Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

As far as my "little scenario goes" Any of these guys can get the ball from under a pack. Granted West and Cross are better at it but you can't decide in the heat of the moment who will dive under the pack. It's wherever the ball lands. I'd rather have Griffen get it out to Higgins for a shot on goal than Cross get it out to West. (If it ever actually happens the romantic in me would rather see West kick the goal but I'd prefer Higgins chances)

This has less to do with who gets the ball than you think. The player who acts first, the one who doesn't hesitate for a split second just throws himself at the ball will get their hands on it.

Put Eagleton and Cross 5 metres apart. Put the ball 1 m from Eagleton. Cross will get it (then handball it to Eagleton, probably).

[westdog54]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

I'm talking about a long history of midfielders who are not great kicks.
You are misquoting me by simply saying I believe Cross and West are holding us back from a premiership.

No I'm not. Here's that quote again:

Is it worth considering that we might be better off without Cross and West. As much as I love Westy and Cross, maybe that good old Blue collar Bulldog midfield is what's holding us back.

I can do the maths.

I know you can't always have a perfect list but I'm imagining a perfect midfield.

Perfect midfield? Come on, who ever has a perfect midfield?

As far as my "little scenario goes" Any of these guys can get the ball from under a pack. Granted West and Cross are better at it but you can't decide in the heat of the moment who will dive under the pack.

But you can decide who gets the free kick 40 metres out? Give me a break.

By the way, this is a theoretical discussion. Not a battle. I love Scotty West and he has been an absolute tower of strength on the field. Maybe having West Cross and Boyd in the same midfield is too much. Maybe Cooney and Griffen will never blossom into Mid field power Houses like Ablett, Judd or Kerr until more responsibility is put on their shoulders, and it's not left up to players like Cross and West to do all their dirty work.

So the only way that Cooney and Griffen will be elite midfielders is if we trade Cross and make West retire. Got it. Thanks.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

Don't you think any midfield would be better if the "inside" players could kick long and straight as well. And the 'outside' players could get their own ball if needed. I started my DISCUSSION by saying I'm not a fan of dividing midfielders into inside and outside players. Will you at least concede that?

Also you are not really reading my quote. I said.
"is it worth considering......" and "MAYBE our blue collar midfield is holding us back........" referring to a long list of players. I did not say "West and Cross ARE holding us back from a premiership"

I'm opening a line of discussion not forcefully stating an opinion.

By the way, Who was the Blue collar ball gatherer shovelling it out to Cousins Kerr and Judd?
Trade Cross? For a good key forward?............mmmmmmmmmmm

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

Don't you think any midfield would be better if the "inside" players could kick long and straight as well. And the 'outside' players could get their own ball if needed. I started my DISCUSSION by saying I'm not a fan of dividing midfielders into inside and outside players. Will you at least concede that?

Also you are not really reading my quote. I said.
"is it worth considering......" and "MAYBE our blue collar midfield is holding us back........" referring to a long list of players. I did not say "West and Cross ARE holding us back from a premiership"

I'm opening a line of discussion not forcefully stating an opinion.

By the way, Who was the Blue collar ball gatherer shovelling it out to Cousins Kerr and Judd?
Trade Cross? For a good key forward?............mmmmmmmmmmm

Kerr and Fletcher (then later Priddis).


Trade Cross and in 2 years time they'll be no-one getting the ball to Cooney and Griffen.

Don't you remember just a few years ago when West had to do all the ball winning on his own?

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

Kerr and Fletcher are not blue collar

[GVGjr]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

Kerr and Fletcher are not blue collar

Whats your definition of blue collar? I rate them as very classy blue collar types

[Mantis]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

Trade Cross and in 2 years time they'll be no-one getting the ball to Cooney and Griffen.

Don't you remember just a few years ago when West had to do all the ball winning on his own?

Bull dust.

Cooney will win his own ball so to will Griffen.

The infatuation we have with our own players is giving me the shits.

[hujsh]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

Bull dust.

Cooney will win his own ball so to will Griffen.

The infatuation we have with our own players is giving me the shits.

Cooney yes Griff could but not sure.

When West goes we will have IMO

C: Higgins Cross Ray

R:Hudson Cooney Griff

Boyd first on off the bench

Pretty good balance IMO

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

I'm saying Kerr and Fletcher are fast skilled goal kicking midfielders as well as being high possession gatherers. Not just blue collar ball winners.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

I love Scotty West and if it wasnt for him our performances in the last 10 years would have been much worse that they were. BUT, as long as we rely on West playing the main midfield role for us, we wont win a premiership. He is slow (pace), cant kick over 40 meters and just doesnt have the penetration on his kicks. Compare his kicking skills to those of Griffen / Cooney / Aker / Higgins and they just dont wash up. I think we will see Westy playing a pretty different role this year - more run with roles and less of a free reign to just go and win the ball. Someone on the bottom of the packs is important, but surely at the elite level you need to have the full bag of skills (kicks / pace) to be a premier midfielder. Griffen / Cooney have the goods to be an elite midfielder, I just hope that Rocket gives them the responsibility now.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

Here Here Mantis. Of course they can win their own ball!

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

I love Scotty West and if it wasnt for him our performances in the last 10 years would have been much worse that they were. BUT, as long as we rely on West playing the main midfield role for us, we wont win a premiership. He is slow (pace), cant kick over 40 meters and just doesnt have the penetration on his kicks. Compare his kicking skills to those of Griffen / Cooney / Aker / Higgins and they just dont wash up. I think we will see Westy playing a pretty different role this year - more run with roles and less of a free reign to just go and win the ball. Someone on the bottom of the packs is important, but surely at the elite level you need to have the full bag of skills (kicks / pace) to be a premier midfielder. Griffen / Cooney have the goods to be an elite midfielder, I just hope that Rocket gives them the responsibility now.

Thankyou Teddy 54, I love Westy too but what's the point of drafting no1 pick and no 3 pick midfielders with the full bag of tricks if you don't let them take over the midfield?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

I fully agree Dancin' Douggy - fully agree!

[westdog54]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

Kerr and Fletcher are not blue collar

Bollocks. Kerr and Fletcher are about as blue collar as it gets.

Kerr will have to step up and take a different role now that Judd and Cousins are gone, and Priddis will become more Scott West-like than he already is.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Our best midfield (if we didn't have to worry about other positions)

You think Kerr is a blue collar midfielder? You're mad.

And who said anything about Priddis? He was not part of their premiership midfield. He didn't even play.