Who has the Worst Midfield in the AFL?

[MR]

Martin isn't an A grade midfielder yet.

I believe he is an A- Grade midfielder.

A- Grade would be the top 30 midfielders in the competition, which I see him being in.

You are entitled to your opinion as I am. However, I am interested to know what you define as an A- Grade midfielder.

 

[Flawed Genius]

and you wonder why North supporters have the reputation they do

I don't wonder anything. It's well earnt for mine.

 

[magnus34]

Funny, I don't rate Zaha or Ziebel. From the little we see of them over here, should be serviceable players I guess

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Don't know how you can make this claim this after you chased Caddy hard last year.

we chased Caddy so hard because we didn't think a jet like Kavanagh would be available at 19

 

[TheOldXav]

Essendon for mine.

If Essendon & Richmond midfielders were on the open market, I'd take Martin & Cotchin over Watson 10 / 10. Most neutrals would too.

 

[Black Diamond]

North and Port seemed to deliver the most disappointing performances last year.

Port disappointed you when they beat you?

 

[Trav 20]

I believe he is an A- Grade midfielder.

A- Grade would be the top 30 midfielders in the competition, which I see him being in.

You are entitled to your opinion as I am. However, I am interested to know what you define as an A- Grade midfielder.

Martin did a lot of his damage in the forward-line. He didn't have the endurance last year to cover the ground and have the repeat efforts of true A grade mids. Moloney had a better year as a mid than Martin. Moloney and Jamar's combination as ruck and clearance specialist was number 1 in the league and I don't consider Moloney an A grade mid. We don't have an A grade mid.

There are not 30 A grade midfielders in the competition. There's not 20 either.

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

Port Adelaide. I do like Boak and Hartlett a lot, while Cassisi always gives his all, but most of the others are serial under-performers.

 

[King_Tredrea]

Port disappointed you when they beat you?

i think that game was the first time we have been underdogs against richmond since '97. lol.

 

[TheOldXav]

There are not 30 A grade midfielders in the competition. There's not 20 either.

I'd have Watson as being closer to 'A Grade' status than Martin right now (neither are) but it's only a matter of time before Martin goes above and beyond Watson. When I think of Martin, I think of Joel Selwood and Scott Pendlebury early days. He already is the best midfielder for his age, time will allow him to become one of the best midfielders in the AFL.

 

[nickh32]

Again Swallow and Wells are the proven top end talent that made AA squad V zero from Essendon. Ziebell has shown more than any of the kids you have listed - even after 2 broken legs.

Heppell plays on the HBF - this is a midfield debate.

Also Essendon do not have a Goldstein to support the midfield.

End of the day we had Swallow and Wells win our B&F - Essendon had Zaka and Stanton finish 1 and 2. Even the most bias Essendon supporter understands the 2 Essendon mids are no where near the Roos.

Wells has had one good year. Ziebull has played a few good games. Dosnt make him a star. I wasn't saying essendon's midfield is better than yours. I was pointing out that you can't claim to have a better midfield based on the ability to be good which is what you did. So using your logic I was saying essendon had a good midfield based on all out players ability to be good.

 

[speedy]

IMO North have a worse midfield then those three. Just my opinion though, not sure if any one else agrees.

North had one of the more inexperienced midfields in 2011 yet finished high up in contested possessions, clearances and inside 50's. It all bodes well for
a ripping midfield in a couple of years...Yes?

 

[Trav 20]

I'd have Watson as being closer to 'A Grade' status than Martin right now (neither are) but it's only a matter of time before Martin goes above and beyond Watson. When I think of Martin, I think of Joel Selwood and Scott Pendlebury early days. He already is the best midfielder for his age, time will allow him to become one of the best midfielders in the AFL.

From one Old Xav to another, I agree.

 

[MR]

Martin did a lot of his damage in the forward-line. He didn't have the endurance last year to cover the ground and have the repeat efforts of true A grade mids. Moloney had a better year as a mid than Martin. Moloney and Jamar's combination as ruck and clearance specialist was number 1 in the league and I don't consider Moloney an A grade mid. We don't have an A grade mid.

There are not 30 A grade midfielders in the competition. There's not 20 either.

Martin didn't average 22 disposals a game in the forward line. Martin like most players new to the AFL had second year blues, where his endurance did let him down. Apart from Martin's 5 bad games, you would see him running through the backline and forward line constantly.

I also believe that Moloney is an A- Grader with Jamar playing. We seem to have a difference of opinion on what constitutes an A - Grader. An A- Grader for me is not the highest level, Elite is.

Swan, Ablett and Judd aren't A - Graders, they are elite. Whilst players such as Cotchin, Swallow and Watson are A- Graders.

 

[Trav 20]

Martin didn't average 22 disposals a game in the forward line. Martin like most players new to the AFL had second year blues, where his endurance did let him down. Apart from Martin's 5 bad games, you would see him running through the backline and forward line constantly.

