Our horrific midfield, and recruiting decisions

[Captain Jack]

A very good question... I understand what Neeld did last year in terms of filling roles in the team with experienced players (not that they seem to play roles, but anyway), but our target this year has to be finding midfielders who can kick and more importantly learn a structure. I think that should be not so much 18-yo kids who will take a few years, because we have plenty of them, but rather through FA and also the state leagues.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Quintessential Melbourne fan posting above. We are only 2 games in to the season but we're already talking about recruiting for next season. Doesn't get much better than that.

 

[Captain Jack]

Quintessential Melbourne fan posting above. We are only 2 games in to the season but we're already talking about recruiting for next season. Doesn't get much better than that.

Round 2 is a record, even for us.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Round 2 is a record, even for us.

Not so sure about that. I believe the same stuff was going on here 2 rounds in to the 2008 season after we got smashed by Hawthorn and the Dogs, although admittedly many of you weren't here for that and the activity on the board wasn't as high.

 

[SuburbanMe]

Anyone care to chime in on what they think we would need to do to lure Karmichael hunt to our club? He's EXACTLY the player we need. Attitude, work ethic and skill - with Jack Viney, Nathan Jones and Karmichael Hunt in our Midfield... WOW!

To any GC supporters that may read this - don't get all uptight about the suggestion - this is clearly hypothetical.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Quintessential Melbourne fan posting above. We are only 2 games in to the season but we're already talking about recruiting for next season. Doesn't get much better than that.

Mate, if I can't think of ways we can get out this situation I don't think I'd make it through the season!

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Step one should be be to keep Neeld out of recruiting if he keeps his job.

 

[master bate]

Step one should be be to keep Neeld out of recruiting if he keeps his job.

Yes and no I say to that. Neeld needs to have players capable of the attributes he wants. Then again as coach it should be his job to mold whatever talent he gets into talent that he needs. Obviously he can't make small players big or slow players fast.

So I agree he shouldn't have an active role in recruiting. But he needs to be involved in list management as it is his list. I certainly don't blame him too much for his list management at the end of last year. I would of kept Petterd instead of someone like a Joel Macdonald but I see his reasoning.

 

[Tulip]

Step one should be be to keep Neeld out of recruiting if he keeps his job.

A coach who made the kind of changes that Neeld made probably shouldn't be a senior coach. The coach needs to be able to identify talent and recruit them to play a role in the side. You ca recruit all the soft outside runners and below average talls you want, but without a midfield you're going nowhere.

 

[00Stinger]

Viney was never regarded as a truly elite mid in his day, and I'd be surprised if you recall differently. Not sure he was ever up for AA or anything like that


No point going back over and over, its just a game of opinions in the end.

he was an AA and finished 5th in the brownlow one year

 

[master bate]

MIDFIELDER, current level, performance
Jones - B+ playing at level
Trengove - B grader just starting season
McKenzie - C+ can be effective but injury intterupted preparation
Viney - C+ playing at great level for kid
Rodan - C grade, played one average game, too early to tell
Matt Jones C grade, playing respectable football
Toumpas - D, d for development needs time in the 2's
Evans, Magner - Both performing in 2's and
Couch - performing in 2's but yet to show he can bridge the gap

Blease, Sylvia, Byrnes, Howe, Tapscott, Bail, Kent are all forwards either incapable in ability or physically incapable of playing midfield at this stage. There is hope for Kent and Blease but they are a way off.
Grimes and Nicholson are defenders.

Viney is battling away doing a great job. Jones is our one consistent performer through 2 matches. It's time for Trengove, McKenzie and Rodan to fight like crazy and actually play anywhere near their best footy. If that happens we might actually be competitive with whatever combination of inexperience and non midfield types we run through the line up.

With our spine in respectable shape we almost need to go midfielder at every pick of the next draft. And to avoid pain we could benefit from a trade if the player is right or looking at mature prospects with potential left in them. However our top picks we have to find an A grade mid. Scully, Gysberts, Morton all gone and Trengove battling.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Round 2 is a record, even for us.

A proud achievement indeed!

