The Giant Midfield

[MaxHunt]

There was talk, whispers that we were looking at deploying a giant midfield this season. Lynch, Staker, Cox and Seaby... well maybe not Seaby... but I didn't see anything of it on the weekend.

Do we still expect it to happen at some point during the season?

 

[jod23]

I hope not, we would get rings run around us. We have plenty of talent in Davis, Ebert, Masten, Butler etc not to have to use Staker or Lynch through midfield. Cos is already a midfielder so he doesnt count. Seaby's days are numbered.

 

[beatlesmith]

i reckon it could work against an average midfield that doesn't have breakaway players.
Lynch, Staker and Naitanui with cox rucking might just work vs Sydney. Counteracts their stoppage and tackle based game with brute force.

 

[MaxHunt]

Hmmm i just can't see them being nimble enough TBH.

However, Cox, Lynch/NN, Staker and Kerr might have some merit.

 

[Crimson King]

Use it against slow midfields and we will have more than a chance of winning. I actually think against St.Kilda this would be most effective.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Our midfield is our weakest point. We can't persist with Priddis and Rosa for long

 

[MaxHunt]

Our midfield is our weakest point. We can't persist with Priddis and Rosa for long

I agree its not great but i believe that if we had one more A grade player to go along with Kerr and Cox (masten, swift, Ebert etc could make it) Priddis will look a whole lot better. He's not a star but hes a good solid B grader as has value.

 

[Underrated]

I agree its not great but i believe that if we had one more A grade player to go alone with Kerr and Cox (masten, swift, Ebert etc could make it) Priddis will look a whole lot better. He's not a star but hes a good solid B grader as has value.

I agree, Priddis has no trouble finding the ball, though someone should get in his ear about kicking the pill blindly down field out of a pack, a quick handball to a open runner would be more constructive brings another player into the game.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

I agree, Priddis has no trouble finding the ball, though someone should get in his ear about kicking the pill blindly down field out of a pack, a quick handball to a open runner would be more constructive brings another player into the game.

Yeah, unfortunatly teams use congestion tactics or a mini zone around ball ups ect making it hard for us to get that first and second link.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

nope dont even wanna see it. sounds absolutely stupid to have a giant midfield.

 

[bodazoka]

We did put Staker in the middle for the last quarter against Brisbane, I think I saw Lynch in there a bit as well. When the current method isnt working and/or when Worsfold wants to bash the other mids into submission he will throw them in. Our problem around a stoppage isnt getting first hands to the ball its the runners and outside mids that need to carry the ball away that aernt doing there job.

I dont mind seeing Staker and Lynch in there if they are both willing to cause some damage as a shock tactic, stir things up a bit makes it harder for opp mids to get the ball out cleanly. We still need Kerr, Butler, Priddis, Masten, Ebert ect.. on the outside prepared to recieve and run with the ball though.

 

[no1bankteller]

I think its about balance.

You could not get away with having Staker, Cox, NN and Lynch all playing in the midfield at once.

However if you had Cox, Lynch, Kerr, Priddis and Masten then that could work. You could use Lynch for instance to do some heavy work and block for Kerr and Masten and then become a link man who could then use his massive (and relatively accurate) kick start our forward thrusts (mind you when it come to Lynch I actually think that due to his nimbleness and the fact that he is so big, that he is very hard to tackle he could also be used to break away from stoppages).

Where this may come unstuck is when the oposition has the ball and Lynch needs to chase his direct opponent as he may not have the acceleration or the top speed to stick with his opponent. This may be overcome due to the fact that he does have an amazing workrate and a gigantic tank.

I think that this may be worth looking at for a quarter or two and see how it goes. In my view the idea has some merrit given the qualification detailed within the first paragraph.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

I think its about balance.

You could not get away with having Staker, Cox, NN and Lynch all playing in the midfield at once.

However if you had Cox, Lynch, Kerr, Priddis and Masten then that could work. You could use Lynch for instance to do some heavy work and block for Kerr and Masten and then become a link man who could then use his massive (and relatively accurate) kick start our forward thrusts (mind you when it come to Lynch I actually think that due to his nimbleness and the fact that he is so big, that he is very hard to tackle he could also be used to break away from stoppages).

Where this may come unstuck is when the oposition has the ball and Lynch needs to chase his direct opponent as he may not have the acceleration or the top speed to stick with his opponent. This may be overcome due to the fact that he does have an amazing workrate and a gigantic tank.

I think that this may be worth looking at for a quarter or two and see how it goes. In my view the idea has some merrit given the qualification detailed within the first paragraph.

Good post I agree.

 

[Roobs321]

imagine Cox, Lynch, Staker & Kerr, with Hurn and Nicoski on the wings.

Risky and highly flawed, but if they all clicked against an ordinary midfield, that would be extraordinary to watch.

but personally, id rather priddis, masten or butler in there than Staker.

 

[Looking For 4th]

Interesting to note that Lynch's (relatively) successful move into the midfield has prompted other coaches into releasing bigger bodied players into centre square.
North played Firrito in there over the weekend, Pav does it at Freo (did so before Lynch)
So a Giant midfield might not be as outlandish as it sounds.
We saw against Brisbane how quickly teams can score if you get a quick clearance out of the centre. Big bodies, on occassions, could do that.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Interesting to note that Lynch's (relatively) successful move into the midfield has prompted other coaches into releasing bigger bodied players into centre square.
North played Firrito in there over the weekend, Pav does it at Freo (did so before Lynch)
So a Giant midfield might not be as outlandish as it sounds.
We saw against Brisbane how quickly teams can score if you get a quick clearance out of the centre. Big bodies, on occassions, could do that.

Lynchy can hardly claim to have started the trend, we were merely copying Richmond's highly successful tactic of using Richo on a wing.

Spangher is a better option that Staker on a wing in my opinion. Love the way he attacks every contest.

 

[keviewiggle]

Kick to kick skills in the park don't necessarily translate to the footy field.
That is Stakers problem...He looks great with some of the things that he does but he carn't translate them to a game of footy.
The ball has to find him and it does in some games ,but his ability to find the ball is limited.
The club has knocked up trying to find a permanent position for him for years.
He is a fringe player at best. Don't bank on him becoming an elite line breaking midfielder.

 

[Looking For 4th]

Lynchy can hardly claim to have started the trend, we were merely copying Richmond's highly successful tactic of using Richo on a wing.

Spangher is a better option that Staker on a wing in my opinion. Love the way he attacks every contest.

Whilst what your saying is right. What I was really referring to was inside the centre square. I cant say I've see Richo in there. Bigger bodies might sometimes be beneficial getting that quick clearance out of the middle.

 

[bigburger]

I hope to god this "giant midfield" never comes to fruition.

 

[no1bankteller]

Whilst what your saying is right. What I was really referring to was inside the centre square. I cant say I've see Richo in there. Bigger bodies might sometimes be beneficial getting that quick clearance out of the middle.

Well I would then say that Brown and Pavlich were there first also. I remember Matthews putting Brown into the midfield during center bounces and having great success with it.