The Melbourne Midfield

[rjay 23,970]

In the short time I've been on this forum the subject of our midfield and it being the weak link comes up consistently.

I'm not so sure it is the problem that others think, I think the problem at least in part has been due to the way we set up. It may also have to do with some of our senior players working as individuals and not in a team structure, is it the coaching or the player? This year will answer that question.

Let me take the Hawthorn games and mids as an example, their 2 main guys that control the middle are Mitchell and Sewell, they have a bunch of other guys moving through including a couple of handy players in Hodge and Rioli. Neither MItchell or Sewell are overly quick, Mitchell is an accurate kick over short distance but doesn't have a lot of depth, both are strong but I wouldn't think they are any stronger than Moloney, Silvia or Jones. Better footballers, sure seem to be, they work hard for position, to block, clear space and give off to more gifted team mates like Hodge and Birchell with their kicking, Rioli and Smith with their run whilst our guys are trying for the individual glory, ignoring team mates in better position. If lucky they get a bomb forward but more often than not get tackled and loose posession against the Hawthorns of this world. Our younger players just get smashed.

I find it so annoying to hear special comments guys on radio and TV referring to Hawthorns larger bodies when we have been consistently beaten out of the centre whilst Moloney and co were in there, that's just lazy thinking. To me it seemed like personnel (and their ability) along with the way we set up, our coaching. This year we will find out the percentages as I don't believe under Neeld our mids will be allowed to get away with what they have.

I get really frustrated with Moloney, I think he plays as an individual and although many here say he "bleeds red and blue" he often burns his team mates on the ground. Now the quesion is, was it his fault, was he playing under instructions and or were the coaches not up to it. I guess the board say's no on the latter one. It's a big year for him and he will have to change to be assured of a game. From what I've seen at training a lot of work is being done in close to block for and use team mates, if Moloney can come to the party here he will be a huge asset with his strength, he really will become an onfield leader and not just a rah rah man. Is he up to it? that's one of the questions of the year for me.

Col Silvia should be used rarely if ever at centre bounces (and never ever with Moloney) as he doesn't have the reaction time or peripheral vision to get involved in tight, he also plays as an individual but he can be a real weapan if we can use his attributes, strong overhead, burst through, goal kicker.

We have quite a few of our younger players coming into their 3 - 5 years of experience this year who will play though the middle and I'm thinking a few of these will really step up, so I guess with new coaches, some added strengh through recruiting and development of the younger players and a change of strategy we will have a better idea of where we sit as the year progresses.

[biggestred 4,357]

bit of both IMHO. setup certainly helps - a good one allows talents to shine.

having said that, we have been light on for big bodies at the contested ball....

[Biffen 12,385]

I really dont think you can blame Moloney for being the best of a bad lot last year( in the midfield) .Rah-rah guys need a bit more to make it than just enthusiasm .Gysberts and Morton went missing in bad games .Beamer was ill against Geelong (as was I) .

Edited February 10, 2012 by Biffen

[Demonsterative 2,038]

I would like to see Beamer in a midfield that had players around him that were not so reliant on him to be the only midfielder capable of playing in the middle.

As a Cat he was an untouchable stated by the coach. Only the need for a forward in Ottens shifted this.

Beamer is un fairly treated for being the only midfielder. Flat track bully? No. He just cant do it alone, or with babies not ready to assist consistently.

Sylvia is a mental baby and not a midfielder worthy of playing %100 of the time.

[rjay 23,970]

Beamer is un fairly treated for being the only midfielder. Flat track bully? No. He just cant do it alone, or with babies not ready to assist consistently.

