We need to start looking for our 4 best midfielders

[defuture15 900]

Hi all,

Jeezus it is difficult supporting the Dees!

Like a lot of people I was kid at school in the 70's and 80's

and I didnt drop the Dees.This year after the last 10 years I can honestly

say that I waivered, my club survey wouldnt please those who read it.

Despite the ups and many downs since Roos started, I can see that we have

a group up forward and back and big Max. We just need to get our best 4 mids now.

We need them to be better than our current ones. The first quarter today illustrates

how desperately we need them and the second and third quarters showed how much

we could improve with our best mids yet to be added to the team.

[jnrmac 20,225]

Hard to argue with any of that,,,

[rhaz 342]

Jones, Vince, Viney and Tyson are our 4 best mids. I have no problem with any of them - and the latter two particularly are still definitely in the development phase.

Brayshaw could be anything, he may well be one of our best in a couple of years.

Kent, Salem, ANB have all shown plenty. Stretch has shown a bit.

We still need more but I don't agree that we need 4 new players to come in and take up he mantle of 'best mids'.

[defuture15 900]

I guess I am looking at mids who are currently better as opposed to potentially better

I would love to say that our kids could be our best 4 but I would love it if they had 4 better!

Just realised that Chunky and Vince need them fast given their advancing years

[rpfc 28,849]

It's not really the 4 best mids that are the problem, it's that we don't have much beyond that. If Jones is having a sook and Bernie gets a big head and that happens in the same game you get smashed 46 to 12 by qtr time.

I can deal with Jones, Vince, Viney, and Tyson staying as good as they are now but we will need Vanders, Brayshaw, Petracca, and whoever else and whoever else to come or continue to come on.

NM ran deeper than us and it really does help your better players when the pressure is alleviated somewhat.

[monoccular 17,628]

It's not really the 4 best mids that are the problem, it's that we don't have much beyond that. If Jones is having a sook and Bernie gets a big head and that happens in the same game you get smashed 46 to 12 by qtr time.

I can deal with Jones, Vince, Viney, and Tyson staying as good as they are now but we will need Vanders, Brayshaw, Petracca, and whoever else and whoever else to come or continue to come on.

NM ran deeper than us and it really does help your better players when the pressure is alleviated somewhat.

That is pretty unfair on Jones and Bernie. Reportedly Jones was one of those with a virus, and to say he was having a sook is offensive after all he has given us.

Maybe Beenie was also one of those afflicted.

[Sir Why You Little 37,251]

Still need at least 2 drafts with very astute dealing

to go the next step.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

The issue is more our last 3 imo we have a good handful but the gap to the others is big, we have depth of talent but it needs to develop.

[CBDees 3,167]

I for one am hoping that both Petracca and Trengove both significantly boost our midfield next year. Hopefully they are cherry ripe to complete the full pre-season!

[Adam The God 30,554]

Still need at least 2 drafts with very astute dealing

to go the next step.

I think we can go to the next step with one more draft. We'll have natural improvement from younger players to increase our output and hopefully we'll bring in a couple more best 22 mids. To be a serious challenger, I think we'll need probably three more off seasons to accumulate some top FAs and younger draftees that will compliment the blokes we already have.

[Sir Why You Little 37,251]

I think we can go to the next step with one more draft. We'll have natural improvement from younger players to increase our output and hopefully we'll bring in a couple more best 22 mids. To be a serious challenger, I think we'll need probably three more off seasons to accumulate some top FAs and younger draftees that will compliment the blokes we already have.

Todays game i found very interesting.

We started half an hour after Nought & if Garlett had held that mark and kicked trully we would have led them!

Our TEAM is still a mess but it is getting there

We need an A Grade midfielder as Roosy has stated very badly.

2 drafts are still needed to push past week one of finals (and luck)!!

[Adam The God 30,554]

Todays game i found very interesting.

We started half an hour after Nought & if Garlett had held that mark and kicked trully we would have led them!

Our TEAM is still a mess but it is getting there

We need an A Grade midfielder as Roosy has stated very badly.

2 drafts are still needed to push past week one of finals (and luck)!!

Agreed, mate. We need an A grade midfielder in the 22-25 age bracket. In order to go to 'contender' level, we'd need another A grade midfielder in that age bracket. Imagine how dominant Hogan would be in a team like Hawthorn. Once we improve our midfield, he is going to have some big days out.

Edited August 9, 2015 by AdamFarr

[Moonshadow 17,678]

Agreed, mate. We need an A grade midfielder in the 22-25 age bracket. In order to go to 'contender' level, we'd need another A grade midfielder in that age bracket. Imagine how dominant Hogan would be in a team like Hawthorn. Once we improve our midfield, he is going to have some big days out.

