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Who is our midfield leader?

Hellish Inferno
in Melbourne Demons

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First up, fairly content with the result today and think there's plenty of upside to come. Although it was not perfect by any means.

But during the game I wondered, who actually is our midfield 'leader'? We have a number of top players and arguably the best ruckman in the league, but as the commentators pointed out, we didn't have an answer to the way Freo setup at stoppages and exploited our midfield. We didn't have a leader that realised this and organised the troops. We have too many players that get  in each others way and do their own thing.   

When I think of most teams I can name a clear midfield leader. Freo has Fyfe for example. Who is ours, or has the potential to be?

Viney perhaps. But does he have a strong enough footy IQ to simultaneously organise the play and be the bull he is? Petracca and Oliver are great players but unfortunately don't seem up to that.

Gawn probably should be. But I get the impression he doesn't always grasp when things need to change and when to take charge.

The backline is our strongest and is partly so due to the leadership and organisation provided by May and Lever. I wish our midfield (and forwardline) operated the same way.

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    35 minutes ago, Jjrogan said:

    Oliver. Close thread. 

    He's a freak, but is he a leader that can organise and direct others?

    That's what I'm on about. I don't think he can...yet...

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    27 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

    from a set up and positioning standpoint, viney

    from the best player in the set-up, petracca

    for the most consistent, oliver

    for the heart, max

    Yep, that's what this thread is about. All the other stuff is important, but isn't as relevant to what I'm talking about.

    But fair point that it won't take just one, but all to perform their role. 

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    We don't have one.

    Petracca is too busy trying to do everything for us.

    Oliver is chasing stats instead of the opposition.

    Viney wants to kill everybody.

    Gawn is more worried about hitouts than clearances.

    Love them all as blokes and players, but not one of them is a 'directional' type leader. Viney isn't a communicator and Gawn still has a bad habit of going for a massive random punch forward when he's frustrated.

    Max is the one that needs to add this to his leadership. He's a great front man for our club, a sensational player, but gut feel is he's classed as a leader because he's a great trainer and a great bloke. Not the 'ruthless' leader we really need.

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    The captain of course

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    18 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

    We don't have one.

    Petracca is too busy trying to do everything for us.

    Oliver is chasing stats instead of the opposition.

    Viney wants to kill everybody.

    Gawn is more worried about hitouts than clearances.

    Love them all as blokes and players, but not one of them is a 'directional' type leader. Viney isn't a communicator and Gawn still has a bad habit of going for a massive random punch forward when he's frustrated.

    Max is the one that needs to add this to his leadership. He's a great front man for our club, a sensational player, but gut feel is he's classed as a leader because he's a great trainer and a great bloke. Not the 'ruthless' leader we really need.

    I agree with this.
     

    We will always have those whole quarter lapses and opposition teams will always believe they are in games regardless of score line when playing us.

    The way the Tigers share the ball around and hit certain spots from areas of the ground is phenomenal. They are extremely well led on and off field.

    Initial contest is the focus for us, then after that it is anyone’s guess

    Edited by BW511

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    Petracca by the length of the Flemington straight. He is the future of this club.

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    43 minutes ago, bobby1554 said:

    Petracca by the length of the Flemington straight. He is the future of this club.

    Trac is a ripper, but what makes him a good leader that marshalls the troops and responds in game to opposition tactics?

    I feel our group were hurt more by the loss of on-field runners delivering messages. The best teams are well drilled, disciplined and have senior players that are also coaches on the field

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    1 hour ago, Hellish Inferno said:

    Trac is a ripper, but what makes him a good leader that marshalls the troops and responds in game to opposition tactics?

    I feel our group were hurt more by the loss of on-field runners delivering messages. The best teams are well drilled, disciplined and have senior players that are also coaches on the field

    What makes him a good leader? Because he can do what others can’t 

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    Midfield leaders. Viney.  Oliver. Petracca. Take your pick. 
     