The new structures and a bit more grunt could be good for him then. I would certainly expect a more team oriented focus in the midfield this year.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

typical melbourne supporter garbage. Hey, let's bag one of our only good players because he is not Chris Judd. I'd like to see you get rookie-drafted, overcome osteitis pubis, and become vice-captain/best and fairest winner/9th in the brownlow. ot to mention he is one of the toughest blokes in the league, which is a long-covete trait of many a melbourne supporter. IMHO it as an absolute disgrace that he has been shafted from the leadership group, makes me wonder WTF they are smoking.Neitz, White, Bruce, Green, Yze, Johnstone, McDonald.. it has always been the same with 'supporters' like you - no appreciation whatsoever for what they have done, just what they haven't done. There are about 6 blokes on the list that are doing their job, and Beamer is one of them. Why don't you make a thread about one of the other 35

Edited February 10, 2012 by Curry & Beer

[rjay 23,970]

Why don't you make a thread about one of the other 35

The thread is about at least 20 of them, any who will play in the midfield.

[monoccular 16,290]

........Let me take the Hawthorn games and mids as an example, their 2 main guys that control the middle are Mitchell and Sewell, they have a bunch of other guys moving through including a couple of handy players in Hodge and Rioli. Neither MItchell or Sewell are overly quick, Mitchell is an accurate kick over short distance but doesn't have a lot of depth, both are strong but I wouldn't think they are any stronger than Moloney, Silvia or Jones. Better footballers, sure seem to be, they work hard for position, to block, clear space and give off to more gifted team mates like Hodge and Birchell with their kicking, Rioli and Smith with their run whilst our guys are trying for the individual glory, ignoring team mates in better position. If lucky they get a bomb forward but more often than not get tackled and loose posession against the Hawthorns of this world. Our younger players just get smashed.........

I think that is the crux of our midfield problem - we see it at Hawthorn, Collingwood, Geelong etc - the midfield working as a team.

Now we have a coach who has a history of great success with a midfield - this is the year to see if the problem is with the cattle or the drover.

[rhaz 342]

He was our leading player in 2011 for disposals, clearances and tackles. All the hard stuff. I think he is the least of our worries.

More games AS A UNIT pumped into Trengove, Gysberts, Blease etc + Viney (and potentially another mid with a low pick) and we could/should have a brilliant midfield.

Hawthorn ARE bigger bodied and are a more experienced unit, and just have more AFL-mature talent running around than us. We'll get there.

[Sir Why You Little 34,705]

In the short time I've been on this forum the subject of our midfield and it being the weak link comes up consistently.

I'm not so sure it is the problem that others think, I think the problem at least in part has been due to the way we set up. It may also have to do with some of our senior players working as individuals and not in a team structure, is it the coaching or the player? This year will answer that question.

Let me take the Hawthorn games and mids as an example, their 2 main guys that control the middle are Mitchell and Sewell, they have a bunch of other guys moving through including a couple of handy players in Hodge and Rioli. Neither MItchell or Sewell are overly quick, Mitchell is an accurate kick over short distance but doesn't have a lot of depth, both are strong but I wouldn't think they are any stronger than Moloney, Silvia or Jones. Better footballers, sure seem to be, they work hard for position, to block, clear space and give off to more gifted team mates like Hodge and Birchell with their kicking, Rioli and Smith with their run whilst our guys are trying for the individual glory, ignoring team mates in better position. If lucky they get a bomb forward but more often than not get tackled and loose posession against the Hawthorns of this world. Our younger players just get smashed.

I find it so annoying to hear special comments guys on radio and TV referring to Hawthorns larger bodies when we have been consistently beaten out of the centre whilst Moloney and co were in there, that's just lazy thinking. To me it seemed like personnel (and their ability) along with the way we set up, our coaching. This year we will find out the percentages as I don't believe under Neeld our mids will be allowed to get away with what they have.

I get really frustrated with Moloney, I think he plays as an individual and although many here say he "bleeds red and blue" he often burns his team mates on the ground. Now the quesion is, was it his fault, was he playing under instructions and or were the coaches not up to it. I guess the board say's no on the latter one. It's a big year for him and he will have to change to be assured of a game. From what I've seen at training a lot of work is being done in close to block for and use team mates, if Moloney can come to the party here he will be a huge asset with his strength, he really will become an onfield leader and not just a rah rah man. Is he up to it? that's one of the questions of the year for me.

