Position 2022: Midfield Discussion
- Thread starter KLo30
- Start date
Might complement him, Matt is very much an in an under mid, first man up, wins the contested ball at the bounces and hand passes it out (badly sometimes when under pressure) and doesn’t have the best kick either. If i was to be overly optimistic I’d say Laird could even tidy up his scoring by winning his poor under pressure handballs and turning them into effective disposals, but who knows. Will be an interesting year for the Crows.
Only his third year, probably a year or two early yet mate, let him keep developing.
I'm also interested to see how Lachie Sholl and Will Hamill go this year, all three are in that 15-30 game range and should progress this season (hopefully). Sholl definitely looks like he has an elite kick on him, something we have definitely lacked at times during our downward spiral over the last couple of years.
I'm also interested to see how Lachie Sholl and Will Hamill go this year, all three are in that 15-30 game range and should progress this season (hopefully). Sholl definitely looks like he has an elite kick on him, something we have definitely lacked at times during our downward spiral over the last couple of years.
Biggest worry with Hamill is repeat concussions , not sure if it was 3-4 last year (maybe more)
Actually not the worse team on paper (if they stay on the park)
ROB with Crouch , Keays , Laird , Schoenberg , Sloane
Dawson , Milera , Smith
get another 20 games into Hamill , Sholl etc etc
get the forward line working
Actually not the worse team on paper (if they stay on the park)
ROB with Crouch , Keays , Laird , Schoenberg , Sloane
Dawson , Milera , Smith
get another 20 games into Hamill , Sholl etc etc
get the forward line working
We've overlooked Sam Berry too, 17 games in his first season last year too, will be interesting to see where hIm Pedlar and Hately all fit in.
Forward line is our biggest concern I reckon, Thrillthopre looks the goods but we need one or both of Fogarty of Big Himmelberg to realise their potential.
Sounds like Josh Rachele is a ready to go AFL player, kicked 3 in the crows trial game against Brissy. Probably pushes out one of Jimmy Rowe, Lachie Murphy and maybe Shane McAdam, although I’d think McAdam is safe.
Forward line is our biggest concern I reckon, Thrillthopre looks the goods but we need one or both of Fogarty of Big Himmelberg to realise their potential.
Sounds like Josh Rachele is a ready to go AFL player, kicked 3 in the crows trial game against Brissy. Probably pushes out one of Jimmy Rowe, Lachie Murphy and maybe Shane McAdam, although I’d think McAdam is safe.
Was Pedlar the one with groin issues last season or was that Cook ? (I can't remember)
Berry looks to slow at this level in my opinion.
Fog's time to shine in the first 3 rounds without Tex or send him to the country 😀
McAdam is the excitement machine , can't drop him.
Suddenly getting competition for places.
Berry looks to slow at this level in my opinion.
Fog's time to shine in the first 3 rounds without Tex or send him to the country 😀
McAdam is the excitement machine , can't drop him.
Suddenly getting competition for places.
Berry's issue is a common one, he's a pretty pure inside midfielder that's firmly behind Sloane, Schoenberg, Dawson, Laird and Crouch for that role. They'll squeeze a couple of them out because it's too many anyway but just can't see him in there in the role he's suited to. A lot of those young inside mid guys also never developed other roles in a side as juniors so it can be very difficult for them to stick and really impact outside those spots. Especially if they do lack polish and wheels.
I actually really like him as a player but it's going to be hard for him.
I actually really like him as a player but it's going to be hard for him.
Exactly right , juniors to AFL is almost a whole new sport.
Dominate as a mid as a kid , get to senior level and suddenly you are in a pocket or on a flank learning about defensive side , team structures , when/where to run etc etc it's all foreign.
Schoenberg is the interesting one for mine , they deliberately put him in the middle the last 6-7 games of last season , so whether they push him back out (or Sloane) will be curious to see.
Get some run and carry around Crouch & Laird and they could actually be dangerous , almost need to set up Dawson , Milera , Smith as the second receivers and go bang
Dominate as a mid as a kid , get to senior level and suddenly you are in a pocket or on a flank learning about defensive side , team structures , when/where to run etc etc it's all foreign.
Schoenberg is the interesting one for mine , they deliberately put him in the middle the last 6-7 games of last season , so whether they push him back out (or Sloane) will be curious to see.
Get some run and carry around Crouch & Laird and they could actually be dangerous , almost need to set up Dawson , Milera , Smith as the second receivers and go bang
Yeah McAdam has that speccy over the pack mark in his repertoire and seems to work out around the 50m arc and up the wing more, he needs to develop his skills a bit more, but you’d think he’s safe.
Pedlar had an ankle injury and also had post season shoulder surgery, be interesting to see if he comes back through the sanfl to give him match practise.
Pedlar had an ankle injury and also had post season shoulder surgery, be interesting to see if he comes back through the sanfl to give him match practise.
You're right about Berry being an inside mid, but looks like they played him forward enough late last year for him to be listed as a forward only in SC. I like him as player too, I reckon there is a spot for him though, Sloane's 31 and I reckon only Matt Crouch and Berry are our 2 true inside mid bulls that will be first in at the bounces week in week out in the long term, I reckon Schoenberg has got the wheels and is more of a receiver and the guy who will distribute the ball out of the contest.
Midfield chat has gone a bit quiet, guess we all know who the super-premos are 
I keep coming back to one guy other though: Jack Macrae hit his first 120 season when he was 23; Oliver hit his first 120 season at 22; Steele was a 'late' bloomer at 24 haha.
Around 100 games of footy in and an age profile of 22-24 seems to be when the midfielders that can do it will hit the holy grail of a 120+ season. I guess before then they are still developing and effectively setting up their career scoring patterns.
It's part of the reason I was so keen on Walsh - he hasn't shown us his best yet, and his 'growing into his best' was 115+!
So that finally brings me around to Andy Brayshaw. He's only 22; last two seasons of 100 and 107. Second half of last year he seemed to find the ability to turn his down games into 90s instead of 60s but also found his beast mode for the first time with that 190.
If he puts a full season together where his worst games are 90s and his best are 160+ then he's a top mid. Don't know if I'll have the guts to pick him though!
I keep coming back to one guy other though: Jack Macrae hit his first 120 season when he was 23; Oliver hit his first 120 season at 22; Steele was a 'late' bloomer at 24 haha.
Around 100 games of footy in and an age profile of 22-24 seems to be when the midfielders that can do it will hit the holy grail of a 120+ season. I guess before then they are still developing and effectively setting up their career scoring patterns.
It's part of the reason I was so keen on Walsh - he hasn't shown us his best yet, and his 'growing into his best' was 115+!
So that finally brings me around to Andy Brayshaw. He's only 22; last two seasons of 100 and 107. Second half of last year he seemed to find the ability to turn his down games into 90s instead of 60s but also found his beast mode for the first time with that 190.
If he puts a full season together where his worst games are 90s and his best are 160+ then he's a top mid. Don't know if I'll have the guts to pick him though!
