Universal Love Midfield Depth

[Wizard]

Really starting to get some depth through the midfield now.

You've got our "A" graders:
Fyfe
Mundy
Barlow
Crowley
Hill

Then on the next level:
DeBoer
Mzungu
C. Pearce

Our newest mid additions:
Suban
D. Pearce

Future mids:
Neale
Crozier
Morabito
Sutcliffe
Sheridan
Michie

Others that can rotate through occasionally:
Ballantyne
Walters

Good sides in modern football are built around good midfields and we certainly are developing one.

 

[Dockernut]

I reckon Michie will be pushing past a few guys on his way to the 1's soon. Kid is a jet.

 

[theGav56]

We are entering unknown waters where we have the combination of a very good midfield, and a very good coach.

 

[free at last]

Best depth freo has ever had.I must say, I'm quietly frothing at the impact of D.Pearce and subes on saturday nite.We were unrelenting, the 'purple terminator'....

 

[Frigate]

I agree. D Pearce is only going to get better and he seemed to improve as the match went on. Having Hill and Pearce delivering the footy is just mind boggling for me. Then having Mundy and Fyfe who are classy, tall mids, and the genuine contested ball winners in Barlow and C Pearce.

Certainly have a great balance of players to rotate through that all add different abilities. When players like Mundy are racking up 10 tackles and getting the contested footy, and players like Suban kicking 3 goals you know things are going well.

 

[chinggis77]

Its almost like a carbon copy backup midfield:

• J Simpson - S Hill
• V Mitchie - D Mundy
• T Sheridan - M Barlow
• H Crozier - N Fyfe
• L Neale - M De Boer (not a great comparison, Lachie is more a S Mitchell)
• Menagola - Crowley
• Sutcliffe - Mzungu
• Morabito - icing on the cake

I hope the kids get some opportunities this year to showcase themselves in the big time.

 

[Ktrain]

Ross' middle name Noah?

Bring me two of every animal.

 

[strobe00]

Really starting to get some depth through the midfield now.

Good sides in modern football are built around good midfields and we certainly are developing one.

This is one of the benefits in targeting mids and flankers for a few years in preference to stocking up on talls, and trying to grab them in the PSD or via trade.

Have a few serviceable talls from that route, but now that the talent is available in the midfield it's time to spend our top pick on a tall this year I reckon.

 

[freoextra]

This is one of the benefits in targeting mids and flankers for a few years in preference to stocking up on talls, and trying to grab them in the PSD or via trade.

Have a few serviceable talls from that route, but now that the talent is available in the midfield it's time to spend our top pick on a tall this year I reckon.

That would be a Buddy good idea

 

[Freo Dr]

I have seen a little bit of Mitchie now and was asked to describe him to a supporter who was not aware of him.

For those in the know like Salim and EShed who would be a reasonable comparison player be?

Certainly agree on the midfield depth thing - starting to think there is no way by the end of the year we will be able to fit all the midfield/flanking players who really deserve to be getting a game into the side. This is a common theme when you look at premiership teams.....

 

[Seppo]

I have seen a little bit of Mitchie now and was asked to describe him to a supporter who was not aware of him.

For those in the know like Salim and EShed who would be a reasonable comparison player be?

Certainly agree on the midfield depth thing - starting to think there is no way by the end of the year we will be able to fit all the midfield/flanking players who really deserve to be getting a game into the side. This is a common theme when you look at premiership teams.....

Nick Dal Santo comes to mind for a comparison.

 

[Taylor]

He reminds me of Simon Black but a bit quicker and not quite as tanned yet.

 

[rgauci]

Jimmy Bartel would be my comparison.

 

[Freo Dr]

Well hopefully we see Viv at AFL level sometime soon he certainly is a cut above WAFL level players and looks very composed with the ball in his hand. Will be another great story like Barlow if he can.

 

[E Shed]

So . . Not much expectation on Michie then
Bartel would be the closest of those mentioned. Can't see the Black or DalSanto comparison.
In the like for like I'd say he's closer to Barlow than Mundy. Strong, big body, reads the game well but I've not noticed any of the laconic ease or time/space bending that characterizes Mundy.
At this stage with no exposed form at the highest level & without looking at his sprint times he could just be a Koby Stevens type.
Can play though. Good signs at WAFL level.

 

[Dockernut]

Oh man, when Michie, Neale, Croz and Mora are all pushing for selection...

*Struggles....to....keep....lid....on....it*

 

[Proud SJW]

Only problem is that with an well established midfield, we may lose a few to ... homesickness, if they can't crack the 22 on a regular basis and are good enough to do it.
Which is another reason I like Griffin... he's stuck around even though he'd be no 1 ruck in some other teams all year.

Best way Freo can hang onto the good kids is to start winning finals... and a premiership.

IMO Goddard would never have gone to Essendon if the Saints had been a contender... by way of example. Tippett to the Swans ... pattern forms, yeah? They have to want to stay.
Best part of this theory is, just recently, no one (other than Roberton) has left, and plenty are re-signing. Freo is doing something right.

 

[estibador]

Michie reminds me a little of Brett Ratten.

In and under, solid body, tidy skills but nothing too devastating, not particularly quick, but with a knack for reading the ball off the ruckman's hands and racking up touches.

 

[E Shed]

Only problem is that with an well established midfield, we may lose a few to ... homesickness, if they can't crack the 22 on a regular basis and are good enough to do it.

Yeah that worries me too. Particularly given that part of Ross (and any successful coach really) formula is to get 25 or so warriors and keep them on the park together. Build hard bodies, camaraderie, esprit de corps and all that. Players like Sheridan and maybe Michie who can't crack it are going to do a Koby Stevens eventually. Still if we trade them before they become free agents we might be able to swing some key forwards as we certainly don't have a surplus of them.

 

[Sman-21]

I still highly rate DeBoer as a mid.
Didnt get many opportunities on the weekend but when he is in there, due to his strength and courage he has no fear of whats around him so he focuses fully on the ball and what he wants to do with it.
Clean hands and hits targets perfectly.
If you get a chance to watch the game again, pay close attention to his clearance work when given the opportunity.
Guys that liked Lower as an inside mid option should love DeBoer as his skills are better, he hits harder instead of taking them and he has more pace.

 

[Nickos66]

Who was the poster on here that still maintains that Michie is not a midfielder again?

 

[Lach72]

Michie reminds me a little of Brett Ratten.

In and under, solid body, tidy skills but nothing too devastating, not particularly quick, but with a knack for reading the ball off the ruckman's hands and racking up touches.

Haselby

 

[HowieD]

IMO Goddard would never have gone to Essendon if the Saints had been a contender... by way of example. Tippett to the Swans ... pattern forms, yeah? They have to want to stay.
Best part of this theory is, just recently, no one (other than Roberton) has left, and plenty are re-signing. Freo is doing something right.

Mitch Clark will be kicking himself...

 

[whiteoak]

For those in the know like Salim and EShed who would be a reasonable comparison player be?

Nick Dal Santo

Simon Black

Jimmy Bartel

Brett Ratten.

Haselby

Back in fi





Too late.[/quote]

 

[Freo Dr]

I'll take the average of those players any day.