We have one of, if not the worst midfields in the competition. We don't come close to Carlton, Geelong, Stkilda of Collingwood. Our defence is strong, with Frawley and Garland 2 10-year stars to base a defence around. Our forward line has the makings to be great as well, with huge talent in Jurrah, Watts and Petterd, Clarke also makes a big difference. However, until we get a great midfield we will not make the 8. In my opinion, we need to add two bona fide stars (I'm talking Pendlebury & Thomas quality) IN ADDITION to our current crop to become a great midfield. Hopefully we trade our 2 Scully Compo picks for a midfield star + Viney could do to the trick nicely? Sylvinator from The Netherlands!

Totally agree. Tho' we have the compo picks next year to attract another top-shelf mid, either by draft or by trade. But we still need 2 A-graders.

There are however two other factors that may see our midfield improve rapidly this year:

(1) They never played as a team under Bailey; they were playing as individuals. Against midfields who did play as a team, they were lambs to the slaughter. I'm certain that Neeld won't allow the same mistake to be made.

(2) Our premier young mids - Trengove, McKenzie, Gysberts, Grimes & Bail - have played very few games where they're all in the team together, because the latter three in particular have been so much injured. The best midfields have spent years together, improving individually & collectively, getting used to each other, to develop a team culture. We've got to get these 5 plus others on the park together much more often than we have done - come on down, Dave Misson!!

Bennell could be an option. he has a lot of upside still and love his pace. hasnt really touched his potential yet. greens had his day in the midfield and i dont think its his spot. I prefer him up forward. when you compare those midfields our inexperience is glaring but i think the potential is very promising

waits for olddee to come and get stuck into #7!

Think back a few years and Thomas was not a gun mid.

I can see us developing a few players into the required roles

Think back a few years and Thomas was not a gun mid.

I can see us developing a few players into the required roles

Well I always thought he was a gun-in-the-making right from the start

waits for olddee to come and get stuck into #7!

Good afternoon DemonWA lovely day here in Melbourne 26 and not a cloud in the sky.

How are things in WA?

Oh by the way who is No.7?

Good afternoon DemonWA lovely day here in Melbourne 26 and not a cloud in the sky.

How are things in WA?

Oh by the way who is No.7?

Over here it's a miserable; a dizzily shower or two and a top of 21!

Over here it's a miserable; a dizzily shower or two and a top of 21!

Do you still need the rain? has been dry over there for years.

I cannot help myself but I have said enough about you know who till april 2012.

Lets hope they are play better under the new FD in 2012.

Well I always thought he was a gun-in-the-making right from the start

If that's the case DC, we wont need to target any established mids. If the players that we have earmarked on our list as potential stars, we should be fine in a couple of years. Give them time to grow like Collingwood had to with Daisy, and I'm sure we'll be rewarded.

After the last month of witnessing Neeld -I feel he will definately way up what we need to go after in trade week 2012 to cover our weaknesses. However, a Dangerfield or similar type would knit our midfield beautifully IMO.

If that's the case DC, we wont need to target any established mids. If the players that we have earmarked on our list as potential stars, we should be fine in a couple of years. Give them time to grow like Collingwood had to with Daisy, and I'm sure we'll be rewarded.

Huh? That's a leap in logic

I was just saying that in Thomas I saw a gun in the making in the way he displayed his skills in his early days. Don't read too much into it.

I don't see how that translates to our list of midfielders

You also say "we have earmarked on our list as potential stars" Have we? I just thought they represented best available and we "hope" they will develop into stars.

I'm yet to see star quality in our midfield but I'm hopeful it will come at least for a few and especially with a new set of coaches.

And I do think we should be targetting 1 or 2 established mids. (2 depends on how current crop develops in 2012) not counting JV

(I'd also like to see another genuine KPB by the time our window opens)

I think our midfield is our biggest unknown quantity coming into next season. I now tend to believe we've been bad there due mostly to coaching incompetence and associated poor attitude and directionless structure. I think we have the players to do the job well to cover next season assuming they will be better prepared and drilled.

Edited October 18, 201113 yr by america de cali

Huh? That's a leap in logic

I was just saying that in Thomas I saw a gun in the making in the way he displayed his skills in his early days. Don't read too much into it.

I don't see how that translates to our list of midfielders

You also say "we have earmarked on our list as potential stars" Have we? I just thought they represented best available and we "hope" they will develop into stars.

I'm yet to see star quality in our midfield but I'm hopeful it will come at least for a few and especially with a new set of coaches.

