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- #426
Admittedly he hasn't been at his best during the streamed/televised champs games. Lacks that hurt factor and stoppage success he had early/pre-champs. Where he excels over someone like Milera is in running side of the game. He runs harder, for longer, and to better spots. His running patterns and positioning are the only elite thing in his game. Not dissimilar to an O'Kearney - both just position themselves so well to get the ball. And you need those types of players - teams with skilled types that lack that running game are very restricted in style, blokes like Parto and O'Kearney provide an extra, well positioned option for the ball carrier that otherwise wouldn't be there. They're the difference between a ball carrier bombing long down the line/a lateral chip and a pass that furthers the play at times.
That said, Partington excels over O'Kearney in a few key areas. He's a better kick. He's more athletic - with his speed, evasion and agility all better and he's got a more defined stoppage game. Partington isn't an inside midfielder but when he does get the ball inside he's usually able to retain and consolidate possession, a rare trait. O'Kearney probably a better runner though, which does say a lot.
Based on that I do rate Partington ahead of O'Kearney by a bit - but both are players I like as I feel they play an underrated role. I have been cooling on Partington since the start of the year (as opposed to most who've warmed) as I had overrated his speed and footskills but he's still very good.
Milera is another I like but there is a concern regarding his role at the next level too. He's not really a pure crumber and he's not really a line breaking midfielder.
In a lot of ways I see him as a similar role to Declan Hamilton from last year - not high accumulators and relatively raw but very handy link men as narrow outside mid/fwds. His spacial awareness is next level though and the major reason I rate him so highly.
Not to mention Sproule and Byrne. Byrne could be my favourite of the lot. A lot depends on whether GWS lose some big guns. If they do, they'll have the picks to replenish easily.
Nunn had a monster game in ressies on the weekend. Ressies a similar standard to champs footy I reckon (though VC/SA games have been between state league and ressies standard) so I'm surprised he hasn't been able to recreate that. That said the champs games are 30-40 minutes shorter across a whole game and have an extra benchman or two so the TOG is a lot lower which doesn't allow elite endurance players to thrive. And perhaps blokes like Nunn lift when they're against the bigger bodies in a more congested game?
