I hope to see Petracca get more minutes in the guts next year, he is looking mighty fit. With so many midfielders who will be our main 3 rovers?

Viney, Tyson & Oliver?

Viney, Jones, Lewis? 

I don't think there will be three main onballers.

I think we'll see a relatively equal rotation of the five you've mentioned, as well as Brayshaw, Petracca, VB, Vince, and possibly Trengove (if fit & in form) having the odd stint. 

Over the next few years I won't be surprised if we see a slow transition of Jones and Lewis getting more hours up forward and off half back respectively (like Vince in 2016), with Oliver, Brayshaw, and Petracca spending more hours on ball as they're our long-term future.

In the meantime, Lewis pointing out orders at the center circle and during stoppage will be a wonderful sight as he'll help catalyze the game day development of our young bloods.

 

Viney: 60% on ball, 5% wing 20% forward
Tyson: 55% on ball, 10% wing, 20% forward
Jones: 55% on ball, 15% wing, 15% back
  
Oliver: 45% on ball, 30% forward
Brayshaw: 30% on ball, 15% wing, 40% forward
Salem: 20% on ball, 20% wing, 50% back

Lewis: 15% on ball, 50% wing, 10% forward, 10% back 
Petracca: 10% on ball, 70% forward
Vince: 10% on ball, 45% back, 30% wing

Stretch: 65% wing, 20% forward

Gawn, 6 defenders, 5 forwards.

Just rough figures and you can move them around but that's the kind of rotation I'd be hoping for. Viney, Tyson, Jones and Oliver I think are 4 that are used best when in at the clearances. Then we rotate a deeper line up through the forwards, backs and outside spots. 

 

There will have to be a core midfield group which spends more time around the stoppages. Those would have to be Jones, Viney, Tyson, Lewis, Vince. The benefit going into 2017 is we have more numbers which can move through and give these guys a break without a massive drop in output. These would include Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Salem, Melks, AVB, Harmes. Hopefully, this means that with more rotations the midfield group will be fresher and provide more run during the game in transition.

10 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Viney: 60% on ball, 5% wing 20% forward
Tyson: 55% on ball, 10% wing, 20% forward
Jones: 55% on ball, 15% wing, 15% back
  
Oliver: 45% on ball, 30% forward
Brayshaw: 30% on ball, 15% wing, 40% forward
Salem: 20% on ball, 20% wing, 50% back

Lewis: 15% on ball, 50% wing, 10% forward, 10% back 
Petracca: 10% on ball, 70% forward
Vince: 10% on ball, 45% back, 30% wing

Stretch: 65% wing, 20% forward

Gawn, 6 defenders, 5 forwards.

Just rough figures and you can move them around but that's the kind of rotation I'd be hoping for. Viney, Tyson, Jones and Oliver I think are 4 that are used best when in at the clearances. Then we rotate a deeper line up through the forwards, backs and outside spots. 

 

Agree with the thrust of this except for Salem.

In all the midfield drills I have watched Lewis is always on the outside, could be something to do with his shoulder, although he has never worn the do not tackle vest

Goody is a big fan of Harmes and Harmes has been in every stoppage drill, expect him to be in there somewhere alongside Salem

 

Edited December 20, 20168 yr by Satyriconhome
god I hate smartphone typing

6 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

In all tne midfield drills I have watched Lewis is always on the outside, could be something to do with his shoulder, although he has never worn the do no tackle vest

Goody is a big fan of Harmes and Harmes has been in every stoppage drill, expect him to be in there somewhere alongside Salem

 

 

8 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

In all tne midfield drills I have watched Lewis is always on the outside, could be something to do with his shoulder, although he has never worn the do no tackle vest

Goody is a big fan of Harmes and Harmes has been in every stoppage drill, expect him to be in there somewhere alongside Salem

 

makes snese as our strength is getting hands on it first but we need to get better at finding space. Lewis is a good link man in heavy traffic.

