AFL Player #16: Archie Perkins - Sub sub sub sub 🥖

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2026
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 9, sup3rfish

 

[citizen-erased]

he has some attributes of a good midfielder. but he's going to need to get more than 15 touches again.
doing well in traffic and under pressure is great. but you have to also find space and and get some easy touches too.

i'm not ruling that out, but i haven't seen it from him yet. i think he should be persisted with in the midfield rotation, as this is a development year for us anyway. we're not a finals team this year, so who cares if it costs us.

yeah

the positioning, ball hunting, positioning and 360 degree awareness is where he needs to build.
i'd persist but we need to assess the point where you abandon the venture as both not working and stifling his development/career

 

[ant555]

I think for a bloke that hasn't played much midfield in 5ish years, he's looking pretty good. If he's still at this level at the end of the season, we move him forward again. For reference Shai Bolton in his 3rd year was averaging 14 disposals and 0.8 goals a game, after two Perkins is currently averaging 12.2 and 0.9 goals a game.

Not the possessions that concern me . It is the lack of ability to read the ball of the hand right now and his average clearance work .
I could see him getting 20 plus easy playing wing and running through the stoppage.
Watching it over and over his actual midfield bread and butter stuff is very poor .
Bolton's ability as a crumbing forward translates into clearance.

 

[bacon buster]

yeah

the positioning, ball hunting, positioning and 360 degree awareness is where he needs to build.
i'd persist but we need to assess the point where you abandon the venture as both not working and stifling his development/career

as far as draws go, we have about as soft a start to the year as we could have wished for. it's a good chance for him to build confidence

rather than getting beat up by Geelong, Melbourne and Brisbane in the first 3 weeks like last year.

 

[BrunoV]

I have noticed a very dumb tendency across the AFL to look at a very good forward or defender and question "yes he's good, but can he do it through the midfield?" like you're not really any good or fully contributing unless you can play in the middle. You see it in a lot of draft profiles too "can he take a step up and add a midfield string to his bow?" etc. Who cares, just let them be a good forward or defender.

It depends. If I've got St Kilda's midfield, or Adelaide's, and I have a Perkins, there is a pretty clear need for the dynamism and class on ball. It's worth a shot.

It's interesting listening to Brad talking about Archie's point of difference. It's much the same with Tsatas. If your whole focus is a break from a stoppage then, yes, fine, the power and speed is a point of difference. But that's all our midfield can do, isn't it? Breaks from stoppages and possession accumulation.

So how exactly is improving a strength adding a point of difference that rates special mention?

It's every other part of the midfield game, that needs a point of difference, that's absorbing physical pressure and tempo, defensive running, defending the stoppage.

Archie is so bad at the midfield game other than running through or from the stoppage, Brad couldn't be talking about any other point of difference, could he?

 

[citizen-erased]

as far as draws go, we have about as soft a start to the year as we could have wished for. it's a good chance for him to build confidence

rather than getting beat up by Geelong, Melbourne and Brisbane in the first 3 weeks like last year.

im wary of a fired up & fresh hawks outfit rd1.
And how we fare v. the Suns, Saints & Giants will really tell the story of where we're at.

 

[faible]

i think for us, the issue is so many end up there

It's the classic Dodoro snipe - drafts a flanger to play inside mid.

First up - i wanted Perkins. He and Cox looked the best 2 picks we could take at that point.
BUT
If Perkins isn't a mid, then we needed to draft one with 10, or let the better talent (Tsatas) slide this year and go the greater need (McKenzie/Clarke)

Personally, i think he has some really attributes that will set him up as a point of difference mid.
But to Ant's point, he really needs to show he can adapt to the core capabilities of an AFL midfielder.

Hobbs and Tsatas are both genuine midfielders, I don't think I've seen eDPS as excited for a player as he was when we drafted Tsatas.

Hobbs is a contested crash and bash beast, Tsatas is a clean explosive running mover from stoppage who (according to eDPS anyway) actually has a very strong clearance game and has a good frame to do it at AFL level.

