Inside/Outside Midfielders

[jabberwocky 2,301]

There is always a lot of talk of player 'a' being an inside or outside midfielder. I don't believe it is as relevant an idea as it once was. I personally find it frustrating when a so called outside midfielder is forgiven for failing to go hard at a contest because it is "not thier role" or likewise an inside midfielder not having the required skills.

I reckon Sheedy propagated this idea a bit back in the 80's and 90's but I think it is far less relevant in todays game. Midfielders are expected to do it all these days and whilst a midfielder may look better either in the packs or running free they need to have the whole package. For mine they first and foremost must be capable of winning contested possessions and be able to deliver to a teamate.

Really good teams don't have many, if any outside midfielders and the elite players are as at home in the packs, getting clearances and/or taking bounces out on a wing before hitting someone on the [censored] in the 50 or slotting a goal.

What our club needs is elite midfielders, the best teams have two or three of them, and then usually three or four good to very good midfielders to rotate around them.

Edited July 20, 2009 by dandeeman

[dee-luded 2,959]

There is always a lot of talk of player 'a' being an inside or outside midfielder. I don't believe it is as relevant an idea as it once was. I personally find it frustrating when a so called outside midfielder is forgiven for failing to go hard at a contest because it is "not thier role" or likewise an inside midfielder not having the required skills.

I reckon Sheedy propagated this idea a bit back in the 80's and 90's but I think it is far less relevant in todays game. Midfielders are expected to do it all these days and whilst a midfielder may look better either in the packs or running free they need to have the whole package. For mine they first and foremost must be capable of winning contested possessions and be able to deliver to a teamate.

Really good teams don't have many, if any outside midfielders and the elite players are as at home in the packs, getting clearances and/or taking bounces out on a wing before hitting someone on the [censored] in the 50 or slotting a goal.

What our club needs is elite midfielders, the best teams have two or three of them, and then usually three or four good to very good midfielders to rotate around them.

I agree, all our draftees need be good @ contested footy, there's no room for the pure outside receiver when the flood is on. I don't think the Cats nor Hawks have one that I can think of. No place to hide!

[Doggo 32]

For me, inside and outside is merely a way of labeling or classifying midfielders for the purpose of simplicity. I understand what you're saying, ideally you want mids to do both, but i think it's fair to say, for example, Cale Morton is an outside midfielder or type, whereas a Brock or Jones is an insider type.

It's semantics more than anything.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

For me, inside and outside is merely a way of labeling or classifying midfielders for the purpose of simplicity. I understand what you're saying, ideally you want mids to do both, but i think it's fair to say, for example, Cale Morton is an outside midfielder or type, whereas a Brock or Jones is an insider type.

It's semantics more than anything.

Pretty much the point of the thread and why we are deficient in the midfield. Sylvia can be that player and Moloney is thereabouts but we don't have the midfielder who can win clearances and break a game open with run and carry consistently. Maybe Jack Grimes can get there.

Lets take Ablett and Judd two of the better midfielders of the modern era, or even Rich. What are they?

Voss, Buckley Ricciutto etc all great footballers with well rounded football games. Some are these players are more noted for thier clearances or thier run and carry but they were all capable of playing either role, usually equally as well.

[Jaded No More 68,857]

Every midfielder should be capable of winning their own ball and every midfielder should be capable of disposing the ball consistently well by hand and foot. Those qualities are not negotiable if you're looking to build a strong midfield.

But of course there will always be those players who excel in winning the contested ball in tight situations, like McLean, and those who are finishers and excel in moving the ball by hand and foot and creating forward movement, like Morton and Sylvia.

Players who can do both equally well, are A graders or elite. Those who struggle in one area or another, can still be part of a successful midfield, given that they have quality around them.

Players that can't win a lot of their own ball in contested situations can be brought into the game, in the way that we bring Davey or Morton into the game. However those players also need to possess an ability to position themselves in the right spots to be on the receiving end. Dunn is someone who struggles to win his own ball, and while he can use it very well and has a great long kick on him, he rarely gets a lot of it because he does not position himself in the 'hot spots' where winning possession will advantage the side.

The inside and outside label is just that, a label. Aside from the ruck, do we really still have defined positions on the ground? We might have 2 players on each forward flank and no CHF. You might play two guys out of the square at FF. Warnock might play CHB one week, and in the back pocket then to FB the next. Versatility is becoming hugely important nowadays, particularly given the increase in rotations. You have to have players capable of playing in a number of roles, and that applies to midfielders more than anyone else (since they have the highest percentage of rotations).

But of course, each player will have their own unique strength and will most often play in a position which reflects that (unless you are errr... list managing and happen to put Jetta at FB )

[BLWNBA 927]

I can see what you're saying and in essence I agree, a quality player should be able to do both. However, I think that there is actually a difference between how various mids play. At Melbourne we desperately need a pacy out-side mid who can act as a reciever out the back of a ruck contest or as a link up player through the midfield whilst the ball is coming off hb.

[DeeMfc 621]

I can see what you're saying and in essence I agree, a quality player should be able to do both. However, I think that there is actually a difference between how various mids play. At Melbourne we desperately need a pacy out-side mid who can act as a reciever out the back of a ruck contest or as a link up player through the midfield whilst the ball is coming off hb.

We already have him !!! Sam Blease is exactly that man. Look through his U18 clips on YouTube.

Back on topic, the inside/outside mid that excels in the modern game...... One word. Scully !!

If you watch the YouTube clips of the U/18 carnival, link ups between Scully, Blease, Strauss and Watts are constantly on show.

Edited July 20, 2009 by DeeMfc