Ablett vs Franklin

[Unnamed1]

Hey guys I can't understand any of the constant stream of talkback at the moment in Melbourne saying that Buddy Franklin is the best player in the league.

I know I'd rather have Gary Jr in the Bulldogs line-up at present. His game on the weekend was amazing, and has been doing it for the past 3 or 4 seasons consistently.

Imagine putting either Buddy or Ablett into the current Melbourne team. I suspect Buddy would struggle to gain the impact he enjoys at present on the end of a superstar Hawks midfield. Even Quinten Lynch looked good 2 seasons ago. Whereas I reckon Ablett would be just as special in the Melbourne midfield as the Geelong midfield.

Just wondering what your thoughts are?

 

[OldStyle2007]

Spot on

Ablett is multi-dimensional

Franklin is awesome, but only when he gets the ball supply. Other than that he can't take pack marks

If I was Fevola I would be a bit miffed at the hype. Fev has been kicking bags out of nothing over the past few years

 

[someday-somehow]

Spot on

Ablett is multi-dimensional

Franklin is awesome, but only when he gets the ball supply. Other than that he can't take pack marks

If I was Fevola I would be a bit miffed at the hype. Fev has been kicking bags out of nothing over the past few years

I agree about Fevola.....he is a fantastic talent but then to do what Buddy is doing at just 21 simply beggars belief.

Ablett is an awesome player but I believe that Franklin is a bigger asset as he is a KPP that requires two good defenders to keep him under control and even then it's difficult. Of course if Buddy was to do a knee or something and lose a yard or two of pace then that will bring him back to the fold very quickly whereas Ablett will not lose his skill or smarts.

 

[Catsace]

The thing with Franklin is that he is so young, and he is looking like a goalkicking machine. What gets me is the volume of shots at goal he takes, maybe if you use a basketball analogy along the lines of a Kobe Bryant or something. Gary Jr is dynamite at the clearances, and he is an instigator in so many forward thrusts with his breaking of tackles and ability to hold control of the ball and feed off a handball to a player running by.

We'll always take our Gary, as in time we all are hoping the Tommahawk will become the big forward presence we all want. He is still 19 and has unlimited upside with his already powerful frame and his developing engine. But Buddy has gone from somebody who has shown flashes of talent, to showing days of talent, to now showing it on almost a weekly basis. At 21, his package is an awesome one, and probably every side would take in a heartbeat.

 

[Swanny36]

Hey guys I can't understand any of the constant stream of talkback at the moment in Melbourne saying that Buddy Franklin is the best player in the league.

I know I'd rather have Gary Jr in the Bulldogs line-up at present. His game on the weekend was amazing, and has been doing it for the past 3 or 4 seasons consistently.

Imagine putting either Buddy or Ablett into the current Melbourne team. I suspect Buddy would struggle to gain the impact he enjoys at present on the end of a superstar Hawks midfield. Even Quinten Lynch looked good 2 seasons ago. Whereas I reckon Ablett would be just as special in the Melbourne midfield as the Geelong midfield.

Just wondering what your thoughts are?

yeh but the reason why buddy is considered the best player in league is because it is alot easier to get a good midfielder than it is to get a KPF so IMHO buddy is the best player in the league ATM ....c'mon everyone he has kicked more bags of six goals than anyone his age ever has!!....plus he is leading the coleman!

 

[Pivo]

Posting this on the Geelong board is always going to get a bias response

However, for what it is worth, I was talking about this with a Hawks supporter at work and I asked him if he would swap Franklin for Ablett.

His response was yes.

Now, one person does not make a survey but there is clearly one Hawthorn supporter who thinks Ablett is better than Franklin.

 

[BlueNWhite]

I'm loving the hype around Franklin and Hawthorn at the moment. Allows our boys to go about their business quietly and efficiently, letting expectations build and build on other team's shoulders.
Keep it up Buddy - love watching you go about it - going to love it even more when Scarlo towels you up in Round 17.

 

[cats2rise]

Different player types.

Would love if Geelong had both.

 

[Unnamed1]

I also tend to think that Jonathan Brown is as capable as Buddy at taking pack marks and kicking big bags, but is a hell of a lot more flexible, i.e. can play midfield or down back.

Also interested to see if Franklin's body can hold up over a full season..

I deliberately posted on here because I wanted to get support for my opinion of Ablett > Franklin.

I would've been crucified on another (Hawks') board.

Franklin may only be 21, but Gary Jr is hardly old either.

 

[CF]

It is bit like comparing apples and oranges really. They both play different positions. I think Buddy is going to be a superstar of the game and Gazza is currently the best midfielder in the comp.

 

[Asty]

I couldn't swap them. Franklin is a fantastic player and I would want him but not for gary. The hawks gave us a gary ablett in the 80's and I wouldn't want to make the mistake of giving them one back this decade.

I would trade any other player though if it was possible (not possible though as hawthorn wouldn't trade and we dont have the budget available)

 

[ben_cats_fan]

I'm loving the hype around Franklin and Hawthorn at the moment. Allows our boys to go about their business quietly and efficiently, letting expectations build and build on other team's shoulders.
Keep it up Buddy - love watching you go about it - going to love it even more when Scarlo towels you up in Round 17.

I hope Egan comes back or Harry really kicks into gear by rd 17. I'm not sure Scarlett is the best matchup for Buddy!

 

[scottydeewah]

I also tend to think that Jonathan Brown is as capable as Buddy at taking pack marks and kicking big bags, but is a hell of a lot more flexible, i.e. can play midfield or down back.

