Drafting skillful midfielders

[David_Hilley#19]

Trotter is absolutely worth a punt. He's a lovely kick, and would fit in well to the midfield gang.

Freo's Ryley Dunn is another who's very talented and has had a horrible run with injuries. Contracted til the end of next year but if his luck keeps up, he could be another one who's worth adding to the mix. He's a Vic boy and supported the Dons as a kid.

What type of injuries has he had??

 

[ant555]

What type of injuries has he had??

Knee,hammy and collarbone just to name a few.

 

[tomcitizen]

I actually played with Ryley as a junior and he was never an injury whore then. He's a really solidly built player - has pace and a good leap, too - and I reckon his injuries are more bad luck than anything else.

I don't reckon his body is the twig sort that gives way easily; if anything his hardness at the ball may see him cop more than average. He played the first two senior matches immediately after being drafted (in 04) since his body was ready for it straight away.

I reckon Given the talent (and the fact that it's a bad run with injuries as opposed to a body that can't keep up) he is worth looking at.

It's all hypothetical anyway, since he's a year away from being out of contract.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

I said this in another thread but if we don't trade this year and get some ready made players to add depth to the midfield we'll struggle to play finals in the next 3 years.

 

[SOT4]

I said this in another thread but if we don't trade this year and get some ready made players to add depth to the midfield we'll struggle to play finals in the next 3 years.

Like Campo and Heff hey?

We lack a Hodge/Judd/Ablett in our midfield right at the moment but by 2009 it could be anything. The hard runner in stanton, established, skillful, clearance player in Watson plus the speed of winderlich are already the foundations. Add in the fact that we will most likely have at least one of JJ, Campo, or Pev to add experience. Players like Nash, Hislop, Houli, Dempsey, Jetta, Lovett, plus our first draft pick this year which is liekly to be a mid, are where our midfield is going to come from. If we trade for another ready made depth player it will only take away a position for one of these youngsters.

Trading for a young midfielder such as Prismall could be a good move but our finals aspirations hardly rest on this possibility.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Like Campo and Heff hey?

We lack a Hodge/Judd/Ablett in our midfield right at the moment but by 2009 it could be anything. The hard runner in stanton, established, skillful, clearance player in Watson plus the speed of winderlich are already the foundations. Add in the fact that we will most likely have at least one of JJ, Campo, or Pev to add experience. Players like Nash, Hislop, Houli, Dempsey, Jetta, Lovett, plus our first draft pick this year which is liekly to be a mid, are where our midfield is going to come from. If we trade for another ready made depth player it will only take away a position for one of these youngsters.

Trading for a young midfielder such as Prismall could be a good move it our finals aspirations hardly rest on this possibility.

Campo and Heff are the problems along with JJ, Dyson and Pev.

We need to add a player in the 20-25 age group that will push the likes of JJ and Pev out..... Prismall is one, Brent Reilly another.

Our finals aspirations this year have been dealt a blow because Hird, Winderlich, Davey, Stanton and the like have suffered injuries and the replacements were not up to it.

The older champions will not get better next year. Hird will be gone. Pev and JJ will be on their last legs. It's a bit much expecting Houli, Hislop, Dempsey, Jetta to come in and provide that support.

It's basically trade or we'll be another version of Richmond.

 

[SOT4]

Campo and Heff are the problems along with JJ, Dyson and Pev.

I was being sarcastic sorry should have used the . Campo and Heff were brought in to add to the depth of our midfield, much like what you're suggesting. As you can see it hasn't worked and most people here are outraged whenever they are selected.

The older champions will not get better next year. Hird will be gone. Pev and JJ will be on their last legs. It's a bit much expecting Houli, Hislop, Dempsey, Jetta to come in and provide that support.

You said we need to trade to make the finals in the next three years. I don't see why it is ridiculous to expect kids a few of the four you mentioned to be a part of our midfield by 2009, and definitely by 2010. In addition there is Nash who is starting to show why he is so highly rated, and even Dyson who has shown some improvement recently, although your thoughts on him are clear. Hocking has shown promise from our rookie list as well. The loss of Hird will hurt but our three best midfielders in stanton, watson, and winderlich all have masses of improvement to go.

