Our Midfield

[dee-boxed]

Its been outlcassed numerous times this year but on the weekend against one of the better midfields in the league they more than held their own.

Granted the hawks had Hodge and Crawford amongst others out but what this weekend of football showed, with Collingwood on friday night too, was that if you dictate terms in regards to pressure around the stoppages with tackles etc. it really can set the tone of the game, even with an honest midfield up against a talented one.

Some individual performances I was impressed by were;

-Mclean, best game so far this year. Still looks like his carrying something but his work rate all day was terrfic. Sewell did get the better of him in a couple of critical Hopefully re can run himself into form and get back to his best ala 2006.

-Moloney, best game for a while and possibly for the club. I love how he goes about his footy; shows some aggression at the opposition, tough around the footy and looks to be a leader on the field. Yes he has his faults (like all footballers) with his erratic kicking and in-decision making but he offers alot. Great bloke too.

-Valenti, showed a few signs. Tough as well by the looks of it but I was impressed by his decision making, wasn't over raued by the occasion (against a top-quality midfield)

-Buckly, good to so him back. Love it that he backs himself and runs the lines, we need that in a midfield where we lack dash. Disposal and decision making can improve but that will come over time. Great bloke too.

Honourable mention to Jonesy' but he keeps performing week-in week-out.

 

[CaptainDavey]

Just kinda goes to show the call to have Moloney given the arse were a bit premature. I have faith in the lad, I think in the past I may have sunk the boot into him but I remain a fan

 

[malodeez]

maloney's a gun. love the way he belts out its a grand ol flag after a win

 

[CaptainDavey]

He's not the tallest bloke in the world either to see him lock arms with two taller players it's a pretty funny sight. He's like an energizer bunny. (Yeah I know, Jake King is 'the' energizer bunny)

 

[davey_magik]

Beamer is a unit.
His work in close has been wonderful this year.

 

[malodeez]

He's not the tallest bloke in the world either to see him lock arms with two taller players it's a pretty funny sight. He's like an energizer bunny. (Yeah I know, Jake King is 'the' energizer bunny)

sing's it with so much zest! be a good captain i reckon, he'd put in 1000%. mad mad deez supporter

 

[RandB]

The midfield is improving for sure. We nearly belted out 4 decent quarters in the middle except near the very end where Mitchell and Sewell carved us up. A big factor has to be fitness. It isn't lack of ability or commitment. Bailey mentioned our fitness about a month ago so once we go up a notch in that area we will be very good.

 

[malodeez]

The midfield is improving for sure. We nearly belted out 4 decent quarters in the middle accept near the very end where Mitchell and Sewell carved us up. A big factor has to be fitness. It isn't lack of ability or commitment. Bailey mentioned our fitness about a month ago so once we go up a notch in that area we will be very good.

forward line is the problem now

 

[RichosGuns]

What do you guys see Matt Bate coming, a lead up non-key position foward/flanker or a midfielder?

Also, do you think Wonaemerri should have a bit of a go in the middle? The few games he has shown that he can really get the ball (averaging 16 touches in the last 3 weeks playing up foward...long term Addam Maric could take over his role as the small foward

Finally just a couple of list management questons, is Jack Grimes far away, I head he was injured, but is he playing ressies football yet? And do you think Adam Yze will get another go? He's not getting any younger and younger players like the afformentioned and McLean, Valenti, etc. are holding there spots

Cheers

 

[raiders07]

Melbourne will make decisions on older players such as Adam Yze and maybe even Ben Holland at the end of the year. However though I love the youngsters that are coming through, they seem to have a lot of heart, and as for Brent Moloney, he may not be the most overally skilled player but I love to watch him play footy just because of his gut-busting running and the physical presence he has on a football field. I hope he stays injury free

 

[RandB]

forward line is the problem now

Yep, I agree.

We have the stocks in the midfield and many options in defence with some sort of structure developing (and that is without Wheelan and Rivers mostly who are yet to come back). Up forward we are light on options and structure is ordinary.

 

[Molons]

it's bloody fantastic to see Beamer back. love every thing he does on the footy field. i love his aggression at the footy and i love how much pride he has in the Melbourne Footy Club. He supported the dees as a kid, and even though he went to geelong first up, i reckon his heart bleeds red and blue now.

