Position 2023: Midfield Discussion

[Locus Levy Lunacy]

That pretty much puts a fork in Titch for me. He sits fourth all time for average uncontested possessions with 17.47 and his peak years for SC scoring (2021, 2017, 2018) correlate with his peak years for average uncontested possessions (22.91, 21.5, 19.38).

I was on the fence with Titch and like you, was thinking he's out.

The thing is, he couldn't possibly have been playing his intended role on Friday. I'm pretty sure I read he had 36% CBA's. From what Pendles said, Mitchell is there to attend as many stoppages as possible. To do that, you have to follow the ball around (i.e. you don't just go forward after every stoppage you attend). Mitchell might not be quick or a penetrating kick, but if he is following the ball around waiting for the next stoppage, he is the type of player who just can't help but get involved in chains. The Collingwood players are not going to deliberately not give him the ball.

I can't help but think Friday was one of those times where a player just jogs around to get some miles in the legs, with no intention of playing their true role. I was paying more attention to the Carlton side of things, and I found the white jumpers made it harder to recognise the Pies, but I hardly noticed Mitchell. McRae said they got him to play him to his strengths, which Pendles backed up - yet they did the total opposite on Friday.

I'm not saying "pick him", but for those that were going to, I'd be wary of paying too much attention to Friday's game.

 

[toxic]

I was on the fence with Titch and like you, was thinking he's out.

The thing is, he couldn't possibly have been playing his intended role on Friday. I'm pretty sure I read he had 36% CBA's. From what Pendles said, Mitchell is there to attend as many stoppages as possible. To do that, you have to follow the ball around (i.e. you don't just go forward after every stoppage you attend). Mitchell might not be quick or a penetrating kick, but if he is following the ball around waiting for the next stoppage, he is the type of player who just can't help but get involved in chains. The Collingwood players are not going to deliberately not give him the ball.

I can't help but think Friday was one of those times where a player just jogs around to get some miles in the legs, with no intention of playing their true role. I was paying more attention to the Carlton side of things, and I found the white jumpers made it harder to recognise the Pies, but I hardly noticed Mitchell. McRae said they got him to play him to his strengths, which Pendles backed up - yet they did the total opposite on Friday.

I'm not saying "pick him", but for those that were going to, I'd be wary of paying too much attention to Friday's game.

Titch will be 30+ possessions a game

How many will be handballs?

Who benefits from his clearance work?

How many tackles?

Value - yes

Enough value - not for me

 

[jaca]

Where are people landing in terms # premos? I had 5 until Miller went, after that I can only get to 4 + e.g. Hopper at M5 before I dislike the rest of my team.

 

[Peter56]

Where are people landing in terms # premos? I had 5 until Miller went, after that I can only get to 4 + e.g. Hopper at M5 before I dislike the rest of my team.

I am the same. Going to wait for this weekend to make some final decisions 🤔

 

[froffershanners]

Where are people landing in terms # premos? I had 5 until Miller went, after that I can only get to 4 + e.g. Hopper at M5 before I dislike the rest of my team.

Running 4 deep here as well. Laird, Oliver, Bont and Green.

Will be looking closely at Neale, Macrae, Parish, Cripps, Steele, LDU and Rowell this weekend.

 

[PC]

This ^

 

[Shaunpro1]

Hmm, dislocated finger is nothing. If the corkie is not too bad i think I'll keep him. Usually goes bang early in the season

Most mids fingers are just about stuffed happens pretty frequently, long as theres nothing broken its business as usual.

 

[Shaunpro1]

Where are people landing in terms # premos? I had 5 until Miller went, after that I can only get to 4 + e.g. Hopper at M5 before I dislike the rest of my team.

I dont think Ive ever had any more than 4, have had teams with even 3 at stages.

Laird,Oliver and Bont wont move who I pick as the 4th is up in the air right now.

 

[Russty_]

Running 4 deep here as well. Laird, Oliver, Bont and Green.

Will be looking closely at Neale, Macrae, Parish, Cripps, Steele, LDU and Rowell this weekend.

Same here but don't consider Green a premo yet. would need to get to a 115+ average for me, fingers crossed.

