Top ten midfielders

[theGav56]

On our list the fllowing players were top 10 draft picks;

P Bell (Contentious as it wasn't a draft, but given we traded pick 6 + for him, he is included)
J Carr
D Headland
P Hasleby
R Dunn
R Palmer

Only Bell's career is possibly ending after this season, possibly one more year maximum. All the others will have a couple more years on the list. Perhaps Carr will be gone in that timeframe too.

I know we traded high for Headland, Carr and Bell, but all of them were at a peak in their careers, with more to come.

That list comprises a great mix of veterans (Carr, Bell), players at the peak age (Headland, Hasleby), early development (Dunn), and youth (Palmer). There is also a reasonable mix of inside/outside skills, though not a lot of height or pace. It looks like it should be extremely strong in terms of first hands on the ball at bouncedowns to me. Clearances.

I also believe that it is an awesome core group to add others to, who can fill the gaps in terms of that groups inadequacies.

Our clearance problems have been a long term issue, and I struggle to see why with that group of players we have not done far better than we have. Pointing the fingure at Sandilands is misguided; we had similar problems with Longmuir (except when he was clearing the ball himself).

I do not believe that we will have a midfield with the same level of expectation as that group provides in the near future.

 

[Memories]

Why does it "seem" they should be a lot better at having first hands on the ball? Our clearances have been in the lowest in the league for a while now, with all of those players bar Palmer/Dunn contributing to it greatly. Bell has been "slow" his entire career but his decent skills across both hand and feet save him in many instances. Headland is a known "outside" player, rarely wins his own ball, which is why he only goes well when our team does (ie midfield fires), which isn't necessarily a bad thing but he shouldn't be on a "matchwinners" salary.

Hasleby is probably the leader in clearances for our team (haven't checked) out of those mentioned... so many times I'm like "hase hasn't had many possessions" because you can't see him under the pack dishing the ball out but he ends up with 30. He has really needed to fix his diet for many seasons now and this year he had done that... so it was very unfortunate he was injured.

The problem with our midfield has been the stocking up by Connolly of short, rather slow midfielders. J Carr, Bell, Schammer, Black, Farmer (connolly wanted to play him in the middle his first year if anyone recalls) to go along with Hase/McManus/etc who were in the somewhat "slow" category. I've said it before, he most likely did this because that is the kind of player he was and he wanted to make a midget team, hoping it would succeed proving himself 'right'.

Palmer is the fastest guy we have in there at the moment, and hopefully Rich will be added soon. Though both of them are on the cusp in regards to height (around 182ish), it's better than Peter Bells 176 or whatever.

Will be very exciting if we have the combo of Hase/Palmer/Rich.... because once we fix the middle we will be top 4 with the good key position players we have in abundance. Tarrant will instantly be twice as good with a better midfield, so will Headland. And Hayden/Pharlap won't have as much pressure down back since the opposing midfielders will be more overworked/under pressure. Even if we don't end up with Rich, a fit Hase and an improved Palmer could really propel the 2009 season. Not to mention that the 8 duds we are getting rid of end of this season will most likely bring in at least 2-4 best 22 players for us.... so will be good on many fronts.

 

[SupersonicDocker]

Don't know if i would call Dunn early development... been on the list for what 4 years now? He is cooked by the looks of things in terms of his AFL career, think i read he was added to the rookie list merely as a formality for numbers than anything.

Don't know if we will get a crack at Daniel Rich, however a Kane Lucas should certainly be within our reach...speedy ball winner and reasonable height too.

Anyone know if Yarran will be anything more than a forward pocket?

 

[MadMac]

Anyone know if Yarran will be anything more than a forward pocket?

I watched couple of Swans games and he was thrown into the midfield occasionaly, albeit only for a short time. He may not be a bona fide midfielder but as a part of a rotation throgh the midfield he can be more than handy.

 

[theGav56]

Why does it "seem" they should be a lot better at having first hands on the ball?

Because all of them except Headland and Palmer are in and under players. That's also the reason why they don't have pace; it's not their key skill area. Headland and Palmer on the other hand, do have pace, because it is what they do need.

 

[SPEEDWAGON]

we dont have one decent midfielder on the whole list

 

[Chops_a_must]

Because all of them except Headland and Palmer are in and under players. That's also the reason why they don't have pace; it's not their key skill area. Headland and Palmer on the other hand, do have pace, because it is what they do need.

I wouldn't necessarily call Palmer pacey. He's just the only one capable of gut running.

And I wouldn't call him an outside player. He is most certainly a developing in and under player.

Ibbo on the other hand glides beautifully and with speed around the park and is an outside player.

 

[hoogs]

Our clearance problems have been a long term issue, and I struggle to see why with that group of players we have not done far better than we have. Pointing the fingure at Sandilands is misguided; we had similar problems with Longmuir (except when he was clearing the ball himself).

I do not believe that we will have a midfield with the same level of expectation as that group provides in the near future.

