Fevola: Another milestone?

[Aphrodite]

http://carltonfc.com.au/tabid/4311/Default.aspx?newsid=64815

Brendan Fevola’s 5 goals on the weekend moved him to 80 goals for the year from just 18 games, a wonderful achievement in anyone’s language. But perhaps more awaits Fevola this year – although it may be fanciful to talk of hitting the ton at this stage, Fevola has already hit the Top 10 of Carlton Goalkicking records in any single year and by the end of Season 2008, Brendan’s year could well be in the top 2 or 3 performances by a Blue in history. Let us explain….

It is a well known truth that the wonderful history of the Carlton Football Club is filled with the deeds of many great midfielders and defenders, and of course the odd Champion Ruckman. But on the flip side the Blues have not had a long list of long-standing forwards to our name, with just the 2 Coleman Medallists in Tom ‘Turkey’ Carroll and Brendan Fevola.

Of course there are the amazing feats of Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence in the 1920’s and 1930’s, Alex Jesaulenko in the 1960’s and 1970’s and Stephen Kernahan from 1986 to 1997. But already Brendan Fevola has become our third greatest goalkicker, moving into third place on Carlton’s all time goal-kicker list, achieved earlier this year. Beyond these ‘Big 4’the Top 10 comprises fellow greats Horrie Clover, Rod Ashman, Robert Walls, Ken Baxter, Vin Gardiner and the recently retired Lance Whitnall.

With Fevola’s 5 on the weekend, he moves into the Top 10 goalkicking performances in a season by a Carlton player. Each of the top 10 performances have been created by the ‘Big 4’ of Vallence, Kernahan, Jesaulenko and Fevola, with Fevola’s 2008 his second entry after 84 goals in 2006.

Jezza’s 1970 stands proudly atop this list, with 100 goals in the Home & Away season and 115 in our 1970 premiership year including the finals. Secondly, and only one of two occasions where a Blue managed 90 or more goals, stands Soapy Vallence’s 1932, a year in which we lost the Grand Final but Soapy’s 20 goal finals campaign almost made the difference. Vallence sits in third and fourth spots for 1936 and 1931 respectively, to be followed by Fevola’s 2006. Sticks Kernahan’s 1992 and 1994 sit in 7th and 8th position, whilst already Fevola rounds out the top 10 with 4 matches to come.

Interestingly, only two of these Top 10 performances were Premiership years; Jesaulenko’s 1970 and Vallence’s 1938.

With 80 goals from 18 matches, Fevola can make a big statement on the rest of the year and also our top goalkicking performances over our glorious history. And we’ll be cheering for him every step of the way.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

It certainly says something about the overall strength of Carlton sides over history that we have only 1 centurion, 2 Coleman medallists and 4 Brownlow medallists, despite 16 premierships.

 

[The Blueseum]

http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=77

Also in Blueseum linked version....

From the Blueseum

 

[blues4flag]

Could very well go down as the greatest ever forward in our illustrious history and one of the best the game has ever seen. And some want(ed) to trade him.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Could very well go down as the greatest ever forward in our illustrious history and one of the best the game has ever seen. And some want(ed) to trade him.

I tire of the calls to trade him after one game but I also tire of the constant putdowns of those that wanted to trade him.

Fev might go down as our greatest full forward when he is done, but he will also go down as an enigmatic player who didn't always get the best out of himself.

So much revolves around Fevola that if he decides not to give it a red hot go, it destroys the team. One player should never have that much influence on a side and on a game plan. For those reasons I can understand some reasonable observations about whether he should be kept or not.

 

[blues4flag]

I tire of the calls to trade him after one game but I also tire of the constant putdowns of those that wanted to trade him.

Fev might go down as our greatest full forward when he is done, but he will also go down as an enigmatic player who didn't always get the best out of himself.

So much revolves around Fevola that if he decides not to give it a red hot go, it destroys the team. One player should never have that much influence on a side and on a game plan. For those reasons I can understand some reasonable observations about whether he should be kept or not.

I know where you're coming from, but what has pissed me off over the journey is those that swing back and forth like a yo-yo on the issue. Being our focal point and the enigma that he is, everything he does is magnified ten fold. His 08 season has been his best and most consistent to date, yet after one bad game, coupled with sensationalist tripe from the media, the wolfs came out baying for blood.