 

[donnybuang]

Where are people landing in terms # premos? I had 5 until Miller went, after that I can only get to 4 + e.g. Hopper at M5 before I dislike the rest of my team.

4+ hopper currently. Have had Green M5, but this meant Daicos as D1.

 

[jobeywatto]

Hmm, dislocated finger is nothing. If the corkie is not too bad i think I'll keep him. Usually goes bang early in the season

I really want to start Neale. As you said he usually starts the season on fire, and with Brisbane having the early bye most probably won't be looking to bring him in until round 13 (unless he has a stinker early and his price plummets). Going 11 weeks without a guy who can average 130 will be tough, and a big advantage for anyone who starts him if he fires.

 

[Connoisseur]

J Macrae:
2022:
Lowest tackle average since debut season in 2013
Lowest disposal average in full length quarters since 2017 (all other seasons have been 32.8 or more)
Equal lowest time on ground (80%) since rookie season
36.7% Contested Possession Rate- Lowest since 33% in 2016
11.6 contested possessions per game (13.4 to 13.5 in 2018, 2019, 2021)
Lowest SC starting price 2018 and first time his starting price has been under $650,000 in that same period.

Matches with less than 30 disposals per season (exc 2020- shortened quarters):
2022= 9/22 (5 in the last 7 rounds)
2021= 2/22
2019= 6/22
2018= 3/19 (Inc less than 50% TOG against PA in RD12

Between RD1-RD20:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1553996104228028416

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1630373380103999488

 

[Stubbsy’s Heroes]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1630373380103999488

I’m not sure why these figures would be seen as somewhat positive by old mate FF; I can’t remember seeing a more consistent downward trend before 🤣. Not that I think a decrease of 1% in tackling efficiency correlates to much in SC though.

 

[Feerits Elf]

I’m not sure why these figures would be seen as somewhat positive by old mate FF

 

[GrainFedBeef]

Where are people landing in terms # premos? I had 5 until Miller went, after that I can only get to 4 + e.g. Hopper at M5 before I dislike the rest of my team.

I am the same. Going to wait for this weekend to make some final decisions 🤔

Running 4 deep here as well. Laird, Oliver, Bont and Green.

Will be looking closely at Neale, Macrae, Parish, Cripps, Steele, LDU and Rowell this weekend.

I dont think Ive ever had any more than 4, have had teams with even 3 at stages.

Laird,Oliver and Bont wont move who I pick as the 4th is up in the air right now.

Same here but don't consider Green a premo yet. would need to get to a 115+ average for me, fingers crossed.

4+ hopper currently. Have had Green M5, but this meant Daicos as D1.

I am running two models, one with three premiums ($600-700k) and Green and one two premiums plus Green. Irony is the latter has better depth with Hawk's MacKenzie off the field, plus Hopper and Sheed. I think if the premiums looks to be $50-75k underpriced its makes it more worthwhile, or if the mid pricers dont perform this weekend increasing risk profile.

Give up a $700k premium and a $123k rookie, it allows two $300-350k mid pricers and allows you to upgrade another $123k player to a +$200k player.

 

[jaca]

Thanks everyone, fantastic insight.

 

[donnybuang]

4+ hopper currently. Have had Green M5, but this meant Daicos as D1.

And I can't justify that. Green handballs too much and doesnt get enough of the pill for that type of game. I can't see him putting together a full premo season.

 

[freowho]

And I can't justify that. Green handballs too much and doesnt get enough of the pill for that type of game. I can't see him putting together a full premo season.

I think he gets close but the game doesn't lend itself to the inside bulls like it use to. Need more than one way to score points.

 

[Manikato1]

Handballing does not always prevent premo scoring. Cripps consistently has a higher handball to kick ratio. 2018 ave 119, 2019/117 and 2022 /111. Averages around 10/11 kicks per game in those seasons against 17 handballs. Likewise Oliver. It is what you do with it. Green not getting enough of the pill might be another issue.

 

[donnybuang]

Yes, Cripps is far superior in terms of total disposals, contested possessions, clearances and metres gained.