Ruck and midfield woes

[Carter]

Clearly, it is in ruck and midfield where we have failed thus far.

Soldo has been terrible, clearly not recovered from his long term injury.

Nankervis has battled hard but gives away too many free kicks. Also, he gets regularly beaten in the ruck (disappointingly, so has Soldo).

Lambert in and out. Edwards faded. Cotchin faded. Prestia injury prone. The kids aren’t quite ready or just below par.

No in-depth analysis required.

Teams have been gaining momentum against us, and that almost always starts with clearance out of the middle.

You can’t just rely on turnover. You need some steel in the guts to stem the tide when it turns against you.

Our system is largely brilliant. But when we kick away from teams they all raise the fight and become ultra attacking through the middle.

We haven’t defended this in 2022 because our ruck and midfield is below par.

No excuses, no lamentations. Just the way it is.

The window in which we had every base seemingly covered was 2017-2020. We aren’t that team anymore.

Amazingly, and reassuringly, we can still make the finals. There’s still a flame of hope.

 

[tiger76]

The last draft seemingly was about selecting the ‘best available players’; the next two drafts surely will need to be a midfield bonanza.

I have no idea what type of player Sonsie is going to be, but if he was going to help with heavy lifting in the midfield I would have thought he would have played at least one game this year in a team that doesn’t have a midfield.

The flame you’re referring to is the embers of a once great empire that has been overthrown.

 

[Smoking Aces]

Clearly, it is in ruck and midfield where we have failed thus far.

Soldo has been terrible, clearly not recovered from his long term injury.

Nankervis has battled hard but gives away too many free kicks. Also, he gets regularly beaten in the ruck (disappointingly, so has Soldo).

Lambert in and out. Edwards faded. Cotchin faded. Prestia injury prone. The kids aren’t quite ready or just below par.

No in-depth analysis required.

Teams have been gaining momentum against us, and that almost always starts with clearance out of the middle.

You can’t just rely on turnover. You need some steel in the guts to stem the tide when it turns against you.

Our system is largely brilliant. But when we kick away from teams they all raise the fight and become ultra attacking through the middle.

We haven’t defended this in 2022 because our ruck and midfield is below par.

No excuses, no lamentations. Just the way it is.

The window in which we had every base seemingly covered was 2017-2020. We aren’t that team anymore.

Amazingly, and reassuringly, we can still make the finals. There’s still a flame of hope.

Spot on. We have very few who are able to match it in the midfield with the other teams. Shai, Prestia, Martin, Cotchin, maybe Graham.

Problem is we need Shai everywhere. In fact we need two of him.

The others are becoming geriatrics. They can’t move.

Graham does well when his the third or fourth mid.

We have no quality in the reserves apart from Sonsie.

Baker needs to play full time mid. He can’t be wasted covering for undisciplined players like Vlastuin. Get Mansell to cover and play Baker where our biggest weakness is.

Forget about the draft this year. Go hard for a 24 year old ready made mid. Don’t care if we give up a first round pick.

Use whatever currency some of those geriatrics have and get back into the draft. Even it’s loading up on 2nd round picks.

We don’t have to bottom out. We can build a team around Shai, Baker, Rioli’s, Balta, Samson, Gibcus, Sonsie, Clarke etc.

See what we can get for Soldo. Long term Samson is the better prospect.

Time to get aggressive. We don’t need to bottom out. We just need to be smart and take out the emotions when judging our premiership heroes.

 

[tha8ball]

As bad as last night was - we are 7-3 in the last 10 and those 3 losses by a total loss of 11 points. Those losses have blown top4. Now it’s a matter of making it. Need to fall In and get everyone available for one last swing at it.This is the last hurrah.

 

[TigerWinner]

We can still win the Flag. with all the troops in and fit. We just have to role the dice on Sonsie and maybe one other junior..Bauer maybe.
Think about this. If Sonsie is elite for one quarter then the 3 games we lost narrowly we win. He can be a goal kicking forward and a part time 2nd half mid.

 

[TigerForce]

Listening to Shorty's interview on SEN the other week just shows how weak our midfield really is. So bad that Dimma & co don't seem to care.

He said he'd love to play midfield as if he was given a gift. Same for Baker I reckon. Just try-outs.

 

[tigerman]

The importance of Ruckmen is overrated for mine.

The Hawks didn't have great ruckman in their 3 peat, the Eagles won their most recent flag with out Nic Nac. The Dogs and us were the same, didn't have a champion ruckman.

Most of those premierships sides would've all lost the hit outs on GF day.

Midfielders are the most important, need to win the clearances, especially with the 666, it's something we need to address urgently.

 

[dimmauchump]

Sonsie will be great but we need grunt as well. Touk Miller is the ideal one but no chance of getting him. For a quick fix and one i think could be gettable i'd go for SPP from Port. Strong aggressive mid that would allow the youngsters to develop as well as keep us in the mix. Agree we also need to be aggressive with our trades, delistings and retirements.

 

[dimmauchump]

The importance of Ruckmen is overrated for mine.

The Hawks didn't have great ruckman in their 3 peat, the Eagles won their most recent flag with out Nic Nac. The Dogs and us were the same, didn't have a champion ruckman.

Most of those premierships sides would've all lost the hit outs on GF day.

Midfielders are the most important, need to win the clearances, especially with the 666, it's something we need to address urgently.

I think the most important part of a ruckman is their around the ground work which is why Gawn is so bloody good! He actually can do both but gets around the ground as good as ive seen from a big man.

 

[tigerman]

I think the most important part of a ruckman is their around the ground work which is why Gawn is so bloody good! He actually can do both but gets around the ground as good as ive seen from a big man.

Agree.

We don't win the 2020 without Nank's sterling last quarter in the preliminary final against Port.

 

[ToraToraTora]

Was always coming kids, and always in surprising ways. Our time in the bottom 4 is coming too.

 

[Smoking Aces]

Our midfield is paper thin.

It needs urgent attention. Tarranto will come in.

But let’s get aggressive and get Hopper as well. It might cost us a Short but do be it.

It’s our biggest issue right now.

 

[TigerForce]

Our midfield is paper thin.

It needs urgent attention. Tarranto will come in.

But let’s get aggressive and get Hopper as well. It might cost us a Short but do be it.

It’s our biggest issue right now.

Yep. Aggressive is the word. Prestia and Dusty are just about finished and won't last the next 2 years fully now with these recurring injuries.

 

[TimeToRoar]

Our midfield is paper thin.

It needs urgent attention. Tarranto will come in.

But let’s get aggressive and get Hopper as well. It might cost us a Short but do be it.

It’s our biggest issue right now.

If we bring these guys in, they better be able to fight for the ball as they won’t get first hands on it if our ruckman can’t tap to them

 

[Tigers2011]

Our midfield is paper thin.

It needs urgent attention. Tarranto will come in.

But let’s get aggressive and get Hopper as well. It might cost us a Short but do be it.

It’s our biggest issue right now.

I’d give up Short to get another decent midfielder. Until we address clearance & stoppage, we’ll be wasting our time.

 

[Ridley]

Our midfield is paper thin.

It needs urgent attention. Tarranto will come in.

But let’s get aggressive and get Hopper as well. It might cost us a Short but do be it.

It’s our biggest issue right now.

We somehow get Taranto and Hopper but lose Short? Where do I sign?