Analysis The midfield successors

[Keystone agony]

With an ageing midfield now on our hands we need to find those that are going to take over from these 200 gamers.

This is what i think is happening and is something we are doing extremely well as a club and list management perspective.

Kavanagh will be our next Stanton off a wing

Myers is replacing Goddard

Melksham will become a big bodied onballer and replace hocking with some minor defensive duties

Heppell is the successor to Jobe as our 'star' and 'leader' the good boy face of the club. He will also take over as our give everything find the pill win contested footy onballer.

Gleeson will replace Dempsey off a half back and potentially push further up the ground like Dempsey use to do earlier in his career.

The Zacka/Merretts will replace the forward/mids in Chapman, Winderlich and now cooney types.

I must say im pretty happy with that future, this isnt even taking into account Laverde, Langford who i think will then be the start of that next wave similar to how Melksham, Myers and Zacka have been

 

[Zach Package]

Hams will become the new Jason Johnson. One day when puts on some kegs he is going to (very fairly) knock someone into next year.

 

[Keystone agony]

Hams the next Jason Johnson

Fantasia the next Mercuri

I think we are getting ahead of ourselves

 

[Yoda_]

Kavanagh won't be playing off a wing. Tried and failed at this position in the 2's

 

[Keystone agony]

Kavanagh won't be playing off a wing. Tried and failed at this position in the 2's

With an improved engine he will, its where his career will start at AFL level

 

[Yoda_]

With an improved engine he will, its where his career will start at AFL level

To be honest, he has always had the work rate.

It is the ball watching, the one way (offensive) running, the inability to work up and down the ground as a (VFL) midfielder is holding him back already.

He does work, but not nearly as much as he should

 

[fishardansin]

To be honest, he has always had the work rate.

It is the ball watching, the one way (offensive) running, the inability to work up and down the ground as a (VFL) midfielder is holding him back already.

He does work, but not nearly as much as he should

I think the point made by Keystone cop is that Kavanagh is smashing the preseason so far. Super fit and should have a big big year. Hopefully the maturity and mental toughness that is behind him working so hard may mean that he can take on board some criticism/instruction regards defensive running.

 

[MightyDons4]

Dempsey>Edwards
Goddard>Laverde
Chapman>Melksham
Winderlich>Fantasia/Gleeson
Fletcher>Gwilt>?
Watson>Myers
Stanton>J.Merrett
Cooney>Z.Merrett

Very well placed IMO

 

[Yoda_]

I think the point made by Keystone cop is that Kavanagh is smashing the preseason so far. Super fit and should have a big big year. Hopefully the maturity and mental toughness that is behind him working so hard may mean that he can take on board some criticism/instruction regards defensive running.

All im saying is he doesn't have the style of play to be an outside reciever. He is a hunter of the ball.

 

[Ambrosia]

Chapman > Z.Merrett - Both nuggety forward/mids with a penetrating kick and good leg speed. As Merrett is best 22 Fantasia comes in to fill his role.
Watson > Heppell - The new face of the footy club and clear best midfielder. From outside the side in comes one of Aylett, Kavanagh, O'Brien or Hams.
Goddard > Langford - More hope than anything at the moment as we will miss Goddard's flexibility
Winderlich > Gleeson - Will become the player Winderlich would have been if not for injury
Stanton > J.Merret - A lot of similarities between these two
Cooney > Laverde - Judging from his games in the champs Laverde looked like he could become an explosive inside/outside mid.

Fletcher > Mason and Max (his sons)

 

[yaco55]

We have two issues

- How good this group of third to fifth year players will be.
- How many can be primary midfielders.

I have deliberately excluded first and second year players.

 

[Big Fresh]

In 3-5 years I imagine our best 22 midfield will look like this:
Inside mids: Heppell, Myers, Kavanagh
Outside mids: Zaharakis, Colyer, J. Merrett
Outside mids who may develop an inside game: Laverde, Gleeson, Z. Merrett, Langford

I'm pretty happy with that group. Speed, size, and good footskills all over the place.