Will Raines be a future midfielder?

[Richo for PM]

will rainsey become a midfielder or do u think he will play out most of his career in the backline?

 

[lids2004roar]

He has a lot of work to do if he wants to be either.

At the moment he can't kick and is a human bowling ball. I'm sure he is working on these things so in the future he has a chance of getting better, but in his current state he has little class.

He knows how to find the ball and isn't soft which is more than we can say about some others...

 

[RichosGuns]

I'm pretty sure we all hope so. Now that the season is over expect players like him and Newman to play full quaters on the wing and maybe even go into the middle for spells.

 

[_RT_]

He has been given a few chances to run in the guts in the last few games and has been a little lost as to where to run and when to run. Would be alright if he was in there with some experienced heads that could take a bit of the heat of him and just let him worry about getting the ball. We have seen as a backman he has accountability so knows how to look after an opponent, the difference is in the middle it is harder to have someone cover for you when you try to create.

 

[Rayzorwire]

Agree with benny...he has a lot of work to do to be either long term.

As a midfielder, he doesn't have any standout attributes...kicking is average at best...lacks genuine pace over the first few steps...has a lot to learn about getting the ball...still needs to build a lot more endurance.

I think longterm, he and Newman are fighting for the same position in the backline. Neither has shown a capacity to shut down genuinely good small forwards consistently...neither is genuinely quick enough to break lines...neither is really good enough to be anything more than an occasional pinch-hit midfielder...neither has high quality disposal or decision making skills to make up for the above.

They do both have have a lot of tenacity, which is a great quality and can make up for a lot of other deficiencies, but it can only take you so far.

I can only see one (or perhaps neither) of Newman and Raines playing regular seniors 3-5 years from now...with any luck, by then we'll have a range of more talented future midfielders to blood in defense and a small defender with top disposal to replace them.

 

[lids2004roar]

Chris Newman is among the top 4 best disposers of the ball at our club actually...

Raines probably bottom 4, although he has a lot of players competing for that

 

[roostertalk]

Agree with benny...he has a lot of work to do to be either long term.

As a midfielder, he doesn't have any standout attributes...kicking is average at best...lacks genuine pace over the first few steps...has a lot to learn about getting the ball...still needs to build a lot more endurance.

I think longterm, he and Newman are fighting for the same position in the backline. Neither has shown a capacity to shut down genuinely good small forwards consistently...neither is genuinely quick enough to break lines...neither is really good enough to be anything more than an occasional pinch-hit midfielder...neither has high quality disposal or decision making skills to make up for the above.

They do both have have a lot of tenacity, which is a great quality and can make up for a lot of other deficiencies, but it can only take you so far.

I can only see one (or perhaps neither) of Newman and Raines playing regular seniors 3-5 years from now...with any luck, by then we'll have a range of more talented future midfielders to blood in defense and a small defender with top disposal to replace them.

sh1t thats harshe on newman.

Fair enough on Raines he has been porridge this year and i worry about him more then anyone on the list! we all love his courage but i reckon he is by far the dumbest football brain on the list. Gas held that title but has graciously handed the mantle to our young gallant Rainesy. Hate shooting down youngsters but he's decision making skills need some serious attention.

The issue i have is i think thats one of the things you either have or you don't. I'm hoping its a confidence thing at the moment but his form of late has seen me resembling a hair tearing Jewell in the outer.

 

[mad_doggy911]

I hope Raines makes it as a midfielder.. he has size to play in the guts. Newman will be a star in defence.. he has a bit of pace can take a great contested mark and has courage. Dont forget he's still playing with an inserted rod in his leg.

 

[True Thylacine]

Raines and Deledio are both suffering from the same problme in my book. That is someone as an on field role model and mentor. If they were in the midfield as 3rd man in with 2 senior experienced midfielders they'd be shining already. We just don't have that luxury right now so its in at the deep end boys or back to the half back blank!

 

[krustyman]

raines has all the attributes to be a star midfielder, his disposal hasnt been as accurate as last season. He would be my the first in line along with polo.

 

[big bruno]

At the moment, Rains kicks too high. He needs to deliver the ball like Tivendale. He has pace, good hands and goes in hard. I think he could easily play on the ball once he fixes his kicking.

 

[santa claws]

i think most people forget raines has played what 30 35 games. imo it should be a gradual moving into the midfield. aquarter here agame there. in time i think he will make an excellent centreman hes quick of the mark very strong in the legs stands up in tacles. his kicking needs some work and he needs to build up aerobic capacity.

chris newman with 90 odd games behind him is the one who needs to quickly develop another string to his bow. i dunno who said hes slow he has good pace courage finds his own ball and has talent i think the club needs to persevere with him midfield long term it can only benifit him and the club.

 

[Madtiger2006]

I can barely remember seeing Raines in the middle for more than 5 minutes this season. His kicking isn't that bad either

 

[astro_toby]

honestly - i hope he never does. i liked his game in the backline last season - i'd prefer him to just be a specialty player in that position , be elite in his position - than become average or just good in both - players such a joel smith, austin jones, etc played similar roles for the majority of the careers, and always preformed best there

keep him in the backline, and keep deledio in the middle i say

 

[ata40]

Think TW is aiming to make him our new "right footed" Leon Cameron.

Still learning the game, but I see him as our quarterback of half back.

Long penetrating kick with hopefully a bit of a run and carry amd he becomes a 70+metre player.

