Opinion Motlop is better than Rioli

[Art Vandelay_]

I don't think it's denigrating him at all. We've endured 7 years of commentators ejaculating over every possession he gets, but here are some simple facts:

- He's never averaged more than 17.3 touches a game in any one season. Wasn't so long ago he was going to be as good a midfielder as Ablett (apparently, or rather, hilariously).
- For an apparently elite small forward, he's never averaged 2 goals a game.
- He's only kicked 30 goals in a season once; with 39 in 2012.
- From 2010 to 2013, his average disposals per game actually went down every year (by comparison, Motlop's have leapt up every year since he started, and even with his slow start in 2014 they have continued that this season). Rioli has played 132 games now; his training wheels are long gone.

So "denigrating" to me is simply assessing him fairly and objectively. He's a good solid small forward. And that's it.

Although I have never rated Cyril as high as Bruce... Which isn't possible, your assessment seems pretty accurate.

I find it hard to justify the lofty heights some commentators hold him in, his injury concerns just simply have curtailed his career somewhat, and seem to be becoming more frequent

I've long held the opinion that
commentators, not all, but most of them, are seduced by his flashy brilliance, which is exactly that... brilliant, those things that only Cyril can do.

For me this is a major contributor in the media's continued overrating of Cyril, as he clearly doesn't do it often enough to justify the lofty position they hold him in, but still Bruce and his cohorts haven't sucked me in.

Ultimately though I'm not overly concerned about trying to compare motlop to Cyril, or to any other player for that matter.

I get immense enjoyment out of watching Motlop develop into a key cog in our team, as I do with his 21 teammates

 

[vinum coupe]

Matthews asked Motlop last week 'when was the last time you kicked it on your left foot"
"I don't have a left foot"

 

[SJ]

Matthews asked Motlop last week 'when was the last time you kicked it on your left foot"
"I don't have a left foot"

Wish he did.

I reckon he snapped at least one goal at Kardinia on his left though last year or the year before. Maybe 20 metres or so out. Not a confident kick but it got there all the same.

 

[GFrost]

Someone on the main board once started a thread about players who are so overrated they become underrated.
Basically, they are hyped up so much in the media, disproportionately to their output/actions, that the general fans react against that and begin to disparage them disproportionately to their output/actions. Cyril being a perfect example.
(Although perhaps not in equal measure ).

I may be a Geelong supporter but I would honestly take Motlop every day of the week. He's a match-winner, who does special things consistently, a speedster who gut-runs.

 

[Partridge]

Wish he did.

I reckon he snapped at least one goal at Kardinia on his left though last year or the year before. Maybe 20 metres or so out. Not a confident kick but it got there all the same.

You do wonder how players can get through to the top level now without being able to kick on both feet at least extremely competently.

 

[vinum coupe]

The only way is through having elite lateral movement and evasive skills I think.

 

[WaxiesDargle]

Yeah I think his ability to weave his way out of traffic or that initial burst of speed to get clear most times allows him to get onto his right boot. I reckon I have seen him snap a few goals on the left before but I guess he is one of the best with that checkside kick and he feels most comfortable using it.
"I don't have a left foot".... haha, that's gold.

 

[Rainfall]

What I don't get is that people other than Hawks even rate Cyril at all..

 

[DV2000]

Motlop has really lifted off lately in his ability to get a lot of the ball. If he can continue to get 25+ possessions per game some special things will happen

 

[DV2000]

Let's all just hope and pray that Mots doesn't have a bad run with injuries. That would just be awful.

 

[vinum coupe]

What I don't get is that people other than Hawks even rate Cyril at all..

Would take him in a heart beat.

 

[Sttew]

Would take him in a heart beat.

As back-up to Motlop?

 

[romeoh]

Motlop is great. Talented-has many skills, works hard and has a great attitude that he maintains throughout the whole of a game.
Cyril can be good too but Brucey is so over the top that it is hard to take. I hope Bruce ignores Motlop for many years to come.

 

[Rainfall]

Would take him in a heart beat.

Cyril would be a fringe player

 

[Connoisseur]

Cyril would be a fringe player

Now that's going a bit too far. I'll have him as our regular super sub.

 

[Rainfall]

Now that's going a bit too far. I'll have him as our regular super sub.

Nah cause he would keep Murder out of the side. Rather Murder cause 3 years younger.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Now that's going a bit too far. I'll have him as our regular super sub.

He'd take Varcoe's place.
Those 2 are a much more apt comparison than Rioli and Motlop.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Nah cause he would keep Murder out of the side. Rather Murder cause he's not as injury prone.

EFA

 

[winty]

Motlop had 30 possessions in a game a few weeks ago - something Rioli's never done.

 

[GeelongFTW]

Motlop had 30 possessions in a game a few weeks ago - something Rioli's never done.

25+ disposals comparison?

 

[winty]

25+ disposals comparison?

Motlop - 7 in 61 games.
Rioli - 6 in 132.

Only 2 of Cyril's 25+ possession games were in his first 61 games though.

 

[vinum coupe]

Cyril would be a fringe player

Top 5 picked.
At any club other than gold coast.

 

[maryjames]

Thryil lol. Lol lol .. Overrated .. No seriously.

 

[catempire]

Top 5 picked.
At any club other than gold coast.

Selwood
Hawkins
Johnson
Taylor
Motlop
Stokes
Duncan
Christensen

********

Franklin
Kennedy
Jack
Hannebery
McVeigh
Jetta

********

Hell, he wouldn't even be top 5 at Hawthorn!

Mitchell
Burgoyne
Roughead
Gunston
Breust
Hodge

 

[vinum coupe]

Ok, top 5 might be too high
Put it this way "he's in the do not blink at MC" category.
At every club.