Akermanis vs. Swan

[The Edukator]

Who do you think was/is better?

inspired by the brisbane mid vs collingwood mid thread a (collingwood) poster claimed they were level and swan was better than lappin.

for me Aker was one of the most magical footballers i ever watched play. arguably one of my favourites ever. he kicked goals some people good only dream of and could just put on incredible bursts of speed through a pack or away from an opponent to nail a teammate accurately or put the ball through the big sticks.

a big huge nod to Akermanis for me!

 

[Dazb86]

Akermanis for mine. Got less of the ball but did more with it.

 

[half_back_flank]

At this stage, Aker is better than Swan.

Not outside the realms that Swan will catch him though, a couple more years as a top line midfielder and then a couple as a permanent forward (where he has shown he is extremely effective) will see them very close.


Swan has Lappin covered though.

 

[Jmac2225]

Aker is miles more damaging player. Swans an accumulator and needs 35 + possies to rival the damage Aker could do with 20 to 25 in his prime.

I'd have Aker in my team (conditional to a total media ban).

 

[The Finger]

Aker tool but great player. Lappin was also a brilliant footballer and the courage he displayed to play in the 2003 GF and play well highlights his ability.

 

[footscore]

Not outside the realms that Swan will catch him though, a couple more years as a top line midfielder and then a couple as a permanent forward (where he has shown he is extremely effective) will see them very close.

Swan will retire in 2 years time, no way he spends 4-5 more years in the game imo.

 

[juss]

Akermanis for me. Could just do things that few others in the league could do. Swan's not that kind of talent, he's a great runner, great accumulator and moves to the right spots but Akermanis could put the ball wherever he wanted off either foot, kick goals from anywhere he wanted and consistantly did it in big games. A pure matchwinner.

 

[boncer34]

At this stage, Aker is better than Swan.

Not outside the realms that Swan will catch him though, a couple more years as a top line midfielder and then a couple as a permanent forward (where he has shown he is extremely effective) will see them very close.


Swan has Lappin covered though.

Kicked more then 3 just 4 times in 196 games and has only kicked more then a goal a game for 2 seasons.

Hardly call that extremely effective.

 

[half_back_flank]

Kicked more then 3 just 4 times in 196 games and has only kicked more then a goal a game for 2 seasons.

Hardly call that extremely effective.

Three of those 4 times have happened in the last two seasons and those two seasons where he has averaged more than a goal a game? Yep, you guessed it, 2011 and 2012.

He started off playing backwards of centre and spent most of his prime midfield years under the old interchange rules where midfielders didn't go forward for a rest, they just went off. Last couple of seasons have seen a shift and he has enjoyed a little more forward time and according his goals output has increased.

He is very dangerous around goals, it's just that he rarely gets a chance to prove it.

 

[The Bomb]

Swan is a honest footballer very consistent, Aker was not consistent, Aker on his day is deadly but you wont want Swan getting it 35 times a game either.
Aker in Big games stands out though.
Swan the last 2 season has proven he is bloody deadly as a forward, can mark overhead also, very strong and always win the 1 on 1s.

Swan is being underrated by alot of you guys, Akermanis overrated a bit.
by career end I think Swan will be seen by me as the better player of the 2, as for now I can't choose.

Lappin not even close to swan.

 

[Claude Balls]

Aker could do with 20 posessions what Swan does with 40, basically.

 

[Jmac2225]

Aker could do with 20 posessions what Swan does with 40, basically.

Pretty much the telltale to why most people are on Aker.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Aker for mine.

Aker would have say 27 possessions at his prime a game and average over 80% efficiency a game whereas Dane would have about 34 a game and only 56% of it be effective.

Aker glides across the ground brilliantly whereas Swan just waddles awkwardly.

They're both Brownlow medalists, premiership winners (Aker 3, Swan 1) with Aker sealing the 2002 Grand Final win in the most sloppiest of the many I've seen and Aker got both sides of his body in tune like Sam Mitchell has done.

Aker's only negative is his Politically Incorrect comments according to some.
FWIW I love what he says.
What the 2 of them do have in common, however, is the knack of not consistently speaking in Footy cliches.

If we're gonna compare Aker with any Collingwood player, it should be Pendles.
Both are so bloody composed and Pendles also glides across the ground brilliantly.

Collingwood players vs Brisbane players, I like that exercise.

Aker was also a lot more penetrating with his kicks.

 

[Jmac2225]

Akers was also the best on both sides I have seen. Another point for.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Akers was also the best on both sides I have seen. Another point for.

He was so good you don't know which was his preferred side.

 

[Bert Man]

Aker he was incredible with the ball in hand.

 

[hellfire]

Aker could do with 20 posessions what Swan does with 40, basically.

No he couldn't.

Was he better possession-for-possession? Absolutely. Does Swan get some cheap touches? Absolutely.

But Aker is being severely overrated and Swan underrated, but that's typical sports fan nostalgia. Everything in the past is better than the present. Swan is destructive; he can literally tear a side to shreds in the same manner than Aker did. He certainly needs more of the ball to do so, but he is a lot better at finding the ball. Look at ANZAC Day 2012 for an example of how good he can be.

In terms of who is/was the better player? Very tough call, particularly given one hasn't finished his career. Aker was more brilliant, Swan is more of a work-horse who is capable of brilliance also. Line ball right now. And don't even compare Lappin to Swan....

 

[Claude Balls]

No he couldn't.

Was he better possession-for-possession? Absolutely. Does Swan get some cheap touches? Absolutely.

But Aker is being severely overrated and Swan underrated, but that's typical sports fan nostalgia. Everything in the past is better than the present. Swan is destructive; he can literally tear a side to shreds in the same manner than Aker did. He certainly needs more of the ball to do so, but he is a lot better at finding the ball. Look at ANZAC Day 2012 for an example of how good he can be.

In terms of who is/was the better player? Very tough call, particularly given one hasn't finished his career. Aker was more brilliant, Swan is more of a work-horse who is capable of brilliance also. Line ball right now. And don't even compare Lappin to Swan....

You said it yourself, Aker is comfortably the better footballer possession for possession. He is not being severely overrated.

 

[biggiemediums]

Kicked more then 3 just 4 times in 196 games and has only kicked more then a goal a game for 2 seasons.

Hardly call that extremely effective.

Only played up forward 2-3 times in his career. Nice fail.

 

[boncer34]

Only played up forward 2-3 times in his career. Nice fail.

Ha. So never plays up forward but he's considered extremely effective?

Thanks for giving my point more validation.

 

[biggiemediums]

Ha. So never plays up forward but he's considered extremely effective?

Thanks for giving my point more validation.

Are your comprehension skills lacking?

Swan RARELY plays up forward. The couple times that he did play up forward, he pantsed his opponent. Get it?

 

[boncer34]

Are your comprehension skills lacking?

Swan RARELY plays up forward. The couple times that he did play up forward, he pantsed his opponent. Get it?

So in 196 games he's gone up forward 3 or 4 times?

Are you 11?

 

[biggiemediums]

So in 196 games he's gone up forward 3 or 4 times?

Are you 11?

You absolute numpty. We're saying he's played a full match up forward 3 or 4 times. Obviously he rests up forward on occasion.

 

[boncer34]

You absolute numpty. We're saying he's played a full match up forward 3 or 4 times. Obviously he rests up forward on occasion.

ok. Keep swinging around.

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

Akermanis for mine.

Aker should be compared to Pendlebury.

Swan should be compared to Greg Williams.

That's what I think anyway...