List Mgmt. Our Midfield

[ParapMarkets]

Don't disagree with that and given the nature of contested ball, I am satisfied with what we are creating. I worry about the lack of consistency on the outside, so that is why I mentioned the likes of Cuners, Pickett, Garlett etc having to step up

If you look at WC, no real elite mid, but they do have Shuey and Yeo with some zip, then you add the likes of Rioli, Ryan, Venebles etc on the outside, it is a nice balance

Yeah we need some speedsters to step up, no doubt about it. They create real problems for the opposition. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is what we seek next trade period, zippy small forwards and a line breaking half back would add nicely. Obviously there is a lot of development needed, and at the moment a lot of what we have is players who were highly touted juniors, but it feels like we have a lot of the key ingredients on the list. We now need players to compliment them.

 

[Jeremias]

Lang is another with genuine pace who can rotate through the midfield.

I know many have put a line through him on the back of a disappointing 2018, but I still think he can be more than handy in 2019 and beyond.

 

[thylacine60]

nup

 

[Styxx]

Agree totally . And speed can also equate to a one step hand off to a five metre burst player going forward with killer instinct and low watchful eyes . Greg Williams was slow but he was fast. It’s team pace imo .


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Diesel was "slow" in the physical sense but clearly a step above in the mental aspect of the game for his time.

We seem to be recruiting a lot of players who are quick between the ears, might be the real.difference.

 

[BLUEALLTHRU]

nup

+1

 

[Nori]

The balance looks fine to me and they all have enough class to do some serious damage.

Gut Run: LOB, Ed C, Walsh
Burst: Fish, Dow, Cunners, Polson
Bulls: Kennedy, Crippa, Stock, Setters
Evasion: SPS, Pickett

We need this group of players to really click. If Carlton are going to make great strides in 2019 it will need to start with the midfield.

 

[gandaal]

Lang is another with genuine pace who can rotate through the midfield.

I know many have put a line through him on the back of a disappointing 2018, but I still think he can be more than handy in 2019 and beyond.

nup

Our lack of small forward options might open the door for Lang. I don't see him in the middle without another injury crisis.

 

[Coona Blues]

What I am find interesting is thinking about what we do with Murphy. Probably a good problem to have.

Murphy will be the biggest beneficiary from our increased midfield depth, albeit a little underdeveloped.
I can't support the calls for him to play primarily forward. We need to find some long term partners for the talls, as well
as having spots for midfield rotations. Murphy plays out most of the next two years as an outside midfielder, more
specifically on the wing. Will probably spend some time providing some rebound off a HBF, and may be transitioned
in to a short term Simmo replacement (yes I believe this year will be his last) while we seek out a long term attacking
option from defence.

 

[HARKER]

The balance looks fine to me and they all have enough class to do some serious damage.

Gut Run: LOB, Ed C, Walsh
Burst: Fish, Dow, Cunners, Polson
Bulls: Kennedy, Crippa, Stock, Setters
Evasion: SPS, Pickett

We need this group of players to really click. If Carlton are going to make great strides in 2019 it will need to start with the midfield.

I'll give you bulls, but how many of those can you play at the one time?

Dow is the only burst player, I see. Fisher is a little different but not to say he can't be just as effective. Cuningham has no idea when playing in the midfield.

We have got some good runners, in as you say O'Brien, ECurnow and Walsh, along with Williamson.
Some genuine soutside peed to go along with that wouldn't hurt, which is why we really have to get the likes of Cuningham and Pickett up and running.

 

[Macca43]

I'll give you bulls, but how many of those can you play at the one time?

Dow is the only burst player, I see. Fisher is a little different but not to say he can't be just as effective. Cuningham has no idea when playing in the midfield.

We have got some good runners, in as you say O'Brien, ECurnow and Walsh, along with Williamson.
Some genuine soutside peed to go along with that wouldn't hurt, which is why we really have to get the likes of Cuningham and Pickett up and running.

I think you could easily play all 4 "bulls" in the one side, especially as Cripps, Setterfield and to a lesser degree Kennedy can all go forward and be dangerous marking options.

 

[BLUEALLTHRU]

Our lack of small forward options might open the door for Lang. I don't see him in the middle without another injury crisis.

I don't see him anywhere sorry.

 

[teagueyubeauty]

Yeah we need some speedsters to step up, no doubt about it. They create real problems for the opposition. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is what we seek next trade period, zippy small forwards and a line breaking half back would add nicely. Obviously there is a lot of development needed, and at the moment a lot of what we have is players who were highly touted juniors, but it feels like we have a lot of the key ingredients on the list. We now need players to compliment them.

