I think Viney out again with his foot problem exposed us today.

We can cover Tomlisin and we have lots of forwards.

Do we have enough quality midfielders aside from CP  CO JV AND JJ?

Who are they please?

1 minute ago, leave it to deever said:

I think Viney out again with his foot problem exposed us today.

We can cover Tomlisin and we have lots of forwards.

Do we have enough quality midfielders aside from CP  CO JV AND JJ?

Who are they please?

Sparrow could become one. Harmes was for a few months in 2018. Brayshaw is also good depth although he was real bad today

Harmes is the obvious one missing (whether he's any good anymore is another question). 

Moving Gus permanently to a wing has created this issue (I know he was inside a bit today but won't be back there in a hurry based off today's efforts by himself & Baker).

Think we'll end up targeting a mid/fwd in the offseason who can be the 4th or 5th midfielder but still a damaging forward. Think probably in the Robbie Gray/Shai Bolton type mould. 

Edited May 2, 20214 yr by adonski

We dont lack depth.  If the midfield go missing, it looks bad.  

The midfield got well beaten in the first half today and we looked terrible.  we offered them first use from the first bounce and it cost us big time.

we have Oliver Trac Brayshaw, Harmes, Sparrow, Jones, Jordan, Kozzie, Melksham.  If Gawn gets back some form we will be OK.  If not, we will be smashed by the swans with Hickey having a good run of games.

We have plenty.  We got slightly outcoached in the first half but made up for it

It seemed bad for a few reasons.

Gawn was torched. So the attacking mindset of the mids went against us badly.

Viney does the defensive stuff allowing Trac and Oliver to play t9 their strengths. Harmes can come and do that role.

We have a week to reset and Goodwin and co will have a plan to (try and ) nullify the Swans mids like Parker and Kennedy.

But in answer, we have depth, but outside Harmes and Brayshaw a lot are untried/new meat ie Jordon, Sparrow.

I am happy with our depth, that said, take out one of your best mids, replace him with depth, the midfield is obviously going to be weaker 

Harmes is the man to come in for Viney. Harmes is excellent defensively (when he is fully fit and motivated). 

Think long term Rivers' best position may be as a midfielder. Hard as nails, skilful, composure, good overhead mark which few mids are.

Perhaps Bowey to half back to bring River's into the rotation.

Edited May 2, 20214 yr by adonski

Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Jordon = 1-4.

Ideally Sparrow would've played but I think they took the opportunity to get him game time on Thursday. He'll be in I'm sure.  Harmes is next in line. That's 6 for 4 or 5 spots.

Brayshaw was bad today but I think if you had a real absence of onballers they'd sharpen him back up with more game time. He's 7.

Vanders after that. Then probably Bailey Laurie who should be playing good VFL footy if not injured.

The issue isn't so much our primary on ballers but they lack of talent of the rotational pieces.

Melksham, Jones and ANB just can't be trusted to rotate on ball. Baker isn't a reliable wingman. Bowey - developing in a different role, and Laurie - injured, are 2 of the right kind of players we need to mix through but that's about all we've got developing.

Utility running players who can rotate on ball or do a role forward, back or on the wing are a big priority.

22 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

We dont lack depth.  If the midfield go missing, it looks bad.  

The midfield got well beaten in the first half today and we looked terrible.  we offered them first use from the first bounce and it cost us big time.

we have Oliver Trac Brayshaw, Harmes, Sparrow, Jones, Jordan, Kozzie, Melksham.  If Gawn gets back some form we will be OK.  If not, we will be smashed by the swans with Hickey having a good run of games.

I hope you are correct.

Im my post I did mention Oliver  Trac and Jordan.

Im glad Jordan is tracking well.

I beg to differ though. Trac and Oliver are complete class . Absolute guns.

When Oliver was quite today which happens never we were clearly beaten.

Im concerned if one of these two ever get injured, given Jacks foot issue.

Kozzie is a great option but as for Jones and Melksham I think you are wrong. They are not up to it.

Maybe Gus or Harmes but they havent been great.

 

Edited May 2, 20214 yr by leave it to deever

Our midfield didn't turn up until the second half. It was obvious we weren't switched on and Viney does probably change that dynamic further by being out, but it's not good enough from Petracca (had a stinker) and Oliver (was very ordinary early on). These two guys are our elite mids. If they don't turn up, already missing Viney, we look ordinary.

I'd bring in Harmes to play the Viney role and providing Fritsch doesn't get rubbed out, I'd bring in Sparrow for Melksham. The latter uses the ball well usually, but today he made so many mistakes over and over again. He was already on the fringe, I think he has to go and earn a recall. He's lucky and keeps his place in Fritsch's role, if Fritsch gets rubbed out.

