Our Midfield

[Tiger23]

There were atleast 4 players available this off season who could have played a big role on the inside in our midfield that wouldn't have cost much and given our consistent run of injuries could have played all year and not stifled development of younger players, none would have cost anything really in draft capital, especially given we basically gave away one of our early 3rds.

Dunstan,
Hewitt
Greenwood
Lipinski.

Any one of these guys would have improved us significantly this year as the cascade effect of all the other mids having to play less inside would be significant. Club probably should have agreed with Trent to move on, picked up 2 of these guys, pocketed the cash and we would be in a much better position.

Great post. I mentioned this in another thread and got shut down. Internally I believe the expectation was to have another crack at a flag with this group, if that was the case then why on earth didn’t we chase a couple of those players you have mentioned?

Recycled players went alright for us circa 2017? If we are rebuilding and have gone down the draft path, I’m also fine with that but players that won’t be there for our next flag tilt must be put on the side for young guns like sonsie, Dow, rcd, ross, etc.

 

[Lord of the Wings]

That's cos we have won 3 out of 4 GFs...which means they have played extra seasonal games re Finals! And have less time off in the Pre season...
Cumulative physical toll...summit the scats do not have to worry about...

How many finals have we played since 2012 verus Geeook? Even since 2017? Your argument makes no sense when u look at the facts

 

[RunningBounce]

We've won 3 premierships losing the contested ground ball.

IMO, the difference is that we used to tackle. Looked like AFL9s from the Southern Stand. We could have won the game and I'd still be filthy.

 

[Spanish_Fly]

It's round 1, not round 10 or 12 where we have seen how Shedd's, Cotch and Martin have gone. Nor have we seen if Ross, RCD or Dow has added anything to the midfield, or how a new kid has come on, Cumberland, Sonsie. Or how Stack has fitted back into the lineup.

We got smashed by Cripps who basically steamrolled our midfield and was ably assisted by some good backup young players. It has taken those young players a few years to come on, but if they have talent they eventually do. The players you mentioned most likely would have added something, but none of them are stars in the Prestia mould (recruited from another club), two are young so will naturally improve, much like our young players, and two are veterans so have no upside.

Good post, I think also based on last years back end we have more than just one game to judge. Seems to be a reticence from the MC to play the younger guys through there for whatever reason. Probably our best centre square game last year was against Hawks where the young guys did great.

Its all speculation of coarse but sometimes you need to be ahead of the game and fix issues before they become major.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

How many finals have we played since 2012 verus Geeook? Even since 2017? Your argument makes no sense when u look at the facts

What has 2012 go to do with anything?!
My argument makes no sense when you look at your poor facts! Yeah right! lol

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Na he actually wins the footy, we won't want him sadly. we just continue to want to get smashed in the middle.

Let's see how he goes after more than one game shall we.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

There is no reason why still can't do that why? Geelong do it and they just continue to be top 8/top4 every year

And how many flags have they won in the mean time?

 

[Noidnadroj]

Matthew Johnson would have been an easy take with the Brown pick imo.

l

Check his draft profile.: Areas of improvement needed ? Contested game. Johnson is tall but he’s not an inside mid… he’s a mcCluggage type.

So I’m still yet to see a single big bodied inside-mid identified from the 2016 draft onwards who we had unfettered access to that is making an impact at AFL level.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Grechy]

Since round 15 last year
View attachment 1350892

It's been a problem for years. Won flags though but it's starting to hurt us badly now.

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

There were atleast 4 players available this off season who could have played a big role on the inside in our midfield that wouldn't have cost much and given our consistent run of injuries could have played all year and not stifled development of younger players, none would have cost anything really in draft capital, especially given we basically gave away one of our early 3rds.

Dunstan,
Hewitt
Greenwood
Lipinski.

Any one of these guys would have improved us significantly this year as the cascade effect of all the other mids having to play less inside would be significant. Club probably should have agreed with Trent to move on, picked up 2 of these guys, pocketed the cash and we would be in a much better position.

