Nick Vlastuin set to move into Richmond’s midfield in 2017 in team shake-up

[Madtiger2006]

Vlas didn't play midfield because we needed him in defence. But with Markov and Short looking good it releases Vlas into the middle. He's fit enough no doubt

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Brodie smith took years before eventually playing midfield, atley, Taylor Adams started at half back, I'm sure there is a shitliad more if I bothered to look. Point is not many players start there career as pure midfielders

Atley would still be in defence if they hadn't offloaded wells, dalsanto and harvey all in the one off season.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

I don't know about Vlaustin , I reckon he lacks the agility to be a true midfielder.
Has a turning circle akin to Matt Thomas.

 

[Nostradumbass]

You seem skeptical

Not really, a lot of people here said he has no tank. We'll see I guess.

 

[Nostradumbass]

I don't know about Vlaustin , I reckon he lacks the agility to be a true midfielder.
Has a turning circle akin to Matt Thomas.

So did Matthew Knights, although he had the ability to see everything 3 seconds before it happened. I don't think vlas has that ability. Look forward to seeing what he does though.

 

[Seymour Skinner]

Lids was never a mid. I can barely remember him winning a clearance from the centre square lol. We also have Graham and C Ellis who could be pretty handy players running through the middle another 12 months

He at least had 1 centre clearance.
That time he kicked the fastest goal ever against the Doggies a few years ago.
That was nice clearance.

 

[Goldust]

He at least had 1 centre clearance.
That time he kicked the fastest goal ever against the Doggies a few years ago.
That was nice clearance.

Did kane Johnson get credited with a centre clearance the night he kicked it the wrong way in the opening round?

 

[Sir_Loin]

Not really, a lot of people here said he has no tank. We'll see I guess.

Do you reckon it's long over due him getting into the midfield?

 

[Nostradumbass]

Do you reckon it's long over due him getting into the midfield?

Probably.

 

[Sir_Loin]

Probably.

Looked ok in his three goal game against west coast streaming through the midfield. Could have had 5 snags that game. Hope he remembers how to do it

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Got a tank for Christmas I see.

 

[Goldust]

Do you reckon it's long over due him getting into the midfield?

I'LL be howled down again (as there are a few people who just want to dispute anything I say), but the fact they are putting things in place to work on his tank is evidence that he has not been ready to step into the midfield and it's not overdue.
Now, people will believe what they like, but I feel vindicated in saying he has been best suited to this point at half back.
That hasn't stopped people banging on for two or three years about him being in the midfield.
But has not been anywhere near ready.

 

[Sir_Loin]

I'LL be howled down again (as there are a few people who just want to dispute anything I say), but the fact they are putting things in place to work on his tank is evidence that he has not been ready to step into the midfield and it's not overdue.
Now, people will believe what they like, but I feel vindicated in saying he has been best suited to this point at half back.
That hasn't stopped people banging on for two or three years about him being in the midfield.
But has not been anywhere near ready.

Well Dusty didn't have one. And you wouldn't say he's an elite runner now but he has a such a good footy brain he can compensate for that. My point being is you don't really know until they get a run at it and he hasn't had the opportunity to prove he can do it in the guts. Now he will and I think he'll be good at it

 

[Livonski]

I'LL be howled down again (as there are a few people who just want to dispute anything I say), but the fact they are putting things in place to work on his tank is evidence that he has not been ready to step into the midfield and it's not overdue.
Now, people will believe what they like, but I feel vindicated in saying he has been best suited to this point at half back.
That hasn't stopped people banging on for two or three years about him being in the midfield.
But has not been anywhere near ready.

I'd love to dispute this...

 

[HumanMeatball]

I don't know about Vlaustin , I reckon he lacks the agility to be a true midfielder.
Has a turning circle akin to Matt Thomas.

Vlastuin has great midfield attributes. Loves to tackle, is extremely tough, is a smart player, is a nice 187cm and can take a grab. Certainly has more agility then your priddis types. Slimming down and increased fitness will only help even more

 

[Tiger71]

Vlaustin does something naturally that most of our current mids dont. He runs full tilt in straight line to the ball. Often leading to a contested situation.

That is gold and hopefully if he is kept in the guts he will improve on that and become a improved miles. Someone who naturally creates a contest in the centre but with vlaus he has more burst and better disposal by foot then miles.

I can see miles being our "tuck" and vlaus developing into our "jackson" combo that was so undervalued by some. Pretty handy to have as our third mid rotation

 

[Goldust]

I'd love to dispute this...

