Has Griffin ever shown form in the SANFL like Maric has?

[Sekaj]

Just curious. Because it seems like young Griffin has been allowed to jump straight to the AFL without having shown consistent form in the SANFL that Maric has on occassion.

[Southerntakeover]

Just curious. Because it seems like young Griffin has been allowed to jump straight to the AFL without having shown consistent form in the SANFL that Maric has on occassion.

Griffin pretty much bypassed it...

Centrals wouldnt give him a game in 06... Came into the team in 07 due to injury and his form was good enough to suggest he was up to the level. After that, it was simply a battle between him and Maric for the starting spot over this preseason, both at training and preseason games, and Griff won.

[Coopers]

No, not really.

But all of the Rucks had 4 games in the NAB cup to show form, and claim first spot, and Griff came out on top.

[Vader]

In 2006 he spent most of the year playing in the magoos at Centrals, might have had a handful of games at league level? Certainly didn't show as much as Maric had to that point in time.

After Meesen & Maric fell over in the 2007 MMC, Griffin was effectively the last man standing - hence his R1 debut last year.

Maric replaced him mid-season, once his form had recovered. Griffin went back to the SANFL, where he was serviceable but not great. Meesen was gifted his 2 games late in the year, before Griffin returned (having done precisely nothing in the SANFL) for the finals.

In short, no he's never shown anything at SANFL level. Certainly has never dominated a game to the degree Maric showed last week. Doesn't mean he hasn't been a fairly decent player at AFL level though.

[srv23]

No, not really.

But all of the Rucks had 4 games in the NAB cup to show form, and claim first spot, and Griff came out on top.

Spot on. And Maric pretty much came out number 4.
I think Craigy likes the flexibility that Griff, Tippett and Moran provide. Griffen can play almost a Cox type role in that he can mark and carry the ball through the midfield plus remember that 4th quarter goal against Port!
We've seen what Tippett can do up forward while Moran can slot in down back, especially when the opposition ruckmen rest up forward. Maric didn't show much of that in the pre season and his actual rucking duties weren't dominant enough to warrant his selection over the other guys.
For our structure I'd like to see us play Maric, mainly so that big Kurt can settle in the forward line. But as far as the battle of the rucks in pre season, Maric didn't show enough to be picked ahead of the others.

Lots of guys can dominate SANFL but struggle at AFL level (Daniel Schell springs to ind)(not saying this is Maric's case) while from memory Reilly was virtually playing in Sturt ressies most weeks when he got the call up.

I reckon (and could be wrong) that if Moran wasn't injured we would have been playing those 3 guys virtually from round 1.

[Carl Spackler]

How important is SANFL form?

Hayden Skipworth and James Gallagher burned it up every week.

During the discussion on the Hawthorn game one of their fans pointed out that Franklin and Roughhead were both gifted games early in their careers despite having done sweet FA in the VFL.

Michael Clarke was selected for NSW despite never having made an A Grade century.

[Dujon11]

Maric has never shown the form Griff has in the AFL. I reckon thats what Craigy is looking more closely at.

MAric will get another crack though and I hope he takes it.

[Dandy_GO]

I reckon Ivan is immensely underrated on this board at the moment. He had a couple of months of bad form, but on the whole he's progressing very well for a young ruckman. I've seen people hinting that he'll go the way of Meesen, which is simply unfair.
He does just as much as Griff when playing at AFL level.
Griff gets a lot of props for having the flexibility to play forward, yet Ivan averages more goals per game than him, and kicked at least a goal in all but two of his 6 games last season. He's less likely to get outbodies and lays more tackles. Griff covers the ground better than Ivan, and is more reliable in the centre circle ball ups, but overall his ruckwork and general play to date hasn't overshadowed Ivan's to the level that people seem to make out.
Maric's poor preseason cup form came at a terrible time for him and seems to have really put him out of favour with Craigy, as all signs prior to this pointed to him having the first ruck spot in the bag.

Don't get me wrong, I reckon Griff will be the superior player in time, and right now deserves the #1 spot after a strong preseason cup performance, but people are starting to write Ivan off based on little more than 4 average matches (two of which he was pretty good in).

EDIT: Not suggesting anyone in this thread has - just a general vibe I've picked up on the board over the last few weeks.

[Southerntakeover]

I reckon Ivan is immensely underrated on this board at the moment. He had a couple of months of bad form, but on the whole he's progressing very well for a young ruckman. I've seen people hinting that he'll go the way of Meesen, which is simply unfair.
He does just as much as Griff when playing at AFL level.
Griff gets a lot of props for having the flexibility to play forward, yet Ivan averages more goals per game than him, and kicked at least a goal in all but two of his 6 games last season. He's less likely to get outbodies and lays more tackles. Griff covers the ground better than Ivan, and is more reliable in the centre circle ball ups, but overall his ruckwork and general play to date hasn't overshadowed Ivan's to the level that people seem to make out.
Maric's poor preseason cup form came at a terrible time for him and seems to have really put him out of favour with Craigy, as all signs prior to this pointed to him having the first ruck spot in the bag.

Don't get me wrong, I reckon Griff will be the superior player in time, and right now deserves the #1 spot after a strong preseason cup performance, but people are starting to write Ivan off based on little more than 4 average matches (two of which he was pretty good in).

EDIT: Not suggesting anyone in this thread has - just a general vibe I've picked up on the board over the last few weeks.

