Where to for the midfield?

[White Winmar]

Now that we've recruited a couple of key backs, what about our most pressing need, the midfield? If the conventional wisdom is you need 10-12 to run through there, how are we placed? We need six specialists and another six who are at least capable. The obvious ones are Steven, Montagna, Armitage and Hayes (at reduced game time). So we need to find another eight.

You would think Savage is ready to go. Schneider, if fit, should be another. After this it gets more interesting and, dare I say it, speculative. There is always room for a "run with" player, although the obvious choice, Clint Jones, might not be an automatic selection anymore. Geary may take his place, with Weller a longer term smokey. That leaves another five. So, it's time for a few to step up. My first suggestion may surprise a few. I'm going with Gilbo to become a midfield "beast". He has the size, the pace and running ability to be a factor. He could be useful, inside or outside.

Then we get to the young ones. I'm going for Ross and Newnes. The former is a true insider and distributor, the latter more likely to provide outside run and clean disposal. I have a feeling Dunstan will make a mark in his first year. He has played men's footy and is physically well developed. That leaves the likes of Milera(supremely talented, but mentally suspect), Jones (getting near the end and suspect disposal), Markworth (could be anything), Murdoch, Saunders, Wright, and the other newbies Billings and Acres. So who will it be? Thoughts?

[Enrico_Misso]

+Dunell

[Con Gorozidis]

This is the 64 million $ question.
All in all we were belted last year in the midfield - especially in the clearances - and that is the predominant reason why we were 3rd bottom (our short defence exacerbated this).

So we need real improvement in the midfield - and we still need to cover NDS and then Hayes - just to break even and not go backwards. No mean feat we are facing.

So we need real improvement in the next few years from at least 4 youngsters. I have a lot of time for Curren. I think maybe Weller could take Jones spot soon enough....

Then we have Dunstan and Ross looking to be inside mids to help Armo in the clinches.

The on the outside we have Newnes, Wright, Saunders, Savage, Billings (with Acres as a bit of an unknown in terms of position) - these guys need to help Jack.

[WinnersOnly]

Dont forget Seb Ross he will continue to improve...

[White Winmar]

Dont forget Seb Ross he will continue to improve...

I didn't forget Seb. He's definitely one who needs to step up and I think he can.

[BigMart]

Clint Jones will be first choice tagger.... He had a great year last year

Montagna, Steven, Jones, Armitage, Hayes, Ray.... Senior and best performed mids

Rotating would be

Ross, Newnes, Wright, Savage, Curran..... All fringe developing

Would guess the following will be introduced or continue to be introduced

Dunstan, Saunders, Weller

[saint6709]

Now that we've recruited a couple of key backs, what about our most pressing need, the midfield? If the conventional wisdom is you need 10-12 to run through there, how are we placed? We need six specialists and another six who are at least capable. The obvious ones are Steven, Montagna, Armitage and Hayes (at reduced game time). So we need to find another eight.

You would think Savage is ready to go. Schneider, if fit, should be another. After this it gets more interesting and, dare I say it, speculative. There is always room for a "run with" player, although the obvious choice, Clint Jones, might not be an automatic selection anymore. Geary may take his place, with Weller a longer term smokey. That leaves another five. So, it's time for a few to step up. My first suggestion may surprise a few. I'm going with Gilbo to become a midfield "beast". He has the size, the pace and running ability to be a factor. He could be useful, inside or outside.

Then we get to the young ones. I'm going for Ross and Newnes. The former is a true insider and distributor, the latter more likely to provide outside run and clean disposal. I have a feeling Dunstan will make a mark in his first year. He has played men's footy and is physically well developed. That leaves the likes of Milera(supremely talented, but mentally suspect), Jones (getting near the end and suspect disposal), Markworth (could be anything), Murdoch, Saunders, Wright, and the other newbies Billings and Acres. So who will it be? Thoughts?

Including the 2 young ones at the end I make it you got up to 19 and that's without Curren,Ray, Dunnell, who you missed and maybe Sipposs but I doubt he will build the tank up - but we have about twice the numbers required --.its just a matter of who is going to earn the spots

[bigcarl]

Clint Jones, might not be an automatic selection anymore.

I know he's not a fashionable player with his awkward kicking style but I still see a spot for him. He looked all right when he smashed the best player in the competition in Round 21.

[bergholt]

Now that we've recruited a couple of key backs, what about our most pressing need, the midfield? If the conventional wisdom is you need 10-12 to run through there, how are we placed? We need six specialists and another six who are at least capable. The obvious ones are Steven, Montagna, Armitage and Hayes (at reduced game time). So we need to find another eight.

You highlight the point here, which is that we don't have anywhere near 12 AFL quality mids at this point, and next year when Lenny retires we'll lose another one. A lot of kids needs to step up in the next couple of years. Not sure how many options there are, given this breakdown.