And I do think we should be targetting 1 or 2 established mids. (2 depends on how current crop develops in 2012) not counting JV

(I'd also like to see another genuine KPB by the time our window opens)

My point is that we can all see that Trengove will be a star, and there's a massive majority (me excluded) that think Gysberts is a gun-in-the-making. Where we differ from Collingwood, among other areas, is that we need stars now to help the development of JT/JG. We need Moloney to be more consistent, and we need Sylvia to get to Top 20 in league stuff, and maybe even Jones to become an A-grader. New coach (who has an excellent record of assisting some players get to that level), new game plan, anything is possible.

I think the end of 2012 will tell us a lot more about what we need. As I said, if the above "senior" players can thrive under Neeld, we may not need to target am established mid - we may just have them in the team already.

In regards to KPB for when our window will be open - we will have Frawley, Garland as "established" KPB, plus we have got Davis, McDonald (who I thought should plenty in his first game), and Martin if need be. I think we're travelling ok.

I'm not saying "we've got enough, let's shut up shop and wait", but I think the list we have got now can grow into a premiership team. It wont hippin over night, but it wull hippin!

My point is that we can all see that Trengove will be a star, and there's a massive majority (me excluded) that think Gysberts is a gun-in-the-making. Where we differ from Collingwood, among other areas, is that we need stars now to help the development of JT/JG. We need Moloney to be more consistent, and we need Sylvia to get to Top 20 in league stuff, and maybe even Jones to become an A-grader. New coach (who has an excellent record of assisting some players get to that level), new game plan, anything is possible.

I think the end of 2012 will tell us a lot more about what we need. As I said, if the above "senior" players can thrive under Neeld, we may not need to target am established mid - we may just have them in the team already.

In regards to KPB for when our window will be open - we will have Frawley, Garland as "established" KPB, plus we have got Davis, McDonald (who I thought should plenty in his first game), and Martin if need be. I think we're travelling ok.

I'm not saying "we've got enough, let's shut up shop and wait", but I think the list we have got now can grow into a premiership team. It wont hippin over night, but it wull hippin!

Well I too hope that we can plug our gaps from the current list, after all they are young, many are low draft picks and we have a new coaching team.

But common sense tells me we will not get the A graders without some topping up, and I don't want to wait too long because we are too unbalanced. We have a potentially potent forward line but without a potent midfield to feed them this will not allow our forwards to develop properly. The midfield won't turn around (if it does) overnight so I think a midfield established player top-up is a high priority.

Re the KPB. I don't consider Garland a genuine KPB. Maybe one of the youngsters will develop as such but as insurance I'd like to see us shop for an est KPB but not with the same urgency as the midfield.

Well I too hope that we can plug our gaps from the current list, after all they are young, many are low draft picks and we have a new coaching team.

But common sense tells me we will not get the A graders without some topping up, and I don't want to wait too long because we are too unbalanced. We have a potentially potent forward line but without a potent midfield to feed them this will not allow our forwards to develop properly. The midfield won't turn around (if it does) overnight so I think a midfield established player top-up is a high priority.

Agree. Add someone of the ilk of Cotchin or Dal Santo or even Griffin to that list in the OP and it gets interesting.

Well I too hope that we can plug our gaps from the current list, after all they are young, many are low draft picks and we have a new coaching team.

But common sense tells me we will not get the A graders without some topping up, and I don't want to wait too long because we are too unbalanced. We have a potentially potent forward line but without a potent midfield to feed them this will not allow our forwards to develop properly. The midfield won't turn around (if it does) overnight so I think a midfield established player top-up is a high priority.

Re the KPB. I don't consider Garland a genuine KPB. Maybe one of the youngsters will develop as such but as insurance I'd like to see us shop for an est KPB but not with the same urgency as the midfield.

What the [censored] did we bottom out for and have all these top picks? Bloody hell, if we can't get the A-graders from what we've had to put up with over the past 5 years, I'm going!

What the [censored] did we bottom out for and have all these top picks? Bloody hell, if we can't get the A-graders from what we've had to put up with over the past 5 years, I'm going!

Settle down, no need to leave. We will grow some A-graders but I can't see us getting enough midfield A-graders from this group. Hence a top-up

How many midfield A-graders do you think we need? How many do Geel, Coll, Carl, Haw have? 4? 5? 6?

I'd rather see an A grade midfield all working together rather than trying to just buy one. Get a great combination going and suddenly at least one A grader will emerge from the pack. Too late to buy one now, get this lot working like they should. If all goes well we might not need to look for one. But no harm in setting aside a fist full of dollars to poach the next big thing. Just good forward thinking.

Edited October 19, 201113 yr by america de cali