1993 - 2007 Comparisons

[SydneyDon]

So I was thinking about that great 1993 Premiership Team, the Baby Bombers, who came from nowhere to pinch the Cup. On paper it doesn't look like the typical invincable Flag side but they got the job done.

Yes, maybe getting a little carried away after only 2 (great) wins so forgive me. I have just tried to match up the 1993 team with the current team in similar positions, similar age and abilities at the time. Some licence needed for our 2 game players.

Comments and your matchups/comparisons?

1993 - 2007

David Calthorpe - Leroy Jetta
Mark Mercuri - Angus Monfries
Gavin Wanganeen - Henry Slattery
David Grenvold - Damien Peverill
Joe Misiti - Jobe Watson
Ricky Olarenshaw - Andrew Welsh
Sean Denham - Jason Winderlich
James Hird - Brent Stanton
Michael Long - Andrew Lovett
Dustin Fletcher - Paddy Ryder
Peter Somerville - David Hille
Dean Wallis - Mal Michael
Paul Hills - Chris Heffernan
Chris Daniher - Mark Johnson
Tim Watson - James Hird
Mark Harvey - Scott Lucas
Paul Salmon - Matthew Lloyd
Mark Thompson - Adam McPhee
Gary O'Donnell - Mark McVeigh
Darren Bewick - Alwyn Davey

 

[hulld]

i like your thinking but if we are going to do anything this year we have to win at least 4 of the next 7 games. if we are going to be a top 6 side we have to win the games that we are expected to win

 

[DaSawx]

We need to stay consistent and confident. We have 16 of our next 19 games in Melbourne, sure we "should" beat the Carlton's and Kangaroos but we should hopefully stay competitve against the top teams like we have already shown, we are capable of beating a Bulldogs or even WCE on our best days, not saying we will win them all but if we can knock of a couple more as well as the lower teams we ae within a chance

 

[monty1104]

So I was thinking about that great 1993 Premiership Team, the Baby Bombers, who came from nowhere to pinch the Cup. On paper it doesn't look like the typical invincable Flag side but they got the job done.

Yes, maybe getting a little carried away after only 2 (great) wins so forgive me. I have just tried to match up the 1993 team with the current team in similar positions, similar age and abilities at the time. Some licence needed for our 2 game players.

Comments and your matchups/comparisons?

1993 - 2007

David Calthorpe - Leroy Jetta
Mark Mercuri - Angus Monfries
Gavin Wanganeen - Henry Slattery
David Grenvold - Damien Peverill
Joe Misiti - Jobe Watson
Ricky Olarenshaw - Andrew Welsh
Sean Denham - Jason Winderlich
James Hird - Brent Stanton
Michael Long - Andrew Lovett
Dustin Fletcher - Paddy Ryder
Peter Somerville - David Hille
Dean Wallis - Mal Michael
Paul Hills - Chris Heffernan
Chris Daniher - Mark Johnson
Tim Watson - James Hird
Mark Harvey - Scott Lucas
Paul Salmon - Matthew Lloyd
Mark Thompson - Adam McPhee
Gary O'Donnell - Mark McVeigh
Darren Bewick - Alwyn Davey

OK, I understand the rest, but shouldn't Fletcher just be matched up with himself? He was just as important then as he is now.

 

[SydneyDon]

You're right. I forgot to allow for the extra 2 players on the bench.
But I would like to think Ryder will be the next Fletcher.

 

[Ivanhoe Bomber]

1993 - 2007

David Calthorpe - Leroy Jetta
Mark Mercuri - Angus Monfries
Gavin Wanganeen - Henry Slattery
David Grenvold - Damien Peverill
Joe Misiti - Jobe Watson
Ricky Olarenshaw - Andrew Welsh
Sean Denham - Jason Winderlich
James Hird - Brent Stanton
Michael Long - Andrew Lovett
Dustin Fletcher - Paddy Ryder
Peter Somerville - David Hille
Dean Wallis - Mal Michael
Paul Hills - Chris Heffernan
Chris Daniher - Mark Johnson
Tim Watson - James Hird
Mark Harvey - Scott Lucas
Paul Salmon - Matthew Lloyd
Mark Thompson - Adam McPhee
Gary O'Donnell - Mark McVeigh
Darren Bewick - Alwyn Davey

I like a few of your comparisons as highlighted above, but I think most of the rest are clutching at straws. Jetta & Calthorpe are a similar height but thats where the similarity ends, couldn't see Slattery winning the brownlow this year, and would probably see Harvey - McPhee & Fletcher - Fletcher as the right comparisons.