Likely: Savage, Curren, Newnes, Wright

Maybe: Milera, Siposs, Ross, Webster, Murdoch, Saunders

Unlikely: Shenton, Dunell, Weller, Minchington

No idea: Markworth, Dunstan, Billings, Templeton, Acres

In the next couple of years as Hayes, Jones and maybe Montagna are being phased out, most of the Likelies should cement a spot, along with a couple from the Maybes. The speed of this rebuild will largely be determined by how many of the rest come through. If two or three of the No Ideas become players in just a couple of years then we might be onto something. If one of the Unlikelies and a couple of other Maybes also come through then we're a serious chance in less time than I thought.

But most likely we'll wind up with only five or six of that whole bunch becoming AFL quality, and then we'll find ourselves waiting for the kids drafted next year, and the year after.

[ShanghaiSaint]

Now that we've recruited a couple of key backs, what about our most pressing need, the midfield? If the conventional wisdom is you need 10-12 to run through there, how are we placed? We need six specialists and another six who are at least capable. The obvious ones are Steven, Montagna, Armitage and Hayes (at reduced game time). So we need to find another eight.

You would think Savage is ready to go. Schneider, if fit, should be another. After this it gets more interesting and, dare I say it, speculative. There is always room for a "run with" player, although the obvious choice, Clint Jones, might not be an automatic selection anymore. Geary may take his place, with Weller a longer term smokey. That leaves another five. So, it's time for a few to step up. My first suggestion may surprise a few. I'm going with Gilbo to become a midfield "beast". He has the size, the pace and running ability to be a factor. He could be useful, inside or outside.

Then we get to the young ones. I'm going for Ross and Newnes. The former is a true insider and distributor, the latter more likely to provide outside run and clean disposal. I have a feeling Dunstan will make a mark in his first year. He has played men's footy and is physically well developed. That leaves the likes of Milera(supremely talented, but mentally suspect), Jones (getting near the end and suspect disposal), Markworth (could be anything), Murdoch, Saunders, Wright, and the other newbies Billings and Acres. So who will it be? Thoughts?

Curren

[plugger66]

Clint Jones will be first choice tagger.... He had a great year last year

Montagna, Steven, Jones, Armitage, Hayes, Ray.... Senior and best performed mids

Rotating would be

Ross, Newnes, Wright, Savage, Curran..... All fringe developing

Would guess the following will be introduced or continue to be introduced

Dunstan, Saunders, Weller

What he did this year should have little to do with next year. I would think CJ has to prove himself to be much better for the side than a young guy. If its close to line ball then he should play the year mainly in the seconds. Same goes for Ray.

[Gershwin]

Clint Jones will be first choice tagger.... He had a great year last year

Montagna, Steven, Jones, Armitage, Hayes, Ray.... Senior and best performed mids

Rotating would be

Ross, Newnes, Wright, Savage, Curran..... All fringe developing

Would guess the following will be introduced or continue to be introduced

Dunstan, Saunders, Weller

What he did this year should have little to do with next year. I would think CJ has to prove himself to be much better for the side than a young guy. If its close to line ball then he should play the year mainly in the seconds. Same goes for Ray.

Richardson has suggested that he wants the team to get back to playing like the one that under Lyon was admired by others for its commitment to defense. With this in mind he will probably want to play Jones to negate a key opposition midfielder.

[Zed]

Leave Gilbert in defence as they are going to need all the help they can get next season. Bruce and Delaney are not going to magically transform our back 6 into the best defensive unit when our midfield gets slaughtered and the ball gets continually pumped in.

As for mids, we need to start getting games into the next generation. Ross and Curren will hopefully get 20 or so games into them. Savage is at the right age to take his game to the next level. Hopefully one of the other 2nd or 3rd year players can step up. If we can get a dozen or more games into any of our draft picks from this year that would be a bonus.

[bigcarl]

What he did this year should have little to do with next year. I would think CJ has to prove himself to be much better for the side than a young guy.

What he did this year should have everything to do with next year. I would think a young guy has to prove himself better than CJ at for example, shutting down Gary Ablett Jr, to take CJ's place in the side.

I realise we are in a rebuild but runs on the board count for something. Same goes for Ray. If someone can come in a do it better, I'm all for it.

[samoht]

Richardson has suggested that he wants the team to get back to playing like the one that under Lyon was admired by others for its commitment to defense. With this in mind he will probably want to play Jones to negate a key opposition midfielder.

I hope Richo takes it to the next level again, as our forward defensive pressure was non-existent in 2010 - the opposition half backs just kept rebounding everything. Yes we drew the first GF (thanks to Goddard's and Hayes' superhuman efforts and the Pies' inexperience) - but our forward pressure was still lacking.

[dragit]

What he did this year should have little to do with next year. I would think CJ has to prove himself to be much better for the side than a young guy.

What he did this year should have everything to do with next year. I would think a young guy has to prove himself better than CJ at for example, shutting down Gary Ablett Jr, to take CJ's place in the side.

