Position 2022: Midfield Discussion

[mwross91]

Who does everyone think is more likely to finish the season as a top 10mid out of Brayshaw, Jelly and Neale?

I'm actually leaning towards Kelly at moment. I know everyone's worry with him in the past has been injuries, but he was pretty durable last year. Brayshaw's disposal I think might hold him back some games if he doesn't get 35. Whereas Kelly can score 100+ from 20touches.

Neale obviously the one that's done it all before. Looked pretty good against the Dogs too. Currently tossing up these 3 as M4 (with macrae, steele, oliver already).

 

[jaca]

Who does everyone think is more likely to finish the season as a top 10mid out of Brayshaw, Jelly and Neale?

I'm actually leaning towards Kelly at moment. I know everyone's worry with him in the past has been injuries, but he was pretty durable last year. Brayshaw's disposal I think might hold him back some games if he doesn't get 35. Whereas Kelly can score 100+ from 20touches.

Neale obviously the one that's done it all before. Looked pretty good against the Dogs too. Currently tossing up these 3 as M4 (with macrae, steele, oliver already).

I've got Neale as a lock, tbh, but Jelly and Brayshaw are in contention for me M2 position. I've had both in various iterations, and feel the value is really good. That said, I'm questioning what taking them does vs. e.g. a Steele type at M2? If I can get to e.g. Crisp over Sicily, I might do it. If not, I might just go with the known uber.

 

[Leroy]

I've got Neale as a lock, tbh, but Jelly and Brayshaw are in contention for me M2 position. I've had both in various iterations, and feel the value is really good. That said, I'm questioning what taking them does vs. e.g. a Steele type at M2? If I can get to e.g. Crisp over Sicily, I might do it. If not, I might just go with the known uber.

This is where I am as well.
I could drop a super mid down for $100k but my latest team can't really use those funds for anything. Maybe by R5 as a quick upgrade but that's a lot of risk and coin to carry vs just starting a guy like Steele.

 

[Montyjnr]

Who does everyone think is more likely to finish the season as a top 10mid out of Brayshaw, Jelly and Neale?

I'm actually leaning towards Kelly at moment. I know everyone's worry with him in the past has been injuries, but he was pretty durable last year. Brayshaw's disposal I think might hold him back some games if he doesn't get 35. Whereas Kelly can score 100+ from 20touches.

Neale obviously the one that's done it all before. Looked pretty good against the Dogs too. Currently tossing up these 3 as M4 (with macrae, steele, oliver already).

Neale > Kelly > Brayshaw comfortably for mine.

 

[wogitalia]

If we need to cover depth is 3 mid premo ok this year to form a good rounded team this year

Yep, think the extra trades is also a factor here, it's never been easier to upgrade to a 650k target than this year.

Who does everyone think is more likely to finish the season as a top 10mid out of Brayshaw, Jelly and Neale?

I'm actually leaning towards Kelly at moment. I know everyone's worry with him in the past has been injuries, but he was pretty durable last year. Brayshaw's disposal I think might hold him back some games if he doesn't get 35. Whereas Kelly can score 100+ from 20touches.

Neale obviously the one that's done it all before. Looked pretty good against the Dogs too. Currently tossing up these 3 as M4 (with macrae, steele, oliver already).

For mine on the main criteria:

Ceiling - Neale > Kelly > Brayshaw - Neale proven at a higher tier than the others have gotten close to.
Value - Neale > Kelly > Brayshaw - I think Kelly has a higher ceiling/projected average so he's slightly better value.
Projected Average - Neale > Kelly > Brayshaw - This assumes they stay fit...
Durability - Neale=Brayshaw >>>> Kelly - Neale only last years dreadful preseason inspired breakdown, Brayshaw the minor injury last year and freak broken jaw, Kelly is a constant threat, even last year where he played
Role Certainty = All equal - They've all got questions here, probably Brayshaw the most certainty but still has Brodie, Fyfe and Mundy presenting questions. Neale had the most certainty in preseason but no Zorko and coach chatter, Kelly has Cameron, Cameron has no idea.

Overall I think it's Neale >> Kelly > Brayshaw but the last two are really close and it's probably a decision of upside vs durability and I know many would take the durability as it's the quickest way to derail any pursuit of upside.

I think Neale is in a different class though and should be locked. He's capable of getting back to 130 and the hurt factor of a guy in 99% of relevant teams doing that if you don't have him is pretty much season ending if the one you take instead doesn't match him!

