Position 2024: MIDFIELD DISCUSSION

[BIGB0Y]

While not wishing to steal the jam out of your doughnut are you aiming a little high with Wardlaw at 110 upside? According to the excellent tables published by @vin.gill at the end of each season (and he has conditions to qualify for those tables eg 8 games min) from 2019 only one player has scored less than 70 one year and then jumped to 110 the next year. That was Rowan Marshall in 2019 where he was in his third year and played solo ruck, a position that often facilitates higher scoring even in less experienced players. Angus Brayshaw also went 67 to 100 in 2022. Pre 2019 Oliver went 70 to 111 in 2017 in his second year. So yes it can be done but rarely. If he does he joins rare air and well done to you and other holders. I would be thinking mid 90's is more realistic and that would still be a big win for mine. Eg Worpel went 73 to 97 in his second year.

Nearly all of the big improvers each year are experienced players thati have returned to form.

Wardlaw has only played 8 games of afl, it would be a SuperCoach miracle if he averaged 110.

 

[Connoisseur]

Any interest in J Dunkley or is the early bye too off-putting?

 

[Hondo]

Wardlaw has only played 8 games of afl, it would be a SuperCoach miracle if he averaged 110.

It’s harder to get 110 than we tend to realise and rationalise pre season. It can turn into a throwaway estimate but it’s a hard barrier to crack!
I totally agree with your comment here.

 

[dlanod]

Any interest in J Dunkley or is the early bye too off-putting?

Pretty close to fully priced if not.

You take that small Round 0 scoring hit.

Reliable, but the upside isn't there to pick him over comparable options without that bye.

 

[NT.Thunder]

Feels like a real changing of the guard this year with lots of potential you uber premiums possible like Butters, Serong, LDU, Daicos, Sheezel, Green, Gulden with some of the older previous Ubers potentially going either way Neale, Laird, Dunkley. Pretty exciting to see what happens.

 

[Connoisseur]

Feels like a real changing of the guard this year with lots of potential you uber premiums possible like Butters, Serong, LDU, Daicos, Sheezel, Green, Gulden with some of the older previous Ubers potentially going either way Neale, Laird, Dunkley. Pretty exciting to see what happens.

Dunkley just turned 27 last month compared to Neale and Laird at 30, so still some time at peak performance before the eventual regression.

 

[NT.Thunder]

Dunkley just turned 27 last month compared to Neale and Laird at 30, so still some time at peak performance before the eventual regression.

True, I was sort of looking even above/below 25 years. Just feels like more of the potential ubers are going to be under 25 then we've seen previously.

 

[dylan123]

Might be hard to find this but thought I’d throw it out there since the analytics on this site never ceases to amaze me.

What has been the highest collective average for a midfield?

I think the doggies over the past 2 seasons would be close but that’s mostly due to their high disposal game style.

Only reason I’m asking is I’m genuinely considering starting all of Sheezel, LDU, Wardlaw, McKercher & Lazzarro (if Lazz is best 22 which I’m not sure of).

I think the first 3 have 110 upside (super bullish on Wardlaw) but think the chances of all of them being good picks whilst being in a bottom 4 side is slim. I reckon most of the highest averaging midfields were top 8 sides.

I’m trying not to have my blue and white glasses on but apart from Lazzarro, all of the above players ooze talent and I think warrant strong consideration for selection.

ABCS days were large, probably the best collective effort was 2009 with a 116.9 average between the 4 of them. Also added Chapman at the end since he would rotate in and out.

Ablett -
09: 140.1

Bartel -
09: 108.9

Corey -
09: 107.9

Selwood -
09: 110.6

Chapman -
09: 114.8

 

[Buddy Starmart]

Are Butters and LDU musts or can you afford to not start them or they in the right age bracket to improve again

 

[Feerits Elf]

Are Butters and LDU musts or can you afford to not start them or they in the right age bracket to improve again

Is this an X v Y v Z?

I don’t think either are musts.

 

[Buddy Starmart]

Is this an X v Y v Z?

I don’t think either are musts.

Yes unless they both have fast starts they would be attainable during season you'd think.

 

[aj74]

Dunkley just turned 27 last month compared to Neale and Laird at 30, so still some time at peak performance before the eventual regression.

