Midfield Depth

[Demonland 66,634]

 

[tiers 2,785]

At any given time, at least 5 of this group need to be on the ground - three in the centre square, two on the wings.

Add in Gawn and Jackson who are good enough to play as midfielders (our real superiority over the rest) and of course occasionally ANB, Kozzie, Bowey and Salem and we are well provided.

Go dees.

[drysdale demon 4,233]

James Jordan as well.

[Little Goffy 12,814]

1 minute ago, drysdale demon said:

James Jordan as well.

Will rotate with Luke Donston.

[daisycutter 28,704]

why did aints not want dunstan.........was there personality problems or something else?

after all the team with the best midfield wanted him, and aints midfield is not so hot

[Little Goffy 12,814]

4 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

why did aints not want dunstan.........was there personality problems or something else?

after all the team with the best midfield wanted him, and aints midfield is not so hot

At this stage I'm willing to believe that the Saints are where you'll find the personality problem.

[chook fowler 18,449]

I think Max and Dogga also add to the midfield - they rack up a lot of possessions and clearances.

[drysdale demon 4,233]

33 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Will rotate with Luke Donston.

I prefer Jordan spelt with an a rather than an o.

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

31 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

why did aints not want dunstan.........was there personality problems or something else?

after all the team with the best midfield wanted him, and aints midfield is not so hot

Lesser clubs make strange decisions. North offload a premiership full forward for instance. Ours is not to wonder why.

[Dante 2,562]

2 hours ago, drysdale demon said:

I prefer Jordan spelt with an a rather than an o.

Should we ask him to change it, or just get a new player with that name?

[Dante 2,562]

2 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Lesser clubs make strange decisions. North offload a premiership full forward for instance. Ours is not to wonder why.

We've made some howlers over the years, especially with first round draft selections.

 

[DeeSpencer 23,529]

Will be interesting to see how they change things up next year.

I hope we go back to using Pickett in the centre bounces to give him something to aim for. ANB as well, I think it really signaled a level in trust in his game that helped his confidence. Sparrow should be pushing for more. And I'd have no issue sprinkling in a bit of Spargo, or if he gets in the side Chandler who I think is more of a midfield type than a close to goal forward.

I think both Harmes and JJ should have their eyes on nailing the 3rd winger spot and pushing for Gus' 2nd wing spot and moving Gus in to more of a wing/forward rotation. 

Hoping Laurie can push his case and the run of drafting half back flankers in the draft makes me think they're at least keeping an open mind with Rivers or Bowey in to the midfield mix somewhere.

[Gawndy the Great 7,789]

3 hours ago, daisycutter said:

why did aints not want dunstan.........was there personality problems or something else?

after all the team with the best midfield wanted him, and aints midfield is not so hot

I think a large chunk of players in the AFL are largely inseparable in talent. Put in a good system with well defined roles and limit individualism and you have the makings of a successful team. You just have to look at the difference in us from the past 2 seasons. We couldn’t kick, score or defend. Now we are the masters of all 3. 
 

I think Dunstable will thrive in our environment and he has a point to prove so effort and commitment will not be in question. 

[CHF 2,627]

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Will be interesting to see how they change things up next year.

I hope we go back to using Pickett in the centre bounces to give him something to aim for. ANB as well, I think it really signaled a level in trust in his game that helped his confidence. Sparrow should be pushing for more. And I'd have no issue sprinkling in a bit of Spargo, or if he gets in the side Chandler who I think is more of a midfield type than a close to goal forward.

I think both Harmes and JJ should have their eyes on nailing the 3rd winger spot and pushing for Gus' 2nd wing spot and moving Gus in to more of a wing/forward rotation. 

Hoping Laurie can push his case and the run of drafting half back flankers in the draft makes me think they're at least keeping an open mind with Rivers or Bowey in to the midfield mix somewhere.

I agree with the need to change it up a bit and have a look at some different players at the center bounce. I hope we get to see Rivers in there for a bit of difference but I would also give the opposition a few things to worry about by putting Jackson in there running off Max's taps. 

I will also be interested to see the development of the players that have joined us over the last couple of drafts. I think we might get a bit of a surprise (good) when a couple of these youngsters get some consistent footy through Casey.

[dpositive 1,596]

Have to avoid being predictable. Opposition will structure for that.

Use of full squad can mix up the skill sets on the field and throw up an unorthodox action.

That said the coaches certainly got it right last season so I'll leave it to them again

[durango 1,984]

I have followed the MFC since 1952 and our Midfield has never been in better shape.

In previous seasons we had players who were drafted to bolster the midfield frorm other clubs like Tyson and Vince or via the draft Trengrove and Scully.

Now we have a mature midfield with a mix of 24-27 year olds who are the core and some 21-23 year olds pressing for spots.

We have young players like Laurie, Rosman and Howes all iching to get a first game in this side.

As one of he commentators said in the GF the premiers has a midfield in career best form which is the reason that they won.

[buck_nekkid 5,597]

Last year we got through virtually injury free at the pointy end.  Cant expect that again.  Depth is critical, and it encourages fierce competition for spots.  Looks like a good rotation set, maybe Rosman and Howes also in that mix but further back as developing wingers

[old dee 23,081]

10 hours ago, Dante said:

We've made some howlers over the years, especially with first round draft selections.

 

I doubt you will get an argument on that one Dante. 

[old dee 23,081]

1 hour ago, buck_nekkid said:

Last year we got through virtually injury free at the pointy end.  Cant expect that again.  Depth is critical, and it encourages fierce competition for spots.  Looks like a good rotation set, maybe Rosman and Howes also in that mix but further back as developing wingers

From what I saw last year which I guess is tough on the guy as like a lot of others at VFL level, there would need to be a large number of injuries before you see Rodman at senior level in 2022.

[drysdale demon 4,233]

11 hours ago, Dante said:

Should we ask him to change it, or just get a new player with that name?

We could do both, but I spelt a players name wrong so I should be shot, oh I already have been a couple times and that didn't get the desired result. The main thing is we have good midfield depth

[DeeZone 8,033]

14 hours ago, daisycutter said:

why did aints not want dunstan.........was there personality problems or something else?

after all the team with the best midfield wanted him, and aints midfield is not so hot

Richo would have the inside knowledge on Luke, maybe he felt out of the loop at Saints, I think that he will be a very important pick up for us, particularly if we have injuries. Didn’t he pick up 9 Brownlow votes.??

[Diamond_Jim 12,063]

Centre clearances went very well in the finals but as I recall it wasn't a great stat for us in a lot of the H&A season.

Also noticed that one of our most common means of forward entry is via the right hand forward pocket allowing a boundary line throw in. Memories of the Brisbane set up during their glory days.

[Dante 2,562]

4 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Centre clearances went very well in the finals but as I recall it wasn't a great stat for us in a lot of the H&A season.

Also noticed that one of our most common means of forward entry is via the right hand forward pocket allowing a boundary line throw in. Memories of the Brisbane set up during their glory days.

Right hand facing?

If you mean that, then remember Fritter is a left footer and it would favour him. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,063]

12 minutes ago, Dante said:

Right hand facing?

If you mean that, then remember Fritter is a left footer and it would favour him. 

Yes right hand facing goalwards.

I believe the plan frees the area directly in front of goal allowing the quick kick/handball to a free centred player from the boundary line throw in.

It's a dramatic change from 2018 where we attacked the goal square

[Fritta and Turner 3,846]

1 hour ago, old dee said:

see Rodman at senior level in 2022

Gee we like basketballers - international mature age recruit?