I know that we are missing some important midfielders but this year we have continually been spanked in the clearances...

The other evening the first quarter was a prime example!

It highlighted why winning the clearances cannot be underestimated - when Black hits Brown lace up, Luke Power at will, etc. It gives our backman absolutely no chance to be able to defend... not sure what Miller could have done to stop a majority of Brown's goals...

This has been an area of real disappointment for me!!

We've continually been missing midfielders, or had guys playing unfit/injured.

McDonald, Jones, and Godfrey are the only guys I can think of who have played a fair bit of footy.

McLean was missing with injury this year, and then came back underdone. In the games Moloney has played he looked unfit, and has missed many with injury. Sylvia has been unable to play on the ball (if you think of Sylvia as a mid). Wheatley's been getting the ball a fair bit but seems to be carrying the shoulder injury that caused him to miss games earlier in the season. Bruce and Green were missing last night - guys like Buckley and CJ aren't up to AFL level yet.

We've continually been missing midfielders, or had guys playing unfit/injured.

McDonald, Jones, and Godfrey are the only guys I can think of who have played a fair bit of footy.

McLean was missing with injury this year, and then came back underdone. In the games Moloney has played he looked unfit, and has missed many with injury. Sylvia has been unable to play on the ball (if you think of Sylvia as a mid). Wheatley's been getting the ball a fair bit but seems to be carrying the shoulder injury that caused him to miss games earlier in the season. Bruce and Green were missing last night - guys like Buckley and CJ aren't up to AFL level yet.

Dear Rogue

Are you a paid apologist for the club or something ???

On Saturday our on ballers contesting the clearances were Mclean, Jones, McDonald, Godfrey & at times Sylvia & they were being fed by White & Johnson. That is enough strong bodies & talent to break even or be close to break even around bounces & stoppages instead we were smashed as we have been against Carlton, Richmond & most other sides this year.

Nothing wrong with the talent the problem is either with attitude or with coaching.

and I suppose that is the problem - why does it continue to happen??

is Paul Williams, who I believe is in charge accountable for this group....

we had hard bodies in there, we had dominant ruckmen but.....

surely we should be at least breaking evening!!

A midfield coach, IMO is the most important of the assistant coaches.

I think that when you look for a new coach, getting someone who played as a midfielder, should be of some importance too.

So someone like Ratten or Voss.

Everything starts from the midfield, and we're currently sitting 15th for clearances. We're basically getting spanked each and every game, which is just not good enough. McLean is being held off the ball, McDonland can only do so much and Jones is still a baby. Our number one priority in terms of drafting should be another ball-winning midfielder. Forget ruckmen, forget defenders.... if our midfield is not winning the ball, we won't win games.

Another player to compliment McLean and Jones (remembering that Junior is close to retirement), who can also use the ball and has good leg speed (something the other 2 guys lack), would help us a lot more than a ruckman or a defender.

Ruckman are completely overrated. If your midfield is good enough to read the opposition's tap, than you can have Whelan rucking and it won't make much of a difference. I rather spend a first round pick on a quality midfielder and keep developing ruckmen on the rookie list, or with later picks.

I couldn't agree more Jaded. McLean desperately needs help he is the only player who looks like he can get a consistant clearance the opposition are starting to realise this and are tagging him every week except for last week. McDonald is ok but he should not be our number 1 or 2 clearance player he would be better off as our number 1 tagger again. Bruce is ok but is better off as an outside player. Johnstone and Green are outside players. I know Jones is young but he has too get better at clearances that is what we got him for he just doesn't seem to have clean enough hands at this stage. Sylvia must have a massive pre season to give as another option in the midfield that is what we recruited him for I don't want to hear OP anywhere near his name that goes for Moloney as well if Moloney gets OP next year they have got to get rid of him he won't be coming back after virtually 3 years out of the game.

Dear Rogue

Are you a paid apologist for the club or something ???

On Saturday our on ballers contesting the clearances were Mclean, Jones, McDonald, Godfrey & at times Sylvia & they were being fed by White & Johnson. That is enough strong bodies & talent to break even or be close to break even around bounces & stoppages instead we were smashed as we have been against Carlton, Richmond & most other sides this year.

Nothing wrong with the talent the problem is either with attitude or with coaching.

Someone disagrees with your assertion so they're an 'apologist'? Who am I apologising for? The players, or the Coaches?

We all know McDonald can play. While I'm really excited by both McLean, he's inexperienced. In the games you mentioned, McLean had pretty poor games (but I heard he was one of our best vs Brisbane).

I also like Jones, but he doesn't win a heap of the ball - he's averaged 16 disposals p/game this season, and has a game-high of 24. While he gets hands on the footy around stoppages he often gets wrapped up before he can dish out a handball.

Lappin, Power, and Black are all experienced (premiership?) midfielders.

Godfrey would probably struggle to get a game on any other list, and averages 14 disposals playing most often as a run-with player. Who comes after those four? Sylvia? Doesn't have the fitness atm. Brown? Dunn? They're not even mids. The second gamer Buckley? CJ?

Fair to say it's hardly an embarassment of riches, and the likes of TJ, Green, Bruce, and Moloney would make our midfield group far stronger. Their presence would also release other guys, who generally wouldn't be under as much pressure if the senior players were in the team.

a massive problem that has plagued mfc for a long time.

The years 04, 05, 06 we looked okay on paper but we would always get beaten by the better teams. Can't help when our ruckmen can't handfeed our little men.

Midfield clearances (or more relevantly the lack of them) has a lot to do with the coaching and amount of practice they put in.

Our rucks, contrary to a lot of expectations, have done well in getting first hands on the ball. Maybe this has surprised our mids because they seem caught out of position too many times. Then they play catch-up footy.

Regardless, their positioning has often been woeful. You can't fault their endeavour but too often they're chasing shadows, not making the play with the pill in their hands. Paul Williams wouldn't be getting a pass mark atm no matter who he has to work with.

Whoever our new coach is you can bet your bottom dollar that he'll look hard at the current assistants and sweep a new broom through them if he thinks he has better options.

Interesting times ahead.