Who is the best inside midfielder at the club?
At the moment, it is Kouta, We all know he is past his best and although he still racks up plenty of clearances, he's not the player he used to be and he's not getting much support either.

Seriously, we haven't had a real tough insider midfielder who racks up plenty of contested footy since the days of Ratten, Brown and Diesel. Players like Braddles and Campo thrived with these players dishing out the ball out to them.

Our problem is the fact that we've got to many outside midfielders or spectators. Players like Scotland, Chambers, Campo, Houlihan, Lappin, Stevens, McGrath, Simpson, Wiggins and Sporn are all outsider players (ie. spectators).

Campo is no where near half the player he was in the late 90's. Why? Because he had to adjust his style of play and fetch his own footy.

Who's left? Bentick, Johnno and Davies? Johnno can pinch hit at best. The jury is still out on Bentick and Davies. Both are still young and should be given every opportunity. Seriously though, we've got no one other than Kouta clearing the ball for us.

We desperately need more inside players like Luke Ball, Peter Bell, Adam Simpson, Simon Black, Josh Carr, Sam Mitchell, Mark Riccuito and Mark Coughlan just to name a few.

I think we should make this our priority in the upcoming draft. Our backline looks quite solid with Livo, T-Bird and possibly Hartlett. Forward line is strong as we know with Fev leading the way. Ruck division could be better but it not losing us games.

What are your thoughts?

I think if you had one more "a" in your name it would be perfect

i doubt we'd get either of em, but i'd love to see us have a shot for Power and Dal Santo!

Whitnall's contract and the end of McKernans contract, not to mention Campo's being cut in half (and are we still paying for Beaumount?) i can seriously see us having a bit of room to offer them both healthy deals????

i have been told this years draft looks like the number one pick will be a big boy in the same mould as Riewoldt and number two is a solid kid who has been liken to Roccuito apparently well developed for his age quick and tough. There are a few key position players in this years draft rated better than last years.

ahem, inside midfielders with skills is what you meant to say.

And KPPs.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

And uphill skiers

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Indeed. Every now and then, I can't help but feel that we erred in passing up the opportunity to draft Brock McLean...

We need midfielders who can hit targets and clear the ball from stoppages rather than @#$%&! around with pritzy little handballs, many a time we get first hand on the ball at a stoppage but turn it over because players stuff around with meaningless short distance handballs that only serve to put a teammate under extreme pressure.

What I've seen of Blackwell in the reserves, he looks like he could be a good inside player. Great hands, just needs a bit more bulk - but seriously I'd give him a run ahead of the out of form Scotland at the moment. (and he's eligible for the NRS! )

I think Bentick's progressing nicely too, but again, he needs to build up a lot... a big 10kg gain (probably about a 15% gain) in the pre-season would really help his game... man, it's round 11 and we're already thinking draft and pre-season!

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If meat is murder then yoghurt must be burglary
GO YOU BIG RED FIRE ENGINE
Move aside Kouta, Lance etc - you're holding us back... from entering the under 18s

I was thinking about the draft and the preseason five weeks ago

... I think I started after the Collingwood game... <sigh>!

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If meat is murder then yoghurt must be burglary
GO YOU BIG RED FIRE ENGINE
Move aside Kouta, Lance etc - you're holding us back... from entering the under 18s

Maybe in hindsight, we could have given the pup one more year, I mean was his disposal any worse than Johnno's

A few posters are keen on Shannon Hurn from Central's who is considered to be similar to Riccuito..read the recrutment section.
Luke Blackwell should be a player and I would think he will develop along the same lines as Sam Mitchell...Jessie Smith is another who might make the grade..Jessie reminds me a bit of Jon McCormack..good scrapper in close.

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

If we played some of our draft picks, we might find we have the things we need, Russell, Blackwell, what have we got to loose now, i just dont understand why you would play Clarke and Bannister with this talented youngsters are just itching to get out their and take their chances.

Carazzo, whilst OK in the midfield, has great athleticism, but he's virtually incapable of manning up.

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"David Teague, the most beautiful player in the AFL" - Dermott Brereton
~Something we can all agree on ~

No shit - not just here for the wallpapers !!


Only thing is that if we play Russell and Blackwell we might be better and win games and stuff.

Clarke and Bannister are more likely to deliver us a PP

Next year is going to be so good !!

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.