Q : Why isn't the midfield the sum of its parts ?

[Grantysghost]

I had this revelation part through the season around the time of the Hawks game (Libba moved to HB) : although our midfield is STACKED with bonafide stars of the game it's doesn't produce at the sum of its parts.

Pound for pound it's top 2 or 3, results would say they're a middling group.

My feel is there's not enough diversity, however I'm really interested in what others think on this one, and what is the missing piece / pieces.

Thoughts my friends ?

[Mofra]

Brisbane & Gold Coast are surely ahead on paper for a start.
I still question our ability to shift our midfield set up when momentum is against us. We seem to back our ability to win the ball a little too much.

[Grantysghost]

Brisbane & Gold Coast are surely ahead on paper for a start.
I still question our ability to shift our midfield set up when momentum is against us. We seem to back our ability to win the ball a little too much.

Momentum is a good call. And the defensive stuff.

Ed was ranked #1 for a large chunk of the season, Bont is the best in it, Libba is an elite (albeit ageing) extractor / inside mid, English an AA ruck.

We should be doing better against a Hawks / Crows who I think we really have it over. But we never do.

The wings are an issue for sure if we add them in. I think I am pointing more at the CB group.

Since that fateful third quarter it's been a middling setup I think. I can't work out why !?

It's the balance I think. We need more inside to out ( Butters ! ).

[NAUGHTY100]

I think i have the answers Grantsghost and its only two words , ZAC BUTTERS .
Put him in that side and we improve no end , and we finally produce and become a bonafide top 2 group . Butters is the missing link we desperately need end of stroy .

[Aidan7557]

I think English has been a big problem in the past and it is hard to realise watching games in the moment. Had a much better season in 2025 but in some key spots struggled. I actually think our midfield does stand up most of the time, I 100% agree we need a defensive minded player at times when oppo mids get hot and that is on the coaches. The reality is though against the best you won't win every clearance, so I think our back 6 struggles of actually defending probably look bad on our midfield. Freo game r24 is the perfect example. Mids dominated quarter one but there defence stood up and we had a couple goal gap. 2nd quarter their onballers dominate and we concede 7 goals and a lot on transition. All the parts really do intertwine but no midfield group will dominate every quarter of a game. it is just impossible.

[jeemak]

See ball, get ball, double, triple and quadruple down on it if things aren't going well.

Not sure if it's ego, coaching, player traits or a mix of all of these things, but it's frustrating.

[GVGjr]

Great question Grantysghost , I hope our members give it some thought and consideration.

[Grantysghost]

I think English has been a big problem in the past and it is hard to realise watching games in the moment. Had a much better season in 2025 but in some key spots struggled. I actually think our midfield does stand up most of the time, I 100% agree we need a defensive minded player at times when oppo mids get hot and that is on the coaches. The reality is though against the best you won't win every clearance, so I think our back 6 struggles of actually defending probably look bad on our midfield. Freo game r24 is the perfect example. Mids dominated quarter one but there defence stood up and we had a couple goal gap. 2nd quarter their onballers dominate and we concede 7 goals and a lot on transition. All the parts really do intertwine but no midfield group will dominate every quarter of a game. it is just impossible.

Interesting thanks for that.

I reckon we struggle on the turn over and teams who play our midfield well tend to sweat on that second possession as they know we are generally a high handball team.

The Hawks do so well at this. Maybe less aggressive positioning would help, but I feel we lack that fast on their feet type who can help with that.

Of course a lot centres around your flankers filling in as well (think Rayner).

[Grantysghost]

See ball, get ball, double, triple and quadruple down on it if things aren't going well.

Not sure if it's ego, coaching, player traits or a mix of all of these things, but it's frustrating.

It does feel that way at times Jee. I honestly don't think it's the first two, it's more to me the types we have in the mix although ego wouldn't surprise as part of it.

If I get time I'll have a look at the Hawks game from earlier this year and pick out some examples of how they played so much smarter than us. No way they have better individuals but they always do well against our mids.

[Grantysghost]

Great question Grantysghost , I hope our members give it some thought and consideration.

I hope so, I'm not being negative just throwing up the question as we are often touted highly especially in midfield.
In the games that matter in doesn't bear fruit.