I will always remember his first game for us. It was Troy Broadbridges farwell mmatch and i remember him bursting through the pack at the opening bounce and kicking a bomb from outside fifty. great goal.

Also been lucky enough to meet him. He is a fantastic person as well.

 

[Bartram_Class]

What do you guys see Matt Bate coming, a lead up non-key position foward/flanker or a midfielder?

Also, do you think Wonaemerri should have a bit of a go in the middle? The few games he has shown that he can really get the ball (averaging 16 touches in the last 3 weeks playing up foward...long term Addam Maric could take over his role as the small foward

Finally just a couple of list management questons, is Jack Grimes far away, I head he was injured, but is he playing ressies football yet? And do you think Adam Yze will get another go? He's not getting any younger and younger players like the afformentioned and McLean, Valenti, etc. are holding there spots

Cheers

Lead up HFF i think, we need an alternative route to Miller across HF and Bater was superb in that role on the weekend. Very versatile though, hasn't been tried deep forward yet?

Wonaeamirri does his best work just floating around that 50 I think, Davey is just starting to develop nicely in the middle of the park so we need a stay-at-home forward pocket.

Grimes won't get much of a look in this year, no point IMO, let him recover and then bring him through slowly. Yze will play again, but beyond this year its hard to see, I think he'll retire.

 

[CaptainDavey]

I think playing Davey and Wonna in the middle will burn them out too easily. Their number one asset is their pace obviously and to use it in short, sharp bursts for forward pressure or goal scoring opportunities is probably the best way to go. Leave the midfield work to the likes of Jones, McLean, Buckley, Moloney, McDonald, Valenti, Bruce and so on.

I think our next priority is to draft genuine pace onto the list to compliment the up and coming hard mofo's we have in the team.

Also, is it just me or does it look like Bate has bulked up like crazy in recent times? He's certainly looking bigger than since we last saw him I reckon

 

[melbourne150]

Just for the people asking about Grimes, He was put on the LTI so he could complete his "Pre-Season" during the "regular season" (if that makes sense) and is close to playing for Sandy.

I wouldn't expect him to be considered for senior selection until he's played atleast 3-4 games at sandy.

 

[melbourne150]

I think playing Davey and Wonna in the middle will burn them out too easily. Their number one asset is their pace obviously and to use it in short, sharp bursts for forward pressure or goal scoring opportunities is probably the best way to go. Leave the midfield work to the likes of Jones, McLean, Buckley, Moloney, McDonald, Valenti, Bruce and so on.

I think our next priority is to draft genuine pace onto the list to compliment the up and coming hard mofo's we have in the team.

Also, is it just me or does it look like Bate has bulked up like crazy in recent times? He's certainly looking bigger than since we last saw him I reckon

He has actually lost about 1-2kgs since last season(belive it or not) but has more defenition in his arms.

There was a story about it over the Pre-Season where he said he did alot of work building his fitness up and dropped a few Kg's so he could play more up the ground and on the wing this season.

He's still a unit though.

 

[saj_21]

What do you guys see Matt Bate coming, a lead up non-key position foward/flanker or a midfielder?

Also, do you think Wonaemerri should have a bit of a go in the middle? The few games he has shown that he can really get the ball (averaging 16 touches in the last 3 weeks playing up foward...long term Addam Maric could take over his role as the small foward

Finally just a couple of list management questons, is Jack Grimes far away, I head he was injured, but is he playing ressies football yet? And do you think Adam Yze will get another go? He's not getting any younger and younger players like the afformentioned and McLean, Valenti, etc. are holding there spots

Cheers

Matty Bate should play a ryan o'keefe role

Wonna let him have 5 minute bursts up the ground and on the wing, his defensive pressure in the fwd 50 is too valuable to lose

Grimes doing a "pre-season", possibly not looking at senior selection round 18 onwards.

 

[brspdt201013]

When Sylvia comes back to you guys think he will get a run in the midfield or will he be kept forward?

 

[dee-boxed]

I think with our midfield just finding the right balance and our forward line struggling, Sylvia closer to goal would be more benefical- his proven to kick goals in the past.