Midfielder Eddie

[Blues in 3 yrs.]

Will the coaching staff challenge or can Eddie to improve his fitness to become a genuine midfielder? When he goes in there he goes really good.

Not a comparison in terms of skill or expectation but will be along the same lines of Ablett jnr. where he started forward early in career.

 

[KOUTA 43]

Agreed.

 

[Jeremias]

I'd argue that he's more influential as a midfielder when he is in there for short, sharp bursts than he would be as a permanent midfielder.

 

[Faz 2000]

Can I ask... what is the obsession with turning forwards and defenders into midfielders?

It comes up whenever Yarran has a good game, whenever Betts' improved fitness is mentioned, and seems to happen amongst all clubs' fans.

I just don't get it. Sure, midfield is important, and you need plenty of them. But a really good forward or a really good defender are harder to find than a really good midfielder. Eddie Betts will quite possibly kick/create the most goals of anyone at our club this year. Why would we look to move him AWAY from the goals, where kicking goals is our chief concern this season?

There are plenty of players in the league who have started as forwards and "joined the midfield rotation", but guys like Paul Chapman, Alan Didak, and Shaun Higgins are still at their best when they kick goals. In a way I see it as a waste of their skills to be plugging away in the midfield.

Eddie can have his spin in at centre bounces, sure, because he's hands down low are exceptional. But Eddie is something special up forward, and that's where I'd like to see him stay.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Faz, if Eddie had the tank and the physical presence he would dominate in the midfield.
IMO He's easily second in extracting the ball from stoppages behind Judd (maybe Brock will relegate him, too).
He has an innate ability to find the football in close.
I'm assuming it's the same argument as 'Why waste Kreuzer in the forward line'.

 

[kreuzecontrol]

Interesting to see Ratts carries similar sentiments, remarking in todays Age of Eddie's 'instinctual' ability to get the ball. Not huge on the whole 'innate', 'instinctual' terminology that gets thrown around, but if Ratts is using it to suggest that Betts will spend more time in the guts, then all is forgiven.

 

[OldBlueFan]

But nonetheless, Faz makes a good point. If Eddie is using his extraction ability in the middle (or wing or HBF) then he has to get it to someone else who can kick a goal. On the other hand, if he extracts it inside 40 metres he can take the shot himself.

Apart from last week, he has certainly demonstrated his ability to be one of our more accurate kicks for goal.

By all means play him in the midfield when he's ready, but for god's sake, have a ready replacement up forward!

 

[Blues in 3 yrs.]

Eddie said himself with Yaz and garlett in squad there is plenty of competition for his spot. with the expected development of both these two eddie in midfield would be unstoppable

 

[Azul]

'Why waste Kreuzer in the forward line'.

Why waste him in the ruck when he could easily kick 60 goals a year?

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Betts' has been pretty effective when switched upfield. Terrific ability to read the ball out of the centre snap

By why do we need another midfielder?

 

[Jeremias]

By why do we need another midfielder?

You can never have enough quality midfielders.

 

[Azul]

By why do we need another midfielder?

#5 is suspended.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

#5 is suspended.

#7 seems to enjoy getting down and dirty in the middle.

Couldn't see him playing forward,
Houlihan or Gibbs if i was being sneaky tomorrow nite.

 

[Sin City]

Good call numbers, would love to see Gibbs in the forward line a bit more. Kade Simpson in the third quarter last week showed what a difference a real class player down there makes. The way Gibbs is marking the ball this year and his great kicking would make him a real asset down there, only when Judd gets back of course. That goal he kicked from outside 50 last week was a pearler.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Good call numbers, would love to see Gibbs in the forward line a bit more. Kade Simpson in the third quarter last week showed what a difference a real class player down there makes. The way Gibbs is marking the ball this year and his great kicking would make him a real asset down there, only when Judd gets back of course. That goal he kicked from outside 50 last week was a pearler.

No doubt would love to see Gibbs forward, saw a fair bit of his SA footy, and though he always played from the back of the square, always got forward and kicked bags.

His decison making is just so good, i just reckon he is the cool head we need forward of centre, but none of the Grigg, Armfield, Browne, Anderson batch has come good enough to free him up.

 

[OldBlueFan]

Eddie said himself with Yaz and garlett in squad there is plenty of competition for his spot. with the expected development of both these two eddie in midfield would be unstoppable

Yep, and the amount of time it will take for them to be truly able to "replace" Eddie just about corresponds with your alias

Actually, to be fair, although I think he has great skills, I don't think Yarran will step up to Eddie's level until later this year at best and then Garlett maybe sometime the next year (assuming he doesn't get frustrated and leave Carlton anyway).

And before you jump on me TG and others, I mean Eddie's level of output and endeavour.

 

[Sin City]

Actually, to be fair, although I think he has great skills, I don't think Yarran will step up to Eddie's level until later this year at best and then Garlett maybe sometime the next year (assuming he doesn't get frustrated and leave Carlton anyway).

Yeah, it takes a while for young players to learn all the little tricks required to succeed as a small forward in the AFL. It'll take them a while and it probably won't even be the position Yarran plays anyway.