List Mgmt. Our Midfield

[pinot]

They need to be flexible and ability to play in different positions. Setterfield can play forward no problem and think Walsh will eventually be able to play half back. SPS has been trialled at half back/wing at times but think he is most damaging in the middle and half forward. So at the end of the day they need to be able to play in various positions. But they are all supremely talented.

 

[Benaly28]

Cripps
Murphy
Kennedy
Sps
Fisher
Dow
Setterfield
Walsh
Stocker
Curnow
Cunningham
Lang

One more mature classy mid would’ve topped it off.

 

[thylacine60]

They need to be flexible and ability to play in different positions. Setterfield can play forward no problem and think Walsh will eventually be able to play half back. SPS has been trialled at half back/wing at times but think he is most damaging in the middle and half forward. So at the end of the day they need to be able to play in various positions. But they are all supremely talented.

why? you wouldn't waste cripps there........

 

[Stamos]

This is the issue though in getting similar types as you start rotating between the two three to find the best...

Thing is, you need a lot of midfield rotations, and a lot of those guys can, or at least have potential, to go forward (Murphy, Cripps, Kennedy, Samo, Setterfield, Stocker, Dow).

As for Stocker’s endurance, heard his school coach from last year on SEN on Friday. Said he would come to the bench a lot so they thought he was unfit. Then they checked his GPS, and he was running more than anyone else. So maybe it’s overstated

 

[pinot]

why?

Running - decision making - ball winning ability. More than capable to set up play in future has a pretty sound defensive game.

 

[The Bighouse]

Cripps
Murphy / Setterfield
Kennedy / Dow
SPS / Walsh
Fisher / Stocker
Dow / Kennedy
Setterfield / SPS
Walsh / Fisher
Stocker / *Lang (unknown)
Curnow / *Cuningham (wing)
Cunningham
Lang

One more mature classy mid would’ve topped it off.

Will have to put the hat in the ring for next year now. Interesting to see who we target and if we land our target/s.

Think the order of preference will be as above as we go further in phase II.
That’s 8 talented though mostly young core midfielders to bring through together - maturity & tanks building.
LOB & DC more suited to the wings to add to that number and Lang still possible to enter the fray as a bonus.

 

[thylacine60]

Running - decision making - ball winning ability. More than capable to set up play in future has a pretty sound defensive game.

or he could stay in the middle where he belongs - we have plenty of hbflankers - our backline is set for a decade - walsh is a mid

 

[AceAndy]

why? you wouldn't waste cripps there........

Good point, not sure what this obsession with playing players out of position is.

 

[thylacine60]

everyone's a mid - and a hbf and a resting forward..........flexibility is one thing and moving positions can certainly re-invigorate a player - see chris yarran - but to do it just for the sake of it - that said I believe we need 14 mids - rotating or not

 

[Blue and Blue]

everyone's a mid - and a hbf and a resting forward..........flexibility is one thing and moving positions can certainly re-invigorate a player - see chris yarran - but to do it just for the sake of it - that said I believe we need 14 mids - rotating or not

Very incisive post there Thylacine..great stuff

 

[thylacine60]

apologies, b & b - I'll work at lifting my game ...............

 

[Blue and Blue]

apologies, b & b - I'll work at lifting my game ...............

That's what we hope and pray the blues have done

Reminds me of the night after the 86 grand final loss..back at Princes Park..every player came out and apologized with a promise to go one better next year..even Doully who had just played his last match

 

[pinot]

or he could stay in the middle where he belongs - we have plenty of hbflankers - our backline is set for a decade - walsh is a mid

Where in my post did i mention he wont be a midfielder? You making things up. I suggested versatility and flexibility thats about all. Stop talking shit and standing on a pedastal nothing is more annoying.

 

[thylacine60]

where did I mention you did, pinut? anyway, how'd you get out of the dungeon - back you go - cold gruel for dins tonight!

 

[Metalcrusher]

you're a peanut!