 

[lids2004roar]

I think he could easily play on the ball once he fixes his kicking.

That is the one thing that players can barely improve unfortunately..

Think TW is aiming to make him our new "right footed" Leon Cameron.

I'm just going to shake my head at you lol

Leon Cameron was one of the best kicks we've had remember.

 

[big bruno]

That is the one thing that players can barely improve unfortunately..



I'm just going to shake my head at you lol

Leon Cameron was one of the best kicks we've had remember.

Must agree here.... Cameron could kick so well with both feet you couldn't tell which was his preferred. We miss his kick-ins from behinds when he used to hit Benny Gale on the chest each time.....

 

[Rayzorwire]

Chris Newman is among the top 4 best disposers of the ball at our club actually...

Maybe benny, but if so, it's largely because he's got nothing in front of him and nothing behind.

------------------------

Many people seem to excuse Newman his disposal mistakes because he seldom actually looks clumsy when he's making them (while plenty of our players do). If he turns it over, he'll do so with a perfect drop punt to the opposition. If he doesn't kick to our advantage in a contest, we excuse him because Cameron and Knights were the last players we had who were able to actually do that. If he takes the wrong option in a string of handballs, he'll at least hit the player intended - albeit putting them under a stack of pressure. The end result on all the above is the same as a 'bad looking' turnover or disposal.

Far too often, Newman's 'good' disposal (with accompanying golf clap from the faithful) is a 30m kick to an unmarked opponent - an easy option. When given the chance to kick out from FB, his results have been pretty ordinary - he's been exposed as a player who is not a consistently good decision maker, has a range of about 45m (leaving far less ground than ideal for the opposition attack to defend), and is prone to error (which is why Bowden is still saddled with the job more often than not).

He's not a kid anymore, he's just shy of 25 years old. How many backmen who average 13 possessions a game (half of them very simple stuff) suddenly turn it all around and become quality ball winning midfielders at that age? None?

As a negating defender, on the rare occasion he's been played on a very good small forward he's been beaten far more times than he's broken even or come out in front. We wonder why in the recent past we've played Gaspar on people obviously too small and nippy for him...it's because good forwards like Phil Matera and Milne have had absolute field days on Newman.

If he's not a quality, negating small defender, if he doesn't get it often enough or break lines enough with it to be an attacking defender, if he's been overlooked for midfield roles all his career in a side with no midfield, if he's just as prone to go missing as other more maligned seniors (12 possessions and zero influence last week), where does that leave him in our future lineup?

I like Newman, he has heart, he's among our more intelligent players, he obviously works hard on the training track (especially great recovery from his op) and overall, he's usually got the most out of himself. But I also think a lot of people seriously overrate him.

Raines has time on his side and may indeed become a 2nd string midfielder if he can improve in a few areas. If he can't, there's only room for one of he and Newman in defence.

 

[Crumden]

Raines and Deledio are both suffering from the same problme in my book. That is someone as an on field role model and mentor. If they were in the midfield as 3rd man in with 2 senior experienced midfielders they'd be shining already. We just don't have that luxury right now so its in at the deep end boys or back to the half back blank!

I think Cogs has been a much bigger loss for us than people realise. His disposal mightn't have been the greatest, but he was pretty much our number one man in the middle and took a lot of the hits.

 

[lids2004roar]

Many people seem to excuse Newman his disposal mistakes because he seldom actually looks clumsy when he's making them (while plenty of our players do). If he turns it over, he'll do so with a perfect drop punt to the opposition. If he doesn't kick to our advantage in a contest, we excuse him because Cameron and Knights were the last players we had who were able to actually do that. If he takes the wrong option in a string of handballs, he'll at least hit the player intended - albeit putting them under a stack of pressure. The end result on all the above is the same as a 'bad looking' turnover or disposal.

Far too often, Newman's 'good' disposal (with accompanying golf clap from the faithful) is a 30m kick to an unmarked opponent - an easy option. When given the chance to kick out from FB, his results have been pretty ordinary - he's been exposed as a player who is not a consistently good decision maker, has a range of about 45m (leaving far less ground than ideal for the opposition attack to defend), and is prone to error (which is why Bowden is still saddled with the job more often than not).

He's not a kid anymore, he's just shy of 25 years old. How many backmen who average 13 possessions a game (half of them very simple stuff) suddenly turn it all around and become quality ball winning midfielders at that age? None?

As a negating defender, on the rare occasion he's been played on a very good small forward he's been beaten far more times than he's broken even or come out in front. We wonder why in the recent past we've played Gaspar on people obviously too small and nippy for him...it's because good forwards like Phil Matera and Milne have had absolute field days on Newman.

If he's not a quality, negating small defender, if he doesn't get it often enough or break lines enough with it to be an attacking defender, if he's been overlooked for midfield roles all his career in a side with no midfield, if he's just as prone to go missing as other more maligned seniors (12 possessions and zero influence last week), where does that leave him in our future lineup?

I like Newman, he has heart, he's among our more intelligent players, he obviously works hard on the training track (especially great recovery from his op) and overall, he's usually got the most out of himself. But I also think a lot of people seriously overrate him.

Raines has time on his side and may indeed become a 2nd string midfielder if he can improve in a few areas. If he can't, there's only room for one of he and Newman in defence.

I'll keep a close eye on some of these things in the future