Opinion Rank the AFL midfields

[scaryness]

Rank the midfields of the AFL. I picked 7 midfielders from each club to make it easier to compare. It's going to be tough I think.

Adelaide:
Dangerfield, Thompson, Sloane, Crouch, van Berlo, Douglas, Wright

Brisbane:
Rockliff, Beams, Redden, Rich, Zorko, Christensen, Aish

Carlton:
Murphy, Gibbs, Judd, Curnow, Carrazzo, Docherty, Whiley

Collingwood:
Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Swan, Greenwood, Macaffer, Young, Varcoe

Essendon:
Watson, Goddard, Heppell, Stanton, Zaharakis, Myers, Hocking

Fremantle:
Mundy, Barlow, Fyfe, Neale, Hill, Crowley, Pearce

Geelong:
Selwood, Johnson, Kelly, Bartel, Stokes, Duncan, Caddy

Gold Coast:
Ablett, O'Meara, Prestia, Swallow, Rischitelli, Martin, Bennell

GWS:
Ward, Treloar, Whitfield, Scully, Coniglio, Shiel, Greene

Hawthorn:
Mitchell, Hodge, Burgoyne, Smith, Lewis, Hill, Langford

Melbourne:
N. Jones, Tyson, Trengove, Vince, Cross, Viney, M. Jones

North Melbourne:
Swallow, Wells, Dal Santo, Harvey, Ziebell, Bastinac, Cunnington

Port Adelaide:
Boak, Ebert, Wines, Gray, Hartlett, Cornes, Polec

Richmond:
Cotchin, Martin, Deledio, Ellis, Miles, Foley, Vlastuin

St Kilda:
Montagna, Steven, Armitage, Dunstan, Billings, Savage, Ray

Sydney:
Kennedy, Jack, McVeigh, Hannebery, Parker, McGlynn, Mitchell

West Coast:
Priddis, Shuey, Selwood, Masten, Gaff, Rosa, Hutchings

Western Bulldogs:
Liberatore, Macrae, Boyd, Bontempelli, Dahlhaus, Hrovat, Smith

 

[Cotchinsastar]

I'd say Carlton, collingwood, Geelong and Sydney's look pretty good. Richmond's would be close but Jackson just ruins it all

 

[Hate]

Adelaide and/or Hawthorn. Richmond up there when playing good.

 

[Cotchinsastar]

Soon GC and GWS's will be the best, for GC Ablett, Bennell, Swallow, O'Meara and jack Martin in 2014 seem to make up an amazing young centre line. GWS have Palmer, Scully, Coniglio, Tyson, Greene, Whitfield*, Toumpas* if they select them

 

[theasian]

1. Collingwood 2. Sydney 3. Geelong 4. carlton 5.Hawthorn

Richmond and Brisbane look good. Jackson isn't a bad tagger and tackler even though he isn't good at any of the other roles.

West Coast were hit and miss this season, but if Kerr stays injury free and in good form they'll be close to top 5.

 

[Ambrosia]

Rank the midfields of the AFL. I picked 7 midfielders from each club to make it easier to compare. It's going to be tough I think.



Essendon:
Watson, Goddard, Stanton, Zaharakis, Hocking, Howlett, Winderlich Heppell

Other than that pretty good effort. Some people don't even know who Hocking and Howlett are.

 

[Doss]

Other than that pretty good effort. Some people don't even know who Hocking and Howlett are.

Would also argue Myers should be in there.

 

[Ambrosia]

Would also argue Myers should be in there.

Myer's is definitely a midfielder but who comes out of the 7?

 

[Doss]

Myer's is definitely a midfielder but who comes out of the 7?

On exposed form this year, probably Hocking. But then, strong word is that he was suffering the after effects of concussion for most of the season, which could explain his drop in form. With any luck, he'll return to his 2009-11 form next year.

 

[Ambrosia]

On exposed form this year, probably Hocking. But then, strong word is that he was suffering the after effects of concussion for most of the season, which could explain his drop in form. With any luck, he'll return to his 2009-11 form next year.

I think it was more his shoulder injury.

 

[Blood Bath]

1. Sydney 2. Collingwood, rest suck.

 

[Riders of Rohan]

I probably wouldnt have us first, attacking wise we blow everyone out of the water, no contest. But defensively we're still below par, we have high tackle numbers, but give up a disproportionate amount of inside 50's and get killed on the spread, and for all our inside ball winners lose far too many clearences. If our defence wasn't the best in the league people would be looking at our mids in a different light.

