Jump to content

Midfield strength

Older demon
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

All our mids are up-and-down in effectiveness, which to me speaks of youth (obviously) but also fitness and the old problem of doing the small things right consistently.

As others have already pointed out, there is also a problem where players aren't alert to what to do 'next, next, next', there tends to be a half-moment of idleness in between actions, instead of a natural flow of activity. The other thing missing is situational awareness, the intuitive (yet somewhat trainable) understanding of where everyone around you is now and is about to be in a moment.

For both these things the current example would be the poise of Pendlebury, with the pinnacle I've ever seen being of course James Hird as a player. Just google that final quarter vs West Coast to see example after example of zero hesitation and incredible awareness. Dare I say... if only we could bottle some of that.

Haaa ha ha haaaaa. I'm going to make a few people here vomit by suggesting we bring in Hird as a specialist coach. In football terms it absolutely makes sense but the publicity would be something awful. Or, the ultimate redemption character arc.

Less vomitoriously, in the legendary words of a cliche gap-toothed grey-faced and completely plastered Collingwood supporter;  'Bwett Watten! Bwett Watten! Bwett Watten!'.

  • Quote
    •  
    3 hours ago, jnrmac said:

    Our mids when the get it are rarely running fwd. They are running backwards and trying to kick around their body more often than not. The midfield set ups are bewildering.

    Agree. Viney does a bit, the others don't seem to. For some reason we've trained or allowed Oliver to give hot potato handballs rather than drawing a man and dishing off. Gawn's not jumping as much because he knows follow up is so important so he stays down, hits it backwards and then we've got the ball but not the momentum.

    Last year we put 1 or 2 off the back of the square so we could be more aggressive with the hit outs and mids running forward. 

    For some reason we can't execute one of the most basic centre square plays: Gawn taps forward to a strong bodied midfielder facing away from goal who then dishes a handball to a runner dashing through.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

    For some reason we can't execute one of the most basic centre square plays: Gawn taps forward to a strong bodied midfielder facing away from goal who then dishes a handball to a runner dashing through.

    say it again please

  • Quote
    • Haha 1
     

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • REPORT: St. Kilda

      When looking back at the disastrous end to the game, I find it a waste of time to concentrate on the final few moments when utter confusion reigned. Forget the 6-6-6 mess, the failure to mark the most dangerous man on the field, the inability to seal the game when opportunities presented themselves to Clayton Oliver, Harry Petty and Charlie Spargo, the vision of match winning players of recent weeks in Kozzy Pickett and Jake Melksham spending helpless minutes on the interchange bench and the powerlessness of seizing the opportunity to slow the tempo of the game down in those final moments.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Sandringham

      The Casey Demons rebounded from a sluggish start to manufacture a decisive win against Sandringham in the final showdown, culminating a quarter century of intense rivalry between the fluctuating alignments of teams affiliated with AFL clubs Melbourne and St Kilda, as the Saints and the Zebras prepare to forge independent paths in 2026. After conceding three of the first four goals of the match, the Demons went on a goal kicking rampage instigated by the winning ruck combination of Tom Campbell with 26 hitouts, 26 disposals and 13 clearances and his apprentice Will Verrall who contributed 20 hitouts. This gave first use of the ball to the likes of Jack Billings, Bayley Laurie, Riley Bonner and Koltyn Tholstrup who was impressive early. By the first break they had added seven goals and took a strong grip on the game. The Demons were well served up forward early by Mitch Hardie and, as the game progressed, Harry Sharp proved a menace with a five goal performance. Emerging young forwards Matthew Jefferson and Luker Kentfield kicked two each but the former let himself down with some poor kicking for goal.
      Young draft talent Will Duursma showed the depth of his talent and looks well out of reach for Melbourne this year. Kalani White was used sparingly and had a brief but uneventful stint in the ruck.

        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons return to the scene of the crime on Saturday to face the wooden spooners the Eagles at the Docklands. Who comes in and who goes out? Like moving deck chairs on the Titanic.

        • Clap
        • Like
      • 46 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: St. Kilda

      This season cannot end soon enough. Disgraceful.

        • Angry
        • Sad
        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 439 replies
      Demonland

    • VOTES: St. Kilda

      Captain Max Gawn still has a massive lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Christian Petracca, Kozzy Pickett, Jake Bowey & Clayton Oliver. Your votes please; 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Like
      • 25 replies
      Demonland

    • GAMEDAY: St. Kilda

      It's Game Day and there are only 5 games to go. Can the Demons find some consistency and form as they stagger towards the finish line of another uninspiring season?

        • Thanks
      • 566 replies
      Demonland
    View All