List Mgmt. Future Midfield

[Psicosis]

TBH I'm really flat on what our midfield group looks like in a couple years. This coupled by the inevitability that we likely take a KPD (DGB) with one of our 2x first rounders - There is also talk of us trading with our other first rounder for a Papley type. I honestly see this as an incomprehensible mistake by our list management, and we must draft at least 2 high quality midfielders in the 2020 draft.

If you dissect our midfield group:

Top Tier Midfielders: Cunnington (29, great player however will be going down hill in 2 years time), Higgins (32, could very well be playing only forward in 2 years time), Jy (22, has proven this year that he is our next & only future star mid), LDU (21, has about as much upside as anyone on our list however he remains a big IF).

Top Tier Wing-man: Polec (27, his best is excellent and should continue to improve over the next 2-3 years), Dumont (25, a few on here have mixed feelings about Froggy however I rate him, if you don't rate him then this is only an indication of how average our midfield stock is as he's our 2nd best in this category), Scott (20, I rate Bailey really highly, he's obviously far from a guarantee).

Top Tier Forward/Potential Midfielders: Thomas (20, Star however unknown if he will become a consistent midfielder), Zurhaar (22, Shown very good signs as a forward, however unknown if he will become a consistent midfielder), Taylor (20, Star however unknown if he will become a consistent midfielder).

Fringe/Unknown/Mid Tier Midfielders: Ahern 23, Bonar 21, Anderson 26 (All could be solid contributors, however I don't have the confidence to say that they have shown enough to play in a top 4 midfield).

Ruckman: Goldstein (32, Star, is he going to play till he's 35 though?), Xerri (21, too early to tell)

Now... What person in their right mind could look at that midfield group and think "That side will definitely be challenging for top 4 and a premiership in 2-3 years time?

Draft Mids, FFS Draft Mids.

 

[Moti]

TBH I'm really flat on what our midfield group looks like in a couple years. This coupled by the inevitability that we likely take a KPD (DGB) with one of our 2x first rounders - There is also talk of us trading with our other first rounder for a Papley type. I honestly see this as an incomprehensible mistake by our list management, and we must draft at least 2 high quality midfielders in the 2020 draft.

If you dissect our midfield group:

Top Tier Midfielders: Cunnington (29, great player however will be going down hill in 2 years time), Higgins (32, could very well be playing only forward in 2 years time), Jy (22, has proven this year that he is our next & only future star mid), LDU (21, has about as much upside as anyone on our list however he remains a big IF).

Top Tier Wing-man: Polec (27, his best is excellent and should continue to improve over the next 2-3 years), Dumont (25, a few on here have mixed feelings about Froggy however I rate him, if you don't rate him then this is only an indication of how average our midfield stock is as he's our 2nd best in this category), Scott (20, I rate Bailey really highly, he's obviously far from a guarantee).

Top Tier Forward/Potential Midfielders: Thomas (20, Star however unknown if he will become a consistent midfielder), Zurhaar (22, Shown very good signs as a forward, however unknown if he will become a consistent midfielder), Taylor (20, Star however unknown if he will become a consistent midfielder).

Fringe/Unknown/Mid Tier Midfielders: Ahern 23, Bonar 21, Anderson 26 (All could be solid contributors, however I don't have the confidence to say that they have shown enough to play in a top 4 midfield).

Ruckman: Goldstein (32, Star, is he going to play till he's 35 though?), Xerri (21, too early to tell)

Now... What person in their right mind could look at that midfield group and think "That side will definitely be challenging for top 4 and a premiership in 2-3 years time?

Draft Mids, FFS Draft Mids.

It can turn quickly, guess we have to trust in the new list team. If one of Bonar or Ahern can make the step up that would be a great start. I think Walker will join the rotation next year and with potentially two top 10 picks, we should be able to get at least one additional resource into the mix as of next year. Equally important is the flanks, particularly getting movement of HB which supplements the midfield strategy.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

I would have thought a starting trio of 24 year olds in Jy, LDU and Thomas in the centre square would be the best balanced mid field we have had for along time in terms of pace, skill and 2 way running.

You add Walker, Bailey plus hard heads in Jed, Kyron and CZ then it has depth as well. Plus I expect Mahoney and CT to do stints in there.

Adding another mid field prospect in the draft this year or next year as a top 10 pick will top it off nicely.

Not having a top ruck wont be an issue then as those mids will win their own ball - a bit like when Clarke Keating rucked for the Lions. We can always find a journeyman ruckman.

