Retired #22: Matthew Leuenberger - offered a new deal but chose to retire - 24/10

[eth-dog]

Yep. Quite possibly the most underrated player on our list. Watch how much better he'll be with a much stronger midfield to hit it to.

 

[holdopenmyhead]

Yep, agree. Love that despite his flaws he still gives it a red-hot crack around the ground; he's never gonna be Dean Cox but he's absolutely going to thrive with better players back and natural improvement from guys like Langford and Parish.

 

[ezard15]

Bellchambers offers more at his best but the likelihood of him being at his best might not be great.

Big fan of Luey's work this year though.

 

[Andronicus]

Bellchambers offers more at his best

I'm not sure he does.

 

[eth-dog]

Bellchambers at his best was a bloke splitting time between ruck and forward. Leuey is a genuine ruck.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

LUNG BUTTER!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BrunoV]

Been said but he's instantly better next year because he's a great tap ruckman who will now be feeding a good inside mid group.

Think there is a lot of scope for imorovement simply by stringing a few seasons together.

If he can add more run and some contested marking to this year's grunt work he'll be a very good ruck.

He is gangly but actually has really good mobility. Think he can be the type of ruck to average possessions in the high teens.

 

[scanlon]

Bellchambers at his best is a myth

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Bellchambers at his best is a myth

Totally agree. Leuy has more runs on the board.

 

[owen87]

Agreed on him being underrated; he's not a superstar ruck of the comp but I think he's shown he can hold his own in the ruck against anyone, and appears to offer a decent target when resting forward.

A big tick for me, and with upside from continuity and an improved midfield to come.

 

[Summer Nights]

He gives us a solid consistent ruck framework. This is so important because it provides predictability for the mids to play the game they want to play and to do it with confidence. Every good ruckman provides that intangible benefit of being a key foundation for his peers to excel around him.

 

[Vindicater]

Bet he can't wait to feed Watson and Heppell.

 

[Vander18]

Bellchambers at his best is a myth

Wouldn't go that far - TBC can compete with most for hit outs and is above average for a ruckman when playing forward. Issue is that he gives nothing when the ball is on the deck.Leuenberger gives little forward but matches (maybe exceeds) TBC in the ruck and competes well at ground level.

On balance, Leuenberger is the better option but TBC is no spud....there are far worse out there.

 

[ant555]

Bellchambers at his best is a myth

Not a myth. 2013. Just a long time ago which brings up the question , can he get back to that form ?

 

[Donakebab]

With 3rd man up now banned having a ruckman like Leuy just became even more essential.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-12-21/third-man-up-gets-the-chop-in-radical-rule-change

 

[Vindicater]

Will be even better with the new rule changes.

 

[Beerfish]

Thanks AFL.

 

[eDPS]

 

[EnolaGay]

One of the most important players on our list, so good to hear.

 

[eDPS]

One of the most important players on our list, so good to hear.

Injury worries stop when he leaves Lions and same may go for Green. Suffer in your jocks Lions

 

[Capt Hindsight]

Last time he played 22 games in a season was 2011 which was his best statistical year as he averaged 32.9 hitouts, 4.1 marks and 15.6 disposals a game.
In 2016 he averaged 27.9 hitouts, 2.4 marks and 12.4 disposals from 20 games. So if he is in great shape he certainly has room to improve on last season.

 

[eth-dog]

Anybody excited that kelvin will be buying us beers soon?

 

[eth-dog]

He'll be fit for round 3 vs Carlton

 

[Haso]

He'll be fit for round 3 vs Carlton

We'd heard that plenty of times as well.

You may have a better experience than us because I am sure that your med and rehab team know what they're doing, but he was the worst for having issues that were originally 3-4 weeks but ended up being half season issues. Second only to Josh Drummond, to be honest.

I really do which his extended stints of time off are behind him because it's not like he doesn't put the effort into his rehab. He's real good at rehab.

 

[JayJ20]

We'd heard that plenty of times as well.

You may have a better experience than us because I am sure that your med and rehab team know what they're doing, but he was the worst for having issues that were originally 3-4 weeks but ended up being half season issues. Second only to Josh Drummond, to be honest.

I really do which his extended stints of time off are behind him because it's not like he doesn't put the effort into his rehab. He's real good at rehab.

Didn't look like it was a bad injury so I think he should be fine for at least the Adelaide game in round 4 if not the Carlton game.