Best midfield in 3 years?

[TigerTime88]

I was listening to SEN last night and they were talking about North Melbourne FC young blokes saying that in 2 years they will have the best midfield in the comp. They also mentioned Carlton I think (which already have a gun middle). However both MFC and RFC who I think are building some of the better midfields didn't get a mention.

Melbourne look very good considering they have a few who are yet to even play yet.

I may have these wrong but I would consider the bottom three are the midfields who are coming through. You would think Carlton will still be dominant considering Murphy and Gibbs will be entering there prime and Judd should still be going at a decent pace.

North - Ziebell, Cunnington, Batsinac, Anthony, Swallow, Wells

Tigs - Cotchin, Deledio, Martin, Foley, Jackson, Tambling, Collns,

Dees - Davey, Scully, Trengove, Mckenzie, Moloney, Morton, Sylvia + the unproven but talented Blease, Gysberts and Tapscott

When I look at the 3 line ups I think North have more depth across the board compared to us and Melbourne may have more depth depending on the untried players.

I really rate the North midfield and think they have quality across the board but to be honest with a bias opinion I like our midfield more because it has more x-factor and superstar potential as well as Melbourne.

I think Melbourne potentially could have the best midfield as even though I think Richmonds best players match up with Melbournes but there depth is excellent. North are going to be very good and Geelong may still be hanging around as they are not that old. The Blues would definitely be involved in this discussion and possibly the Bombers. Almost forgot the Bulldogs whose mids won't be going anywhere soon.

If I forgot any teams that deserve a mention please forgive my ignorance and put forth your argument, just thought it would be a decent discussion.

This obviously still depends on the next few years drafting as well and I think Richmond's access to low picks will certainly help.

 

[TigerTime88]

Forgot to mention Freo who with Hill, Morabito, Fyfe, Palmer will be very good.

 

[Monte Carlo]

Forgot to mention Freo who with Hill, Morabito, Fyfe, Palmer will be very good.

you may have forgon sandilands and barlow?

 

[TigerTime88]

Yeah I didn't meant to go right through their midfield just wanted to mentiont hey are awesome. Mundy or Murphy I forget which one it is, but whoever it is he is dominating this year, I think it is Mundy.

How old is Sandilands now? Wonder how long the big guy could go for. Freo's window is definitley open until Pav, Tarrant, McPharlin and Sandilands which you would think could happen closely. There young midfield is awesome and all there KPP are older so you would think the next 3-4 years is there window, ecspecially with GC and GWS not rising to power quick enough and Geelong and Saints dropping away a bit.

 

[sunnyTEE]

Swan, Pendlebury, Beams, Sidebottom, Wellingham, Thomas, Ball, Didak

 

[Sin City]

Carlton, Freo, Melbourne and maybe Port if they can keep Boak. North's will be solid but I really don't see what all the hype is about. As a midfielder I only rate one of the Richmond players, Martin. Tambling and Deledio are good flankers but not mids, Cotchin may be a good flanker in the future. Midfields need depth and that's where Freo and Carlton will be strongest.

 

[chef]

Roughead, Cordy and Minson as rucks.
Cooney, Griffen, Ward, Higgins, Picken, Reid, Moles, Liberatore and Wallis(and maybe Harbrow, Stack, Hill, Tutt, Howard and Everitt) rotating through the middle(Boyd and Cross could still be hanging around too).

 

[TigerTime88]

Carlton, Freo, Melbourne and maybe Port if they can keep Boak. North's will be solid but I really don't see what all the hype is about. As a midfielder I only rate one of the Richmond players, Jackson. Tambling and Deledio are good flankers but not mids, Cotchin may be a good flanker in the future. Midfields need depth and that's where Freo and Carlton will be strongest.

Lol your hate for Richmond continues to amuse me. Deledio is currently playing HBF but is more than capable as a midfield gun, ecspeically in a good midfield which hopefully Richmond are developing. That is like saying Gibbs is a flanker only.

To suggest Cotchin is a flanker is a F****** joke and just shows your comments belong on the bay not here mate.

Bulldogs considering they get those to F/S plus with their ruck division would be very close to numero uno as Gia would also still be around to add to those you said.

The Pies midfield will be very good still but I don't think it would be the best. Didak would be in his twilight. Swan and Pendles could still carry that midfield to top 5 in the comp.

I guess on the flip side who would be the worst? Brisbane post Black and Power?

 

[Sin City]

amcre, this comment shows how much you know about midfields

Sin to say there is no chance we can win Thursday is a joke. Deledio is the best midfielder on the ground and Ben Cousins can still poll 3 brownlow votes whenever he wants. Cotchin has so much talent it is ridiculous and if Dustin martin plays a similar game to the praccy against the bombers of course we have a chance.