If Perkins can play a HHF / Offensive Wing / Outside Midfield role that doesn't necessarily need that 360 awareness of a pure midfielder but allows him to use his speed / overhead marking / ability to stand up in tackles then he'll be a very good AFL player. There's also the possibility he develops better midfield craft with more exposure, though I'm not sure he'll ever have the elite read of play or ball off a ruck tap that a guy like Parish has.

 

[citizen-erased]

Hobbs and Tsatas are both genuine midfielders, I don't think I've seen eDPS as excited for a player as he was when we drafted Tsatas.

Hobbs is a contested crash and bash beast, Tsatas is a clean explosive running mover from stoppage who (according to eDPS anyway) actually has a very strong clearance game and has a good frame to do it at AFL level.

If Perkins can play a HHF / Offensive Wing / Outside Midfield role that doesn't necessarily need that 360 awareness of a pure midfielder but allows him to use his speed / overhead marking / ability to stand up in tackles then he'll be a very good AFL player. There's also the possibility he develops better midfield craft with more exposure, though I'm not sure he'll ever have the elite read of play or ball off a ruck tap that a guy like Parish has.

should have qualified that as a bigger, contested mid.

When we drafted, i suspected he'd spend a year or two at HF and rotating through. esp with the 2020 season interruption.
Coming into season 3, i'd like to see that transition made by the end of the year.

If it fails and we have another HF on our hands, regardless of how good, its another cross against the list team imo.
Caldwell - HF/mid
Perkins - HF/mid
Langford - HF/mid
Durham - HF/mid
Martin - HF/mid
Stringer - HF/mid
Davey - HF/small fwd

All well and good, but leaves us with one big inside mid (Setterfield) and the 4 smaller guys running around...and Tsatas who we're yet to see.

 

[faible]

should have qualified that as a bigger, contested mid.

When we drafted, i suspected he'd spend a year or two at HF and rotating through. esp with the 2020 season interruption.
Coming into season 3, i'd like to see that transition made by the end of the year.

If it fails and we have another HF on our hands, regardless of how good, its another cross against the list team imo.
Caldwell - HF/mid
Perkins - HF/mid
Langford - HF/mid
Durham - HF/mid
Martin - HF/mid
Stringer - HF/mid
Davey - HF/small fwd

All well and good, but leaves us with one big inside mid (Setterfield) and the 4 smaller guys running around...and Tsatas who we're yet to see.

Hobbs should be a 'small' mid in the sense that Taylor Adams or Lachie Neale are 'small' mids. They're not tall, but they're very heavy and strong so are good contested ball winners at AFL level. Caldwell is a mid, not a HF, if he makes it at AFL level it will be by finding a genuine midfield role.

Langford / Durham / Martin / Perkins* are all largely competing for the high-half forward / wing roles IMO.

Stringer is a FWD these days, they might throw him in at a centre bounce from time to time, but seems like they're pretty set on keeping him forward.

Davey will be a small-forward / high-half forward is my guess, working higher up the ground than a true forward pocket would but not playing a genuine wing role where you're expected to work goal line to goal line.

I don't think our contested side is dire, it's just that the players who will fix our midfield mix are young, and there hasn't really been any obvious guys available at our selections. Every time we've had mids available at our selection they've been mid-size proven midfielders or they've been big unproven midfielders.

 

[citizen-erased]

Hobbs should be a 'small' mid in the sense that Taylor Adams or Lachie Neale are 'small' mids. They're not tall, but they're very heavy and strong so are good contested ball winners at AFL level. Caldwell is a mid, not a HF, if he makes it at AFL level it will be by finding a genuine midfield role.

Langford / Durham / Martin / Perkins* are all largely competing for the high-half forward / wing roles IMO.

Stringer is a FWD these days, they might throw him in at a centre bounce from time to time, but seems like they're pretty set on keeping him forward.

Davey will be a small-forward / high-half forward is my guess, working higher up the ground than a true forward pocket would but not playing a genuine wing role where you're expected to work goal line to goal line.

