Star Mid in 2011

[Master Q]

Who'll get all the attention now that GAJ is gone, Bartel?

[MTTY]

Selwood

[Hawka]

Corey may get alot more but it will defs be selwood

[bunyip]

With the way rotations work these days, I'm not sure that midfielders will get tagged. They don't usually work on the elite players anyway. I think coaches may concentrate more on shutting down key forwards or backs that cause problems.
The players who seemed to cause problems last season were the ones that could carry the ball and break lines, and then deliver into the forward line. Geelong have Wojinski, but I think there are players better at it. Collingwood actually have 2 or 3 players that do it.
Our center line won't be as formidable next season without Gaz. It will still be more than useful though, but I would be surprised if opposition coaches actually tagged any of them.

[Justin Bieber]

Woja was great when you see him streaking down the MCG breaking tackles and evading everybody. Would be one to pay a second or third tag to.

For firstt tag, certainly Selwood. But he can still find his own ball. Bartel and/or Chappy next. All 3 are damaging and probably will depend on form.

[Cicjose]

Taggers will still have a role to play in coming years tho right?

[Justin Bieber]

I would hope so. How else would team dependant on tagging (to some point) such as Swans and Richmond do against such stronger midfields?

[Cicjose]

so is clint jones still the number 1 tagger in the AFL (He took over from Ling last year IMO)

[Justin Bieber]

Probably is as he makes his opponent accountable as well.

Would watch out for Picken though. Seems to becoming a super tagger fast.

[Cicjose]

but will his tags propel the dogs into contention next year?

[bunyip]

To be honest, I hate taggers. Their value is questionable, they don't work that well and they are to negative. Every player needs to be a tagger when they don't have possession.

[BoredSaint]

To be honest, I hate taggers. Their value is questionable, they don't work that well and they are to negative. Every player needs to be a tagger when they don't have possession.

interesting.. except most teams play zonal defences now..

[Maca24]

selwood will cop it. wouldnt surprise me if he struggles a bit. he will either struggle with the tag and responsibilty, or he will rise to the occasion and prove that he is the best geelong player.
i also think bartel will have a good year if he can get past his niggling injuries.

[Wes Mantooth]

To be honest, I hate taggers. Their value is questionable, they don't work that well and they are to negative. Every player needs to be a tagger when they don't have possession.

interesting.. except most teams play zonal defences now..

true that.

Selwood will get the no 1 tag if anyone. will it affect his game? this year only picken and jones will be effective against him, except i think kornes has a good record on him too. he'll average 110 a game. im tipping he'll come close to that 185.

[Cruiseon]

I have a couple of theories (as always  ;)) Firstly Ling is definitely too slow to play the tagging role anymore, I presume his last attempt of reinvention will be up forward, so Geelong's midfield will look different without Ling & Ablett.

I believe the key to maintaining the potent midfield offering at Geelong is Joel Corey. 2010 was largely a write-off year for Corey who couldn't get his body up to play at his usual level. The question is whether Corey will stay down back or progress back to the midfield to join Bartel & Selwood? If he returned to the midfield, and could get back to 100% it would be powerful combo - still way ahead of Freo, Carlton, Bulldogs, Sydney and possibly around the mark of Collingwood & St.Kilda.

The other thing I think Geelong need is somd genuine youth to top up the midfield  talent. Are there any genuine young midfielders who are on the radar for 10-15 games in 2011? I'm not talking about recent draftees here.