I understand why some would have wanted him traded in the past (thought 07 was a particularly poor year), but on the back of his 08 season, seeing people being so quick to jump off and attack him (while players like Thornton, with an arguably worse attitude, fly under the radar) on the back of one performance is a grossly unfair reaction.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I know where you're coming from, but what has pissed me off over the journey is those that swing back and forth like a yo-yo on the issue.

I kind of don't mind those that swing back and forth. Yes they are reactionary but at least their emotions are based on what is happening before them and they are flexible. They just need patience.

It's the fans who single out a player to dislike and no matter how well that player does, they blindly keep up their campaign. Then when the player inevitably hits a flat spot in their career, they jump up and down saying 'I told you so.'

You have to be able to roll with the punches and if you are going to criticise, have to be able to give credit when it is deserved as well.

 

[cfc4life]

It certainly says something about the overall strength of Carlton sides over history that we have only 1 centurion, 2 Coleman medallists and 4 Brownlow medallists, despite 16 premierships.

Thats why there is the saying "A champion team is better than a team of champions"

 

[Blue Dawn]

Could very well go down as the greatest ever forward in our illustrious history and one of the best the game has ever seen. And some want(ed) to trade him.

Will potentially go down as possibly our most brilliant, mercurial forward alongside Jezza and Buzz but his next 5 or so years will dictate whether or not he goes down as our 'greatest ever' forward. Let's not jump the gun - he's still got a fair ways to go to reach the loft heights of Jezza, Sticks, Soapy and co.

 

[The Blueseum]

Thats why there is the saying "A champion team is better than a team of champions"

Just for historical context we should add that 4 other Blues were the league leading goalkicker, but this award preceded the Coleman (1954):

http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=League+Leading+Goalkicker

6 league top goalkickers; 1 centurion; 16 premierships would be the right analysis. The story still stands though; a champion team.

From the Blueseum

 

[burnsda]

http://carltonfc.com.au/tabid/4311/Default.aspx?newsid=64815

Fevola is the best in the league and thats all he is better then everyone

 

[blues4flag]

I kind of don't mind those that swing back and forth. Yes they are reactionary but at least their emotions are based on what is happening before them and they are flexible. They just need patience.

It's the fans who single out a player to dislike and no matter how well that player does, they blindly keep up their campaign. Then when the player inevitably hits a flat spot in their career, they jump up and down saying 'I told you so.'

You have to be able to roll with the punches and if you are going to criticise, have to be able to give credit when it is deserved as well.

A distinction must be made here. When pertaining to on field form, I've got no issues with people changing opinion. For example, prior to the season basically all supporters would have said Wiggins would be extremely lucky to survive to 09. After his season, many supporters are of the opinion he deserves to be contracted beyond this season, myself included. Carrazzo as another example - he's got many critics, but most (barring Alpha) are happy to admit when he plays a good game.

With Fev however, nobody's questioning his ability. We all know he's at worst top 3 for talent on our list, however the issue with him in behaviour. When people support him, only to call for his head after a 50m penalty, being overly exuberant post game or because of media speculation regarding his contract largely out of his control, that's what disappoints me. If he came out and blew .144, then I'd understand those calling for his head - not over every minor (non)issue.

 

[HBF]

Could very well go down as the greatest ever forward in our illustrious history and one of the best the game has ever seen. And some want(ed) to trade him.

Sticks and Jezza might have something to say about that. Oh yeah, and the Dominator.

 

[Bomba Sheldon]

Sticks and Jezza might have something to say about that. Oh yeah, and the Dominator.

And Warren Ralph

 

[thylacine60]

And Warren Ralph

And Rod Galt.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

And Rod Galt.

Dont forget premiership player Warren McKenzie.

 

[sosos]

My favourite forward was far from our best.
Earl "The Duke" Spalding! Pack crasher extraordinaire.

OT, congratulations Fev.

 

[The Blueseum]

With the additional 4 Fev moves to 84, equalling his best ever.

http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=77

Fev only needs 3 more to move into third spot on Carlton's all time best goalkicking effort in a season,

From the Blueseum

 

[Blues_Man]

Where does the great Ross Ditchburn sit on this list ? sat behind the goals at Waverly one year in the 80's and watched him kick 12 goals 2 against the Saints .