13 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Viney: 60% on ball, 5% wing 20% forward
Tyson: 55% on ball, 10% wing, 20% forward
Jones: 55% on ball, 15% wing, 15% back
  
Oliver: 45% on ball, 30% forward
Brayshaw: 30% on ball, 15% wing, 40% forward
Salem: 20% on ball, 20% wing, 50% back

Lewis: 15% on ball, 50% wing, 10% forward, 10% back 
Petracca: 10% on ball, 70% forward
Vince: 10% on ball, 45% back, 30% wing

Stretch: 65% wing, 20% forward

Gawn, 6 defenders, 5 forwards.

Just rough figures and you can move them around but that's the kind of rotation I'd be hoping for. Viney, Tyson, Jones and Oliver I think are 4 that are used best when in at the clearances. Then we rotate a deeper line up through the forwards, backs and outside spots. 

 

What strikes me about this list is that in terms of MFC experience its Jones and then (I think) Viney. That's a huge gap and just shows how poor we were just a few years ago with N Jones and a few try-hards as our on-ballers. (Plus Trengove, who is excused.)

1 hour ago, Satyriconhome said:

In all tne midfield drills I have watched Lewis is always on the outside, could be something to do with his shoulder, although he has never worn the do no tackle vest

Goody is a big fan of Harmes and Harmes has been in every stoppage drill, expect him to be in there somewhere alongside Salem

 

Lewis will love the luxury of not having to be a prime inside mid and instead be a creative predatory distributor, benefiting from the heavy lifting of Viney, Tyson, Jones and Oliver.

He didn't have that luxury at Hawthorn and it will hopefully extend his career.

Edited December 20, 20168 yr by ProDee

4 hours ago, ProDee said:

Agree with the thrust of this except for Salem.

Where do you see him playing?

 I think to not overtax his body he has to play a fair bit on one of the flanks, and for team balance and the sake of the team I expect that to be a back flank. But also if his fitness has improved then to get more touches and impact forward of centre I think he has to rotate in to the midfield and is suited to play inside or outside. For his development it might be easier to leave him in one spot but once he matures he'll be best used as a utility like how the Hawks have used Burgoyne. 

3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Where do you see him playing?

 I think to not overtax his body he has to play a fair bit on one of the flanks, and for team balance and the sake of the team I expect that to be a back flank. But also if his fitness has improved then to get more touches and impact forward of centre I think he has to rotate in to the midfield and is suited to play inside or outside. For his development it might be easier to leave him in one spot but once he matures he'll be best used as a utility like how the Hawks have used Burgoyne. 

Wing, bench, forward.

I don't see him spending much time down back in 2017.

49 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Wing, bench, forward.

I don't see him spending much time down back in 2017.

He has been alongside Harmes and the rest of the engine room, learning how to block etc, so you may see him in the engine room, I spoke to him the other day, health issues are well under control and he is feeling fit and strong, like Stretch solid unit now

Edited December 20, 20168 yr by Satyriconhome

9 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

He has been alongside Harmes and the rest of the engine room, learning how to block etc, so you many see him in the engine room, I spoke to him the other day, health issues are well under control and he is feeling fit and strong, like Stretch solid unit now

Yeah, I see a role similar to Lewis.

45 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Wing, bench, forward.

I don't see him spending much time down back in 2017.

Agreed. With a full preseason, Salem will be a major weapon in our midfield.

Hibberd will play back. With Hunt, Jetta, Frost, TMac, OMac that could be the mainstay of our back six, though Hunt may get more midfield time. Some of our mids could rotate through there if needed, such a Jones, Vince and Milkshake. Wagner will have benefitted from a full preseason and track watchers have said Garland is looking fit (perish the thought), rounding out backline depth. 

 

I think they might rotate some of the 'older' mids through the backhalf (Jones, Vince, Lewis and Milkshake) while the younger mids (Brayshaw, Tyson, Harmes, Trac, Salem etc) might push more forward. This seems to me to be a more natural progression, given in the juniors most seem to like to take the game on before learning the defensive skills and mindset. Ideally I think we'll be looking at around 14 or 15 guys each game who can realistically play in the middle, but also who are adept in other parts of the ground. 

We are sometimes too quick to place our midfielders into categories - inside, outside, running, distributor etc- when in reality they can each do it all as required by the situation.

