Sinclair - the new Waugh

[Secret Kiel]

I said in the off season that if Sincs can bed down a spot in our new look midfield then we would be flying. He doesn't have to be elite, he just has to be 4th to 6th best. Anything better is a bonus.

Same goes for Sebby and Dunny, they don't need to be world beaters, they just need to be part of a midfield that runs incredibly deep. The childish calls to sack these types is completely misguided and is the worst possible way of looking at how you build a sustainable top 4 side. Good clubs and good coaches in the modern era of two way running build midfields with as MUUUUUCH depth as possible.

Put it this way, if players like Sincs and Dunny are in our bottom six players then we are doing really, REALLY well and future looks bright. Better to try and get them to be part of this team than to cutt off your nose to spite your face.

On top of all that, we all know we need one more A grade midfielder to compliment the current midfiled brigade.

[StPeter]

Sinclair has always been underrated by most supporters on this and other forums.

A creative link player considered good enough to play every game by the selectors, including Ratten, last year and unlucky to be squeezed out by our new recruits at the start of this year.

Rated the only elite player on our list by Champion Data a couple of years ago.

[Saintmatt]

I thought he's contributed well since coming back in. I've wondered if he's been asked to be a role player and guard zones a little more than normal but it's really hard to be certain from watching on TV. Guarding zones is that really unsexy part of the game that is rarely praised by media journos and commentators but is highly valued by coaches obviously. I notice players who recently retired and are now TV commentators mention zones and guarding a lot like Hodgey.

100% correct. The role of a defensive wingman is basically a whole lot of guarding space from wing backwards and to then be involved in the chain of possession when we get it back - AND NOT STUFF IT UP - during the transition between defence and attack. Hill - by comparison is largely an offensive wingman. These days, Sincs is a structural player rather than a sharp small forward (like when he started as a rookie) or a pure wingman (like when he was the only player on our list rated Elite by Champion Data in 2017).

We'd notice him if he wasn't there.