Strategy MIDFIELD - 2015

[Jock]

We are about 4 midfielders short - The top clubs are rotating a dozen through with their 2 Half forward flankers effectively mids now. It's evident as quarters go on and our top 6 mids need a rest or tire. We are getting our list in shape slowly though to have the required depth. I think we are now only one draft away from rectifying the mess Ratten and Hughes left behind.

 

[HARKER]

This is a table of the centre bounce involvements in our last game of the year.
Pretty much shows up our current reliance on the old boys along with the fact that McLean is now gone also.

Admittedly Murphy wan't there and surprisingly Curnow wasn't used even once.
Gibbs the big player in this game.

 

[Old navy]

View attachment 101905

This is a table of the centre bounce involvements in our last game of the year.
Pretty much shows up our current reliance on the old boys along with the fact that McLean is now gone also.

Admittedly Murphy wan't there and surprisingly Curnow wasn't used even once.
Gibbs the big player in this game.

Be very interesting to compare that at the end of R1 this year.

 

[Jabba73]

View attachment 101905

This is a table of the centre bounce involvements in our last game of the year.
Pretty much shows up our current reliance on the old boys along with the fact that McLean is now gone also.

Admittedly Murphy wan't there and surprisingly Curnow wasn't used even once.
Gibbs the big player in this game.

Perfect example of why stats can be misleading, we didnt lose a clearance once Gibbs was taken away from the area.

 

[Graffy4242]

View attachment 101905

This is a table of the centre bounce involvements in our last game of the year.
Pretty much shows up our current reliance on the old boys along with the fact that McLean is now gone also.

Admittedly Murphy wan't there and surprisingly Curnow wasn't used even once.
Gibbs the big player in this game.

Apparently the Hawks have a different compliment of mids for nearly every single centre bounce. They mix it up completely which gives the opposition no opportunity to develop an effective coverage strategy.

It will be great when we have the depth quality to do the same.

 

[Coona Blues]

Having watched the set-ups in that Essendon game highlighted how often we seemed flat-footed and stayed away from the contest.
McLean and Bell in particular, seemed to take off slowly after the ruck-men contested.
There may have been little to take out of the one game, but I'd love to view just the centre contests of more games.

Cripps should be able to cover a lot more area given his size and he'll rarely get lost behind his man.
Will be very interesting how we attack centre bounces next year but it sure seems that Gibbs, Murphy and Judd will still likely make up for most of the contests unless the likes of Whiley, Bell and Graham really stand up.

Nice compilation Harks, but not sure just how relevant the final game was with injuries and a bevy of "cooked" players.

Would agree (all things equal) Gibbs and Judd would be the most regular participants. Carrazzo, the encumbent "inside tagger" will be there
if he is retained in the 22. Curnow's participation in the guts purely dependent on his designated run with role. Cripps and Whiley the
new extractors likely to get plenty of time. Murphy will do plenty, but many of us suspect the changing of the guard in the heavy lifting
department is likely to give him the luxury of more time outside/forward. Belly and Graham capable of rotations if they get a gig.
Then we have the "shock troopers", led by Thomas and maybe Menzel injected for rotations and/or X factor.

Most are expecting a Kruezer/Casboult ruck combo, but MM may have some surprises for us.

Pretty sure the likes of Boekhorst, Tutt, Yarran, Docherty, Simmo, Walker, Everitt won't be at many bounces despite having "midfield" claims.

Holman, DVR, Walsh, Clem, Gowers and co to learn their craft and find their best spots in the 2's

 

[CJBlue]

For the first time in years the midfield looks to have depth but still lacks one or two elite players.

Gibbs is now elite and I hope he continues. Murphy very good and I also like him up forward at times. Very clever around goals. Maybe swapping with Thomas?
Judd will still be Judd.
Carrazzo if fit is still a ball winner and can shutdown.
Curnow is our go to tagger. Impressive over last 2 seasons.

The key will be the improvement in Cripps, Graham, Menzel (fitness), Bell and the unproven ability of Whiley & Boekhurst.
I can see Yarran, Simpson, Everitt, Walker, Tutt, Tuohy all having "bursts" in the middle but no significant time there.

Docherty is a real option for me. Played well early last year in midfield before lack of pre season got him and he was pushed back to defence.

Walsh is a smokey and looks impressive. With McLean gone looks an ideal replacement. Disposal will be his guide.

Like most of the list there are lots of possibilities. We just need some players to really make the next step.

 

[gandaal]

People have been talking about our depth every preseason for years now. The truth is that we have really poor depth because many players we'll have to rely on for important roles next season are largely unproven at AFL level.

What we do have is a large pool of players with potential for good things.

 

[Jabba73]

People have been talking about our depth every preseason for years now. The truth is that we have really poor depth because many players we'll have to rely on for important roles next season are largely unproven at AFL level.

What we do have is a large pool of players with potential for good things.

So, our potential has depth?

 

[gandaal]

So, our potential has depth?

Pretty much.

 

[Ratana]

I can't see why there is so much love for Graham, not good enough IMO, Whiley and the kids already I front of him.
ditto Tutt

 

[Juddalenko]

Based on what? A couple of preseason training sessions?