Deledio can't get involved involved in the midfield, he's very good on the flank but has no idea how to be a mid. Face it. Stupid of me to write Jackson when I actually meant Martin, he will be an A grade mid. Tambling has only ever played good consistent footy as a HBF. Cotchin can be a good, creative flanker but just doesn't win enough quality possession to be a mid. I understand the Gibbs comparison but everyone knows Gibbs plays his best footy in the middle and is only playing across half back because Walker and Bower are out.

You have to realise that even though you're loyal to your clubs players there is a reason they're in such a diabolical situation. As well as quality the other thing you don't have is depth. In three years the only player we will lose is Scotland. We'll have Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, McLean, Simpson, Carrazzo, Lucas, Buckley, Joseph, Robinson with some of the best rucks in the league to help them. That's not including our flankers so how do Martin, Foley, Jackson and Vickery stack up there?

 

[Upgrayedd]

I picked my team

Is that how these polls work?

 

[Frontal Pressure]

Cotchin may be a good flanker in the future.

Cotchin can be a good, creative flanker but just doesn't win enough quality possession to be a mid

Geez, you have NFI do you? Please just stop commentating on football for everyone elses sake.

Cotchin's last 2 weeks, 27 touches 11 clearances and 25 touches 8 clearances. Yep, will be a good "flanker" in the future.

 

[Claude Balls]

It's pretty close out of the ones you mentioned (and they'll need 5 years, not 3), but I'd probably be happiest with the Dees' youngsters at this stage. They seem to have a bit more star quality, even at this very early stage, than the Kangas' youngsters. The young Tigers look pretty good though, and I'm sure the likes of Deledio and Foley would look even better once the whole group matures and they attract less heat from the opposition.

1. Melbourne
1. Richmond
3. Kangas

Geelong's will still be fairly handy:

Selwood (25)
Ablett (29)
Bartel (29)
Kelly (29)

A bit old, and Ablett may have gone to the GC, but if a few youngsters develop well, like Duncan, Christenson, maybe Hogan, we should still have one of the better midfields.

 

[Sin City]

Geez, you have NFI do you? Please just stop commentating on football for everyone elses sake.

Cotchin's last 2 weeks, 27 touches 11 clearances and 25 touches 8 clearances. Yep, will be a good "flanker" in the future.

Played against Hawthorn and Essendon. Lost both.

 

[Frontal Pressure]

Played against Hawthorn and Essendon. Lost both.

Yeah and? What does that have to do with his possesion/clearance count?

 

[Sin City]

Yeah and? What does that have to do with his possesion/clearance count?

Try actually watching games instead of looking at useless stats that are inflated during junk time.

 

[Frontal Pressure]

Try actually watching games instead of looking at useless stats that are inflated during junk time.

How about you take your own advice. I did watch both games. You said Cotchin won't be a mid but rather a creative flanker because he doesn't win enough ball. I just posted his stats for the last 2 weeks proving you wrong. Now you're trying to wriggle your way out of your dumb and stupid post.

 

[Sin City]

How about you take your own advice. I did watch both games. You said Cotchin won't be a mid but rather a creative flanker because he doesn't win enough ball. I just posted his stats for the last 2 weeks proving you wrong. Now you're trying to wriggle your way out of your dumb and stupid post.

Wrong. His stats are inflated in junk time, he is not damaging as a mid. You obviously have no idea what you're on about. Get the thread back on topic.

 

[Frontal Pressure]

Wrong.

Right.

His stats are inflated in junk time, he is not damaging as a mid. You obviously have no idea what you're on about. Get the thread back on topic.

Wrong. Not damaging as a mid.....ahahahahahah, I've heard it all. Cotchin is just as damaging as Gibbs with ball in hand with his very good decision making and disposal. As I pointed out in the last 2 weeks he has lifted his numbers as he's getting back to full fitness after having a limited preseason. I think it's you who has no idea what you're on about. By the way, we're on topic you nuff nuff.

 

[TigerTime88]

Try actually watching games instead of looking at useless stats that are inflated during junk time.

Lol Sin did you even watch those games? Hawthorn game he was excellent. Can I use you calling Cotchin a Flanker as a signature and leave it there for 5 years?

Yes and I agree Carlton's midfield is going to be excellent. The only thing stopping you being a premiership side is your forward line.

Those pre round 1 comments were spot on. Cousins coming off last year where he was stringing some very good games together and had a awesome game against you late in the season and polled 2 votes. Granted I was wrong about him this season and his body seems like it has given way and definitely needs to retire and let us develop kids.

Deledio in rounds 11-22 last year dominated as a midfielder. His game on Saturday night was very good rotating between midfield and HBF. While I do not doubt he is a gun HBF I would be very suprised if he does not play the majority of his career as a minimum in a 50/50 role. The fact is he made the AA squad as a midfielder and was drafted n.o 1 as a midfielder.

Did you see Cotchin's game agains the Hawks. One of the best games I have seen him play and he was very damaging at the clearances. Also the fact with Cotchin is he is yet to have a full AFL pre season and his running capacity will only get better with more games and god forbid a full 2011 pre season. He is actually one of the best young mids coming through in the comp. You will see him get alot more free easy ball like Murphy and Deledio as his fitness gets better and as Hardwick develops the Tigers into a better side.

