Training - Friday 8th November, 2013

[DeeSpencer 25,520]

Similar to Magner, Couch and Valenti?

Don't like your logic.

Michie is 21 though. Couch and Magner won B+F's at 24. We didn't seem to mind Hogan winning at 18.

Valenti for sure if his time was better and Magner this year was probably in our best 22 based on dominate VFL and reasonable performance at AFL level. The club just saw no scope for improvement which is fair enough.

Unless pick 9 is super ready to go or we find a late pick or rookie ready to start then Michie is best 22. Best 25 at worst.

Just do the numbers on midfielders: Jones, Vince, Viney, McKenzie, Tyson, Trengove, Watts, Toumpas, Cross is only 9. Still room for 2-3 more without any injuries and based on WAFL/VFL form and improvement I'm backing Michie to get towards the front of the list of the following Matt Jones, Evans, Blease, Bail, Pick 9, later picks. And the reason I'm confident is because he's got inside ball winning ability but also skills on the outside plus good size. And Roos has a track record of bringing guys to a club and giving them half a dozen games to find their feet. So I'm saying Michie could be very ordinary adapting to AFL level but still be considered best 22.

[Brayshaw Self 847]

Last year we had ONE midfielder that would make a top 8 side's starting 3 in the middle. Only an injury will stop Michie making our list of 8-10 midfield rotations for round one.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Similar to Magner, Couch and Valenti?

Don't like your logic.

All of the players you mention above were slow with average to poor disposal.

Michie may, or may not make it, but he has good pace and is a better kick than those above. He's also bigger.

Add Roos' keenness and Freo wanting to retain him then there's at least some cause for optimism.

Naturally, we all want to see him perform or he'll just be like the rest of our duds. Even then, he couldn't possibly be worse than McKenzie. Faster, better skilled and couldn't possibly be a worse decision maker.

[Fat Tony 5,221]

MIchie is totally unproven at AFL level but the MIchie thread on the Freo board of bigfooty is worth reading and gives us hope we have found a solid player.

[Craig Drinker 179]

N.Z international rookie. Picked him up last year. Not on main list or rookie list.

Very skinny by all reports but seems to be coming along quicker than expected.

Long way off.

[Satyriconhome 10,740]

I could understand your employers encouraging you to take time out of the office.

They also encourage me to take breaks during the day to check out what the Demonland posters, who have a 12yr old writing their scripts, have posted, checked, back to work

[Whispering_Jack 29,830]

WJ you are being anything but fair on Michie. You saw him play one and half quarters of football. In his first game of AFL. Against Geelong. At Geelong.

Yet you think "he struggled to keep up with the tempo of the game" and isn't an automatic selection in our best 22.

Christ...

I'm a tough judge but I did qualify my comments by saying they were based on what I saw in half a game and his team was copping a caning.

However, I described it as I saw it - a young bloke in his first game playing against a top class midfield. I'm sure he didn't make it into an AFL list without some talent or footy smarts but he needs to show he knows where to position himself around packs, when and how to go into them and how to work with his teammates to extract that footy. Nobody in the depleted Docker midfield was able to do this and they had an all time low inside 50 count of one in the third quarter so it was an unusual situation for a first gamer.

At Melbourne he'll have some good coaches to teach him the correct way to go about things and I'm sure he'll have opportunities to learn but I repeat that on what I saw, I'm not excited in the same way as I am about the prospect of seeing Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince or, for that matter Daniel Cross in our midfield next year. That doesn't mean I'm bagging the kid - he's just a bit further down the pecking order and needs to prove himself first.

[Juicebox 628]

I'm a tough judge but I did qualify my comments by saying they were based on what I saw in half a game and his team was copping a caning.

However, I described it as I saw it - a young bloke in his first game playing against a top class midfield. I'm sure he didn't make it into an AFL list without some talent or footy smarts but he needs to show he knows where to position himself around packs, when and how to go into them and how to work with his teammates to extract that footy. Nobody in the depleted Docker midfield was able to do this and they had an all time low inside 50 count of one in the third quarter so it was an unusual situation for a first gamer.

At Melbourne he'll have some good coaches to teach him the correct way to go about things and I'm sure he'll have opportunities to learn but I repeat that on what I saw, I'm not excited in the same way as I am about the prospect of seeing Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince or, for that matter Daniel Cross in our midfield next year. That doesn't mean I'm bagging the kid - he's just a bit further down the pecking order and needs to prove himself first.

I agree, of all the new recruits, I'm least excited about Michie. Naturally though, I am holding out hope that he turns out to be a very handy midfielder.

But right now, I just don't think it's fair to form such an opinion on him, after such limited chances to see him play.

[Hannibal 5,814]

I'm least excited about Michie.

I just don't think it's fair to form such an opinion on him, after such limited chances to see him play.

Interesting.

[jnrmac 20,055]

Michie is 21 though. Couch and Magner won B+F's at 24. We didn't seem to mind Hogan winning at 18.

Valenti for sure if his time was better and Magner this year was probably in our best 22 based on dominate VFL and reasonable performance at AFL level. The club just saw no scope for improvement which is fair enough.

Unless pick 9 is super ready to go or we find a late pick or rookie ready to start then Michie is best 22. Best 25 at worst.

Just do the numbers on midfielders: Jones, Vince, Viney, McKenzie, Tyson, Trengove, Watts, Toumpas, Cross is only 9. Still room for 2-3 more without any injuries and based on WAFL/VFL form and improvement I'm backing Michie to get towards the front of the list of the following Matt Jones, Evans, Blease, Bail, Pick 9, later picks. And the reason I'm confident is because he's got inside ball winning ability but also skills on the outside plus good size. And Roos has a track record of bringing guys to a club and giving them half a dozen games to find their feet. So I'm saying Michie could be very ordinary adapting to AFL level but still be considered best 22.

