The 2022 Engine Room

[OldTiger1967]

In 2021 our Engine Room had its pants pulled down and bum smacked on too many occasions. The result of this was magnified by the "new rules" and hence we missed the finals. Our mid-fielders looked slow - did not chase and the consequential results on the scoreboard were devastating.

In each game in 2022 we have to win the Engine Room battle or at the very least break even. This IMO is where our improvement must start if we are to climb the ladder.

BUT

I fear it is the same old names being mentioned for the mid-field in our best 22 for the upcoming season.

So

Where can we gain some positive feeling, ideas, truths about our mid-field performing better and being equal to the task of winning the numbers out of the center and around the ground?

Are Nankervis and Soldo the saviors?
Where is the speed in the guts going to come from and will they chase when we lose the tap and 1st possession?
Will Hardwick and his brains trust devise a new plan for our mid-field that will enable us 1st use of the ball?

If this mid-field issue is not addressed I fear in this season we will be looking at the results of 2021 all over again and become the "also ran" club.

Give us all some engine room positives.......Please?

 

[Harry]

Soldo will make a big difference, so will a fit Prestia, Edwards and Lambert. But we really need the likes of Ross and RCD to step up.

 

[tigerman]

Thanks for the thread, a bit of footy talk is long overdue.

Reckon Soldo and Nankervis are the key to the engine room. Soldo to play first ruck giving us first use out of the middle, with Nank brutalising them when he goes into the ruck.

Got a feeling RCD will combine well with Soldo.

 

[Quickdraw]

Good thread, OT67.
Agree with your thoughts.

I think there's a few positives when I look at the list and its health.
Soldo was a big loss. Very good tap ruck. Got a lot of time for the big lug . The Soldo/Nank combo works well. We've seen that.
Nank is a beast. They don't call him the Widowmaker for nothing . Missed 6 games last year and missed Soldo. He loves to tackle (and hurt). We need him cherry ripe. Seemed to be labouring last year.
Prestia - as good as any when fit, that's going to be the question again. Great reports on his preseason but we're always holding our breath about Dion. Fingers crossed he plays. 22 games in 2017 and 25 games in 2019. That sort of output would be a massive boost.
Cotchin - Not writing off the Skip just yet.
Shai - x factor rolling through the guts is exciting
Baker - I'd be giving him a crack at midfield @caesar which group has Bakes been training with?
RCD - Bring it. We've been patient. Time to break out.
Ross - Play him in the guts or don't play him. Simples.
Dusty - Always leave desert to last . A fit Dusty doing cameos in the middle (but mostly terrorising oppo defenders) is something special.

I'm keen to see if we can detect any changes to our game plan. When match sims start we may get some early thoughts from our esteemed track watchers.

I'm very much glass half full.

 

[ceehook2]

it will sound like a cop out , but the physical and mental freshness of our old guys will be the big source of midfield improvement

Cotch, Prestia , Edwards & Lambert all had last year ruined with injury , I think one game we had 5 mids out and lost
Cotch in particular looks way better

write off Stack's year last year , he's doing well this preseason, so fingers crossed , he could be one that might roll thru wing , half back and mid ,
he might only do the occassional chop out but they could be important little cameo's

and of course Dusty , just running on the field he'll motivate the side

RCD , Ross , Dow , Martyn basically weren't ready last year

RCD & Ross I think will be ready to play at level this year after what they showed late last year , just how much they step up is the question

and for a smokey , Parker , worked super hard last year , prob too hard , if he relaxes just a tad I think we have a goer
he'll lay tackles around stoppages , if he can cause turnovers Cotch , Dusty , Shed , Shai will do the rest

so there's ways we can improve midfield performance , fingers crossed the injury gods dont crash the party

 

[Smoking Aces]

For me the biggest thing to look forward to is Dustin playing much lighter, which will hopefully see him back to a bigger split of midfield time.

If we could have him playing at least 70% in the midfield then he could drive our midfield with a Brownlow level season.

Stole my thunder TBR.

Forget anyone else but a fit Martin will be enough to catapult us back to greatness.

 

[craig]

We have the GOAT who might just be in the mood to pay tribute to his father by tearing the competition a new one.

If he does and is ably assisted we win.

Riley is the one we need to really step up along with Stackman, they give the side more options.

Of the kids Brown and Clarke might surprise at some stage with their pace, and the Sonz might even make an appearance.

Tarrant and of course Soldo are going to be hugely important.

 

[Disco]

I would love our forwards (and I’m sure they would too) to be getting some clean “first use” ball.
Hopefully Soldo progresses well and can help to at least break even through the middle.
Need at least one youngster to step up and demand a spot in the starting group each week (one of Ross/RCD/Dow).
Can’t rely on Cotch, Edwards and Prestia at this stage of their careers/injury history.
Would be nice to be able to throw Balta in there at times too, when we may be getting beaten. Provides an energy and some pace. A few games for Gibcus could open up some nice options for us.

