Optimal midfield setup

[QS]

Watching the pie's midfield brigade in action on Saturday got me thinking.. Are we really playing our players through that area in the right way? I mean what do you guys see as our "optimum" line up there.. i.e balanced out.. run/skills/contested footy?

Personally I think in an under, Kerr, Scooter are good with Shuey for precision and masten for run.. each guy should have a job to do..

Interesting to hear thoughts, we have the talent.. just think it may be better utilised for improved run/carry and ultimately delivery into the forward 50 where we can do some damage rather than playing world war 2 and bombing like crazy..

 

[flyinghi64]

Hard to say with so many contenders and the fact that the midfield as such is only that at centre bounces. With the press and congested footy nowadays half the team play as midfielders.

As for optimal midfield set up I think Priddis Kerr and Scooter for who he is tagging. If Scooters tag is on the wing then Shooo should be the 3rd in there with NicNat rucking. At the end of the day you need clearance players who are also contested ball winners and these 3 would be our best in this area I would say.

Masten is getting there and I think if we are going to Play Frenchy there he needs to get better, he is good around the ground but not so at the centre.

I feel Rosa, Embley and Gaff or more wingers and running players than actual clearance players.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Optimal midfield I'd have would

Followers: Cox, Kerr, Shuey
Midfield: Gaff (wing), Priddis, Embley (wing)

Once Kerr shifts off, Masten in. Rosa has to fit in there somewhere too.

 

[QS]

I feel Rosa, Embley and Gaff or more wingers and running players than actual clearance players.

Agree on that, Gaff looks the type to run and overlap and finish with a precise pass.

I'm not convince Lecras is a midfielder either.. was worth a try, but I don't think he has the "engine room" brain that is needed. I'll probably cop shit for that, but he'd be better served crumbing inside 50 when those long bombs come in.

 

[nameless]

I'd much prefer Lecras as a permanent fwd, he's goal sense is very good and his entries in to fwd 50 aren't any better than our other players imo.

My ideal line-up is similar to others.

Foll: Cox, Kerr, SSelwood
C: Embley, Priddis, Shuey

With Gaff rotating on to the wings, Shuey having stints in the middle and Masten playing through the middle.

 

[Eagle87]

Our best starting 4 in the centre square is:

NN, Kerr, Shuey, Scooter

I'm shocked this is even in dispute ....

 

[Scotland]

Plan A

C: Embley Shuey Rosa
Foll: Naitanui, S Selwood, Kerr

Plan B

C: Ebert A Selwood Gaff
Foll: Cox, Masten, Priddis

 

[gurncentral]

I'd much prefer Lecras as a permanent fwd, he's goal sense is very good and his entries in to fwd 50 aren't any better than our other players imo.

He's a much better kick inside 50 than Priddis, Selwood or even Gaff. Might not be getting enough of it at the moment, though.

 

[lmach]

Our best starting 4 in the centre square is:

NN, Kerr, Shuey, Scooter

I'm shocked this is even in dispute ....

Your Priddis hate on this board is getting old...

Foll: Naitanui, Kerr, Shuey/Scooter
C: Embley, Priddis, Rosa

Gaff rotating with Embers and Rosa

 

[Keys]

Your Priddis hate on this board is getting old...

Has nothing to do with Priddis hate

If I wanted the best centre square combination it would be foursome E87 posted.

We could go with Lynch, A Selwood, Priddis and McGinnity though

 

[larrikin]

Our best starting 4 in the centre square is:

NN, Kerr, Shuey, Scooter

I'm shocked this is even in dispute ....

Agreed, but we don't just play 4 through the middle.

 

[Eagle87]

Your Priddis hate on this board is getting old...

Foll: Naitanui, Kerr, Shuey/Scooter
C: Embley, Priddis, Rosa

Gaff rotating with Embers and Rosa

Not as old as the inability of others to grasp football ...

That said, you named the same 4 as me, in your 5 man starting 4 ....

 

[QS]

I'm as guilty as anyone for getting frustrated at Priddis, but this year he's matured somewhat.. still errant at times, but a lot lot better and the fact he seems to be a ball magnet isn't a bad thing. You need guys like that on days where things ain't going our way.

I also think it's far too early to tell what sort of player Gaffy will be, but I tend to agree he's in the mould of Embley.

 

[flyinghi64]

Priddis has to be included in our best midfield. He is our best clearance player at 141 with the next best Shooo on 108.
He has more clearances than Ablett, Murphy, Swan,Thompson or Mitchell.
He is the 6th in the whole AFL.
I would also say his Contested posessions would be up there as well.

Yes I know some will come back with the "his disposal is crap" argument but the the idea of a midfield is to get their hands on the ball first and he does this in spades. His ball use is also continuing to improve.

 

[Kernel Sanders]

Give me the version of the team where Priddis is regularly lining up in the WAFL. You all know this is for the benefit of the team but are too stubborn to realize yet.

 

[nameless]

I know it's not everything, but Priddis is our best midfield chance at the brownlow this year and last year he topped the votes.

As i say Brownlow isn't everything, it's a midfielders medal, but he must be doing something right, i like him in the middle.

 

[lewigie]

I know it's not everything, but Priddis is our best midfield chance at the brownlow this year and last year he topped the votes.

As i say Brownlow isn't everything, it's a midfielders medal, but he must be doing something right, i like him in the middle.

Uhh.. Heard of Daniel Kerr?

 

[WCErevival]

Uhh.. Heard of Daniel Kerr?

Kerr has only played a handful of games.

 

[lewigie]

Kerr has only played a handful of games.

And he's been BOG in most of them.

If he's not our highest vote winner I'll eat my hat.

 

[bodazoka]

I love Priddis and defend him all the time.

However our best starting 4 centre square would be Naita, Shuey, Scooter and Kerr every day of the week. Priddis would probably be at HF when this happens.

One thing I do know.. whatever the best set up is they need to start winning allot more clean clearances. It was the biggest reason IMO we lost against the pies.

 

[lmach]

Not as old as the inability of others to grasp football ...

That said, you named the same 4 as me, in your 5 man starting 4 ....

Umm..no I didn't. I said NN, Kerr, one of Shuey/Scooter, Priddis

Put your glasses on

 

[Eagle87]

Umm..no I didn't. I said NN, Kerr, one of Shuey/Scooter, Priddis

Put your glasses on

Well, you hedged your bets by choosing neither of them, so you actually named 5 possibles for 4 spots ...

So your position is its NN, Kerr, Priddis and which one?

If its Shuey you are arguing we go in with 3 mids who are naturally offensive and don't really defend in the centre square. If its Priddis, its your position that he offers more as an offensive mid alongside Kerr than Shuey does ....

Both those positions are certainly open for debate but they sound more like the pigheaded position of someone who just wanted to rant about a lack of Priddis love.

 

[flyinghi64]

And he's been BOG in most of them.

If he's not our highest vote winner I'll eat my hat.

Better start marinating that hat cause I'm pretty sure Cox will be our biggest vote winner.

 

[QS]

Interesting bump, would many now include Masten in this? or could we include Gaff in the midfield and have Masten as a wing runner?

We are still bombing though.

 

[Patron]

^^ i would now.

NN Masten, Shuey, Scooter,