The Engine Room

[Red Black and Blue]

Knights needs to think about who he is putting into the centre, too many light weight players (Jetta, Davey, Dempsey, Monfries, Lovett, Reimers, Dyson, Winderlich). While they may have all the endevour in the world, week in week out are getting smashed around stoppages. If we truly are following the Geelong/Hawthorn model, we need to play as many bigger bodied players on the ball as we can.

While Knights has an abudance of these lighter players avaliable, I believe if these players are going to be part of our success they should only be used as pocket players or HB runners.

For the remainder of the year I would like to see Hislop, Watson, JJ, Mcveigh, Houli, Myers, Hocking(when back from injury), Stanton, Lonergan, as our only rotating engine room players. IMO the quickest route to our long term success.

What are everyone elses thoughts on the future of the midfield?

 

[Johnnyprinias]

Knights needs to think about who he is putting into the centre, too many light weight players (Jetta, Davey, Dempsey, Monfries, Lovett, Reimers, Dyson, Winderlich). While they may have all the endevour in the world, week in week out are getting smashed around stoppages. If we truly are following the Geelong/Hawthorn model, we need to play as many bigger bodied players on the ball as we can.

While Knights has an abudance of these lighter players avaliable, I believe if these players are going to be part of our success they should only be used as pocket players or HB runners.

For the remainder of the year I would like to see Hislop, Watson, JJ, Mcveigh, Houli, Myers, Hocking(when back from injury), Stanton, Lonergan, as our only rotating engine room players. IMO the quickest route to our long term success.

What are everyone elses thoughts on the future of the midfield?

The players you mentioned are light bodied too. We need the players to build up and be solid players. That will take time. There is no quick fix we dont have the players at the moment.

 

[Smyth94]

The players you mentioned are light bodied too. We need the players to build up and be solid players. That will take time. There is no quick fix we dont have the players at the moment.

Exactly

And the starting 4 on ballers on the whiteboard arn't the be all rotations play a huge part of the game nowadays and there'll be about 8 players rotating through the middle over the course of the game.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

The players you mentioned are light bodied too. We need the players to build up and be solid players. That will take time. There is no quick fix we dont have the players at the moment.

They are light bodied but they all have the frames to build on the others dont.

 

[Johnnyprinias]

They are light bodied but they all have the frames to build on the others dont.

Who are the others? Jetta will get bigger, Lovett will stay a twig.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Who are the others? Jetta will get bigger, Lovett will stay a twig.

Jetta wont get much bigger, same with Dempsey, Davey and Monfries. IMO Knights shouldn't be trying to turn these players into midfielders when we dont have any crumbing forwards.

 

[Johnnyprinias]

Jetta wont get much bigger, same with Dempsey, Davey and Monfries. IMO Knights shouldn't be trying to turn these players into midfielders when we dont have any crumbing forwards.

They might not get bigger, but they will get older and more experienced which cancels out size difference. We need crumbing forwards and we need midfielders too. Knights is spending this year learning about where they can play.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

They might not get bigger, but they will get older and more experienced which cancels out size difference. We need crumbing forwards and we need midfielders too. Knights is spending this year learning about where they can play.

Probably fair enough, thought it was a bit of a talking point as we have been physically destroyed in the centre this year. With Lonergan and Hislop the only kids who can hold there own in the centre.

 

[Johnnyprinias]

Probably fair enough, thought it was a bit of a talking point as we have been physically destroyed in the centre this year. With Lonergan and Hislop the only kids who can hold there own in the centre.

Yeah those two kids are good. I just think after a couple of years the media will be talking about how good these kids are. I mean all of them.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Yeah those two kids are good. I just think after a couple of years the media will be talking about how good these kids are. I mean all of them.

The kids do look good but my arguement isn't with our recruiting staff, I think they have done a great job over the last few years, but I think somewhere along the lines we are screwing up development.

Knights seems to be looking for the 'quick' fix, but by playing these kids and having them getting smashed every week it cant be good for their confidence/development.

 

[Johnnyprinias]

The kids do look good but my arguement isn't with our recruiting staff, I think they have done a great job over the last few years, but I think somewhere along the lines we are screwing up development.

Knights seems to be looking for the 'quick' fix, but by playing these kids and having them getting smashed every week it cant be good for their confidence/development.

Yeah why does collingwood develop players quicker and better? The developement team has to improve its standards. I dont think knights is going for the quick fix, that was sheedys talent. I think with the kids getting smashed will only make them tougher and hungrier in the long term for success. It will be allright.