 

[warney7]

Looking at the comparsions, our 1993 side looks much better IMO.

 

[monty1104]

It looks better now maybe, but if you looked at it in 93, you wouldnt be saying that. Misiti, Mercuri, Hird, Wanganeen and Fletcher were all only 1-3 year players at that stage. Apart from Wanganeen because he won the Brownlow, not many people could have predicted the careers these guys were going to have. Maybe in 7 years we can look back on the 07 team and say, "wow, look how good that team was; Watson, Stanton, Monfries, Winderlich and Ryder." You just never know.

 

[SydneyDon]

It looks better now maybe, but if you looked at it in 93, you wouldnt be saying that. Misiti, Mercuri, Hird, Wanganeen and Fletcher were all only 1-3 year players at that stage. Apart from Wanganeen because he won the Brownlow, not many people could have predicted the careers these guys were going to have. Maybe in 7 years we can look back on the 07 team and say, "wow, look how good that team was; Watson, Stanton, Monfries, Winderlich and Ryder." You just never know.

Thanks Donsman, that's exactly what I was trying to do.
Fletcher circa '93 - Ryder '07
Watson (final year of a Champ) - Hird
etc.
Not comparing only playing styles. Perhaps 2008 will be a better comparison to '93

 

[Pantsless]

In 1993, we won 1 1/2 games out of our first 5 including towelling up a rubbish Sydney and getting towelled up by the Dogs.

In Rd 6, we beat the Cats in one of the greatest full forward displays of the modern era where Ablett kicked 14 and Fish kicked 10.

1993 was also extremely even where only 6 points and percentage seperating 1st and 7th.

The main thing to remember is that if the designation of home finals was back then like it is now, then the PF should have been at Footy Park and not the G...but what a game it was!

 

[Strike Swiftly]

So I was thinking about that great 1993 Premiership Team, the Baby Bombers, who came from nowhere to pinch the Cup. On paper it doesn't look like the typical invincable Flag side but they got the job done.

Yes, maybe getting a little carried away after only 2 (great) wins so forgive me. I have just tried to match up the 1993 team with the current team in similar positions, similar age and abilities at the time. Some licence needed for our 2 game players.

Comments and your matchups/comparisons?

1993 - 2007

David Calthorpe - Leroy Jetta
Mark Mercuri - Angus Monfries
Gavin Wanganeen - Henry Slattery
David Grenvold - Damien Peverill
Joe Misiti - Jobe Watson
Ricky Olarenshaw - Andrew Welsh
Sean Denham - Jason Winderlich
James Hird - Brent Stanton
Michael Long - Andrew Lovett
Dustin Fletcher - Paddy Ryder
Peter Somerville - David Hille
Dean Wallis - Mal Michael
Paul Hills - Chris Heffernan
Chris Daniher - Mark Johnson
Tim Watson - James Hird
Mark Harvey - Scott Lucas
Paul Salmon - Matthew Lloyd
Mark Thompson - Adam McPhee
Gary O'Donnell - Mark McVeigh
Darren Bewick - Alwyn Davey

i reckon your way off the mark here... clutching at straws. the only similarities are monfries - mercuri, long- lovett and misiti - watson. half of the rest play in different positions and are totally different players.

 

[Bombers 1997]

14 years...gee how time flies. And only two players left from that side.

Funny how much difference two weeks can make with that injection of speed we had over the off-season. Every week is a hurdle for our young side though, even Carlton are pesky.

 

[Slattery_20]

Bewick = Jetta
Same haircut, same confidence to take shots when others might pass, similar build

Olarenshaw - Winderlich

Might be good, always injured

Hird of 93 was playing almost CHF - half forward, anyway
Welsh (before this round, anyway) is most similar in size and position

 

[warney7]

It looks better now maybe, but if you looked at it in 93, you wouldnt be saying that. Misiti, Mercuri, Hird, Wanganeen and Fletcher were all only 1-3 year players at that stage. Apart from Wanganeen because he won the Brownlow, not many people could have predicted the careers these guys were going to have. Maybe in 7 years we can look back on the 07 team and say, "wow, look how good that team was; Watson, Stanton, Monfries, Winderlich and Ryder." You just never know.

