Midfield are a disgrace-Worst in the league

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Thread starter #1
Having watched the dogs over the last 47 years the current midfield group is one of the most talented we have had but also the laziest.What l would give for a Sam Mitchell or Jim Bartell just for their consistancy over their careers.Our best is right up with them but not often enough and also when the hard work is to be done they seem to go missing.
Matt Boyd-Tries hard but absolutely shocking disposal,overall consistant but l think better as a tagging midfielder,not what l call a leader.
Cooney-Best is brilliant,worst is dreadful,too big a gap
Griffin-Needs to learn how to cope with a hard tag,which other sides do once he has a few good ones in a row.
Cross-Heart as big as himself but just to slow in transition,would be a fringe player at most clubs
Higgins-Should have been in leader by now with all the skills he has,but ends up in defence and lets a gimp like Bird kick 4 on him-almost tradable and worth something.
Dont start me on front runner Gia,Mr Fallover man.
The others l feel sorry for and will reserve judgement
 

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boydsno1

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#2
Gia front runner? His been brilliant even when the side is going shit. IE 5 goals against Geelong. Thats just 1 example. Agree on the rest. I think with Higgins though he is still playing catch up. Has missed alot of football due to injuries.
 
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Thread starter #3
Maybe l am being hard on Gia but for a player with his skills and experience l think other than his purple patch of 6 or 7 games this year overall his career has been dissapointing and l really think most other clubs would not have been as patient with him and traded him out as some stage.Of course the one l missed was Callan Ward who is a gun but didnt deserve to listed with the others.Gee l hope he stays.
 

gs17

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#4
Wow, original in bagging Gia.
Boyd's disposal efficiency is very similar to Mitchell's. Cross was comfortably our best before getting injured. I wouldn't be surprised if Griff has an injury, has beaten off tags earlier this year.
 

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#5
Having watched the dogs over the last 47 years the current midfield group is one of the most talented we have had but also the laziest.What l would give for a Sam Mitchell or Jim Bartell just for their consistancy over their careers.Our best is right up with them but not often enough and also when the hard work is to be done they seem to go missing.
Matt Boyd-Tries hard but absolutely shocking disposal,overall consistant but l think better as a tagging midfielder,not what l call a leader.
Cooney-Best is brilliant,worst is dreadful,too big a gap
Griffin-Needs to learn how to cope with a hard tag,which other sides do once he has a few good ones in a row.
Cross-Heart as big as himself but just to slow in transition,would be a fringe player at most clubs
Higgins-Should have been in leader by now with all the skills he has,but ends up in defence and lets a gimp like Bird kick 4 on him-almost tradable and worth something.
Dont start me on front runner Gia,Mr Fallover man.
The others l feel sorry for and will reserve judgement
Matt Boyd- agree with most of your comments, but he is definitely a leader
Cooney- Has a knee injury, that's why.
Griffin- Only his past 2 games have been bad... but he can beat tags
Cross- I definitely think he would be playing in most clubs
Higgins- agree but he's been playing down back more for confidence and to get quality disposal out (especially with Murphy out)
Gia - He is not a frontrunner and plays in forward mostly anyway

So the only real 'talented' ones that have played today are Griffen, Ward and Cooney, and one of them has a bloody degenerative knee injury, the other did play well and the last had an off-week (admittedly his second in a row).

Of all these players, I don't any are lazy... so there must be another problem and I think our one ruck plan isn't working or Huddo is getting tired
 

Sharkey66

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#6
Matt Boyd- agree with most of your comments, but he is definitely a leader
Cooney- Has a knee injury, that's why.
Griffin- Only his past 2 games have been bad... but he can beat tags
Cross- I definitely think he would be playing in most clubs
Higgins- agree but he's been playing down back more for confidence and to get quality disposal out (especially with Murphy out)
Gia - He is not a frontrunner and plays in forward mostly anyway

So the only real 'talented' ones that have played today are Griffen, Ward and Cooney, and one of them has a bloody degenerative knee injury, the other did play well and the last had an off-week (admittedly his second in a row).

Of all these players, I don't any are lazy... so there must be another problem and I think our one ruck plan isn't working or Huddo is getting tired
Loved Roos assesment of why dogs were playing badly.
"Cooney must be carrying some sort of injury" with all the press on his knee you would think that someone who works in the media would know that?
 

