Griff...how long in the midfield?

[always right]

The fact that he is the first player tagged each week suggests that opposition coaches still see Griff as our most dangerous midfielder...and they're right although Libba is not far behind. With the fast tracking of our younger mids and the potential for more to move into the midfield in the next 12 months, how long should Griff remain there?

Griff has changed from an explosive free running midfielder into a bash and crash type, rarely running in free space but typically trying to break free out of traffic under enormous pressure. When was the last time you saw Griff use his trademark side step and swivel and take off towards goal leaving opponents in his wake? It rarely happens nowadays.

At what point do we recognize that the way he plays now could in fact shorten his career as a topliner? Are the back problems he experiences compounded by the heavy tags he cops and the way opposition players use every opportunity to crash into him? Perhaps we should be considering a move to the half backline over the next 12 months or so. It's a position he played successfully in his early days and he would be a great replacement fror Murph should Murph only play another season or so.

Personally I would like to see him play midfield next season and then move into defence as the likes of Bonts, Smith, Hrovat, Dahl, Honeychurch and Macrae spend more time running through the middle. I actually think he could do more damage running of the back flank with his penetrating kicks than he does now. He seems to be more of an accumulator now and his posessions have less impact than they ever have. Not meant to be a criticism...just an observation.

Does anyone else think we should be brave enough to bite the bullet and make the move sooner rather than later?

[Mofra]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

Maybe he could rotate off the HB line at times?

He knows how to play there - started his career there - and many teams set up play from the HB line. He would be an absolute star rebounding from defence.
He is our best midfielder though so how much would we lose? I guess he can always be plan B to put him in the middle.

I assume he wants to play in the middle where the action is though, like most AFL footballers.

[Bornadog]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

He is our best midfielder and only A grader at this stage. We saw in the third quarter when he got going he gave us a chance ( a glimmer). I think he should stay in the midfield another couple of years and as Mofra says can be moved to the HBF just as Cooney has sometimes done.

One thing I have noticed more this year, he is really getting smashed up by the opposition and this has effected his game.

[soupman]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

One thing I have noticed more this year, he is really getting smashed up by the opposition and this has effected his game.

My girlfriend commented that unlike the rest of our players when he gets the ball he just runs straight at the opposition and tries to break through them. It's a huge change from the player who used to find space and dodge around opponents.

At the moment he is playing too much like Mitch Hahn for my liking and considering he is already injured it can't be good for him.

[always right]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

I get that he is still our best midfielder but is he our most effective midfielder? He seems to have lost some of his breakaway speed and it's been a long time since we've seen one of his long running goals....he seems to be a different player than he used to be and whilst his consistency has improved, he does less of the spectacular nowadays.

I don't think his younger team mates are quite ready just yet for us to move him out of the midfield but could we start transitioning him next year? The obvious thinking is that we should keep him in the midfield for as long as possible. I'm just wondering if we would in fact get more value out of him and maybe for a longer period by moving him back.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

He is our best midfielder and only A grader at this stage. We saw in the third quarter when he got going he gave us a chance ( a glimmer). I think he should stay in the midfield another couple of years and as Mofra says can be moved to the HBF just as Cooney has sometimes done.

One thing I have noticed more this year, he is really getting smashed up by the opposition and this has effected his game.

I think more teams will follow that trend if the particular player can play off the HBF.
ie first three quarters in the backline then when the game opens up, push him in the middle in the last so his line breaking can be used to more effect.

Hawthorn have done it very well with Burgoyne. Cooney has had some success, it seems to be a good option for the ageing midfielder to have more impact when it counts with today's style of footy.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

The efficacy of your plan AR may well depend on how well our young rebounding defenders develop over the next two years. If we remain bereft of options then I could definitely warm to the idea of playing Griffen down back. My instincts at this stage though would be to keep him in the midfield - where I think he has established himself as a top ten player in the competition.

[boydogs]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

I was opposed to him moving into the midfield when he was playing off half back, but proven wrong. He's too good not to be in the middle

[Topdog]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

If we aren't going to play him through the middle then we should just trade him.

[always right]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

If we aren't going to play him through the middle then we should just trade him.

Don't disagree if we thought we would get fair value but do you not rate the importance of attacking half backs? On the basis of your thinking we should have traded Murphy years ago considering his inability to play midfield.

[The Underdog]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

Don't disagree if we thought we would get fair value but do you not rate the importance of attacking half backs? On the basis of your thinking we should have traded Murphy years ago considering his inability to play midfield.

I think the point is Griff is one of the best midfielders in the comp. Murph for all if his awesomeness was never that. Personally I think Griff is a more dynamic mid than any of the guys we have coming through and his value there outweighs what he'd give us off half back, where he gets maybe 2/3 of the possessions he has now. He'd likely still cop a hard tag there too. I understand the point about trying to preserve him but I think you rob the team of too much by moving him.

[wimberga]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

A mate of mine often says "you want your best players where they can influence the game the most".

For Griff, this is clearly in the midfield for mine. What we would lose by taking him out of there would not be outweighed by what we gain by him playing HBF, regardless of how good he is.

[Mofra]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

If we aren't going to play him through the middle then we should just trade him.

Never, ever, ever trade A grade players who show enough loyalty to sign with us for far less than they could get elsewhere (e.g. Griff turning down a bigger offer from Essendon).

Especially if that player is a universally respected and liked captain of the club.

[ratsmac]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

Never, ever, ever trade A grade players who show enough loyalty to sign with us for far less than they could get elsewhere (e.g. Griff turning down a bigger offer from Essendon).

Especially if that player is a universally respected and liked captain of the club.

Amen.

[GVGjr]

Re: Griff...how long in the midfield?

Bartel has accepted a lesser midfield role and there may come a time that Griffen will need to adapt to a slightly different role. Don't see a problem with it.