Cripps Bontempelli Merrett Kelly - the next big 4?

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Milanista28

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Cripps will need to get a lot more damaging by foot in order to be classed with the other three.
Not sure if that's true, Josh Kennedy isn't a damaging kick but has these young fellas covered pretty easily. Cripps is super dooper elite inside, His outside games doesn't need to be amazing IMO.
 

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ManOfClay

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Not sure if that's true, Josh Kennedy isn't a damaging kick but has these young fellas covered pretty easily. Cripps is super dooper elite inside, His outside games doesn't need to be amazing IMO.

JK is certainly more damaging by foot. I was there on grand final day 2016 and he was beast inside and kicking goals from the midfield.

Until Cripps adds more to his game at an elite level outside the contest he’s not in this discussion
 

Milanista28

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JK is certainly more damaging by foot. I was there on grand final day 2016 and he was beast inside and kicking goals from the midfield.

Until Cripps adds more to his game at an elite level outside the contest he’s not in this discussion
His kicking is fine from my perspective, I will watch him closer next season for sure, I think if he can get more help around the ball his kicking skill will show more.
 

Monkey King

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Cripps will need to get a lot more damaging by foot in order to be classed with the other three.
Nah not a lot more. His kicking is better than many give him credit for, but his vision and inside game go a long way to making up for a shortfall between his and others kicking. I mean, it’s not gonna hurt for him to improve, or to hit the scoreboard more, but mostly he just needs to stay fit at the moment.
 

owen87

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JK is certainly more damaging by foot. I was there on grand final day 2016 and he was beast inside and kicking goals from the midfield.

Until Cripps adds more to his game at an elite level outside the contest he’s not in this discussion
JPK is probably the gold-standard for inside midfielders presently; able to win the ball and clear it himself, but also damaging - enough - with his disposal not to be one dimensional.

All players carry injuries. They're not lost time injuries though.
Not yet anyway; more an example of the physical toll that his role takes. Hopefully some of the younger brigade of mids start being able to help him out soon, I think Carlton have a nice young group of Mids coming through with Cripps, SPS, and Dow making for a high quality starting trio.
 

conrad_437

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Bont a better kick than Merrett? I knew bulldog fans were delusional, but not on this level. Merrett is easily the best distributor by foot out of these 4, closely followed by Kelly.
Merrett is a better kick. But Bont is a better kick than Kelly, he has a ridiculously penetrative kick inside fifty.
 

citizen-erased

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Merrett is a better kick. But Bont is a better kick than Kelly, he has a ridiculously penetrative kick inside fifty.
Kelly isnt the greatest kick. He has games where he looks Judd-like elite, then has games where he Fyfes it up.
very inconsistent.
If i was to use disposal by foot as a measure, Merrett > Bont > Cripps > Kelly.
Cripps is pretty underrated here, probably because he spends 90% of his time doing the heavy lifting for Carlton, which means when he isnt hand balling it, he's injured :(

FWIW, I still think Bont gives you the better bang for buck player, as he has the height to play multiple roles and play them well.
The dogs should use him more as a mobile CHF the way Carlton use Curnow. They have the midfield to allow for it.

Merrett is still the better player with ball in hand.
 

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FlowersByIrene

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I love the Bulldog fans creeping out from the woodwork now. I mean, come on, it's a meaningless debate. I wouldn't trade Merrett for any of the other three, I'm sure GWS fans would say the same for Kelly, Bulldog fans for Bont and Carlton fans for Cripps.

It's like comparing Sam Mitchell, Jobe Watson, Adam Goodes and Simon Black. They're all stars. Who cares where they're ranked?
Jobe Watson is not, and never was a star
 

Bigtrev41

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Kelly isnt the greatest kick. He has games where he looks Judd-like elite, then has games where he Fyfes it up.
very inconsistent.
If i was to use disposal by foot as a measure, Merrett > Bont > Cripps > Kelly.
Cripps is pretty underrated here, probably because he spends 90% of his time doing the heavy lifting for Carlton, which means when he isnt hand balling it, he's injured :(

FWIW, I still think Bont gives you the better bang for buck player, as he has the height to play multiple roles and play them well.
The dogs should use him more as a mobile CHF the way Carlton use Curnow. They have the midfield to allow for it.

Merrett is still the better player with ball in hand.
No, Kelly is the best decision maker and user - Merrett goes short alot, high hurt factor on Kelly's kicks.
 

FlowersByIrene

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Bont, proven matchwinner, can put him anywhere to win a game which puts him clear 1 for me

Kelly, first season as a full mid and flourished, class user, elite runner and a goal kicking mid. Doubt you could swing him fwd like Bont and seal a win but he could set one up through the midfield.

Zerrett, is very good at almost everything but kinda lacks the absolute elite traits the top 2 have.

Cripps, will get smashed week in, week out until the Blues get him some helpers. Has been promising but 2018 will be the litmus test. Has started well but wouldn't be shocked if he fell away. Not close to the top 2, being judged on potential at this stage.
Cripps had the most contested possessions and clearances of almost anyone (i think he's top 2 both stats all time) in their first fifty games.

How is that "potential" he's putting in the performances.
 

FlowersByIrene

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Merrett is a better kick. But Bont is a better kick than Kelly, he has a ridiculously penetrative kick inside fifty.
The classic "bonts kicks 'look' good" argument... pity Cripps, Kelly and Merret are all more damaging with the pill than - "lets kick a 50m lazer to no one in particular but hey at least it looks good" Bont.

The Bont is basically Mitch Robinson but his balls travel at 10m above the ground as opposed to 30m high arcs
 

doggies ftw

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Hahaha what rubbish am i reading. Bont is one of the most damaging kicks in the comp off either foot. Dangerous, 55m pinpoint kicks are worth their weight in gold. Again, 2016 granny. Watch it
 

conrad_437

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Well he's already better than the Bont by foot. Kelly and Merret clearly the standouts with the boot though.
You bloody wish.
The classic "bonts kicks 'look' good" argument... pity Cripps, Kelly and Merret are all more damaging with the pill than - "lets kick a 50m lazer to no one in particular but hey at least it looks good" Bont.

The Bont is basically Mitch Robinson but his balls travel at 10m above the ground as opposed to 30m high arcs
Not exactly sure if this is worth a proper response.
 

conrad_437

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Kelly isnt the greatest kick. He has games where he looks Judd-like elite, then has games where he Fyfes it up.
very inconsistent.
If i was to use disposal by foot as a measure, Merrett > Bont > Cripps > Kelly.
Cripps is pretty underrated here, probably because he spends 90% of his time doing the heavy lifting for Carlton, which means when he isnt hand balling it, he's injured :(

FWIW, I still think Bont gives you the better bang for buck player, as he has the height to play multiple roles and play them well.
The dogs should use him more as a mobile CHF the way Carlton use Curnow. They have the midfield to allow for it.

Merrett is still the better player with ball in hand.
I'd agree with basically all of what you said here. Merrett is probably the best ball user here - he is like a quarterback.

While I believe Bont would be a gun CHF, he is so damaging when he spends extended periods in the middle and really gets going. The amount of times he has had a period of 5-10 minutes of Kouta-like play is extremely high. He is probably one of the ultimate X-Factor players in the comp.
 

Bulldog1954

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Hahaha what rubbish am i reading. Bont is one of the most damaging kicks in the comp off either foot. Dangerous, 55m pinpoint kicks are worth their weight in gold. Again, 2016 granny. Watch it
He's also the only one of the four who can kick on his opposite foot.
 
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