Exactly. Also, giving players like Cripps a breather throughout the season and sometimes using him as a forward
Our main group won’t change but you need options and depth
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Exactly. Also, giving players like Cripps a breather throughout the season and sometimes using him as a forward
Our main group won’t change but you need options and depth
So not the entire game? What did they use during the whole year?
In big games and key moments you use your guns. No brainer but it’s a long year and it would be improbable that they are all fit all year
To win a flag you need depth and options
Cripps last year had his best year ever and we finished 8th. We need to support him and others to win number 17
Arrow provided the breakdown above across the whole year. Jarrod Berry and Lyons took Ashcrofts CBAs when he was out.
Apart from that its was still the same mix of types etc. Of course if injuries /management occur then you bring in mids like Cooper Lord
I do not want to see Motlop/durdin etc taking CBAs. I am o.k with Fogarty going in as a chop out as he was a mid as a junior and is actually o.k at getting clearances.
Lions also had Cameron, Bailey, Zorko, Rayner, Tunstill and if not for injuries may have had more playing mid minutes
The Swans had heaps of players rotating through the middle throughout the year. Heeney Parker C.Warner Chad Warner Mills Florent Rowbottom Gulden Jordan Adams McInerney and Papley all had time in the midfield in 2024. Papley has real "Impact" minutes as a mid in many games
So for you it's not the logic but the actual players we are discussing?
All blues fans know we need to improve our midfield set up. We were too one-paced and predictable. The club recognised it…moving on Kennedy and moving heaven and earth to draft Jagga. The core group, when all fit, are top shelf. Cripps, Walsh, Cerra, George and Jagga will do the majority.Thanks for highlighting and proving my point
No team has same people doing ALL the CBAs. Our core will be Cripps Walsh Cerra Hewett. They will also not play every week
What we are talking about is who does extra minutes and fills in when needed to our pressure, impact etc doesn’t fall away. More options and flexibility the better
I like most here, were surprised that you said Durdin, Motlop, Charlie and kemp should play midfield minutes. I would think we have way better options in Doc, Elijah, Lord, Williams and even Ben C.
We actually used more players at CBAs than the Lions, 15 to 13 (excluding ruckmen). Both sides had 6 players attend 100 or more, we had 2 more players for rotations/cameos. It's a fallacy that we aren't using more players as rotations
I think there are more pressing changes rather than the players rotating through the middle, such as better setups at those CBAs and other parts of the ground both in attacking and defensive layers. Also a better balance of ball movement
I listed them as options and we are talking about minute or two a game and maybe not every game. I’m looking over an entire season
The reason for naming them is they play other roles in the side as their primary role. I also listed Williams Docherty Elijah Lord etc as options
If we have a heap of pure mids in the side we will struggle in other areas
I am purely talking about having options and the ability to mix things up at times.
Seems people have run with it like I’m changing our midfield which is not correct
Here is my post. Fair to say people are misrepresenting my comments
“Trying to fit Cripps Walsh Cerra Hewett Smith Elijah Lord Docherty and get maximum benefits is going to be interesting. I also hope we give Williams Fogarty Durdin Motlop and even Kemp & Charlie some mid minutes at times to mix it up
I expect Ben Campo & Wilson to be pushing for a game at some stage
If we can get it right that is one heck of a midfield that won't let up on the opposition”
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Imo, we have our core mids whom have been spoken about, but I also think the more players we have for cameo chop outs the better it will serve us. It’s a long season and we need to at times be able to preserve our best mids a little. If possible, I’m all for rotating(only for a few minute spells and if there fit enough)the likes of mots, durds,Williams, lij, doc ect as it also adds different dynamics in midfield set ups and keeps the opposition on there toes to an extent.
Always good to have viable options and or players used as a change up.
Based on last year, we are no different to any other side in this space, especially where we used more players than the premiers
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The other key for me(like u alluded to in another post) is our set ups/ mix at stoppage. Imo, we need some certain types that if we don’t win the ball, then we can also chase/tackle/harass ect when the opposition get it. That was a big issue for me last year.
Obviously the perfect scenario is to win the ball first, but realistically that won’t always happen so we need to be a little mindful about it.
Agreed, the likes of Smith will certainly help, but there are other variables than just the mix of centre bounce/stoppage players.