ctrain07

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#7
Having watched the dogs over the last 47 years the current midfield group is one of the most talented we have had but also the laziest.What l would give for a Sam Mitchell or Jim Bartell just for their consistancy over their careers.Our best is right up with them but not often enough and also when the hard work is to be done they seem to go missing.
Matt Boyd-Tries hard but absolutely shocking disposal,overall consistant but l think better as a tagging midfielder,not what l call a leader.
Cooney-Best is brilliant,worst is dreadful,too big a gap
Griffin-Needs to learn how to cope with a hard tag,which other sides do once he has a few good ones in a row.
Cross-Heart as big as himself but just to slow in transition,would be a fringe player at most clubs
Higgins-Should have been in leader by now with all the skills he has,but ends up in defence and lets a gimp like Bird kick 4 on him-almost tradable and worth something.
Dont start me on front runner Gia,Mr Fallover man.
The others l feel sorry for and will reserve judgement
Oh my god! You have got to be kidding me! Matthew Boyd has been a brilliant leader and skipper this season in some games he has sigle handedly tried to lift his team. He is a great leader and for you to suggest he isn't is a joke.
Cooney has a bloody plastic knee and requires a injection prior to games to get him to play, you try and do that.
Griffen has been very good this season, he can be forgiven for having a few quiet games but for you to get on here and rubbish him is another joke.
Cross was BOG until he was substituted, he doesn't have the pace but his role this year has been a deglecting one and he has done it well.
Higgins I agree looks a man without confidence and at the moment is too unsure of himself.
GIA HAS BEEN GREAT ALL YEAR! HOW CAN YOU EVEN SAY THAT! YOU SIR HAVE NO IDEA!
 
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Thread starter #9
Its all very noble for you to defend the midfield and yes there are excuses for some but please the facts are WE are being slaughtered in the midfield and have been all year so if the assessments l made are so far off why are we in the position we are in.l really think some posters only look through rose coloured glasses and live in denial.
Wouldnt it be great to say we have a premiership winning midfield but sadly we will not make it with this group
 

ctrain07

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#10
Its all very noble for you to defend the midfield and yes there are excuses for some but please the facts are WE are being slaughtered in the midfield and have been all year so if the assessments l made are so far off why are we in the position we are in.l really think some posters only look through rose coloured glasses and live in denial.
Wouldnt it be great to say we have a premiership winning midfield but sadly we will not make it with this group
What are the facts mate?
here is a few:
Gia is infact a forward and I believe is our second leading goal kicker who before Hall got into form was single handedly keeping us in games.
Cross was our best player before he was injured and got SUBBED! We are aware of his speed issues but today he was great before his injury.
Cooney has a massive knee injury and is having to play through pain. It is a great effort to be even out there!
Griffen established himself as an elite player in the first half of the season but I suppose 2 or 3 down games means he is unable to break tags and is too hot and cold. He also laid 12 tackes today so mate GET REAL
Boyd was our second or third best player today and to make an example of him
But Higgins also laid 10 tackles today, cant be put down for that!
 

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Sharkey66

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#12
Just a thought, we have a few players who can play the running back role that Easton Wood plays, Reid is one if he ever gets right, and Shaggy may be back soon,
What are the thoughts on Wood being shifted to a wing or playing the linkman role?
 
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Thread starter #13
What are the facts mate?
here is a few:
Gia is infact a forward and I believe is our second leading goal kicker who before Hall got into form was single handedly keeping us in games.
Cross was our best player before he was injured and got SUBBED! We are aware of his speed issues but today he was great before his injury.
Cooney has a massive knee injury and is having to play through pain. It is a great effort to be even out there!
Griffen established himself as an elite player in the first half of the season but I suppose 2 or 3 down games means he is unable to break tags and is too hot and cold. GET REAL
of him shows Boyd was our second or third best player today and to make an example

No need to get personal,Its no wonder some supporters dont post here when l am simply offering an opinion.Or arent we allowed to say what you dont want to hear.Just face the facts without excuses.These players will not win a premiership.If they do l would be rapt for the club but time has proven we are not upto it.
 

ctrain07

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#14
No need to get personal,Its no wonder some supporters dont post here when l am simply offering an opinion.Or arent we allowed to say what you dont want to hear.Just face the facts without excuses.These players will not win a premiership.If they do l would be rapt for the club but time has proven we are not upto it.
Why have a crack at our midfield and lable them a disgrace? And why not admit that all my points are valid whereas your so called facts have no credibility! We may have been beaten in the midfield but sydney in sydney is not a easy game. So maybe think about what you are going to say before you say it or better yet if you are going to incorrectly rubbish the team you so called go for, dont say it..... Just a thought mate.
 

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#15
We've been destroyed in the midfield in the past 3 weeks only, and I put that down to one ruck whose tap work isn't that great (Huddo). Your statements were unfounded and contradict themself somewhat; 'They're one of the most talented groups but won't win a premiership,' they're lazy' (definitely untrue) and 'they're talented but Boyd and Cross are fringe players/have poor efficiency'
 
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Thread starter #16
Why have a crack at our midfield and lable them a disgrace? And why not admit that all my points are valid whereas your so called facts have no credibility! We may have been beaten in the midfield but sydney in sydney is not a easy game. So maybe think about what you are going to say before you say it or better yet if you are going to incorrectly rubbish the team you so called go for, dont say it..... Just a thought mate.
No worries mate.Have been a financial paid up member for 17 years for the whole family.Wont bother posting again because as l said you only look through rose coloured glasses and accept mediocrity.Sorry to have stirred your emotions.

Mods please close post as it seems it is all becoming too personal.
 

