Player Watch Mitch Hinge - Re-signed until 2026

[cmndstab]

Hinge has been outstanding and was again yesterday.
Makes the odd mistake by foot, but the rest of his game is elite.

When someone is charged with being the "good user" out of the back half, they're going to make some errors. Especially when we are clearly coached to look for options in the corridor etc and go for them when sensible. It's why I'm a bit more lenient with the likes of Parnell or Sholl when it comes to errors by foot - they're in the side because of their kicking and they're expected to take extra risks, and nobody gets 100% of those kicks right.

The difference between Hinge, and the likes of Parnell or Sholl, is that he offers more than just a quality kick. He's a great size, he stands up when it counts, he puts his body on the line, he does a defensive job on a player, etc. Being a left-footer adds something extra too. I think he's been great this year and had a great game again yesterday.

Edit: I'm also less concerned about those rare errors because as the team improves, his errors will become less common. If you're charged with making good choices going forward, a better functioning team will make those choices easier to make. A better functioning midfield will put less pressure on him defensively.

You could take Nick Daicos and put him in a bottom side and he suddenly wouldn't look so good because the players around him wouldn't be creating as many opportunities to receive the ball from him. Players who have the job of being a link in the chain can only perform as well as the chain itself allows them.

 

[NSolis]

I think the thing with Hinge and players like him is that you have to have some tolerance for mistakes. Occasionally he's going to get caught HTB or try and take the game on and turn the ball over, but you need players with a bit of dare, and he's got some serious skills when it comes to opening up the game. His game yesterday was terrific, despite a couple of errors.

 

[BRL121]

His good qualities vastly outnumber his bad. The only problem I have with him is that he tends to misjudge the situation in close, sometimes lingering too long in selecting his kick and going HTB when he has had enough time to dispose of it. Easliy fixed IMO.

 

[DJ75]

thought he did some pretty dumb stuff yesterday

 

[StonesThrow]

I really rate this guy. He's played 34 games and looks like a veteran. Will only get better as he gets more experience.

 

[Jarman3]

I really rate this guy. He's played 34 games and looks like a veteran. Will only get better as he gets more experience.

I've been onboard since his first game for us... I like him a lot. I'd like to see him added to the midfield rotation every now and again to see how he goes in there. He's a good size and ball use is generally pretty good.

 

[jo172]

A hypothesis, he tends to play better the more undersized he is as against his man.

Seems to twig in his mind that he has a greater opportunity to run off and cause damage with his foot skills (and the subsequent chasing of him makes his bigger opponent less of a threat if they're sufficiently rooted)

Certainly looking like a bloke who should be a best 22 player for the next decade

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

you reckon giving away 50's and kicking blindly to collingwood defenders were good play?

 

[Boundryump]

you reckon giving away 50's and kicking blindly to collingwood defenders were good play?

Like no other player has ever done that, throw him in the middle he's got some mongrel and long kick

 

[119others]

you reckon giving away 50's and kicking blindly to collingwood defenders were good play?

erm and the 15-20 positive things he did?

and it was a very SOFT 50

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Nicks loves his versatility I'm sure

He's been trying to build a mobile defence with guys who can play small & tall-ish, which hasn't worked some of the time, but with Hinge and Michalanney especially hopefully we're developing that flexibility

 

[Danger in Texas]

IMO he was very hit or miss in the first half yesterday, but was one of our catalysts for our second half resurgence

Will never be a top line half back/wing, but is very good in a secondary role. Exactly the kind of role player you need in finals

 

[119others]

Nicks loves his versatility I'm sure

He's been trying to build a mobile defence with guys who can play small & tall-ish, which hasn't worked some of the time, but with Hinge and Michalanney especially hopefully we're developing that flexibility

And Worrell also 195cm but FAST and can play on smalls if needed

 

[The Perfect Stranger]

Has looked like a 200 game player from day one. Give him a run in the midfield and see how he goes. What have we got to lose.