Dunstan - Sh!t
Hewitt - Carlton $$$ as free agent and we wouldnt pay that much for a role player
Greenwood - Again Cash $$$
Lipinski - I agree and was mentioned but was going to Pies a long way out

 

[Muddiemoose]

Dunstan - Sh!t
Hewitt - Carlton $$$ as free agent and we wouldnt pay that much for a role player
Greenwood - Again Cash $$$
Lipinski - I agree and was mentioned but was going to Pies a long way out

You are touching on what a lot are failing to recognise if we were bringing in a decent ready made mid we would of been giving up something decent draft pick wise and to have the money we would of been potentially sacrificing one of those guys we signed on last year Baker, Bolton

It’s no secret our cap is extremely tight right now so I would love to know who would of been on the trade table and has currency

 

[DoItForCaptBlood]

You are touching on what a lot are failing to recognise if we were bringing in a decent ready made mid we would of been giving up something decent draft pick wise and to have the money we would of been potentially sacrificing one of those guys we signed on last year Baker, Bolton

It’s no secret our cap is extremely tight right now so I would love to know who would of been on the trade table and has currency

Seems too much discussion on the past, and not enough on next year. Salary cap - without knowing details of backloaded contracts, surely we have some space here with a few retirements of senior players.
Then we have a hopefully high 2nd rounder to trade. There will be a few mids' managers in oppo teams being approached.
Having said that - Cotchin / Edwards (??) and what is the future of Prestia, all taken out in one year - concerning.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

You are touching on what a lot are failing to recognise if we were bringing in a decent ready made mid we would of been giving up something decent draft pick wise and to have the money we would of been potentially sacrificing one of those guys we signed on last year Baker, Bolton

It’s no secret our cap is extremely tight right now so I would love to know who would of been on the trade table and has currency

Lipinski would be on what 450?
Rather that 450 + Bit of Cotchs salary to go on someone very close to a 4yrs ago Cotch.

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

You are touching on what a lot are failing to recognise if we were bringing in a decent ready made mid we would of been giving up something decent draft pick wise and to have the money we would of been potentially sacrificing one of those guys we signed on last year Baker, Bolton

It’s no secret our cap is extremely tight right now so I would love to know who would of been on the trade table and has currency

This 100%

From what is reported we are paying Tom Lynch $1.5 million a year until end of 2025 and Dusty $1.2 million until end of 2024
Then you also need to add in the Balta , Bolton , Baker , Vlastuin increases as well as the coming out of contracts

We will get relief once we lose Caddy , Cotchin , Jack , Edwards but thats not until next year and we may even have to wait another year depending on the upcoming contract renewals.

Fact is we are now paying for our success and thats how the salary cap is designed to work , All we need to do know is take our medicine and remain competitive with decent role players and rejuvenate the role players and after 2023 we can chase some free agents

 

[Mr Magic]

This 100%

From what is reported we are paying Tom Lynch $1.5 million a year until end of 2025 and Dusty $1.2 million until end of 2024
Then you also need to add in the Balta , Bolton , Baker , Vlastuin increases as well as the coming out of contracts

We will get relief once we lose Caddy , Cotchin , Jack , Edwards but thats not until next year and we may even have to wait another year depending on the upcoming contract renewals.

Fact is we are now paying for our success and thats how the salary cap is designed to work , All we need to do know is take our medicine and remain competitive with decent role players and rejuvenate the role players and after 2023 we can chase some free agents

Baker would not be on too much and Vlastuin would not have a skyrocket salary either surely

 

[DoItForCaptBlood]

We will get relief once we lose Caddy , Cotchin , Jack , Edwards but thats not until next year and we may even have to wait another year depending on the upcoming contract renewals.

What do you mean by 'not until next year'
Do some of that group have contracts for 2023?