 

[Ratana]

Nope, just from what I've seen of both Graham and Tutt. Very good VFL players at best. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[HereComesJuddy]

Nope, just from what I've seen of both Graham and Tutt. Very good VFL players at best. I hope I'm wrong.

Looks like he's developing well to me...

Graham with the shepherd and goal:

 

[HereComesJuddy]

Nope, just from what I've seen of both Graham and Tutt. Very good VFL players at best. I hope I'm wrong.

And i wouldn't mind tutt doing this for us to start a game...

Jason Tutt's first 3 goals:

 

[Ratana]

Nice bits of play! But I tend to watch full games to establish my opinions rather than highlights. As I said I hope I'm wrong.

 

[etsal1]

Nice bits of play! But I tend to watch full games to establish my opinions rather than highlights. As I said I hope I'm wrong.

I'm still confused as to why you originally posted as an Essendon supporter

 

[ferrisb]

Just some thoughts about Marc Murphy - o captain, my captain...

In his early seasons, his kicking was deadly. Sharp, accurate, well weighted with the odd no-look, across-the-body kick that would make Stevie j raise at least one eyebrow...

As the years have rolled on, this sharpness seems to have blunted somewhat. He still has good disposal, but it's not laser beam any more.

I assume this is a combination of

1) a string of injuries from 2012
2) playing more inside - gives less time / space
3) more attention from opposition / taggers - also less time / space

I've noticed that many are trumpeting murph to move more outside, particularly if cripps and co step up.

Murph is too good to be purely outside, but I can't help but think he would be more effective with more space. After 2014, opposition could send #1 tagger to Gibbs more often than not.

I'm not sure what MM and co have in store for MM jnr, but whatever happens I'd love to see murph's elite disposal flourish again.

I dare say he is his most effective when he plays link up footy, running off his opponent, with time to do something really damaging.

 

[BM123]

Just some thoughts about Marc Murphy - o captain, my captain...

In his early seasons, his kicking was deadly. Sharp, accurate, well weighted with the odd no-look, across-the-body kick that would make Stevie j raise at least one eyebrow...

As the years have rolled on, this sharpness seems to have blunted somewhat. He still has good disposal, but it's not laser beam any more.

I assume this is a combination of

1) a string of injuries from 2012
2) playing more inside - gives less time / space
3) more attention from opposition / taggers - also less time / space

I've noticed that many are trumpeting murph to move more outside, particularly if cripps and co step up.

Murph is too good to be purely outside, but I can't help but think he would be more effective with more space. After 2014, opposition could send #1 tagger to Gibbs more often than not.

I'm not sure what MM and co have in store for MM jnr, but whatever happens I'd love to see murph's elite disposal flourish again.

I dare say he is his most effective when he plays link up footy, running off his opponent, with time to do something really damaging.

It's rare to see Gibbs or Murphy really cut up teams with their disposal in general now. Both still hurt you if they get space but teams rarely give them the opportunity now.

 

[therubbernub]

Nice bits of play! But I tend to watch full games to establish my opinions rather than highlights. As I said I hope I'm wrong.

Mate how did you form an opinion on tutt?

 

[Ratana]

I love my footy, and tend to watch a hell of a lot of it at all levels. Seen Tutt play a few times at VFL level.

 

[Zlatan]

Genuine question:

How is it determined which players will be to go into the centre square ball-ups, at the beginning of quarters and after every goal?

I'd say the midfield coach in consultation with Mick would have it planned out at the start of every game day and then there may be a fixed rotation policy throughout the quarters or having the runner go out and swap on the fly depending on if we're getting smashed etc.

It's far too important an area of the ground for the players to be making the calls on a play by play basis and as a player goes to the bench, another knows it's his turn to be in at the bounce.

 

[Zlatan]

The opening bounce of each quarter are easy enough, but the ball gets from goal to the middle pretty quick and there may be plenty of mix and matching to do on the run.

In the game I highlighted, Bell made the middle on only 4 occasions out of 30 ball-ups.
Maybe this was just because one or two of the other guys were taking a breather but effectively we only used 4 mids at those centre bounces. That's it.
I just wondered whether those numbers are common or we're just lacking the ability to rotate.

I would imagine the coaches would like to rotate more due to the benefits but we haven't had many players who can go through the centre in order for us to to do it.

I think that's why a lot of us have high hopes on Cripps and Whiley; to alleviate the pressure on Judd and Murphy having to consistently win the ball in there. Personally, I'd like to see Judd, Gibbs and Murphy taking the first/second disposal out of the centre to hit up targets and not in and under the pack fighting for the ball.

 

[BlueJet]

We generally lack the numbers that can go through the guts. This has partly been due to playing a specialist small forward (or 3) which many of the better sides have moved on from in recent times, as it leaves them hamstrung in terms of run as the game and season wear on.
Ideally you'd have your side set up in a manner which would allow anyone to be able to have a run in the middle. Using he current premiers as an example, the only players (off the top of my head) who wouldn't be able to rotate through there would be Lake and Frawley.

 

[Old navy]

Was reading the afl.com analysis of Carlton pre season. Interesting Thomas hasn't missed a session so far and it looks like he will diffently play a role in the midfield this year. I think it will be as mid that drops back and helps the back line set up play. Daisy's best footy was played in 2011 and it was a similar mid/back flank role that he was really damaging in.