Our horrific midfield, and recruiting decisions

[Blackas87]

Now that we're looking back on those decisions, they do start to look strange. The word was that Gysberts didn't want to work hard enough to meet Neeld's standards, along with others who were sent packing such as Martin and Moloney. He was after replacements who would work hard and set standards for the remainder, and Pederson came with good wraps in this regard, having worked his way onto an AFL list.
I think we're all starting to wonder if Neeld could have done more to bring players such as Gysberts up to league standards, as opposed to just laying down the law, saying "my way or the highway" and then ditching them. Maybe he has been too authoritarian and not enough of a 'people manager' - not all players respond well to that sort of ultimatum.

That said, I'll stick by Neeld for a while yet, he needs real time with the new group to see if his philosophy has worked.

Got to remember Gysberts was also injured most of last year, when he got back playing late last year for Casey he was playing pretty well, a few games in a row of 20+ possies, many of us on here wanted him back in the seniors, apparentley he was upset that Tynan was picked for the last game of the year instead of him, didn't undertand why it wasn't him, thought he had worked hard to get back in, he new he was on the outer and it was upsetting him, he wanted to play for us, he wanted to stay at this club, Neeld got rid of him without giving him a chance.

We also could use Moloney right now, Neelds my way or highway isn't working to well for him right now.

 

[Supermercado]

We need Magner in, almost need for someone to have an 'injury' to promote him off the rookie list. Can you play in the VFL if you've got on the LTI? Dom Barry would be my candidate...

That shits me, why did we keep Magner and Couch when we were going to be lucky to play one of them? Magner should have been promoted to the senior list - he's hardly a world beater but more worthy of a spot than someone like Troy Davis who has been there two full years for no result, and on paper should have been overtaken by Gillies even if they're probably both in the same leaky boat now.

I was never thrilled with Couch but it's farcical that they could be BOG in the 2's for the next month and not have any chance of playing 1's while we're crying out for midfield options.

 

[RandB]

Evans soaked up an upgrade at the expense of Magner, its time for him to produce something.

 

[Tulip]

Why do we 'need' Magner. He's not very good.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Why do we 'need' Magner. He's not very good.

No, he's not - but he can be a 'competitive' AFL player.

He'll run both ways, tackle hard... and butcher the ball.

Bring him in for Toumpas and Matt Jones can go out to the wing.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Evans soaked up an upgrade at the expense of Magner, its time for him to produce something.

Needs to be given the opportunity first though.

 

[IanW]

Trade Jamar and our second round pick to GWS for one of their mids coming out of their initial 2 year contract. They'll need an older ruck when Brogan retires?

While I agree thats a good plan, all the good GWS mids got extended during their initial 2 year contract.

The probable target would be someone like Anthony Miles, who isnt getting a regular game.

Here is the GWS Current Contracts thread, so you can see who might be sharked.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/current-contract-status.943607/

 

[g-thing]

While I agree thats a good plan, all the good GWS mids got extended during their initial 2 year contract.

The probable target would be someone like Anthony Miles, who isnt getting a regular game.

Here is the GWS Current Contracts thread, so you can see who might be sharked.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/current-contract-status.943607/

How about Anthony Miles? Good skills, hard at the ball - might be a nice fit.

 

[IanW]

How about Anthony Miles? Good skills, hard at the ball - might be a nice fit.

My guess is you could get Miles for a slab of coke and a packet of chips - something like trade of Miles, a GWS 3rd round and a GWS 4th round for a Melbourne 2nd round pick. What he gets out of it is a better chance at regular first team footy, which is why personal terms shouldnt be an issue.

 

[Cannon82]

My guess is you could get Miles for a slab of coke and a packet of chips - something like trade of Miles, a GWS 3rd round and a GWS 4th round for a Melbourne 2nd round pick. What he gets out of it is a better chance at regular first team footy, which is why personal terms shouldnt be an issue.

As if we've got a case of coke lying around waiting to be traded...

 

[ponsdale]

As if we've got a case of coke lying around waiting to be traded...

I think the case of coke would be crazy to not want to be traded

 

[Crusty Demon]

Why is everyone hell bent on getting GWS mids? There are 16 other clubs out there who have mids we can target. What about Prestia or Horsley from GC? Or the never ending supply of young Kanga's midfielders?

