Roast How diabolical is our midfield?

[phill5158]

What frustrates me is Soligo had 1 disposal in the first, 1 disposal again in the 2nd and 2 disposals in the last quarter and Nicks and the coaches take him off in the last quarter when they game was shot. I mean Shoenberg came on for one quarter and had more disposals than Soligo and yeah I know Soligo is young and wasn't the only one but why are our coaches so slow to make moves sometimes?

On SM-T870 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[skam85]

Dawson and Laird stepped up in the 2nd half. I got excited when I saw "14 & 9" on the board on the interchange when Harry was warming up, but sadly it was 14 that was subbed.

There should be no scenario where we are playing Murphy and McHenry in the same team, let alone even one of them.

 

[Crow_Magnon]

What frustrates me is Soligo had 1 disposal in the first, 1 disposal again in the 2nd and 2 disposals in the last quarter and Nicks and the coaches take him off in the last quarter when they game was shot. I mean Shoenberg came on for one quarter and had more disposals than Soligo and yeah I know Soligo is young and wasn't the only one but why are our coaches so slow to make moves sometimes?

On SM-T870 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Did Soligo get any CBA's at all? Schoey was actually good when he came on - was the only clean ball-winner we had all day. Didn't fumble like the rest of them. I agree with some of the other posters, let's see what Nankervis can do, and I think we need Parnell back in as he has some talent, and maybe Berry too - given he finally found a bit of the ball in the SNAFL - although I think McAdam should come in too (only 7 marks I50 compared to 16, tells me we need someone else who can take a mark). Sholl and Murphy definite outs and possibly Soligo. Sloane to sub. Not sure if we'll need Butts this week, as I don't think GWS play as tall as Essendon up forward.

 

[Dudersaurus]

What frustrates me is Soligo had 1 disposal in the first, 1 disposal again in the 2nd and 2 disposals in the last quarter and Nicks and the coaches take him off in the last quarter when they game was shot. I mean Shoenberg came on for one quarter and had more disposals than Soligo and yeah I know Soligo is young and wasn't the only one but why are our coaches so slow to make moves sometimes?

On SM-T870 using BigFooty.com mobile app

There was a game a while ago where Nicks admitted he made a mistake subbing Soligo off for Schoenberg. Probably didn't want to make the same mistake twice, so tried to choose a different mistake.

 

[Crow till I die]

Lets call a spade a spade - our forward line has a lot more potential firepower than Essendon's. Our defense is no worse than theirs player for player - they actually have some what you would say are undersized key defenders (strength) than us...so how come they had vastly more scoring shots than us and dominated general play? - Midfield Midfield Midfield

The blowtorch has to be on the midfield coaches - They have Dawson and Laird there and roll Rachele through there - thats 3 pretty handy players yet we got stomped on in waves of essendon runners early on and the damage was done. Our set ups are not up to scratch against the better sides when we are not in the comfort of our home ground. Can we have our midfield coaches please come out and explain why we are falling down so badly

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Can we get a Van Berlo thread? This guy couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper bag.

Also Hamish has had long enough. He can pick half backs and little else. Time for someone new. We need a recruiter who can identify midfield talent and he's not that guy.

 

[FR0GGY]

Did Soligo get any CBA's at all?

4

 

[Scorpus]

Not enough criticism of Rory Laird

29

Rory Laird

Age

31

Ht

178cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.4

5star

K

12.9

5star

HB

12.5

5star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.3

4star

CL

1.0

3star

D

19.6

5star

K

10.9

4star

HB

8.7

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.4

3star

CL

1.1

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

0.4

3star

He had first use of the ball 16 times (ground ball gets) but only 1 score launch; and he had more inside 50s (7) than score involvements (5) suggesting he burned it going forward.

Brodie Smith

33

Brodie Smith

Age

33

Ht

194cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.5

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

7.2

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

500.1

5star

D

17.1

4star

K

12.6

5star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.5

3star

T

2.3

3star

MG

438.9

5star

D

17.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.6

5star

is also an issue. Technically doesn't "play" midfield but the guy had 587 meters gained and 6 inside 50s for just 2 score involvements. He was our primary distributor and sets up our transition but he was completely ineffective

We need to find more effective avenues moving the ball forward

 

[GreyCrow]

Looking over the CBAs we are slowly getting it right

Laird/Dawson are our mainstays

The last 2 weeks have seen Keays and Sloane with much reduced time and Rachele, Pedlar , Harry , etc all have increased time - thats fantastic


But where was it 8 weeks ago?

People will say '' but we lost with the kids'' - who gives a flying. This is still a transition year - we hope for 10-12 wins but accept 10 if players get development - thats the message I'm giving out


As to our mid set ups - we set up to win the ball then hope the players instincts kick in when we lose

 

[DJ75]

Rachele and Pedlar will be A grade/close to elite.


Just need to give them Sloane's CBA time.


If we get Redmond I would put in the midfield too. Could be the carrot to get him here.

On SM-A325F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Neither are midfielders. Not full time mids.

Both can pinch hit, but we really need to be able to replace Laird in there.
Dawson, + elite youngster, + Rachele/Pedlar/Soligo.
That's what we need.

 

[Boundryump]

I'd like to see Hinge given a go in the middle

 

[BRL121]

Lets call a spade a spade - our forward line has a lot more potential firepower than Essendon's. Our defense is no worse than theirs player for player - they actually have some what you would say are undersized key defenders (strength) than us...so how come they had vastly more scoring shots than us and dominated general play? - Midfield Midfield Midfield

The blowtorch has to be on the midfield coaches - They have Dawson and Laird there and roll Rachele through there - thats 3 pretty handy players yet we got stomped on in waves of essendon runners early on and the damage was done. Our set ups are not up to scratch against the better sides when we are not in the comfort of our home ground. Can we have our midfield coaches please come out and explain why we are falling down so badly

I knew what was going to happen in that match as soon as the sides ran out onto the ground. Essendon were smiling and laughing, we were looking anxious.