We rightly laud Viney as in inside grunt player but he can also be a clearance player with his strength, backwards evasive step and his desire to take on the field. Clarrie has the best hands but can be just as damaging running free with his long, albeit irregular, kicking that gains distance. Hunt and Harmes can link possessions and then run away towards goal. Salem and  Tracca are great distributors by foot and can win the ball inside.

And then there are Jones, Vince, Brayshaw, Stretch, Tyson, ANB, AVB and some new guy Lewis who can play any role. Add to that running backs Frost, Jetta, Melksham, Hibbert and running forwards Garlett, JKH, Johnstone, Watts  and the coaching panel has a full suite of options and set ups to chose from.

We are finally building a multi talented midfield group that can match and defeat any opposing midfield. Let's give them time and space to develop and gell as a group. I can wait.

Edited December 20, 20168 yr by tiers
Forgot a second player - never expected to have so many

I am just waiting for the reaction from the opposition when Hogan appears in the centre square for the first time at a game, expect it

2 hours ago, ProDee said:

Wing, bench, forward.

I don't see him spending much time down back in 2017.

He's training midfield and back. I still think he's our best kick and decision maker and so will play back quite a bit. Too many other mids - Viney, Tyson, Oliver, Brayshaw, Petracca who are more suited to rotate forward and/or unsuitable to rotate back.

3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

He's training midfield and back. I still think he's our best kick and decision maker and so will play back quite a bit. Too many other mids - Viney, Tyson, Oliver, Brayshaw, Petracca who are more suited to rotate forward and/or unsuitable to rotate back.

I'm not saying he won't sweep up occadionally off half-back, or take a kick-in, but you said "50%" back.  Which is why I disagreed.

1 hour ago, tiers said:

We are sometimes too quick to place our midfielders into categories - inside, outside, running, distributor etc- when in reality they can each do it all as required by the situation.

We rightly laud Viney as in inside grunt player but he can also be a clearance player with his strength, backwards evasive step and his desire to take on the field. Clarrie has the best hands but can be just as damaging running free with his long, albeit irregular, kicking that gains distance. Hunt and Harmes can link possessions and then run away towards goal. Salem and  Tracca are great distributors by foot and can win the ball inside.

And then there are Jones, Vince, Brayshaw, Stretch, Tyson, ANB, AVB and some new guy Lewis who can play any role. Add to that running backs Frost, Jetta, Melksham, Hibbert and running forwards Garlett, JKH, Johnstone, Watts  and the coaching panel has a full suite of options and set ups to chose from.

We are finally building a multi talented midfield group that can match and defeat any opposing midfield. Let's give them time and space to develop and gell as a group. I can wait.

We use those terms, because they're accurate and provide a depiction of a player's main role.

Even a Jimmy Toumps type player wins 30% contested ball, so yeah, you wouldn't be on an AFL list if your skillsets don't allow you to at times contribute to all facets of the game.

And under Goodwin you better go like #$%÷.

4 minutes ago, ProDee said:

I'm not saying he won't sweep up occadionally off half-back, or take a kick-in, but you said "50%" back.  Which is why I disagreed.

Yep and I'd stick with it. I think he'll start most games at half back and then rotate up to a wing and on ball for stints. Hibberd will help and hopefully Vince kicks it better than he did at the end of last year, but to really improve our ball movement I want Salem getting the ball at half back.

The thing I'm looking forward to is whether our centre bounce strategy changes.  For many years we haven't had the midfield so the ball would be knocked down or backwards by Gawn to Jones etc.   But now our midfiled is so much better and more options, Goodwin seems to be going for a more attacking quick moving play.  I think we will see Gawn knocking the ball forward, which means midfielders hitting the ball running and gaining momentum in our direction (maybe not even taking possession but just movement forward.  So we need heavy hitters Jones Viney VDB Oliver to do that. Then it is so important that Lewis and Salem and Vince are on the end of that initial burst to hit targets - not sure if that means they come from a wing or midfield.  I think Tyson, Harmes and Brayshaw will do more midfield work around the ground at boundary stoppages.

Tyson is a lot more important to our mid set ups than many seem to think here.

He sets up a lot and does the team things that get the ball moving.

2017 will see him step up another notch.

Does anyone foresee Salem as Jordan Lewis' apprentice/protege?

Strong, not overly quick, neat left-foot skills.......