 

[StonesThrow]

IMO he was very hit or miss in the first half yesterday, but was one of our catalysts for our second half resurgence

Will never be a top line half back/wing, but is very good in a secondary role. Exactly the kind of role player you need in finals

I honestly think he has the potential to be one of the games better players in his role. Will be interesting to see where he's at with 100 games under his belt given how he's tracking so far. He has a lot of tools.

 

[NSolis]

It is worth keeping in mind that Hinge is 25, and was our 9th oldest player in the 23 yesterday. He hasn't played that many games but he's more in the Milera/Dawson age bracket of someone who should be approaching their peak.

We do have a lack of players around that age bracket and he's doing a good job in that role at the moment, mainly mentioning this because I do hear people talking about him being a 30 gamer like he has some massive ceiling he might reach as he matures. I think he's pretty mature right now, give or take some benefit from experience.

 

[119others]

It is worth keeping in mind that Hinge is 25, and was our 9th oldest player in the 23 yesterday. He hasn't played that many games but he's more in the Milera/Dawson age bracket of someone who should be approaching their peak.

We do have a lack of players around that age bracket and he's doing a good job in that role at the moment, mainly mentioning this because I do hear people talking about him being a 30 gamer like he has some massive ceiling he might reach as he matures. I think he's pretty mature right now, give or take some benefit from experience.

hence why getting a couple of quality 25-27 yo FA would really help our young group

 

[Danger in Texas]

Yeah the fact he’s 25 makes me question how much growth he has in him, but that’s not a slight on him. If he keeps performing at this level he’ll be in our AFL side for a good number of years

Speaking of being 25, happy birthday Mitch!

 

[40porpoise]

This guys more than just a hard working defensive player. He's got some genuinely elite attributes. His left foot is one of the best in the team.

 

[StonesThrow]

It is worth keeping in mind that Hinge is 25, and was our 9th oldest player in the 23 yesterday. He hasn't played that many games but he's more in the Milera/Dawson age bracket of someone who should be approaching their peak.

We do have a lack of players around that age bracket and he's doing a good job in that role at the moment, mainly mentioning this because I do hear people talking about him being a 30 gamer like he has some massive ceiling he might reach as he matures. I think he's pretty mature right now, give or take some benefit from experience.

AFL game experience is still a big influence especially for someone with so few games. He's spent a bit of time in rehab as well so it's not as if he's a reserves veteran either. He's already producing at a decent level so if he can find another 25% then we've got a very good player.

In a couple of years he'll be at 70 odd games so we'll check back in then

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Nicks loves his versatility I'm sure

He's been trying to build a mobile defence with guys who can play small & tall-ish, which hasn't worked some of the time, but with Hinge and Michalanney especially hopefully we're developing that flexibility

+ Worrell.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Pretty stoked. Deadset thought he'd be a spud when he first got here. Talent not an issue though, minor concerns about durability.

 

[NSolis]

Not mature AFL games wise, he's a fair bit better than you seem to think he is. He still has enough improvement to come that suggests to me he'll be a mainstay in our team for a very long time to come. Currently he can tend to bite off a bit more than he can chew on occasions going for really attacking long kicks but bejeezus they look good when they come off..that will come with more games at the top level.

Not sure what I said to make you think I don't rate Hinge, but I think he's excellent. I just saw some people talking about only having 30 games under his belt and where he might go - being 25 means what you're getting now is much closer to the end product than with a very young ~30 gamer like Thilthorpe, Rachele or Soligo. This isn't a scenario where he's still developing an AFL-ready body, though I think he'll continue to improve with more experience, particularly given the specific role he's playing in the side.

 

[SellarStardom]

Get Nank a game against Nirth and move Hinge to a wing, his foot delivery to Tex and Fog will make us far better.

Hinge and Jones on each wing, yes please!

 

[cleanhands]

Get Nank a game against Nirth and move Hinge to a wing, his foot delivery to Tex and Fog will make us far better.

Hinge and Jones on each wing, yes please!

I like it both can get the ball to travel over long distance in a short time