But if it can be dreamed, it can be done... and other such cheesy inspirational cliches used on Colin Sylvia with bugger-all effect

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

A coach who made the kind of changes that Neeld made probably shouldn't be a senior coach. The coach needs to be able to identify talent and recruit them to play a role in the side. You ca recruit all the soft outside runners and below average talls you want, but without a midfield you're going nowhere.

I'll just say this - you know how everyone's lauding Richmonds recruiting of Houli and Grigg?

It's taken them time before they started performing at a good level.

In their first years many people were saying how shit those trades were.

 

[Tulip]

I'll just say this - you know how everyone's lauding Richmonds recruiting of Houli and Grigg?

It's taken them time before they started performing at a good level.

In their first years many people were saying how shit those trades were.

Houli and Grigg were, what, 24?

As opposed to Byrnes and Rodan and Pedersen being 27-29 and having 0 improvement left?

Dawes is the one I still have hope for.

 

[Captain Jack]

Pedersen is 23 or so...

 

[Tulip]

Pedersen is 23 or so...

26

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Houli and Grigg were, what, 24?

As opposed to Byrnes and Rodan and Pedersen being 27-29 and having 0 improvement left?

Dawes is the one I still have hope for.

Byrnes and Rodan, sure.

Dawes and Pedersen are the ones that I think have possible value.

Ped's had a poor start, but he's shown he can have an impact at AFL level.

We need mature mids, Neeld has brought in KPP after KPP.

Clark, Dawes, Sellar, Gillies, Pedersen.

That's the one frustration I have.

 

[The Dr]

Anyone care to chime in on what they think we would need to do to lure Karmichael hunt to our club? He's EXACTLY the player we need. Attitude, work ethic and skill - with Jack Viney, Nathan Jones and Karmichael Hunt in our Midfield... WOW!

To any GC supporters that may read this - don't get all uptight about the suggestion - this is clearly hypothetical.

Hunt gets an ambassadorial wage from the AFL I think.... meaning he wouldn't leave the Suns to play for much less at MFC. Would love him at the club though

 

[Tulip]

Byrnes and Rodan, sure.

Dawes and Pedersen are the ones that I think have possible value.

Ped's had a poor start, but he's shown he can have an impact at AFL level.

We need mature mids, Neeld has brought in KPP after KPP.

Clark, Dawes, Sellar, Gillies, Pedersen.

That's the one frustration I have.

Hence why I said that you can recruit all the players you want, but if you don't address a need they'll do nothing for you.

Neeld had the right idea, but the wrong execution.

The above actually goes for his whole coaching career...

 

[SuburbanMe]

Hunt gets an ambassadorial wage from the AFL I think.... meaning he wouldn't leave the Suns to play for much less at MFC. Would love him at the club though

Ahh true! I forgot about that. Funny how he has so quickly become an intrenched AFL player. I guess that happens when your mentor is someone like Gary Ablett.

 

[Cannon82]

If you want to go back to the Viney era Tingay was briefly a star making all aussie in his second year off a wing.

Quality player, loved it when he had the pill.

 

[bing181]

Houli and Grigg were, what, 24?

As opposed to Byrnes and Rodan and Pedersen being 27-29 and having 0 improvement left?

As opposed to the 10 or so other players we took who are all under 22 (give or take a year ...).

 

[Cannon82]

Are we?

Gysberts has now had 6 months at North. Different coach. Different regime. Different team mates.

Playing in the VFL.

Took Carlton about 18 months to unf**k Brock McLean from his Demons education. He played some pretty good games last season.

 

[Tulip]

As opposed to the 10 or so other players we took who are all under 22 (give or take a year ...).

Hogan, Toumpas, Viney, Kent, Clisby, Stark?

 

[Cannon82]

Houli and Grigg were, what, 24?

As opposed to Byrnes and Rodan and Pedersen being 27-29 and having 0 improvement left?

Dawes is the one I still have hope for.

Houli would be terrible for us. If people think Jack Watts is soft, this guy blows him out of the water. I remember a game last year where he had the ball in the back pocket and got a bit flustered and fairly well sat down on the ground and waited to be pinged for holding the ball. I wish it was on YouTube, it was hilarious.