Davis v Betts

[THEBLOODS85]

Eddie Betts v. Leon Davis would have neon leon well ahead on points thus far, mainly due to being in the system for a bit longer and probably has exucuted those magical goals on a little more regular basis.

Plus Davis is just as good on his non-preferred side, whereas Eddie is predominantly one-sided.

Davis is a more penetrating kick hence less handballs in the stats....whereas Eddie uses handballs a little more.

But...........great signs for Blues fans (hopefully) is it seems that for Eddie the penny has dropped and 'fitness' has led to a greater & more consistent output so far this season.

The days of the small forward getting half a dozen kicks and four goals are gone......they have to play as a lead up forward as much as the big men to help create more movement in and thru the fifty metre arc.

Fortunately this along with an increased fitness base has helped Eddie use one of his great attributes.....his pace off the mark....and the little bloke is very strong overhead.....as is Davis.

This makes him at times an important link into Fev & co.........just as Davis is to Rocca/Cloke.

Both are outstanding at crumbing and reading the ball off the pack......Betts is exceptional!

Stats below show this seasons output and not much separates them at the moment.....lets hope for Blues fans that little Eddie continues to go forward. He has a cult following & certainly is a team lifter as like Davis when he does kick goals they are usually freakish or at the least exciting.

I am sure both would like a couple more goals at present, but nonetheless they're both being influential with movement into the forward area.

Betts:

Rd1 - 7k 2hb 3m 1T 2G 1BH
Rd2 - 10k 6hb 6m 2T 1G 1BH
Rd3 - 15k 12hb 11m 4T 1G 1BH

Aver: 17.33-Disposals 6.7-Marks 2.33-Tackles 1.33-Goals


Davis:

Rd1 - 13k 4hb 5m 1T 2G 0BH
Rd2 - 13k 2hb 2m 4T 1G 1BH
Rd3 - 21k 3hb 10m 4T 1G 2BH

Aver: 18.67-Disposals 5.67-Marks 3.00-Tackles 1.33-Goals

It is always dangerous judging performances and looking at stats after only a few rounds, but for the Blues Eddie has a graph that is showing improvement.....and on the back of that five goal performance in the last round in 2007 it is very encouraging.

Lets hope he can drag a few other players into his improved formline.

So although Davis would still get my nod.........Eddie is showing great signs of narrowing that gap.

 

[hellfire]

I would like to get some Collingwood perspective on this (for C'wood supporters this means that I wanna know what u rekkon)

I would think Davis has been a frustrating player to follow over the years. Some definite highs, but fairly frequent lows, and has never had any midfield presence, despite expressing a desire to.

No doubt. He was infuriating for years. In 2006 he stepped it up a lot, and in 2007 he REALLY stood out. He is now quite consistant, and is close to the best user of the ball in the team.

He's looked very good this year too. He's obviously not an accumulator, but he's averaging around 19 disposals playing a little further up the ground, and every one of them is pure class. He is extremely underrated in my opinion, mainly due to those years where he was pretty bad (GF performances too), and is probably the most dangerous player at Collingwood. Every time he touches it, you know it's going to turn to gold.

 

[Kooley]

Eddie

 

[bradrowe#32]

Davis at the moment. He is really consistent now and is reliable for a couple of goals, as well as good pressure.

However, Betts is still pretty young and from what I have seen, has the tools to develop into a good, consistent player.

 

[Beloved]

Davis is much more developed than Bettsy at the moment.

Who will be better overall when Eddie hits his peak? Who knows? If Eddie can tie 5 or 6 good games, then I think we should come back to this topic/thread.

 

[thylacine60]

I was a real critic of Leon in his early days. Played caviar football, couldn't be bothered doing the meat-and-potatoes stuff. He'd kick the impossible goal, scoop the ball up at pace -- do all the Hollywood stuff -- but just didn't work hard enough.

But his last two-and-a-bit years have been very good. The key is that he's improved his fitness. That means he's reaching more contests, he works harder defensively, he puts in more second and third efforts, he's spending more and more time in the midfield, he's getting more of the footy. I think he's probably played more as a mid this year than as a small forward. He's been our leading tackler for the last couple of years too.

Genuinely good player these days, Leon. But in footy it often takes your reputation a couple of years to catch up with your achievement.

Quality explanation .