2 minutes ago, adonski said:

Think long term Rivers' best position may be as a midfielder. Hard as nails, skilful, composure, good overhead mark which few mids are.

Perhaps Bowey to half back to bring River's into the rotation.

I think 70% game time on a back flank is about the limit of Riv's tank as is, I don't think we'll be seeing him move to the midfield this year. Long term I agree though, if he can build his tank he has a lot of attributes that would be handy in the midfield.

I think Baker in for Viney put the balance off today. If it had been Harmes or Sparrow then we may have looked better. Sparrow looked a class above in the VFL on Thursday, hoping he's ready to take on some more responsibility and go up a gear.

10 minutes ago, A F said:

Our midfield didn't turn up until the second half. It was obvious we weren't switched on and Viney does probably change that dynamic further by being out, but it's not good enough from Petracca (had a stinker) and Oliver (was very ordinary early on). These two guys are our elite mids. If they don't turn up, already missing Viney, we look ordinary.

I'd bring in Harmes to play the Viney role and providing Fritsch doesn't get rubbed out, I'd bring in Sparrow for Melksham. The latter uses the ball well usually, but today he made so many mistakes over and over again. He was already on the fringe, I think he has to go and earn a recall. He's lucky and keeps his place in Fritsch's role, if Fritsch gets rubbed out.

I didnt think Trac was too bad. Was not hammmering it but a solid game anyway.

I would like to see Kozzie in the middle more.

Luke J in the ruck is an added bonus the way he gathers at ground level.

Im worried about relplacing Oliver and or Trac if needs be. 

No I don't think we lack dept. I know Thursday's VFL game was a doddle by Sparrow and harmed got leather poisoning from racking up possessions. Don't forget that often Picket starts a game in the middle. Chandler is another small who can play midfield and Lockhart will be a welcome return from injury. I hope as he keeps improving that Bedford will be a midfielder as well.. Remember we also have 2 spare spots in the midseason draft we can fill.

 

Right now Baker, Sparrow, Jordon, Vanders and Harmes isn't scaring any opposition as the 4th midfielder. Shows how big a loss Viney is, because he can easily break loose and get 30 if you don't put time into him.

Not saying Sparrow/Jordon can't be top mids in the future, but right now both look to be more solid contributors to passengers, but that's okay because they're young.

Cant replace your best players. To that end - Replacing Viney is a misnomer. 

Petty will come in and Sparrow I guess, unless they get Brayshaw in there and TMac makes the move this week to the wing.

Brayshaw is as much a winger as TMac and they way his confidence is up - TMac can play anywhere and contribute.

Best 22

Inside - Trac Oliver Viney Jordon (Sparrow Harmes Vandenburg) 

Outside - Langdon Brayshaw (Baker Bowey Laurie) 

Dees might look for a skilled outside runner for the next trade or draft choices. 

I don’t think we lack depth, but we need to be a bit more creative. I’d roll Salem, Sparrow, Hibberd, Rivers, Spargo and even Jacko through as a rover. 

I think not rolling through Salem, Rivers or Pickett through the middle more is something we're not utilising. Even Jackson as a mid instead of ruck.

Plenty of midfieldd depth.  Sparrow will be chomping at the bit to get  midfield time in the AFL, he looks ready.

Salem can also move in there if needed,  as we will still have Hunt, Hibberd and Rivers down back for run and Bowey in reserve if needed.

Can also give Kozzie more spot minutes through there.  Also James Jordon can get an increase in minutes, he doesnt get much game time.

And we have Harmes as backup too.

On 5/2/2021 at 8:28 PM, Pickett2Jackson said:

Plenty of midfieldd depth.  Sparrow will be chomping at the bit to get  midfield time in the AFL, he looks ready.

Salem can also move in there if needed,  as we will still have Hunt, Hibberd and Rivers down back for run and Bowey in reserve if needed.

Can also give Kozzie more spot minutes through there.  Also James Jordon can get an increase in minutes, he doesnt get much game time.

And we have Harmes as backup too.

 

Oh and Luke Jackson goes alright in there too.

On 5/2/2021 at 7:14 PM, leave it to deever said:

I think Viney out again with his foot problem exposed us today.

We can cover Tomlisin and we have lots of forwards.

Do we have enough quality midfielders aside from CP  CO JV AND JJ?

Who are they please?

We have more quality mids than most teams, no team can cover missing gun mids perfectly ... we can manage with those that remain and harmes can come in and continue how he started this season in his preferred position

Edited May 4, 20214 yr by Demons1858

Viney is criminally underrated on this site and his manic presence around the contest cannot be recreated.

His absence makes a big difference.