As you say the wings re fine - Polec will still be here as will Dumont/Bailey.

The mids and to a lesser extent forwards are not our chief concerns - defence is.

In 3 years time we will need to replace Taz - while Walker has been good but he needs to sustain it and that was his problem at previous clubs - sustaining his form over a full season.

A high quality KPD - via FA or draft - is the one essential position we must fill in next 18 months - FA preferred as we need to keep our good picks.

Even if Perez comes on we will still need another 2-3 hbf's - ideally with a balance of kicking and stopping skills.

 

[GarnerSmash]

I agree, we need quality mids, and lots of 'em.


LDU and Simpkin our best bets for long term top echelon types, with Scott likely and Dumont and Anderson role players.

Zurhaar, Taylor, Thomas, Walker, Hayden etc will be rotational at best.

Ahern and Bonar I give about 5% chance of being what we need them to be.


I would like for us to go get Phillips and Hollands with our current picks, if possible snare another late 1st early second for Ford or Maher maybe, dunno enough. Get KPD's with later picks.

Then get another early pick next year, draft a mid.


Another thing, if we were to build a really strong midfield with depth in rotations and exciting players on the flanks, wouldn't it then be easier to then attract good KPP's via FA?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Won’t matter how good our mids are if we don’t have a replacement for Taz.

We’re seven shades of ****ed once he finishes up.

 

[Pykie]

I don't understand why you are flat.

I think Simpkin at 22 looks a whole lot better than Cunnington and Ziebell did at 22.

I'd argue he looks as good a 22 year old midfielder as we've had since the 70's.

I think we all agree he's going to offer a different dimension to what we've had in the last 15 odd years and he's definitely someone we can build the midfield around.

I'd hope with what we have in Simpkin and potentially two very high draft picks also injected onto the list this year, ontop of LDU & TT, we look to have a far better potential midfield than any point in the past 20 years.

Will Phillips would be a genuine Cunnington replacement.

 

[Psicosis]

I don't understand why you are flat.

I think Simpkin at 22 looks a whole lot better than Cunnington and Ziebell did at 22.

I'd argue he looks as good a 22 year old midfielder as we've had since the 70's.

I think we all agree he's going to offer a different dimension to what we've had in the last 15 odd years and he's definitely someone we can build the midfield around.

I'd hope with what we have in Simpkin and potentially two very high draft picks also injected onto the list this year, ontop of LDU & TT, we look to have a far better potential midfield than any point in the past 20 years.

Will Phillips would be a genuine Cunnington replacement.

Yeah Jy is great. My point is that it is pretty unclear after that. LDU & TT are great prospects, but will they become A grade midfielders? I don't think anyone can say yes with absolute confidence, yet.

Phillips & O'Driscoll/Hollands will put us in a really good position. Use our 2nd on a defender.

 

[Pykie]

Yeah Jy is great. My point is that it is pretty unclear after that. LDU & TT are great prospects, but will they become A grade midfielders? I don't think anyone can say yes with absolute confidence, yet.

Phillips & O'Driscoll/Hollands will put us in a really good position. Use our 2nd on a defender.

We also didn't know who was going to replace Simpson, Rawlings, Harro, Harvey at the time either.

Jack and Cunnington averaged 20 disposals a game at the same age as Jy, they definitely weren't slam dunk A graders and in Jack's case never was.

Higgins was a Bulldog at the time as well.


We could pick up Zac Williams as a FA with the intention of him being a HBF'r, he might end up a mid for us, like he showed in the 2019 final series.

Plenty of things can and will change.

 

[Psicosis]

We also didn't know who was going to replace Simpson, Rawlings, Harro, Harvey at the time either.

Jack and Cunnington averaged 20 disposals a game at the same age as Jy, they definitely weren't slam dunk A graders and in Jack's case never was.

Higgins was a Bulldog at the time as well.


We could pick up Zac Williams as a FA with the intention of him being a HBF'r, he might end up a mid for us, like he showed in the 2019 final series.

Plenty of things can and will change.

Yeah.. My point really is that the midfield becomes the priority from a list management perspective.

 

[The Nostradamus]

LDU Simpkin Bonar should be our centre bounce preference

 

[GarnerSmash]

We also didn't know who was going to replace Simpson, Rawlings, Harro, Harvey at the time either.

Jack and Cunnington averaged 20 disposals a game at the same age as Jy, they definitely weren't slam dunk A graders and in Jack's case never was.

Higgins was a Bulldog at the time as well.