 

[robertg22]

You've got to remember that Betts is quite a few years behind Leon in his development so if you're picking them based on what they're capable of now it's Davis by a fair margin.
However if Eddie continues to put in performances like he did on Saturday night (consistently, not just one ever six games) then he will go past Davis.
Leon has really only played consistently good football in the last two seasons - his fitness has improved immensely and he's now adding another dimension to our midfield - he's got to be one of the best player in the league for collecting the ball off the deck and then bursting through a pack.
Hopefully we get more of the same from him in coming years!

 

[SirJimi05]

not in the same class.
davis for me, eddie is a little bit B-grade.

I would have thought C-grade.

Davis is B-grade.

Clearly Davis is the better player in all facits.

 

[BlueYoss]

Sounds like Eddie is now getting up to where Leon was about 2 years ago.

Considering that Eddie is almost 5 1/2 years younger than Leon and providing that his improvement continues and he develops consistency he could well be ahead of Leon at the same stage, but that remains to be seen.

 

[DonFletch]

Betts has much more speed than Davis, and IMO has much better forward pressure when the opposition has the ball, he chases like a crazy man.

surely your joking??????????

 

[DaveyBlues]

Tell you who i'd like to have, Andrew Lovett. What a freak.

 

[thylacine60]

Tell you who i'd like to have, Andrew Lovett. What a freak.

Watching the "pacy" Jordan Russell trying to catch him Saturday night was funny. He had as much chance as Amanda Vanstone setting off after Osafa Powell.

 

[Blue Dawn]

I think Eddie is gaining ground quickly. Two of his past four games have been beauties - including 5 goals in R 22 last year.

Be very interesting to see if Eddie can step up to our midfield rotation. Needs to get a bit fitter but his hands and 'instincts' are VERY good.

 

[iRemember87]

surely your joking??????????

No not at all, IMO he does. He chase is much quick than Davis.

 

[iRemember87]

From memory, Betts had a blinder against Melb in round 22, in this game he was rotated through the midfield and forward line kicking 5 goals and pick up many touches.

Last Sat night again in the midfield and foward and had another blinder....what does that say??

He is better in the rotation, resting up forward!!

Plus he has good pressure when playing forward, him and Fev chase like crazy men...they both just need to do it consistantly.

 

[The Coach]

As Blue Dawn said - Eddie is gaining ground quickly. It is Eddie's third year and Davis's third 2002 was a good one for him kicking 31 goals but I am almost certain that this was the GF year that he did not have a touch. I dont think the 2003 GF was much better for him but I am sure a Collingwood fan can correct me if I am wrong. Anyway, Leon still has to prove himself in finals - has not rated a mention in the best yet. I think the closest he came was kicking 3 in the maggies big 2003 prelim win. He at least will get to show if he now has what it takes in finals before Eddie does.

 

[TorresIsGod]

I would have Davis at present, but if Eddie keeps improving, then Eddie in the long run, but please, can people stop referring to the R22, 2007 game vs. Melbourne. It's irrelevant to everything, it was a non-contact game and players were loose all night and everyone picked up tons of possessions, come on guys, sure he kicekd 5 goals, but like Scotland and Johnstone, you could pick up 42 and 43 possessions respectively if you didn't have an opponent, and Betts with his with mid-twenties in disposals and 5 goals without an opponent, come on...

 

[blues4flag]

Without a doubt Davis. Though Eddie's performance on the weekend gives some hope. Seemed to relish in that lead up role.

 

[enosis7]

As Blue Dawn said - Eddie is gaining ground quickly. It is Eddie's third year and Davis's third 2002 was a good one for him kicking 31 goals but I am almost certain that this was the GF year that he did not have a touch.

Correct - but he kicked 3 goals in the 2002 qualifying final against Port and was instrumental in that win. Also kicked 3 against Port in the preliminary final in 2003. one bad game can take a long time to overcome in people's minds. Beau MacDonald and Aaron Shattock were also statless in 2002, and Jarrod Molloy got a single kick. Lynch was statless in 2004. Yet people always hark back to the performance of a 20 year old specialist forward pocket on a very wet day, which I always thought was a bit unfair on Leon.

I dont think the 2003 GF was much better for him but I am sure a Collingwood fan can correct me if I am wrong.

Certainly wasn't great. 10 disposals and kicked a goal. But then ball wasn't in our forward 50 much that day.

Anyway, Leon still has to prove himself in finals - has not rated a mention in the best yet. I think the closest he came was kicking 3 in the maggies big 2003 prelim win. He at least will get to show if he now has what it takes in finals before Eddie does.

Wasn't named in the best, but was very solid in every final last year - particularly defensively. best effort was 18 disposals and 10 tackles against West Coast. Created a lot of defensive pressure that game and set up a number of goals.