 

[Ghost of 29]

I would love our forwards (and I’m sure they would too) to be getting some clean “first use” ball.
Hopefully Soldo progresses well and can help to at least break even through the middle.
Need at least one youngster to step up and demand a spot in the starting group each week (one of Ross/RCD/Dow).
Can’t rely on Cotch, Edwards and Prestia at this stage of their careers/injury history.
Would be nice to be able to throw Balta in there at times too, when we may be getting beaten. Provides an energy and some pace. A few games for Gibcus could open up some nice options for us.

Agree, we know what Dusty, Cotchin etc..can do. It’s the younger mids that will determine what happens this year. If they provide enough support and some offensive ball of their own it will be a good year

 

[Sintiger]

There are a lot of unknowns but if the stars align we are undoubtedly a threat. The keys to me are
1. Dusty. Has he got another 2017 in the locker?
2. Are Cotch, Jack and Shedda done or not?
3. Prestia fitness
4. Lynch fitness
5. Soldo and Nank.

After that we need a couple of youngsters to stamp themselves on the competition. My highest hopes are with RCD and Stack.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Injuries will happen. We really need someone to break through from our group of young mids.
Ross, Dow, Martyn, RCD, Stack..there's been a lot of patience shown (rightly) but some of these lads have to make a genuine impact this season.

 

[Dont Argue]

Injuries will happen. We really need someone to break through from our group of young mids.
Ross, Dow, Martyn, RCD, Stack..there's been a lot of patience shown (rightly) but some of these lads have to make a genuine impact this season.

Not sure there’s break out ability with Martyn. Think he’s too one paced.
RCD, Ross and even Mansell need to level up.
A consistent and fit Stack the obvious heir apparent to our next generation of young stars. He’s a known quantity. The others haven’t shown more than a glimpse. Yet.

 

[eZyT]

Nank/ivan, Dusty, dion, $hai, Lambo, Marlion, Bakes, JG, RCD (avg age = 25.5 = perfect)

Our main mid rotations, in that order of importance

Sheds and Cotchy roll in to either halt oppo momentum, euthenaise a side, or at 26 minute mark in the last qtr of the gf

 

[eZyT]

Ross, Dow, Martyn, RCD, Stack..there's been a lot of patience shown (rightly) but some of these lads have to make a genuine impact this season.

I wouldnt have Stackman in the yet-to-impact group

People have short memories, he finished unanimously top 3 in the RS in 2019, ahead of blokes like bailey smith liam baker and oscar allen.

 

[Tigers of Old]

I wouldnt have Stackman in the yet-to-impact group

In the midfield for context.

 

[Jake]

Injuries will happen. We really need someone to break through from our group of young mids.
Ross, Dow, Martyn, RCD, Stack..there's been a lot of patience shown (rightly) but some of these lads have to make a genuine impact this season.

I hope Dimma plays our wingers in that position and not running off the half back flank, I feel our midfield need protection. Two examples both involving Dusty and that *smile* from Brisbane (Robinson) first one last year that ended Dusty's season. Kamdyn?? I think wasn't playing on Robinson he was playing nearly as a half back flanker, it might not of stopped Robinson charging in but it might of given Dusty more protection. Next one round 10 2021 gabba, the smartarse's out force this night too, Hugo not quick enough for protection. Dusty nailed. They are our best players we need to look after them, we do that and this year with a bit of luck look out.

Round 10 2021,

 

[Brodders17]

without wanting to live off past glories, i reckon questions have been asked of our midfield every premiership year, and when it has mattered most our midfield has shown it is as good as any.

while having some of the younger mids step up will at worst improve our depth, i am pretty confident that come Sept 2022 a midfield based around Nank, Soldo, Prestia, Cotchin, Dusty, ShEdwards, Lambert, Graham and Bolton will be able to match anything thrown at us.

 

[eZyT]

I hope Dimma plays our wingers in that position and not running off the half back flank, I feel our midfield need protection. Two examples both involving Dusty and that *smile* from Brisbane (Robinson) first one last year that ended Dusty's season. Kamdyn?? I think wasn't playing on Robinson he was playing nearly as a half back flanker, it might not of stopped Robinson charging in but it might of given Dusty more protection. Next one round 10 2021 gabba, the smartarse's out force this night too, Hugo not quick enough for protection. Dusty nailed. They are our best players we need to look after them, we do that and this year with a bit of luck look out.

Round 10 2021,

Its an interesting point.

If its some protection for Dusty (and $hai) we need,

I think it supports my argument for Marlion in the guts

 

[graystar1]

I have read all the posts and would comment that last year at least, we lacked speed.
Ross, so far has not shown leg speed, Dusty, for all his talent, is not the fastest around and neither is Prestia or the ageing Cotchin.
So, where will our speed from stoppages come from, apart from Shai, who can't be everywhere at all times?

 

[Carter]

nank and soldo
soldo and nank
nank and soldo
2019 2019 2019 2019

I call this piece "What The AFL At Large Has Forgotten, But Will Remember With A Vengeance In September 2022"