 

[Lord of the Wings]

What has 2012 go to do with anything?!
My argument makes no sense when you look at your poor facts! Yeah right! lol

LOL - you're argument is that we've played lots of finals therefore our senior players are cooked given deeper runs into the post season.

My counter was that Geesook have played a lot more finals over a lot longer period of time and their senior players are going fine. No injuries and in great form.

So someone here is full of shite and someone is making sense?

 

[Lord of the Wings]

This 100%

From what is reported we are paying Tom Lynch $1.5 million a year until end of 2025 and Dusty $1.2 million until end of 2024
Then you also need to add in the Balta , Bolton , Baker , Vlastuin increases as well as the coming out of contracts

We will get relief once we lose Caddy , Cotchin , Jack , Edwards but thats not until next year and we may even have to wait another year depending on the upcoming contract renewals.

Fact is we are now paying for our success and thats how the salary cap is designed to work , All we need to do know is take our medicine and remain competitive with decent role players and rejuvenate the role players and after 2023 we can chase some free agents

Lunch needs to be asked to take a paycut and a significant one. If he don't like it we can ship him off to West Coast. Given they offered an untried forward 10 years they should jump at lunch.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Lunch needs to be asked to take a paycut and a significant one. If he don't like it we can ship him off to West Coast. Given they offered an untried forward 10 years they should jump at lunch.

Free agents can’t take paycuts can only increase the length of the contract to spread out the payments over a longer period (Like was Brisbane just did with Daniher) but even that is being investigated

 

[tigerfan1961]

Free agents can’t take paycuts can only increase the length of the contract to spread out the payments over a longer period (Like was Brisbane just did with Daniher) but even that is being investigated

Exactly

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

LOL - you're argument is that we've played lots of finals therefore our senior players are cooked given deeper runs into the post season.

My counter was that Geesook have played a lot more finals over a lot longer period of time and their senior players are going fine. No injuries and in great form.

So someone here is full of shite and someone is making sense?

Yes...but we won 3 out of 4 more GFs than Geelol...in the great scheme of footy...a GF is worth at least two Finals!!!

 

[Muddiemoose]

Baker would not be on too much and Vlastuin would not have a skyrocket salary either surely

He still would of got a decent pay rise compared to what he was on and it’s money that needs to come from somewhere 75k extra per year here plus 150@ extra for someone else all adds up

 

[Wooden Robot]

LOL - you're argument is that we've played lots of finals therefore our senior players are cooked given deeper runs into the post season.

My counter was that Geesook have played a lot more finals over a lot longer period of time and their senior players are going fine. No injuries and in great form.

So someone here is full of shite and someone is making sense?

Where we are in strife is we have few guns in the critical 24 -28/29 range.
Long seasons, generally .... generally (with some exceptions0 take their toll quickest on young players and old players.
It's your 24-28-year-olds who have the legs to run a season out.
Good management, good luck - Cotchin, Riewoldt, Martin, Rance, Prestia were all there in our premiership period.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Where we are in strife is we have few guns in the critical 24 -28/29 range.
Long seasons, generally .... generally (with some exceptions0 take their toll quickest on young players and old players.
It's your 24-28-year-olds who have the legs to run a season out.
Good management, good luck - Cotchin, Riewoldt, Martin, Rance, Prestia were all there in our premiership period.

I think that is what the club is trying to replicate with Bolton, Baker, Balta ect
Try to get together a strong core that can play a lot of footy together and all peak at the same time
Would like to see us target a few more players over the next year or so who are 21 - 23 to complement them to have a legitimate crack when they are around 26 - 29 age mark

 

[Lord of the Wings]

I think that is what the club is trying to replicate with Bolton, Baker, Balta ect
Try to get together a strong core that can play a lot of footy together and all peak at the same time
Would like to see us target a few more players over the next year or so who are 21 - 23 to complement them to have a legitimate crack when they are around 26 - 29 age mark

Our fitness staff need to be replaced and pronto. Our injury management and prevention is the worst in the league