Biggest waste of talent in the AFL?

[BigBreakfast]

Fev had the talent, lost his way with the off field stuff.
Unstoppable at his best.

Never played in a final at Carlton. Played in an appalling era for Bluebaggers.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Never played in a final at Carlton. Played in an appalling era for Bluebaggers.

?

Played in 6 finals (including a prelim) in 2000, 2001, and 2009.

 

[BigBreakfast]

?

Played in 6 finals (including a prelim) in 2000, 2001, and 2009.

Yeah but, Bob Skilton. Ummmm, had kids during that era! Easily forgotten...

 

[Tbonefreo]

Previous comments around Chris Yarran got me thinking of the late Shane Yarran who kicked a goal in every game he played. Obviously a terribly sad story and a waste of a lot more than just football talent.

RIP

 

[Hawk_francais]

De Goey is headed in the wrong direction

 

[Elton Johns Wig]

Steven Motlop with a bullet. Could have been Cyril Rioli esque had he actually given a crap on a consistent basis. Such a waste

Played out of position through a needs basis while at Geelong I reckon. If they'd plonked him in the F50, his goal sense and acceleration would have been massive

Agree, but I still think his attitude dropping off a cliff and him caring more about his music career/coming back unfit after pre-seasons, was also a huge reason why he never reached that upper echelon

Drowned in his own honey Mots....drowned in his own honey.

Thanks Dwayne.

 

[Mofra]

Guy O'Keefe.

Who you ask? Exactly. Regularly killed it in the VFL, never debuted because (allegedly) Johnno caught him offering pills to teammates and bailed him up. Delisted, played SANFL, got done for dealing in his late 20s.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Xavier Clarke was going to be a complete gun but his hammies had other ideas.

 

[The 747]

Xavier Clarke was going to be a complete gun but his hammies had other ideas.

What about Raphael Clarke

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

What about Raphael Clarke

He was a waste of good hammies that should have went to his brother.

 

[Andyy]

Eh? He was great when he played for us. One of the best 2 way runners in the game until he broke his league.

He was very good in 16-17, but hardly good enough for his wage and being a #1 pick. Two seasons doesn't make a career.

 

[owen87]

He was very good in 16-17, but hardly good enough for his wage and being a #1 pick. Two seasons doesn't make a career.

Doesn't help being an outside player in a s**t side for most of your career.

If he'd gone to say Hawthorn or Geelong when he was drafted, he'd have had a much better looking career.

 

[Andyy]

Doesn't help being an outside player in a sh*t side for most of your career.

If he'd gone to say Hawthorn or Geelong when he was drafted, he'd have had a much better looking career.

Agreed, playing for Melb certainly hurt him.

I guess the best players dominate in crap teams too!

I also consider Patton and Boyd a waste.

 

[owen87]

I guess the best players dominate in crap teams too!

Depends on the type of player. An inside player like Cripps, sure, an outside player like Scully, no.

I also consider Patton and Boyd a waste.

Injury (knees and mental health) got them both.

Wouldn't say any of the above qualify as a waste of talent.

 

[kid_a]

not sure if already mentioned but Ashley Sampi would be right up there

 

[haveago]

Franklin, one sided, limited overhead.

Sounds like Dusty......

 

[haveago]

Jeffy Garlett........Abilty to burn.... so very, very timid.

 

[sammm]

Not a current player but Spencer White was meant to be the next buddy.

yeah, based on one run at Sandringham

 

[Kozzie_Magic]

Bennell and honestly it's not even remotely close. When he wasn't an utter muppet that had off field issues and whatever injury you can come up with...the bloke looked the next superstar. Still remember the 30 possession 4 goal game he had. Unfortunately a lot of things have held him back.

The thing about him that is just bewildering is all that work he put in to resurrect his career at Melbourne and he threw it all away so quickly with one stupid act.

 

[owen87]

The thing about him that is just bewildering is all that work he put in to resurrect his career at Melbourne and he threw it all away so quickly with one stupid act.

Bennell's track record suggests that's well within character. Seems like a guy that can't control himself when he gets in to certain situations. Had all the talent to be a genuine superstar though.

 

[Mofra]

Bennell's track record suggests that's well within character. Seems like a guy that can't control himself when he gets in to certain situations. Had all the talent to be a genuine superstar though.

Some people just can't handle their piss.
Good intentions but then lose all inhibitions on the turps. Probably would have been a superstar in the 80s.

 

[PAFC_1870]

Wingard is a 2x AA, B&F winner and kicked 262 goals from 178 games

May not have seen either live up to their full potential (yet) but they have delivered far too much to be among the biggest wasted talents.

Wingard did all that early so he absolutely qualifies for this.

 

[PAFC_1870]

Libba and O’Meara have been destroyed by injuries.

Shouldn’t be anywhere near these discussions.

There's a tonne of injury prone players that don't belong here too.

Terrible.

 

[All Aust]

Whats your version of tearing a game apart? Certain amount of possessions, certain amount of goals or a combination?

I would go with the combination of actions that "carries a team", swinging likely defeat to victory. Dangerfield, Fyffe, Neale, Bont, Martin, Sidebottom, Ryan, Cameron of recent. Most captains have.

 

[blueboy25]

I would go with the combination of actions that "carries a team", swinging likely defeat to victory. Dangerfield, Fyffe, Neale, Bont, Martin, Sidebottom, Ryan, Cameron of recent. Most captains have.

I would suggest you look at some of his stats and look at most of Gold coast wins he played in and he was instrumental in a lot of those. With most being 15 disposals and multiple goals.