Col Silvia should be used rarely if ever at centre bounces (and never ever with Moloney) as he doesn't have the reaction time or peripheral vision to get involved in tight, he also plays as an individual but he can be a real weapan if we can use his attributes, strong overhead, burst through, goal kicker.

We have quite a few of our younger players coming into their 3 - 5 years of experience this year who will play though the middle and I'm thinking a few of these will really step up, so I guess with new coaches, some added strengh through recruiting and development of the younger players and a change of strategy we will have a better idea of where we sit as the year progresses.

You make some interesting points points rjay....Our list is ready for structure i have no doubt...Hard Team orientated structure...The Top sides do a lot of their moves on instinct...They know a player will be backing up.

The MFC has not played like that in a long time...

with structure i believe our midfield will improve....how much depends on how quickly they want to learn..both in isolation, and in group sessions.

[Demonsterative 2,038]

I think its also about having a midfield that is ready to play. Too many players who maybe good midfielders and not enuff guys to support Beamer. Nat Jones was recruited as a flanker and hasnt yet made it in the middle. Sylvia, as i said above. I cant think of anyone else.

Hopefully, as you said, Neeld can build a midfield team

[dee-luded 2,958]

I would like to see Beamer in a midfield that had players around him that were not so reliant on him to be the only midfielder capable of playing in the middle.

As a Cat he was an untouchable stated by the coach. Only the need for a forward in Ottens shifted this.

Beamer is un fairly treated for being the only midfielder. Flat track bully? No. He just cant do it alone, or with babies not ready to assist consistently.

Sylvia is a mental baby and not a midfielder worthy of playing %100 of the time.

He's a very good player, but he's no GAblett jnr, nor Bartel, he's not as big as ling. He needs help in there.

[rjay 23,970]

It will be interesting to see how Bate steps up this year and I would also expect to see Pettard and Howe move up into the midfield at times now that we have more tall options forward.

[Bossdog 2,002]

Jamar to Beamer then out of the centre Happened so many times last year. Did everyone forget???

[jnrmac 19,207]

Jamar to Beamer then out of the centre Happened so many times last year. Did everyone forget???

Misleading stat. Effective hit outs which are a very low number.

We were 3rd last for inside 50s. Largely due to midfield. It's clear from the pre-season work we have done under Misson that we weren't fit enough to run back and cover off teamates (a la Pies and Saints). Hopefully this year we have the fitness base to deliver a game plan.

Aside from the game when he had 20 or so clearances Beamer did not really damage opposition teams.

[stuie 7,374]

Aside from the game when he had 20 or so clearances Beamer did not really damage opposition teams.

Lol... Beamer haters are coming out of the woodwork.. What is he supposed to do, tap it down to himself, clear it himself, handball to himself running past who then delivers inside 50 to himself... oh and then he kicks the goal

[McQueen 17,864]

Someone on here recently said they had spoken to Choco Royal about James Magner. Royal mentioned that he will play round 1. Whether this is true or not, for the club to rookie him from under the Saints noses, it would be reasonable to consider that the extra midfield grunt we've lacked will come from Magner. He's very impressive at clearances too even if it is at VFL level. When you start putting the likes of him with Beamer and JT at the fall of the ball, opposition team will know there's going to be a hard fought contest.

I do hope he turns out to be as valuable as Barlow has been to Freo.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Lol... Beamer haters are coming out of the woodwork.. What is he supposed to do, tap it down to himself, clear it himself, handball to himself running past who then delivers inside 50 to himself... oh and then he kicks the goal

You do realise that he's one dimensional, hasn't got great vision, isn't creative and doesn't run the lines ? He is what he is, which is a good ordinary footballer that gets the most out of himself. I actually respect the guy. He was a rookie draft pick that has gone on to win a club's Best & Fairest, which is a great achievement. But I'm aware of his limitations as a footballer. He needs to be relegated to a second string midfielder if we're to become any good. There's certainly a role for him, but while he and Jones are our best two we're crud.