Go ahead.
I still say if they are taking steps to "build his tank" he was not ready to play on-ball./
And I still say, for our team and in terms of getting the best out of Vlastuin, he is suited to the half back role.
We just went and got two new on-ballers and drafted another in Graham, his on-ball role will be limited.

 

[Goldust]

Vlastuin has great midfield attributes. Loves to tackle, is extremely tough, is a smart player, is a nice 187cm and can take a grab. Certainly has more agility then your priddis types. Slimming down and increased fitness will only help even more

Ok ... he loves to tackle.
It's not a midfield attribute ..... it's an attribute all 38 senior players and whatever rookies we have on our list need to have.
I would agree that Vlas is one of about a dozen blokes on our list who can make a tackle stick, but it;s not a midfield attribute.

 

[Madtiger2006]

Ok ... he loves to tackle.
It's not a midfield attribute ..... it's an attribute all 38 senior players and whatever rookies we have on our list need to have.
I would agree that Vlas is one of about a dozen blokes on our list who can make a tackle stick, but it;s not a midfield attribute.

He's skilful, composed and very tough. 3 great attributes for the midfield

 

[Komrade_Tiger]

I'll be accused of being negative - and so be it, but seriously, when you read nonsense about Vlastuin spending the summer "building his fitness:, it's then you are vindicated in most things you say as it comes off as he hasn't been spending enough time working on his fitness base in past pre-seasons (club's fault, not his). There are basic standrads of fitness required to play AFL football and I would say in a lot of cases in previous years we have failed that.
That said, I hope it works out. I am firm in my view that he is best suited to a role across half back, but maybe the Tiger masses won't be as restless with him spending some time in the midfield.

there's nothing negative about that,

to me, the idea of doing a pre-season as a mid means that there's more emphasis on fitness work when working as the midfield group compared to defence where you do alot more structured drills and the likes.

The fitness base and requirements for different sections of the team as well as i'd argue that you need more structured skills for defence compared to the midfield, which frees the mids to do more hard yards during pre-season

 

[Capitano_Cotch]

One of his earliest ever games was when we belted West Coast at Subiaco back in 2013.
Kicked 3 goals.
Rising star nomination.
Before you know it, he's playing back pocket.
This bloke captained Vic Metro as an inside midfielder.
It's about time, seriously.

 

[Hank Heavenly]

Goldy, he may just do both. making the move to the midfield doesn't automatically equate to spending all his time there.

I would suggest with him that he will spend time in the middle, still spend time at half back.
Building his tank doesn't mean he doesn't have a tank to spend any time in there at all, but he might spend small time frames in there and be effective. As he continues to develop, that tank will grow, as will time in the middle, meaning less time at hb.

I doubt the article is suggesting he is now midfield or nothing.

Just a transitioning phase which finally allows him some time in the middle.

 

[TheAnt]

One of his earliest ever games was when we belted West Coast at Subiaco back in 2013.
Kicked 3 goals.
Rising star nomination.
Before you know it, he's playing back pocket.
This bloke captained Vic Metro as an inside midfielder.
It's about time, seriously.

Even better was his game against the Demons where he ran the show with Brandon Ellis... How times change.

 

[Grrr]

Ok ... he loves to tackle.
It's not a midfield attribute ..... it's an attribute all 38 senior players and whatever rookies we have on our list need to have.
I would agree that Vlas is one of about a dozen blokes on our list who can make a tackle stick, but it;s not a midfield attribute.

In a contested situation, Vlaustin rarely goes sideways. He is always facing the pack and attacking the contest. So he either tackles or gets the ball and is looking forward. So I think that makes him an attacking mid. Most of the strong mids do it, Priddis, Sloane, Selwood do likewise. Compared for example to Miles who always seems to dish it out the back or kick around the corner. That's a good attribute for a mid, and one so far that we have been missing.

 

[THE_GUN]

I dont agree with Vlastuin as a HBF , Whilst he is hard and reads the play well and puts his body on the line ( nobody can doubt his courage)

For me he doesnt have the pace or the ability to create with elite disposal to become the player required in this role, Markov looks to be more this type and maybe even McIntosh if he learns to play this role.

Vlastuin is a midfielder and should have been playing in the midfield last year when we were in desperate need to get some experience
No reason he shouldnt have a tank by now 4 years is enough time to develop as a mid