 

[mwross91]

Yep, think the extra trades is also a factor here, it's never been easier to upgrade to a 650k target than this year.




For mine on the main criteria:

Ceiling - Neale > Kelly > Brayshaw - Neale proven at a higher tier than the others have gotten close to.
Value - Neale > Kelly > Brayshaw - I think Kelly has a higher ceiling/projected average so he's slightly better value.
Projected Average - Neale > Kelly > Brayshaw - This assumes they stay fit...
Durability - Neale=Brayshaw >>>> Kelly - Neale only last years dreadful preseason inspired breakdown, Brayshaw the minor injury last year and freak broken jaw, Kelly is a constant threat, even last year where he played
Role Certainty = All equal - They've all got questions here, probably Brayshaw the most certainty but still has Brodie, Fyfe and Mundy presenting questions. Neale had the most certainty in preseason but no Zorko and coach chatter, Kelly has Cameron, Cameron has no idea.

Overall I think it's Neale >> Kelly > Brayshaw but the last two are really close and it's probably a decision of upside vs durability and I know many would take the durability as it's the quickest way to derail any pursuit of upside.

I think Neale is in a different class though and should be locked. He's capable of getting back to 130 and the hurt factor of a guy in 99% of relevant teams doing that if you don't have him is pretty much season ending if the one you take instead doesn't match him!

Great point - I think the last line is really the selling factor. Too much of a risk not starting Neale. Thanks for the help. Now to pray to the SC gods for a few playing backline rookies...

 

[Manikato1]

So Like many I am being tempted by Cripps (M4 in my case). However if he gets injured early before any rookies have earned any cash what is plan B? Do you just suck it up for 3-4 rds with a 3 prem midfield till you have cash to upgrade? There could be a big improver you can switch to but that is a bit sideways and probably needs another trade later on to upgrade again. There seems to be so many mid pricers in my team that I might consider submitting into the MPM comp as is

 

[Shaunpro1]

So Like many I am being tempted by Cripps (M4 in my case). However if he gets injured early before any rookies have earned any cash what is plan B? Do you just suck it up for 3-4 rds with a 3 prem midfield till you have cash to upgrade? There could be a big improver you can switch to but that is a bit sideways and probably needs another trade later on to upgrade again. There seems to be so many mid pricers in my team that I might consider submitting into the MPM comp as is

Any sign of injury you trade him IMHO

 

[wogitalia]

So Like many I am being tempted by Cripps (M4 in my case). However if he gets injured early before any rookies have earned any cash what is plan B? Do you just suck it up for 3-4 rds with a 3 prem midfield till you have cash to upgrade? There could be a big improver you can switch to but that is a bit sideways and probably needs another trade later on to upgrade again. There seems to be so many mid pricers in my team that I might consider submitting into the MPM comp as is

Assuming it's the easy injury where he's out long term:

Downgrade to a missed rookie.
Downgrade to a missed midpricer such as a Rowell, Polec or Caldwell type.
Sideways to a Sicily/Heeney/Thomas/Butters type using DPP.

Rookie depth in the midfield should be stronger than elsewhere if the preseason is any indication.

Becomes a lot harder if it's an injury he's playing through that's clearly impacting his scoring, in which case it's how badly is it affecting the scoring. If he's averaging 95+ then he's a very low priority trade, if he's averaging 85 then he's barely leaking value and you can hope for a big game to correct that. If he's <85, you need to act fast. Also worth noting that if he's playing forward substantial minutes and could get DPP, that could change the equation so something to be alert for.

Anyone thinking about the pick should have all of this already well and truly worked out and planned for of course. Things like taking a Crisp over a Stewart, all else being equal in your judgements or having Hewett, who directly benefits if Cripps is hurt and can allow the switch.

 

[N29]

With cheap rookies looking scarce (even more so than usual) it's getting really hard to ignore value premiums like Neale and Cripps. Similar situation in defence - finding it hard to pass up a couple of cheaper guys like Sicily and Hewett who have premo potential.

I think nailing the right expensive rookie options $150k-$275k in combination with the best value priced premium options is going to be key.

 

[N29]

I will add I'm not thrilled about picking Cripps - but there is some serious hurt factor there if he does go back to being a 110-115 guy and you decided to pass up the value.

 

[wogitalia]

I will add I'm not thrilled about picking Cripps - but there is some serious hurt factor there if he does go back to being a 110-115 guy and you decided to pass up the value.

