New faces in the midfield?

[Coin_Toss]

Malthouse was speaking about making a rearrangement in the midfield department around the half way mark of the season. He mentioned Adam Iacobucci and Scott Pendlebury.
Who are they going to replace? Mick seems to be keen on giving them heaps of game time in the midfield sooner rather than later.

 

[hotpie]

They'll replace nobody at the moment. We also have to squeeze Rhyce in as well as Holland back from suspension. Its a great position to be in but thing can change quickly.

Those most under pressure are Burns Lockyer Davis and Davies. Buckley may find himself rested from time to time (maybe against the Eagles????) , and Thomas may find a full season hard going due to his light frame. Plus we'll get injuries. We've been lucky so far.

 

[bren_gc]

They'll replace nobody at the moment. We also have to squeeze Rhyce in as well as Holland back from suspension. Its a great position to be in but thing can change quickly.

Those most under pressure are Burns Lockyer Davis and Davies. Buckley may find himself rested from time to time (maybe against the Eagles????) , and Thomas may find a full season hard going due to his light frame. Plus we'll get injuries. We've been lucky so far.

I don't think Lockyer is under any pressure. Davies will go this week to make way for Holland. Davis did some good things against port, but was unaccountable on his opponent. Did some classy things late in the middle.
Burns must stay in the team, irreplaceable experience and toughness.

I think this week Holland will be in for Davies, and if Davis doesn't play well we may see pendles in against WC. Although Davis plays well in WA.

 

[hotpie]

I don't think Lockyer is under any pressure. Davies will go this week to make way for Holland. Davis did some good things against port, but was unaccountable on his opponent. Did some classy things late in the middle.
Burns must stay in the team, irreplaceable experience and toughness.

I think this week Holland will be in for Davies, and if Davis doesn't play well we may see pendles in against WC. Although Davis plays well in WA.

Like I said, nobody is under any pressure at the moment. But its only Round 5 in a 22 week season, we have not played anybody decent yet (except the Crows) and form will waver. Players who lack legspeed will be the first to go if and when we start losing.

 

[Paracetamol Merchant]

i doubt Lockyer would ever be dropped. After checking out the AFL prospectus for this season I noticed his game time percentage last yr was at 93%, third only to clement and presti. he's exactly the sought of player that mick loves, strong backside, good skills, tireless etc. in fact i dont think he's missed a game under mick when fit.

alot of people say licca is micks lovechild, but id say lockyer is more so.

plus he didnt look to slow chasing down that aboriginal player on the weekend to get the holding the ball.

 

[G.O.B]

Leon Davis would be the obvious player under the pump, although I thought parts of his game on Sunday were very promising.Got a few clearances using the very element we have been sorely crying out for in leg speed.Does have a tendency though to completely disappear for large parts of the game.
Tarkyn is another that would need to continue performing on a weekly basis.His form early was a major worry but he has turned that around.For now.
Same can be said about Licca. Admittedly, he has come off his best game for the season but I sense he will be severely exploited against some of the quicker sides in the comp. But it has been stated that he is MM's lovechild and will be in the team for the foreseeable future unless his form drops dramatically.

I'd say that O'Bree and Holland are relatively safe due to form and versatility respectively. Both are seasoned campaigners so we shouldn't really see a huge fluctuation beetween their best and their worst. That should be enough to keep them in the team for the rest of this year at least.

 

[Jabso]

I agree with MM.
We need to invest game time into these players. It is also wise to give players with good VFL form a chance to boost morale. All part of the big picture.
Burns is being treated with safety gloves so may come in and out of the side, Holland may have to pick up form or risk getting "rested" as would Lockyer (he is solid but could be better). Davis, besides his port game, is an obvious choice too.
All these players are playing 2nd fiddle in the new midfield to the likes of Swan, O'Bree, Johnson and Lonie. If we have a full list we could probably afford to do a few rotations.

 

[Marklar_33]

I think Davis needs to stay in the side. We need that burst of pace, and even though hes not a big stat getter, when he gets it this year, something seems to happen...

 

[Paracetamol Merchant]

Leon Davis would be the obvious player under the pump, although I thought parts of his game on Sunday were very promising.Got a few clearances using the very element we have been sorely crying out for in leg speed.Does have a tendency though to completely disappear for large parts of the game.

maybe coz he's on the bench, ya know that wooden thing.

 

[Stan.]

Pendlebury, egan, yakka, rowe maybe cook and stanley should be getting games around the middle of the year to help provide some run in the middle.

 

[Mossi]

It's going to be real interesting to know how MM & Co are going to rotate these players around sounds like a great idea as it is impossible for all the playing group to maintain that peak all season. Could be a first, like an extended bench and if we make the 8 hope they peak for those 4weeks!!

 

[Jabso]

Leon Davis would be the obvious player under the pump, although I thought parts of his game on Sunday were very promising.Got a few clearances using the very element we have been sorely crying out for in leg speed.Does have a tendency though to completely disappear for large parts of the game.
Tarkyn is another that would need to continue performing on a weekly basis.His form early was a major worry but he has turned that around.For now.
Same can be said about Licca. Admittedly, he has come off his best game for the season but I sense he will be severely exploited against some of the quicker sides in the comp. But it has been stated that he is MM's lovechild and will be in the team for the foreseeable future unless his form drops dramatically.

I'd say that O'Bree and Holland are relatively safe due to form and versatility respectively. Both are seasoned campaigners so we shouldn't really see a huge fluctuation beetween their best and their worst. That should be enough to keep them in the team for the rest of this year at least.

Omg it's GOB! Do your chicken dance!
COME ON!!!!
or have I made a huge mistake?

 

[G.O.B]

Omg it's GOB! Do your chicken dance!
COME ON!!!!
or have I made a huge mistake?

OK

 

[G.O.B]

maybe coz he's on the bench, ya know that wooden thing.

I was referring to his actual time on the ground as opposed to the bench.
I assumed people would realise this or are you suggesting the LD is the opitome of on ground consistency on a week to week basis.

FACT: Leon has the tendency to acquire very few possesions while still spending alot of time on the ground.

If you can find statistical evidence to show that i am mistaken I will happily apologise and retract my statement but I will not be holding my breath for that.

 

[Paracetamol Merchant]

I was referring to his actual time on the ground as opposed to the bench.
I assumed people would realise this or are you suggesting the LD is the opitome of on ground consistency on a week to week basis.

FACT: Leon has the tendency to acquire very few possesions while still spending alot of time on the ground.

If you can find statistical evidence to show that i am mistaken I will happily apologise and retract my statement but I will not be holding my breath for that.

id say the fact that he amassed 17 possesions despite having about 65% game time v port is a sign that this tendancy is about to change.

 

[G.O.B]

id say the fact that he amassed 17 possesions despite having about 65% game time v port is a sign that this tendancy is about to change.

Let's hope so. I would love to see a firing Davis in the team, but for actual performance week in, week out rather than his potential upside.
His leg speed and creativity could really benefit the team but we definetly need to see it a hell of a lot more regulary than we do currently.

 

[Lensen]

Coca coca coca!

 

[MK CHOPPER]

maybe coz he's on the bench, ya know that wooden thing.

You..you ..you're good..love your work