One-Eyed Richmond Forum

Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on January 05, 2010, 06:38:47 AM

Title: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: one-eyed on January 05, 2010, 06:38:47 AM
With some many changes to our list who do you folks think is our best midfielder now and why?
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Infamy on January 05, 2010, 06:57:33 AM
Brett Deledio - Because he is by a clear margin. Elite speed, clean disposal, brilliant mark, now works both ways after Wallace's departure. He will get more support in 2010 so should step up another level again.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Penelope on January 05, 2010, 09:00:16 AM
The only thing I would add to that, Infamy, is that he wins contested possessions. Since Rawlings made him confront his weaknesses rather than hiding him in the forward line, he has the makings of one of the elite footballers of the comp.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Beren on January 05, 2010, 10:56:08 AM
Brett Deledio - Because he is by a clear margin. Elite speed, clean disposal, brilliant mark, now works both ways after Wallace's departure. He will get more support in 2010 so should step up another level again.

Should being the operative word.
I'm yet to be convinced, I'm hoping a new coach will find the right button/s to push with Lids.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Infamy on January 05, 2010, 01:00:43 PM
Brett Deledio - Because he is by a clear margin. Elite speed, clean disposal, brilliant mark, now works both ways after Wallace's departure. He will get more support in 2010 so should step up another level again.

Should being the operative word.
I'm yet to be convinced, I'm hoping a new coach will find the right button/s to push with Lids.
Yet to be convinced? The kid is the one true elite player we have at the club (other than Cousins who is an import). Its a team game, he can't do it all by himself.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Stripes on January 05, 2010, 03:10:23 PM
I agree Lids is our best midfielder but TW did his development no favours by trying to move him away from a tagger rather than learning how to beat one. I think the reason for this is now more clear - Wallace wanted immediate success so was not prepared to wait for Lids to learn and Wallace did not understand the idea that good players need support and protection around them. Judd and Cousins always stood out individually because the other West Coast midfielders would block for them. Lids needs support and education. He is not a champion yet and will only become one when he forgets about being better than everyone else and starts just fighting to help his team to become successful. TW breed a team of individuals which is why none of players appear to have developed as much as they should have. Only when whole teams rise together do they lift the stars up above them.

I think Cotchin has more potential than Lids and perhaps Martin as well but Lids definitely has more runs on the board at the moment. Foley is quickly forgotten too after one injury plagued year. Before he was injured, before the State of Origin game, Foley was one of the best midfielders in the AFL so given time he may yet rise above, or at least be challege, Lids for the title.

I also hope some of Collins, Connors, White, Hislop, Thompson and any of our new midfielder recruits lift to challenge Lids and co, or at least give them the much needed support they need, and become quality midfielders in their own right.

Stripes

Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Beren on January 05, 2010, 04:52:28 PM
He is not a champion yet and will only become one when he forgets about being better than everyone else and starts just fighting to help his team to become successful. TW breed a team of individuals which is why none of players appear to have developed as much as they should have. Only when whole teams rise together do they lift the stars up above them.

My thought too.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: dogged on January 05, 2010, 05:31:25 PM
I love how people talk on the internet like they know how these players think, How well do you know lids stripes?  I just can't believe how you can say Martin has more potential or even Cotch.  Please do not reply saying that I do not rate Cotch , that just isn't the case . Please look at  what they have achieved not what so called experts say. Do some research compare lids last two years with most of the other onballers in the league ,who most are much older or compare them at the same age , you might get a surprise.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Mr Magic on January 05, 2010, 05:59:43 PM
Lids.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: mat073 on January 05, 2010, 06:20:16 PM
I would think that a fit Ben Cousins would still give Deledio a run for his money.

He only played 15 games and still finished 5th in the B&F.

Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Infamy on January 05, 2010, 06:29:40 PM
I would think that a fit Ben Cousins would still give Deledio a run for his money.
He won't play as much midfield, more high half forward
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: WilliamPowell on January 05, 2010, 08:34:23 PM
Lids - by a fair way IMHO

The areas that were for me at least concerns in the past (the defensive side) have improved out markedly in the last 18 months.

I think he will continue to improve

I also think he is also starting to show what a good natural leader he is and what a great leader he may just become and for that I give Cousins a helluva lot of credit
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Stripes on January 05, 2010, 08:59:47 PM
I love how people talk on the internet like they know how these players think, How well do you know lids stripes?  I just can't believe how you can say Martin has more potential or even Cotch.  Please do not reply saying that I do not rate Cotch , that just isn't the case . Please look at  what they have achieved not what so called experts say. Do some research compare lids last two years with most of the other onballers in the league ,who most are much older or compare them at the same age , you might get a surprise.

