Who is our best midfielder?

[one-eyed]

With some many changes to our list who do you folks think is our best midfielder now and why?

[Infamy]

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.

[Penelope]

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.

[Beren]

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.

[Infamy]

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.

[Stripes]

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

[Beren]

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.

[dogged]

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.

[Mr Magic]

Lids.

[mat073]

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.

[Infamy]

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

[WilliamPowell]

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

[Stripes]

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

[dogged]

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.

[dogged]

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.