Our B-grade midfield - will not win a premiership with it

[Brent24]

Would certainly help if Wellingham was actually played/played in the middle, we have our old extractors, but Wellingham is an inside mid who has skills. Surely they must give Thomas more time in the middle, he is just too quiet always up forward.

I know Johnson didn't play in the guts last night, but he shouldn't at all, he's far too one sided and even his left foot just isn't up to scratch.

 

[Dundalis]

THANK CHRIST FOR THAT. I now have all respect for you Invigoration. Its about time someone acknowledged O'Bree's work in the middle. Whilst his kicking sometimes annoys me, I love his clearance work, which alot of people seem to ignore.

Just because someone is one of a kind at one club doesn't mean they are deserving of great praise. For me it just means we have done a very bad job of picking his type of player, but one with even a smidgen of class out of the draft. If you have one average key forward and naught else, you don't praise that forward because you don't have anything better.

We need to replace players like O'Bree, Johnson and Shaw with players who bring similar positives but a lot more ability and skill. Otherwise as others have said we will struggle to win a flag with those guys in the side.

 

[Dundalis]

Kerr has proven himself to be a product of his peers, and is being shown to be not the amazing player he is proclaimed to be.

Nothing about Kerr this year has said to me he is worthy of our first round draft pick and a good youngster (which is a minimum WC would expect).

Kerr has some vicious downfalls, and while he would be a good addition, he isn't the second coming of christ by any margin.

Do you think Ablett would be as dominant in the Eagles side? Even Judd is playing with a better midfield at Carlton.

Daniel Kerr is a fantastic player and just as good as advertised. Of course he has his shortcomings, but when he is in full flight, he's just as good as Ablett and marginally behind Judd. I think every player is a product of their peers to some extent.

 

[johnson252525]

The Pies need Daniel Wells - classy with his skills and sets up plays.

 

[alfio]

back of the pack Wells.

 

[didaka]

Just gotta keep developing the likes of Thomas, Wellingham and McCarthy for midfield roles. Add Pendlebury who is already there to that and you have a good solid young midfield in the making.

Thomas has shown when given the chance that he can find it 20 times a game and when he has it he breaks lines.

Wellingham is improving. Is somewhat a fair way away from being a good consistent midfielder, but none the less he is a good young mid in the making.

McCarthy will be a player. Has already shown a little in the VFL and you would be surprised how much a player can improve at that level with their 2nd pre season under their belt. He will no doubt be pushing hard for selection next year. At present he is playing a few different roles at seconds level but long term he is a midfield prospect.

These boys will continue to grow and gain experience at the same time as our young KPP and ruckman and in a couple of years you've got a lot of semi mature players all having played around 50-100 games and ready to have a major assualt on the premiership.

 

[Kirby]

I agree with Didaka above ^

I would also add that I have high hopes for Stanley. He just needs to be given a chance.

 

[shawthing09]

A midfield is not so much B grade as it is incomplete. As has previously been mentioned Benny Johnson didn spend much time in the guts last night.

Swan Didak Pendles are a pretty decent work. Swanny's work inside improved a hell of a lot last year and has continued to do so. I think Didak just needs to continue to get the fitness base. He is making a lot more errors with the ball then you would expect from Didak I think a lot of that has to do with fatigue.

O'Bree and Burns are givens as they are the one who win us the ball. I think it's pretty clear that we need to have people who are ready to step up when these two are done and they deffinately need to have better footskills then O'Bree but it is a work in progress.

I think also having Didak playing pretty much his first year in the midfield and Pendles adapting to extra attention and only his third year both those guys will keep getting better.

We as has been mentioned just need everyone going in and trying to win the ball it seemed right across the board the players just expected the cards to fall into place tonight

 

[Bay Pie]

With Pendles, Didak, Swan and Davis in there now, it is still a good midfield. Thomas needs to be played through there a lot more, in time he will be a top tier midfielder.
We are building our own talent, but it doesn't happen overnight. Wellingham will be a dominate player, but not instantly. Stanley should and will come on IMO, and McCarthy seems to possess a lot of attributes that would make a good midfielder.

This is spot on. I have faith that Stanley will fill the role of Burnsy when he retires. He is 20 years old. Bit much expecting a kid to come in as an in and under midfielder. He'd get smashed and injured.

Just check Sam Mitchells rise.

I haven't seen alot of J Mac but all the others have shown enough to suggest we are on the right track.

I'm a fan of Ben Cousins' on field exploits. He brings instant improvement but not only his ability but the less attention on the others. I hope we draft him.

 

[Brent24]

Try and work on getting Stanley and McCarthy as replacements for Burns and O'Bree when they are ready to finish (or when the club thinks).

In a few years we could have Pendlebury - Wellingham - Thomas (i hope he gets more time in the middle) - Stanley - McCarthy - Swan

If our youngsters are devoloped right, that seems like a fair list to me. (I'm looking into the future, because right now, we're not a realistic GF chance in my opinion)

 

[bradrowe#32]

Well done mate.

I suggest everyone can benefit from not posting 24 hours after the match.

The emotion is really affecting most of your judgements.

We are the fourth best side in the league this year, and we're only getting better.

FFS its a young team on the rise together, people are expecting them to win every single game or what?

I agree with this. We are still a very young team and although I desperately want success, all the hoping in the world ain't gonna make it happen.

We are still developing and growing. Geelong made the finals a few years in a row and then had a shocker in 2006. Then they win the flag.