 

[pacman]

Hawthorn:
Hodge, Mitchell, Sewell, Lewis, Burgoyne, Shiels, Whitecross Rioli
Whitecross won't be back til the end of the year.

 

[Slattery_20]

On exposed form this year, probably Hocking. But then, strong word is that he was suffering the after effects of concussion for most of the season, which could explain his drop in form. With any luck, he'll return to his 2009-11 form next year.

Watson & Hocking are probably the two who have played the biggest chunk of their time in the starting midfield, under Hird.

I would not be surprised to see Stanton lose some time in there (moving back to outside/flank/wing roles) to Heppell and Goddard. Both do a bit more with the ball in tight situations. Could also see Zaharakis spend more time forward. Myers comes in for Lonergan (arguably in our best 7 last year)

IMHO:

Essendon:
Watson, Hocking, Howlett, Heppell, Goddard, Zaharakis, Myers


But after those first 2, it'll be a pretty even spread IMHO - Stanton definitely has a role in there.

 

[Ambrosia]

Watson & Hocking are probably the two who have played the biggest chunk of their time in the starting midfield, under Hird.

I would not be surprised to see Stanton lose some time in there (moving back to outside/flank/wing roles) to Heppell and Goddard. Both do a bit more with the ball in tight situations. Could also see Zaharakis spend more time forward. Myers comes in for Lonergan (arguably in our best 7 last year)

IMHO:

Essendon:
Watson, Hocking, Howlett, Heppell, Goddard, Zaharakis, Myers


But after those first 2, it'll be a pretty even spread IMHO - Stanton definitely has a role in there.

Judging by the inclusion of Hill, Grigg and Gaff I think he is counting wingman as midfielders.

So its more of a best 7 rather than the 7 who are going to rotate through the guts the most so Stanton is definitely in the 7.

 

[Synth]

Watson & Hocking are probably the two who have played the biggest chunk of their time in the starting midfield, under Hird.

I would not be surprised to see Stanton lose some time in there (moving back to outside/flank/wing roles) to Heppell and Goddard. Both do a bit more with the ball in tight situations. Could also see Zaharakis spend more time forward. Myers comes in for Lonergan (arguably in our best 7 last year)

IMHO:

Essendon:
Watson, Hocking, Howlett, Heppell, Goddard, Zaharakis, Myers


But after those first 2, it'll be a pretty even spread IMHO - Stanton definitely has a role in there.

Heppell out, Stants in.

 

[mufassa]

I will have a go at ranking the 18 teams:

1) Pies - a clear winner for me. Beams and Sidebottom had great years. Pendles and Swan are elite!!!
2) Swans - Kennedy joined the elite mids and Jetta looks to be a great player.
3) Crows - Dangerfield and Slone had break out years and Thompson kept on being very good.
4) WCE - Adding Wellingham was a great get. Young guns Shuey and Gaff and the experience of Kerr, Selwood, Embly and Priddis. Very strong across the board.
5) Hawks - need Hodge to get back to full fitness. Mitchell is elite and Sewell and Lewis add a lot of grunt.
6) Cats - need some new blood to come through but the experienced group is still very capable.
7) Carlton - Judd and Murphy are fantastic mids, Carazzo had a good year and Simpson is underrated.
8) Roos - Swallow had another great year and Harvey and Wells still turn games. Swap Anthony with Cunners and our next wave of mids look very good.
9) Freo - would be higher if Pav was still a mid. Hill needs more consistency. Fyfe the cream.
10) Tigers - Cothcin is now elite and a fantastic mid and Deledio is now very good. Jackson does not help with the Tigers rankings.
11) Essendon - Goodard helps but needs to get back to close to his best. Watson is a jet that carried most of the mids in the 2nd half of the year. Stanton really poor after the mid season break.
12) Suns - Ablett is the best mid in the comp and their young guns are starting to lift - Bennell has superstar written all over him.
13) Brisbane - Black is still good but need the young group under him to start to push up - the three R's look very promising. Moloney should help take some pressure off Black.
14) Saints - Hayes is still very good but on his last legs - Dal and Montagna need to become more consistent. They have problems in the midfield as well as the back line.
15) GWS - building nicely but missing star quality ATM - Greene is the one that could really jump up.
16) Dogs - Boyd and Cross are still battling away. Cooney looks gone and Wallis and Libba still finding their feet.
17) Port - Ebert had a good year and Cornes picked his career back off the mat. Wingard should be in front of Thomas or Broadbent.
18) Melbourne - Trengove went backwards this year and not much class after that. Viney will help and another classy mid at pick 4 should be the aim.

