The league's best midfield?

[the distributer]

Hawks

Bailey/Renouf are no match for Jolly
Mitchell id rather have Pendles
Hodge call it even with Swan
Sewell = L.Ball
Burgoyne is miles off Thomas
Rioli is yet to produce the football Didak has
Shiels (good kid) but give me Sidebottom
Lewis even with Beams
Savage id rather Wellingham
Bateman id happily play B.Johnson in the same role



Pinch Hitters
Suckling - is a HB, may as well include a bloke like L.Davis
Ladson.....finished
Birchall - is a key link down back.....why not add in H.Obrien or H.Shaw??
Whitecross.....pahlease, id much rather a bloke like Krakeour as a pinch hitter

Currently in the 2's
Ellis.....is sh1t, funny you blokes could have had Pendles with his pick!
Young....Lonie mark 3, the softest of soft but a good kick....will fade away into nothing soon
Smith...deary me a 2 gamer is now part of the equation....Fasolo will be a star!!

Collingwood with a leg in the air in the midfield.

Have to say Cyril's ahead of Didak in 2011 (but then again most are), Hawks midfield is ordinary, no buddy no hawthorn.

 

[tige19]

Like I've said many times before Collingwood arent my biggest concer, do not scare me at all. My biggest concern is and always has been Geelong, once we get past the fact that we can indeed beat them then I will be happy! It may not happen but I feel as though we have the list it's just upstairs we need to get right.

Collingwood are a bunch of vbery good footballers playing under a master brain of the league, MM has been at the forefront of the game for years now. If he was coaching Hawthorn we wouldnt lose a game!!

 

[the distributer]

Like I've said many times before Collingwood arent my biggest concer, do not scare me at all. My biggest concern is and always has been Geelong, once we get past the fact that we can indeed beat them then I will be happy! It may not happen but I feel as though we have the list it's just upstairs we need to get right.

Collingwood are a bunch of vbery good footballers playing under a master brain of the league, MM has been at the forefront of the game for years now. If he was coaching Hawthorn we wouldnt lose a game!!

True, we're ordinary, we only have 3 top 10 players on our list and probably 8 top 50 players, got me ****ed why we havn't started tanking yet, the thought of playing hawthorn scares the crap out of me, scares everyone TBH, i realise they havnt won a final for 2 years but that's not the point.

 

[WatWouldCyrilDo]

True, we're ordinary, we only have 3 top 10 players on our list and probably 8 top 50 players, got me ****ed why we havn't started tanking yet, the thought of playing hawthorn scares the crap out of me, scares everyone TBH, i realise they havnt won a final for 2 years but that's not the point.

Who exactly are these 8 top 50 players?

At a stretch I've got Swan, Pendles, Thomas, Shaw and maybe Jolly.

Oh and you don't have 3 top 10. If you're including thomas as top 10 then your ranking would be based on 2011 form and swan hasnt been top 10 based solely on 2011. Can't have it both ways.

 

[the distributer]

Who exactly are these 8 top 50 players?

At a stretch I've got Swan, Pendles, Thomas, Shaw and maybe Jolly.

Oh and you don't have 3 top 10. If you're including thomas as top 10 then your ranking would be based on 2011 form and swan hasnt been top 10 based solely on 2011. Can't have it both ways.

HarryO, Reid, thomas, jolly, shaw, pendles, cloke, swan, krak.

Swans still been very good on 2011 form, has been overall better than ablett, most would slot ablett into their top 10. (Swan 31 disposals at 1.3 goals per game with 6.6 clearances)

 

[Faz 2000]

HarryO, Reid, thomas, jolly, shaw, pendles, cloke, swan, krak.

Hahaha. Stop it. You made me snort rice bubbles on my keyboard.

 

[WatWouldCyrilDo]

HarryO, Reid, thomas, jolly, shaw, pendles, cloke, swan, krak.

Swans still been very good on 2011 form, has been overall better than ablett, most would slot ablett into their top 10. (Swan 31 disposals at 1.3 goals per game with 6.6 clearances)

You are wrong.

 

[the distributer]

You are wrong.

If the season was to end now reid would make the AA squad, harryO would make the AA team on reputation, clokes a contested marking monster who covers a huge amount of ground and is going at 2.2 goals per game (possibly having his best season), not top 50 you say? lol, Krak may not have the stats but has a highlights real no one else can boast in 2011, very important player who conjures goals out of thin air, borderline top 50 granted but will slot in comfortably come seasons end IMO (injury permitting).

Then we have Didak, in full flight has been a top 10/15 player, is slowly gaining fitness and last week was a step in the right direction, averaged 25 disposals last year and kicked 40 goals, those stats are rare.

 

[Faz 2000]

harryO would make the AA team on reputation

Oh he would not. He's a fine player, a premiership player, but he's not playing anything like an all-Australian defender right now.

Some highlights:

Run and bounces per game: ranked 6th in league
Rebound 50s: ranked 53rd in league
1%ers: ranked 111th in league
Self-promotion and inane unsolicited opinions: ranked 1st in league

OK, so he's top 10 in a few things, but really... good player, in a great team does not equal great player.

