Midfield

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by Captain
I believe Jude Bolton will turn into our classy attacking midfielder.

Next year will be very very interesting.

Completely agree, but I'd add Kennelly to that as well.

In terms of the defensive nature of our midfield (especailly the way we always seen to be rebounding from defence rather than attacking direct from the centre bounce) probably has as much to do with our crap ruckwork over the last year. Ball was not as proficient, Goodes was not there at all, and Doyle only got going at the back end of the season (hence our marked improvement).

Kind of hard as a midfielder to "attack" when the ball is constantly in the hands of the opponent.

Here's to Jolly making a difference!

[NMWBloods]

I think Kennelly is the most likely to become our 'gun' midfielder.

The ruck issue is possibly part of the reason for our midfield, but only a small part IMHO.

[Captain]

Still a midfield of Kirk Bolton Kenelly is pretty exciting. All are still to reach their peak.

Throw in Goodes, McVeigh, Schmidt, Willoughby and Buchanan and it's pretty exciting for the future.

[Bleed Red Blood]

We have enough midfielders at the moment.Dont forget Fixter.As well as the 30 others.Just need some talls.

[Reggi]

Have any of you people missed the fact that wew are the second worst team for clearances in the AFL - and that leads to our low inside 50 count.

That's what midfields do, they winn the ball. Sydney's front and back halves are some of the best that it has ever had. This is one of the poorest midfield groups that Sydney has had for twenty years.

If not the poorest. It ain't mediocre, it's really really poor.

[NMWBloods]

We're actually middle of the road for clearances (7th) according to Pro Stats.

What we're probably one of the worst at is 'effective clearances' whereby we actually do something useful with the clearance - either the fault of the player getting the ball out not as well as he should or the player getting not doing enough with it.

We are clearly the worst side at I50s because we mess about with the ball and force too many stoppages, and do not deliver it quickly and effectively into the forward line.

This is also highlighted by us being easily the worst coast-to-coast side in the comp and additionally we have the least number of kicks by a long way.

Hence we need guys to find space and run and kick long and accurately, and people to get it to those players.

[Newbie]

Originally posted by NMWBloods


We are clearly the worst side at I50s because we mess about with the ball and force too many stoppages, and do not deliver it quickly and effectively into the forward line.

This is also highlighted by us being easily the worst coast-to-coast side in the comp and additionally we have the least number of kicks by a long way.

Hence we need guys to find space and run and kick long and accurately, and people to get it to those players.

And we have not addressed it so far in the trade period yet. A worrying sign indeed.

[sharpie]

not to be too negative, but for all those that are saying that we havent seen the best out of Kirk - he is 28 now, and coming off two seasons in a row that would be classified as his 'best ever'. Unfortunately I doubt whether he actually has much improvement in him at all. Having said that, however, all he has to do is to continue to perform consistently as well as he has this year. We need the improvements to come from the younger guys.

[Reggi]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
We're actually middle of the road for clearances (7th) according to Pro Stats.

What we're probably one of the worst at is 'effective clearances' whereby we actually do something useful with the clearance - either the fault of the player getting the ball out not as well as he should or the player getting not doing enough with it.

We are clearly the worst side at I50s because we mess about with the ball and force too many stoppages, and do not deliver it quickly and effectively into the forward line.

This is also highlighted by us being easily the worst coast-to-coast side in the comp and additionally we have the least number of kicks by a long way.

Hence we need guys to find space and run and kick long and accurately, and people to get it to those players.

IIRC when we played St Kilda it was 2nd vs 15th for clearances - and on that particular night it really showed how poor Sydney are at winning the ball.

Don't neccessarily agree with the other point in 2003 we were easily the fastest team at moving the ball. I think Roos just changed the game plan. Sydney squeezes the life out of other midfields rather than beats them.

All clubs have skill problems

[dread and might]

i agree that kirk has probably reached his peak. lets hope he sustains it for a few more years.

J bolt is the one who can probably step up from solid to elite.

Ablett does have a long penetrating kick, but, as someone else said, we don't get to see it often enough. next year is definitely his make or break as far as i'm concerned.my main concern with him is that he can take forever to move the ball.

Kenelly and bevan are the future guns, i like buchanan as well. whoever thinks bevan is too small only has to look around some of the great, small midfielders (aker and crawford). before anyone starts posting height and weight stats to show that crawford is 3 cm taller than bevan or whatever, lets remember that the kid is really young, does not lack courage,(obviously) and seems to move the ball quite quickly.he will only improve.

Now; what do we do with fosdike if he doesn't get traded because of his reported salary demands? try to reinvent him as a pocket?

[ScottH]

Originally posted by dread and might
i agree that kirk has probably reached his peak. lets hope he sustains it for a few more years.

J bolt is the one who can probably step up from solid to elite.

Ablett does have a long penetrating kick, but, as someone else said, we don't get to see it often enough. next year is definitely his make or break as far as i'm concerned.my main concern with him is that he can take forever to move the ball.

Kenelly and bevan are the future guns, i like buchanan as well. whoever thinks bevan is too small only has to look around some of the great, small midfielders (aker and crawford). before anyone starts posting height and weight stats to show that crawford is 3 cm taller than bevan or whatever, lets remember that the kid is really young, does not lack courage,(obviously) and seems to move the ball quite quickly.he will only improve.

Now; what do we do with fosdike if he doesn't get traded because of his reported salary demands? try to reinvent him as a pocket?

The Reserves need some experience!!!!

And I don't think anyone will argue that Bevan is too small, look at photos of Kelly when he first started, he was a twig. But what they both have is a huge ticker, and I think Bevans skills are better than Kellys, (when he first started).

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Reggi
IIRC when we played St Kilda it was 2nd vs 15th for clearances - and on that particular night it really showed how poor Sydney are at winning the ball.

We are definitely poor at winning the ball. The stats I have are different to what you said, however I completely agree with the thrust of your points. Our ability to get effective clearances is poor.

Don't neccessarily agree with the other point in 2003 we were easily the fastest team at moving the ball. I think Roos just changed the game plan. Sydney squeezes the life out of other midfields rather than beats them.

All clubs have skill problems

We were very quick 2003 by using our half back run. That stopped in 2004 partly because other teams clamped down and partly because Roos changed the game plan (linked naturally). We can move the ball quickly, but only when rebounding it seems rather than actually out of the midfield or from a kick out.

All sides do have skill problems, however they also have players with sublime skills to offset this - we don't really.

[Bleed Red Blood]

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.

Very good call.

[sharpie]

yee ha!

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by sharpie
yee ha!

If you're excited now, just wait a couple more years