Ross Lyon quote: "Our midfield is spluttering."

[cwrcyn]

Well, it's not just the fans who see it. He's being very polite, but I think he'd be saying to his assistant coaches "gee, our midfield is pretty bloody ordinary (or even harsher words)"

No quick fix for this. Clark will be a helpful addition, and if Jones can ever get right, he'll also help. That will lift us from a six out of ten midfield to a 6.5 out of 10 midfield

Windhager is still very much in the development stage and is having the odd good quarter here and there. What his ceiling is....well, I have no idea. Could end up being another honest B grader, but I'd be happy to take that right now.


Out list manager and head recruiter have quite a challenge on their hands

[Otiman]

The short term fix is:

Fit Clark
Fit Steele
Jones
Windhager +games
Owens

If we can get Steele back to 2020 form and Owens and Windy reach their potentia, we're good. Those are big 'ifs'. Even then we need a medium term replacement for Jones and Crouch.

[SydneySainter]

If Jones can get back on the park, what about a Sincs in the middle and Jones at HB?

[Otiman]

I have already got Sincs in my starting mid, but yep. We have too many HBF types and bugger all midfielders.

[B.M]

Who are our HBs that are AA quality?

[The_Dud]

Getting Steele right is an easy way to inject elite talent into the middle!

[Scollop]

Who are our HBs that are AA quality?

Definitely not Hak Jones (that's not a typo )

He's good at stoppages. That's his one wood. Both he and Gresh aren't the best at finding team mates by foot.

Sincs has to play more than 50% of the time as a mid. We need Webster, Stocker, Wilkie and a fit Nick Coffield (whenever that happens) to deliver the footy from HB.

[Devilhead]

Is it worth giving Stocker a run thru the midfield?

[Scollop]

Is it worth giving Stocker a run thru the midfield?

The reason he got delisted from Carlton (according to most people) is because he didn’t have the fitness and endurance to play midfield. They already had a wealth of half back flankers with Docherty, Saad, Zac Williams and this year they’re also playing Mitch McGovern off HBF

[Saint2]

More like our midfield is not running hard enough, they start running after the opposition mid gets possession. As much to do with setups as it is to do with the players- I feel the midfield coaching could be better. A Steele of years gone by would be great, but it won't happen in reality, but at least he will have a go. Crouch is doing his role well, but not much coming through in midfield talent, so it will be a prolonged juggle of players to get the best result.

[Scollop]

Not sure why anyone would think that Jack Steele can’t win another All Australian jacket. Some people have a very short memory.

Last year Jack missed 5 weeks with a serious injury. He still finished 3rd in the Best and Fairest. This year he broke his collar bone and has had some issues with his knee.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/xray- ... 7710c07db9

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/news-2023- ... b9c345e94a

[shanegrambeau]

Not sure why anyone would think that Jack Steele can’t win another All Australian jacket. Some people have a very short memory.

Last year Jack missed 5 weeks with a serious injury. He still finished 3rd in the Best and Fairest. This year he broke his collar bone and has had some issues with his knee.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/xray- ... 7710c07db9

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/news-2023- ... b9c345e94a

Mnn

Fair enough point, but Jack Steele has looked a shadow his former self IMO. Don't know why..Game is a shade faster than it was last year? Jack is a shade slower, tighter, more cautious?

Crouch is a goer, and giving it everything. If Crouch could be a bit more Luke Parker! He gets in there but can't weave his way out..If Ross could be a bit more Mitch Duncan! He get's to the places with great economy and sense, but then the slow and loopy disposal ! And if Hunter and Towball could get on the park and get moving!

[Saint2]

Not sure why anyone would think that Jack Steele can’t win another All Australian jacket. Some people have a very short memory.

Last year Jack missed 5 weeks with a serious injury. He still finished 3rd in the Best and Fairest. This year he broke his collar bone and has had some issues with his knee.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/xray- ... 7710c07db9

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/news-2023- ... b9c345e94a

I know a couple of footy playing mates who had similar shoulder injuries to Steele, and although they recovered with screws and plates whatever, they say they were never going to go in as hard as before with the shoulder in tackles etc, and I reckon Jack is naturally using self-preservation..it's not worth wrecking your body.

[Scollop]

Not sure why anyone would think that Jack Steele can’t win another All Australian jacket. Some people have a very short memory.

