Midfield

[Captain]

There has been a lot said about our midfield lacking and being our achilles heal.

However when you think about it, whilst we have no superstars, we are pretty damn solid.

Kirk and Bolton are almost in the top tier of midfielders and have the potential to take their games to the elite level.

Goodes, Kenelley and Davis are all extremely talented players that could step into a midfield role.

Maxfield and Williams will provide experience and skill for the next season or two.

McVeigh, Schmidt and Willoughby MUST develop and will be crucial to cover the loss of Maxfield and then Williams.

Then we have solid contributors in Crouch and Mathews who can be thrown in and will give their all week in week out.

So we basically have a group of 12 players of varying capacities who can be rotated through the midfield. These include a Brownlow medalist, 3 All Australians, 2 top 10 Brownlow finishers (Bolton and Kirk) and International Rules representatives.

[gloveski]

Everyone continually stats Davis as a midfielder he is yet to prove he can stay injury free let alone get motivated and fit enough to play in the midfield

[NMWBloods]

It's solid, which is why we have been a finalist for the past couple of years, however its strength is in the defensive aspect not the offensive.

This is what has seen us struggle to score a lot of goals or to threaten sides, put them under pressure, etc in big games.

We lack one or two midfielders who have the ability to absolutely break a game apart or just impose themselves on it. The only players we have like that are Williams and Goodes. The former is probably too old to do this regularly with the same force as in the past. The latter is still yet to show he can both follow up his Brownlow form and also find a position, apart from ruck, that suits him.

I think Davis and Kennelly, and to a lesser extent, Schneider and maybe Bevan, are the players who could step up to become our real midfield winners. Combined with Goodes as a follower, this does provide some promise for our midfield. However, a number of things need to fall into place to fulfill this potential.

Nevertheless, it's still a big ask for it to provide more attacking options, particularly in the crunch games on big grounds.

[Captain]

Originally posted by gloveski
Everyone continually stats Davis as a midfielder he is yet to prove he can stay injury free let alone get motivated and fit enough to play in the midfield

Oh I'm sorry, considering I stated that Davis COULD step into a midfield role.

[Captain]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
It's solid, which is why we have been a finalist for the past couple of years, however its strength is in the defensive aspect not the offensive.

This is what has seen us struggle to score a lot of goals or to threaten sides, put them under pressure, etc in big games.

We lack one or two midfielders who have the ability to absolutely break a game apart or just impose themselves on it. The only players we have like that are Williams and Goodes. The former is probably too old to do this regularly with the same force as in the past. The latter is still yet to show he can both follow up his Brownlow form and also find a position, apart from ruck, that suits him.

I think Davis and Kennelly, and to a lesser extent, Schneider and maybe Bevan, are the players who could step up to become our real midfield winners. Combined with Goodes as a follower, this does provide some promise for our midfield. However, a number of things need to fall into place to fulfill this potential.

Nevertheless, it's still a big ask for it to provide more attacking options, particularly in the crunch games on big grounds.

I agree that there are a number of things need to fall into place.

In regards to being too defensive, this could be attributed to the coach as much as the players. Bolton and Kirk are both handy goal kickers and could play more of that type of role if instructed.

Kennelly and Goodes moving into the midfiled would be nothing but attacking and damaging at that.

I think Schneider and Bevan are too small to be damaging and would really only suit for short periods.

The defensive jobs can still be done by Mathews and Crouch.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by Captain

I think Schneider and Bevan are too small to be damaging and would really only suit for short periods.

"too small" why?
Willo's a shortarse too.

[CureTheSane]

It's solid, which is why we have been a finalist for the past couple of years, however its strength is in the defensive aspect not the offensive.

Well put.

Sad that if Willo is off song and if Maxfield isn't having a purple patch, Leo Barry is our most attacking 'midfielder' (by the time he kicks it he's in the midfield lol)

[sharpie]

i actually think the most promising of the young guys from this season was buchanan. quite a few games he provided a number of clearances in the limited time he played on the ball.

[TheHood]

Originally posted by sharpie
i actually think the most promising of the young guys from this season was buchanan. quite a few games he provided a number of clearances in the limited time he played on the ball.

Agreed.

I actually think we need a quality "tallish" midfielder in mould of Judd, Buckley or Riccuito.

I know that finding a guy with their natural talent is a near impossible task, but we do lack that 6'2" hulking speedster in the middle.

[jixygirl]

Originally posted by CureTheSane
Sad that if Willo is off song and if Maxfield isn't having a purple patch, Leo Barry is our most attacking 'midfielder' (by the time he kicks it he's in the midfield lol)

This was one of the things that annoyed me for the season, the defensiveness of our midfield. The ball was constantly entering the back line after centre bounces, where Barry had to try and get it out. The defensiveness of the midfield decreased closer to the end of the season, yet either somebody existing at the club needs to step up and become more of an attacking fielder or somebody has to be picked up in the pre season.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by TheHood
Agreed.

I actually think we need a quality "tallish" midfielder in mould of Judd, Buckley or Riccuito.

I know that finding a guy with their natural talent is a near impossible task, but we do lack that 6'2" hulking speedster in the middle.

Given 2 good knees, wouldn't Goodes fit this criteria??

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by ScottH
Given 2 good knees, wouldn't Goodes fit this criteria??

Not sure about that. To some degree Goodes worked so well because he was a quick and agile ruckman, so was hard to match up on. In addition to this we also had our complement of midfielders. If Goodes was actually one of the midfielders, matching up against say a Judd or Buckley type, I'm not sure if he would be quite as effective as he was in 2003.

[liz]

The offensive element of the midfield may be our weakest aspect at the moment, but it is also the one where there is the greatest scope for significant advancement from within over the next two seasons.

Ruck and defence are more critical in the medium term because we don't have strength in numbers on the fringes / in the reserves, and because it takes longer to fill these needs via the draft.

[TheHood]

Originally posted by ScottH
Given 2 good knees, wouldn't Goodes fit this criteria??

Has neither the speed, the bullet like kick and just doesn't kick enough goals running into 50.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Captain
In regards to being too defensive, this could be attributed to the coach as much as the players. Bolton and Kirk are both handy goal kickers and could play more of that type of role if instructed.

These two blokes are perhaps the 2 worst kicks in the team. And they both have slow hands. I am not criticising their endeavour, their courage, or their ability to get in and get it. We need a class midfielder to reward their hard work, to pass it 40 metres, flat, onto Hall's chest and to kick goals on the run from 55. Neither Bolton nor Kirk have the ability to do this.

If we do not pick up a gun in the trade period (as seems to be going to happen) get Bevan and Monty in there for the Wiz cup