I dont see any reason why Buddy cant either. In the future he will be moved elsewhere on the ground at times, why do it though until there is a hole to fill?

 

[SJ]

I'm loving the hype around Franklin and Hawthorn at the moment. Allows our boys to go about their business quietly and efficiently, letting expectations build and build on other team's shoulders.
Keep it up Buddy - love watching you go about it - going to love it even more when Scarlo towels you up in Round 17.

Spot on the money!

 

[candiehappy]

I'd go for Ablett. Both champions, maybe Buddy is a better player, I'm too biased to say. But I'd go Ablett because he means so much more to Geelong because of the whole "Ablett" factor from the 80"s through to lasy years GF including Nathan. And he's a local boy with mates in the place that he's known for years.
He is part of what Geelong is today. I'd be gutted if he ever went to another team.

 

[Eel_storm]

Posting this on the Geelong board is always going to get a bias response

However, for what it is worth, I was talking about this with a Hawks supporter at work and I asked him if he would swap Franklin for Ablett.

His response was yes.

Now, one person does not make a survey but there is clearly one Hawthorn supporter who thinks Ablett is better than Franklin.

Ablett Sr maybe, Ablett Jr, no . . . he may be a better player, he may not, but i'd seriously pick buddy first because of what type of player he is . . . midfielders are a dime a dozen.

 

[candiehappy]

Ablett Sr maybe, Ablett Jr, no . . . he may be a better player, he may not, but i'd seriously pick buddy first because of what type of player he is . . . midfielders are a dime a dozen.

"dime a dozen" - of his quality? Don't think so.

 

[Hoffy95]

Ablett Sr maybe, Ablett Jr, no . . . he may be a better player, he may not, but i'd seriously pick buddy first because of what type of player he is . . . midfielders are a dime a dozen.

But gun midfielders like Ablett aren't. In fact they're about as rare as forwards like Franklin are actually.

I wouldn't swap Ablett for Buddy just like most Hawks wouldn't swap Buddy for Ablett.

Both teams are blessed to have such freakishly talented individuals though that's for sure.

 

[Motormouse]

I'd prefer Ablett. I've seen Geelong sides in the past that relied far too heavily on a spearhead FF. Nullify that FF and you hogtie the team.

I'd much rather have a player who runs rings around the opposition and then passes off to any of half a dozen other capable players to finish it off.

Creating plays all over the ground must be worth more than funneling the ball through at the pointy end.

Franklin's success (besides his considerable marking/goal kicking talents) relys on his teammates ability to get the ball to him.

Gary gets the ball to all of his teammates......or does it himself

 

[candiehappy]

I'd prefer Ablett. I've seen Geelong sides in the past that relied far too heavily on a spearhead FF. Nullify that FF and you hogtie the team.

I'd much rather have a player who runs rings around the opposition and then passes off to any of half a dozen other capable players to finish it off.

Creating plays all over the ground must be worth more than funneling the ball through at the pointy end.

Franklin's success (besides his considerable marking/goal kicking talents) relys on his teammates ability to get the ball to him.

Gary gets the ball to all of his teammates......or does it himself

that's about summed it up

 

[boulos]

Gazza by a country mile, surprised to see a few geelong supporters rating Franklin higher.

The smartest player out there and will be for a long time, some of the sh*t he does freaks me out, lol

Has anyone got a link to a highlights video of Ablett, as youtube only has a couple of nice goals and mostly ablett snr?

 

[Power King]

just stumbled across this thread from the main page

WHY WHY WHY do ppl constantly compare KPP's and midfielders?!?!?!?!?!?

for the record i'll take either in a straight swap for nathan lonie

 

[boulos]

just stumbled across this thread from the main page

WHY WHY WHY do ppl constantly compare KPP's and midfielders?!?!?!?!?!?

for the record i'll take either in a straight swap for nathan lonie

I think what we're discussing is who does their respective jobs better.

I don't think anyone would argue that Franklin is better than Ablett in the forward line, and Ablett is certainly better than Franklin would be in the midfield.

 

[detox]

Midfielders and KPP are too different to compare

Geelong would never trade Ablett for reasons totally off field. His name IS entrenched into the GFC and they would never ever get rid of him. The Ablett name belongs to Geelong. Plus he's a gun.

I wouldn't swap him for Buddy though. He will kick us to a flag in the next few and is the best thing to happen to Hawthorn in 20 years.

I rate them as the best 2 in the comp. I also think that Ablett is better then Judd. Too much hype around Judd and Ablett shows as much as him on the field. Too much is read into Brownlow form and its stupid for arguments sake that some medal that the umpires decide on that is the defining factor. The umps cant even get basic interpretation right let alone hand out votes. Plus they tickle Judds balls every week and will most times give him 3 votes just for showing up. From what i have seen on field, i would take Ablett over Judd.

 

[Big Nasty]

Midfielders and KPP are too different to compare

Geelong would never trade Ablett for reasons totally off field. His name IS entrenched into the GFC and they would never ever get rid of him. The Ablett name belongs to Geelong. Plus he's a gun.

I wouldn't swap him for Buddy though. He will kick us to a flag in the next few and is the best thing to happen to Hawthorn in 20 years.

I rate them as the best 2 in the comp. I also think that Ablett is better then Judd. Too much hype around Judd and Ablett shows as much as him on the field. Too much is read into Brownlow form and its stupid for arguments sake that some medal that the umpires decide on that is the defining factor. The umps cant even get basic interpretation right let alone hand out votes. Plus they tickle Judds balls every week and will most times give him 3 votes just for showing up. From what i have seen on field, i would take Ablett over Judd.

Great post mate.