Since we are getting smashed royally (pun) in the midfield and on reading that tapscott played as a mid at jnr level I was thinking he has the build of an inside mid.

Not sure he has enough pace or agility. He's just starting to settle in at half forward and is playing some good footy so I don't think we should mess around with him again just yet.

He could certainly go into the bounce, in bursts, and i mean small bursts, he wouldn't have the pace to match most mids, but he may be handy if you desperately need to win a clearance

Since we are getting smashed royally (pun) in the midfield and on reading that tapscott played as a mid at jnr level I was thinking he has the build of an inside mid.

We were a minus 2 differential in the clearances against Carlton (who are supposedly a gun midfield), how is that getting smashed?

Which part of it is improving slowly don't some posters get, and one other point Brian Royal actually stated on the chat last night "I would like one more quality midfielder", so even he agees with what some on here continually harp on about

tappy will play bursts through the midfield, but he has not done a full pre season yet so will not have the tank to play throughout the mid for a full game.

he also stated that he preffered playing as the small forward role and was happy to be settling into the position

i had him written off 6 weeks ago, perhaps unfairly but lets face it he had shown nothing

But he has really shown something the last month, almost like hes flicked on a switch and realized he has what it takes to impact at the top level

Could be a real weapon for us going forward

I don't mind this idea. Great user of the footy and is as hard as nails, would rarely get pushed off the ball... For a strong body, he has exceptional foot skills.

The only issue would be his tank? Does anyone know how he goes in the 3k time trials?

i had him written off 6 weeks ago, perhaps unfairly but lets face it he had shown nothing

But he has really shown something the last month, almost like hes flicked on a switch and realized he has what it takes to impact at the top level

Could be a real weapon for us going forward

Full pre season is the switch........was sent back to Casey coz just needed a confidence shot, six goals fixed that

gotta stick with him at half forward playing very short stints on ball - his similarites to chappy are huge. just needs to string games together, get some confidence and some presence and he will be dangerous off half forward for a long time to come

Bursts at the centre bounce for clearances then straight to half forward. If Tappy can clear the ball into space or even get Jonesy to clear to him he has a booming drop punt that is also pinpoint accurate.

We were a minus 2 differential in the clearances against Carlton (who are supposedly a gun midfield), how is that getting smashed?

Which part of it is improving slowly don't some posters get, and one other point Brian Royal actually stated on the chat last night "I would like one more quality midfielder", so even he agees with what some on here continually harp on about

Including you.

Including you.

No chap, I know exactly where the midfield is, know the Club is working on it, and know there is not a quick fix, coz it there was, we would have done it.......

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2013-05-10/luke-tapscott-highlights

Midfielder on not, this bloke has improved alot this year

great pressure acts, works hard, strong, brave all the good things you want in a young player

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2013-05-10/luke-tapscott-highlights

Midfielder on not, this bloke has improved alot this year

great pressure acts, works hard, strong, brave all the good things you want in a young player

Agreed. People who suggest he hasn't improved need to get off the magic mushys.

i had him written off 6 weeks ago, perhaps unfairly but lets face it he had shown nothing

But he has really shown something the last month, almost like hes flicked on a switch and realized he has what it takes to impact at the top level

Could be a real weapon for us going forward

Apologising in advance for picking on one post only but here is a perfect example of what irks me here.

Six weeks ago - written off, shown nothing

Today - could be a real weapon going forward

This says more about our instant glorification fixation than it does about Tapscott.

Tapscott's booming drop punt hasn't hit a target since 2011 just for those who haven't been watching.

Actually thats not fair he did kick a nice goal I think against GWS when he wheeled off the mark from 50 out. But he's butchered it more than he's used it well.

Also astute watchers will notice he's averaged about 1-2 Centre bounces a game the last month

I would like him on the outside, we focus for the need of inside midfielders we need some on the outside. If I was Chris Dawes on Sunday I would love seeing the footy in Tapscott or Sylvia's hands kicking inside 50. Tappy is hard doesn't mean he has to play inside.

I think Tappy has enough pace as an inside Mid, but maybe not enough of an 'engine'... yet.

We were a minus 2 differential in the clearances against Carlton (who are supposedly a gun midfield), how is that getting smashed?

Which part of it is improving slowly don't some posters get, and one other point Brian Royal actually stated on the chat last night "I would like one more quality midfielder", so even he agees with what some on here continually harp on about

We were a minus 2 differential in the clearances against Carlton (who are supposedly a gun midfield), how is that getting smashed?

Which part of it is improving slowly don't some posters get, and one other point Brian Royal actually stated on the chat last night "I would like one more quality midfielder", so even he agees with what some on here continually harp on about

mate if you think our midfield isn't far behind Carlton or anyone else in the comp you clearly haven't been watching.

we have one functioning inside mid who always draws the tag now that Brent is gone, two mids with less than ten games, another who can only tag and heavy reliance on grimes (who would be valuable elsewhere) and Sylvia.

We rarely get clean disposal out of the midfield and never have any spread so I think its our number 1 problem and something that SHOULD be harped on about. No midfield no Melbourne and while tappy isn't super quick he has played more than ten games (unlike viney and matt Jones) at AFL level.

Improving slowly... As in six years...

I would like him on the outside, we focus for the need of inside midfielders we need some on the outside. If I was Chris Dawes on Sunday I would love seeing the footy in Tapscott or Sylvia's hands kicking inside 50. Tappy is hard doesn't mean he has to play inside.

strings to the bows

.

Needs to get his hands on the pill more.

He has approved from last year but IMO that was a low base.

He needs to keep improving if he is going to establish himself at MFC.

Tappie kicked an amazing inside 50 entry to a target only last weekend against Carlton - and what's more, he didn't seem surprised like Stefan martin used to seem.

But my point was that an inside mid with a big body might balance things out a little to allow matt Jones or toumpas types to run while Nate Jones and tappie do the grunt work. Just an idea.

Edited May 10, 201312 yr by Norm Smith's Curse

I asked Josh Mahoney about this at a recent training session.

He said they would love to see him there in the future and are giving him very short tints now, but he has to build his fitness and demand the position with his form.