 

[tige19]

If the season was to end now reid would make the AA squad, harryO would make the AA team on reputation, clokes a contested marking monster who covers a huge amount of ground and is going at 2.2 goals per game (possibly having his best season), not top 50 you say? lol, Krak may not have the stats but has a highlights real no one else can boast in 2011, very important player who conjures goals out of thin air, borderline top 50 granted but will slot in comfortably come seasons end IMO (injury permitting).

Then we have Didak, in full flight has been a top 10/15 player, is slowly gaining fitness and last week was a step in the right direction, averaged 25 disposals last year and kicked 40 goals, those stats are rare.

You're sounding very silly.

 

[E Shed]

Other than that we don't have many probable guns in the midfield.

Masten i think will eventually get it together and be a b+ player
Sheppard could end up elite but i think again he will be a b-b+ player
Swift could be elite, But will probably end up de-listed.
S Selwood will again be a solid contributor but not elite b-b+
Kobe Stevens again the same.
Rosa again solid but nothing special
Ebert im losing faith of him turning into too much at all

The bolded line is pretty funny when you take it in isolation. I mean humorous, not in a sarcastic way.
I know you are talking about the future here but if you insert Kerr, Priddis, and then your rucks of Naitanui (who is a clearance machine) and Cox it starts to look pretty imposing. Certainly getting the job done thus far.

 

[the distributer]

Oh he would not. He's a fine player, a premiership player, but he's not playing anything like an all-Australian defender right now.

Some highlights:

Run and bounces per game: ranked 6th in league
Rebound 50s: ranked 53rd in league
1%ers: ranked 111th in league
Self-promotion and inane unsolicited opinions: ranked 1st in league

OK, so he's top 10 in a few things, but really... good player, in a great team does not equal great player.

Was AA last year, stats don't tell you about tackles broken (which IMO he's the best in the business), one of the best one on one players in the game (when the ball hits the deck) and can play small or tall, very versatile, isn't a great key defender granted but he doesn't have to be.

 

[WatWouldCyrilDo]

If the season was to end now reid would make the AA squad, harryO would make the AA team on reputation, clokes a contested marking monster who covers a huge amount of ground and is going at 2.2 goals per game (possibly having his best season), not top 50 you say? lol, Krak may not have the stats but has a highlights real no one else can boast in 2011, very important player who conjures goals out of thin air, borderline top 50 granted but will slot in comfortably come seasons end IMO (injury permitting).

Then we have Didak, in full flight has been a top 10/15 player, is slowly gaining fitness and last week was a step in the right direction, averaged 25 disposals last year and kicked 40 goals, those stats are rare.

Exactly why people dislike the Collywobbles... their supporters talk so much shit.

 

[the distributer]

Exactly why people dislike the Collywobbles... their supporters talk so much shit.

We have the team to back up our shit talking, you don't!!, we'll never gain respect from nuffies like you, you hate us, i can feel your pain.

 

[Slattery_20]

Who exactly are these 8 top 50 players?

At a stretch I've got Swan, Pendles, Thomas, Shaw and maybe Jolly.

Oh and you don't have 3 top 10. If you're including thomas as top 10 then your ranking would be based on 2011 form and swan hasnt been top 10 based solely on 2011. Can't have it both ways.

First 4 alone. Jolly's only played about 5.
Reid's not been that great, easily 5 or 6 (more like 8 or 10) tall backs have been better; Harry O "in on reputation" well that just says it all... in itself an admission that he doesn't deserve it.

Real easy to start a new username straight after your side wins the flag and talk shit. Tipping this one will disappear when the Pies drop off. Definition of nuffie.

 

[Faz 2000]

We have the team to back up our shit talking, you don't!!, we'll never gain respect from nuffies like you, you hate us, i can feel your pain.

You do have the team, but that doesn't make every individual in it great.

The Pies midfield is the best in the league, in my opinion. But it's the best because it's got top-end talent (Pendles, Swan and Thomas) PLUS incredible depth of good players to rotate through.

Suggesting Krakouer (for instance) is a top 50 player in the league and a reason for the Pies having the best midfield is RIDICULOUS. He's is 100% an icing-on-the-cake player. He would be (and was) a truly average player at a weak team.

Suggesting Harry O is an all-Australian this year when it's SO easy to list 6 (or 20) defenders having better seasons than him is also ridiculous.

You're right, you have the best team. You have the best 22, the best 18 and probably the best list overall. But it doesn't mean every member of it is better than everyone from other teams.

On the midfields, I think it's something like:

1. Pies - class and depth
2. Cats - hardness and class, fraction less depth than Pies
3. Blues - great 1-2 punch and lots of supporting role-players
4. Hawks - on its day as good as anyone, but some very hit or miss players (Burgoyne, Lewis, Bateman).

 

[WatWouldCyrilDo]

We have the team to back up our shit talking, you don't!!, we'll never gain respect from nuffies like you, you hate us, i can feel your pain.

As it stands you're currently 2nd on the ladder having been comprehensively smashed by Geelong everywhere but the scoreboard.

Why would we hate you? You're our bitches. Easy 4 point bunnies.