 

[JustaBattler]

everyone's a mid - and a hbf and a resting forward..........flexibility is one thing and moving positions can certainly re-invigorate a player - see chris yarran - but to do it just for the sake of it - that said I believe we need 14 mids - rotating or not

Yes ! the whole "what is a mid?" is a good question. My definition (FWIW) is all the players required to play between the arcs are midfielders.
SO that begs the next question
Who is required to play between the arcs?
and the answer to that is all about how the coach wants to set up for attack and defence.
AFL has been played and is being played more like round ball football as far as setups go.
This means that in attack either rebound or because of turnover between the arcs- the so-called HB line moves up and out of the defensive arc, arc and the centre crew move forwards and the HF crew move backwards - all at the same time
Effectively you have 12 players minimum between the arcs in attack - all (hopefully) running around creating options for kicks and handballs.

So there are as you say a minimum of 12 players who should be able to run between the arcs at all times- creating overlaps or turnovers.

In order to manage this amount of running - assuming 3 players on the bench are part of this rotational capability - we need 12 +3 = 15 midfielders.

The reason young kids all put on the ground at the same time doesn't work and makes the coach(es) look liek dingbats is that firstly teh kids can't run with their opponents between the arcs for 4 quarters ( fitness) and secondly - the need to know where and when to run with or away from their opponent - the headless chook syndrome is then further amplified by the fact that a bunch of kids cant effectively execute basic skills because they are not fit enough to - prety much they are playing tired by halfway through second quarter.

When we start seeing a string of possessions put together regularly between the arcs - the game will get easier for all and the scoring will increase substantially - till then it is headless chook time and poor Weitering copping a shellacking from posters every week because he is a lazy pea heart.

Sides in rebuild mode dont have the running power to stay with opposition or fitness base to execute basic skills or size to create turnovers from tackles. In a recent video - I heard Bolton adressing the side in pre-season and he finished by saying something very important - " from now on it is all about winning contests"
so at least Bolton is now expecting enough players to be able to win contests as a benchmark for their assessment. Hopefully, after 2-3 preseasons for a lot of these kids - they will be able to. IF so - sides wont be able to just run around the midfield - which was the major cause of the big losses the side experienced in 2018 - literally not being able to keep up with opponents on the spread.

 

[Michael Jezz]

Has Murphy broken his Neck? Why is he not in these discussions?

Because Murphy should play Half Forward Flank

 

[Weiterbot23]

All the pieces are there, just need time.

If we add Coniglio as a FA or Taranto via trading we will have the makings of the best midfield in the comp if the development goes as well as we hope.

 

[Arr0w]

All the pieces are there, just need time.

If we add Coniglio as a FA or Taranto via trading we will have the makings of the best midfield in the comp if the development goes as well as we hope.

We will have it, with or without them

Soon, rather than trying to court these players, they will be lining up, wanting in

Bookmark it

 

[thylacine60]

stop pinching my dramatic statements........

 

[Zlatan]

Cripps
Murphy
Kennedy
Sps
Fisher
Dow
Setterfield
Walsh
Stocker
Curnow
Cunningham
Lang

One more mature classy mid would’ve topped it off.

I wish we had a time machine we could use to fast forward 2 years. I’m convinced more than ever this midfield will be special, but it needs to mature and develop.

All out next year for a free agent midfielder. Give the sink, farm, shed, whatever else.

 

[JustaBattler]

nahhh no bought in stars for me - I want this group of kids to grow up together and I am looking forward to it all ....

 

[thylacine60]

nup - one marquee please, hold the mayo........

 

[Robbo's my hero]

We all know it’s about the big bloke who can clunk it and kick the goal.

 

[HereComesJuddy]

Where in my post did i mention he wont be a midfielder? You making things up. I suggested versatility and flexibility thats about all. Stop talking shit and standing on a pedastal nothing is more annoying.

Thy cant stand. He is too old. He rides around in a wheelchair with a dog in the basket which has a flower on it. He will run us all down if given the opportunity