Transit time.

[shawthing09]

The transition of the midfield group is one that goes unnoticed often. Look back to 2006 and prior O'Bree, Buckley, Holland, Burns and Licca would have made up the core of the midfield. Other guys who would have made regular appearances in the midfield include Tarks, Benny Johnson and Rhyce Shaw.

Of those 8, 3 featured in the midfield regularly this season being Rhyce, Burns and O'Bree (Tarks played more of a utility role and didn't spend a great deal of time in the middle.) Only O'Bree is left which means we have pretty much restructured our whole midfield in the past 2 seasons.

I think this explains to a point the midfield that I and so many others have at times been pretty scathing of. Thier is a major lack of maturity. Considering this I think we have done very well to be as competitive as we have. Hopefully over the next couple of seasons we can find more balance and continuity through the midfield. I think with J-Mac, Sidebottom, Swan, Thomas, Pendles,Wellingham, Davis, There is a nice mix of skills, class, pace and ball winning ability. If a Stanley or a Beams could step up to be a real inside ball winner at AFL level our midfield going foward looks very promising for once.

 

[The 10th Letter]

Good thread and I agree with what you're saying.

As with any unit on the ground, it's not always about the players that you've got in there but quite often about the chemistry. It took a while for Geelong's midfield to really click on a consistent basis and that comes with maturity and an understanding of each other's game.

We've had a high rotation through the midfield in recent seasons, largely due to players still learning the trade or not quite having the tank. Once our next generation of midfielders settle into their role we should hopefully start seeing more consistency.

The same applies for the back and forward six, which have also been unsettled by retirements and injury. We've got a good core in both and the players have an opportunity to grow together and gel.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

We've got a good mix, but we're a long way from having the class. Hopefully some of the talented prospects we've picked up recently will do the job we've earmarked for them. We lost a lot of close games in 2008, and I think a large part of that was due to our inability to get our hands on the ball when it counted. Those clutch situations are are where we need a dominant midfielder who can turn the match in our favour.

In terms of the mix though, here's how I see them (broadly);

Inside mids: Stanley, Sidebottom, Beams, McCarthy, Pendlebury
Linking mids: Cook, Wellingham, Clarke, Swan, Blight, Reed, Thomas
Outside mids: Dick, Rounds, Davis, Didak

The main thing is that there are a lot of players there with good footskills even in the inside and linking groups. Pendlebury, Sidebottom and McCarthy in the inside mids have excellent footskills, as do Clarke, Blight and to a lesser extent Wellingham in the linking mids. So we're not in strife once Didak and Davis reach their twilight.

We just need a few in each group to become elite.

 

[smiddaz123]

Davis isn't purely an outside mid imo. His clearance work is perenially under rated.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

True, but I think he fits that category best, and he's the oldest player I've listed anyway and therefore the least relevant.

 

[Snag Breac]

What are the 3 skills most essential to a midfielder? And which players on our list have all 3, or at least the potential to develop them?

 

[smiddaz123]

Skills
Intelligence
Endurance

Sidebottom, Pendlebury, McCarthy, Thomas, Dick, Clarke, Davis, Wellingham imo have these or CAN have them. Haven't seen any of Beams/Rounds, so can't comment.

The only one that can be developed there properly is endurance. Skills and intelligence are pretty much natural traits.

 

[Snag Breac]

Skills
Intelligence
Endurance

Sidebottom, Pendlebury, McCarthy, Thomas, Dick, Clarke, Davis, Wellingham imo have these or CAN have them. Haven't seen any of Beams/Rounds, so can't comment.

The only one that can be developed there properly is endurance. Skills and intelligence are pretty much natural traits.

You're right about intelligence, I'm convinced. A lot of the best players seem to be most intelligent - Buckley being exhibit one. I have great hopes for Dawes (up front of course)- he seems so bright. Marty just has to work on the Aussie aspects of his skills.

 

[mdc]

You're right about intelligence, I'm convinced. A lot of the best players seem to be most intelligent - Buckley being exhibit one. I have great hopes for Dawes (up front of course)- he seems so bright. Marty just has to work on the Aussie aspects of his skills.

I think Smiddaz was probably referring to football intelligence, rather than the generic variety. One only has to look at Michael Voss for a counter-argument

Good call on Dawes though, he certainly doesn't seem your typical footballer type.

 

[Old Spice]

Davis isn't purely an outside mid imo. His clearance work is perenially under rated.

I agree. I can't remember what game it was, but I remember seeing Leon swoop with one hand to pick the ball up off the ground and hotfoot it out of there - it was a majestic piece of play.

 

[Snag Breac]

I think Smiddaz was probably referring to football intelligence, rather than the generic variety. One only has to look at Michael Voss for a counter-argument

Good call on Dawes though, he certainly doesn't seem your typical footballer type.

Perhaps he was, but I think there's a play-enhancing IQ effect that also counts. Of course it won't be universally applicable. I take it Voss is thick? But when you combine footy-IQ and real intelligence, you get Buckley, Clement, Wakelin or Judd.

 

[shawthing09]

What are the 3 skills most essential to a midfielder? And which players on our list have all 3, or at least the potential to develop them?

I am going to take the soft option and be very broad. The three most important things to a midfielder are. The ability to win the ball. The ability to use it well and the ability to bring your team mates into the game.

Different players do these things in different ways. Burgoyne for example wins the ball with his pace and slickness. Uses it well because he has great skills and brings his team mates into the game in this manner. A guy like Mitchel or Harris wins it with strength and uses it well by being a good decision maker. They bring their team mates in by winning the hard ball and releasing a runner.

Perhaps he was, but I think there's a play-enhancing IQ effect that also counts. Of course it won't be universally applicable. I take it Voss is thick? But when you combine footy-IQ and real intelligence, you get Buckley, Clement, Wakelin or Judd.

Unfortunately it's more of an exception to the rule. A guy like Wil Minson is very smart it doesn't help his footballing ability. Conversly Brendan "if I was an adult" Fevola. The other thing you have to remember is a lot of the really rare talented footballers like Judd and Buckley are noticed as such early and recieve a lot of media training etc.

 

[Optimax]

What are the 3 skills most essential to a midfielder? And which players on our list have all 3, or at least the potential to develop them?

Football nous (intelligence)
skills
endurance

then strength or evasive ability