The Midfield Question

[L e x]

We've shown this season that when we are beaten around the contest, and our pressure is down we can become a very average side, very quickly. Really rely on our ability to claim the ascendency in clearances, tackle and win contested ball. So, to be honest, I like the idea of another experienced, mature body fighting the good fight in the middle of the ground who can perform to a high standard in those areas, and give us forward momentum and/or feed the ball out to our skill players. He'll play. You don't specifically target a mature- age recruit who finished 3rd in a top 4 sides' B&F to cover lost players and not play him when he's available. From a general standpoint, structurally, I think Swanny would spend more time across half- forward where I've really liked his contribution at times this year, and Crispo would play more outside, whilst Adams, Pendlebury and Greenwood would be your primary crop around the ball. That being said, the beauty of the depth of our midfield group is we can set- up with a lot of different looks.

Our best 22, moving forward in 2015 would look something like...

B: Goldsack … Frost … Williams
HB: Langdon … Brown … Oxley
C: Sidebottom … Pendelbury … Crisp
HF: Swan … Cloke … Varcoe
F: Elliott … White … Fasolo
R: Grundy … Adams … Greenwood

I: Broomhead … Blair … Seedsman … Toovey

De Goey, Kennedy, Freeman, Scharenberg, Witts, Reid right in the mix depending on injuries, form or what we want to do structurally and/or tactically week to week. Players like Dwyer, Karnezis, Ramsay, Macaffer, Gault, Young there for depth.

 

[obleex]

We've shown this season that when we are beaten around the contest, and our pressure is down we can become a very average side, very quickly. Really rely on our ability to claim the ascendency in clearances, tackle and win contested ball. So, to be honest, I like the idea of another experienced, mature body fighting the good fight in the middle of the ground who can perform to a high standard in those areas, and give us forward momentum and/or feed the ball out to our skill players. He'll play. You don't specifically target a mature- age recruit who finished 3rd in a top 4 sides' B&F to cover lost players and not play him. From a general standpoint, structurally, I think Swanny would spend more time across half- forward where I've really liked his contribution at times this year, and Crispo would play more outside, whilst Adams, Pendlebury and Greenwood would be your primary crop around the ball. That being said, the beauty of the depth of our midfield group is we can set- up with a lot of different looks.

Our best 22, moving forward in 2015 would look something like...

B: Goldsack … Frost … Williams
HB: Langdon … Brown … Oxley
C: Sidebottom … Pendelbury … Crisp
HF: Swan … Cloke … Varcoe
F: Elliott … White … Fasolo
R: Grundy … Adams … Greenwood

I: Broomhead … Blair … Seedsman

S: De Goey

Greenwood and Reid both haven't played this year through injury - do you not think Reid would be in our best 22?

Edit: For what it's worth, I'd have him in place of Seedsman, who apart from one brilliant game has shown next to nothing this season.

 

[L e x]

Greenwood and Reid both haven't played this year through injury - do you not think Reid would be in our best 22?

Edit: For what it's worth, I'd have him in place of Seedsman, who apart from one brilliant game has shown next to nothing this season.

I think a fit Ben Reid is definitely in our best 22. Would love nothing more than see him return and play a leading role in our back half (which, by all reports, is where they intend to settle him when he comes back). I am probably just a little too sceptical about his body's ability to hold up unfortunately, so I more left him out based on lack of reliability given his issues physically. In addition, whilst Frost and Brown are playing so well and the backline seems settled, for the time being, I wouldn't be surprised if the coaching staff reward form and give Reidy as much time in the VFL as is feasible to steadily build up his conditioning and hardiness. Might mean we don't see him for a while yet.

I am a bit of a sucker for Seedsman. You're right, he has been a bit disappointing since ANZAC Day, but he's a tall, rangy ball- carrier in the Goddard mould with decent disposal by foot. I think we can use as many of those as we can get. He's still developing, so I'm willing to be patient for now.

 

[Shaneprice97]

If we some how pulled off getting dangerfield, we would have the best midfield in the AFL.

Pendles, Crisp, Sidebottom, Greenwood, Adams, Swan and Dangerfield, with Oxley and Seedsman types playing outside.

Still impressive without Dangerfield, I just think we are one more star in the midfield, and another quality key forward away from achieving great things.

 

[Big Bryza]

let me make some things clear. take your collingwood goggles off. crisp CAN kick. i said he is SLIGHTLY BELOW AFL AVERAGE for use. do u understand the difference between being able to kick a footy and being a good user? adams disposal is <60% this year and thats INCLUDING his good handpassing. if you think he can use the footy well youre actually dreaming.

people cant seem to separate being ABLE to kick a footy from being a good user. its such a rudimentary thing to be able to understand. u dont want 4 of your 6 midfielders being below average users.. its so simple

Sorry, didn't realise you were such an expert. You do realise Adams is an inside mid who wins clearances. Therefore a lot of his kicks will be scrappy kicks forward? So they won't always be hitting a teammate lace out.

Its laughable how riled up some people get on here. If you can't see the improvement in Adams game this season then you are the one who is actually dreaming.

 

[Big Bryza]

No he hasn't. In fact he's had games where it has been terrible including when we've won well. It's not pressure it is skill. He was better than usual last week.

Give me some examples of games where it's been terrible? I can only think of 2 or 3 kicks this season where you think 'WTF Taylor?'. Overall he's been much more composed. As I've said he will never be a penetrating kick of the ball. Some people tend to forget he's only 22 years old. Not even close to his best footy yet.

 

[Anzacday]

I particularly liked the kick in the 3rd against North where he landed in front of Cloke, it skidded into his hands and he spun around and kicked a goal.
Shows a different thought process to just bombing it long.