Midfield vs Melbourne

[CrazyQ]

Yep.

Pretty much take our Sylvia and Moloney and we're half-way there. Don't rate Davey all that highly, has been average-good this year.

Liking Wellsy up forward for 30 minutes a game or, he'll set up 2 or kick 2 in that time.

 

[Brad Roo]

On a serious note. Our midfield is not normal. You look at all our onballers. Lower, Ziebell, Swallow, Cunnington, Adams, Greenwood, Harding. They only know one way to playing footy. Suicidally. Its actually a cause for concern as teams will put their frontrunners into place and well get beaten. Happend plenty of times yesterday. Our mids are crazy.

I see where you are going, but we aren't as one dimensional as you think.

We have Anthony, Bastinac, Wells, Harvey, Campbell and potentially Urquart to play the outside running roles

Harding is also an outside player.

Greenwood has an outside game, Adams has shown that he can be an effective forward and Ziebell and Cunnington can both go forward (In fact, that should be happening now).

Ed has also shown a capacity to take a grab and kick a goal.

We just need one or two more outside types to step up, and a big forward that can grab a game by the throat, then we will be well on our way to September.

 

[Blight von Torp]

It's good to have a Melbourne v North Melbourne game with some hype for a change actually.

Agree, this was a nothing game at the start of the season that has now got big interest for supporters of the two teams. It's also adding nicely to the "blockbuster" weekend IMO.

Yep. Scott's biggest task is to evolve a gameplan that is conducive to this aspect of our team. Absolutely crucial to our premiership aspirations.

I feel our midfield could do with a bit more pace. None of the hardnuts mentioned seem to have much of it. As a group they add up to slow on the whole. Greenwood maybe the most explosive? Firrito and McMahon off half back not quick, although Spud has a lot of go forward grunt ... Hunter S makes us quicker when he's up and running because he's so creative.

But I don't get the feeling our outside players are especially quick either. Just because they're more outside doesn't equate to speed. Wells is about it although he spends a lot of time in second gear. Dunno about Bastinac, how fast is he? Is Harvey actually still fast or is it more short legs pumping but not covering that much ground. Urquhart fast but hasn't cemented a place. Garlett not that fast (he's also inside). IMO we need a couple of players added with some real zip to cut teams up and make use of the inside ball and we'd be set.

 

[Z_K]

Finals are won by teams who win contested footy and smack the **** out of the other side as they try to do the same. Brisbane (Voss, Black, Scott x 2 etc), Geelong (Bartel, Ablett, Selwood, Ling, Corey, Chapman) and Hawthorn (Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell).

For all the bullshit that surrounds speed and flair and as good as it is to have both, when the shit hits the fan in mid-September it's still a brutal game and the side that copes with that wins. Almost always.

I reckon our prospective mid-field group is outstanding. All will take time to refine their games and all will take a few more years at least to get their running capacity up to where they'd like, but how encouraging is it that they are 4 years off that as a group and still competing well?

 

[Event Horizon]

I reckon our prospective mid-field group is outstanding. All will take time to refine their games and all will take a few more years at least to get their running capacity up to where they'd like, but how encouraging is it that they are 4 years off that as a group and still competing well?

Agree with this, but would hope we can somehow fasttrack their development, because a) we aren't out of the woods off the field, and need some urgent success to get our membership levels to the minimum required levels, and b) we need to try to capitilise on Boomer (still playing close to his best footy), Petrie who is in his prime, and Wells hitting his prime about now, hopefully.

Hawthorn was in the bottom 4 in 2006, got to the second week of finals in 2007, and won the thing in 2008. It can be done.

 

[Z_K]

Hawthorn was in the bottom 4 in 2006, got to the second week of finals in 2007, and won the thing in 2008. It can be done.

Their improvement simply mirrors Franklin's in that time.
Also, Hodge, MItchell, Sewell, Croad, Guerra, Bateman etc etc had played alot of footy as they started their rise.

 

[r_boy]

Agree, this was a nothing game at the start of the season that has now got big interest for supporters of the two teams. It's also adding nicely to the "blockbuster" weekend IMO.



