West Coast's plodder midfield - will it work?

[JohnnyFontane90]

True, but skill +pace > skill alone....

yes but it's actually very rare to find skillful players with elite speed. like you could nearly count them on one hand: shiel, treloar, dangerfield, steven, shuey, maybe throw hanneberry in there as well. to say west coast have a plodder midfield because they only have one of those kind of guys is a little absurd.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Potentially. We just did it with a fairly slow midfield/team (leg speed that is - JJ as fast as anyone in the AFL but not much beyond that). But our ball movement/hand passing is lightning fast which may be just as, or more, important.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

yes but it's actually very rare to find skillful players with elite speed. like you could nearly count them on one hand: shiel, treloar, dangerfield, steven, shuey, maybe throw hanneberry in there as well. to say west coast have a plodder midfield because they only have one of those kind of guys is a little absurd.

Judd says HELLO too!

 

[WestCoast05]

We just did it...

Don't worry, noone has forgotten that WB won the bigone last year...

 

[demondavey]

Sam Mitchell is by far the best user of the ball I've seen over a decade. That's what puts him the elite category and up there with the best midfielders of the decade. For me, he is on par with Judd just because of that pure ability with his hands and feet.

For every metre of leg speed lost by Mitchell, you can guarantee he will make up for that with the best use of the ball you'll ever see.

 

[Genesis67]

Sam Mitchell is by far the best user of the ball I've seen over a decade. That's what puts him the elite category and up there with the best midfielders of the decade. For me, he is on par with Judd just because of that pure ability with his hands and feet.

For every metre of leg speed lost by Mitchell, you can guarantee he will make up for that with the best use of the ball you'll ever see.

The lack of leg speed is made up for time saved not having to worry about which side of the body to kick or handpass. Elite on both sides of the body.

This is the most quietly confident I've been, going into a season, since 2006. Don't think we'll win the premiership (tip with my head; tipped GWS), but we'll give it a red hot shake.

 

[demondavey]

The lack of leg speed is made up for time saved not having to worry about which side of the body to kick or handpass. Elite on both sides of the body.

This is the most quietly confident I've been, going into a season, since 2006. Don't think we'll win the premiership (tip with my head; tipped GWS), but we'll give it a red hot shake.

A lot of people have the Eagles as their smoky, I have them winning it with Hawks a smoky.

West Coast will be unbeatable at home, and I think Mitchell will assist them greatly at performing at the G.

This is almost a Stuart Dew type coup, one last hurrah for one of the best players of our generation.

 

[Genesis67]

A lot of people have the Eagles as their smoky, I have them winning it with Hawks a smoky.

West Coast will be unbeatable at home, and I think Mitchell will assist them greatly at performing at the G.

This is almost a Stuart Dew type coup, one last hurrah for one of the best players of our generation.

Agree with all of that, 100%. I just don't think one of the smokey's will win it all. One of those two, along with WB, to run into GWS in the GF, and lose.

 

[demondavey]

Agree with all of that, 100%. I just don't think one of the smokey's will win it all. One of those two, along with WB, to run into GWS in the GF, and lose.

Could very well be GWS or Sydney in the GF v West Coast. Or even Hawthorn v West Coast GF.

I think if the Swans get there this year, they'll win it, Eagles vs anyone else, and it'll be the Eagles. GWS won't win it and I have the WB missing the 8.

 

[avishka5]

GWS are fairly young and inexperienced and there's a good chance they can choke (like we did) or take it for granted as they have been talked up as a juggernaut side for the last few years.

 

[kerr87]

A lot of people have the Eagles as their smoky, I have them winning it with Hawks a smoky.

West Coast will be unbeatable at home, and I think Mitchell will assist them greatly at performing at the G.

This is almost a Stuart Dew type coup, one last hurrah for one of the best players of our generation.

Mitchell has another season in him at least - you can tell he wants to continue on as long as possible.

 

[Forward Press]

A lot of people have the Eagles as their smoky, I have them winning it with Hawks a smoky.

