Our Midfield

[Lsta062]

This is the key (can also add Vlastuin to the group), as well as Martin being effective up forward.

If Martin kicks 20+ with other mids like Caddy and Edwards also impacting the scoreboard (Caddy kicked 21 goals this season for Geelong), then we can have a decent season from an offensive perspective. We need more goal kicking mids and these three midfielders are a key in that IMO.

 

[Tomnat Tigers]

If Martin kicks 20+ with other mids like Caddy and Edwards also impacting the scoreboard (Caddy kicked 21 goals this season for Geelong), then we can have a decent season from an offensive perspective. We need more goal kicking mids and these three midfielders are a key in that IMO.

Martin should be looking at 30+. Did in his second season and is a better play these days.

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Prestia will get another 10% out of himself just by playing in front of real (and rabid) Tiger supporters. Playing at the gold coast, probably this biggest crowds he's played in front of would be 25? Maybe 30. Imagine 85k round 1. He'll feed off our energy streaming into the 50 at the punt road end

 

[NZ_Tiger]

Grigg was top 5 in our b&f..

Get a grip.

A lot of the reason we are circling the drain. Very ordinary when he's your 3rd or 4th midfielder.

 

[Al Kemy]

Just hope Caddy and Prestia aren't forced down on the half back flanks to add to the defensive side of their game.

Get some sunshine!

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Get some sunshine!

Only if dimma does too

 

[Capitano_Cotch]

Caddy will be played in the back pocket to learn the defensive side of the game.
Prestia will be played in the ruck as Dimma thinks that even at 175cm he would like him to work on that aspect of his game.
But seriously, I think we have some great depth in the midfield and an even better age profile.
Cotchin is our oldest A-grade midfielder and he turns 27 in April.
I'm pretty optimistic about next season but still have big concerns in the forward line.
Need Lennon to come on and be that goal kicking half forward who can occasionally go in the midfield.

 

[exceptional design]

Ahhh nice to find a thread with some optimism. I was writing down all our players last night and seperating mids, fwd etc, we do have some nice depth there. Not even including utility players that can rotate through there. No more lock ins, whoever is playing the best is in, more competition will be better for our culture, especially the young ones like you said.​

This!
I don't care what their names are, where they were drafted, how old, how long been on the list PROVIDED they have good form in the position they are playing.
Excluding a few positions like ruck, I don't care what size they. If they are good enough size doesn't matter!

 

[Al Kemy]

Exacary! You cant wait to win to have a winning attitude, that goes for supporters too!

 

[Not Important]

i am feeling more optimistic than i have for years.

 

[Rfc2016]

Caddy will be played in the back pocket to learn the defensive side of the game.
Prestia will be played in the ruck as Dimma thinks that even at 175cm he would like him to work on that aspect of his game.
But seriously, I think we have some great depth in the midfield and an even better age profile.
Cotchin is our oldest A-grade midfielder and he turns 27 in April.
I'm pretty optimistic about next season but still have big concerns in the forward line.
Need Lennon to come on and be that goal kicking half forward who can occasionally go in the midfield.

Lennon needs to turn into a Jack Darling type. Playing as a mobile forward who gives a marking option when Jack and Griff are covered. Provide defensive pressure when he doesn't have the ball and utilise his undoubted foot skills to apply scoreboard pressure. His improvement, or lack thereof, will be a big indicator to where we finish in 2017.

 

[TiggerMan22]

Yes he will. Like he has been for the last 5 seasons, he will be the first one tagged.

Not a chance. He wont be focused every single contest when we have Caddy, Dusty and Prestia as big extractors aswell. No point holding just Cotch down when we have another 3 that can win ball equally as well.

 

[TheProwler]

Reckon Vlastuin needs to be heavily worked over summer to get some stamina into him. Hiding him in defence is a weak cop out, if he can't play midfield he is traded st seasons end IMO.

I also want to see some of Rioli in there for numerous stints per game through the first part of the season to see what he can do.

 

[Tango67]

Brandon Ellis will be a gun

give him the right game style, play him tohis strengths and watch.

Grigg could very well be pushed out of best 22, but is good depth

like no tackling, no contests, running sideways, stop start and hospital passes, panicking under pressure... that game plan suits Ellis to a tee... he is what's considered....
An Astronaut..... Good in space

 

[exceptional design]

Vlastuin isn't quick, but I have never thought of him as not having a good tank. When he started playing for us he was HFF & mid, until he went back.
I don't think that was because of a lack of fitness, but more to make the back line better.

Vlastuins Draft Profile below.

