Topline midfielders through the national daft

[cwrcyn]

As some on here (including me) bemoan the lack of A Grade midfielders in our current team. Looking back over the last 25 years, it's not a pretty picture. We seem to grab a few over a couple of drafts and then have a drought for a few years.

1997 nil
1998 Lenny Hayes (A grade)
1999 nil
2000 Nil
2001 Ball (B+), Dal Santo A Grade), Montagna (A grade)
2002 Goddard (A Grade)
2003 nil
2004 nil
2005 nil
2006 Armitage, Jones (both B- Grade)
2007 Steven (B+)
2008 nil
2009 nil
2010 nil
2011 Ross (B)
2012 nil
2013 Billing (B) Dunstan (C-) Acres (B-)
2014 nil
2015 Gresham (B)
2016 nil
2017 Clark (B at this stage)
2018 Bytel (C at this stage)
2019 Byrnes (C)
2020 nil
2021 Windager, Owens (too early to tell where the ceiling is, but at least B grade possible A grade
2022 Phillipou (too early, but potentially A)

[cwrcyn]

It could be argued that we have not drafted a single genuine A grade midfielder for 20 years. Some will argue that Jack Steven was, and you could mount a reasonable case.

[SydneySainter]

I would argue Jack Steven was A grade. Beyond that, we just can’t identify midfield talent and it’s become a huge problem.

We spent the last 10 years chasing an elite mid and yet we still have a workmanlike midfield at best.

[Teflon]

It could be argued that we have not drafted a single genuine A grade midfielder for 20 years. Some will argue that Jack Steven was, and you could mount a reasonable case.

Correct
Steven a good mid not elite
Bont is elite
We have gone HBF mad for way too long
It’s a mids game now and we are wanting
Hit draft mids mids mids
Problem is we need another ruck and now a FB …

[Impatient Sainter]

Its amazing that a club can consistently stuff up nearly every draft they have been to in the past 20 years. When other clubs have had midfield hits every year either via the draft or trade. We have had possibly two (Ross & Steven) very good mids in the past 20 years. Owens, Windhager, NWM, Phillipou and possibly Hotton will break that cycle, but it makes for dim reading. Obviously we have traded in Steele, Crouch & Jones but the lack of drafted midfield talent over that period is disgraceful.

Since Chris TOCE` has been in charge of recruiting the selections have been great. But I fear he will get left with no decent picks after SOS is finished bringing another player from Port we dont need and half of Carlton across.

If only we had some way of changing things quickly, but I think our best chance of sucess is backing in Toce` and going back to the draft. Particularly this year as there will be a number of high end talls, ruckman and utilities players, which will make the chance of a very good midfielder slipping through to our pick.

[SydneySainter]

I’m also of the view that there is A grade and there is elite.

Elite is that level where a player could take a game by the scruff of the neck and almost single handley pull the team over the line. Hayes was that and so was Goddard.

Dal & Joey were certainly A grade, but not at that level.

Steven I believe was A grade and got a season and a half, even Armo, but non were elite.

[B.M]

Goddard rarely played in the midfield

Was a wing who often dropped back and played behind the footy

[Impatient Sainter]

Goddard rarely played in the midfield

Was a wing who often dropped back and played behind the footy

Goddards thirst for sucess and drive were second to none, but I firmly believe he seriously over rated himself and impact on games. He played as an unaccountable hbf, who if he had to defend often got found out and blamed his team mates for not covering for him. He was a good player, not great but the way the club managed his exit was poorly handled.

As you mentioned BM was never a genuine midfielder.

[whiskers3614]

Midfielder or not he was a grand final specialist.
If a couple of his teammates had his heart we would have 3 flags and a statue of Goddard at Linton st.

[Scollop]

What's all this talk about Topline midfielders possibly arriving next year or getting drafted and developing into A grade mids?

