Cripps Bontempelli Kelly - The soon-to-be big 3?

[Dancing Dougy]

I get what you're saying, but I actually do think both clubs would be weaker by swapping. Carlton need the big, unstoppable body from Cripps, while Dogs need the class and composure that Bont offers. At least for the Dogs, we have guys like Dunkley and Macrae who would be too similar to someone like Cripps, while I don't think Bont would be as good as he is if he were at Carlton where there's less midfield support around him.

Absolutely love watching the Dogs/Carlton games and seeing them go head to head. Even if they don't play on each other, seeing them both trying to drag their side across the line and being an obvious tier above the rest is such a spectacle

Yep completely agree, Cripps is a beast, but the Dogs have a few that can do a similar (albeit not as bull-like) job. Bont is unique and very hard (if not impossible) to cover with the remaining players on our list. Inside/outside/link man/forward/leadership etc etc.

 

[conrad_437]

Remember when Zach Merrett was included in this conversation?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[AjsGuns]

There is no big 3 nowadays like the Swan, Ablett, Judd trio.

One of these is not like the others..

Kind of agree with your sentiments that there are about 5-8 very good players right now with no stand out. However, I'd say Cripps, Bont and Kelly are going to be the next standouts in a season or two. Also really rate Oliver (2 years younger than those three, averaging 30+ disposals, BnF in his 2nd year and AA in his 3rd year).

 

[Hawk_francais]

If you were asking me to pick a team from players in the comp under 25 then the first five picks would go:

1. Jordan De Goey
2. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Harris Andrews
4. Tim Kelly
5. Patrick Cripps

 

[AjsGuns]

If you were asking me to pick a team from players in the comp under 25 then the first five picks would go:

1. Jordan De Goey
2. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Harris Andrews
4. Tim Kelly
5. Patrick Cripps

De Goey is a jet, but a little reactionary on his performance last night. Doubt any coach would take him over Bont/Cripps if offered the choice between the 3.

 

[bigboysdontcry]

If you were asking me to pick a team from players in the comp under 25 then the first five picks would go:

1. Jordan De Goey
2. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Harris Andrews
4. Tim Kelly
5. Patrick Cripps

You haven't seen Aaron Naughton play ? He is only 19 and leading the Comp with contested marks.

 

[Slysh]

You haven't seen Aaron Naughton play ? He is only 19 and leading the Comp with contested marks.

That's nice and all but he is not even close to any of those ahead of him on output.

 

[Jonno94]

De Goey is a jet, but a little reactionary on his performance last night. Doubt any coach would take him over Bont/Cripps if offered the choice between the 3.

When he gets fully fit (hopefully next year), he's a certain 20 touches, 2+ goals a game jet. They absolutely would.

 

[PAFC_1870]

When he gets fully fit (hopefully next year), he's a certain 20 touches, 2+ goals a game jet. They absolutely would.

Best small fwd in the game, but wouldn't take him over 2 giant midfielders.

 

[Hawk_francais]

You haven't seen Aaron Naughton play ? He is only 19 and leading the Comp with contested marks.

Is that a joke?

De Goey is a jet, but a little reactionary on his performance last night. Doubt any coach would take him over Bont/Cripps if offered the choice between the 3.

Was reacting to the GF, mate.

 

[AjsGuns]

Was reacting to the GF, mate.

Must be why the post was straight after the friday night game.

 

[Stopher]

Remember when Zach Merrett was included in this conversation?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

34 touches and 6 tackles. Yeah, what a spud

 

[Hawk_francais]

Must be why the post was straight after the friday night game.

Because I really have an axe to grind against Bontempelli? They're both already great players, but I see De Goey has the potential to get even better. We don't really need to argue about this...

 

[conrad_437]

34 touches and 6 tackles. Yeah, what a spud

Never said he was a spud. But he's far from these 3. From memory the bloke who started the previous thread was also an Essendon supporter.

 

[Jobe Watson]

Never said he was a spud. But he's far from these 3. From memory the bloke who started the previous thread was also an Essendon supporter.

Maybe now there's a bit of a gap... though Merrett is still an A-grader, the other 3 are just elite. But when that thread was started Merrett was better performed than Cripps and had had better recent seasons than Bont.

 

[conrad_437]

Maybe now there's a bit of a gap... though Merrett is still an A-grader, the other 3 are just elite. But when that thread was started Merrett was better performed than Cripps and had had better recent seasons than Bont.

The other thread began when the Bont was about to embark on a historic finals series and was about to be crowned AA, and Cripps was not far behind. At that point Merrett was far from those two names, and while he's played some good footy in between, the previous thread was started by a bloke who was just hopeful of his player being mentioned alongside the other two.

 

[Jobe Watson]

The other thread began when the Bont was about to embark on a historic finals series and was about to be crowned AA, and Cripps was not far behind. At that point Merrett was far from those two names, and while he's played some good footy in between, the previous thread was started by a bloke who was just hopeful of his player being mentioned alongside the other two.

Merrett, Cripps and Bont were all breaking out at the same time. They all have the same number of All-Australian nominations. All of them made multiple appearances in the 22under22. They all have top 10 finishes in the Brownlow. The comparisons between then in 2016 and 2017 were fair, especially 2017 when Merrett was arguably the best performed of all of them.

Bont, Cripps and Kelly have gone ahead of Merrett the past 2 years, but it's not like Merrett is that far off. Meh - hopefully teams keep underrating him.

 

[Damon_3388]

If you were asking me to pick a team from players in the comp under 25 then the first five picks would go:

1. Jordan De Goey
2. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Harris Andrews
4. Tim Kelly
5. Patrick Cripps

I feel like Tim Taranto is strangely underrated here. His kicking needs work, but he's pretty much elite for a third year player. Certainly as good or better than those others were at the same age/stage.

 

[Damon_3388]

Also, when do we add Josh Dunkley to this group too?

 

[conrad_437]

Also, when do we add Josh Dunkley to this group too?

This Bulldogs midfield is going to be incredible to watch for the next 7-10 years. Bailey Smith looks like a future A-grader too.

 

[Mofra]

Also, when do we add Josh Dunkley to this group too?

Ridiculous numbers today - 22 years old and puts up 39 disposals (24 contested), 15 tackles, 2 goals when most of our team had the yips, even pinch hits in the ruck and took two very telling contested marks late in the game.

Definitely doesn't have the class of Kelly/Bont/Cripps (nor Zac Merrett). More of a Josh Kennedy who is a bid bodied type with an incredible workrate.

 

[chunkylover53]

Cripps said post game he is trying to drop a bit of weight to develop his outside game and give the opportunity to some of the other mids who need developing.

Not sure I'm on board with that but anyway.

 

[Substance]

Why can't Bont kick goals anymore... he missed another 3 today.

 

[Benaly28]

Also, when do we add Josh Dunkley to this group too?

When he puts a body of good work together,say the next 18 months.

 

[AjsGuns]

When he puts a body of good work together,say the next 18 months.

his been dominating since round 5. Was playing a fwd role for the first 5 weeks while libba got his midfield minutes.
Fantastic season. He isn't as good as Cripps, Bont or Kelly though. Could see him being our Cripps though (just not as good). Another 6 weeks like his past 6 weeks and he will should make AA (but will probably be overlooked)