Laird set the tone at the first bounce. He got the ball and limp-wristed it away when tackled: free to oppo and away they went. Game over. This emphasised our lack of mobility and skills compared with the oppo. Laird should surely have been able to give a quick handball away in the rough direction of one of our players. Second, ROB had a good overall game, but he persistently seemed to deliberately tap the ball right towards the oppo: not good enough, another skill problem. Third, Rachele got the ball a bit, but was then slow to get rid of it, running around in circles looking for the perfect disposal, only to get tackled or rushed into a bad one.

I don't believe that these are coaching problems, per se, but just very bad skill deficits. We just don't have the ability to give long offloads to running flankers. Dawson should be the exception to this, but he seems to be well tagged these days and was not really an effective midfielder. His disposal has suffered in traffic and he is getting more battered. Nothing emphasised this more than his shift to defence in the second half when magically, the wonderful play and disposal reappeared. He shouldn't be a permanent midfielder.

What can be done to address skill deficits? Well, perhaps ROB could be sternly directed to tap to our players rather than the oppo's. Perhaps the midfielders should be directed to quickly give long handpasses to our appropriately positioned flankers, or, failing that, to simply absorb the tackle. Taking an age to end up HTB is not on. One has to sympathise with Nicks: I'm sure that stuff was not in the game plan, as he stated.

And, don't get me started on Sloane!........

 

[Crow_Magnon]

The other issue is not only the number of centre bounce clearances we may win, but whether we exit running forward, sideways or back into defence. Early on it seemed all of Essendon's were running forward, pretty much unopposed and in space. Ours were usually fumbles or pressured disposals and always seemed to head towards their goal. Dawson often well behind his opponent too (first half). Schoey was the cleanest of our mids, and appeared to get his hands free for a decent disposal, all the others were fumbly and hesitant.

 

[Geoffa32]

What frustrates me is Soligo had 1 disposal in the first, 1 disposal again in the 2nd and 2 disposals in the last quarter and Nicks and the coaches take him off in the last quarter when they game was shot. I mean Shoenberg came on for one quarter and had more disposals than Soligo and yeah I know Soligo is young and wasn't the only one but why are our coaches so slow to make moves sometimes?

On SM-T870 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Sog should be playing Murphy/McHenry's role.

On SM-A325F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Geoffa32]

Neither are midfielders. Not full time mids.

Both can pinch hit, but we really need to be able to replace Laird in there.
Dawson, + elite youngster, + Rachele/Pedlar/Soligo.
That's what we need.

I don't think Rachele is that great a natural forward.

His work in congestion is far better than his ability to crumb goals and overall goal sense.

Pedlar, yeah agree forward/mid.


On SM-A325F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[cleanhands]

I don't think Rachele is that great a natural forward.

His work in congestion is far better than his ability to crumb goals and overall goal sense.

Pedlar, yeah agree forward/mid.


On SM-A325F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Soligo the same

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

There was a game a while ago where Nicks admitted he made a mistake subbing Soligo off for Schoenberg. Probably didn't want to make the same mistake twice, so tried to choose a different mistake.

Lol. Wasn’t that the game where Soligo had 27 touches to 3/4 time?

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Not enough criticism of Rory Laird

He had first use of the ball 16 times (ground ball gets) but only 1 score launch; and he had more inside 50s (7) than score involvements (5) suggesting he burned it going forward.

Brodie Smith is also an issue. Technically doesn't "play" midfield but the guy had 587 meters gained and 6 inside 50s for just 2 score involvements. He was our primary distributor and sets up our transition but he was completely ineffective

We need to find more effective avenues moving the ball forward

Yesterday was the first time I noticed Laird do what we accuse Crouch of doing. Consistently handballing to a Team mate in no better situation because of some heat.

 

[cleanhands]

I know I keep harping on this but Jones shouldn’t have been moved off a wing, he attacks the ball strongly, his vision spotting up shorts or either long penetrating kick better suited than who playing there. He also has a Hughe tank and works his ares of from goal to goal,and covers that territory at good pace, also has speed on the outside, one of our worst decisions to shift him

 

[Trigger13]

It wasn’t lack of effort yesterday. It was method around the ball. Over commit attacking the ball carrier on that ground and you’re dead. That’s what happens when you play venues once every 25 years.

 

[MRB37]

Lol. Wasn’t that the game where Soligo had 27 touches to 3/4 time?

Wasn't that our home game against Collingwood?

 

[MRB37]

It wasn’t lack of effort yesterday. It was method around the ball. Over commit attacking the ball carrier on that ground and you’re dead. That’s what happens when you play venues once every 25 years.

We do that quite a lot all over the place, on the ground and in the air. Everyone goes up or in and if we don't win it you get burnt. Just really poor basic stuff, like ROB could be going for a mark down back and Murray, Hinge and Worrell would all go up for it too while the opposition leave two down and can crumb it easy.

 

[MarcusP2]

It wasn’t lack of effort yesterday. It was method around the ball. Over commit attacking the ball carrier on that ground and you’re dead. That’s what happens when you play venues once every 25 years.

This happens all the time. Go into to lock the ball up, fail, 3 runners on the outside. Inside 50 conceded.

 

[MRB37]

This happens all the time. Go into to lock the ball up, fail, 3 runners on the outside. Inside 50 conceded.

It's why I'm weary of VB being our midfield coach cause it's the same thing that would constantly occur under Campo. Lots of see ball, get ball and if you don't win it then you're toast.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Wasn't that our home game against Collingwood?

Actually, you are correct!

Wow, again. AFC “I’ve done all the dumb things”