Here's the plan for St Kilda under RTB and SOS

Get Dow, TDK and any player who has highlights of running fast and bouncing the footy a couple of times (similar to Brett Peake)

[Banger9798]

What's all this talk about Topline midfielders possibly arriving next year or getting drafted and developing into A grade mids?

Here's the plan for St Kilda under RTB and SOS

Get Dow, TDK and any player who has highlights of running fast and bouncing the footy a couple of times (similar to Brett Peake)

[SaintPav]

[Impatient Sainter]

What's all this talk about Topline midfielders possibly arriving next year or getting drafted and developing into A grade mids?

Here's the plan for St Kilda under RTB and SOS

Get Dow, TDK and any player who has highlights of running fast and bouncing the footy a couple of times (similar to Brett Peake)

TDK or another ruckman is definitely a need, but I doubt we give up too much for them, whoever it might be. I would expect Billings to be placed on the trade table and he might find himself involved in the TDK trade. According to ITK's on BF, Gresham has been talking to a number of clubs, so he might end up moving also?

We definitely need midfield talent hopefully the club has plans to bring some in? Dow will cost us nothing if we are interested, he will most likely be delisted at years end.

[B.M]

Why do we need another ruckman?

We have an A Grade ruckman now?

[bobmurray]

I think we need another Ruckman.

Campbell is done and Heath's progress is still akin to learning the dog paddle.

Not much depth if Roma does a hammy.

[Ghost Like]

Why do we need another ruckman?

We have an A Grade ruckman now?

You have bemoaned the fact, in our losses to Hawthorn & Richmond, that he got monstered and was a factor in our midfield being lit up.

RoMa is a 2nd Ruckman and A grade utility at best. Those games he gets monstered in shows how much we miss / need a ruckman like Ryder or an A grade midfield, we currently have neither.

[The G Train Legacy]

What's all this talk about Topline midfielders possibly arriving next year or getting drafted and developing into A grade mids?

Here's the plan for St Kilda under RTB and SOS

Get Dow, TDK and any player who has highlights of running fast and bouncing the footy a couple of times (similar to Brett Peake)

Dow was drafted at pick 3. We would get him for bugger all. Farran Ray was a high pick who flopped at the Bulldogs, we got him for not much and Ross turned him into a very handy long term player. Who says he won't do the same with Dow? De Koning is a beast and will get better, Carlton would be stupid if they lose him. My only question is whether we want to go with two ruckman.

Owens, Phillipou & Windhager will be topline mids when they've played 50-70 games. Owens may be ready to go into the middle, but has he yet got the tank to spend a lot of time there? It appears you believe that Lyon is going to be half arsed and incompetent in addressing our List needs. Does he really strike you as an idiot?

[Scollop]

What's the point of getting players in and recruiting guys just because they might be available and we might get them for not much?

I don't mind Dow, but if that's all they can do, wtf do we pay $millions in salary to our recruiters and to the list manager if that's the best they can come up with?

Any bozo could do the job if it's just a matter of finding delisted players.

Remember the banner for Farren Rays 200th? It read something like: Congratulations Farren on 200 solid games! Solid.. doesn't win grand finals. How did he perform in prelims and in the Grand Final?

How'd Brett Peake go?

Ross has some big problems that need fixing. Is he the head of recruitment or the list manager? Do you think Ross Lyon is a magician or faultless?

[The G Train Legacy]

What's the point of getting players in and recruiting guys just because they might be available and we might get them for not much?

I don't mind Dow, but if that's all they can do, wtf do we pay $millions in salary to our recruiters and to the list manager if that's the best they can come up with?

Any bozo could do the job if it's just a matter of finding delisted players.

Remember the banner for Farren Rays 200th? It read something like: Congratulations Farren on 200 solid games! Solid.. doesn't win grand finals. How did he perform in prelims and in the Grand Final?

How'd Brett Peake go?

Ross has some big problems that need fixing. Is he the head of recruitment or the list manager? Do you think Ross Lyon is a magician or faultless?

