The midfield area is crucial to winning a game of football; because a winning midfield ensures your forwards have more scoring opportunities, thus a greater chance to kick a winning score.

Characteristics of a Strong Midfield

1. Three Way Players:

This refers to having players willing to work in the three phases of the game. Players must be prepared to work defensively - pushing into defensive space/manning up, win the contested ball in dispute - go hard at the ball/body and play with courage and run hard offensively when we have control of the ball. The majority of players are very good and run very quickly to space offensively, it is the other two areas in particular that need to be highlighted and emphasised by coaches. By highlighting work in these two phases players are more aware of these facets and they will be encouraged to work hard in these phases, especially if the coaches give them rewards (i.e. positive feedback)

2. Decision Making:

I believe the best midfielders are those who can win a contested ball and then distribute it to a teammate (more often by handball) in space who has time to set up a teammate further up the field. Winning a contested ball takes courage, poise and distributing the ball requires good perceptual skills (i.e. broad vision, not tunnel vision). Decision-making involves seeing an option or options, choosing the correct one and then executing the skill. There is no doubt that Greg Williams is the master decision-maker of the modern era and was highly competent in all three facets of decision making.

3. Fitness:

Midfield players need to have the fitness to work in all three phases of football. Often players only have the fitness to work in one or two phases. Thus midfielders need to be the fittest players at the club because the majority of play takes place in their area, and as players become physically tired efficiency of skill decrease as does decision making. Tired players are more likely to make poor decisions. Midfield players need to be continually on the move during a game rather than just walking to their next role in the game, they should be at least jogging so that they can get as many contests in a game as per Shane Crawford and Robert Harvey's example.

4. Rotations:

The more players capable of playing in the midfield the more difficult it is for the opposition to shut it down. Players need to be educated to share the workload and be disciplined with the rotations. Players who have been midfielders the majority of their careers will need to be convinced of the concept of spending time in other positions or even having a rest on the interchange bench. As a coach you need to highlight that it is for the benefit of the team and their contribution is still very significant no matter what role they are playing.

5. Centre Breaks

Winning the ball out of the centre enables forwards to have space to move in to and allows them to compete on a one on one basic with their opponent. There are a number of important processes that need to be dealt with in regarding to winning the ball out of the centre.

- Ruckman - if you have a winning ruckman who can direct his hit outs to his onballers (or in the general direction) then that is great assistance but is does not guarantee success in centre breaks. Just as a losing ruckman does not mean you have no chance of winning centre breaks because the onballers would need to shark the hit outs.

- Courageous Team Players - players need to be hard at it in this confined and congested area. Players will be running in off the line thus onballers must have ensure they keep their eyes on the ball when it is their turn to go at it, whilst teammates must be prepared to put their bodies into block and assist the ball getter.

- Well organised - the onballers must have a plan on how they are going to win the ball out of the centre. They should have plenty of options so they are not too predictable for the opposition. To ensure these plans can be implemented good communication is essential so that all players (i.e. including changing rovers and ruck rovers, etc) know what their role is and one player, possibly the centreman should call the play for each centre bounce. Getting back to the centre square quickly before each bounce and around the boundary line for boundary throw ins (this can be hard because players often use this time to have breather and a walk) is essential in this communication process.

6. Dealing with Taggers:

The beat way a midfielder can beat a tagger is to run hard, run smart and when you get the footy make the tagger pay for dropping off you. Often a tagger will do a good job early in the game but as he gets tired and if the midfielder is persistent with this running he will start to win the ball. Mental toughness is crucial in dealing with taggers. If you the tagged player are having a quiet day you can still contribute by tackling, talking positively and constructively, chasing, blocking and smothering thus making a contribution to the team.

Often a tagger will have good fitness and be disciplined but not be a great ball winner or decision-maker. This is where the player being tagged must ensure that he controls his emotions and concentrates on reading the play and winning the ball in close, rather than running to space all the time and waiting for the ball to be kicked to him. His tagger will more than likely be with him.

Being tagged is a compliment, and as such your mental state should not be despondent and frustrated rather be confident that you are a good player and focus on the areas that have been mentioned that you can work on to beat your tagger.


Summary

Everyone wants to play in the midfield because it is where the action is and often players think they can get an easy kick in there. That might be the case in some instances but to play the midfield is a privilege, which must be earnt and requires hard work to succeed in. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This article was originally published in the November 2001 edition of Coaching Update, published by the Australian Football Coaches Association.

Simon Dalrymple is Coach of Marcellin Old Collegian’s Football Club in the VAFA. He played football for Hawthorn, Sandringham and Box Hill and he has also coached Old Trinity (VAFA) and Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup. Simon has produced his own coaching manual Australian Rules Coaching Manual for coaches and teachers. Simon can be contacted on 0409 898 191