I realise we are in a rebuild but runs on the board count for something. Same goes for Ray. If someone can come in a do it better, I'm all for it.

Jones was spanked many times this season, no point cherry picking a single game where he played well…

If he plays 22 next year it will help us earn more top 3 draft picks over the coming years, there's a positive.

[dragit]

I think Newnes, Ross, Curren, Wright, Markworth & Dunstan should play most games next year unless their form is consistently poor. More long term gain than full seasons from Jones & Ray.

Hopefully Billings, Saunders, Savage, Acres & Weller can make some impact.

[bigcarl]

Jones was spanked many times this season, no point cherry picking a single game where he played well….

He was good, particularly towrds the end of the season.

[dragit]

Jones was spanked many times this season, no point cherry picking a single game where he played well….

He was good, particularly towrds the end of the season.

Plenty of brownlow votes gathered by the players he "tagged" this year. He did also play some good footy, but he's certainly not the future.

[bigcarl]

He did also play some good footy

I'm glad we established that. I reckon he's safe, or should be, until someone comes along who can do it better. That is how team selection should work.

I know you are anxious to get a look at the kids. I am, too, but they need to earn their stripes. That is how team sports tend to work. Seniority counts for something and so it should.

[dragit]

He did also play some good footy

I'm glad we established that. I reckon he's safe, or should be, until someone comes along who can do it better. That is how team selection should work.

I know you are anxious to get a look at the kids. I am, too, but they need to earn their stripes. That is how team sports tend to work. Seniority counts for something and so it should.

The thing is though BC, look at someone like Travis Boak… took him over 100 games (6 seasons) to average 25 disposals per match, and now of course he is a gun… 18 - 21 year olds aren't going to walk into the side and be better than many 25 year olds, but they still need to be played, particularly when you are seriously rebuilding.

I'm not anxious to get a look the kids… I'm anxious to see them reach 50 - 100 games, we can't wait for the vets to retire for this to happen.

[MC Gusto]

Re the OP I think this is a great post. What it does though is provide a real reality check as to where we are as a club...if you need 10-12 quality capable mids we are a ways off. That said, hope springs eternal and there is hope in some of our young draftees and 2nd/3rd year players

[Con Gorozidis]

If we are talking about our future midfield and we are talking about Clint Jones were in more trouble than I thought.

As op said we need 10 to 12 players in there and we just lost NDS and Lenny is in his final season and probably wont play more than 12 games.

So we need plenty of talent to come up.

[bigcarl]

18 - 21 year olds aren't going to walk into the side and be better than many 25 year olds, but they still need to be played, particularly when you are seriously rebuilding.

I get what you're saying. It's a balancing act and I think the best policy is to give games to players whose form warrants a game, regardless of age. Others will disagree and, in fact, the club may disagree. We'll find out soon enough.

[White Winmar]

Now that we've recruited a couple of key backs, what about our most pressing need, the midfield? If the conventional wisdom is you need 10-12 to run through there, how are we placed? We need six specialists and another six who are at least capable. The obvious ones are Steven, Montagna, Armitage and Hayes (at reduced game time). So we need to find another eight.

You would think Savage is ready to go. Schneider, if fit, should be another. After this it gets more interesting and, dare I say it, speculative. There is always room for a "run with" player, although the obvious choice, Clint Jones, might not be an automatic selection anymore. Geary may take his place, with Weller a longer term smokey. That leaves another five. So, it's time for a few to step up. My first suggestion may surprise a few. I'm going with Gilbo to become a midfield "beast". He has the size, the pace and running ability to be a factor. He could be useful, inside or outside.

Then we get to the young ones. I'm going for Ross and Newnes. The former is a true insider and distributor, the latter more likely to provide outside run and clean disposal. I have a feeling Dunstan will make a mark in his first year. He has played men's footy and is physically well developed. That leaves the likes of Milera(supremely talented, but mentally suspect), Jones (getting near the end and suspect disposal), Markworth (could be anything), Murdoch, Saunders, Wright, and the other newbies Billings and Acres. So who will it be? Thoughts?

Including the 2 young ones at the end I make it you got up to 19 and that's without Curren,Ray, Dunnell, who you missed and maybe Sipposs but I doubt he will build the tank up - but we have about twice the numbers required --.its just a matter of who is going to earn the spots

Yes, Saints 6709, I considered Siposs and I believe he would have great potential to become another midfield "beast". Unfortunately, I think he lacks the tank for the role at the moment, but with a couple of big preseasons, he may still surprise. Somehow I think he'll end up making it as a forward, if he makes it at all. It will be interesting to see what his levels of dedication under AR are like. He seemed to go backwards under SW. Whether that was due to injury or attitude remains to be seen.

The one I definitely missed was Curren. He's another who will bring pressure to bear on our midfield incumbents, especially CJ. If dedication counts for anything, then Curren is a certainty to become a regular. He seemed to make great strides last year. I'm not feeling as gloomy about the situation as I was late in the season.