I think the big thing with Cripps is it's pretty hard to see him really "failing" this year, he might not be a winning pick but the scope for a losing pick is significantly lower, just find it hard to see him averaging under 95 if he's relatively fit and, touch wood, he looks that right now.

I think he's the type of player risks should be taken on, proven elite scoring with no reason other than durability that he can't get back there. Admittedly, the durability issue is significant.

Agree on the other guys as well, I like a guy like Hewett in that he doesn't have the usual durability clause to his contract, he's not a terrible handcuff with Cripps either, if Cripps does fail logic says Hewett is the single biggest benefactor (outside maybe a Kennedy who isn't relevant at this point).

The extra trades and the premium rookie spending might just make this an upside down year where targeting the D1-4, M3-6 and F2-4 as trade targets is much more achievable than the normal pathway of trying to start with those bases covered and target the value players to finish it out.

Ultimately I think we need to generate that "150k" per rookie and if we've got a few 180k rookies that we have to pick like Hinge and Gibcus who might very well struggle to do that, then realistically that value needs to be generated somewhere else, even if it's realised up front rather than a trade later.

 

[Philzsay]

So has anyone figured out how to fit 16 to 20 players they like into their midfield yet?

There are going to be some real tough decisions here!!

 

[AngryAnt]

So has anyone figured out how to fit 16 to 20 players they like into their midfield yet?

There are going to be some real tough decisions here!!

It's painful

 

[wogitalia]

So has anyone figured out how to fit 16 to 20 players they like into their midfield yet?

There are going to be some real tough decisions here!!

The worst part is picking 2 that I really don't want while leaving out the 18 I do

 

[TeeButOne]

The issue I'm having is to keep or sacrifice a DPP link on the MID bench. My current MID bench is D. Stephens, O'Driscoll (D/M link) and Maginness (F/M link). Let's say I want to bring in Connor MacDonald, which DPP link gets sacrificed?

 

[NT.Thunder]

I need to be strong I think and trust my gut on Cripps. I just don’t see how he fits into a top 8 midfielder by years end against Miller, Macrae, Steele, Oliver, Bont, Titch, Neale, Petracca, Brayshaw, Kelly and others who all have more rounded games and most if not all better durability. His last game of what was it, 80% de and 4 goals is going to be more the exception than the norm. I think his first match where he had something like 28 disposals and still didn’t crack the ton will be closer to his normal level.

Maybe I’m just trying to comfort myself but he’s a future headache one way or another and I can live with this one him not being in my initial team

 

[dlanod]

The issue I'm having is to keep or sacrifice a DPP link on the MID bench. My current MID bench is D. Stephens, O'Driscoll (D/M link) and Maginness (F/M link). Let's say I want to bring in Connor MacDonald, which DPP link gets sacrificed?

I don't think O'Driscoll is going to be named if that helps...

 

[wogitalia]

I need to be strong I think and trust my gut on Cripps. I just don’t see how he fits into a top 8 midfielder by years end against Miller, Macrae, Steele, Oliver, Bont, Titch, Neale, Petracca, Brayshaw, Kelly and others who all have more rounded games and most if not all better durability. His last game of what was it, 80% de and 4 goals is going to be more the exception than the norm. I think his first match where he had something like 28 disposals and still didn’t crack the ton will be closer to his normal level.

Maybe I’m just trying to comfort myself but he’s a future headache one way or another and I can live with this one him not being in my initial team

I don't fault you but I think you're playing revisionist history on his scoring ability if you think that 140+ is not very much in his wheelhouse. Over 2018-2019, when he was fit and not being destroyed by Teague he had 11 games above 140. He takes contested marks at a rate better than any of that group, he wins contested ball at the elite end of that group and he kicks goals in the upper tier of that group, especially when not being wasted trying to play forward against elite defenders.

Obviously 140 is not the norm but he had more games in that 140+ range than he had in the under 90 range. The 4 goals and the DE% are rare, but 30 disposals is smack on average.

Durability is the be all and end all with him. Even with him in my team I have very little faith in his body but the upside scoring and top 8 potential, if he's fit, is very much there and proven to exist.

I think he's basically a 30/70 bet of staying fit/getting injured, which probably puts him firmly in the avoid basket except for the fact that he's 35 points underpriced which brings he screaming right back into it.

It really is a good tester. Conservative coach in my says find the 200k and get Steele/Macrae types, the gambler says DO IT. Those two fight one of the great conflicts in history every time I hit that little T icon

 

[Connoisseur]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1500352378847260674