Our midfield...

[lamaros]

Poor relative to the standard they've set, like ending this year like the last between 7 and 8 and without a finals victory, or a fall out of the eight?

I think the Cats will be a bit hit and miss for the first half of the season as they settle on a best side and that side develops some chemistry. If they get their act together with more half the season to go and they can get McIntosh and Vardy fit and playing they'll be close to my flag favourite. That they're 2 and 0 with after a tough enough start and already with a 2 game margin on some competitors.

It is a fair argument that their midfield currently lacks substance. The speed in their midfield is seductive and is maybe papering over the hole that can be/is their inside and clearance work. They have an unhealthy reliance on Chapman and Corey who are both fading. This weakness is obviously why they got Caddy. He cannot break out too soon because Duncan is the only other player in the next generation that seems suited to the inside work on which they had previously based their success.

They remind me of Essendon in 2002 and 2003 but then seem to be managed better.

Borderline 8, might sneak in or might miss.

 

[Synth]

Goals vs Adelaide
Total: 10.3

Watson - 1.1
Goddard - 1
Howlett - 4.1
Stanton - 1
Zaharakis - 0.1
Heppell - 0
Myers - 1
Hocking - 1
Melksham - 1

Goals vs Melb
Total: 10.7

Watson - 3.2
Goddard - 1
Howlett - 2
Stanton - 2.1
Zaharakis - 0.1
Heppell - 2.2
Myers - 0
Hocking - 0
Melksham - 0.1

 

[emblurr]

 

[yaco55]

I was one who predicted that Geelong would miss the eight - And you can't build a season around overcoming 5 and 7 goal deficits. Possible they may turn it around. They will be better in 2014.

 

[monty1104]

Our top end and depth is as good as theirs IMO, maybe even better.
Lets compare them

Watson-Selwood
Stanton-Chapman
Goddard-Bartel
Zaharakis-Johnson
Heppell-Kelly


Howlett-Duncan
Melksham-Christensen
Myers-GHS
Hocking-Hunt
Merrett-S.Motlop
Kommer-Smedts

I think we just come out on top. What are other peoples thoughts?

You left out Caddy and Corey. Also dont have Varcoe or Menzel, though their inclusion is questionable anyway. FWIW, I'd have them ahead of GHS and Smedts at this stage of their career, possibly Motlop too.

 

[NAB777]

We now have a high quality unit.

Watson
Goddard
Heppell
Stanton
Zaharakis
Howlett

Not a lot of pace there, but lots of quality.
Jobe, Goddard & Heppell are all slow, but guns.
Stanton - can run all day but is not explosive.
Howlett & Zaharakis reasonably fast. You'd hope these two continue to improve over the next couple of years, because they should become very valuable players.

I suppose the concern would be getting opened up when we don't have the ball - that's where an 18 man defense becomes so important.

 

[Rack Watts]

Our midfield isn't as good as Geelong's.
Stop all this nonsense, getting a bit excited.

 

[lamaros]

Our midfield isn't as good as Geelong's.
Stop all this nonsense, getting a bit excited.

It's better.

 

[Macca18]

It's better.

We'll have a better indication in a few weeks when we play them. 1 win in our last 7 against them... and the 6 losses have all been extremely heavy ones.

 

[lamaros]

We'll have a better indication in a few weeks when we play them. 1 win in our last 7 against them... and the 6 losses have all been extremely heavy ones.

Thankfully footy is played in the future, not the past.

 

[The Bomb]

It's better.

in the now yes, past not even close. future we should be able to put a decent gap.

 

[fishardansin]

Thankfully footy is played in the future, not the past.

Ask Hawthorn about that!

 

[Atavistic]

The games against Freo, Collingwood and Geelong should give a clear indication as to where our midfield is. The performance against Adelaide was good, but Melbourne exerted no pressure on us, so it's hard to judge that effort.

Also, don't Dempsey and Hibberd get more of a run in the mids than Merrett and Kommer? (re: the above list)

 

[monty1104]

Thankfully footy is played in the future, not the past.

If you're going to be that tedious about it...

Football WAS/HAS BEEN played in the past.

Football IS played in the present (can only be said when there is a game currently occurring)

Football WILL BE played in the future.

Given that the future is uncertain, and there isn't a game happening right now (that I'm aware of), all we can actually say is that football was played in the past.

 

[Rack Watts]

Why is bad luck Brian used as Captain Pedantic?

Should it be like "Corrects Lamaros, get's beaten up by Captain Pugwash"

 

[monty1104]

Why is bad luck Brian used as Captain Pedantic?

Should it be like "Corrects Lamaros, get's beaten up by Captain Pugwash"

I dunno. I made the meme and he looked like the most pedantic person.

 

[Rack Watts]

I dunno. I made the meme and he looked like the most pedantic person.

Brian is in no way pedantic dm4e.
C'mon bro, Internet a bit

 

[monty1104]

Brian is in no way pedantic dm4e.
C'mon bro, Internet a bit

lol, I was in a rush! Can you suggest a more pedantic meme that I can replace Brian with?

 

[Rack Watts]

lol, I was in a rush! Can you suggest a more pedantic meme that I can replace Brian with?

Invent one That's the beauty of it.