 

[Ambrosia]

I will have a go at ranking the 18 teams:

1) Pies - a clear winner for me. Beams and Sidebottom had great years. Pendles and Swan are elite!!!
2) Swans - Kennedy joined the elite mids and Jetta looks to be a great player.
3) Crows - Dangerfield and Slone had break out years and Thompson kept on being very good.
4) WCE - Adding Wellingham was a great get. Young guns Shuey and Gaff and the experience of Kerr, Selwood, Embly and Priddis. Very strong across the board.
5) Hawks - need Hodge to get back to full fitness. Mitchell is elite and Sewell and Lewis add a lot of grunt.
6) Cats - need some new blood to come through but the experienced group is still very capable.
7) Carlton - Judd and Murphy are fantastic mids, Carazzo had a good year and Simpson is underrated.
8) Roos - Swallow had another great year and Harvey and Wells still turn games. Swap Anthony with Cunners and our next wave of mids look very good.
9) Freo - would be higher if Pav was still a mid. Hill needs more consistency. Fyfe the cream.
10) Tigers - Cothcin is now elite and a fantastic mid and Deledio is now very good. Jackson does not help with the Tigers rankings.
11) Essendon - Goodard helps but needs to get back to close to his best. Watson is a jet that carried most of the mids in the 2nd half of the year. Stanton really poor after the mid season break.
12) GWS - Ablett is the best mid in the comp and their young guns are starting to lift - Bennell has superstar written all over him.
13) Brisbane - Black is still good but need the young group under him to start to push up - the three R's look very promising. Moloney should help take some pressure off Black.
14) Saints - Hayes is still very good but on his last legs - Dal and Montagna need to become more consistent. They have problems in the midfield as well as the back line.
15) GWS - building nicely but missing star quality ATM - Greene is the one that could really jump up.
16) Dogs - Boyd and Cross are still battling away. Cooney looks gone and Wallis and Libba still finding their feet.
17) Port - Ebert had a good year and Cornes picked his career back off the mat. Wingard should be in front of Thomas or Broadbent.
18) Melbourne - Trengove went backwards this year and not much class after that. Viney will help and another classy mid at pick 4 should be the aim.

Good list however the Hawks midfield is better than the West Coast midfield and possibly Adelaide's imo and you wrote GWS twice instead of GC

 

[mufassa]

Good list however the Hawks midfield is better than the West Coast midfield and possibly Adelaide's imo and you wrote GWS twice instead of GC

WCE and Hawks are 4th and 5th.
I would rank them - 1 - Mitchell, 2 - Kerr, 3 - Hodge, 4 - Priddis, 5 - Sewell, 6 - Wellingham, 7 -Lewis, 8 -Selwood, 9 Shuey, 10 - Burgoyne, 11 - Gaff, 12 - Embley, 13- Shiels, 14 - Whitcross.
Hawks = 53
WCE = 52
Close - lowest score wins for me.

Crows V Hawks.
1 Mitchell, 2 Dangerfield, 3 Thompson, 4 Hodge, 5 Sewell, 6 Van Berlo, 7 Lewis, 8 Solane, 9 Burgoyne, 10 Vince, 11 Douglas, 12 Wright, 13 Shiels, 14 Whitecross

Hawks = 53
Crows = 52

Close again - for me Shiels and Whitcross really hurt the Hawks.

 

[Ambrosia]

WCE and Hawks are 4th and 5th.
I would rank them - 1 - Mitchell, 2 - Kerr, 3 - Hodge, 4 - Priddis, 5 - Sewell, 6 - Wellingham, 7 -Lewis, 8 -Selwood, 9 Shuey, 10 - Burgoyne, 11 - Gaff, 12 - Embley, 13- Shiels, 14 - Whitcross.
Hawks = 53
WCE = 52
Close - lowest score wins for me.

Crows V Hawks.
1 Mitchell, 2 Dangerfield, 3 Thompson, 4 Hodge, 5 Sewell, 6 Van Berlo, 7 Lewis, 8 Solane, 9 Burgoyne, 10 Vince, 11 Douglas, 12 Wright, 13 Shiels, 14 Whitecross

Hawks = 53
Crows = 52

Close again - for me Shiels and Whitcross really hurt the Hawks.

