Benny Graham

[flagfor05]

Personally, I get sick of the criticism that come Benny's way through the media, opposition supporters and even some Geelong supporters.

He's in the Top 6 CHF I reckon. He contests, leads and gives an option, and I can't say every team has that.

He was BOG against Brisbane in Round 13, nearly BOG against St Kilda in Round 18 and was fantastic in the Preliminary Final, bar a couple of kicks for goal.

For a guy who's versatile enough to play both ends, plays 200+ games and wins a Carjii Greeves medal, he cops wayyyyy too much.

He's fantastic.

 

[jim boy]

He was ... was fantastic in the Preliminary Final, bar a couple of kicks for goal.

But that's the whole point of playing in the forward zone, is to kick goals or assist in goals for the team, by kick 0.4 he effectively turned the ball over four times when we might have goaled. Bad kicking is bad football and Benny disappoints far too often.

 

[Turbocat]

Benny has played better this year than in the previous few, mind you our side was also much better but if he in the best 6 or 9 or 3 is immaterial.He can do a job for us, sometimes very well but he is not a Match winner.
I like Benny, he almost has all the tricks to be a top player but he lacks something and I feel its his personality that is his flaw. In the right mood he can beat the best , in the wrong mood he could be beaten by a rookie.
Put it this way Benny has more tools than a guy like Hamil who is looked at as more effective, reliable player.
We must learn to accept what we have with Ben , a good bloke who on occasions can play to a higher level than the good,average 200 game player he is

 

[worthogs]

Graham has copped a lot of flack since he moved forward, however his biggest problem is his consistency. The guy can kick 60+ mtrs and is often chipping it around. He did go missing in the Power final but he was amongst friends. He presents a lot of the time but can miss the easiest of goals. If he had converted some of those shots in the Prelim we would have beaten the lions (saying that the lions also kicked badly) and he would probably have been BOG.He like Kingsley is a confidence player


Sadly he does not have the CHF grunt you really need to be the best in that position. He does ok but needs to get a bit more angry (not Brown angry but Tredrea angry)

Saying that he probably only has another year (2 max) in the game, and is still our best option in that position till someone like Playfair comes through. (McCarthy is a better mark but I dont think he is up to AFL standard long term)