Yeah that's a very fair point.

In 14 years time I reckon we'll have seen plenty of superstars come of our current youngsters!

 

[Jex]

Yeah that's a very fair point.

In 14 years time I reckon we'll have seen plenty of superstars come of our current youngsters!

To illustrate that point, have a look at the 93 kids and what they'd achieved by the start of 1993...

Gavin Wanganeen - 1 x AA, debuted in 1991
James Hird - 5 senior games
Dustin Fletcher - yet to debut
Mark Mercuri - 2 senior games
Joe Misiti - 1 senior game
Ricky Olarenshaw - yet to debut
David Calthorpe - yet to debut
Paul Hills - may have debuted in 1991
Steve Alessio - yet to debut (I think)
Michael Symons - may have debuted in 1992 (not sure)

Fast forward to today...

Gavin Wanganeen - Brownlow, 2 premierships, multiple AA selections
James Hird - 4 B&Fs, Brownlow, Norm Smith, 2 premierships, 5 x AA
Dustin Fletcher - 1 B&F, 2 premierships, 1 x AA
Mark Mercuri - 1 B&F, 2 premierships, 1 x AA
Joe Misiti - 2 premierships, best finals player in 2000
Ricky Olarenshaw - 1 premiership
David Calthorpe - 1 premiership, 1 x EJ Whitten medal
Paul Hills - 1 premiership
Steve Alessio - 1 premiership
Michael Symons - Took a few speckies and played in several finals

Of the class of 2007...

Brent Stanton - already has 2 x top 4 B&F finishes (and is yet to turn 21)
Angus Monfries - clearly in our best 22, 2nd highest goalkicker last year
Patrick Ryder - 2007's first rising star nom
Alwyn Davey - a bit old to be classed a baby, he's ready to go
Jobe Watson - 2nd in B&F 2006
Henry Slattery - 3rd year at the club, physically mature, part of our best 22
Leroy Jetta - debuted earlier than expected
Jason Winderlich - coming of age
Jason Laycock - coming of age
Courtney Dempsey - will get his chances this year

Chuck in Gumby, Johns, Neagle, Kepler, Hislop, Dyson, Lee, Houli, Nash etc and we have plenty to feel optimistic about.

The flag in 1993 was a fairytale and for history to repeat would be a miracle. I doubt we’ll see a premiership like that again, but our list then is very comparable to our list now.

Look at the elder statesmen of then, compared to now…

Bomber Thompson v Matthew Lloyd
Gary O'Donnell v Jason Johnson
Mark Harvey v Dustin Fletcher
Paul Salmon v Scott Lucas
Tim Watson v James Hird
Darren Bewick v Mark Johnson

And the established players at the club then, compared to now…

Michael Long v Andrew Lovett
Dean Wallis v Mal Michael
Peter Somerville v David Hille
Sean Denham v Mark McVeigh
Chris Daniher v Adam McPhee
David Grenvold v Andrew Welsh
Derek Kickett v Nathan Lovett-Murray
Peter Cransberg v Chris Heffernan
David Flood v Damien Peverill

Overall, pretty similar quality and depth. But we only won 14.5 games that year and finished 1st on the ladder. 14.5 probably won't get us into the top 4 this year.

 

[Ivanhoe Bomber]

In 1993, we won 1 1/2 games out of our first 5 including towelling up a rubbish Sydney and getting towelled up by the Dogs.

In Rd 6, we beat the Cats in one of the greatest full forward displays of the modern era where Ablett kicked 14 and Fish kicked 10.

1993 was also extremely even where only 6 points and percentage seperating 1st and 7th.

The main thing to remember is that if the designation of home finals was back then like it is now, then the PF should have been at Footy Park and not the G...but what a game it was!

Don't just take one aspect of the finals system to make a point, it was a completely different system then. If the current system were in place then, we would have had North in the first week as 1 vs 4, Adelaide would have had Collingwood as 5 vs 8 & then had to travel for the remainder of their finals series. The top 4 were all Victorian so it was impossible for the prelim to be anywhere else but the MCG or perhaps Waverley.

 

[saladin]

the only similarity to 93 is that we've had what looks to be a decent crop of youngsters arrive in the last two years to join some seasoned champions.

the rest is pure fantasy. this side will write their own destiny, and will bare any relationship to 93 only in the mind of supporters