Which is the best midfield combo (90s or 2007-8)?

[finrod]

Ok, I am actually going to say that Couch, Bairstow and Hocking are a better 3-some than Ablett, Bartel & Corey. This may very well change though if A+B+C continue their form of last year for a few more years. Bairstow is the best Geelong centreman I have ever seen and was the clearance king for quite a while (Jimmy is pretty close though). Hocking was one of Geelong's toughest midfielders ever and was often up there in the Brownlow counts. And Couch won a Brownlow (even though I rate him as the least good of the 90s 3-some).

The difference between the 90s midfield and the current midfield is that Couch, Bairstow and Hocking never had much back-up from the 2nd tier. From memory, the next best midfielders were Riccardi, Pickering and Tudor. Compare this to our 2007-8 2nd tier of Enright, Kelly, Chapman, Selwood, Stokes, etc.... this is the reason we won a premiership last year and not in the 90s. Hope this poll hasn't been done before.

[Gavin Excell]

Interesting question.

Despite 2007, the flag and all the kudos for some reason i still think the 1989-94 side was more dynamic.

But that side had some brilliant players it also fell away sharply-thats probably the difference as you have pointed out above.

Garry Hocking for mine is the best midfielder Geelong has ever had in the 30 years have been following the club.

[Big_Tazz]

I would have to say the couch gang

[year of the cat]

I think Ablett and Bartel have now surpassed Hocking, Couch et al. Give it another few years and hopefully another flag or two and these guys will be revered as two of the great midfielders of our generation. Selwood will be not far behind them.

With a group of Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Kelly, Ling, Selwood, Stokes, and even Chapman and Enright, we are blessed with an extroadinarily deep midfield group that perhaps has never been surpassed. I can't think of another premiership team that had so many class players to rotate through the middle. Even Brisbane's great team with Voss, Aker, Lappin, Black, Notting, Power and Hart whilst having exceptional quality didn't go as deep as ours.

[carn_the_cattas]

BBC or ABC??

I'd take ABC.

[candiehappy]

ABC played better in the GF than BBC.

[rocker_oz33]

you would think only hocking out of those 3 would make the current side and the other 2 to play in the VFL

[Mr Sensitive]

ABC premierships= 1

BBC Grand Final Chokes= 3

'nuff said.

give me ablett, bartel and corey any day of the week.

[wazza0406]

you would think only hocking out of those 3 would make the current side and the other 2 to play in the VFL

Ahhh - the innocence of youth
Couch won a Brownlow and Bairstow was tough (though he was playing on Matera in '92 and Kemp in'94 who both won Norm Smiths!!) both would make the side ahead of Byrnes, Rooke even Kelly.
Buddha is a legend - and one of Thompson's important rules is respect the legends - that's why King played in the GF.
ABC are a better combo but BBC aren't far behind and definately wouldn't be in the VFL.

[Hood007]

Ahhh - the innocence of youth
Couch won a Brownlow and Bairstow was tough (though he was playing on Matera in '92 and Kemp in'94 who both won Norm Smiths!!) both would make the side ahead of Byrnes, Rooke even Kelly.
Buddha is a legend - and one of Thompson's important rules is respect the legends - that's why King played in the GF.
ABC are a better combo but BBC aren't far behind and definately wouldn't be in the VFL.

I thought Ricco played on him...

[Crancon]

you would think only hocking out of those 3 would make the current side and the other 2 to play in the VFL

Agreed, I would think Hocking would be pushing for Corey's spot. Bairstow and Couch would start in the VFL despite their respective talents. However, in about two years time we will probably not even have to debate this question.

[CatmanForever]

Great question by the way. I think I am swinging towards BBC at present, but I also agree if the current lads do win another flag this year then they would probably go ahead of them. Also if gazza cracked it for a Brownlow this year then that would tip the balance in ABC's favor as well.

[darren forssman]

I thought Ricco played on him...

one of the years blight used bairstow as a tag on matera, not sure which year. could have been 1992 as ricco did not play in the 92 GF.

all 3 would be shoe ins, can never substitute for quality.

[Skeppersap]

Interesting question._Despite 2007, the flag and all the kudos for some reason i still think the 1989-94 side was more dynamic._But that side had some brilliant players it also fell away sharply-thats probably the difference as you have pointed out above. Garry Hocking for mine is the best midfielder Geelong has ever had in the 30 years have been following the club.
I think you are being a bit harsh there on Spiro Melakellis and his lesser known brother Tony.

[thegerman]

Being around for both, I'd suggest the newer option of the Cats midfield is better. The past one lacked 'real' pace and versatility. Both Couch and Bairstow were outside midfielders, where Hocking was the only in and under.

Both Bartel and Ablett last year were high on the contested possession list, and I don't think Corey was that far behind them.

Skill wise, at times JC lets himself down with kicking, which all 3 of the contemporary players could do quite well.

I just think from the way the midfield depth is at this stage, the continued development of our current rotation will be high. Therefore greatness will continue.

That's why I'm going with the new breed.

[PoidaCat]

ABC premierships= 1

BBC Grand Final Chokes= 3

'nuff said.

give me ablett, bartel and corey any day of the week.

+1 billion.

[finrod]

I can't believe how skewered the results of this poll have been. Maybe most people on this board are just young... I think that if Ablett Bartel & Corey were replaced with Bairstow Buddha and Couch last year then we still would have won the grand final by a similar amount.