Farran performed well in GFs, particularly in 2010 when he almost won us the game. Was it Pendlebury he took out of the game?

I didn't mention Peake. No, Lyon isn't a magician or faultless, he's intelligent and relentless. His problems aren't big at all. They seem big to you because you're excitable and prone to easily wetting your pants.

<1 day ban for baiting>

[CQ SAINT]

What's the point of getting players in and recruiting guys just because they might be available and we might get them for not much?

I don't mind Dow, but if that's all they can do, wtf do we pay $millions in salary to our recruiters and to the list manager if that's the best they can come up with?

Any bozo could do the job if it's just a matter of finding delisted players.

Remember the banner for Farren Rays 200th? It read something like: Congratulations Farren on 200 solid games! Solid.. doesn't win grand finals. How did he perform in prelims and in the Grand Final?

How'd Brett Peake go?

Ross has some big problems that need fixing. Is he the head of recruitment or the list manager? Do you think Ross Lyon is a magician or faultless?

The soft cap is $6.95m. How many staff do you reckon are on $millions?

[Scollop]

What's the point of getting players in and recruiting guys just because they might be available and we might get them for not much?

I don't mind Dow, but if that's all they can do, wtf do we pay $millions in salary to our recruiters and to the list manager if that's the best they can come up with?

Any bozo could do the job if it's just a matter of finding delisted players.

Remember the banner for Farren Rays 200th? It read something like: Congratulations Farren on 200 solid games! Solid.. doesn't win grand finals. How did he perform in prelims and in the Grand Final?

How'd Brett Peake go?

Ross has some big problems that need fixing. Is he the head of recruitment or the list manager? Do you think Ross Lyon is a magician or faultless?

The soft cap is $6.95m. How many staff do you reckon are on $millions?

I was referring to the collective and not one individual getting paid millions.

[Otiman]

What's the point of getting players in and recruiting guys just because they might be available and we might get them for not much?

Anything you can do to improve list quality (and value for cap money) is worth doing. It's the only way out of the drop out and rebuild cycle.

[Saintmike65]

It could be argued that we have not drafted a single genuine A grade midfielder for 20 years. Some will argue that Jack Steven was, and you could mount a reasonable case.

It’s an indictment on the club, particularly when we were in prime position to get Petracca, Bont & Touk Miller…we’ve had an obsession with flanker types hoping they’d become mids!!

[Otiman]

Pou's draft report:

SNAPSHOT: “A well-rounded forward/midfielder in the mould of Nat Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield, Mattaes Phillipou’s aerial ability and scoreboard impact make him South Australia’s highest rated draft prospect.”

Mattaes Phillipou is regarded by most draft watchers as the best draft-eligible talent from South Australia. Boasting a 192cm frame and a handful of match-winning tools, part of the drawcard with Phillipou is his projected upside.

However the Woodville-West Torrens prospect has pieced together a strong junior career which has included representing South Australia at the National Championships and winning a SANFL U18 Premiership with the Eagles in 2021. Having announced himself to recruiters last season when he booted 25 goals and averaged 23.3 disposals as a bottom-ager, Phillipou has taken his game to the next level this year, pushing his name into top ten consideration in the process.

Proving far too good for the U18 competition, Mattaes managed to play three reserves games, with his three goal and 13 disposal effort against Sturt in round 17 particularly noteworthy. Among SA’s best performers at the mid-season carnival, Phillipou’s season was cut short when he sustained an ankle injury in August.

In another article he's likened to Bont, Berry, and Heeney.

[Teflon]

It could be argued that we have not drafted a single genuine A grade midfielder for 20 years. Some will argue that Jack Steven was, and you could mount a reasonable case.

It’s an indictment on the club, particularly when we were in prime position to get Petracca, Bont & Touk Miller…we’ve had an obsession with flanker types hoping they’d become mids!!

I agree WTF were these previous so called footy experts thinking??