Here2tellyouwhy
SA GREAT
This was always coming, we've had big problems with our midfield for years but instead of doing something about it the recruitment team seem to think it's only a minor problem that can be fixed with a few tweaks (ie add more mediocre mids to the mix). They've been doing it since Wellinghams recruitment. We did so well last year in spite of our midfield, because our defense played well above anything they'd ever shown before, Nic Nat played amazingly and our forward line converted a high % of our inside 50s into scores. This year our defense has on the whole reverted back to normal levels, Nic Nat is playing injured, our forward line don't have a chance because the ball is being kicked in there in like the midfielders are trying to seed clouds and we inexplicably haven't managed to recruit a decent crumbing forward since Phil Matera left. Our crap midfield is being exposed and we just don't have the players in there to keep up with the top teams in the league.
The one thing I have noticed this year, partly due to the interchange cap maybe is the game has become a contested midfield battle.
Wellingham, Redden, Jetta even Yeo were never the answer. All four have talent no doubt but as it stands all four look to be back home on a pay check and not here to bleed for the club like Shuey and Priddis.
This year I didn't rate Geelong at all. Lost to Melbourne at home. Lost to Brisbane, never looked like making the 8. Add one contested beast and get back a few from injuries and they're top 4 and just beat the top side. Don't have a top ruck.
Doggies. They completely destroy oppositions rucks and have more contested players over the ground then anyone. They put their best forward into the middle and he created/kicked 3 goals in a minute and a half then went forward again. Won the game right there and then with clean contested ball in the middle, done on the back of his mongrel and speed. No top rucks.
Hawks, missing Hodge and not in top form, still a top contested team with heart, players who stand up. Poppy has a great contested game and has stood up. Gunston, not the biggest guy out there has played Roughies role and had to sacrifice his game to do so.
Contested and hard at it and currently top 4. No top rucks.
Sydney, Tippett and Sinclair are pretty decent rucks but it's their contested ball winners that get the job done week in week out.
They arguably have the best midfield in the league.
Crows have a decent tap ruckmen in Jacobs but also have contested mids like Sloane, Thommo, Crouch. Last night their B graders stood up and played with heart. Jarryd Lyons had 17 contested and David Mackay 12.
Sloane had 11 contested possies in the last and we all know this guy plays with heart every game, no questions (love Sloaney)
tldr; and that right there is the game this year folks. No contested ball winners and you're cooked.