Kennel Master

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#17
The mid field is a problem but I think your individualassessments are off the mark.
I reckon the way they set up is the real problem. Other teams win the ball and seem to have an 'out' - that is a plan to give the ball back or go wide or whatever- anyway there is a player or players who can burst clear and set up forward. Our boys win the ball but more often than not have to fire off a handball or kick to noone in particular. Turnover. There doesn't seem to be an organised approach. Consequently our efficiency is poor.
It doesn't help that Hudson's style of rucking requires him to nullify, bring the ball to ground and try to win it on his knees. Just adds to the congestion.
Who is in charge of the midfield?
My thoughts anyway.
KM
 

ctrain07

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#18
No worries mate.Have been a financial paid up member for 17 years for the whole family.Wont bother posting again because as l said you only look through rose coloured glasses and accept mediocrity.Sorry to have stirred your emotions.

Mods please close post as it seems it is all becoming too personal.
Aw sorry mate, dont get too upset. But as we have all said your points couldn't be more wrong, so yes mods please do close this because it is a joke of a thread. People who know anything about football wouldn't have made the horribly outlandish comments that you have. Sorry to have stirred your emotions but it appears not many here agree with your point of view.
 
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#19
The mid field is a problem but I think your individualassessments are off the mark.
I reckon the way they set up is the real problem. Other teams win the ball and seem to have an 'out' - that is a plan to give the ball back or go wide or whatever- anyway there is a player or players who can burst clear and set up forward. Our boys win the ball but more often than not have to fire off a handball or kick to noone in particular. Turnover. There doesn't seem to be an organised approach. Consequently our efficiency is poor.
It doesn't help that Hudson's style of rucking requires him to nullify, bring the ball to ground and try to win it on his knees. Just adds to the congestion.
Who is in charge of the midfield?
My thoughts anyway.
KM
Pretty much identical to my thoughts too.

When Cooney and Griffen are down then there are no fast breaks or forward movements resulting in us just bombing the ball forward, Murphy out made it even more difficult to generate quick ball movement.
Example being when we finally got a fast centre break through Djekurra, it resulted in one of our few quick entries inside 50, which I think resulted in a goal.
 
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#20
Aw sorry mate, dont get too upset. But as we have all said your points couldn't be more wrong, so yes mods please do close this because it is a joke of a thread. People who know anything about football wouldn't have made the horribly outlandish comments that you have. Sorry to have stirred your emotions but it appears not many here agree with your point of view.
I thought the comments are OK. Even on on tv you could see our mids standing still while the swans ran and created options. That says lazy to me. Also our mids were smashed again and again. Cross is slow. Boyd is butcher king. Cooney is unfit. Griff can't shake a tag and Gia does run ahead of the play hoping there is a turnover instead of following his man. Why? Because he has no pace and its the only way he can shake his direct opponent. All these points are valid and why we sit where we are on the ladder.

Nothing new here. Its just sad that is all. Hopefully we can build on the newer guys like Dahlhaus and be up the ladder in a few years.
 

ctrain07

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#22
I thought the comments are OK. Even on on tv you could see our mids standing still while the swans ran and created options. That says lazy to me. Also our mids were smashed again and again. Cross is slow. Boyd is butcher king. Cooney is unfit. Griff can't shake a tag and Gia does run ahead of the play hoping there is a turnover instead of following his man. Why? Because he has no pace and its the only way he can shake his direct opponent. All these points are valid and why we sit where we are on the ladder.

Nothing new here. Its just sad that is all. Hopefully we can build on the newer guys like Dahlhaus and be up the ladder in a few years.
Again we have always known that Cross doesnt have the pace, but before he was INJURED, he was our best player, he was starring today! Boyd may not have the highest efficiency but week in week out he has a crack, and to question his leadership is absurd.
Cooney is injured and that is effecting his performance, an interrupted pre season is going to have negative effects so why stick the boot in when he is clearly in some pain.
Griff has been great this season overall but has had a few down weeks.Did you not watch the finals last year or the first 14 or 15 rounds of the season or are you simply basing your opinion by 2 games?
Again why hate Gia? He single handedly provided an avenue to goal when there appeared to be none. He was kicking 3 or 4 goals a game when we seemed unlikely to kick a winning score. After the Carlton game everyone is suggesting that hes in career best form and is an extremely dangerous medium FORWARD (not midfielder so the point is irrelevant because the thread regards midfielders) but now after 2 down games you and the other clown thinks its perfectly ok to put him down and tear shreds off him.... It realy does baffle me how fickle supporters can be.
So no the points are not valid and I don't understand how you 2 think they are.
 
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#24
Hard for Gia to play well as a small forward with limited oppurtunities and forward 50 entries...to make matters worse he had flogs like addison running around in midfield trying to deliver a wet ball to him.
 

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#25
Up until midway through the last quarter, Gia had a kicking efficiency of 14%..

14%

14%

14%

14%

14%

Thats not what we expect from an AFL footballer of his experience
He's also kicked 27 goals in his last 9 games

Cross cops it here but he got more tackles today than any Swan. Went off in the 2nd quarter. People are keen to point out his weaknesses, I think a bit of balance is nice :)
 
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