Nathan (Axel) Foley [MERGED] | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Nathan (Axel) Foley [MERGED]

BBC said:
Our form has been horrible since Axel went down.

Yep. Really has really highlighted who one of our most important players is.
However we need to start planning post Axel. Don't think we can figure him as part of our plans going forward with his ongoing leg problems.
 
I have also thought that we've nose-dived since Axel went down. He just plays the Hardwick gameplan so beautifully and skillfully. He's the only one up there in the Cotchin and Deledio class of the other mids.
 
SCOOP said:
Highlights the lack of depth in the midfield when our fourth or fifth best midfielder goes down and we are struggling.

Who are the 4 ahead of him?
 
rosy23 said:
Who are the 4 ahead of him?

I'd have Nate fourth. Cotchin, Deledio and Martin ahead of him. But a key to the midfield. We miss him so much. Boy do we need him.

Tuck and Foley are about on the same level for me. Fourth or fifth.
 
I reckon you sell Nathan short. I love Dusty and reckon he's going to be an awesome player but I don't think he influences a game as much or as consistently as Nathan at this stage. He's a massive loss unfortunately.
 
rosy23 said:
I reckon you sell Nathan short. I love Dusty and reckon he's going to be an awesome player but I don't think he influences a game as much or as consistently as Nathan at this stage. He's a massive loss unfortunately.

Agree.

Foley was vital in the middle when we were playing well.

The rotations suffered dramatically after his exit!
 
As a pure onballer I'd have Nathan (when fit) well ahead of Dusty currently but Martin is more capable of turning a game on it's head in short bursts. Most dangerous as a forward atm.
 
Thing is to have 4 of our best 5 mids playing near every game is a good return. Cant hope for much more.

Yet it only takes one of them to go down to hurt us so bad because of midfielders below them arent able to step up.

The cupboard is bare at Coburg as well for players to promote.

Just shows what we need to do come end of season. Midfielders, midfielders, midfielders.

Dont underestimate how far we still have to go numbers wise in this area.
 
Leysy Days said:
Thing is to have 4 of our best 5 mids playing near every game is a good return. Cant hope for much more.

Yet it only takes one of them to go down to hurt us so bad because of midfielders below them arent able to step up.

The cupboard is bare at Coburg as well for players to promote.

Just shows what we need to do come end of season. Midfielders, midfielders, midfielders.

Dont underestimate how far we still have to go numbers wise in this area.

Yep.

That is why I am an advocate of using FA to get Cloke and Chaplin. If we get them both, we will have our spine (and back ups) sorted for two years. We will be able to use most of our draft picks over the next two drafts on midfielders. The only other thing that we will need to draft is a support ruckman.

Once the mids are sorted, we can load up on young talls again for 2015 onwards.
 
Geez we could have used someone like Chaplin's composure in defence the past few weeks.

Put him and grimes back there and suddenly things would be a lot calmer than the comedy capers we have seen recently.
 
Punxsutawney Phil said:
Geez we could have used someone like Chaplin's composure in defence the past few weeks.

Put him and grimes back there and suddenly things would be a lot calmer than the comedy capers we have seen recently.

Moore has provided some laughs since he's been in has'nt he.
 
Leysy Days said:
Thing is to have 4 of our best 5 mids playing near every game is a good return. Cant hope for much more.

Yet it only takes one of them to go down to hurt us so bad because of midfielders below them arent able to step up.

The cupboard is bare at Coburg as well for players to promote.

Just shows what we need to do come end of season. Midfielders, midfielders, midfielders.

Dont underestimate how far we still have to go numbers wise in this area.

Yep. The cupboard is bare stil rings true.
 
rosy23 said:
I reckon you sell Nathan short. I love Dusty and reckon he's going to be an awesome player but I don't think he influences a game as much or as consistently as Nathan at this stage. He's a massive loss unfortunately.
It's probably
Cotchin
Foley
Maric
Martin
Tuck
Deledio
 
tigers80 said:
anyone hear that his achillies
worse than first thought.. :(
Whatever achillies injury that occurs is bad as I know from experience of a snapped one. Just hope the surgeon is good and Axel comes back as good as new. We miss him
 
Leysy Days said:
Thing is to have 4 of our best 5 mids playing near every game is a good return. Cant hope for much more.

Yet it only takes one of them to go down to hurt us so bad because of midfielders below them arent able to step up.

The cupboard is bare at Coburg as well for players to promote.

Just shows what we need to do come end of season. Midfielders, midfielders, midfielders.

Dont underestimate how far we still have to go numbers wise in this area.

Our midfield hasn't been the problem. Losing Vickery has meant Ivan's effctiveness has been curtailed and our forward structure has gone to *smile* because we've been playing the likes of Miller, McGuane, Elton and Derrickx in his place. That's clearly illustrated by the inside 50 counts since Vickery went down:

GWS - 66-35
Adelaide - 57-47
Melbourne - 62-41
Gold Coast - 56-44 (without Maric, Foley, Martin, Jackson)
North - 50-62 (only game for the year Maric got soundly beaten)
Carlton - 54-47

The problem with Ivan doing all the ruck is that he starts games/quarters well and we have a few nice clearances and forward movements but as he tires our midfielders have to fight for the ball far more (which they are obviously doing very well still) and our ball movement slows right down as a result. Sound about right?

Of course we had more scoring shots in every one of those games too. Bad goalkicking is also hurting us far more than any lack of depth in the midfield.

Agree we should still be taking mids early in the draft though. The more quality in there the better.
 
T-Shirt Tommy said:
BTW, has Foley signed up yet? We just cannot afford to let him be poached by another club.

IMO i don't think another club would take the risk on him.
Like another poster said snapping an Achilles = bad news.
He may not even be able to play again if it is to severe.
 
Disco08 said:
Our midfield hasn't been the problem. Losing Vickery has meant Ivan's effctiveness has been curtailed and our forward structure has gone to sh!t because we've been playing the likes of Miller, McGuane, Elton and Derrickx in his place. That's clearly illustrated by the inside 50 counts since Vickery went down:

GWS - 66-35
Adelaide - 57-47
Melbourne - 62-41
Gold Coast - 56-44 (without Maric, Foley, Martin, Jackson)
North - 50-62 (only game for the year Maric got soundly beaten)
Carlton - 54-47

The problem with Ivan doing all the ruck is that he starts games/quarters well and we have a few nice clearances and forward movements but as he tires our midfielders have to fight for the ball far more (which they are obviously doing very well still) and our ball movement slows right down as a result. Sound about right?

Of course we had more scoring shots in every one of those games too. Bad goalkicking is also hurting us far more than any lack of depth in the midfield.

Agree we should still be taking mids early in the draft though. The more quality in there the better.

Excellent analysis. On the list of problems at present, I'd say:

#1 = tall forward
#2 = Converting I50s into goals!
#3 = Turnovers in the back half

While we will always top up midfielders, I reckon that Conca/Ellis will become part of that rotation next year.