I feel our midfield could do with a bit more pace. None of the hardnuts mentioned seem to have much of it. As a group they add up to slow on the whole. Greenwood maybe the most explosive? Firrito and McMahon off half back not quick, although Spud has a lot of go forward grunt ... Hunter S makes us quicker when he's up and running because he's so creative.

But I don't get the feeling our outside players are especially quick either. Just because they're more outside doesn't equate to speed. Wells is about it although he spends a lot of time in second gear. Dunno about Bastinac, how fast is he? Is Harvey actually still fast or is it more short legs pumping but not covering that much ground. Urquhart fast but hasn't cemented a place. Garlett not that fast (he's also inside). IMO we need a couple of players added with some real zip to cut teams up and make use of the inside ball and we'd be set.

I dunno about pace but I think we definitely need more class forward of centre. We seem to be able to manufacture enough goals but our entire forward line is well and truly devoid of class. This is what is making us look like a battling side because that is how most of our goals are scored.

And I agree with NB our midfield group is collectively still around 4 or 5 years off doing some serious damage. Ziebell/Cunnington/Bastinac/Anthony/Greenwood etc need to get to the 100 game mark before we can really challenge. You can forget Harvey being part of a premiership team that's for sure.

 

[whippa]

I dunno about pace but I think we definitely need more class forward of centre. We seem to be able to manufacture enough goals but our entire forward line is well and truly devoid of class. This is what is making us look like a battling side because that is how most of our goals are scored.

And I agree with NB our midfield group is collectively still around 4 or 5 years off doing some serious damage. Ziebell/Cunnington/Bastinac/Anthony/Greenwood etc need to get to the 100 game mark before we can really challenge. You can forget Harvey being part of a premiership team that's for sure.

i think you're just about spot on.

i like wells spending a bit of time in the forward fifty but i would still like to get rid of hale and play edwards out of the goal square...

am i the only one that think Melbourne could be struggling again very soon. the older brigade has carried them over the line in every win this year... you take brad green, james mcdonald and cam bruce out in a couple of years, and they really have to rely heavily on trengove, scully and grimes...

 

[Event Horizon]

What I saw in Melbourne's game against Brisbane was not only plenty of hard work, risk taking and forward running, but also lack of respect shown to them by Brisbane.

We surely won't fall for the same trap as we can't possibly underestimate anyone, given where we're at ourselves.

 

[r_boy]

i think you're just about spot on.

i like wells spending a bit of time in the forward fifty but i would still like to get rid of hale and play edwards out of the goal square...

am i the only one that think Melbourne could be struggling again very soon. the older brigade has carried them over the line in every win this year... you take brad green, james mcdonald and cam bruce out in a couple of years, and they really have to rely heavily on trengove, scully and grimes...

Yeah Wells is playing there for that very reason. Edwards out of the goal square could work but I think at the end of the day it is both the personnel and the structure that is the problem.

Tarrant and Black are potentially the only classy upcoming key forwards we have and you might say from past probabilities that only one will make it. Apart from that I'd like to see a bloke with real X-factor on the half-foward line like a Rioli/Johnson/Shagga/Akermanis type that just creates goals from nowhere (although I do admit that is a big ask).

Just needs to be a big focus in the upcoming 2 drafts and then Scott needs to develop and get some fluidity between the midfield and forward line and I'll be stoked. That would be a big achievement from him.

As for Melbourne well they are in a similar position to us. Like you hinted though their midfield relies a fair bit more on Bruce/McDonald/Green than ours does on Harvey/Rawlings though.

 

[ArjenTheGreat]

Agree with this, but would hope we can somehow fasttrack their development, because a) we aren't out of the woods off the field, and need some urgent success to get our membership levels to the minimum required levels, and b) we need to try to capitilise on Boomer (still playing close to his best footy), Petrie who is in his prime, and Wells hitting his prime about now, hopefully.

Hawthorn was in the bottom 4 in 2006, got to the second week of finals in 2007, and won the thing in 2008. It can be done.

Of course it can be done.