I'm more interested in the players/setup on the edge of those stoppages, wings, HBs, HFs and how Voss utilises these variables when we have or don't have the pill
Me thinks you protest too much. Charlie, Kemp, Motlop will never play midfield minutes.
As for Wilson. I nominated him months ago as my boy. He has the attributes to strengthen our team. Needs to dominate the VFL and put his hand up before he’s looked at though. Hoping he plays a handful of games this year, as that would be a huge positive for the club.
Good to see you and others are on board
I only protest about people misquoting me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions just please don't say I said things that aren't true
But where is B.Wilson set to line-up in the VFL > AFL?Me thinks you protest too much. Charlie, Kemp, Motlop will never play midfield minutes.
As for Wilson. I nominated him months ago as my boy. He has the attributes to strengthen our team. Needs to dominate the VFL and put his hand up before he’s looked at though. Hoping he plays a handful of games this year, as that would be a huge positive for the club.
Good to see you and others are on board
C/- Curly Jnr he was drafted as a midfielder (after the switch in the last half of his junior/draft season) but seemingly looking like being positioned as a defender.. (?)
Absolutely!!! I'm in furious agreement with you and Soap that we should mix up our midfield rotations during the course of the game.
There's nothing wrong with giving Durds a stint in the midfield if say TDK goes off for a spell, Harry heads into the ruck and Crippa heads up forward as another marking option. Or Mots heading in for a few of the centre bounces to give it a bit of spark....which is exactly what they were trialing in last year's preseason before he got injured.
We used to do it with Eddie and had great results....his ability to extract the ball at centre bounces was uncanny (although he was freakishly good at anything) - before heading heading back into the forward line post clearance.
And it used to drive a number of us on here batshit crazy those times when our midfield were getting smashed, and Micky Gibbons was left catching a chill locked in a forward pocket. The best midfielder at state league level by a country mile, but was pigeonholed as a small forward hardly playing a minute of midfield time during his tenure with us.
Like you say, get a bit creative so the opposition coaches have something to think about, as opposed to our predictable gamestyle over the past few years where the only time we got creative was through necessity when we had a plethora of injuries the end of 2024.
He will start HB as that is where he is training and that’s where he has some experience
All going well he may graduate into the middle but we have many good young midfield options and a good running HB is gold
100% agree with all of this
Motlop is doing to mid and stoppage work and was impressive doing this last pre season
The way we used Gibbons annoyed me. IMO he would have been a more than handy mid
Like Durdin now he was a mid trying to be made into a forward
I was furious the way he was used after we drafted him....won every known award at VFL level as a mid, and totally agree that he would have been more than handy - similar to a Kane Lambert.
Unfortunately the three things he had working against him were firstly his size; secondly a false hope that mids like Paddy Dow would take the next step; and thirdly a senior coach who was totally bereft of ideas whilst staring out of the coaches box into the distance with a blank look on his face.....
I'd say 'Lij is a direct one to one replacement for Martin.
Won't be as strong body on body but will make up for it delivering the ball inside the Arc and can Kick from 50.
Durdin needs to play at least 20% mid time I think. His vision and disposal into the forward line is very good. Now Owies is not there to come up the ground, I think Durdin should be the one. Motlop's explosive pace is more suited to staying inside 50 and pouncing on the loose balls.
That’s the dilemma. He played in the backline the majority of 2024 and the bits I’ve seen of training he’s been playing back, so I’d say that’s where he’ll play.
Injuries/form may present opportunities
I’m in furious disagreement with both of you. Why would we use these players when we have better options? My suggestion would be that Durdin, Motlop and Kemp nail down their positions as forwards before the coaching panel even think of throwing them on ball.
Each to their own. It’s not a personal attack, I just can’t see it happening.
Go Blues!!
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And I quote directly from your post:
“Trying to fit Cripps Walsh Cerra Hewett Smith Elijah Lord Docherty and get maximum benefits is going to be interesting. I also hope we give Williams Fogarty Durdin Motlop and even Kemp & Charlie some mid minutes at times to mix it up.”
I furiously disagree with you that we use 14 players through the midfield. I cannot see us doing that. Particularly the last four names you suggested.
So don’t say I have misquoted you, when I haven’t. I just disagreed with you and gave you my opinion. No need to be so defensive, everyone’s entitled to their opinion.
Go Blues…..and my boy Billy