[SonofScray]

It’s a diversity issue in terms of individual strengths and capabilities, maybes less so than it was in terms of being one paced a few seasons ago, but definitely in mindset.

I don’t like bagging English, but for as good as he is when he is up and about, I think these guys would be better served in the guts and at the coal face by a behemoth.

[Grantysghost]

It’s a diversity issue in terms of individual strengths and capabilities, maybes less so than it was in terms of being one paced a few seasons ago, but definitely in mindset.

I don’t like bagging English, but for as good as he is when he is up and about, I think these guys would be better served in the guts and at the coal face by a behemoth.

It's an interesting one with Tim. I thought he was a lot better in the clinches this season, really tried to engage the opposition early in most ruck duels and I think it worked.

But...he ranked quite low in the b and f which really surprised me. What isn't he doing that the coaches want I wonder.

It's one to ponder I'm not sure where I sit re Tim in the mix.

[FrediKanoute]

I think the move of Ed into the midfield has been revolutionary, but we need another similar player who can gain meters but also extract. This is Butters, but if not Butters and Freijah can hopefully become this.

I think part of our problem is that outside of the starting group it tails big time. The understudies are ok, but not elite. Kennedy helped bridge the gap a little and I am hoping that Sanders can develop, but Ifeel that he is an older school mid and the game may be passing these players by.

[Grantysghost]

I think the move of Ed into the midfield has been revolutionary, but we need another similar player who can gain meters but also extract. This is Butters, but if not Butters and Freijah can hopefully become this.

I think part of our problem is that outside of the starting group it tails big time. The understudies are ok, but not elite. Kennedy helped bridge the gap a little and I am hoping that Sanders can develop, but Ifeel that he is an older school mid and the game may be passing these players by.

He was amazing this season. Agree.

Kennedy tailed away towards the end of the season had an incredible start. I think he can play a Rayner type role for us smashing in off HF. (Pretty much like he did ).

[Critter]

My feeling is that our normal midfield group - Bont, Ed, Libba, Kennedy, Treloar and Sanders - is a little too much of the same thing. Treloar, Harmes and Sanders are one paced and both Treloar and Sanders need improvement in the defensive aspects of their game. I think we could get better value from them elsewhere. (I haven't considered Freijah as a midfield option as I think it's vital that he plays in the backline. It's no secret that we have a shortage of quality defenders and I see his presence permanently in defence in 2026 as being essential.) At times, our midfield plods and against good teams we pay dearly for this. Too easily, they brush past our feeble attempts at tackling and turnover. We need to be faster and stronger, so in 2026 I would prefer to see a midfield of Bont, Libba, Ed, Kennedy, Baker & Weightman. Yes, Oskar Baker and Cody Weightman.

The addition of Baker would give us extra speed and carry. Both he and Ed have the natural leg speed necessary to escape the contests and stoppages. Having them operating in rotation gives us the capability of moving the ball quickly throughout a game. I see Weightman as a highly skilled player who offers more value to the team as a high-possession midfielder rather than as a small forward. In the pre-season match-sims a couple of years ago, when Ed Richards lit up the track, the other standout performance on the day was Weightman's stint, also in the midfield. He racked up plenty of possessions and his attack on the ball was strong and his delivery excellent. Given he recovers fully, I believe he would add dimension and value to the midfield.

Not only would these changes lead to a more effective attacking unit, but I think it would be stronger defensively. All six players lay tackles that stick... all six can, and do, take contested marks... and all six generally dispose of the ball to our advantage (Oskar can have the odd whoopsie).

This year we must demand more defensive support from all our midfielders. There were too many periods in matches last year when the opposition ran straight through our defences to kick multiple, consecutive goals. We can't have all four midfielders rushing blindly into attack, leaving us vulnerable to a swift counter attack. Too often, our midfielders are knackered from the charge into the forward line and have little in their tank to enable them to get back and help defend a turnover. The vulnerability of our defence is then exposed because too often our defenders are too inexperienced, or simply not good enough, to win the resulting one-on-one contests.

We need a game plan based around maintaining our defensive structure. One that enables us to get numbers back quickly and effectively when we lose control of the ball, without totally losing our rebounding capability. And that's where our midfielders improve. You might say good luck with that, but that's why Beveridge et al get paid the big bucks.