Grant Birchall vs Brock McLean

[tin can sam]

Birchall - A soft Half back flanker, with a long kick that isn't accurate, and he only gets lots of possies due to the Hawks uncontested style of play

McLean - A tough in and under midfielder with good dispossal and decision making abilitys.

I'll take McLean

 

[H2F]

McLean is the next Norm Smith medallist imo.

The only thing your doing here RJ is setting yourself up for some major heartache.

At least I have the benefit of being able to place my eggs in a number of baskets, given we have so many future stars...

Birchall
Franklin
Roughead
Renouf
Lewis
Muston
Ellis
Thorpe

etc

We all know McLean is all you guys have, many of you have said as such in your posts. But let me caution you because I like you, you have a very unbalanced portfolio and the market can turn very quickly in AFL footy.

If by some chance my crystal ball is more tuned than yours, and McLean turns out to be an above average player at best, you might be setting yourself up for some pain there Rick...

food for thought anyway ...

 

[Richo83]

McLean. Could hawks fans stop overrating their players? Birchall better than McLean? F*** off, McLean had a great last year, Birchall was patchy. When Birchall plays consistently well like Brock, then talk, but not now.

And stats don't mean everything, McLean is a match winner. Won the demons a final last year and you have to be pretty good to do that. Birchall still feeds off Hodge, Crawford, Vandenberg and Mitchell.

 

[parrot]

With fairness to Grant Birchall - it should be pointed out that many people on this site immediately agree with me regardless of what I say, so they probably just read the options without even considering the argument and saw the "RJ is right" option and straight away went with that.

Self-importance alert.

 

[CattyBossDog]

McLean is the next Norm Smith medallist imo.

The year is 2007, not 2070 mate.


McLeans' grandkids might have a chance, he hasn't got a hope in hell!

 

[Val Venis]

The year is 2007, not 2070 mate.


McLeans' grandkids might have a chance, he hasn't got a hope in hell!

If Embley can win one surely McLean can

 

[Demonheart]

This is a joke right?

 

[DeeHughMan]

This is a stupid thread:

1. stats dont tell you how good a player is.

2. the best stat used is the time on ground stat. where judd is the best by a mile.

3. good players in better teams will get pulled off the ground if your winning or have won the game.

4. some teams rack up way more useless stats. sydney are right at the bottom of all the stats yet made the grand final the last two years.

5. mclean is so much better than birchall it is stupid to compare. his first 20 games were better. he is the best player in a much better team. he has won a final. also won enough games for his team to make the finals.

 

[CyberKev]

As usual, the masses on BF just don't get it.

When you're comparing two markedly different types of footballer, the answer to a query like this one will always depend on the team you support and its current structure.

Melbourne rightly laud a player like McLean because he gives them what they've been light-on for in the past, a bit of genuine inside midfielder hardball grunt. I somehow doubt they'd trade him for anyone, and fair enough, as he has plenty of promise.

Hawthorn, on the other hand, has plenty of inside midfielder hardball grunt, but is not as well blessed for tall, quick, skilled types that can provide attacking rebound off a HBF or classy, long-kicking running attack from a wing. Hence Hawthorn wouldn't be in a rush to trade Birchall for McLean.

Unbiased supporters from other clubs would make their choice coming from a similar background.

If, however, you had a team with zero players on the list and you were wanting to kick off your squad, then you would run with McLean as good players of his ilk are harder to come by and are integral to getting a team to a level of inital competitiveness.

Simple really.

 

[RedLegs#5]

When you are a loser, you have to try and blend with someone. Of course I am out-numbered, I strategically place myself in these positions because I enjoy it... so I would expect you drones to surface in Brock's defence.

Melbourne don't want you either so go back to Bay13 pea brain.

HAHAHAHAHA....you strategically place yourself?? Well we all better sound the alarm, grab our ammunition and prepare for...BATTLE! Hehehehe.

You are officially a NERRRDDD!

Sometimes you have to wonder about the people on this site.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[H2F]

HAHAHAHAHA....you strategically place yourself?? Well we all better sound the alarm, grab our ammunition and prepare for...BATTLE! Hehehehe.

You are officially a NERRRDDD!

Sometimes you have to wonder about the people on this site.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Red Legs do you remember the last time I pawned you? Do you not learn or are you just a little slow?