    Matthew Lloyd - new rules won’t suit midfields like Collingwood, Melbourne and Giants.  Melbourne has a big and slow midfield.  
     

    Wow. Oliver.  Petracca. Viney. Harmes. Brayshaw. Great at the contested footy. But we need another 1-2 fast outside runners.  

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    On 3/21/2021 at 2:49 AM, Jjrogan said:

    Oliver. Close thread. 

    Oliver ain't no leader. Being the best isn't being the leader.

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    On 3/21/2021 at 7:38 AM, Lord Nev said:

    We don't have one.

    Petracca is too busy trying to do everything for us.

    Oliver is chasing stats instead of the opposition.

    Viney wants to kill everybody.

    Gawn is more worried about hitouts than clearances.

    Love them all as blokes and players, but not one of them is a 'directional' type leader. Viney isn't a communicator and Gawn still has a bad habit of going for a massive random punch forward when he's frustrated.

    Max is the one that needs to add this to his leadership. He's a great front man for our club, a sensational player, but gut feel is he's classed as a leader because he's a great trainer and a great bloke. Not the 'ruthless' leader we really need.

    Spot on

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    On 3/21/2021 at 12:32 AM, Hellish Inferno said:

    First up, fairly content with the result today and think there's plenty of upside to come. Although it was not perfect by any means.

    But during the game I wondered, who actually is our midfield 'leader'? We have a number of top players and arguably the best ruckman in the league, but as the commentators pointed out, we didn't have an answer to the way Freo setup at stoppages and exploited our midfield. We didn't have a leader that realised this and organised the troops. We have too many players that get  in each others way and do their own thing.   

    When I think of most teams I can name a clear midfield leader. Freo has Fyfe for example. Who is ours, or has the potential to be?

    Viney perhaps. But does he have a strong enough footy IQ to simultaneously organise the play and be the bull he is? Petracca and Oliver are great players but unfortunately don't seem up to that.

    Gawn probably should be. But I get the impression he doesn't always grasp when things need to change and when to take charge.

    The backline is our strongest and is partly so due to the leadership and organisation provided by May and Lever. I wish our midfield (and forwardline) operated the same way.

    Ditto ditto ditto 

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    On 3/21/2021 at 8:38 AM, Lord Nev said:

    We don't have one.

    Petracca is too busy trying to do everything for us.

    Oliver is chasing stats instead of the opposition.

    Viney wants to kill everybody.

    Gawn is more worried about hitouts than clearances.

    Love them all as blokes and players, but not one of them is a 'directional' type leader. Viney isn't a communicator and Gawn still has a bad habit of going for a massive random punch forward when he's frustrated.

    Max is the one that needs to add this to his leadership. He's a great front man for our club, a sensational player, but gut feel is he's classed as a leader because he's a great trainer and a great bloke. Not the 'ruthless' leader we really need.

    Some interesting observations and not without merit.

    A working definition of a leader in the footy world for me is someone who inspires players to give their all as well as being prepared to be selfless for the good of the team. (Like S.May in the backline).

    All of the players have the ability to do this but agreed no one really stands out.

    I believe Trac is becoming more mature and will be the most likely to perform this role.

     

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    The fact that one of the pre season themes was to be more 'selfless' as players says it all does it not?

    When I think of our midfield, I think of a bunch of individuals with amazing individual potential and talent. 

    Directional talk, selfless gives and blocks, sacrificial defensive running etc is not something that comes natural to any of them.

    Gawn probably less in that category but the lack of awareness surrounding his tap work and boundary throw in positioning surprises me every game.

    Edited by JimmyGadson

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    17 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

    Um . . . who is our leader full stop?

    I think Lever & May are our best on field leaders 

    Would like to see Lever as our next skipper

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    8 hours ago, Billy said:

    I think Lever & May are our best on field leaders 

    Would like to see Lever as our next skipper

    Reckon it should be May.

    He is uncompromising in every aspect of his game, he is passionate, he gives his all and demands that others do as well (2019 incident with Frost).

     

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