 

[WatWouldCyrilDo]

3. Blues - great 1-2 punch and lots of supporting role-players
4. Hawks - on its day as good as anyone, but some very hit or miss players (Burgoyne, Lewis, Bateman).

Isn't your hit or miss comment more relevant to the blues? Our depth is a lot more consistent than yours.

 

[Slattery_20]

I'd say Blues "1-2" are doing more share of the work than most clubs. Don't think there's much splitting Hawks & Blues

 

[Faz 2000]

Isn't your hit or miss comment more relevant to the blues? Our depth is a lot more consistent than yours.

*Shrug*. Take your pick. I don't think Carlton is necessarily a better team than Hawthorn - but I think our midfield *might* beat yours on current form. But we don't exactly have Buddy and Roughy up forward .

A guy like Lewis is really hard to figure out (to me, anyway). His best is glorious. He gets 35 touches, lots of nice delivery inside 50, etc. Then he plays these 12 touch stinkers where he looks slow and lazy. You know what Mitchell will bring, and you know Hodge will bring it wherever he plays. Sewell is honest, but his impact varies.

I think the Blues have obviously the 1-2 punch of Judd and Murphy who are just flying right now. The Curnows, Carrazzos, Ellards, Robinsons are providing really good pressure and clearance work, despite having pretty average skills, and Simpson and Scotland do a lot of good work outside. Gibbs is doing different jobs, but overall I'd say our support cast is strong. The Blues' ruck division is definitely superior.

Yeh, look, I think the Hawk's BEST is probably better. Burgoyne can be a matchwinner (but hasn't been). Lewis can be a BOG player (but often is nowhere near it). I could flip those two #3 and #4 and still think it's about right.

 

[the distributer]

You do have the team, but that doesn't make every individual in it great.

The Pies midfield is the best in the league, in my opinion. But it's the best because it's got top-end talent (Pendles, Swan and Thomas) PLUS incredible depth of good players to rotate through.

Suggesting Krakouer (for instance) is a top 50 player in the league and a reason for the Pies having the best midfield is RIDICULOUS. He's is 100% an icing-on-the-cake player. He would be (and was) a truly average player at a weak team.

Suggesting Harry O is an all-Australian this year when it's SO easy to list 6 (or 20) defenders having better seasons than him is also ridiculous.

You're right, you have the best team. You have the best 22, the best 18 and probably the best list overall. But it doesn't mean every member of it is better than everyone from other teams.

On the midfields, I think it's something like:

1. Pies - class and depth
2. Cats - hardness and class, fraction less depth than Pies
3. Blues - great 1-2 punch and lots of supporting role-players
4. Hawks - on its day as good as anyone, but some very hit or miss players (Burgoyne, Lewis, Bateman).

The cats had 8 top 22 players in 08 IIRC (based on AA honours), and you're saying it's ridiculous for me to say we have 8 top 50 players?, please.

 

[Faz 2000]

The cats had 8 top 22 players in 08 IIRC (based on AA honours), and you're saying it's ridiculous for me to say we have 8 top 50 players?, please.

That's what I'm saying.

I thought there were 2-3 Geelong players out of those 8 who were in no way the best in their position that year for that matter.

Players in premiership teams get over-rated as individuals. Fact.

That's not taking away from someone being in a premiership team, which is great and can never be taken away - but it does NOT mean they're the best in their given position.

 

[the distributer]

That's what I'm saying.

I thought there were 2-3 Geelong players out of those 8 who were in no way the best in their position that year for that matter.

Players in premiership teams get over-rated as individuals. Fact.

That's not taking away from someone being in a premiership team, which is great and can never be taken away - but it does NOT mean they're the best in their given position.

I know being an AA player doesn't mean you're a top 22 player FWIW.

 

[Slattery_20]

The cats had 8 top 22 players in 08 IIRC (based on AA honours), and you're saying it's ridiculous for me to say we have 8 top 50 players?, please.

Based on that logic? Yes, it is ridiculous.
Cats 07-09 were a better side than Pies last year, let alone Pies this year.

Some of us crazy old flogs like to actually look at form when trying to appraise who's been the best. If all you've got is "we've got the flag and Geelong had X players so we should too" then you're pretty much a cartoon nuffie.

Harry O's not what he was last year (daresay that will go down as his "career year"). Ditto Didak, Jolly, Maxwell, Macaffer... all have been down.

 

[WatWouldCyrilDo]

I think the Blues have obviously the 1-2 punch of Judd and Murphy who are just flying right now. The Curnows, Carrazzos, Ellards, Robinsons are providing really good pressure and clearance work, despite having pretty average skills, and Simpson and Scotland do a lot of good work outside. Gibbs is doing different jobs, but overall I'd say our support cast is strong. The Blues' ruck division is definitely superior.

Take out the top 2 from each team.

Hawthorn
Sewell
Burgoyne
Lewis
Cyril
Bateman
Sheils
Savage
Young

Carlton
Gibbs
Curnow
Carazzo
Simpson
Scotland
Ellard
Robinson

Without sounding bias I'd think Hawthorn would take the chocolates on this occasion.

Really hoping Bailey can make something of himself because your rucks are clearly better.