What we really need to do is start getting games into our "exciting young forwards" (Tarrant and Black) as soon as we possibly can. For so many reasons, their fasttracked development will assist in all of the above.

As exciting as a gun young midfield is... We really need to see our next premiership forward line in action asap.

 

[Spurk]

Forward line is horrible to watch, the free kicks and soft efforst to hale wreck the viewing of the game. Warren is a worry with his constant mistakes, Thomas has lost it, Wright may never be a star, Jones is history, Edwrds is nice but nowhere close to being a staple. Replacing the whole front 6 with 6 vfl players would not hurt much.

 

[Long Live the King]

What I saw in Melbourne's game against Brisbane was not only plenty of hard work, risk taking and forward running, but also lack of respect shown to them by Brisbane.

We surely won't fall for the same trap as we can't possibly underestimate anyone, given where we're at ourselves.

How often has it happened when respect isnt shown.

We need to restrict their space, if they break it open then we could be in trouble. We need to smash them in tight.

 

[Hannabal]

Like you hinted though their midfield relies a fair bit more on Bruce/McDonald/Green than ours does on Harvey/Rawlings though.

You'd be right if you were right, but you're not right, ergo you're wrong.

Bruce has been playing back and Green has been playing forward. Our midfield has consisted of McDonald, Moloney, Jones, Trengove, Scully, Davey, McKenzie, and stints from Sylvia and Rohan Bail. We've had the luxury of leaving Grimes on a back flank, but he'll become a mid too.

Morton has been injured, Blease played his first game on the weekend in over a year due to injury, Tapscott is recovering from hip surgery and will play forward/mid in years to come (biggest neck I've seen) and Gysberts is a first round mid being developed at Casey.

The cupboard is far from bare.

 

[Hunters Host #3]

I think Grimes could play his career at predominantly a half back flank. The kid is a star, shows composure beyond his years and although a tempation would be to play him as a midfielder, I think he should stay at half back...

 

[r_boy]

You'd be right if you were right, but you're not right, ergo you're wrong.

Bruce has been playing back and Green has been playing forward. Our midfield has consisted of McDonald, Moloney, Jones, Trengove, Scully, Davey, McKenzie, and stints from Sylvia and Rohan Bail. We've had the luxury of leaving Grimes on a back flank, but he'll become a mid too.

Morton has been injured, Blease played his first game on the weekend in over a year due to injury, Tapscott is recovering from hip surgery and will play forward/mid in years to come (biggest neck I've seen) and Gysberts is a first round mid being developed at Casey.

The cupboard is far from bare.

Well Rawlings has been playing back too so anyway.... The cupboard isn't bare for you guys that's not what I meant but can Melbourne fans please stop throwing Nathan Jones in all these discussions he is a complete dud.

 

[Deefolt]

strange thing.... the reason why melbourne only had 66 tackles was because we won by 50 points, almost doubled their score.

Melbourne has been in closer matches this year where our tackle count has been higher, so dont look at last weeks continue at looking the whole years tackle counts.

 

[The Other Dean]

strange thing.... the reason why melbourne only had 66 tackles was because we won by 50 points, almost doubled their score.

Melbourne has been in closer matches this year where our tackle count has been higher, so dont look at last weeks continue at looking the whole years tackle counts.

Okay, will do.

Thanks for the heads up.

P.S. Looks like it's going to be a long week.

 

[whippa]

You'd be right if you were right, but you're not right, ergo you're wrong.

Bruce has been playing back and Green has been playing forward. Our midfield has consisted of McDonald, Moloney, Jones, Trengove, Scully, Davey, McKenzie, and stints from Sylvia and Rohan Bail. We've had the luxury of leaving Grimes on a back flank, but he'll become a mid too.

Morton has been injured, Blease played his first game on the weekend in over a year due to injury, Tapscott is recovering from hip surgery and will play forward/mid in years to come (biggest neck I've seen) and Gysberts is a first round mid being developed at Casey.