I rate Whitecross and think Lewis would definitely be above Wellingham who is overrated. There is also a huge difference between Mitchell and Kerr when comparing the teams midfields. The only way West Coast has a better midfield than the Hawks is if you take into account ruckman.

 

[mufassa]

I rate Whitecross and think Lewis would definitely be above Wellingham who is overrated. There is also a huge difference between Mitchell and Kerr when comparing the teams midfields. The only way West Coast has a better midfield than the Hawks is if you take into account ruckman.

I thought Selwood was better than Lewis this year and lucky to be in front of him. Gaff and Shuey for me could take massive steps next season and 2 to watch. Hodge also got a favourable rating based on him getting back to full fitness which may not happen. For me it is close with WCE just. But I would be happy with either. Throw rucks in and WCE would be 2nd on that list.

 

[muttweed]

Geelong:
Selwood, Bartel, Kelly, Corey, Johnson, Chapman, Duncan, Christensen, Caddy

Corey will not be playing in our best 22 consistently in 2013. Also, why is Christensen not there?

Caddy should play this year, methinks. Bartel will probably be played elsewhere, so you can bet on another kid being brought in. All part of the rebuild.

 

[muttweed]

4. Adelaide:
van Berlo, Thompson, Dangerfield, Sloane, Wright, Vince, Douglas

10. Brisbane:
Black, Rockliff, Redden, Rich, Raines, Zorko, Moloney

9. Carlton:
Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Carrazzo, Scotland, Simpson, McLean

1. Collingwood:
Pendlebury, Swan, Ball, Beams, Thomas, Sidebottom, Young

8. Essendon:
Watson, Goddard, Stanton, Zaharakis, Hocking, Howlett, Winderlich

7. Fremantle:
Mundy, Barlow, Fyfe, Crowley, Hill, de Boer, C. Pearce

3. Geelong:
Selwood, Bartel, Kelly, Caddy, Johnson, Christensen, Duncan

17. Gold Coast:
Ablett, Swallow, Hunt, Bennell, Stanley, Rischitelli, Prestia

18. GWS:
Ward, Scully, Greene, Coniglio, Shiel, Palmer, Treloar

5. Hawthorn:
Hodge, Mitchell, Sewell, Lewis, Burgoyne, Shiels, Whitecross

16. Melbourne:
Trengove, Grimes, Jones, Sylvia, McKenzie, Blease, Magner

11. North Melbourne:
Swallow, Wells, Harvey, Adams, Ziebell, Anthony, Bastinac

15. Port Adelaide:
Cassisi, Boak, Brad Ebert, Hartlett, Cornes, Thomas, Broadbent

12. Richmond:
Cotchin, Martin, Deledio, Tuck, Grigg, Foley, Jackson

13. St Kilda:
Hayes, Dal Santo, Montagna, Jones, Steven, Armitage, Geary

2. Sydney:
Kennedy, Jack, Bolton, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Hannebery, Jetta

6. West Coast:
Kerr, Priddis, Shuey, S. Selwood, Gaff, Wellingham, Embley

14. Western Bulldogs:
Boyd, Griffen, Cooney, Cross, Picken, Wallis, Liberatore

 

[HiberDive]

It's tough but I think the four best are clearly in the top tier but each for different reasons:

Hawthorn: May not look it on paper, but when you put them in a game they dominate with quick skills by hand and foot. They always seem to have a spare man or two available within 35m just when you think you've closed them off. Part of their strength too is other players helping out the midfield in similar roles.

Collingwood: So many guns raking up the possessions, by far the most loaded although they seem to struggle to truly break free, maybe something in the plan doesn't mix quite right. I am a huge admirer of Swan, he makes use of space like the Queen on the chess board, brutal in contests and knows exactly where to be and of coarse Penddlebury, Beams and Thomas are unbelievable in their own right too.

Adelaide: Thompson is hands down the best clearance player I saw last year and Dangerfield is another great contested ball magnet that can break the lines with his pace. Great depth too.

Swans: Like Hawthorn a well balanced division except focuses more on hard contested footy. Probably the best at moving the ball in the heat of a fierce contest which shone through during the final series.

Being the Geelong fan I am, I want to have them up there. I want to believe they can bounce back to their prime but I feel guys like Bartel, Corey and Chapman while no silly duffers, none the less, appear past their absolute best. A bit like Ponting and Hussey, can make more runs than most in Australia but can't do it consistently and dominantly as they used to.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

I'd have Conca in Richmond's 7 instead of Jackson.