West Coast will be unbeatable at home, and I think Mitchell will assist them greatly at performing at the G.

This is almost a Stuart Dew type coup, one last hurrah for one of the best players of our generation.

Would trade my left testicle for that. High risk, high reward, it's pretty much premiership window over if he calls it quits at the end of this year.

 

[Xtreme]

In reasonable shape, Sam Mitchell only make them stronger. Top 2 is a chance depending on how they play away from WA.

 

[lmach]

With lots of people talking about the potential of the Mitchell/Priddis partnership, I wonder if Hawthorn would be talked up as premiership favourites if the reverse happened and Priddis was traded to them. As in, Hawthorn kept Mitchell and Lewis (which means they didn't get O'Meara or T.Mitchell) and Priddis decided that Hawthorn were a better chance at a flag before he's finished so requested a trade.

West Coast are fourth in line for the flag with the bookies right now and Hawthorn seventh, but if the Mitchell trade didn't happen it would probably be the other way around.

/hypothetical

 

[Genesis67]

Would trade my left testicle for that. High risk, high reward, it's pretty much premiership window over if he calls it quits at the end of this year.

He made the comment on a TV interview a week or so ago (can't remember where) that he hasn't felt this fit or energetic going into a season in years. A sea-change can do that.

At this early point, I'll be VERY surprised if we don't see him playing again next year.

 

[SpaceClef]

Judd says HELLO too!

Because he was selecting from every player in AFL history...

 

[Cynic]

He made the comment on a TV interview a week or so ago (can't remember where) that he hasn't felt this fit or energetic going into a season in years. A sea-change can do that.

At this early point, I'll be VERY surprised if we don't see him playing again next year.

To be fair Darren Jarman could come out of retirement with a new club and would still bring out the "fittest I've ever been" line.

 

[The Swert]

He made the comment on a TV interview a week or so ago (can't remember where) that he hasn't felt this fit or energetic going into a season in years. A sea-change can do that.

At this early point, I'll be VERY surprised if we don't see him playing again next year.

And if West Coast miss the finals? He'll be out the door quicker than Boomer Harvey.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Because he was selecting from every player in AFL history...

It's not like he retired 50 years ago....

 

[demondavey]

With lots of people talking about the potential of the Mitchell/Priddis partnership, I wonder if Hawthorn would be talked up as premiership favourites if the reverse happened and Priddis was traded to them. As in, Hawthorn kept Mitchell and Lewis (which means they didn't get O'Meara or T.Mitchell) and Priddis decided that Hawthorn were a better chance at a flag before he's finished so requested a trade.

West Coast are fourth in line for the flag with the bookies right now and Hawthorn seventh, but if the Mitchell trade didn't happen it would probably be the other way around.

/hypothetical

Reckon the Hawks are a chance if Mitchell and JOM are fit

 

[SpaceClef]

It's not like he retired 50 years ago....

Yeah. Matera and McLeod are two others that came to mind re: skill and speed.

 

[Yippy Yi Yeo]

And if West Coast miss the finals? He'll be out the door quicker than Boomer Harvey.

And how likely do you think that is?

 

[Ancient Tiger]

And how likely do you think that is?

Very unlikely I would have thought but still possible. Let's face it, anything is possible at this time of the year. Usually wait until 5 games are played before we can start being more confident about the way things are trending for teams in a season.

 

[dave123]

I've always said you can move the ball quicker than a human can run

The Hawks midefield with MITCHELL and Lewis wasn't quick ....hello three flags

Getting the ball is far more important than leg speed in my view

 

[Ancient Tiger]

I've always said you can move the ball quicker than a human can run

The Hawks midefield with MITCHELL and Lewis wasn't quick ....hello three flags

Getting the ball is far more important than leg speed in my view

I think people get confused with straight line 100m dash type speed and speed off the mark with amazing lateral movement that throws off the opposition. That's what Mitchell has in spades. So he's actually quick, just not in the traditional sprinter way.