played well in the granny, but until he gets a stronger body he won't fulfil his potential.

 

[sirlothie]

Thomas is no-where near the level of the Hawks' other guys either

Ellis is a very smart footballer, and played well in the granny, but until he gets a stronger body he won't fulfil his potential.

Although Ellis may stack some extra weight on, I suspect he will always be a weed. He just has one of those frail frames a bit like Ryan Houlihan and to some extent Thomas has the same build.

They will never be physically imposing like a Cooney or Millane who were born with more robust frames.