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Was evident that the pies midfield aint as strong as the real challengers for the flag.
The game has evolved into a run and carry game, with less contests then five years ago. Yet our midfield this year was largely the same as it was five years ago.
Buckley, Burns, Licuria, Holland, O'Bree, Lockyer were the main players in the 02-03 midfield that was really really strong back then but now it doesn't stack up unfortunately.
Im of the belief that only two or three of those players can have any real impact as midfield players going forward. O'Bree & Licuria would be the two for mine, Buckley should play as a forward 80% of the time from now on. Burns should be an impact player off the bench, similar to R.Smith at the dogs, Riccardi from geelong etc. he can come on and fill a role anywhere really but not a regular rotational midfielder going forward.
Lockyer and Holland both should be put up for trade IMO, or used as FP or BP, has Holland been tried as a BP on the likes of Farmer, Milne etc. as Lockyer comes up short against these blokes.
This year saw the introduction of B.Johnson and Swan into the middle, they will again be major players next year. Didak, H.Shaw will also have to progress more into the midfield. That will give us 4 blokes who can all carry the ball and dispose of it well. I would allow Thomas to have plenty of opportunity as a midfield prospect, he may turn into a kerr type player who can do everything i feel. But he needs time and we cant heap too much expectation on him for next year. Also id hope to keep L.Davis as he finally showed some good signs that he was turning into a consistent HFF who was good for 15-20 quality disposals plus at least a goal a game.
R.Lonie is an interesting prospect we need him to play on a wing, played his best football against other wings, ie goodes & burton. Let him be an attacking weapon for us, he isn't a ferocious enough at the ball to be played in defence, so dont play him down there........even as a HFF he may be useful.
R.Shaw should be kept and should become our main stopper, unless they give this role to a younger bloke like Cook. As he has the pace and endurance to run with the likes of Judd, Cooney, Gia, Sherman, K.Simpson etc.
So my midfield group for 07 would include the following
O'Bree, Licka, B.Johnson, Didak, Swan, H.Shaw, R.Shaw, Thomas, Lonie as the main contributors. With Fraser also being an extra link man of course.
L.Davis, Burns, Holland, Buckley, Egan can be called upon to change it up but shouldn't play major roles next year in the middle.
Id also introduce Pendles on a HBF just like we did with Heater this year as it seems to be a good way to groom players for the future, a year on the HBF and then he can be pushed further up the ground.
Back Grouping to come from
Clement, Presti, Maxwell, H.O'Brien (give him a real push forward next year i hope as he could be fast tracked playing alongside Clement!), Pendles, Holland (if no suitable trade) perhaps a Cook-Stanley a smokey for a BP role.
Forward Grouping to be
Buckley, Rocca, T.Cloke (big year at CHF), Taz, Rus, Ego, L.Davis........with Taz enocuraged to become a roaming wing type player.
The game has evolved into a run and carry game, with less contests then five years ago. Yet our midfield this year was largely the same as it was five years ago.
Buckley, Burns, Licuria, Holland, O'Bree, Lockyer were the main players in the 02-03 midfield that was really really strong back then but now it doesn't stack up unfortunately.
Im of the belief that only two or three of those players can have any real impact as midfield players going forward. O'Bree & Licuria would be the two for mine, Buckley should play as a forward 80% of the time from now on. Burns should be an impact player off the bench, similar to R.Smith at the dogs, Riccardi from geelong etc. he can come on and fill a role anywhere really but not a regular rotational midfielder going forward.
Lockyer and Holland both should be put up for trade IMO, or used as FP or BP, has Holland been tried as a BP on the likes of Farmer, Milne etc. as Lockyer comes up short against these blokes.
This year saw the introduction of B.Johnson and Swan into the middle, they will again be major players next year. Didak, H.Shaw will also have to progress more into the midfield. That will give us 4 blokes who can all carry the ball and dispose of it well. I would allow Thomas to have plenty of opportunity as a midfield prospect, he may turn into a kerr type player who can do everything i feel. But he needs time and we cant heap too much expectation on him for next year. Also id hope to keep L.Davis as he finally showed some good signs that he was turning into a consistent HFF who was good for 15-20 quality disposals plus at least a goal a game.
R.Lonie is an interesting prospect we need him to play on a wing, played his best football against other wings, ie goodes & burton. Let him be an attacking weapon for us, he isn't a ferocious enough at the ball to be played in defence, so dont play him down there........even as a HFF he may be useful.
R.Shaw should be kept and should become our main stopper, unless they give this role to a younger bloke like Cook. As he has the pace and endurance to run with the likes of Judd, Cooney, Gia, Sherman, K.Simpson etc.
So my midfield group for 07 would include the following
O'Bree, Licka, B.Johnson, Didak, Swan, H.Shaw, R.Shaw, Thomas, Lonie as the main contributors. With Fraser also being an extra link man of course.
L.Davis, Burns, Holland, Buckley, Egan can be called upon to change it up but shouldn't play major roles next year in the middle.
Id also introduce Pendles on a HBF just like we did with Heater this year as it seems to be a good way to groom players for the future, a year on the HBF and then he can be pushed further up the ground.
Back Grouping to come from
Clement, Presti, Maxwell, H.O'Brien (give him a real push forward next year i hope as he could be fast tracked playing alongside Clement!), Pendles, Holland (if no suitable trade) perhaps a Cook-Stanley a smokey for a BP role.
Forward Grouping to be
Buckley, Rocca, T.Cloke (big year at CHF), Taz, Rus, Ego, L.Davis........with Taz enocuraged to become a roaming wing type player.
