Gameturners

[2 Dogs]

Just want to get a guage on who you guys believe have that x-factor, the ability to up their output and turn a game our way through their own individual efforts. We've lacked for a long time a genuine star midfielder, cases could point in recent times to Trav Johnstone as one, but besides him we've been decidedly lacking in game turners.

Of the current players on our list who I have seen grab the game by the balls on more than one occasion, Robbo, Bruce and Davey are the only 3. Mclean, while he turned it on in the final against St Kilda, has rarely put in a performance that outstanding since. Not saying he can't turn a game, but he needs to do it more often, hopefuly this year.

The future looks bright with the likes of Morton (who will soon be our best player) Grimes, Buckley all showing they could have what it takes to bust open a game in the midfield, and up forward Watts and the small forwards Wona and Maric, thrown in Jurrah too, who I'm hoping turns into a Steve Johnson type.

But as of right now, proven game changers are Robbo, Davey, Bruce.

 

[omit]

mclean is a match turner, his second half in the freo comeback is proof of that. 6 clearances in one half of footy is incredible

 

[Pjkimber]

My picks would be Davey and Mclean. Mclean is one of the very few players in the A.F.L that plays for his club (the jumper) rather than the $$$ ala Chris Judd.

 

[cannons]

Colin Sylvia is a player I would place in this category. His efforts against Sydney in the second half at Visy Park illustrate this, as does his final quarter v the Bulldogs a couple of years ago. He has the ability to explode, no doubt, however his patches in between need to be more consistent if he is to reach another level.

Aaron Davey is probably the most obvious choice from the Melbourne though. Mclean wouldn't be what I would call a 'gameturner' as you put it, he is more a big-game player. He'll get the job done on the biggest stages, but he will do this through a good all-round performance, as opposed to a sudden burst of immense impact.

I also think Buckley has the potential to do this for Melbourne, as well as Robbo. It's too difficult to comment on the youthful players at this point, but the skillset Blease possesses would also suggest he could be one of these players too.

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

I think it's hard to name a midfielder to be a game breaker, or more so you don't want your main midfielder to be your gamebreaker. Realistically the midfield battle goes through ebb's and flow's or one way all day, so a midfielder shouldn't really go through bursts of form on the day to be the game breaker. You'd be after a more consistent effort from someone like McLean, which I think we get more often than not.

Davey does it to a certain extent I agree, with his defensive side and ability to break the lines. I'm with cannons, Sylvia needs to be our gamebreaker when we are on the cusp of a win this year.

 

[Colin Grigson]

Any player who can use the ball by foot basically...

I think McLean is really important to us in the middle for his inside factor, but really, i think we're a bit short on gamebreakers ATM, might partly explain why we are at the bottom of the ladder .

Davey is an odd one. He doesn't set up enough of our guys to be considered a true gamebreaker. Its usually a solo effort with Davey.

I think Moloney has the potential to be a gamebreaker, with his ability to clear zones with his long kicking. In the next few years, its gonna be guys like Strauss, Bennell & Blease who are elite kickers of the ball who will be our gamebreakers.

Kicking technique is only going to become a more prized skill in the future, as the game turns more and more into soccer its the guys who can pinpoint a pass 50 metres away off 3 steps that i'd be looking at...

 

[davey_magik]

I personally think Davey isn't a gamebreaker.

Yes, he can spark the team, but name the games where he has turned it in our favour?

IMO McLean is our only real player who can turn a match right now. In the future I'd be hoping guys like Watts, Blease, Wonna, Morton and even Jurrah could turn matches for us.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Bar the first three games of 2006(?), I'd love to hear when Cameron Bruce has ever turned a game.

I'd call him probably our most consistent performer, but far from a gamebreaker. I'd agree with Robbo and Davey though, when they play well, we win. Bruce plays well a lot of the time, but often in losses.

 

[AFL is Number One]

Russell Robertson is my choice. His game against the Cats that day at Skilled Stadium ...kicking 8 goals against a great defence, was outstanding, and shows exactly what a gamebreaker does.

"Gamebreakers" are usually power forwards . Wayne Carey was the best of them.

Neita at his peak could break a game wide open with his leads and long kicking.

So, these days, its slim pickings for us, but I reckon Robbo , when fit, would be our game breaker. Robbo,come back quick !!

 

[omit]

Bar the first three games of 2005(?), I'd love to hear when Cameron Bruce has ever turned a game.

I'd call him probably our most consistent performer, but far from a gamebreaker. I'd agree with Robbo and Davey though, when they play well, we win. Bruce plays well a lot of the time, but often in losses.

and how we all wish he could find that form again. damn Guerra

 

[chopper41]

The problem isn't that we don't have players that can turn a game, because we do have several that can, it's whether we have players that can do it week in week out.......and we don't. We have not had that superstar game changer, like a Judd or Ablett, since Garry Lyon. On their day, Green, Davey, Bruce, McLean and others can do it, but none of them have shown that they can or will ever be that player. Hopefully Morton, Watts and some of the other kids can take this step.

The main reason we did not win a premiership in the Daniher era is purely because of this, and we will continue to miss out on premiership glory until we find it. The problem is is it's damn hard to find.