Oh how I miss Longmuir. Things haven't quite been the same since. He was getting so damn good. Memmmmmoriiiiieeessssss

 

[sto8228]

Midfield at the dockers is sub standard. We have complete dominance in hit outs but yet we struggle with clearances most of the time. This is due to a few main reasons: - 3 of our best have been missing (Headland, Hasleby, Carr). We lack seriously in height (bell/Palmer), and we still do not have a great in and under player. Great teams have the best in and under players. Some include: chance bateman, sam mitchell, Luke power, daniel harris.

Fremantle have an abundance of outside running midfielders- Ibbotson, Black, Headland, but NOBODY will take responsibility to get the hard ball out, apart from Bell, who's body and shoulders are tired from carrying the load week in and week out. Palmer is taking the best tagger at the moment in his first season. Our midfield looks tiny compared to the 6 foot plus midfielders such as the burgoynes, goodes, judd. We need a taller type, pacy midfielder to take the ball away from congestion. Our small guys can run onto the ball, but will be beaten in the air.

Kane Lucas would be a good option at about 6 foot tall. But is too young for this years draft, and is again a good outside player. He is a freo lad though, and has good pedigree with his dad being a great player for the swans. Rich would be good too, but perhaps a little bit short. There are some kids with clever touch in the state 18's for WA at the moment. perhaps a yarran would be a good idea, hes quick, good height, and can crumb at ground level. Which again, the dockers seem to lack at the moment. The loose ball is rebounded far too easy atm.

 

[Ysaye]

Midfield at the dockers is sub standard. We have complete dominance in hit outs but yet we struggle with clearances most of the time. This is due to a few main reasons: - 3 of our best have been missing (Headland, Hasleby, Carr). We lack seriously in height (bell/Palmer), and we still do not have a great in and under player. Great teams have the best in and under players. Some include: chance bateman, sam mitchell, Luke power, daniel harris.

Fremantle have an abundance of outside running midfielders- Ibbotson, Black, Headland, but NOBODY will take responsibility to get the hard ball out, apart from Bell, who's body and shoulders are tired from carrying the load week in and week out. Palmer is taking the best tagger at the moment in his first season. Our midfield looks tiny compared to the 6 foot plus midfielders such as the burgoynes, goodes, judd. We need a taller type, pacy midfielder to take the ball away from congestion. Our small guys can run onto the ball, but will be beaten in the air.

Kane Lucas would be a good option at about 6 foot tall. But is too young for this years draft, and is again a good outside player. He is a freo lad though, and has good pedigree with his dad being a great player for the swans. Rich would be good too, but perhaps a little bit short. There are some kids with clever touch in the state 18's for WA at the moment. perhaps a yarran would be a good idea, hes quick, good height, and can crumb at ground level. Which again, the dockers seem to lack at the moment. The loose ball is rebounded far too easy atm.

Id argue that Hasleby is in the league of those and is a similar "type", but just hasn't had the support and is currently injured.

We have six foot fast midfielders too who can "take the ball away from congestion" - Crowley, Ibbotson, Peake and even Headland.

Rich (181cm) is taller than Yarran (179cm), and is the same height as Palmer (181cm). Rich is also built like the proverbial, has good pace, is an excellent tackler,has great skills and has been playing in the centre for Subi Seniors.

 

[dockers10]

"we dont have one decent midfielder on the whole list"-SPEEDWAGON

We have: 1.Palmer
2.Bell
3.Ibotson
4.Peake
5.Carr
6.Headland
7.Headland

 

[kp junior]

Prismall from Geelong looks a good size, good skills, always 23rd man picked for the cats. Would be a good fit.

 

[dont bowl there]

Prismall from Geelong looks a good size, good skills, always 23rd man picked for the cats. Would be a good fit.

There has been talk for months about Prismalls pathetic attitude, not the type of player we need and I hope we dont get him.

 

[Bluto]

There has been talk for months about Prismalls pathetic attitude, not the type of player we need and I hope we dont get him.

Agreed if attitude is the issue.

There is talk that Adam Thompson from Port is very much on the outer. He is a clearance winner, but again there is a bit of doubt over his application. But he is very young, a top 10 draft pick and is able to get more clearances than most given limited time on ground. If we think that he is a chance to gear up then we should have a crack given our obvious deficiencies.

Also, i cant believe some people having a sad about Palmer being not 6 foot. He is 5'11" for crying out loud. What the f is the difference? less than 2cm and it is somehow the difference!?

 

[theGav56]

We lack seriously in height (bell/Palmer), ...

I just do not see this as the critical factor with our midfield, and also it is a bit of a myth. Headland, Crowley, Peake and Ibbotson all are tallish midfielders. We also regularly run some giants through there in Pavlich, Solomon, Gilmore and Mundy. Pleanty of height.

Bell and Palmer are also plenty tall enough for what they are required to do.