Its been apparent ever since the 2018 Grand Final that our biggest on field deficiency is the midfield. No matter the emphasis we place on bringing in a KPF, not even Lockett could get a kick with the delivery from our midfield that takes a beating every week.
Whichever way the naysayers spin it, we undoubtedly have one of the best midfields on paper in the comp, as well as in terms of leadership and experience.
The main issue is the coaching staff I believe. It keeps me awake at night how, up until we cut Hocking due to COVID, we had the following coaching staff on our list:
Nathan Buckley - 280 games, 284 goals, 1x Brownlow, 1x AFLCA MVP, 1x Norm Smith, 7x AA, 6x B&F, AFL Hall of Fame & Life-Member.
Robert Harvey - 383 games, 215 goals, 2x Brownlow, 1x AFLPA MVP, 8x AA, 4x B&F.
Garry Hocking - 274 games, 243 goals, 4x AA, 4x B&F, AFL Hall of Fame.
Combining for nearly 1000 games, over 700 goals, 3 Brownlows, 19 AAs, 14 B&Fs and more.
How can/could we have a coaching staff consisting of three of the best midfielders of all-time and not know how to get our sh*t together in the midfield? It absolute baffles me. I would've thought that it would be the one area of the ground that worked efficiently, but no, only our backline works well and somehow the backline coaches have been Justin Longmuir (an average ruck/forward) and Matthew Boyd (a champion midfielder). Where is the logic in that?
Maybe its the ruck coach - Anthony Rocca, a key forward who was undersized in the ruck and not overly competent there. Nothing against him, we should be hiring him as the forward line coach. Personally, Dean Cox is flogging a dead horse in Sydney and the club should try and poach someone like him or Damian Monkhorst from Hawthorn.
With a ruck coach change, get rid of Harvey and bring in a new midfield coach, and maybe try and bring in another bull to help Adams (can De Goey be that?) we actually have a chance of fixing the sinking ship of Collingwood's midfield which has less grace than the Titanic and will be screwed in 2yrs when Pendlebury and Sidebottom retire.
Whichever way the naysayers spin it, we undoubtedly have one of the best midfields on paper in the comp, as well as in terms of leadership and experience.
- Grundy was the best ruck in the comp in 2018 and 2019.
- Pendlebury is an all-time legend with the best IQ going around and skills to rival the silk from Suzhou.
- Sidebottom is another silky player who is our goalkicking midfielder.
- De Goey - absolute bull (Walmart Dustin Martin) who doesn't play much in the midfield but is our best clearance player
- Adams is the contested ball winner who gives his all and has improved kicking out of sight.
- Treloar is the best accumulator in the comp and whilst he wastes possession and lost pace from injury, he still has outside speed, kicking penetration and gives his all.
The main issue is the coaching staff I believe. It keeps me awake at night how, up until we cut Hocking due to COVID, we had the following coaching staff on our list:
Nathan Buckley - 280 games, 284 goals, 1x Brownlow, 1x AFLCA MVP, 1x Norm Smith, 7x AA, 6x B&F, AFL Hall of Fame & Life-Member.
Robert Harvey - 383 games, 215 goals, 2x Brownlow, 1x AFLPA MVP, 8x AA, 4x B&F.
Garry Hocking - 274 games, 243 goals, 4x AA, 4x B&F, AFL Hall of Fame.
Combining for nearly 1000 games, over 700 goals, 3 Brownlows, 19 AAs, 14 B&Fs and more.
How can/could we have a coaching staff consisting of three of the best midfielders of all-time and not know how to get our sh*t together in the midfield? It absolute baffles me. I would've thought that it would be the one area of the ground that worked efficiently, but no, only our backline works well and somehow the backline coaches have been Justin Longmuir (an average ruck/forward) and Matthew Boyd (a champion midfielder). Where is the logic in that?
Maybe its the ruck coach - Anthony Rocca, a key forward who was undersized in the ruck and not overly competent there. Nothing against him, we should be hiring him as the forward line coach. Personally, Dean Cox is flogging a dead horse in Sydney and the club should try and poach someone like him or Damian Monkhorst from Hawthorn.
With a ruck coach change, get rid of Harvey and bring in a new midfield coach, and maybe try and bring in another bull to help Adams (can De Goey be that?) we actually have a chance of fixing the sinking ship of Collingwood's midfield which has less grace than the Titanic and will be screwed in 2yrs when Pendlebury and Sidebottom retire.
