- Jul 21, 2018
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- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
Fair points, however I think you are exaggerating the difference in body size between Taranto and Mccluggage. Taranto is 187cm/87kg, Mccluggage is 185cm/83kg, not a lot of difference at all there. Mccluggage is starting to win plenty of contested ball and stand up in tackles this year, as well as being a very strong tackler himself. Taranto is better in that area at the moment but I don't think it will be an issue for Mccluggage going forward.Really good point and we could debate this one for ever...but I think these kinds of lists are always an opinion at a moment in time. You'd say this time last year McGrath was clearly no 1 as he won the rising star...this year hes been very good but remember hes played more mid and stepped up in his roles. Much easier to get noticed when you run off half back. Ainsworth last year would also have been similar. He hit the ground running off half forward kicking some incredible goals next to Lynch and Wright in good form. Now he doest have that. Bowes has been given more tagging and defensive roles and again doesnt get noticed for his work. He will move up into the midfield maybe next year and we will see a different story. Brodie IMO is the type of player you can build a team around. Tough inside mid. Hes just had to build his running power and ball use... McCluggage, McGrath and Ainsworth wont get any bigger so the value of a Taranto and Brodie IMO longer term better suits the hardness of AFL requirements. Not saying others wont be good players but Brodes has shown he can develop quickly...All players fully developed, Id rather have him and Taranto in the mid come GF day, than anyone in your top 10, Setters will get there too.. McCluggage is all class but in time, as a mid, IMO the bigger bodies of Taranto, Setters, Brodie and Scrim will push the smaller mids aside so they need to have more strings to their bow...Ainsworth has that...hes a lethal forward. IMO if you look at Mark Murphy, his body is taking a battering against Dangerfield, Dusty, Kennedy etc. Buckenara described Scrim as the most talented player in that draft and given he was drafted skinny, then had injury setbacks its a longer pathway to get your GPS numbers and body up to standard. Each club drafts based on what they need. Petr-Seton had played regular WAFL and the Blues needed a mid but AFL is a different story, another level physically so hes probably taken too much too early but arguably has more class than anyone. Even Sam PP was no surprise. AFL academy captain at 17/18yo, he had hammy or maybe calf, issues I believe, in his draft year so it pushed him back a little. English also a good example, was drafted with the full understanding it would take time to build his body. Had his body been fully developed like McGrath, Taranto and Sam PP on draft day, he would most likely have gone pick 1. Talent and height like that dont come around every day. This time next year he might be 1 on your list. You left out Adelaides Jordan Gallucci. He can play and like Ainsworth, playing half forward is arguably the games hardest position and trying to break into Adelaides mature side isnt easy. Gucc can do it all but brings another thing...leadership. Co Vic Metro Captain with McGrath, he is up there. ..IMO I still reckon the clubs including GC got it pretty well right depending on what their options were and what they needed at the time...After 3-4 years in the system, all bodies developed, with the exception of English and maybe Marshall (most underdeveloped at the draft) I wouldnt be surprised if your ranking was similar as the draft order. Interesting subject right?