Touk gave us a couple of uber years prior to his injury last year and is only 28.

Got a concern that Rowel and particularly Anderson might start eating into his points soon though. This year?

 

[freowho]

Touk gave us a couple of uber years prior to his injury last year and is only 28.

Got a concern that Rowel and particularly Anderson might start eating into his points soon though. This year?

Dimma talks a lot about the game being won on turnovers rather than stoppage. It probably hurts all 3 but Touk to a lesser extent as a good runner. The value at Gold Coast will be defenders and high half forwards.

 

[starburst2]

Anyone struggling to find the right premo mids this year? Seems like all the top 10 most popular pure mids have a question mark ...

1. Bont 37% - is he worth the price?
2. Gulden 35% - bad bye, doesn't have a long premo history yet
3. Butters 28% - got injured in preseason
4. Tom Green 26.5% - bad bye
5. T Miller 22% - bad bye, needs to return to his best
6. Petracca 21.7% - bad bye
7. Dawson 17.4% - can't say much here, maybe slight worry if he needs to go back to DEF
8. N Martin 16% - just a pick that hopes he gets DPP
9. LDU 15.3% - never put together a full year of premo scoring
10. Steele 14.2% - needs to get fit and back to his best

At some point or other this preseason, all of these 10 mids have made a foray into my team Never had a premo mid line that looks comfortable to me this preseason. May be a bit harsh on them, I'm sure 6-7 will end up doing their usual powerhouse scores but the other 2-3 will end up flopping. Just trying to dodge the bullets as usual in SC

Also have considered Serong, Brayshaw, Parish, JHF, Wines, M Crouch, Laird, Rozee. So many options this year! Plus the big left field option - should we just start Oliver if he's fit for Rd 0/1?

 

[Connoisseur]

Thank you.

Also another I have been looking at around that price range is Sam Berry ($226,900). Averaged 86.9 in 2022 off the back of superb tackle numbers but then only managed four games last season. Can any Crows supporters shed some light on his 2023 season and whether he could return to the best 22 in 2024?

115SC today. Hard to resist if he is named in the 22 in RD1 and will help solve the dilemma of which Adelaide midfielder to pick.

 

[donnybuang]

Anyone struggling to find the right premo mids this year? Seems like all the top 10 most popular pure mids have a question mark ...

1. Bont 37% - is he worth the price?
2. Gulden 35% - bad bye, doesn't have a long premo history yet
3. Butters 28% - got injured in preseason
4. Tom Green 26.5% - bad bye
5. T Miller 22% - bad bye, needs to return to his best
6. Petracca 21.7% - bad bye
7. Dawson 17.4% - can't say much here, maybe slight worry if he needs to go back to DEF
8. N Martin 16% - just a pick that hopes he gets DPP
9. LDU 15.3% - never put together a full year of premo scoring
10. Steele 14.2% - needs to get fit and back to his best

At some point or other this preseason, all of these 10 mids have made a foray into my team Never had a premo mid line that looks comfortable to me this preseason. May be a bit harsh on them, I'm sure 6-7 will end up doing their usual powerhouse scores but the other 2-3 will end up flopping. Just trying to dodge the bullets as usual in SC

Also have considered Serong, Brayshaw, Parish, JHF, Wines, M Crouch, Laird, Rozee. So many options this year! Plus the big left field option - should we just start Oliver if he's fit for Rd 0/1?

Other than rucks, the one area for me that has barely changed.
Bont, ignoring his price risk for now
LDU, hoping for big things
Rozee, hoping for the incremental increase to 100+
Miller, fit, should get back to his best
Steele, ditto
Ignoring R0 players for now other than Miller
Walsh was in there, but out now, with a back injury.

 

[donnybuang]

Have rotated Amon and Martin in and out as well, but not sure on them yet.

 

[toxic]

My tip is after today Jack Steele's ownership will sky rocket

 

[WindyHillWizard]

My tip is after today Jack Steele's ownership will sky rocket

Are you going to be swayed? I honestly could be.

 

[FlatTrackBully]

115SC today. Hard to resist if he is named in the 22 in RD1 and will help solve the dilemma of which Adelaide midfielder to pick.

Bit of a worry with the TOG which has always been poor, started on the bench as well. Other than that very interested in the pick.