Richmond has the 8th best midfield: Mick McGuane (HeraldSun)

[one-eyed]

Mick McGuane ranks and reviews every AFL club’s midfield for the 2022 season

Mick McGuane
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
February 20, 2022

1. Melbourne
2. Western Bulldogs
3. Geelong
4. Port Adelaide
5. Brisbane
6. Essendon
7. GWS

8. RICHMOND

The top-liners: Toby Nankervis (16 Games in 2021, 94 Average SuperCoach Score), Dustin Martin (16, 93), Dion Prestia (9, 85), Jack Graham (22, 84), Trent Cotchin (17, 76), Shane Edwards (16, 74), Marlion Pickett (18, 66), Kamdyn McIntosh (17, 61), Riley Collier-Dawkins (9, 57), Jack Ross (11, 54), Ivan Soldo (0, 0)

The top-ups: Josh Caddy (6, 74), Will Martyn (2, 37), Maurice Rioli (2, 23, Samson Ryan (1, -1), Judson Clarke (0, 0), Mate Colina (0, 0), Noah Cumberland (0, 0), Tyler Sonsie (0, 0)

MICK SAYS

From all accounts, Dustin Martin is as hungry as ever in ominous signs for opposition midfields. He’s a terrific centre bounce player who wins pure clearances and has the power, vision and ball use to make them impactful further up the ground. Martin also lifts his teammates around him. But I’d be challenging coach Damien Hardwick to change the mix of those players around him. As great as Trent Cotchin has been, when him and Dion Prestia play onball together the Tigers can look a bit pedestrian. Shai Bolton offers burst speed that troubles opposition midfielders and makes opposition defences uncomfortable. He should be spending more time through the middle. Liam Baker also provides a different dynamic and Kane Lambert is another option, having been used as a high forward in recent years. With the return of Ivan Soldo from a knee injury will the Tigers go back to a two-pronged ruck set up with Toby Nankervis? That will be an interesting watch.


9. St Kilda
10. Sydney
11. Collingwood
12. West Coast
13. Hawthorn
14. Carlton
15. Fremantle
16. Adelaide
17. North Melbourne
18. Gold Coast

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/mick-mcguane-ranks-and-reviews-every-afl-clubs-midfield-for-the-2022-season/news-story/760c0bf6a8a0f9baece4885f6a2b821e

[yandb]

It seems that McGaune is basing his grading on the supercoach points of the midfielders.

We don't play a supercoach style of game (stat chasing) so our midfielders don't rate as high as other teams.

[lamington]

I think 8 based on 2021 form is fair. We could have snuck into the 8 but we would have been belted. Also can’t seem to win the centre clearances and contested ball at ease. I trust the coaches to fix this but it was a massive weakness last year