The cupboard is far from bare.

youd be right, if you picked up what we were discussing, but you didn't, ergo, you should re-read it...

as the game is anyway, forward and back flanks play through the middle.

brent harvey has started just about every game (if no all) in the forward line, yet he's generally our most damaging midfielder.

i think even the media outlets have stated you're older brigade have carried the Dees to their 3 on the trot. which i have been rather happy with btw.

trengove played really well on the weekend, scully has been consistently good, not great, i rate bail and grimes is a gun. im just saying, if green, bruce and mcdonald keep contributing so much, in 3 years time, the younger players will really have to step up...

 

[Roosurgence]

Many comments about our diabolical forward set-up, but I can see the silver lining as we are missing what I consider our most important player..... D Petrie.

Put Dish in that forward line and all of a sudden opposition coaches have some real headaches. His inclusion will have a chain effect on the match ups other players will get. Warren will have less attention and the same with Hale.

I'm very interested to see how we fare when Dish is up and running at full capaicity. His ability to take a pack grab and work ethic are the vital ingredient that forward line is lacking at the moment.

 

[Event Horizon]

P.S. Looks like it's going to be a long week.

It will be a long week, but how good will it feel on Saturday at 5pm?
I reckon it will be worth the wait. I won't bother going to their board for feedback after the game. I never do.

I am sure Melbourne hierarchy considered tanking for another year, just in case. But the Gold Coast draft concessions changed their plans, forcing them to start playing from 2010, instead of waiting for another year or two and more draft picks.

They can have all the draft picks they can get - it won't be enough for me to start taking them seriously for some time at least. The club without a culture.

 

[Hannabal]

The club without a culture.

Any perceived "culture" your club may or may not have started with a Melb icon. You don't have "culture" until you've won a flag.

If you want to learn about "culture" then do yourself a favour and click on this link.

http://gameplans.tumblr.com/post/549942291/ron-barassi-jim-stynes-and-the-mcg

Btw, good signature. Our club is older than yours though.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Any perceived "culture" your club may or may not have started with a Melb icon. You don't have "culture" until you've won a flag.

If you want to learn about "culture" then do yourself a favour and click on this link.

http://gameplans.tumblr.com/post/549942291/ron-barassi-jim-stynes-and-the-mcg

Btw, good signature. Our club is older than yours though.

Speaking of culture, the Melbourne Football Club has a rich and proud tradition, no doubt. However, all this has been compromised over the last few years by blatant tanking to take advantage of a flawed drafting system. Those in charge of the club over the last few years have belittled the blood, sweat and tears that the legends of yesteryear sacrificed for that club. No bullsh1t articles or statement to the contrary from those within the club can change the fact that the proud heritage of the MFC now carries a black stain of deliberate poor performance for long term gain. In other words, the culture of the MFC has been sold for a few gold coins. That's nothing to be proud of and certainly not a solid foundation for a club entering a new era.

 

[whippa]

Any perceived "culture" your club may or may not have started with a Melb icon. You don't have "culture" until you've won a flag.

If you want to learn about "culture" then do yourself a favour and click on this link.

http://gameplans.tumblr.com/post/549942291/ron-barassi-jim-stynes-and-the-mcg

Btw, good signature. Our club is older than yours though.

http://gameplans.tumblr.com/post/549942291/ron-barassi-jim-stynes-and-the-mcg

if you want the sympathy vote...

harsh i know... just repping the the Roos... sorry

 

[Hannabal]

Speaking of culture, the Melbourne Football Club has a rich and proud tradition, no doubt. However, all this has been compromised over the last few years by blatant tanking to take advantage of a flawed drafting system. Those in charge of the club over the last few years have belittled the blood, sweat and tears that the legends of yesteryear sacrificed for that club. No bullsh1t articles or statement to the contrary from those within the club can change the fact that the proud heritage of the MFC now carries a black stain of deliberate poor performance for long term gain. In other words, the culture of the MFC has been sold for a few gold coins. That's nothing to be proud of and certainly not a solid foundation for a club entering a new era.

You're speaking to a pro tanker. The MFC did what was encumbent upon them to rebuild the list as best they could. In fact, I reckon it would have been an utter disgrace for them to finish on 5 or 6 wins and miss out on the pp.

You're welcome to disagree.