Trades for superstar midfielders just dont happen that much anymore, and while it may be possible to get one young mid who is alright like Prismall it really isn't going to be what will gain us a finals place.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I reckon Jarrod McVeigh would be a good get if we could offer something decent to Sydney. The fact that his brother plays for us may also be an advantage.

 

[RED AND BLACK SOLDIER]

I reckon Jarrod McVeigh would be a good get if we could offer something decent to Sydney. The fact that his brother plays for us may also be an advantage.

What/where would we use him in the team?

 

[dave_27]

tagger.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

What/where would we use him in the team?

He could be used as a tagger, but I reckon also has the potential to win plenty of the ball (he has a massive tank) at the clearances and even play up forward ( a bit like his brother).

 

[RED AND BLACK SOLDIER]

tagger.

But that's Slatts position ATM, and if we need a 2nd tagger/backup we can just use M.McVeigh. Surely we wouldn't use 2 taggers in the one game, we have to do some attacking through the middle.

 

[Tambu]

But that's Slatts position ATM, and if we need a 2nd tagger/backup we can just use M.McVeigh. Surely we wouldn't use 2 taggers in the one game, we have to do some attacking through the middle.

Amazingly against Collingwood, we had Didak, Swan and even Thomas covered but the pies still had Davis up their sleeve to slot through 4 goals for the arvo.

In some cases 2 taggers won't cut it.

 

[KING-JAMES]

I thought McVeigh played his best game for Sydney on the weekend. Maybe if he played at a club that gavce him more freedom he could excel. At Sydney he plays under that strict get numbers around the ball gameplan.

 

[Merv]

I thought McVeigh played his best game for Sydney on the weekend. Maybe if he played at a club that gavce him more freedom he could excel. At Sydney he plays under that strict get numbers around the ball gameplan.

And that was part of the reason why collingwood easily accounted for us in the first half

J.McVeigh is ok, but i'm not sure if he is that good

 

[David_Hilley#19]

as i said in a different thread: What about young colin Sylivia he goes hard at the ball. Skillful, and can take a good grab.

 

[bomberandy]

Trotter is absolutely worth a punt. He's a lovely kick, and would fit in well to the midfield gang.

Freo's Ryley Dunn is another who's very talented and has had a horrible run with injuries. Contracted til the end of next year but if his luck keeps up, he could be another one who's worth adding to the mix. He's a Vic boy and supported the Dons as a kid.

Reckon we could get Dunn for Bradley or Johns? Maybe going back home would help Johns or Bradley

 

[J.Hetfield]

Reckon we could get Dunn for Bradley or Johns? Maybe going back home would help Johns or Bradley

Wouldnt do that trade...

We need to poach Rivers or M.Johnson or Mundy.. Get some good defensive talls. Staker would be nice but it wont happen. Would add another forward dimension tho..

 

[David_Hilley#19]

Wouldnt do that trade...

We need to poach Rivers or M.Johnson or Mundy.. Get some good defensive talls. Staker would be nice but it wont happen. Would add another forward dimension tho..

Our backline is not so much our weakness it is one of our stronger points. If we are going to trade then we should look at midfielders!!

 

[RED AND BLACK SOLDIER]

Our backline is not so much our weakness it is one of our stronger points. If we are going to trade then we should look at midfielders!!

In a few years it probably won't be with Fletch and Mal retiring.

 

[David_Hilley#19]

In a few years it probably won't be with Fletch and Mal retiring.

Paddy and co. look like they will be able to cover our backline but we will nedd others!!

 

[RED AND BLACK SOLDIER]

Paddy and co. look like they will be able to cover our backline but we will nedd others!!

Of course, and to me, it doesn't really look like we've got many decent options to replace them. That's why we will have to trade for one or get one in this years draft or the next and hope they come on quickly.