I also believe that Moloney is an A- Grader with Jamar playing. We seem to have a difference of opinion on what constitutes an A - Grader. An A- Grader for me is not the highest level, Elite is.

Swan, Ablett and Judd aren't A - Graders, they are elite. Whilst players such as Cotchin, Swallow and Watson are A- Graders.

There's nothing wrong with your definitions, we just disagree who constitutes A grade. Before last year I would have said that Marc Murphy was not an A grader, but he stepped up in 2011 and elevated himself to that status. That said, a player can have an A grade year without being an A grader. They need to do it year in year out - note I'm not referring to Murphy as he's A grade for mine.

Moloney certainly isn't an A grade midfeilder and nor is Martin - yet.

 

[Tas]

Funny, I don't rate Zaha or Ziebel. From the little we see of them over here, should be serviceable players I guess

Ziebell came off significant injury setbacks, it is like judging Barlow based on just this season. For most of the year he was still doing pre-season level training to build up his fitness, it wasn't ideal for the short-term on-field but he has effectively done three consecutive pre-season programs and he will benefit from it long-term.

In his last 8 games (excluding the Freo game where he got hurt right at the start) he averaged close to 26 disposals, 7 clearances and 6 tackles from 70% game time and 5 of the 8 games were against finalists.

If he continues to develop at the rate he has since his injury setbacks then he is going to make those like Paul Roos who questioned him look like fools. Roos already admitted he was wrong about his early call on Ziebell.

 

[mufassa]

Wells has had one good year. Ziebull has played a few good games. Dosnt make him a star. I wasn't saying essendon's midfield is better than yours. I was pointing out that you can't claim to have a better midfield based on the ability to be good which is what you did. So using your logic I was saying essendon had a good midfield based on all out players ability to be good.

Ok then - currently we have the better midfield based on performances to date. Based on ability - who knows what the future holds. Happy now?

 

[goreds]

we chased Caddy so hard because we didn't think a jet like Kavanagh would be available at 19

A jet???

Watched him play the whole season at PEGS and he is definitely no where near Cotchin who also played for PEGS...

In an uncomprimised draft, he would have been in the 40-50's...

Caddy has 10 lengths on him in relation to everything...

Keep the lid on this kid, firstly he needs to survive a full preseason as he has had terrible hamstring injuries, which I'm sure you are aware of...

He is being eased in as we speak...!

 

[exile]

I'm not sure how Essendon can beat the Gold Coast Suns by well over 100pts yet they have a superior midfield to ours.

Yes they have Ablett, I guess that must be it.

clearly

 

[Valli]

Us. Boak is alone out there sometimes.

Maybe more time in the middle for Hartlett and Gray will change that.

 

[MR]

There's nothing wrong with your definitions, we just disagree who constitutes A grade. Before last year I would have said that Marc Murphy was not an A grader, but he stepped up in 2011 and elevated himself to that status. That said, a player can have an A grade year without being an A grader. They need to do it year in year out - note I'm not referring to Murphy as he's A grade for mine.

Moloney certainly isn't an A grade midfeilder and nor is Martin - yet.

Fair enough.

I will change my previous comment.

I believe that Martin had an A- Grade year.

 

[HurleyTheFuture]

A jet???

Watched him play the whole season at PEGS and he is definitely no where near Cotchin who also played for PEGS...

In an uncomprimised draft, he would have been in the 40-50's...

Caddy has 10 lengths on him in relation to everything...

Keep the lid on this kid, firstly he needs to survive a full preseason as he has had terrible hamstring injuries, which I'm sure you are aware of...

He is being eased in as we speak...!

At the start of the year most had him in the top 10 or top 5, even a lot of the respected mock drafts had him in the top 10 or 15, hes obviously no where near where Cotchin was because hes not a number 2 draft pick

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

Beside the two new expansion clubs it's Port Adelaide by a mile. Scary thing is, you can't see where the improvements coming from either. Going to be a long decade for Port supporters if things don't change quickly.

 

[GreatBradScott]

Wells has had one good year. Ziebull has played a few good games. Dosnt make him a star. I wasn't saying essendon's midfield is better than yours. I was pointing out that you can't claim to have a better midfield based on the ability to be good which is what you did. So using your logic I was saying essendon had a good midfield based on all out players ability to be good.

Wells in 2011 > Your team's midfield since 2007.

Essendon's issue = Work out Midfield: One-paced, predictable, inconsistent, needs depth and time to establish roles. However, forward and defensive KPP's will be elite in 2 years.
North's issue= Work out Forward and Defensive KPP's: One-paced, predictable, inconsistent, needs depth and time to establish roles. However, midfield will be elite in 2 years.

 

[Trav 20]

Fair enough.

I will change my previous comment.

I believe that Martin had an A- Grade year.

Possibly, but not as a mid, imo.