I thought your Jackson call was a bit of a jibe hence why I reacted. Martin is a gun and will only get better.

It is easy for you to compare your midfield which is fully mature and hitting it's peak. The comparison is in 2-3 years is far different to what you are suggesting now.

As it stand Carltons A-Grader are:

Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Simpson (who I think is underrated)

With potential A-Graders being Lucas

McLean, Carazzo and Robinson are a very good second tier support crew and Joseph is a very good tagger. I don't know much about Buckley but from what I understand he is a fairly decent F/S?

Comparing to the Tigers midfield:

Cotchin, Deledio and Martin were all taken top 3 and will all develop into stars as the Tigers develop. Deledio is already there whether you can see it or not. Foley is also probably our most important and underrated player. His work around the clearances and his break out of pack speed and ball winning ability makes him A-grade (although I know you don't agree). Again as Dimma develops our side he will only find it easier to show you this. IMO there are 4 A-Grade mids to start with.

I agree Tambling is a HBF. Jackson is the decent tagger we need. Collins will develop into a decent depth player and a player I didn't rate in Shane Edwards has turned a corner this year and is using the ball very well. He has always played better in the middle or forward line instead of the HBF and has is developing into a good midfielder like we saw in his 1st year in the comp. His main goal now is to try and get it 20-25 times a game instead of 15-20.

The other thing that needs to be remembered is we are going to be accessing pick 4 for the next 2 years you would think as well as probably pick 6 next year (priority) and 3 picks in the 20's during that time. I think the Tigers will probably pick up Bennell or Gaff this year at 4 as we have stacked up on talls in the last few drafts. You would generally accept that most pick 4's turn out to be guns and recruiting has gotten a whole lot more professional even in the last 2-3 years. That is essentially another A-grader the Tigers will have access too. Not sure where thye will go with there other picks, however I would think they should find 2 other A grade midfielders in the next 2-3 years with 3 picks in the top ten. As I said we have drafted tall forwards and backs in recent drafts and so I suspect we will be adding to our midfield depth.

All of a sudden we have Cotchin, Martin, Deledio, Foley in their prime as well as a fully mature Vickery to ruck and another 2-3 top 10 picks to add to our midfield. So at the moment your midfield is a lot better but the Tigers will be bridging the gap in the next 3 years with our access to low draft picks IMO.

 

[TigerTime88]

It's pretty close out of the ones you mentioned (and they'll need 5 years, not 3), but I'd probably be happiest with the Dees' youngsters at this stage. They seem to have a bit more star quality, even at this very early stage, than the Kangas' youngsters. The young Tigers look pretty good though, and I'm sure the likes of Deledio and Foley would look even better once the whole group matures and they attract less heat from the opposition.

1. Melbourne
1. Richmond
3. Kangas

Geelong's will still be fairly handy:

Selwood (25)
Ablett (29)
Bartel (29)
Kelly (29)

A bit old, and Ablett may have gone to the GC, but if a few youngsters develop well, like Duncan, Christenson, maybe Hogan, we should still have one of the better midfields.

I agree Geelong with a mature age midfield plus a few new recruits could be a smokey. I guess it depends strongly on whether you keep Ablett. But if you don't you should see two top ten picks or at a minimum first rounders and you would expect 1 would go towards the midfield. I think you guys to very well to get Christenson last year, some had him going end of first round or definitely second. You got him in the 30's or 40's correct?

 

[Claude Balls]

I agree Geelong with a mature age midfield plus a few new recruits could be a smokey. I guess it depends strongly on whether you keep Ablett. But if you don't you should see two top ten picks or at a minimum first rounders and you would expect 1 would go towards the midfield. I think you guys to very well to get Christenson last year, some had him going end of first round or definitely second. You got him in the 30's or 40's correct?

Yeah pick 38 or 40 I think. I had no idea about him prior to the Cats recruiting him, so didn't know whether he was a good value pick-up or not, but he has been performing quite well in the VFL to this point, which is very promising given his stature.

 

[Bulldog1954]

Can I vote for Geelong or is this one of those threads where everyone is washed up by the time their 29 with every 22 year old automatically being better?

 

[Pigdog]

Can I vote for Geelong or is this one of those threads where everyone is washed up by the time their 29 with every 22 year old automatically being better?

No you vote for your own team.

Blindy feddy can see ours will be the best.

 

[Good Win]

Thompson, Vince, Dangerfield, Otten, Mackay, Van Berlo, Sloane.

Probably not the best, but potentially very very good.

 

[Claude Balls]

Wrong. His stats are inflated in junk time, he is not damaging as a mid. You obviously have no idea what you're on about. Get the thread back on topic.

Your anti-Cothin sentiment doesn't appear to have all that much substance.