Sinclair to the midfield

[D.B.Cooper]

I get it, we lack pace, ball use and talent in the midfield so throwing our best player in there makes sense.

I agree with bursts in the midfield for impact, but in a full time role he is much less effective playing midfield than running back and we have lost our rebound and attack without him there.

He’s AA Backman, but not nearly at that level as a midfielder, so move him back there.

Windhager provides little counter attack from defense, either does Stocker or Webster leaving NWM and the wingers the only run out of the back line.

I’d rather Windhager back to a defense mid role, Sinclair to half back with short bursts through the middle and Owens given more exposure through the midfield.

[B.M]

It was a poor move

Detrimental to team performance

[StPeter]

I can see why the move was made- our best player and user of the ball. Has done well when used there in bursts.

However I agree that it doesn't seem to work as well when he starts mid-field and plays there most of the game.

Certainly I thought today was his poorest performance in a couple of years but he was still better than probably more than half of the team.

[B.M]

Just think Sinclair is better with time and space - running towards goal than as in inside mid in congestion

Bursts yes

But we had no run or polish from d50

[bigcarl]

Should have put Owens to the midfield full time. Sinclair in bursts for a bit of a spark.

Disappointing today, but Windhager and Sharman were positives.

We desperately miss a big, experienced body up forward. I feel Hayes or even Cordy might have made a difference.

[Saint2]

It's not the case that every player who is talented should automatically be a midfielder. Playing midfield is a specific craft and only certain types of players will do well in there. We need fast tough midfielders, and a better midfield coaching system. Lyon in his presser pointed to coaching systems needing improvement

[Banger9798]

Thought Clark was quite good when he came on.

He should be able to be creative from the centre bounce once he regains his touch.

Jones definitely adds something to rotations, and Michito is the big bodied mid we are craving.

We are just robbing Peter to pay Paul at the moment.

We are not as far of it as many have been claiming.

We could've and should've beaten Melbourne last week....the team that just beat Brisbane.

We cannot take a trick in the injury department, and teams are cracking in against us knowing we are hanging in there like a boxer in the 9th round. Look at the wY West Coast came at us.

[Banger9798]

Thought Clark was quite good when he came on.

He should be able to be creative from the centre bounce once he regains his touch.

Jones definitely adds something to rotations, and Michito is the big bodied mid we are craving.

We are just robbing Peter to pay Paul at the moment.

We are not as far of it as many have been claiming.

We could've and should've beaten Melbourne last week....the team that just beat Brisbane.

We cannot take a trick in the injury department, and teams are cracking in against us knowing we are hanging in there like a boxer in the 9th round. Look at the wY West Coast came at us.

[Jacks Back]

Sinclair to the middle only in break-glass emergency times.

Owens went in there for a few bounces in a row and didn't touch it.

I don't know what we're going to do with the midfield.

What's happened to Hill? His kicking (and handballing) have been crap lately as has Sinclair's (to an extent).

[terry smith rules]

If you look at his disposal tracker on afl.com.au he had 78% possessions in the back half, so in effect he was a defensive midfielder

But in my opinion with virtually no impact on the game.

He only had 3 score involvements, we need his disposals the reverse of the 78% so that he is delivering the ball inside 50

So I am agreeing with some here, wasted yesterday

[Saint2]

Sinclair needs to stay at HB, and that's where he is of most value. Swinging him into the midfield is too desperate -need to fix the midfield, but I don't think Lyon knows how to.

[mad saint guy]

Agree with general sentiments here. He's an elite half back but doesn't have a complete midfield game. Don't mind him running through there if he's struggling with a forward tag or if we need a spark in the middle but it shouldn't be our go-to strategy.

[Ghost Like]

I am surprised D.B. that the thread title did not auto correct to "Sinclair to the minefield". Our midfield is certainly ruining some reputations this season. It's become the Bermuda Triangle and he ground zero for all our losses.

Let Sincs move back to HB. Use the remaining rounds to give others a taste of midfield life and what it's going to take to become an AFL midfielder. Run Stocker, NWM, Owens, Phillipou in there. Even Hotton given a game if his VFL form improves - Peris proved that VFL form should not necessarily be the golden ticket to an AFL game.

Jones is hard at it but is 4 years plus a litany of injuries past our future.
Gresham seems to have one foot out the door.
Billings has been labelled small forward only, harsh but on record.
Ross may not return this season and likely not in future plans.
Bytel appears to have his papers stamped & is too like the current set up.

[wally]

I agree use him occasionally in the mid field to ‘mix it up. a bit’

[B.M]

It’s actually our forward line that is woeful

We are 18th in the league for converting i50s into scores

Our three leading goal kickers are 2 smalls and a 2nd year hybrid

We don’t have one player who averages 2 goals per game

Yes, the ball is sometimes butchered going in, but sometimes that’s due to poor forward structure too… we DO NOT look dangerously forward of centre.

Imo
We have by far the worst attacking 50 in the AFL

[Ghost Like]

Perhaps our F50 may be better with A) a bit more experience invested in our key forwards B) more than 18 games of the key forwards working together C) not having to wait for the ball to come back from our D50 D) another pre season with our Forwards coach.

Our midfield is our most experienced group, no newbies in there, same ol' same ol' - We could have Geelongs F50 and our midfield would render them impotent.

Hayes & Harvey aren't miracle workers - The mids need an injection of youth & talent. The fwds need a good run with injuries giving them experience & continuity.