I'm happy and agree we need midfielders, but like I've said in other posts, we have plenty of midfielders on our list when you have a look. They simply just aren't good enough. We need to develop the one's we have and throw everything at 1 or 2 star players. If not stars, the midfielders who will improve our list, not keep it status quo. Nearly every club has a go to star in the midfield to lift them when needed. We don't. We have a war chest right? Well, let's target someone like Ryan Griffen, or Patrick Dangerfield. Why not? Surely we can throw a rediculous amount of money at these guys to get them to play for us! $1.2 mil? If that's what it takes. Who can refuse that money? Crazy? Maybe a little, but we need a star in the middle who can show the way.

If Freo can afford over a million bucks for Cloke or Franklin, then surely we can afford $1.2mil to get a star midfielder to come play for us. Get rid of Brian Royal, and fast track the development of Viney, Toumpas, Barry, Kent, Taggert, Jones, Trengove, Tappscott and Blease.

 

[Beats]

We have a war chest right? Well, let's target someone like Ryan Griffen, or Patrick Dangerfield. Why not? Surely we can throw a rediculous amount of money at these guys to get them to play for us! $1.2 mil? If that's what it takes. Who can refuse that money? Crazy? Maybe a little, but we need a star in the middle who can show the way.

Pretty sure we spent the war chest on Chris Dawes. Neeld's quote at the time was (paraphrasing) 'you have to spend overs to get someone to move clubs'.

That being said there are quite a few payers being over-payed (because we have to spend a min 92.5% of the 9.15 million dollar cap) - Davey and Sylvia are both upwards of 500k per year. It's likely that we may lose some players that we ask to take pay cuts but that would just free up more cash.

Someone like a Rockliff from the Lions would be a good target.

 

[The Dr]

Pretty sure we spent the war chest on Chris Dawes. Neeld's quote at the time was (paraphrasing) 'you have to spend overs to get someone to move clubs'.

That being said there are quite a few payers being over-payed (because we have to spend a min 92.5% of the 9.15 million dollar cap) - Davey and Sylvia are both upwards of 500k per year. It's likely that we may lose some players that we ask to take pay cuts but that would just free up more cash.

Someone like a Rockliff from the Lions would be a good target.

Would love Rocky at the club. In hindsight, what a mistake it was not picking him in the preseason draft when he trained with us after missing out on being selected in the national draft that year.

 

[CTHORANGE]

Would love Rocky at the club. In hindsight, what a mistake it was not picking him in the preseason draft when he trained with us after missing out on being selected in the national draft that year.

That happened?

 

[LouisCK]

We haven't had a genuine star midfielder since Todd Viney really. James McDonald the closest.

That is bonkers.

 

[Beats]

Would love Rocky at the club. In hindsight, what a mistake it was not picking him in the preseason draft when he trained with us after missing out on being selected in the national draft that year.

We took Jurrah ahead of him, if it wasn't for the off field issues I'd pick Jurrah ahead of him again. The people we selected in the ND ahead of him however...

 

[The Dr]

Yeah, can't blame the club for picking Jurrah at all. Just a pity that we couldn't find a spot for Rocky, especially after he had such a great TAC Cup year, so was hardly a risky prospect. Lions got a beauty at a bargain price

 

[IanW]

? Surely we can throw a rediculous amount of money at these guys to get them to play for us! $1.2 mil? If that's what it takes. Who can refuse that money? Crazy? Maybe a little, but we need a star in the middle who can show the way.

You'd be surprised. Most clubs dont like their 22-24 year old potential stars going to other clubs, and tend to offer them very nice money to stay.

Why the heck do you think we needed to offer so much for Scully ?

 

[DCS OO7]

Pederson came with good wraps in this regard, having worked his way onto an AFL list.

I am pretty sure we traded Pederson because he didn't follow the coaches directions and just did his own thing without listening. Could be wrong though, but from memory he was not a good at following directions.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

We haven't had a genuine star midfielder since Todd Viney really. James McDonald the closest.

That is bonkers.

Brock.

 

[RandB]

Needs to be given the opportunity first though.

Needs to earn it then.

 

[Sanders]

We haven't had a genuine star midfielder since Todd Viney really. James McDonald the closest.

That is bonkers.

Very generous to Todd to call him a genuine star midfielder

 

[RandB]

Very generous to Todd to call him a genuine star midfielder

Ill give you the benefit of the doubt that you just have nfi.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Needs to earn it then.

True, but he had a good game on the weekend playing through the middle/wing area. Would probably give us more at the minute than a Toumpas, that's for sure.