 

[bomberstomake8]

Yeah why does collingwood develop players quicker and better? The developement team has to improve its standards. I dont think knights is going for the quick fix, that was sheedys talent. I think with the kids getting smashed will only make them tougher and hungrier in the long term for success. It will be allright.

they dont, collingwood have never had to play as many kids as we have so quickly...

one year they introduced thomas and pendelbury, cloke the next goldsack, etc..
they dont have a midfeild full of kids. they have the core to the team and then they introduce 1 or 2 young guys at a time...
our young kids are surrounded by other kids thats why we are getting belted and collingwood for example arent.
collingwood have always had the same core players, in each of its departments, its midfeild for example has been swan, burns, didak, obree etc for a while now..

its all about having a group of players who have played with each other for a long time... then you add in 1 or 2 kids at time, not 5 or 6 like we have been

 

[SirJimi05]

The players you mentioned are light bodied too. We need the players to build up and be solid players. That will take time. There is no quick fix we dont have the players at the moment.

Hislop, Hocking and Houli

They are 86kg, 86kg and 84kg respectively.

Two of them are actually bigger than McVeigh.

The only way for these guys to become good players is to play them.

Bachar is one of the more solid young players i have seen for a long time.

 

[SirJimi05]

Yeah why does collingwood develop players quicker and better? The developement team has to improve its standards. I dont think knights is going for the quick fix, that was sheedys talent. I think with the kids getting smashed will only make them tougher and hungrier in the long term for success. It will be allright.

Johny how can you possible say this? Which of our kids do you believe are not developing quick enough?

They cannot develop at all if they are injured.

Get them on the park and they will develop as quick as the youngsters from any club in the comp.

They will either be good enough or not.

 

[Johnnyprinias]

Johny how can you possible say this? Which of our kids do you believe are not developing quick enough?

They cannot develop at all if they are injured.

Get them on the park and they will develop as quick as the youngsters from any club in the comp.

They will either be good enough or not.

Your right mate, the issue is most of our team are kids, and i agree with your comments. Plus not only injured but the players around the kids are kids as well if that makes sense. I think they will be good enough in the end once they develop.

 

[WindyHillWatcher]

Jetta, houli and hocking will all be bigger by next year. When Houli plays aggressively he is simply awesome to watch, this summer i think those 3 will hit the weights hard!

 

[Schmick]

Hislop, Hocking and Houli

They are 86kg, 86kg and 84kg respectively.

Two of them are actually bigger than McVeigh.

The only way for these guys to become good players is to play them.

Bachar is one of the more solid young players i have seen for a long time.

Exactly what I was just about to say. How are these players "small bodied"? Far from it and im sure Lonergan, Hislop, Hocking especially would easily be able to hold their own in the midfield. Didn't you see Lonergan on the weekend Johnnyprinias? He's amazing when it comes to the contested stuff and it was very impressive how he managed to get the ball out of some of those packs.

 

[Johnnyprinias]

Exactly what I was just about to say. How are these players "small bodied"? Far from it and im sure Lonergan, Hislop, Hocking especially would easily be able to hold their own in the midfield. Didn't you see Lonergan on the weekend Johnnyprinias? He's amazing when it comes to the contested stuff and it was very impressive how he managed to get the ball out of some of those packs.

Yes i saw Lonergan, agree with your comments, and i love him well not in that way. The light bodied players like hislop are too young to hold their way atm.

 

[Schmick]

Yes i saw Lonergan, agree with your comments, and i love him well not in that way. The light bodied players like hislop are too young to hold their way atm.

Although he still needs to bulk up a bit more, I think he'll manage as he's still got a big build already. He's around the same size Kirk or Barel, and they still manage so why can't he?

 

[Johnnyprinias]

Although he still needs to bulk up a bit more, I think he'll manage as he's still got a big build already. He's around the same size Kirk or Barel, and they still manage so why can't he?

He cant yet because his young. Kirk is a veteran , lonergan is a raw recruit.

 

[Schmick]

He cant yet because his young. Kirk is a veteran , lonergan is a raw recruit.

He'll manage, just like he did on the weekend.

 

[SirJimi05]

Yes i saw Lonergan, agree with your comments, and i love him well not in that way. The light bodied players like hislop are too young to hold their way atm.

But that is the point that people are trying to make.

Hislop is not light bodied.

He is around 84kg and is a solid little nutter.

He is only going to get bigger.

He is very far from being light bodied as is Hocking and Houli.

 

[Johnnyprinias]

But that is the point that people are trying to make.

Hislop is not light bodied.

He is around 84kg and is a solid little nutter.

He is only going to get bigger.

He is very far from being light bodied as is Hocking and Houli.

Yep fair enough. Maybe another 4 to 6 kg would be ideal target.

 

[Kong]

But that is the point that people are trying to make.

Hislop is not light bodied.

He is around 84kg and is a solid little nutter.

He is only going to get bigger.

He is very far from being light bodied as is Hocking and Houli.

yeah but that is simply his weight. he could have heavier bones, or more muscle mass, but from what i've seen (in comparison to mark mcveigh, who is apparently lighter than two of the three before-mentioned guys) his muscle fibres are weaker. there is weight, and there is strength. mcveigh is probably a few years ahead in his strength; remember, he has been a similiar weight most of his career, yet has only become the strong bodied player he is now the past couple of years.