Last year Jack missed 5 weeks with a serious injury. He still finished 3rd in the Best and Fairest. This year he broke his collar bone and has had some issues with his knee.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/xray- ... 7710c07db9

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/news-2023- ... b9c345e94a

Mnn

Fair enough point, but Jack Steele has looked a shadow his former self IMO. Don't know why..Game is a shade faster than it was last year? Jack is a shade slower, tighter, more cautious?

Crouch is a goer, and giving it everything. If Crouch could be a bit more Luke Parker! He gets in there but can't weave his way out..If Ross could be a bit more Mitch Duncan! He get's to the places with great economy and sense, but then the slow and loopy disposal ! And if Hunter and Towball could get on the park and get moving!

If …If….If…

I’ll give you an If.

If Jack Steele gets another AA jacket (making it 3 in total) that will put him in esteemed company. I’ll be calling him a champion and so will many other Saints supporters. Patrick Cripps just got his third last year. Some people starting writing Cripps off in 2021. Jack is still young

[Impatient Sainter]

Is it worth giving Stocker a run thru the midfield?

The reason he got delisted from Carlton (according to most people) is because he didn’t have the fitness and endurance to play midfield. They already had a wealth of half back flankers with Docherty, Saad, Zac Williams and this year they’re also playing Mitch McGovern off HBF

His running capacities dont look affected when playing on the small forwards, which often cover a lot of ground. I dont know what his GPS stats are, but I just had a look at some of the AFL Tracker stats and in the game against GWS he recorded the fastest sprint speed 32.8kph nearly 1 kph faster than any other player. Some players are perceptive in how much ground they cover and run smarter than others. You cant tell me his running is any worse than Gresham, Clark and Steele (whilst playing injured). The one thing he does have is a burst of speed and thats something we have desparately needed in the midfield.

Given how badly our midfield have fallen away, I'm astounded a player like Stocker who was recruited as a genuine ball winning midfielder hasnt been given an opportunity to do exactly that. Its just unimaginitive coaching IMO.

[SaintPav]

Not an overnight fix.

Would the likes of Parish and Whitfield help?

I think they are chasing a few.

[B.M]

Whitfield is not a mid and is 29

Parish is definitely a ball winner but is small and not a great user!

Are we looking to give up draft capital to secure a trade?

[SaintPav]

I hope not.

Prefer free agency and going to the draft.

There will be hot competition for free agents and going from history, I don’t like our chances in securing anyone decent.

https://apple.news/AIJonR0plRXeLiv_t0-QZDA

[B.M]

Are there even an decent free agents?

[Otiman]

Are there even an decent free agents?

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/out ... ct_players

Drop down box at the top projects future years as well.

[B.M]

Not much there

[SaintPav]

Looks thin.

JDG would have been very handy. At least they had a decent go of trying to get him.

[B.M]

JDG would’ve been massive

Yes we went hard - sure we offered him $$$$$

Who’s ended up with that?

[shanegrambeau]

Is it worth giving Stocker a run thru the midfield?

The reason he got delisted from Carlton (according to most people) is because he didn’t have the fitness and endurance to play midfield. They already had a wealth of half back flankers with Docherty, Saad, Zac Williams and this year they’re also playing Mitch McGovern off HBF

His running capacities dont look affected when playing on the small forwards, which often cover a lot of ground. I dont know what his GPS stats are, but I just had a look at some of the AFL Tracker stats and in the game against GWS he recorded the fastest sprint speed 32.8kph nearly 1 kph faster than any other player. Some players are perceptive in how much ground they cover and run smarter than others. You cant tell me his running is any worse than Gresham, Clark and Steele (whilst playing injured). The one thing he does have is a burst of speed and thats something we have desparately needed in the midfield.

Given how badly our midfield have fallen away, I'm astounded a player like Stocker who was recruited as a genuine ball winning midfielder hasnt been given an opportunity to do exactly that. Its just unimaginitive coaching IMO.

Go to 18:26 The paddy Ryder factor!

[Scollop]

Not an overnight fix.

Would the likes of Parish and Whitfield help?

I think they are chasing a few.

From some of the interviews I’ve heard it seems Parish is optimistic on Essendon’s prospects for next year and beyond

He doesn’t really want to leave Essendon and he’s publicly expressed a desire to stay.

Unless he has a falling out with his some of his team mates or the coaches, I don’t think we’e getting Parish.