G'day dogged. To answer your first question about how well I know Lids? - probably as much as most supporters do, only by outside observation, news, interviews and hearsay. Do you know him personally? Lids is an out and out star but 'from reports' he is an extremely focused, driven introvert who has been coached and developed by his father all of his amateur years. Perhaps he has become more of a leader under the tutorage of Cousins but this has not been a natural strength of his. Lids also has (again by all reports) had difficulty shaking taggers and did not benefit from being changed positionally every game, every year. One year TW had him bulk up during the pre-season to become a KPF but then changed his mind and played Lids more as a midfielder while still carrying the extra muscle.

Cotchin's brief AFL career has been marred by injury but what he showed to date has been exciting. Cotchin came to the club heralded as a natural leader. If he can play consistent football and realize his potential then he could become a better midfielder for us than Lids. This is all I was saying. Not having a go at Lids, who I believe is our current best player, but rather suggesting that players such as Cotch, Martin and even Bling could become our number one midfielder in the future. That is all.

Stripes
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: dogged on January 05, 2010, 09:14:52 PM
Yes I do know lids and his family a close friend of mine knows him very well, yes he is focussed and very determined to be the best he can be. More importantly he wants Richmond to have success and I'm not sure I would call him an introvert. From my observations I am very amused at what some people write about him, it really couldn't be further from the truth. As it is with many AFL players perception becomes truth. You are right in saying he is family orientated but he is certainly his own man.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: dogged on January 05, 2010, 09:21:56 PM
also I'm sorry stripes, I'll get down off of the soapbox now. In fact I think I might sign off for good , it is hard knowing alot about the players and then reading some of the stuff that is written.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: TigerLand on January 05, 2010, 10:56:02 PM
Thats the life of a footballer ad most sports figures in teh public eye. Its like the old saying that if you believe a lie enough it can become true. If teh media pump out enough about Lids not being a leader, not being able to shake a tag well etc etc people start to believe it and worse even the individual.

Lids is out best midfielder and I think he will be for 5-8 years. Cotchin may become captain and lead and Martin may get more of the footy more often than Brett may in 5 years times but I think you'll find a common stat is if Brett plays his best footy we will win more games than not.

If Deledio gets 3 votes its hard to see Richmond losing the game against anyone. May be an exaggeration but a good example is his 3rd qtr against Geelong in Round 2. Single handedly put us in a winning position with a best on quarter performance.

The future and his development (hopefully) is up to him though.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Stripes on January 06, 2010, 09:12:07 PM
also I'm sorry stripes, I'll get down off of the soapbox now. In fact I think I might sign off for good , it is hard knowing alot about the players and then reading some of the stuff that is written.

Lids is clearly our best midfielder and already rates among the top midfielders in the competition  yet still has a lot more potential to improve which is exciting. Having other midfielders that have the potential to support and possible challenge for the role as best Tigers midfielder is a wonderful thing not a slur on him personally. If what you say is true and he loves a challenge this this will only help him.

I wouldn't leave over a few comments dogged. People with even a semblance of understanding, reason and inside knowledge are always welcome on this forum. A close friend of my is the sister of our coach so I'm sure I'll be shaking my head and getting frustrated with many posters comments on him as time goes by.

Stripes
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: torch on January 06, 2010, 11:46:25 PM
With some many changes to our list who do you folks think is our best midfielder now and why?

Dustin Martin :P

why? you shall see!

 :)
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Judge Roughneck on January 07, 2010, 08:59:31 PM
Brett Deledio - Because he is by a clear margin. Elite speed, clean disposal, brilliant mark, now works both ways after Wallace's departure. He will get more support in 2010 so should step up another level again.

I would also say Cousins would give Deledio a run for his money
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: Mr Magic on January 08, 2010, 03:00:14 AM
Lids - by a fair way

Agreed WP.  We'll be a damn sight better side when he's got some genuine competition for the mantle.
Title: Re: Who is our best midfielder?
Post by: mightytiges on January 09, 2010, 06:28:02 PM
I can see Cotch taking over the mantle in a few years but Lids has the runs on the board at the moment. If you base our best midfielder on who opposition coaches tag then Lids is seen as our main threat to them.