 

[Demonheart]

Red Legs do you remember the last time I pawned you? Do you not learn or are you just a little slow?

I just can't see you playing chess.

 

[Richo83]

As usual, the masses on BF just don't get it.

When you're comparing two markedly different types of footballer, the answer to a query like this one will always depend on the team you support and its current structure.

Melbourne rightly laud a player like McLean because he gives them what they've been light-on for in the past, a bit of genuine inside midfielder hardball grunt. I somehow doubt they'd trade him for anyone, and fair enough, as he has plenty of promise.

Hawthorn, on the other hand, has plenty of inside midfielder hardball grunt, but is not as well blessed for tall, quick, skilled types that can provide attacking rebound off a HBF or classy, long-kicking running attack from a wing. Hence Hawthorn wouldn't be in a rush to trade Birchall for McLean.

Unbiased supporters from other clubs would make their choice coming from a similar background.

If, however, you had a team with zero players on the list and you were wanting to kick off your squad, then you would run with McLean as good players of his ilk are harder to come by and are integral to getting a team to a level of inital competitiveness.

Simple really.

Great post, summs it up beautifully without bias.

Redlegs, stop calling everyone a nerd, when they're clearly not. H2F isn't a nerd, he's just a troll.

 

[H2F]

Great post, summs it up beautifully without bias.

Redlegs, stop calling everyone a nerd, when they're clearly not. H2F isn't a nerd, he's just a troll.

I've always liked you Richo, one of the few unbiased Richmond posters.

I can handle Redneck though, when he was complaining about having to pay for Foxtel to watch footy, we all got a good insight into the tool he is.

 

[rick James]

As usual, the masses on BF just don't get it.

When you're comparing two markedly different types of footballer, the answer to a query like this one will always depend on the team you support and its current structure.

Melbourne rightly laud a player like McLean because he gives them what they've been light-on for in the past, a bit of genuine inside midfielder hardball grunt. I somehow doubt they'd trade him for anyone, and fair enough, as he has plenty of promise.

Hawthorn, on the other hand, has plenty of inside midfielder hardball grunt, but is not as well blessed for tall, quick, skilled types that can provide attacking rebound off a HBF or classy, long-kicking running attack from a wing. Hence Hawthorn wouldn't be in a rush to trade Birchall for McLean.

Unbiased supporters from other clubs would make their choice coming from a similar background.

If, however, you had a team with zero players on the list and you were wanting to kick off your squad, then you would run with McLean as good players of his ilk are harder to come by and are integral to getting a team to a level of inital competitiveness.

Simple really.

That is a very good post, though I do think Hawthorn would trade Birchall for McLean, just on the basis that McLean is more of a known force now.

At worst they could simply trade Birchall for McLean, then trade McLean the following year for a better outside midfielder/flanker/winger than Birchall just because McLean has more currency.

But certainly, with Mitchell and Hodge (who imo has a very similar game to McLean - though Hodge is a marginally better kick - and better overhead - and McLean is marginally better at winning the ball - and a better tackler) among others, Hawthorn aren't exactly crying out for a player like McLean.

And with Green, Johnstone and Pickett the Demons aren't exactly found wanting for skillful finishers.

 

[rick James]

H2F isn't a nerd, he's just a troll.

Nah he isn't either, he does have some good posts every now and then - he just has his little 'causes' that he fights constantly. McLean seems to really get to him.

H2F's start date is October, so he would in all likelihood have missed the massive McLean love going on after the St Kilda final.

Remember that thread some bloke posted saying McLean was a dud around quarter time? (McLean played like 10 minutes of football in the first quarter)

Remember how Bigfooty just went gaga over McLean after that match? It was akin to seeing the hype around Judd. If H2F missed all that (and indeed I'm tipping he has never watched that game at all tbh) then I can understand why he hasn't got the same love for Brock that most do.

He will come around though, everyone will.

 

[DEEZ_4_LIFE]

The year is 2007, not 2070 mate.


McLeans' grandkids might have a chance, he hasn't got a hope in hell!

and some one from carlton does???
mate, youve got to make it to the grand final b4 one of ur players can win a norm smith...

 

[RedLegs#5]

Red Legs do you remember the last time I pawned you? Do you not learn or are you just a little slow?

Pleeeaaassse show me where you 'pawned' me nerd. HAHAHAHA.

