Cripps Bontempelli Merrett Kelly - the next big 4?

[SterlingArcher]

Watching Bont & Buddy lift in the last to drag their teams was a pleasure to watch.

I hope the Dogs take it to the Cats this year because the last quarter battle between Dangerfield & Bontempelli is genuinely exciting to think about - not sure how Bruce & BT will cope...

 

[BrisDog]

He's shit.

Because I'm feeling charitable we'll give you a third rounder for him.

Good to hear from you Adrian

 

[Blind Turn]

I don't know enough about Merretts wrong sided kicking but I'd say regardless the comparison is solid. A midget sized, big ball winner who is the player his teammates look for to take the ball from clearances cleanly and with great vision - that's both Mitchell and Merrett.

Merrett is quicker than Mitchell, has more penetration in his kicks and is a more defensively-minded player. Mitchell is better on his opposite foot, is a slicker handballer, and is a better extractor. They a quite different really. Merrett could be a weapon as a goalkicker too with any luck

 

[SterlingArcher]

Merrett is quicker than Mitchell, has more penetration in his kicks and is a more defensively-minded player. Mitchell is better on his opposite foot, is a slicker handballer, and is a better extractor. They a quite different really. Merrett could be a weapon as a goalkicker too with any luck

Never said Merrett was a clone? Just like I could be pedantic and say no Cripps isn't exactly like Kennedy.
Merrett definitely has undeniable similarities to Mitchell, I can't really see a better comparison to a current gun player?

 

[Richo83]

All three are great players and I'd love them at Richmond. But Bontempelli is better IMO, his inside and outside ability is elite and he forces opposition teams to invest a lot of time to stop him. His ability to go forward and kick goals makes him a really tough opponent to subdue.

Merrett and Cripps are great midfielders, but Bontempelli has more strings to his bow. He's a game changer, a guy who can change the momentum of a game and get the game to be played on his side's terms. Cripps and Merrett can do that, but not to the same extent. He's a proven finals performer and plays well against elite opposition. If you asked opposition coaches which player out of the three gives them the most headaches in terms of figuring out how to stop them, I'd bet most of them would say Bontempelli.

 

[Blind Turn]

Never said Merrett was a clone? Just like I could be pedantic and say no Cripps isn't exactly like Kennedy.
Merrett definitely has undeniable similarities to Mitchell, I can't really see a better comparison to a current gun player?

Beams maybe? Has attributes that are above Beams imo. Especially his kicking to advantage, and defensive/tackling ability. Not that Beams struggles in that regard but I think Merrett is exceptional in those areas already.

 

[ReaperX]

The current big 3 - Danger, Dusty, Fyfe

The next big 3 - Bontempelli, Cripps, ????

Not Merritt, he's a level below those two still, but he's getting there.

 

[Super Hans]

The current big 3 - Danger, Dusty, Fyfe

The next big 3 - Bontempelli, Cripps, ????

Not Merritt, he's a level below those two still, but he's getting there.

Pendles and Kennedy > Martin.

 

[Ozil]

The current big 3 - Danger, Dusty, Fyfe

The next big 3 - Bontempelli, Cripps, ????

Not Merritt, he's a level below those two still, but he's getting there.

He's not a level below Cripps.

Heeney, Petracca, Oliver in the conversation too, I'd think.

What about Dylan Shiel? Has 2-3 years in the system on most of them but he's devastating at his best.

 

[Adz]

Who is Merret?

 

[Skipper_]

Who is Merret?

It's not Merret is Merritt.

 

[ReaperX]

Pendles and Kennedy > Martin.

If you judge the players on their whole careers to date, sure I fully agree.

But at this moment in time, Martin is clearly the superior player to both of them, and is operating on the same playing level as Dangerfield was in 2016, and Fyfe in 2015.

 

[Adz]

It's not Merret is Merritt.

Who is he?

 

[ReaperX]

He's not a level below Cripps.

Heeney, Petracca, Oliver in the conversation too, I'd think.

What about Dylan Shiel? Has 2-3 years in the system on most of them but he's devastating at his best.

Bont is the standout of the 3 listed players, I would rate a fully fit Cripps as only half a level below Bont but I think Merrett is a clear 3rd, and a couple of levels below the influence of Bont.

So are you saying that you think Cripps isn't as good as I think, or that Merrett is better than I think?

 

[freddy mercury]

Bont is the standout of the 3 listed players, I would rate a fully fit Cripps as only half a level below Bont but I think Merrett is a clear 3rd, and a couple of levels below the influence of Bont.

So are you saying that you think Cripps isn't as good as I think, or that Merrett is better than I think?

Bont
Merrett
Cripps

Cripps misses too often to take that next step IMO

 

[Ozil]

Bont is the standout of the 3 listed players, I would rate a fully fit Cripps as only half a level below Bont but I think Merrett is a clear 3rd, and a couple of levels below the influence of Bont.

So are you saying that you think Cripps isn't as good as I think, or that Merrett is better than I think?

Based on how you've put it there, both.

Cripps doesn't have the penetration, poise or forward game to be half a level behind Bont, and Merrett is close to as influential if not as impactful with each individual touch.

But it's all arbitrary when talking about "levels" or "grades". I don't think we're that far apart in opinion really.

 

[Handsome_Jack]

Merrett > Cripps easily and I'd have Clayton Oliver above Cripps as well

 

[The_Flying_Egg]

Merrett > Cripps easily and I'd have Clayton Oliver above Cripps as well

One good game and Oliver is better than Cripps??

 

[Handsome_Jack]

One good game and Oliver is better than Cripps??

He's had plenty more than one good game mate, at the end of the day I just think he has more talent

 

[Dons4days]

he better, he's making us all look bad on this forum!

yes i was looking for a comparative player that combines dominance at the contest with class on the outside. couldn't find one.

the only other player i know that's equally great on both sides is sam petrevski seton.....but that's a thread for another year

SPS isn't tall enough to ever be elite... apparently [emoji23]

 

[ManOfClay]

Bont is the standout of the 3 listed players, I would rate a fully fit Cripps as only half a level below Bont

The thing with this is the Bont we've seen in rounds 1 and two played less JLT games than Cripps and is running at about 80% fitness. Both players fully fit it's not close. Cripps is nowhere near as effective and dynamic

 

[Overture]

He's had plenty more than one good game mate, at the end of the day I just think he has more talent

2 good games?

 

[Marlowe]

He's not a level below Cripps.

Heeney, Petracca, Oliver in the conversation too, I'd think.

What about Dylan Shiel? Has 2-3 years in the system on most of them but he's devastating at his best.

There's also Josh Kelly, and O'Meara is still in the conversation, long-term I still think he'll be a gun.

Five years from now though I think Heeney and Petracca will be there with Bont and at the level Danger/Fyfe are at now (Bont is almost there now).

 

[Ambrosia]

A Fyfe who is more lethal by foot.

Even has the similar hair though, comparison is very apt.

The Bont isn't the same athletically as Fyfe. He's more a Fyfe/Pendles hybrid.

 

[Rack Watts]

A Fyfe who is more lethal by foot.

Even has the similar hair though, comparison is very apt.

Bontempelli is like a less physical James Hird.