Position Midfielder Discussion

[Herbie66]

It's risky and does take away a lot of flexibility in locking away any line at the start of round 1. If Laird doesn't return to his best, Sicily the same, Houston becomes inconsitent and Dawson unproven then it's hard to move these guys on especially if you have issues everywhere else.

You've pretty much resigned to the fact that you need to take only one of Lloyd, Houli, Hurn, Williams, Daniel, Stewart, Crisp, Weller etc and a case can be made that all of these guys maybe the best 6 defenders this season.

Spot on , I made that mistake last season in the F line , pretty much locked in 5 from the start , Darling finally came good , but geez it was a hell of a ride.

Almost only want to start 3 (maybe 4) premium/midpricers in the D & F for that very reason if the rookies appear or the likes of Roberton (D4) & Bonar/Hill (F4) look viable enough.

 

[Herbie66]

I used to go with skinnier midfields than most and found it hard yards to upgrade the rookies because you don’t get as many good value options presenting as you go up forward and back. Plus I think you end up ignoring value on other lines because you have so much spare cash. I’ve felt at a disadvantage each time I’ve done it.

I think if you want to stretch out one line this year (like recent years) it’s defence. Even if it’s Roberton/Ash/Noble from D2/D3.

I think we will see better scoring per $ from those expensive rookies compared to the mid ones. Good scoring first year expensive mid rookies are the exception.

Staggered by the love for Noble , his kicking ability makes Crisp & Maynard look like world beaters.

Certainly been looking at :-

Birchall/Lukosious/Roberton
X
Ash , BZT , Guthrie , Hill , McAsey , Young , Williamson , Starcevich + the 6 popular cheapie options

 

[THCLT]

EDITED to add I think they are probably a year past the usual breakout stage so while it's not impossible they can improve it's also not irrational to think they've found their level.

Not arguing your point on their breakout potential, however, both Zerrett & MCrouch are still only 24 years young...same age as Jelly/Cripps/Bont.

 

[THCLT]

There are also no mid fallen premiums like a Murphy, Beams or Libba from previous seasons, which lends itself to a more traditional GnR structure in the midfield, and as you mentioned people are finding value in other lines.

So this year's Jelwood, Cotchin & Hannebery are considered to have 'fallen off that premium cliff'...?

 

[stephen]

Not arguing your point on their breakout potential, however, both Zerrett & MCrouch are still only 24 years young...same age as Jelly/Cripps/Bont.

Yeah 24 is probably borderline, and as an owner of both over the years I am a fan and would not be shocked if they made the leap this year, but I think those examples probably strengthen my point - at the same age they have already made that jump into uber-premium scores and consistency while Zerrett and MCrouch have stayed a level down.

 

[Zagbag]

Yep, Oliver is also in my top 3 for that price bracket.

Would love to know if Hutchings and/or De Boer will be tagging this season as Clarry comes up against both in the first two rounds.

I don't understand this line of thinking. If I have a player in mind, and I'm worried about a tag - then I WANT them to come up against it in rounds 1 and 2.

A) Because it's the only time that a score won't affect their price for 3 rounds, and
B) Because if they do turn out to be a great pick, then their season average is disproportionally affected by these two scores, and it keeps the masses off for longer

 

[stephen]

I was the same but Neale made me nervous watching him in that first Marsh series and remembering not having him from round 1 last year. Concious of chasing points but he can rack them up quickly.

Yeah Neale scares me. They all do actually. I think it's likely at least one MID starts the season on a six-week tear at 140 and I personally wouldn't be confident ruling that out for any of about 9 players. I missed the early run of Macrae in '18 and Neale last year and it hurts because you pretty much have to just wait it out.

 

[Herbie66]

It's risky and does take away a lot of flexibility in locking away any line at the start of round 1. If Laird doesn't return to his best, Sicily the same, Houston becomes inconsitent and Dawson unproven then it's hard to move these guys on especially if you have issues everywhere else.

You've pretty much resigned to the fact that you need to take only one of Lloyd, Houli, Hurn, Williams, Daniel, Stewart, Crisp, Weller etc and a case can be made that all of these guys maybe the best 6 defenders this season.

That's exactly why I have been reluctant to start Houston & even to some extent Docherty as well as I am not convinced they will finish Top 8-10 in their position , I feel they need to go 95 minimum with all the other options available.

At least in the forward lines I am more confident with Heeney , Martin & Whitfield finishing in the Top all things being equal + Greene & Walters in all likelihood.

Will keep trying to unlock the ideal starting structure , think the key might be finding another onfield mid rookie to join Rowell & Pickett.

 

[aps1]

So this year's Jelwood, Cotchin & Hannebery are considered to have 'fallen off that premium cliff'...?

