IMO Foley is still one of our most important midfielders. The one thing Stripes list of midfielders tells me is we really drop away for genuine midfielders after Cotch, Martin and Lids if you can count him. (depends on if he gets tagged)
We have some potential coming through with Vaulastin, Conca and Ellis but nobody out of that lot strikes me as a genuine midfielder, pinch hitting through there for sure but not your full time midfielders..
That's why this years draft pick needs to be a genuine mid, no hybrid types we hope can turn into mids, or a half forward that can help out in the mid, a genuine mid.
Back on Foley, I disagree with Stripes, I have been watching replays of this year too and I think his work has been at a really good level, and like a few people have said, after a full pre season I predict him to be back to his best, which would be a massive bonus for us with our lack of full time, genuine, ball carrying mids.
Not playing him in the final was a mistake by DH. We were way to predictable in the midfield.