rjay

No, I did mean more team midfield. I think Jack often takes on too much to the detriment of the team. Jack always goes at the ball and there are times when he should block rather than go. Leave it to a teammate in a better position. Jack also often tries to barge through opponents when his better option is to give off to a player out and running. If he and we learn to use his strengths to our advantage we will be a lot better off.

Hasn't worked for us, it's not bollocks. It's only bollocks when you have 3 good ones. We don't.

You've got to play tight and physical on Stephenson. He will do you on the outside if given space but with no space he just doesn't go... I think he would be too smart for Smith. Could May go with him?

Yes he will be stiff but it's the right move if Gawn is right to go.... It's simply because Weid and Jackson have passed him now.

The Pies don't run tall in their forward half and rely a lot on the quicks and mids. That's not Oscars go...so a no from me.

No 'big red'...no more look at. We've proven it doesn't work and I sure hope Goody doesn't try to be nice and keep Tommy in the team. Our best, most effective 22 has Weid and Jackson forward with Max in the ruck. Tommy was serviceable tonight but from here on I see him only as depth. If Max is right to go Tommy goes out. Viney comes in probably at the expense of Jones...

I thought he was good tonight and I've been one of his knockers. He was a lot stronger around the ball and held his tackles which is an area where I reckon he's been exposed in the past. Good to see...

I've been a big believer that our best team midfield is Gus, Trac & Oliver... I don't see why people like Lloyd and others on here seem to think we should move one of our mids on. Viney is a different player, I would play him for impact minutes as a burst player on ball and use him rotating as a defensive forward. All good teams have their rotations worked out, I think we over balanced it with Jack taking too much Gus time... We sort that out and teach Jack to play more team midfield then we're going to be hard to beat...

That's an old story as well 'drdrake'...it's a Brereton story from around Neeld's time I think or maybe early Roos. You only needed to watch the preseason doco to understand how hard the boys are working. All in all, it's an early call as the season isn't over or wasted yet... I'm all for good, well researched criticism. ...but this isn't it.

Interesting...I remember Malthouse commentating on radio. I think it was a Friday night game at the 'G' and Scully had a purple patch in the final Q in his first season or was it 2nd, anyway... Malthouse was asked about Scully. "One word, Judd' said Malthouse. I wonder if he thought we got the pick wrong then????

I hope Tommy doesn't spend much time forward. He ruins the connection with Weid...

This weekend it's Higgins...

I think/hope he will be used as a run with on Sidebottom next week...playing on the wing/midfield.

Trengove again...

I would definitely not like to see Tommy Mac back...

There's good reason for that 'Fanatique'...he's a beauty.

I agree with the sentiment of the earlier post. I don't think the coaching group have handled him well at all. I think we have had the mix in the midfield all wrong. Tonight was better but as a group they can work a lot better yet.

So he didn't get a touch at the opening bounce...you think he was in the midfield for the entire first half? I reckon we started to get the mix right as the game went on. Brayshaw is an integral part of that mix if we're going to be successful.

Pretty good tonight...they started playing team midfield and it worked a treat.

Here's a conspiracy theory, maybe his mate 'Goody' has asked him to stir the pot...

I've been saying this for a while. ...but good to hear Bernie agrees. It's probably our biggest issue. ...and the coach needs to fix it. Our midfield play as individuals. Watch last nights game and you see 2 top teams where the mids work for each other. Forget the idea of one paced, all the same etc...we're not. We just don't help each other and it's a big reason why the disposal is garbage. Sure we have some out and out clangers but then we have too many rushed kicks/handballs as well because the players don't play for each other.

I think on the current list Petty is our best long term bet for that position. Strong kid, good hands and has that bit of mongrel that Oscar doesn't... Unfortunate that he is injured this year.

This is obviously some kind of troll post.

Sorry, I just see it differently. If our midfield was structured properly we wouldn't have to be single handedly anything. That's the crux of the problem. I think it would work better and we would win more games.

Viney.