sr36
TheBrownDog
I think he will too unless we get smashed by injuries again. In terms of depth, Sullivan is a better all round player and Long is better on the inside. Don't see how he gets in, unless he suddenly jumps a level.
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AFLW 2024 - the Grand Final - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Player Watch Finlay Macrae
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- Nov 16, 2014
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Unless injuries prompt it… I doubt he gets a go at all. Too much midfield talent, and too much depth now
What’s more if they do pick him, they won’t play him in the middle much… which is his 1 wood
… he’ll have some hybrid half forward role that others are more suited too
And/or get half a quarter… and be another victim of the abominable sub rule
Will be a weekly VFL fixture along with a few others
Unfortunately after 4 years on an AFL list… like Callum Brown… VFL is just Fin’s level
asongofnightsandliars
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Doubtful, too much depth ahead of him in the midfield. Allan, Long and Sullivan all seem to be ahead of him in the pecking order (rightfully), plus we bring in Perryman this season.
It'd have the be quite the injury plague for him to get a sniff, I was surprised he signed on for this year in all honesty.
Glad we don't need to sit through a preseason of everyone saying he'd displace our older midfielders this year, last year was insufferable.
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asongofnightsandliars
Debutant
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Unfortunately after 4 years on an AFL list… like Callum Brown… VFL is just Fin’s level
Callum had a lot more to offer
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I hope that I am wrong but I do not think that he is simply good enough for AFL football in 2025.
- Aug 3, 2015
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Don't agree with all those who think we have "too much midfield depth", and so Finn has no hope.
Our one pure and proven inside mid is Titch. However, he is now clearly injury prone, and we can't assume he will play even most games.
Allan was great in the final game this year as an inside mid, but it's only a data set of one. Still needs to prove he can reproduce this consistently.
I was happy for us to retain Long - precisely because we don't have much inside midfield depth - and thought that he showed some potential to fulfil such a role this year.
One cannot claim that because Perryman, McCreery etc can rotate through the middle, we have huge inside midfield depth.
We simply don't.
I believe that the pure inside mid role - which Titch played so brilliantly in the 2023 GF, one very important factor in our victory - is not shored up at all. And I believe that just such a role is an essential component of our optimal performance.
Therefore, I am happy that Finn is retained, and given one more pre-season to see if he can seize this position.
Our one pure and proven inside mid is Titch. However, he is now clearly injury prone, and we can't assume he will play even most games.
Allan was great in the final game this year as an inside mid, but it's only a data set of one. Still needs to prove he can reproduce this consistently.
I was happy for us to retain Long - precisely because we don't have much inside midfield depth - and thought that he showed some potential to fulfil such a role this year.
One cannot claim that because Perryman, McCreery etc can rotate through the middle, we have huge inside midfield depth.
We simply don't.
I believe that the pure inside mid role - which Titch played so brilliantly in the 2023 GF, one very important factor in our victory - is not shored up at all. And I believe that just such a role is an essential component of our optimal performance.
Therefore, I am happy that Finn is retained, and given one more pre-season to see if he can seize this position.
TradeDraft
Post-Human
- Thread starter
- #2,808
He be a De-Listed Free Agent IF he does not become a Best 22 by end of the Season
Consistent run of games is his issue. Always in for a game or two then sub then gone.
Henry wasnt a regular with us , nor Poulter or even Ginni towards his end with us. But they seem to have shown they are capable at the top level
Feel we have done Fin dirty with his appearances
Henry wasnt a regular with us , nor Poulter or even Ginni towards his end with us. But they seem to have shown they are capable at the top level
Feel we have done Fin dirty with his appearances
Apex36
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You’re probably barking up the wrong tree on this one. He’s been training with the forwards so far this preseason, it seems that the club has given up on him as a pure mid and is now working out if he can salvage his career on a flank.
- Aug 3, 2015
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Thanks for info. Did not know this.
OK, will no longer stay on this track/keep barking up this tree (I will find another, no doubt)
sr36
TheBrownDog
Meanwhile Nick Daicos will continue to improve and was third in the comp in clearances last year. Will lead the comp next year.
Dtennent94
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- Apr 18, 2022
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He’s gonna have even more of a chip on his shoulder after missing out on finals this year and a couple years of being robbed of the Brownlow. Not to mention the GOTY snub.
Imagine if Nick were going for a three-peat in the Brownlow this year!
He looks absolutely primed too. Stockier than before but seemingly just as fit based on his yo-yo result. Not that this was ever in doubt.
Gone Critical
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I think you have your groupings wrong. For mids and other small mediums you need to be established best 22 by season 4, injuries excluded, if you are going to be a good or better AFL player. You will find it hard to find even 1 exception to this rule running around currently.
Henry and Ginni have followed this rule from season one, both at Collingwood and after. Henry went 10 then 15 games with us in his first 2 seasons and has since been 20+ at Geelong for 70 games in 4 years. Ginny went 5,23,14,23 for 65. His drop in season 3 was really for reasons other than talent. Both looked like they belonged at the level early on. Both from season 1 have followed the trajectory good players do.
Poulter and Finn have both struggled to 28 and 21 games. Season 1 when Pouler got 11 games was the only season where either of them reached double figure games for a season. Neither has ever looked set or comfortable at the level. I think it's fairly long odds either of them will be on a list in 2026. Even longer that they get anywhere near Call Browns games total.
They are like a big proportion of AFL players who get somewhere around 2-5 seasons on a list or 2 but are never good enough.
Mollythedolly
Norm Smith Medallist
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Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Gone Critical
Moderator
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Yep they are just below the really successful part of the footy pyramid but better than 99%+ of the rest
Mitchell and De Goey spend virtually the entire season out of the midfield due to injuries and Finn still couldn't get a look in.
- Jul 19, 2019
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I doubt we'll be seeing a massive turn around. i'm positive this will be his last year with us
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Most depressing post in history.
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Don't be so positive. Sometimes negativity is better.
- Aug 3, 2015
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are you so sure that we should just keep throwing Nick into centre bounces like a human catapult?
Just think that mercurial talent needs to be managed like mercury....very carefully.
If we have a powerful inside mid capable of feeding it out consistently, Nick would be even more devastating on the outside.
- Jul 19, 2019
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He's coming into his 5th year, I think it's wishful thinking if you think he's going to break into our side
sr36
TheBrownDog
Nick will be fine. He's stronger than people seem to realise. He's an inside mid who is also devastating on the outside. Get used to watching him win clearances. It's just where he's going to play and dominate, because his skill set for it is unbelievable. Incredible ball handling, awareness and ability to create space and execute when hemmed into a shoe box
Adam Treloar with a similar build was just All Australian for the first time at 31 after a decade of scrapping on the inside. His serious injury that impacted his career and outside game was received on the outside.The inside stuff with a few more bruises isn't an issue. Plus good luck convincing Nick to be wrapped in cotton wool and kept away from where the ball is going.
He’s not a mid in todays game , set aside his lack of speed , he lacks pure inside muscle with the big boys , easily pushed aside , no standout quality , lacks penetration with his kicking , his output is and has been VFL standard in his time with us. Will not make it . His manager shopped him around , none were interested, delist at seasons end .
sr36
TheBrownDog
Nah. Incredibly lucky to be getting a 5th year from the club. Very rare for a mid without any runs on the board to get so long. It's usually only blokes with elite traits or hard to find player types who get so long.
