The midfield numbers from an "armchair expert"

Juddy 26 Disposals, 12 Contested possessions, 7 clearances per game
Ed Curnow 24D, 10 CP, 5 Cl
Mark Murphy 29D, 14 CP, 6 Cl
Bryce Gibbs 24D, 7 CP, 2 Cl
Mitch Robinson 21D, 8 CP, 3 Cl
Carrots 22D, 5 CP, 1 Cl
Kade Simpson 20D, 4 CP, 2 Cl

Murph is the man at the moment. Other than a quiet one against the pies, his form has been B&F status.

If Gibbsy is to be the outside Mid, then he needs to get the ball given too him more often. Would expect his numbers should be higher for an outside mid.

From this lot, Carrots needs to lift. Unless he has been assigned a tagging role each game, the numbers are not so good.

Ed Curnow = outstanding.

Robbo is getting up there, but his last 2 games have been poor ie ave: 15D, 4 CP, 1 Cl......we need him to lift.

Simmo = solid

Ed is the new Carrots - I expect him to win several NRS

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Is already a much better player and smarter than Carrots.

Robbo took some invaluable contested marks last weekend. Was poor but having a crack against the Pies.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

but he's 21 years old - is he eligible ?

That Judd bloke's pretty shit really...

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

..murph leading the way with judd.. ..significant issue is the numbers we rotate thru the middle.. ..not enough, and we have players capable of smaller rotations thru there such as walker and russell for starters.. ..good size about them..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

I wouldn't call these stats solid. They are quite low for his standard. He's only had 15 possessions against the GCS. He needs to lift.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Everybody...........


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Hey Danny, a couple of books published!
Well done mate.

(This doesn't mean I'll start taking you seriously though....)

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

don't take me seriously - just buy a book!

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Great post london blue: food for thought.

I don't know what to make of these numbers; they look surprisingly good to me.
The CP count looks very healthy. I might be wrong, but 10 CP's per game seems hot imo.

Like someone else touched on, it would be good to evaluate the other players who rotate with the abovementioned in the midfield.
I think that's the key. We need to keep up the pressure up in the midfield for the whole game.
Betts and Garlett are forwards who push up rather than rotate with the mids.

I believe that once Kreuzer returns and Hendo finds a bit of form, then one of them with Waite will be linking up with the efforts the mids create, so that will lend some mre support for the effort of the mids.

Are we better off thatn other midfield groups? It seems to me we have the elite group in the Navy Blue jumper (ala WCE 2005)

I'd like to see a bit more pace accross the board. That Curnow is a real find. I think McLean would be good with CP's but would he slow us down? I think so.

I have been expecting Armfield t be playing more of a midfield role this year. He has a great defensive part to his game; a must for AFL.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The stats don't show Judd has two guys hanging onto him anytime he goes near the footy.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

I dont think this paints the entire picture. We all know we have guys who can get the pill, but what about their work the other way?

Juddy 6.8 tackles average per game - Not only does he win the ball, he stops others from taking possession. To those who say he has no defensive side, he is one of the highest in the competition (top 15). Of those above him, only Matt Priddis has a higher average possession count. Has also kicked 3 goals.
Ed Curnow 4.8, 3 goals
Mark Murphy 3.3, 3 goals
Bryce Gibbs 3.8, 2 goals (should be 3)
Mitch Robinson 5 tackles, 2 goals
Carrots 22D, 4.8 tackles per game, 2 goals
Kade Simpson 3.3, 5 goals

At this stage you'd have to say Judd has everyone covered in terms of B&F territory.
The improvers are of course Curnow, and Mitch Robinson who is getting a ton of the ball, and is in the top 50 tackle count in the competition.
Carrazzo is the guy you do not want kicking the ball, but you do want him to be making a lot of tackles, which is what he is doing.

It's hard to criticize Murphy because he is such a damaging player when you give him the ball, so he is excused for not being as heavy the other way (he's also not a big tackling machine).

I think the worry is Gibbs. He is a big unit, big body. He should be doing a lot more damage all over the park. When seeing him live, he doesn't work as hard as any of the players he is listed next to above.

I'm not trying to bag the guy, but I think that he could improve by at least another 10%. He SHOULD be an important component of the spine from Jamison to Waite.

Thoughts?

Gibbs is in the top 5 in the league for assists. The bye will skew league comparisons but he is right up their amongst the most influential.

Then my concerns may well be invalid. Thanks for pointing that out

So really what we're trying to say is, that we should be smashing opposition teams. Collingwood included.

I don't think anyone is disputing the form of our elite mid fielders. But there should be more variation and rotation with the players we have. Walker, Scotland, and Betts are three ready made who could and should have a turn in the middle. It would also give players like Betts a chance to run into some form as well.

But Ratts and/or the MC do not seem to be able to think outside the square.

Learn from Colonwood.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

Probably going a bit beyond midfielders but some team stats that may show why we are not quite there as yet.

12th 1%'ers - Judd 7.0 pg ( Best Laidler, Yarran and Jamo 7.5 =32nd in league) while Murphy and Gibbs 3.5 pg
12th 1st possessions - Best Judd 7.2 (13th in League) Curnow 5.2 Murphy 5.2 , Robbo 4 Gibbs 1.5 (outside role?)

We need to be first to the ball and need to do more 1%'ers

Though the lack of 1st possessions despite dominating in the ruck also suggests some coordination issues.

Cheers