I don't think 3yrs is a big difference in terms of winning a B&F. I just don't agree a B&F winner in the 2nd tier WA competition is a walk up start for our best 22.

I hope he is but all he has at this point is potential.

[beelzebub 23,313]

My take on Michie. Roos and FD arent likely to be recruiting bench warmers. They are looking to kickstart the midfield. They must reckon he goes ok and 54 was probably a bargain . How many of this years list would even get a game with Freo ?

I think if fit he'll develop into a very handy solid B grader. Thats ok by me

[jnrmac 20,055]

MIchie is totally unproven at AFL level but the MIchie thread on the Freo board of bigfooty is worth reading and gives us hope we have found a solid player.

That is about all we can hope for at this stage.

[monoccular 17,417]

Number 1 is the key. Ross Lyon doesn't tamper too much with winning formulas, so it wasn't going to be easy for him to be best 22 with their stable midfield and his injury interrupted preseason.

I also wouldn't take notice of any player's first AFL game. I don't think it provides any inkling to the future, one way or t'other.

Agree...and Gysberts does too.

[jnrmac 20,055]

Interesting.

Hardly.

[P-man 13,366]

Whilst it's logical to temper expectation around a player traded for Pick 54, I'm tipping Michie to have more of an immediate impact than Tyson. A quarter and a half of his first game almost pales into irrelevance when judging him. Such a big build up after having to wait so long, his nerves would have been all over the place. Freo fans are genuinely not happy to see him go, and they're pretty harsh judges over in Perth.

On the vision I've seen he's clearly good in tight, quick hands, makes good decisions, and importantly he is a unit and a half. If he isn't there in Round 1 I'll be very surprised.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

They also encourage me to take breaks during the day to check out what the Demonland posters, who have a 12yr old writing their scripts, have posted, checked, back to work

I guess they think you are the most qualified.

[jnrmac 20,055]

Whilst it's logical to temper expectation around a player traded for Pick 54, I'm tipping Michie to have more of an immediate impact than Tyson. A quarter and a half of his first game almost pales into irrelevance when judging him. Such a big build up after having to wait so long, his nerves would have been all over the place. Freo fans are genuinely not happy to see him go, and they're pretty harsh judges over in Perth.

On the vision I've seen he's clearly good in tight, quick hands, makes good decisions, and importantly he is a unit and a half. If he isn't there in Round 1 I'll be very surprised.

I'm saving up this post...

[Demonjnr 0]

Good. More training will help Roos' training to interview ratio which is currently something like 1:8.

Good point. To many interviews not enough training.

Edited November 9, 2013 by Demonjnr

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Whilst it's logical to temper expectation around a player traded for Pick 54, I'm tipping Michie to have more of an immediate impact than Tyson. A quarter and a half of his first game almost pales into irrelevance when judging him. Such a big build up after having to wait so long, his nerves would have been all over the place. Freo fans are genuinely not happy to see him go, and they're pretty harsh judges over in Perth.

On the vision I've seen he's clearly good in tight, quick hands, makes good decisions, and importantly he is a unit and a half. If he isn't there in Round 1 I'll be very surprised.

I'm tipping you'll be wrong, though that's not a knock on Michie

[P-man 13,366]

I'm saving up this post...

Cool?

[Alcho Dee 269]

We traded him for pick 54.

Why should I be more excited about him than pick 54 in this years draft and I can tell you I'm not too excited about that.

The reality is that this kid played 1 game for Freo who probably use around 32 players during the year. And he didn't play against St. Kilda in the final round where they left out 11 or so of their best players so I'm hoping he was injured for that game.

I wish him well but I'll be excited when he plays well in a game. His CV doesn't support the hype many have for him.

ever seen him.play?

[McQueen 17,864]

Cool?

Must be putting it in the piggy bank.

[Mgdee 322]

Anyone know if there is open training on Monday.

[Moonshadow 17,675]

I don't think 3yrs is a big difference in terms of winning a B&F. I just don't agree a B&F winner in the 2nd tier WA competition is a walk up start for our best 22. I hope he is but all he has at this point is potential.

In 2013 a B&F winner in a 4th tier comp would have been a walk up start in our midfield.

I'm going to stick my neck out somewhat and say that barring injury, Michie will be picked before McKenzie, Bail and Evans in 2014. Having said that, the decision to select a player each week is based on far more than just comparing them to their peers.

[DeeSpencer 25,520]

In 2013 a B&F winner in a 4th tier comp would have been a walk up start in our midfield.

I'm going to stick my neck out somewhat and say that barring injury, Michie will be picked before McKenzie, Bail and Evans in 2014. Having said that, the decision to select a player each week is based on far more than just comparing them to their peers.

4th tier. The WAFL is probably below VFL and SANFL but they are all second tier comps.

I disagree on McKenzie. His defensive work will be critical to the Roos game plan I believe and he'll be a standard setter as long as he is the best defensive midfielder on our list.

But I do agree that Michie will be above Bail due to clearance ability and skills and will be above Evans if his fitness level is comparable. Part of the reason Michie wasn't getting a game at Freo is because they were developing his running ability with time. Evans has a similar poor history with injury but right now I believe is in the main group whilst Michie is in an advanced rehab group with Viney and Hogan. Running ability is paramount for the midfield and can't be faked. Hopefully with good preseasons Michie and Evans are both up to AFL level as runners. Same for Matt Jones and Toumpas.