Yep, we start from next trade/draft period adding the cream to a well made cake

 

[Blue__Balls]

I think you could easily play all 4 "bulls" in the one side, especially as Cripps, Setterfield and to a lesser degree Kennedy can all go forward and be dangerous marking options.

But is there any need for Cripps, Setterfield and Kennedy to go forward and be dangerous marking options if we already have Curnow, McKay, McGovern and Fasolo down there?

Got a feeling Kennedy is going to have a hard time holding a spot past 2019. He'll be on the list for sure, but he's got less tricks than Setterfield, Stocker, Dow, Cripps etc. and as such might become the first depth choice rather than a starting mid. It's not a criticism of him either, more a commentary on the wonderful young midfield group we're building.

 

[Macca43]

But is there any need for Cripps, Setterfield and Kennedy to go forward and be dangerous marking options if we already have Curnow, McKay, McGovern and Fasolo down there?

Got a feeling Kennedy is going to have a hard time holding a spot past 2019. He'll be on the list for sure, but he's got less tricks than Setterfield, Stocker, Dow, Cripps etc. and as such might become the first depth choice rather than a starting mid. It's not a criticism of him either, more a commentary on the wonderful young midfield group we're building.

I don't have Fasolo down there but players are going to be rotated McKay can come off for a rest, Setterfield can go forward, Charlie can spend 5 minutes on a wing and Cripps can spend 5 minutes in the goal square, McGovern can go back to defence and Kennedy go go forward.

I agree Kennedy has a fight on his hands but I don't think he can't play with the other 3 if his form is good enough.

 

[katmanblue]

But is there any need for Cripps, Setterfield and Kennedy to go forward and be dangerous marking options if we already have Curnow, McKay, McGovern and Fasolo down there?

Got a feeling Kennedy is going to have a hard time holding a spot past 2019. He'll be on the list for sure, but he's got less tricks than Setterfield, Stocker, Dow, Cripps etc. and as such might become the first depth choice rather than a starting mid. It's not a criticism of him either, more a commentary on the wonderful young midfield group we're building.

How many teams have 195cm 4th tall that could stop Cripps in the air?

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[Blue__Balls]

How many teams have 195cm 4th tall that could stop Cripps in the air?

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How many teams have three talls that could stop McKay, Curnow and McGovern in the air?

I have no doubt that Cripps will spend some time in the forward 50. I just disagree with the notion of playing three big, slow mids who can take a mark up forward. You don't want all three in the middle, and there is limited value in having one of them in the forward line at all times.

I think by the time Setterfield is hitting his straps, Kennedy might be on the edge.

 

[Blue__Balls]

I don't have Fasolo down there but players are going to be rotated McKay can come off for a rest, Setterfield can go forward, Charlie can spend 5 minutes on a wing and Cripps can spend 5 minutes in the goal square, McGovern can go back to defence and Kennedy go go forward.

I agree Kennedy has a fight on his hands but I don't think he can't play with the other 3 if his form is good enough.

But when we have our preferred three talls up forward (which should be 75% of the time or more, surely?), then we have three big, slowish mids who we can't really play anywhere else.

For balance, I'd rather Cripps, Setterfield and a Stocker-type (projecting to 2020) than Cripps, Setterfield and Kennedy.

 

[Macca43]

But when we have our preferred three talls up forward (which should be 75% of the time or more, surely?), then we have three big, slowish mids who we can't really play anywhere else.

For balance, I'd rather Cripps, Setterfield and a Stocker-type (projecting to 2020) than Cripps, Setterfield and Kennedy.

Our 3 talls together for 75% of the time and our big bodied mids on the bench for 15% of the time gives plenty of scope to play all 4 together. I don't really see Setterfield as that slow either.

The other thing is who we put around them.

 

[The Bighouse]

But is there any need for Cripps, Setterfield and Kennedy to go forward and be dangerous marking options if we already have Curnow, McKay, McGovern and Fasolo down there?

Got a feeling Kennedy is going to have a hard time holding a spot past 2019. He'll be on the list for sure, but he's got less tricks than Setterfield, Stocker, Dow, Cripps etc. and as such might become the first depth choice rather than a starting mid. It's not a criticism of him either, more a commentary on the wonderful young midfield group we're building.

You’ll still have patches when H is rucking, so there’ll be switches forward from the midfielders plus likely standard rotations as well.
Makes for a damaging forward line when the mid’s can then be changing down there and can impact on the scoreboard + marking (ala Dusty, Danger, Parker, Yeo).

Re: Kennedy, he’ll have a role to play, 1st choice in the centre square I reckon if fit this year.
He’d be pretty disappointed in choosing CFC for (promised) opportunity to play midfield and not be given a run, though I agree that he’s falling down the pecking order as we go (off the bench/rotations as Cripps, Setters, Dow form the starting line-up).