 

[Dragonss]

FB: Grimes - Astbury - Vlastuin
HB: Houli - Rance - Yarran
C: B Ellis - Caddy - Mcintosh
HF: Prestia - Riewoldt - Martin
FF: Rioli - Griffiths - Lloyd
R: Hampson - Cotchin - Miles
INT: Grigg - C Ellis - Edwards - Menadue/Markov/Conca

The impenetrable trio of Grimes, Astbury and Rance.
Deadly rebound of Houli or Yarran. If they try to put someone on Houli then Yarran will tear them up and vice versa.
Running machines in Brandon Ellis and Mcintosh.
Two tall forwards in Riewoldt and Griffiths and the likes of Lloyd, Rioli and Edwards can rove the contests. After another pre-season Rioli will be the pressure king.
Miles and Caddy to be contested kings. Feeding it out to Cotchin, Prestia or Dusty. I can't see any team NOT tagging Cotch, he's just too much of a beast when he's loose.
Hopefully Corey Ellis has a good run at it this year, his skills are just so silky, needs to get more of the ball but overall makes his possessions count. Having 5 amigos in the middle like Cotchin, Dusty, Prestia, Miles and Caddy will be sublime. Still sucks not having Deledio but i guess he can't play forever.

 

[ryza87]

The most interesting part for me next year is the flow on affect that Caddy and Prestia will cause.
Dusty more forward, Cotch more on the outside etc.

Brando is probably the most interesting player for me, I wonder what he will bring next year, the new additions may help him allot.

 

[guruisatiger]

Dusty will win the Michael roach medal

Will kick 71 goals

 

[Woodstock]

The Bulldogs showed it this year, it's not slow possession based footy you need, it's fast gut running football that wins games nowadays. I'm not sure our midfield is capable of playing this way.

 

[TheoEpstein]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but going on last year's numbers for Prez and Nank and 2015's for Caddy (when he spent more time in the midfield);

They'd be the top 3 tacklers on our list and Prez and Caddy would both be top 4 for contested possessions. This is exactly what we need. It gives Cotchin, Miles and Dusty the support they need, it lets other players play roles that suit them far better and gives the entire on ball set up much more flexibility.

Finishing last in tackles (by an embarrassing margin) wasn't good enough and it's obvious fixing this fundamental flaw in our performance was a major priority. Similarly, our domination of contested possessions was the driving force behind our great form in the last 3/4 of 2015. Bizarrely enough we fell away in that area dramatically this year even after Hardwick pointed out that our EF final loss to North was caused by the shocking CP differential. Again, thankfully, it seems people realise this and have taken steps to fix it.

 

[Al Kemy]

Lennon needs to turn into a Jack Darling type. Playing as a mobile forward who gives a marking option when Jack and Griff are covered. Provide defensive pressure when he doesn't have the ball and utilise his undoubted foot skills to apply scoreboard pressure. His improvement, or lack thereof, will be a big indicator to where we finish in 2017.

Also needs to get mor

The most interesting part for me next year is the flow on affect that Caddy and Prestia will cause.
Dusty more forward, Cotch more on the outside etc.
t
Brando is probably the most interesting player for me, I wonder what he will bring next year, the new additions may help him allot.

We have a number of players with question marks don't we. We have been discussing them all year. Adding these two will help see who's got what also. Im looking forward to next year a lot.

 

[Calcium Man]

McIntosh is the one who we need to go to next level and play a big mid role. Filled holes in backline before injury and was a fish out of water.

I found an old gif i made of him and why i want him in as a big inside mid, just love how he barrels Heppell out of the way.

Also while looking at my old gifs I found this one of Shed... can we please get him playing with these hands again?

 

[guruisatiger]

cal moore and kam mtosh on opposite wings will terriorise opponenets in the years to come

 

[ryza87]

Also needs to get mor

We have a number of players with question marks don't we. We have been discussing them all year. Adding these two will help see who's got what also. Im looking forward to next year a lot.

No doubt. I also cant wait, im bullish anout next.

 

[Rumballs]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but going on last year's numbers for Prez and Nank and 2015's for Caddy (when he spent more time in the midfield);

They'd be the top 3 tacklers on our list and Prez and Caddy would both be top 4 for contested possessions. This is exactly what we need. It gives Cotchin, Miles and Dusty the support they need, it lets other players play roles that suit them far better and gives the entire on ball set up much more flexibility.

Finishing last in tackles (by an embarrassing margin) wasn't good enough and it's obvious fixing this fundamental flaw in our performance was a major priority. Similarly, our domination of contested possessions was the driving force behind our great form in the last 3/4 of 2015. Bizarrely enough we fell away in that area dramatically this year even after Hardwick pointed out that our EF final loss to North was caused by the shocking CP differential. Again, thankfully, it seems people realise this and have taken steps to fix it.

I agree with a lot of that. Wonder about tackle counts. Little Al's comments after the Hawks lost the semi talked about 100 tackles for only 3 free kicks make me wonder if the number of tackles are a readily available but misleading stat. Maybe it's more about pressure, turnovers, DE which are harder to measure.