Analysis MIDFIELD 2015

[RandB]

As with last year (2014 thread) I thought I'd create a midfield discussion thread (including wingers) given its importance not only in the modern game but in our need to improve in this area.

Stoppages, corridor use, spread, existing players, strategy, rotations, midfield types we need to get, anything you think relevant can go here.

This year it might be less grim as we blood exciting draftees during the year (where applicable) and also see what we have in our stocks in that 22/23 age brigade; namely Riley, Michie and Newton as it is important they can come on. Vandenberg may also get the rookie upgrade to cover Trengove.

The list is by age as of round 1, 2015 and obviously some of these guys can play multiple roles (eg Petracca with a possible dual role up forward) or might play midfield secondary (eg Lumumba a defender touted to have midfield time) but I think its good to have the full picture of midfield options.

Watts seems touted for the forward line this year so I'll leave him out for the moment.

Age: Name (career games)

® Rookie

32: Cross (227)

29: Vince (151)

28: Lumumba (199)

27: M Jones (42), N Jones (179)

26: Bail (65)

24: McKenzie (78)

23: Riley (21), Trengove (81), Vandenberg® (0)

22: Michie (7), Newton (4)

21: Toumpas (18), Tyson (35)

20: Hunt (0), Viney (33)

19: Brayshaw (0), Harmes® (0), Neal-Bullen (0), Petracca (0), Salem (12)

18: Stretch (0)

 

[RandB]

...and don't forget this guy as dedicated mid coach along with the other support coaches and Brendan McCartney as head of development.

 

[fushy]

Brendon McCartney will do more for us then any pick we have had in the last 10 years. If he gets our youngsters to anywhere near what he got dogs kids to we are in for a massive improvement on the ladder

 

[RandB]

Brendon McCartney will do more for us then any pick we have had in the last 10 years. If he gets our youngsters to anywhere near what he got dogs kids to we are in for a massive improvement on the ladder

It's almost scary-good thinking what sort of impact he can have on youth development without having to worry about all the responsibilities of being senior coach.

 

[Tulip]

Big shoes to fill, Stone was also considered amongst the best around.

 

[RandB]

Big shoes to fill, Stone was also considered amongst the best around.

True, but Stone was purely mid wasn't he? McCartney hopefully will get our youngsters all over the ground firing and build their resolve.

 

[Darksidepoints]

Brendon McCartney will do more for us then any pick we have had in the last 10 years. If he gets our youngsters to anywhere near what he got dogs kids to we are in for a massive improvement on the ladder

Agreed. A huge pickup for us.

 

[Topkent]

Gotta say my first thoughts seeing that list is how poor and inexperienced it is still , really needs some young blokes to become very good players very fast

 

[Blackas87]

Lumumba in the midfield, yuck.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

That wasteland between 21 and 28.

 

[Demon 16]

A Selwood or Sloane via free agency would make that gap look a lot smaller.

Having Hogan to kick towards should also be a big help for the mids this year.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

I guess there isn't anything for us to do other than being patient and keep making additions to our midfield where we can.

Landing a big free agent would be great, but a lot of Roos' signings in the midfield look like they have an 'AFL' look about them - Riley, Michie, Newton and, obviously, Tyson, Cross, Vince.

He's creating depth but we do still need a few of players to jump up a level or two to be anything more than a serviceable midfield.

 

[Demon 16]

I guess there isn't anything for us to do other than being patient and keep making additions to our midfield where we can.

Landing a big free agent would be great, but a lot of Roos' signings in the midfield look like they have an 'AFL' look about them - Riley, Michie, Newton and, obviously, Tyson, Cross, Vince.

He's creating depth but we do still need a few of players to jump up a level or two to be anything more than a serviceable midfield.

Roos has identified midfield depth as a big issue, but he's also spoken about needing some more quality in the middle.

He addressed it with Tyson, and you'd hope that more than 1 of our recent draft picks will become very good - but now that we've got a shot a free agency, I am really hopeful we might land a quality player in the next year or 2, effectively for free.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Roos has identified midfield depth as a big issue, but he's also spoken about needing some more quality in the middle.