 

[cfc4life]

Our midfield group is full of youth and excitement, but it doesn't bat deep. Still crying out for some experience and failsafe choices to bolster the stock. You absolutely get Kelly next year if he's available, next preference would be Macrae.

 

[BlueHulk]

Hi everyone,

I think Hawthorns midfield during their successful era was not that fast. They just worked really well together.
They had players like: Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell, Burgoyne, Sam Mitchell, Shane crawfors etc.

No real out and out speedsters.

If our midfield learn to play well together and block for each other I think our mix is fine.

 

[HARKER]

Hi everyone,
I think Hawthorns midfield during their successful era was not that fast. They just worked really well together.
They had players like: Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell, Burgoyne, Sam Mitchell, Shane crawfors etc.
No real out and out speedsters.
If our midfield learn to play well together and block for each other I think our mix is fine.

Which is true and you're right, you don't necessarily need fast players as much as you need smart ones.

We won't know exactly what the best combination/s will work until we see them, but the starting balance looks promising to me.
That premium starting combination will definitely have Cripps & Dow involved and even at this early stage it seems as though Walsh may be next in line (after ECurnow, of course). Always have to use an 'if' even though I'm confident that Setterfield can become the mid that just allows many more combinations and permutations, if he can indeed take some heat off Cripps, allowing Cripps to rest a little more, along with spending a little time forward.

One would have killed to have had the Kennedy, Parker, Hannebery, Jack combination a few years ago with the likes of Heeney & Mills due to come through.
Time will tell, but we certainly have the potential to be just as potent with our group. Potential (I know)

 

[Macca43]

Which is true and you're right, you don't necessarily need fast players as much as you need smart ones.

We won't know exactly what the best combination/s will work until we see them, but the starting balance looks promising to me.
That premium starting combination will definitely have Cripps & Dow involved and even at this early stage it seems as though Walsh may be next in line (after ECurnow, of course). Always have to use an 'if' even though I'm confident that Setterfield can become the mid that just allows many more combinations and permutations, if he can indeed take some heat off Cripps, allowing Cripps to rest a little more, along with spending a little time forward.

One would have killed to have had the Kennedy, Parker, Hannebery, Jack combination a few years ago with the likes of Heeney & Mills due to come through.
Time will tell, but we certainly have the potential to be just as potent with our group. Potential (I know)

That is a really good comparison IMO, if we can replicate tose 4 on the inside the likes of Murphy, Fisher, O'brien and Walsh will have a field day on the outside.

 

[BlueHulk]

Which is true and you're right, you don't necessarily need fast players as much as you need smart ones.

We won't know exactly what the best combination/s will work until we see them, but the starting balance looks promising to me.
That premium starting combination will definitely have Cripps & Dow involved and even at this early stage it seems as though Walsh may be next in line (after ECurnow, of course). Always have to use an 'if' even though I'm confident that Setterfield can become the mid that just allows many more combinations and permutations, if he can indeed take some heat off Cripps, allowing Cripps to rest a little more, along with spending a little time forward.

One would have killed to have had the Kennedy, Parker, Hannebery, Jack combination a few years ago with the likes of Heeney & Mills due to come through.
Time will tell, but we certainly have the potential to be just as potent with our group. Potential (I know)

Totally agree mate. Lets hope the coaching team can get the best out of these young guys and can communicate the game plan/style effectively.

To be honest there are no more excuses for our coaches now. I'm not expecting 10 wins, but I am expecting to see a certain game style evolving and getting fine tuned as the year progresses. Basically a clear direction for the players with less confusion, yet flexible enough for changes on game day (hope this makes sense).

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Hi everyone,

I think Hawthorns midfield during their successful era was not that fast. They just worked really well together.
They had players like: Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell, Burgoyne, Sam Mitchell, Shane crawfors etc.

No real out and out speedsters.

If our midfield learn to play well together and block for each other I think our mix is fine.

Sewell was dropped because they were playing too many slow players. Smith and Hill were two of their most important players because they really helped cover the slower players deficiencies. Plus having Poppy, Cyril and Breust pushing up adding speed was vital for them.
The problem is Cripps and Kennedy are both very slow and will get killed on the spread like we continually did this season. You can only play so many.
You can pick and choose arguments and I think this is overstated but West Coast retired two former Brownlow medalist mainly because they were seen as being too slow and improved.
Also talk about playing one forward for large chunks of the game is ridiculous imo. Recruit a forward if that's what you want because they aren't going to provide the pressure we need to surround our three talls with