If all the good mids are gone, do we go for other types of player and back our previous recruits to step up?
I’m talking about Lever.
And possibly Roberton, given it seems like he’s uncontracted.
Rockliff would obviously still be a good get.
The coaches clearly see that there’s no spot for Bird or Hocking anywhere near the best 22, and Howlett is useful depth a few spots outside the best 22. In that setting, I can’t imagine why they’d want Miles. He’s better than Bird, but by a pointlessly small amount IMO.
Far rather we actually leave opportunities for Langford, Begley, Laverde to actually fight for midfield minutes. That’s where real improvement will come from, not the difference between 14 touches and 16 from our backup backup clearance mid.
Amazes that we’ve finally moved past playing slow, hardnut jobbers as a default setting, and playing exciting, quick, skilful footy: and some fans want Essendon to get back to the vanilla.
Stockholm syndrome much?
I don’t think for a second we’ll chase miles, but surely there’s better inside young options, that 22-24 range at state level.
Ah Dorodo plays the ‘long’ game/‘Miles’,
I get it now…
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Maybe we can convince Leigh Montagna to go around for another season.
You’ve seen how Bird and Howlett can dominate in the VFL, so it’s not easy to tell.
I’d take Miles over any of Bird, Howlett and Myers. I know this isn’t saying much.
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Personally I don’t really know why we’re not talking about wing / outside mid types.
Arr people that happy with Colyer’s output? And it’s not like there’s a Langford/Begley coming up behind him, like there is with Myers/Watson.
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Langford has that covered all on his own.
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I agree with this. I’d rather we get 2 hard 2 way running outside players than 2 inside mids.
I’d rather back in Langford and Begley inside, not to mention Heppell and Parish playing more significant inside roles next year.
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I certainly think he’s a bad move.
He’s a properly bad user of the ball. Worse than maybe anyone we play regularly. He would’ve played every game for Richmond if this wasn’t the case.
And in the bigger picture, we already have better clearance midfield options that we’re not using: Parish saw far too little time at clearances this year, same with Heppell.
arguably same with Langford, then you have the really young unseen guys who I’d like to get chances but probably aren’t ready.
Let’s just lower our eyes to just 2018. We are losing 2 of our best 22 - Watson & Kelly.
We literally have 4 drafts of midfielders/flankers to fill their void. Here is a list of players that haven’t been in our best 22 this year.
2014 draft
Jayden Laverde
Kyle Langford
2015 draft
Mason Redman
Alex Morgan (unlikely)
2016 draft
Jordan Ridley
Josh Begley
Kobe Mutch
Dylan Clarke
2017 draft
1st rd pick - best inside mid
2nd rd pick - best inside mid
3rd rd pick - HBF
4th rd pick - HBF/ magic HFF
Surely at the very least 2 of them will step up and command a best 22 spot. Chill.
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This thread will be moved but.
We had so many people criticising Howlett,Myers and calling for Watson to be dropped.
It is then discussed that Miles may be a trade option. Miles has vastly superior performance as an inside mid than Howlett, Bird, Myers, Buddha etc including circa 6 clearances per game.
Blitz then says why bother as he “isn’t much of an upgrade”.
He is no world beater but he is better. If 1 in 1 out = upgrade then do it.
Fark me.
Just look at it like this - he’s not good enough to get a regular game for Richmond. We should at an absolute minimum aspire to be better than Richmond. You don’t get better than Richmond by playing what Richmond don’t. Yes right now if there was a pre-finals swap your fringe players period, Miles in for Howlett/Bird/Hocking out would be a slight upgrade. Truth be told he’d probably play for us against Sydney if on our list but 2018 onwards we have to move past those types of poorly skilled mids. We can’t have another year where we play ordinary plodders & not at least try to get some younger talent in the side. As it is we are stuck with Myers for another 2 seasons.
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You have a point but I respectfully don’t agree.
Richmond have more inside midfield talent and depth.
We don’t.
One clubs trash can be another clubs treasure* when the right fit is found ala Stewart behind Lobb, Patton,Cameron .
If we get Miles and The Langford keeps him out. Great! If Kyle is no good then having Miles on the list may be important.
(*Not saying Miles is treasure)
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Stewart wasn’t getting a regular game at GWS. Caddy and Prestia have pushed Miles out, it happens.
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I mentioned Hartung and it didn’t go down well.
There’s also Matera, Lang and Gregson out of contract.
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What you said!
Stewart was young & had established players in front of him - even now would he be picked before Cameron & Patton or even Lobb?. Miles has had a crack & been replaced by better options - we know what he brings & its not that good, there is no upside. We need to do what Richmond have done & find our Caddy & Prestia not pick up their discards.
Name 4 Richmond inside mids.
I’ll wait.