Im not sure i see Perkins as a winger.
HF/mid perhaps...but i'd like to see that become mid/HF more.

 

[ant555]

Im not sure i see Perkins as a winger.
HF/mid perhaps...but i'd like to see that become mid/HF more.

His X factor is his ability to break free through traffic and his marking ability. That has wing written all over it.

 

[Old Campaigner]

It depends. If I've got St Kilda's midfield, or Adelaide's, and I have a Perkins, there is a pretty clear need for the dynamism and class on ball. It's worth a shot.

It's interesting listening to Brad talking about Archie's point of difference. It's much the same with Tsatas. If your whole focus is a break from a stoppage then, yes, fine, the power and speed is a point of difference. But that's all our midfield can do, isn't it? Breaks from stoppages and possession accumulation.

So how exactly is improving a strength adding a point of difference that rates special mention?

It's every other part of the midfield game, that needs a point of difference, that's absorbing physical pressure and tempo, defensive running, defending the stoppage.

Archie is so bad at the midfield game other than running through or from the stoppage, Brad couldn't be talking about any other point of difference, could he?

I was more criticising the idea that a player is falling short of expectations if they can't play midfield.

By all means try players in that role as it's certainly useful for the list, but I don't think Perkins potentially not being great in that role should detract from what he brings as a forward.

 

[FlyingV]

Can we all just see how he goes with a full preseason and some extra midfield exposure before we piss the bed on this one?

 

[yodellinhank]

Can we all just see how he goes with a full preseason and some extra midfield exposure before we piss the bed on this one?

 

[fairbump_playon]

Can we all just see how he goes with a full preseason and some extra midfield exposure before we piss the bed on this one?

It’s Essendon

The bed is already on the floor of the mens

 

[MiguelM]

His X factor is his ability to break free through traffic and his marking ability. That has wing written all over it.

And that sidestep he possesses which could be a massive weapon if our fwd players read it right.

 

[andleanback]

His X factor is his ability to break free through traffic and his marking ability. That has wing written all over it.

Too much x-factor to be wasted on a wing.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

That has wing written all over it.

Along with Martin, Durham, Langford and Tsatas. We should only send Hobbs and Draper to the centre square and have the rest on the wings.

 

[Bipolar Bear]

His X factor is his ability to break free through traffic and his marking ability. That has wing written all over it.

Yeah, that handball release when under pressure is special, strong hips. Sometimes I wonder if he should have gotten into trouble though.

 

[Jobe Watson]

The best game Perkins has ever played at AFL level came when he spent increased time in the midfield, and people are still already doubting whether he has what it takes to be a mid?

Big year for Archie. Really needs to start putting it all together, and if given the opportunity I think he will.

 

[ant555]

Along with Martin, Durham, Langford and Tsatas. We should only send Hobbs and Draper to the centre square and have the rest on the wings.

Langford is not in my team and Tsatas is not a winger. That leaves Martin , Durham and Perkins to control the wing

 

[ant555]

The best game Perkins has ever played at AFL level came when he spent increased time in the midfield, and people are still already doubting whether he has what it takes to be a mid?

Big year for Archie. Really needs to start putting it all together, and if given the opportunity I think he will.

I am questioning his clearance ability. Against good players he does not look like getting near it.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I'm with ant555 on this one.

 

[Vander18]

Langford is not in my team and Tsatas is not a winger. That leaves Martin , Durham and Perkins to control the wing

No Langford in your best 22?

Controversial call mate!

 

[fairbump_playon]

I'm with ant555 on this one.

Me 3

Don't see him as that guy. Nor a winger, not really. Looks like a high half forward.

 

[ant555]

No Langford in your best 22?

Controversial call mate!

He will be picked but I have been watching why we leak so much footy as a bit of a focus of mine and his reaction time to transition into defensive mode is slow. Add that to his average speed and he becomes one spot that we can not contain. I think we can only have one of Stringer or him forward and long term we have better wing options IMO