[Teflon]

Our forward line is young
Our midfield clearance, stoppage and delivery into 50 is an B abomination
Ask yourself…how often do our mids charge into 50 deliver lace out or to advantage???????
Even Marshall dump kicks from ruck often end up in oppo hands
Midfield is a mess

[B.M]

It’s not all the fault of the midfield- numbers say that - we get it in enough

Butchering can be caused by
Poor execution
No viable target/poor structure

Who’s our front half, seriously

Caminiti - a first year supplemental pick
Sharman - a mid size playing as a key
Wood - struggles unless he’s on the wing
Phillipou - a kid
Owens - a mid size 2nd year player


Which one of those players are legit AFL key forwards

It’s why opposition defenders dominate against us

As I said
We have the worst forward line in the AFL

At least Steele, Crouch, Marshall, Ross, Jones, Hill, Clark etc… have played good AFL footy

[shanegrambeau]

Wait a sec

We all know if St Hilda played Sandy they would kill it

They would execute perfectlu

[bigcarl]

It’s not all the fault of the midfield- numbers say that - we get it in enough

Butchering can be caused by
Poor execution
No viable target/poor structure

Who’s our front half, seriously

Caminiti - a first year supplemental pick
Sharman - a mid size playing as a key
Wood - struggles unless he’s on the wing
Phillipou - a kid
Owens - a mid size 2nd year player


Which one of those players are legit AFL key forwards

It’s why opposition defenders dominate against us

As I said
We have the worst forward line in the AFL

At least Steele, Crouch, Marshall, Ross, Jones, Hill, Clark etc… have played good AFL footy

I think our midfield bombs it in because what is in front of them inspires no confidence.

The current forward line is a bunch of promising, but green teenagers .,, and I think you are right, it is currently the worst forward line in the league.

Hopefully we put Hayes down there this week or even Cordy as a defensive forward on the opposition interceptor.

RTB was pretty scathing in his presser. I think he's definitely looking at the long haul and recognises we aren't close to challenging with our current list and injuries

[Teflon]

It’s not all the fault of the midfield- numbers say that - we get it in enough

Butchering can be caused by
Poor execution
No viable target/poor structure

Who’s our front half, seriously

Caminiti - a first year supplemental pick
Sharman - a mid size playing as a key
Wood - struggles unless he’s on the wing
Phillipou - a kid
Owens - a mid size 2nd year player


Which one of those players are legit AFL key forwards

It’s why opposition defenders dominate against us

As I said
We have the worst forward line in the AFL

At least Steele, Crouch, Marshall, Ross, Jones, Hill, Clark etc… have played good AFL footy

40 entries with 38 coming in bombs away
Hitting opponents on the chest
Or NOT to advantage ….means????
Sharman presented multiple times on Saturday
You think our so called mids could lower the eyes or hit a target ??
Worse still, as the coach said, when they looked up ….saw we had an advantage….decided ….let’s either go slow on the build or …maybe just do 3 more handballs???
Our midfield can’t run out of sight on a dark night…can’t break from congestion….so their possessions forward are often scrubbers or rushed
Even Sinclair was hitting our opponents lace out on the weekend!
Sure the forwards ain’t hitting it out if the park
But midfield is absolutely the CORE of our problems

[Ghost Like]

I doubt those numbers are coming from CB clearances, the ones that are would be low percentage or simply ineffective.

I am not buying our forwards are necessarily to blame for poor forward entries...this is chicken or the egg stuff.

As far as I am concerned it starts in the middle. The games where RoMa has got mauled have been most telling. Telling in that he's not a CB ruck & telling our mids cannot guard mids getting an armchair ride at CBs = we start CBs on the back foot.

No one is saying they have not played good AFL footy B.M., just saying they are a spluttering combination that are not working as a Unit. Plus they are all our on field leaders, another aspect presently letting us down.

[Teflon]

Spot on Ghost -case in point Saturday….how much of our attacks had start all the way from our backline????
Mids - senior leaders = fail

and because people keep asking…here’s a view from Stav BF on what Lyon and co had in mind to fix midfield:

******


If we could get Membrey back would like to see Owens play a lot more time midfield

That was the plan before the injuries.

Owens Pou and Windy transform the side in 2 years time. They will all be bonafide mids

[bigcarl]

Spot on Ghost -case in point Saturday….how much of our attacks had start all the way from our backline????
Mids - senior leaders = fail

and because people keep asking…here’s a view from Stav BF on what Lyon and co had in mind to fix midfield:

******


If we could get Membrey back would like to see Owens play a lot more time midfield

That was the plan before the injuries.

Owens Pou and Windy transform the side in 2 years time. They will all be bonafide mids

Teffers, I reckon the midfield is C to B grade. Solid and experienced, but lacking things that the top sides have.

Unfortunately, the forward line is currently D-grade. Manned by inexperienced teenagers, many of whom, admittedly could become very, very good AFL players - Owens, Philppou, Caminiti for three. But green, undersized and feeling the effects of a long winter.

That’s no one’s fault. It’s been forced on us by injuries to King, Membrey, Hayes, Higgins. Best we can do at the moment is try to give it a bit of structure by getting maybe Hayes/Cordy in there for height/experience/strength.

[B.M]

Owens spent a quarter in the midfield

He never touched the ball

He has some developing to do there

But I think it will be where he will end up eventually

Rotating with Phillipou and alongside Windhager and this years FRP
Who SHOULD BE an mid with good ball use!