Position 2023: Midfield Discussion
- Thread starter KLo30
- Start date
- Joined
- 24 Apr 2013
- Messages
- 11,173
- Likes
- 13,044
- AFL Club
- Carlton
I wonder if there was some sort of injury that we were not told of for Laird?
Seems pretty odd and I recall Connoisseur maybe posting that his lowest score was a 97 back in 2021?
Seems pretty odd and I recall Connoisseur maybe posting that his lowest score was a 97 back in 2021?
I haven't seen the game, have just been browsing some of the replay. Wonder if the Ross game plan has hurt his style? 
They freely gave up space to the opposition defenders (not good for midfielders who need to accumulate) in order to setup a zone to push the opposition wide (again, not good for players in the middle). A lot of the Freo possession chains seemed to start at the back with the 3 defs chipping it around, then moved the ball up the wing where they would die either there or on the forward flank. Saints would then setup fairly defensively around the subsequent stoppage and try to force break with numbers rather than try to win the stoppage against their direct opponents 1:1 (something Steele is best at in their side).
Could just be an astute tactical response to what the list is capable of and how Freo play but if it's the style they are going with all year it probably means two things:
They freely gave up space to the opposition defenders (not good for midfielders who need to accumulate) in order to setup a zone to push the opposition wide (again, not good for players in the middle). A lot of the Freo possession chains seemed to start at the back with the 3 defs chipping it around, then moved the ball up the wing where they would die either there or on the forward flank. Saints would then setup fairly defensively around the subsequent stoppage and try to force break with numbers rather than try to win the stoppage against their direct opponents 1:1 (something Steele is best at in their side).
Could just be an astute tactical response to what the list is capable of and how Freo play but if it's the style they are going with all year it probably means two things:
- Captain whichever defenders are playing against St Kilda
- Steele won't go at 110+
He always does that, did it all last year. Plays the first 5 or so then goes to the bench. Has another generally towards the end, kind of weird but totally normal for him.
He looked fit and fine, just low effort. It sure didn't help him that the Giants made it so uncontested by refusing to create a contest and then ROB kind of cooked him by falling to pieces in the ruck which basically meant it kept going into defensive 50 for the Crows over and over again and they had no composure coming out, just bomb long. Basically their midfielders were all doing wind sprints back and forth between the Giants wall and their defenders playing kick to kick.
Really it was just a terrible game, the problem is he now needs a pair of 160+ type scores or he's going to hemorrhage cash.
He looked fit and fine, just low effort. It sure didn't help him that the Giants made it so uncontested by refusing to create a contest and then ROB kind of cooked him by falling to pieces in the ruck which basically meant it kept going into defensive 50 for the Crows over and over again and they had no composure coming out, just bomb long. Basically their midfielders were all doing wind sprints back and forth between the Giants wall and their defenders playing kick to kick.
Really it was just a terrible game, the problem is he now needs a pair of 160+ type scores or he's going to hemorrhage cash.
“I probably could’ve gotten on the move a bit more personally and actually look to get through the stoppage and move around a bit more. I struggled to actually cover the ground on the weekend. The conditions I found really challenging personally, and I think a lot of guys did on both teams. There was a lot of cramping going on by the end of the game.
“I probably could’ve been on the move a bit more or looked to free up someone else. I probably made it easier for them to be able to sit on me and there’s some big bodies in there (GWS mids), so I had to get off them a bit more,” Laird said.
Laird also agreed with Toby Greene’s sentiment that it was one of the hardest games he’s had to play due to the conditions, which contributed to his struggles to cover the ground.
“I probably could’ve been on the move a bit more or looked to free up someone else. I probably made it easier for them to be able to sit on me and there’s some big bodies in there (GWS mids), so I had to get off them a bit more,” Laird said.
Laird also agreed with Toby Greene’s sentiment that it was one of the hardest games he’s had to play due to the conditions, which contributed to his struggles to cover the ground.
- Joined
- 19 Jan 2016
- Messages
- 1,929
- Likes
- 6,564
I did think about it, but my sense watching both games was that he saved what could have been more middling scores with late actions, it didn't feel sustainable. No doubt I will be proven wrong though.
The main reason I considered it at all is because that gives me just enough cash to get to Cameron rather than Ziebell at F4. I don't actually love either of them as keeper options (which in the case of Cameron is almost certainly irrational and based on him being a spud at Sydney) so I think I'd rather have the cash in hand which should let me get one of Bowes or Crozier next round.
The main reason I considered it at all is because that gives me just enough cash to get to Cameron rather than Ziebell at F4. I don't actually love either of them as keeper options (which in the case of Cameron is almost certainly irrational and based on him being a spud at Sydney) so I think I'd rather have the cash in hand which should let me get one of Bowes or Crozier next round.