I reckon we probably need 2 x A grade mids to aim at the top third of the comp. Two would take considerable pressure off NJones and Vince and aid in the development of Brayshaw, Tyson, Viney, Petracca, Stretch, ANB, etc.

Would help if we had good disposal out of the back half too.

[rpfc 28,849]

That is pretty unfair on Jones and Bernie. Reportedly Jones was one of those with a virus, and to say he was having a sook is offensive after all he has given us.

Maybe Beenie was also one of those afflicted.

It's not 'offensive' - good lord...

He doesn't like a hard tag - Jacobs gave him a hard tag and did all the things a good tagger does and I saw far too many arms out looking for easy frees from Nathan. We didn't help him get much separation but I didn't like what I saw to be honest. Having the flu, notwithstanding I don't like him appealing to the umps - he should be appealing to his teammates.

[DeeSpencer 26,110]

Best 4 mids: Jones, Vince, Viney, Tyson

Next 4 mids:

- Brayshaw (tired)

- Vanders (injured)

- Petracca (injured)

- Cross (old and busy tagging Harvey)

Want some more?
- Kent (injured)

- Salem (injured)

- ANB (sub)

- Harmes (under 5 games)

2nd ruck options:
- Jamar (old)

- Dawes (not big enough)

- Pedersen (inj)

- Frost (inj)

- King (young)

It's not an excuse but sometimes you run out and have bad days where you just can't seem to get your hand on the ball to start the game. The secret is to play smart when you do get it back by using clever options and not making brainless mistakes. The coaches tried a few different things at the centre bounce. They tried a man behind the ball. But at the end of the day it took til quarter time to stem the bleeding.

Due to injury we remain short on legitimate options to roll through the middle when things aren't going our way. In an ideal world Vince goes on to a flank or wing if it's not his day. Jones goes to a forward pocket. Gawny moves to full forward and a genuine second option takes it up in the ruck. Vanders showed what he could do in the midfield already this year. Petracca and Brayshaw dominated under 18's as clearance machines.

[Adam The God 30,554]

I reckon we probably need 2 x A grade mids to aim at the top third of the comp. Two would take considerable pressure off NJones and Vince and aid in the development of Brayshaw, Tyson, Viney, Petracca, Stretch, ANB, etc.

Would help if we had good disposal out of the back half too.

Yup, that's what I meant. 2 x A graders.

[defuture15 900]

Just read an article that Prestia is not leaving the suns before his contract expires at the end of 2016

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Just read an article that Prestia is not leaving the suns before his contract expires at the end of 2016

It's customary to link the article so that others may read it also.

[Henrietta Lumbago 331]

We needed Cunnington on our team today, Viney was doing it by himself for a while today he had very little help from Jones and Vince which basically cost us the game, our backs stood up well considering and our forward line looks great when Dawes can get a bit of it...but we definately need another A grade midfielder ...

We need a Cunnington, Scott Thompson type hard contested midfielder...

We weren't far off today, but our midfielders cost us the game today in Vince and Jones.

[defuture15 900]

sorry dont know how to do this. Its in the herald sun footy section by the courier mail

[Dees2014 2,377]

It's not really the 4 best mids that are the problem, it's that we don't have much beyond that. If Jones is having a sook and Bernie gets a big head and that happens in the same game you get smashed 46 to 12 by qtr time.

I can deal with Jones, Vince, Viney, and Tyson staying as good as they are now but we will need Vanders, Brayshaw, Petracca, and whoever else and whoever else to come or continue to come on.

NM ran deeper than us and it really does help your better players when the pressure is alleviated somewhat.

A fit Trengove would be nice...

[Coq au vin 755]

A fit Trengove would be nice...

No he's not much good even when fit. Trade him for a good player.

[dazzledavey36 55,508]

Brayshaw has played 18 games. To me thats a massive step in his development. He is now getting tired which is understandable given he has played every single game this year. I imagine he will explode next year in the same form as Cripps.

Imagine if we got the Trengove of 2011 next year.. that would be a massive win for this club.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,467]

I reckon we probably need 2 x A grade mids to aim at the top third of the comp. Two would take considerable pressure off NJones and Vince and aid in the development of Brayshaw, Tyson, Viney, Petracca, Stretch, ANB, etc.

Would help if we had good disposal out of the back half too.

Like a Salem instead of Grimes?

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

It's clear there are a number of ingredients missing from our midfield in general but I agree with what most are saying.

A-grade talent, depth and foot skills.

Our depth has slowly increased, we still need an A-grader though and we really need to add someone with class and silky skills in there.

I'm still hoping we can pull something out o the hat over trade/FA period in regards to an A grade mid.

And I maintain that Yarran would be perfect as a line breaking/beautifully skilled mid/wingman.

We're getting there. Wasn't that totally unhappy with yesterday. We showed grit.

Edited August 9, 2015 by stevethemanjordan