[Lutz 76]

We DESPERATELY need some more decent mids.

[Macca 16,173]

Neeld should improve our midfielders given his role at Collingwood . Trengove will get better .

Maybe Grimes and Sylvia will get some decent time in there . Lets face it , last years set up doesn't work so we need to be pro-active .

Now that Grimes is co-skipper going into the midfield could be just his go .

And I reckon Sylvia should play in the centre against the good sides . Putting everything else aside he can go hard at the ball when he wants to , he reads the play well , has very good disposal and has a bit of mongrel as well .

Sylvia is often wasted on the HFF against the good sides .

Cheers

[Swampfox 190]

The biggest problem about predicting which players Neeld will select in the Midfiled is Neeld himself

I would think that Moloney would be the first picked with probably Trengove but the others are a mystery or until after the NAB cup anyway

Beamer IMO is our best hard bodied midfilelder and works with Jamar better than anyone which is important

Neeld has obviously selected the leadership group on demonstrated ability and Beamer didnt make the cut

Beamer will take the dissapontment on the chin and will thrive

The guy i am worried about is Davey and how he handles it even though i would expect him to play forward if selected and there is no guarrantees of that

I am not sure if Grimes will be put into the centre just yet

On the wings i would not hestiate in having Watts and Morton fill those roles

Then there is those hard bodied recruits we have on our list

Pretty sure Neeld is about contested possesion first and eveything else second

I will be waiting post NAB Cup before trying to second guess Neelds best 22

[Roost It 1,434]

Jamar to Beamer then out of the centre Happened so many times last year. Did everyone forget???

Followed by Moloney blazing away and the defense clearing it easily for another opposition goal. The fact that he''s our best performed midfielder is one of the reasons we finish so close to the bottom.

Edited February 11, 2012 by Roost It

[rjay 23,970]

We DESPERATELY need some more decent mids.

Yep, couldn't agree more but I'm hoping some of our current crop will step up this year (maybe wishful thinking but who knows), then the addition of Viney and the compensation picks could be the cream on the top.

[Lutz 76]

You need around a dozen...

Trengove, Moloney, Jones, Sylvia... Grimes at a stretch... Gysberts, Viney, Taggert not ready yet... McKenzie slowly coming back from injury... Tapscott same, & not convinced he's a mid... Bail runs all day and is good for a cameo... Bate... 2 compo picks that will take longer, if we take mids at all (we must)... Morton more suited to playing off the centre square so he can read the play coming to him, and doesn't have to contest as much at stoppages... Davey who knows? and forward line now apparently... Nicholson lacks polish... Evans who knows?

Not quite the dozen gun mids we need.

With the recruitment of Magner & couch, it's an effort to make sure we break even in the middle.

[rjay 23,970]

You need around a dozen...

Trengove, Moloney, Jones, Sylvia... Grimes at a stretch... Gysberts, Viney, Taggert not ready yet... McKenzie slowly coming back from injury... Tapscott same, & not convinced he's a mid... Bail runs all day and is good for a cameo... Bate... 2 compo picks that will take longer, if we take mids at all (we must)... Morton more suited to playing off the centre square so he can read the play coming to him, and doesn't have to contest as much at stoppages... Davey who knows? and forward line now apparently... Nicholson lacks polish... Evans who knows?

Not quite the dozen gun mids we need.

With the recruitment of Magner & couch, it's an effort to make sure we break even in the middle.

Yeah agreed, a dozen is what we will need. I would be looking for significant improvement from Trengove, Gysberts, Nicholson, Morton, Bail and Blease (who may have the occasional run through the mids) along with Tapscott and McKenzie when they can get on the park this season. Steady improvement with Jones, Grimes spending some time in there along with Howe, Petterd and Bate. Magner looked really good at VFL level, let's see if he can step up and Taggert would be a bonus if we could get some games into him this year. Add Moloney and Silvia along with better structures and game plan and I'm not so sure it's as bleak as some are saying.