Midfield Depth

[jazzadogs]

I feel like our forward planning for the decline of our midfield has been really poor. We have overloaded our list with flankers and utilities, relying more heavily than any other team on our 'core' group of mids.

Current list of centre bounce mids:
Treloar, Bont, Smith, Macrae, Mclean, Libba, Scott, Daniel
Baker (wing), Poulter (wing), Bedendo (wing), Williams (wing), Roarke (wing)

So how have we got in this situation? Here's our midfield ins for the past four off seasons.

2019
In: 1 ?mid (Garcia), 1 wing (Butler)

2020
In: 1 mid (Treloar), 3 ?mids (Scott, Mcneill, Bedendo)
Out: Porter

2021
In: 2 rookie mids (McComb, Parker)
Out: Lipinski, Jong

2022
In: 2 wings (Baker, Poulter)
Out: Dunkley, Hunter, Parker

2023:
In:
Out: Mccomb,

Even going back to 2016 (so since winning the flag), I would say that we have brought in only 7 'genuine' mids and only 4 are left - that doesn't feel like enough to me.

Lipinski, Porter, B Smith, West, Garcia, Treloar, Mccomb

So are we any chance of bringing in a genuine mid any time soon?

[bulldogtragic]

I feel like our forward planning for the decline of our midfield has been really poor. We have overloaded our list with flankers and utilities, relying more heavily than any other team on our 'core' group of mids.

Current list of centre bounce mids:
Treloar, Bont, Smith, Macrae, Mclean, Libba, Scott, Daniel
Baker (wing), Poulter (wing), Bedendo (wing), Williams (wing), Roarke (wing)

So how have we got in this situation? Here's our midfield ins for the past four off seasons.

2019
In: 1 ?mid (Garcia), 1 wing (Butler)

2020
In: 1 mid (Treloar), 3 ?mids (Scott, Mcneill, Bedendo)
Out: Porter

2021
In: 2 rookie mids (McComb, Parker)
Out: Lipinski, Jong

2022
In: 2 wings (Baker, Poulter)
Out: Dunkley, Hunter, Parker

2023:
In:
Out: Mccomb,

Even going back to 2016 (so since winning the flag), I would say that we have brought in only 7 'genuine' mids and only 4 are left - that doesn't feel like enough to me.

Lipinski, Porter, B Smith, West, Garcia, Treloar, Mccomb

So are we any chance of bringing in a genuine mid any time soon?

Rhylee West in three years.

[jeemak]

I'm on record about fifteen times tonight saying I think Cody will go into the midfield over the next two years. He'll be prioritised over West and Garcia which will burn a lot of folks.

To me he can be like a Wingard when he made the change. Good enough in the air, great in traffic, and smart with hand/ foot.

So that's one additional player to your list.

[jazzadogs]

I like the thought of Cody in the midfield, and he did have a few moments this year where he showed the poise in traffic required.

Do our current recruiting team not value mids? Is it just because of JUH/Darcy?

[GVGjr]

I like the thought of Cody in the midfield, and he did have a few moments this year where he showed the poise in traffic required.

Do our current recruiting team not value mids? Is it just because of JUH/Darcy?
It's hard to understand why we have been so reluctant to bring in some midfielders later in the draft and why we've more than happy to bring in slightly more mature players from Footscray or state leagues than through the talent leagues. It's the way that we've rated our list and that we think we are right in the premiership window.

Sure, father son and academy picks have all been key positions players and that's impacted our early trade currency but it's like we only rate midfielders if we can get them early in the draft.

[Bullies]

It's hard to understand why we have been so reluctant to bring in some midfielders later in the draft and why we've more than happy to bring in slightly more mature players from Footscray or state leagues than through the talent leagues. It's the way that we've rated our list and that we think we are right in the premiership window.

Sure, father son and academy picks have all been key positions players and that's impacted our early trade currency but it's like we only rate midfielders if we can get them early in the draft. Very few of the elite mid fielders you see today don't come from the Top 10. We will be paying a high price for small forward Watson but he is considered elite. It also suit our needs as small forwards have become one of the most important roles in the game. Collingwoood going for Schultz to go with Hill and Ginnivan shows just how important they consider the small forward role. It will give us Weightman, Clarke, Jones and Watson. Can see Weightman doing a lot of pinch hitting in the middle and once Jones develops his tank he will push further up the ground. Clarke will be an interesting one next year. He is the type who will play better at the higher level and a very smart footballer.

[GVGjr]

Very few of the elite mid fielders you see today don't come from the Top 10. We will be paying a high price for small forward Watson but he is considered elite. It also suit our needs as small forwards have become one of the most important roles in the game. Collingwoood going for Schultz to go with Hill and Ginnivan shows just how important they consider the small forward role. It will give us Weightman, Clarke, Jones and Watson. Can see Weightman doing a lot of pinch hitting in the middle and once Jones develops his tank he will push further up the ground. Clarke will be an interesting one next year. He is the type who will play better at the higher level and a very smart footballer.

Have a look at the Swans who have drafted the likes of Gulden, Warner, Rowbottom and McInerney outside of the 1st round let alone the top 10. They also drafted Jordon Dawson with a pick in the 50's.

Perhaps it's our player development but we've focused more on bringing in slightly more mature players from the state leagues than drafting and developing some midfield depth from the talent leagues.

[Mantis]

What’s the point of drafting midfielders if we turn them into flankers?

Our midfield group for the last 3 seasons has been Bont, Libba, Macrae, Treloar with Dunkley & Baz as the add-ins.

That’s it.

[GVGjr]

What’s the point of drafting midfielders if we turn them into flankers?

Our midfield group for the last 3 seasons has been Bont, Libba, Macrae, Treloar with Dunkley & Baz as the add-ins.

That’s it.

We had to throw Daniel into the midfield to replace Macrae this year as well.