We could pick up Zac Williams as a FA with the intention of him being a HBF'r, he might end up a mid for us, like he showed in the 2019 final series.

Plenty of things can and will change.

Plenty can change, but one thing is for sure, we need to maximise our potential to have a top shelf midfield, which is something that we have not had in a looooooooong time. Certainly not this century. One sure thing, some likely things and some rotations ain't gonna cut it. I'm all for another four first round mids being brought onto the list. If we need to skim the bottom to make it happen, then so bit it.

 

[shinboner magic]

Draft mids and the defenders won’t be under as much pressure as they have been.

LDU Simpkin Bonar should be our centre bounce preference

Bonar has never been able to accumulate at any level - so he’s a big big if.

 

[Psicosis]

Taken from Knightmare Phantom...

2. Will Phillips

Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 179cm, 78kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-10

Rationale: Impact for Oakleigh during the 2019 finals series was comparable to last year's top-two selections Matthew Rowell and Noah Anderson.

Strengths:

First possession winner at stoppages, contested ball-winning, tackling, acceleration with ball in hand, endurance, production

Weaknesses:

Kicking consistency, unclear versatility, scoreboard impact

3. Finlay Macrae

Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-10
Rationale: Younger brother of Western Bulldogs star Jack, Finlay is a mirror image of his older brother in the way he moves and plays. He also finds the ball just as easily.

Strengths:

Class and composure in traffic, evasion, agility, speed, distribution by hand, clean ball user, production, improving contested ball-winner, improving inside midfield craft

Weaknesses:

Unclear versatility, scoreboard impact

4. Elijah Hollands

Best position: Midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 188cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Projected draft range: 1-10
Rationale: If not for an ACL injury, would be in the No. 1 mix and may have been No. 2 on this board otherwise.

Strengths:

Damaging both forward and through the midfield, high impact per possession, makes quick and sound decisions with ball in hand, moves the ball on quickly, takes ground balls on the move at speed, agility, evasion, avoids tackles in traffic, takes on the game aggressively with his run, long-range goalkicker, kicking penetration and hurt factor, composure under pressure, contested ball-winning

Weaknesses:

Improvement not as rapid as many of his peers in 2019, unclear best position, nclear scope to be a full-time midfielder

5. Tanner Bruhn

Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 182cm, 73kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Projected draft range: 1-20
Rationale: One of the standout talents in this draft but has had his injury setbacks, sitting out most of last year due to a knee injury and has already had surgery to his meniscus in the same knee this season.

Strengths:

Precise ball user of left foot, composure with ball in hand, evasion, agility, speed, versatility to play forward or through the midfield, wins first possession at stoppages, contested ball-winning, scoreboard impact

Weaknesses:

Durability, limited exposed form due to ACL

13. Archie Perkins

Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 3-30
Rationale: Strong medium marking forward who plays a high-impact-per-possession style of game but at this stage lacks the endurance to go through the midfield and can lacks the consistency of performance of those rated ahead of him.

Strengths:

Strength, one-on-one marking, aerial marking, impact per possession, contested ball-winning, takes on the game, line breaker, speed, damaging by foot, composure with ball in hand, capacity to impact games as a forward or midfielder

Weaknesses:

Endurance, consistency

14. Zane Trew

Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Projected draft range: 3-30
Rationale: Prolific ball-winner and tackler who managed 40 disposals and 10 tackles in the WAFL Colts the last time he played. He missed most of 2019 due to a shoulder injury so has had less 2019 exposure than most of his peers.

Strengths:

Production, stoppage specialist, contested ball-winning, aggressive tackler, classy ball user, composure in traffic and with ball in hand, vision, precise ball user by hand and foot

Weaknesses:

Limited exposure due to shoulder surgery in 2019, speed, endurance

15. Nathan O'Driscoll

Best position: Inside midfield/general defence
Height, weight: 182cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Perth
Projected draft range: 5-35
Rationale: One of the best hard ball-winners in the draft.

Strengths:

Aggressive attack on the ball, tackles to hurt, versatility to play midfield or defence, one-on-one strength, intercept marking, run and carry, reliable ball user

Weaknesses:

Intercept marking, contested marking, speed, endurance

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

15. Nathan O'Driscoll
Weaknesses:

Intercept marking, contested marking, speed, endurance

Perfect NM selection.

 

[Ether]

Perfect NM selection.

I like how intercept marking is both his strength and his weakness. Sign him up.

 

[Psicosis]

Bump.

Jy needs help.