He addressed it with Tyson, and you'd hope that more than 1 of our recent draft picks will become very good - but now that we've got a shot a free agency, I am really hopeful we might land a quality player in the next year or 2, effectively for free.

I agree, Petracca and Brayshaw we'd hope will both be hits - that'll be at least 3 years off in all probability.

Scott Selwood, Dangerfield and Sloane are all unsigned and at least two have delayed talks - if we can grab one of those it would be a brilliant.

 

[Demon 16]

I agree, Petracca and Brayshaw we'd hope will both be hits - that'll be at least 3 years off in all probability.

Scott Selwood, Dangerfield and Sloane are all unsigned and at least two have delayed talks - if we can grab one of those it would be a brilliant.

I could also imagine us having a good crack at the defectors at GWS.

Our first pick would surely be on te table for a Devon Smith?

Anyway the midfield is not a finished product by any means, but we are pretty well placed to improve quickly over the next 2 seasons.

 

[ponsdale]

That wasteland between 21 and 28.

27: M Jones (42), N Jones (179) ?

That's a tad harsh

 

[Djcjdees]

It's almost scary-good thinking what sort of impact he can have on youth development without having to worry about all the responsibilities of being senior coach.

Dwayne? Is that you? "Gives it some SHOE FROM THE PAINT FIRESTARTER!!"

 

[Cannon82]

27: M Jones (42), N Jones (179) ?

That's a tad harsh

Not on every other player in that bracket.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

27: M Jones (42), N Jones (179) ?

That's a tad harsh

Yeah we have one good, proven player in that age bracket. Plus the theoretical Trengove.

 

[Topkent]

Yeah we have one good, proven player in that age bracket. Plus the theoretical Trengove.

I know its been done to death but its incredible we didnt find good midfielder in our tanking years who will be available in round 1, just incredible
Getting Dom Tyson was a masterstroke

 

[Cannon82]

I know its been done to death but its incredible we didnt find good midfielder in our tanking years who will be available in round 1, just incredible
Getting Dom Tyson was a masterstroke

Scully is available round 1. What's the going definition of "good" these days?

 

[Theseventhhamster]

I know its been done to death but its incredible we didnt find good midfielder in our tanking years who will be available in round 1, just incredible
Getting Dom Tyson was a masterstroke

Tyson and to a lesser extent Viney are invaluable as filling between the vets and teens. Hopefully Newton is as good he looks from reports.

 

[Topkent]

Scully is available round 1. What's the going definition of "good" these days?

Not Tom Scully, if he is then so is Rohan Bail

Tyson and to a lesser extent Viney are invaluable as filling between the vets and teens. Hopefully Newton is as good he looks from reports.

Newton, Michie, Riley are key there and it helps having Vince Cross and Lumumba there to shield Petracca and Brayshaw

 

[Djcjdees]

Not Tom Scully, if he is then so is Rohan Bail


Newton, Michie, Riley are key there and it helps having Vince Cross and Lumumba there to shield Petracca and Brayshaw

Interesting comparison, the $cully - Bail one.

Clearly play differing roles and I CBFd looking up any sort of stats to check, but from the albeit somewhat limited games that I watched $cully play last year, it didn't seem like he impacted games a whole lot more than Bail.

Sure, there was the odd good bit of play through the middle, but Bail had the odd good goal to counter that. Both have a decent fitness base. Both have question marks on their disposal although moneybags' is probably better. I'd say Bail has just as good if not better defensive capabilities and pace. Seems weird to say but I reckon Bail is about on par. Is that wrong?

 

[Topkent]

Interesting comparison, the $cully - Bail one.

Clearly play differing roles and I CBFd looking up any sort of stats to check, but from the albeit somewhat limited games that I watched $cully play last year, it didn't seem like he impacted games a whole lot more than Bail.

Sure, there was the odd good bit of play through the middle, but Bail had the odd good goal to counter that. Both have a decent fitness base. Both have question marks on their disposal although moneybags' is probably better. I'd say Bail has just as good if not better defensive capabilities and pace. Seems weird to say but I reckon Bail is about on par. Is that wrong?

Thats exactly the point I was going for, Scully is a better clearance player but Bail can get forward and snag the odd one
I think the impact of both is the same on there respective teams, Hard working soldiers whos best trait is that they are always involved