 

[Richo83]

Nah he isn't either, he does have some good posts every now and then - he just has his little 'causes' that he fights constantly. McLean seems to really get to him.

H2F's start date is October, so he would in all likelihood have missed the massive McLean love going on after the St Kilda final.

Remember that thread some bloke posted saying McLean was a dud around quarter time? (McLean played like 10 minutes of football in the first quarter)

Remember how Bigfooty just went gaga over McLean after that match? It was akin to seeing the hype around Judd. If H2F missed all that (and indeed I'm tipping he has never watched that game at all tbh) then I can understand why he hasn't got the same love for Brock that most do.

He will come around though, everyone will.

H2F sure seems to get involved in his fare share of trolling of tiger supporters on bay 13. Maybe you're right, maybe he isn't a troll, he's certainly not a nerd, but on certain issues he seems to lose it. Like Richmond, or Grant.

 

[Richo83]

I've always liked you Richo, one of the few unbiased Richmond posters.

I can handle Redneck though, when he was complaining about having to pay for Foxtel to watch footy, we all got a good insight into the tool he is.

I'm glad you think that way. You're alright when you remove the brown and yellow glasses. You seem to have a vendetta against Richmond players and McLean which I can't understand.

Knock that out and you'll be a good poster.

But you should really stop with the Birchall stuff, people are getting sick of it.

 

[Philhawk]

McLean. Easily.

Birch is an absolute gun, but McLean is an absolute bigger gun (at this point at time - well at least IMO).

 

[Richo83]

Pleeeaaassse show me where you 'pawned' me nerd. HAHAHAHA.

You just pwned yourself fool. Please stop.

 

[RedLegs#5]

You just pwned yourself fool. Please stop.

Uh oh...the nerds are joining together.

I'll tell you what...I'll stop if you stop going for a team with no spirit, heart or character. Deal?????

 

[Richo83]

Uh oh...the nerds are joining together.

I'll tell you what...I'll stop if you stop going for a team with no spirit, heart or character. Deal?????

I'll stop when you stop acting like a tool.

Basically, never.

 

[H2F]

Nah he isn't either, he does have some good posts every now and then - he just has his little 'causes' that he fights constantly. McLean seems to really get to him.

H2F's start date is October, so he would in all likelihood have missed the massive McLean love going on after the St Kilda final.

Remember that thread some bloke posted saying McLean was a dud around quarter time? (McLean played like 10 minutes of football in the first quarter)

Remember how Bigfooty just went gaga over McLean after that match? It was akin to seeing the hype around Judd. If H2F missed all that (and indeed I'm tipping he has never watched that game at all tbh) then I can understand why he hasn't got the same love for Brock that most do.

He will come around though, everyone will.

I certainly missed the party RJ, sounds like it was going off

Doesn't really surprise me though because there certainly are a lot of Richmond posters on here like TigerGirlz for example, that will join any event they are welcome too. Seems likely to me, this may have been the first time they fitted in anywhere........ Richo and Polo excluded though, they are brute men and I'll convince them to trade the black, for the might brown stripes some day

Anyway back to the Birch...

Yeah you are showing me a side of McLean that I may have previously overlooked a little hastily, hopefully I can return the favour and get you on the Birch bandwagon. People think I am biased, well I can't really accept that, unless like me, they have seen all his games and know what he has done.

The kid's an absolute freak, which has been displayed by him just about topping the kicking efficiency last year, whilst getting some near 40 possession games. Now the obvious come-back from someone like TigerGirlz would be, "Yeah well he is an outside receiver". Well that's crap too, as demonstrated by his role in defence this week against your Under 18's where he played as a tall defender, because we were light on in that area.

You have to remember also that I am watching a team every week that is boasting some seriously talented young kids, and this is what I think gives the Birch even more kudos. He was drafted underage and played like a 100 gamer all last year. You would have seen his first half on Sunday night before you got pissed and got over it, but surely noticed his quality.

Anyway as I mentioned earlier in this thread I never expected the Birch to win this poll, if he did BigFooty has more morons than imaginable. I just put it up because I think people will start to acknowledge that he is going to be in that 'elite club' we call champions very soon.

Obviously the best way to do that is put him up against one who is knocking on the door wearing knuckle busters, in your love child.

P.S Terry Wallet can't coach.