Midfield

[WA Tiger]

Sadly lacking, Hardwick is so busy trying to fill the holes all around the ground (everyone playing of half back for the nuffers) with the likes of Martin, Edwards and Cotchin that we are failing in the middle. We rarely get a clearance. We missed out on on Treloar, old mate Redden that went to the Eagles was good last night.....we have some serious trading to do. Also the ruck, that goes without saying and has done so for years.

Who can we target and fail to get at years end...

[tdy]

We need Miles back and in form and yes we need more A grade mid.  Conca doesn't cut it. Pity.  Lambert is a good find.

[Simonator]

Used to have a really good midfield I reckon. Cotch, Deledio, Martin, tuck, Jackson, foley. Sure we still have cotch Deledio and Martin. I wonder how often those 3 are at the centre bounce together ? Cotch and Martin used to be absolute machines. Damaging on the scoreboard and had good accurate penetrating kicks. Deledio used to run out of the midfield slotting from 50 all the time. What's happened ? I recall a game from Martin in 2012.. Maybe 2011 where he slotted 5 against Brisbane. bullying out of the midfield and kicking them from 50-60 metres. Doesn't happen anymore. Cotch ins 5 against Bulldogs in his Brownlow runner up year ? Doesn't happen anymore.

I think we've become far too defensive minded which worked well the last couple years and we had one of the better defensive teams but we've lost all offensive instinct and ability, we only kick 100+ points against poo teams.

[big tone]

At some stages last night we had Hampson, Grigg, Moore and Cotch at centre square contests. Throw in Lambert and Lloyd and that's is the most putrid collective of on ballers ever at AFL level. Cotch the only genuine midfielder on that list.
So many small, soft, scared, slow players that probably should never even see the inside of the centre square.
And if we finally manage to get a clearance, we are at least 1 short in our forwardline that doesn't boast much in the first place even if one on one.
Clueless.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

At some stages last night we had Hampson, Grigg, Moore and Cotch at centre square contests. Throw in Lambert and Lloyd and that's is the most putrid collective of on ballers ever at AFL level. Cotch the only genuine midfielder on that list.
So many small, soft, scared, slow players that probably should never even see the inside of the centre square.
And if we finally manage to get a clearance, we are at least 1 short in our forwardline that doesn't boast much in the first place even if one on one.
Clueless.

We are always one short in the forward line tone. Genius type coaching set ups.

[big tone]

At some stages last night we had Hampson, Grigg, Moore and Cotch at centre square contests. Throw in Lambert and Lloyd and that's is the most putrid collective of on ballers ever at AFL level. Cotch the only genuine midfielder on that list.
So many small, soft, scared, slow players that probably should never even see the inside of the centre square.
And if we finally manage to get a clearance, we are at least 1 short in our forwardline that doesn't boast much in the first place even if one on one.
Clueless.

We are always one short in the forward line tone. Genius type coaching set ups.

I know why he does it, it's because we have guys that cannot defend in our backline. -Houli, Ellis, Hunt, to name the obvious.
But instead of finding better backmen, he robs Peter to pay Paul and our forwardline is disadvantaged to the point we get no easy goals ever. Even his starting positions give us NO hope of a one on one contest.
Just forget all the crap Dimma and keep it simple, at least give our guys a chance to beat their opponent one on one.

[WA Tiger]

We need to pay whatever it takes to get a decent midfielder or 3, reduce the amount we pay the hangers on until they stand up.

[Diocletian]

Which would be easier if we hadn't given Hunt a 2 year extension.

[tdy]

I see this as a result of the compromised drafts and a poor draft team.  Where we basically have a collection of semi ok players and some A graders.  The B graders ought to be being upgraded upon, like Grigg should be pushing for selection these days but because of those weak drafts and bad drafting he isn't.  The bad drafting really is guys like Conca and Astbury that have hung around forever and are only so so at their position.

Our midfield depth isn't up to it without an in form Miles and Deledio.

[Diocletian]

Conca over Heppell wasn't even just a stuff up in hindsight like past most draft stuff ups are....everyone was scratching their heads over it when it leaked out we were taking him weeks before he draft and most were hoping it was some kind of misinformation right up until Hackson read out his name.....Heppell had even trained with us ffs.....seriously Gale or Richardson should've intervened and overruled him - then promptly sacked him on the spot....

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Conca over Heppell wasn't even just a stuff up in hindsight like past most draft stuff ups are....everyone was scratching their heads over it when it leaked out we were taking him weeks before he draft and most were hoping it was some kind of misinformation right up until Hackson read out his name.....Heppell had even trained with us ffs.....seriously Gale or Richardson should've intervened and overruled him - then promptly sacked him on the spot....

A bit rough on Dan Dio. He was appointed in Feb 2013. Benny had been in his position for a year though.

[Diocletian]

Craig Cameron then.....

[Andyy]

Used to have a really good midfield I reckon. Cotch, Deledio, Martin, tuck, Jackson, foley. Sure we still have cotch Deledio and Martin. I wonder how often those 3 are at the centre bounce together ? Cotch and Martin used to be absolute machines. Damaging on the scoreboard and had good accurate penetrating kicks. Deledio used to run out of the midfield slotting from 50 all the time. What's happened ? I recall a game from Martin in 2012.. Maybe 2011 where he slotted 5 against Brisbane. bullying out of the midfield and kicking them from 50-60 metres. Doesn't happen anymore. Cotch ins 5 against Bulldogs in his Brownlow runner up year ? Doesn't happen anymore.

I think we've become far too defensive minded which worked well the last couple years and we had one of the better defensive teams but we've lost all offensive instinct and ability, we only kick 100+ points against poo teams.

Yep. I watched a game from that period in Jack's 'Superstar Month' feature on Foxtel.

We were a far superior and tougher midfield with Jackson (yep!) and Tuck in there doing the hard work while Cotchin, Martin and Lids just iced everybody.

We have failed terribly to replace them with the likes of Thomas, Townsend and Moore.

[torch]

Midfield lacks:
*Pace
*Hardness (exp Cotchin and Miles)
*Goal-kicking midfielders
*Hard-running

[tony_montana]

And class