JGM’s struggles were absolutely related to Silvagni coming in.
JGM showed in his first year that he was going to be a one dimensional defender, albeit one that showed promise as a stopper on the big strong forwards (Prestigiacomo style). Like Presti, Coming off his man and intercepting wasn’t his go, neither was rebounding, but he was able to wear his direct opponent like a glove and fist the ball away in one on ones or on the lead. Despite heavy defeats that season, JGM didn’t have many goals kicked on him.
Then in comes Alex Silvagni, a similar style of player and being a seasoned AFL player, obviously a better one than a rookie listed 19 year old JGM. Silvagni then takes over as the stopper on the big forwards (played bloody well mind you) and forces JGM out to another role on a flank that didn’t suit him and he struggled. Then Jones takes this role over from Silvagni and JGM again gets shoehorned into a role that doesn’t suit him. The point isn’t to compare whose a better player out of JGM or LOB, it’s to show what can happen when you bring in players that don’t compliment one another and how shoehorning one into another role that doesn’t suit their strengths, can stunt their development.