Hannebery, I did have some interest in him but the interrupted preseason makes it difficult as he relied heavily on his fitness. Selwood has also had an interrupted preseason and his role is uncertain, and well Cotchin, he was SC relevant once....

 

[THCLT]

Yeah 24 is probably borderline, and as an owner of both over the years I am a fan and would not be shocked if they made the leap this year, but I think those examples probably strengthen my point - at the same age they have already made that jump into uber-premium scores and consistency while Zerrett and MCrouch have stayed a level down.

The only counter argument I would add is that neither has had a clear run at it in recent years for one reason or another.

 

[Ben's Beasts]

I don't understand this line of thinking. If I have a player in mind, and I'm worried about a tag - then I WANT them to come up against it in rounds 1 and 2.

A) Because it's the only time that a score won't affect their price for 3 rounds, and
B) Because if they do turn out to be a great pick, then their season average is disproportionally affected by these two scores, and it keeps the masses off for longer

Quite simply, it’s to avoid two potential sub-par scores for a premium midfielder.

If possible, I would rather pick a premium midfielder after he has come up against arguably the best two taggers in the league early in the season.

Of course Oliver may not get tagged in either or both but the risk is there.

 

[Impromptu]

@Impromptu

any thought of starting a all rookie midfield again ?

Rowell , Anderson , Bonar * , Ash * , Caldwell , D Stephens , Serong , Green , McInerney , Pickett , Budarick *

or even 2/3-9/8

Hahaha no comment

 

[TopBillings]

I'm really struggling to separate the likes for M3/M4 spots - J.Kelly, Cripps, Dunkley, Titch, Danger & Bont

Macrae, Neale & Oliver locked.

 

[NT.Thunder]

There's nothing overly wrong with Zerrett and/or Crouch, for me they just don't have that visual impact of games like a Bont, Kelly, Fyfe, Danger type. There's no doubt that they get the numbers in disposals but when I watch these two it's more like meh compared to when I watch a Bont or Danger it's like holy ****e, how good was that!!!! That holy ****e response for me seems to correspond to supercoach points for whatever reason, a basic metric I've been using for some time LOL

 

[Blades]

Taranto out till mid year..

Cogs & Green interest levels have gone up..

Could you add Hopper to that list. Would take a lot of guts to pick him but he was due to keep progressing before Taranto went down. I’ve got a feeling he could really jump out of the blocks now. He won’t play forward as much as Cogs and Greene this year either. Would be a real POD.
Don’t think I’ll do it.. but tempting.

 

[Bomber18]

Zerrett potentially has a De Boer encounter in R5. I do agree that he’s underloved this season considering his pretty good scoring history.

In the years after he broke out, he had much higer levels of interest in him IIRC. Two seasons of 117DT for 110SC. If only he improved that ratio for SC. Seems to always be seen as a better DT pick but wouldnt be surprised if that changed at some stage in his career.

 

[NT.Thunder]

Zerrett potentially has a De Boer encounter in R5. I do agree that he’s underloved this season considering his pretty good scoring history.

In the years after he broke out, he had much higer levels of interest in him IIRC. Two seasons of 117DT for 110SC. If only he improved that ratio for SC. Seems to always be seen as a better DT pick but wouldnt be surprised if that changed at some stage in his career.

I think last year he was underpriced also wasn't he due to that round 1 knock to the head the previous year.....I remember that round 1, what a great start to the SC season that was.

Maybe that's left a foul taste in my mouth.

 

[Meltingpot38]

I'm really struggling to separate the likes for M3/M4 spots - J.Kelly, Cripps, Dunkley, Titch, Danger & Bont

Macrae, Neale & Oliver locked.

See a lot of Oliver locks throughout and I feel like I’m the only one just not getting it - no surety Melbourne get better and surely there’s better options that are cheaper like Cogs? What’s with the Oliver love?

 

[NT.Thunder]

Could you add Hopper to that list. Would take a lot of guts to pick him but he was due to keep progressing before Taranto went down. I’ve got a feeling he could really jump out of the blocks now. He won’t play forward as much as Cogs and Greene this year either. Would be a real POD.
Don’t think I’ll do it.. but tempting.

Hopper yes, ballsy, but can see him improving to another level.

 

[Meltingpot38]

Zerrett potentially has a De Boer encounter in R5. I do agree that he’s underloved this season considering his pretty good scoring history.

In the years after he broke out, he had much higer levels of interest in him IIRC. Two seasons of 117DT for 110SC. If only he improved that ratio for SC. Seems to always be seen as a better DT pick but wouldnt be surprised if that changed at some stage in his career.

I don’t trust Essendon premiums since Jobe. Not sure why but I just can’t bring myself to pick them. Hopefully Dev goes premium this year and changes that for me.