Midfield 2012

[Bornadog]

Re: Midfield 2012

Cross needs to improve his urgency when he has the ball from a mark or free kick situation. His deliberation over who and when to give it too (ultimately sideways) really hurt us at times last year. Our lack of run off half back (Harbrow) was a huge factor in this.

Well easy to be critical of Cross with the way he hesitates, but surely outside running players should be aware of Cross, so that when he has the ball they are running past him for the quick handball.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Midfield 2012

How do we think Moles will go this year, he has pace although disposal is a problem at times. Could he hold a spot in the midfield.

[GVGjr]

Re: Midfield 2012

How do we think Moles will go this year, he has pace although disposal is a problem at times. Could he hold a spot in the midfield.

There isn't a lot of differences he has over some other players. Hard at it but limited with his disposal skills. I don't mind him as a player if he can manage his injuries but I'm not sure which players he replaces in the midfield. Perhaps there is a spot form him on the IC bench.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Re: Midfield 2012

How do we think Moles will go this year, he has pace although disposal is a problem at times. Could he hold a spot in the midfield.

I'm not sure that Moles will be in our best 6 midfielders but I did like him as a Sub last year, he was IMO the best sub we used, I'm not sure that this will suit him as no one would want to play a as sub every week.

[mjp]

Re: Midfield 2012

I'm not sure that Moles will be in our best 6 midfielders but I did like him as a Sub last year, he was IMO the best sub we used, I'm not sure that this will suit him as no one would want to play a as sub every week.

Best 6? We will play 12 or so each week, so he doesn't need to be in the best 6 to get a game!

[Mantis]

Re: Midfield 2012

Well easy to be critical of Cross with the way he hesitates, but surely outside running players should be aware of Cross, so that when he has the ball they are running past him for the quick handball.

Opposition teams all know Cross doesn't like to kick. That's why they pick up their opponents and zone off Cross when he has the ball.

Crossy just needs to learn to back his skills and move the ball on quickly.... But I guess he hasn't done this in his first 10 years of senior footy so what's going to change now???

[stefoid]

Re: Midfield 2012

Opposition teams all know Cross doesn't like to kick. That's why they pick up their opponents and zone off Cross when he has the ball.

Crossy just needs to learn to back his skills and move the ball on quickly.... But I guess he hasn't done this in his first 10 years of senior footy so what's going to change now???

I think he does the right thing - makes sure he doesnt cough it up - he can hardly kick over a jam tin, so asking him to hit a difficult target with his looping 40m kicks is asking for trouble.

Macca is aiming at trench warfare next season, remember, not blitzkreig.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Midfield 2012

Opposition teams all know Cross doesn't like to kick. That's why they pick up their opponents and zone off Cross when he has the ball.

Crossy just needs to learn to back his skills and move the ball on quickly.... But I guess he hasn't done this in his first 10 years of senior footy so what's going to change now???

This is my biggest problem with Cross.

He always plays on and then hesitates, dances in a little circle, and puts himself (and his team mates) under immense pressure.

His disposal isn't absolutely woeful, it's his decision making.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Midfield 2012

Well easy to be critical of Cross with the way he hesitates, but surely outside running players should be aware of Cross, so that when he has the ball they are running past him for the quick handball.

Agree totally. That was my point. In 2010 we had Harbrow to run past him but last year we had a distinct lack of run. Murph was the only one running out of the back line which opposition teams were awake to after a month and a half. I didn't mean to be critical of Crossy, it's just that he needs the options running past him to help his effectiveness.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Midfield 2012

Agree totally. That was my point. In 2010 we had Harbrow to run past him but last year we had a distinct lack of run. Murph was the only one running out of the back line which opposition teams were awake to after a month and a half. I didn't mean to be critical of Crossy, it's just that he needs the options running past him to help his effectiveness.

I'm really hopeful (nearly confident!) that Wood and Howard can to pick this up more this year. This is why I wanted cross off a half back flank. Cross does the grunt and passes off to that group plus murph running past. We still need him at the contest though until the younger tanks and game smarts develop further. I think we all agree he's not a liability - just has special needs positionally and a specific support cast required to get the most out of his strengths. He's the axel rose of our footy club: you have to pick all the blue jellybeans out into a bowl to make it work. Flip side is if you so, he'll belt out a hell of a tune....

[LostDoggy]

Re: Midfield 2012

He's the axel rose of our footy club: you have to pick all the blue jellybeans out into a bowl to make it work. Flip side is if you so, he'll belt out a hell of a tune....

I don't even know if I agree completely with the rest of your post but it doesn't matter: this snippet above will go down as an all-time WOOF classic.

[stefoid]

Re: Midfield 2012

I'm really hopeful (nearly confident!) that Wood and Howard can to pick this up more this year. This is why I wanted cross off a half back flank. Cross does the grunt and passes off to that group plus murph running past. We still need him at the contest though until the younger tanks and game smarts develop further. I think we all agree he's not a liability - just has special needs positionally and a specific support cast required to get the most out of his strengths. He's the axel rose of our footy club: you have to pick all the blue jellybeans out into a bowl to make it work. Flip side is if you so, he'll belt out a hell of a tune....

If you think Cross is getting exposed due to his speed in the midfield, moving him to the backline would be 100 times worse.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Midfield 2012

I think he does the right thing - makes sure he doesnt cough it up - he can hardly kick over a jam tin, so asking him to hit a difficult target with his looping 40m kicks is asking for trouble.

Macca is aiming at trench warfare next season, remember, not blitzkreig.

The MC has erred on two accounts with Cross in the past, firstly to play him off a wing rather than the midfield at centre bounces where his attack on the ball is second to none. The other grave mistake is not to have our players being alert constantly to take a hand pass from Cross rather than to put up with his lack of kicking skills.Hopefully BMcC's teaching skills will ensure these changes are brought into play.

[chef]

Re: Midfield 2012

The MC has erred on two accounts with Cross in the past, firstly to play him off a wing rather than the midfield at centre bounces where his attack on the ball is second to none. The other grave mistake is not to have our players being alert constantly to take a hand pass from Cross rather than to put up with his lack of kicking skills.Hopefully BMcC's teaching skills will ensure these changes are brought into play.

Just because he puts his head over he ball doesn't make him an inside mid.