I think Ivan could be a very good player.

Hes still had a disappointing year, no matter which way you cut it though.

Edit: Also, the comparisions to Meesen have only really risen because of the moronic 'He's going home now because he wasnt picked!' crap that gets thrown up by the hysterical blockheads. Never mind the fact hes contracted for next season.

[Ozzie]

I think Ivan could be a very good player.

Hes still had a disappointing year, no matter which way you cut it though.

Edit: Also, the comparisions to Meesen have only really risen because of the moronic 'He's going home now because he wasnt picked!' crap that gets thrown up by the hysterical blockheads. Never mind the fact hes contracted for next season.

He hasn't been picked because he does not get back and contest in the defensive half STRONGLY when needed. In the last NAB cup he made a half hearted attempt to spoil and the other team kicked a goal. If you had watched Craig's face and mouth during the replay you would have seen how upset he was with Maric. I would venture to say when Moran gets fit again and Maric has not made his way back into the side, he will remain in the SANFL. Moran was going to win the 2nd ruck position and Tippett to play forward in my opinion. That particular play sealed Maric's fate along with his lacklustre rucking, otherwise he should have been playing for the Crows not the local league.

[Crowked]

Maric has never shown the form Griff has in the AFL.

This is the most significant thing IMO.

[Pistolnight]

After looking thru the Alpha magazine this week i think Maric has the best form.:D:D

[Campbell's Chunky]

Griffin pretty much bypassed it...

Centrals wouldnt give him a game in 06... Came into the team in 07 due to injury and his form was good enough to suggest he was up to the level. After that, it was simply a battle between him and Maric for the starting spot over this preseason, both at training and preseason games, and Griff won.
Or atleast Maric got injured.

[Southerntakeover]

Or atleast Maric got injured.

You dont agree that Griff out performed him in the pre season?

[Campbell's Chunky]

You dont agree that Griff out performed him in the pre season?
Last year? Or this year?

[Southerntakeover]

Last year? Or this year?

If you're talking about last year, then i noted that in my initial post... ;)

[Campbell's Chunky]

If you're talking about last year, then i noted that in my initial post... ;)
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/236/wbzantucknarrowweb200x2qg1.jpg

Sorry mate, looks like I've given you a free kick. :o

[TheLeftFist8]

SANFL form isn't everything if the player in question has a limitation that will be found out at AFL level and not at the lower level.

In the SANFL Maric's relatively poor leap doesn't matter so much, his 2-3cm less height than our other ruck options soesn't stop him, his great physique allows him to dominate many other rucks that he simply couldn't do in the AFL.

Not saying he wont make it, but good SANFL form doesn't mean he will...plenty of examples here, e.g. Adam Richardson

I hope he gets his chance to prove himself this year (which is why i was 50:50 whether he should have played this week) but personally I'd love to see Griffin, Tippett and Moran in the 22.

[macca23]

Maric has never shown the form Griff has in the AFL. I reckon thats what Craigy is looking more closely at.

MAric will get another crack though and I hope he takes it.

Right on the money IMO. :thumbsu:

Griffin is already an excellent centre bounce ruckman and once he bulks up will be the same in the ruckwork around the ground. In addition he is quite athletic, has a great leap and is improving steadily with his field play involvement.

He will end up being one of the better ruckmen in the AFL IMO.

Maric is an honest footballer but is nowhere near as talented as Griffin. Should end up being an AFL ruckman but IMO will never reach the heights of Griffin

[Pride of SA]

As many have said, its only AFL form which counts.

remember Matthew Clarke couldnt even get a game in the seniors team in the SANFL and was in the reserves. got the callup and went straight to AFL and beat his opposition.

Its only guys like Drummond who think if a player is beating the semi-professionals in the SANFL that they are therefore ready for the AFL.

Remember Craig and Co watch Maric train every day alongside the very players Ivan wants to replace as ruck, so hes comparing Ivan against AFL capable players, not just SANFL. There may be some aspect Ivan is lacking in his game that we arent aware of but Craig can see.

[whitey_1975]

Lets rephrase this question.
Has Maric ever shown form in the AFL like Griffin.
Having said that id like to have seen Maric play to free up Tippet to play FF. But hell i dont know the game plan like the afc or drummond or fd88 or any other expert on this web site. You too spring choke:rolleyes:

[Ozzie]

As many have said, its only AFL form which counts.

remember Matthew Clarke couldnt even get a game in the seniors team in the SANFL and was in the reserves. got the callup and went straight to AFL and beat his opposition.

Its only guys like Drummond who think if a player is beating the semi-professionals in the SANFL that they are therefore ready for the AFL.

Remember Craig and Co watch Maric train every day alongside the very players Ivan wants to replace as ruck, so hes comparing Ivan against AFL capable players, not just SANFL. There may be some aspect Ivan is lacking in his game that we arent aware of but Craig can see.

I told the board earlier...Maric needs to how to defend better.

[glengowan]

I thought Griffin showed glimpses in the SANFL. I remember saying on here he was a better prospect than Meesen after watching him win the ruck contests against Lindsay which got Central back into the game at Woodville Oval one day.

Griffin had to play in a very strong Central side, but from what I've seen of him, Maric and Meesen in the SANFL (mainly playing against the Eagles) - Griffin showed as much if not more than the others at this level.

I still think Maric will be a good player for the Crows and will contribute this year, either covering for injury or allowing Tippett to play more forward.