Gunston vs Darling vs Stringer

[Amigo]

What game do you reckon was Stringer at his best?

Gunston's career is twice the length of Stringer's, yet Stringer has already surpassed his career high goal tally in a game (Gunston 6, Stringer 7), and he scored those 7 goals in 3 quarters before getting injured. Case in point: Stringer's best is much better than Gunston's.

Gunston is a better mark, set shot and a harder worker. Stringer is faster, stronger, far more dynamic with ball in hand and boasts a significantly more diverse range of goalscoring avenues. Yes he had an off season, but even then, he still displayed freak ability that a player like Gunston (and nearly every other player in the league) will never have within his capabilities, which sets Stringer apart for me. Harp on about "highlight reel player" all you want, I still want the guy with the more outstanding skillset.

 

[cryptor]

Gunston's career is twice the length of Stringer's, yet Stringer has already surpassed his career high goal tally in a game (Gunston 6, Stringer 7), and he scored those 7 goals in 3 quarters before getting injured. Case in point: Stringer's best is much better than Gunston's.

Gunston is a better mark, set shot and a harder worker. Stringer is faster, stronger, far more dynamic with ball in hand and boasts a significantly more diverse range of goalscoring avenues. Yes he had an off season, but even then, he still displayed freak ability that a player like Gunston (and nearly every other player in the league) will never have within his capabilities, which sets Stringer apart for me. Harp on about "highlight reel player" all you want, I still want the guy with the more outstanding skillset.

I think you'll find Stringer has never kicked 7 or more goals in an AFL game before. The game you seem to be referring to (a big win vs Adelaide, round 4 2015) was 6.2 and he's never kicked that many since.

Cherry picking a single stat from one game where his team dominated is a pretty weak argument. If you take a measure of their goal tallies after 73 games (what Stringer is currently on) then Gunston leads 154-136.

And "far more dynamic with ball in hand and boasts a significantly more diverse range of goalscoring avenues"? Please this essentially boils down to "I think he's better but I have nothing quantitive to back it up".

 

[Amigo]

I think you'll find Stringer has never kicked 7 or more goals in an AFL game before. The game you seem to be referring to (a big win vs Adelaide, round 4 2015) was 6.2 and he's never kicked that many since.

My mistake, but it doesn't change anything.

Cherry picking a single stat from one game where his team dominated is a pretty weak argument. If you take a measure of their goal tallies after 73 games (what Stringer is currently on) then Gunston leads 154-136.

And "far more dynamic with ball in hand and boasts a significantly more diverse range of goalscoring avenues"? Please this essentially boils down to "I think he's better but I have nothing quantitive to back it up".

I don't really care whether you believe me or not. Delude yourself at your leisure if you think Gunston is more dynamic than Stringer.

 

[cryptor]

My mistake, but it doesn't change anything.

Except the entire basis of your argument.

I don't really care whether you believe me or not. Delude yourself at your leisure if you think Gunston is more dynamic than Stringer.

Well Gunston is definitely more synergetic and multifaceted in terms of ancillary focus.

 

[ManOfClay]

Cherry picking a single stat from one game where his team dominated is a pretty weak argument. If you take a measure of their goal tallies after 73 games (what Stringer is currently on) then Gunston leads 154-136.

Stringer was played in defence during that time under a poor coach, and even when forward McCartney's "gameplan" didn't revolve around kicking goals. We were shit.

Meanwhile Gunston largely got the third best defender in the best team of the modern era while he was maturing

 

[Amigo]

Except the entire basis of your argument.

Evidently your comprehension is comparable to that of a two year old's.

Well Gunston is definitely more synergetic and multifaceted in terms of ancillary focus.

Again, don't care.

You even said yourself Stringer is a highlights reel player. That would suggest he has a broader range of goalscoring capabilities than Gunston, whose highlight reel is heavily composed of set shots and goalsquare finishes.

Clearly you're salty I don't prefer your player. Even then, I only said Stringer was the best of the three at their best; but by all means, keep crying.

 

[cryptor]

Stringer was played in defence during that time under a poor coach, and even when forward McCartney's "gameplan" didn't revolve around kicking goals. We were shit.

Meanwhile Gunston largely got the third best defender in the best team of the modern era while he was maturing

Looking over his career stats it doesn't look like Stringer ever went more than a couple games without scoring a goal so I am skeptical of how much time he spent there. Regardless Gunston has played behind the ball in time on of most quarters for years so it probably evens out.

As for Gunston "largely getting the third defender" that isn't really the case. He would have only been getting the "third best defender" in 2012 and 2013 when Roughy and Buddy were 1 and 2. 2014 and 2015 he was number 2, and 2016 number 1. But throughout this time he was largely getting the same defenders where available as those medium sized "third talls" were best suited to negating him rather than the typically slower and less agile KPDs who would take guys like Roughy, Hale, etc.

It can probably be attributed somewhat to his (Gunston) development but perhaps his increased goal tally each year can be credited to gaining a greater share of the received inside 50s? Which is something that Stringer has an advantage over Gunston. But of course he hasn't had as much support. Ebs and flows.

 

[cryptor]

Evidently your comprehension is comparable to that of a two year old's.

Says you, who couldn't get the difference between a 6 and a 7 correct.

Again, don't care.

You're emotional response suggests otherwise.

You even said yourself Stringer is a highlights reel player. That would suggest he has a broader range of goalscoring capabilities than Gunston, whose highlight reel is heavily composed of set shots and goalsquare finishes.

He gets on the highlight reel because he occasionally scores some breathtaking goals from low percentage opportunities. He takes those low percentage shots far more often than Gunston who plays far more selflessly and within team rules. Through sheer weight of numbers Stringer will consequently end up with a lot more on his highlights.

Clearly you're salty I don't prefer your player. Even then, I only said Stringer was the best of the three at their best; but by all means, keep crying.

I am unphased by your personal preference. This is a discussion forum and you made a statement about who is the better player at their best. I challenged that and you've taken it as a personal affront.

 

[Amigo]

Says you, who couldn't get the difference between a 6 and a 7 correct.

A 1 goal difference. Boy does that change everything or what?

You're emotional response suggests otherwise.


He gets on the highlight reel because he occasionally scores some breathtaking goals from low percentage opportunities. He takes those low percentage shots far more often than Gunston who plays far more selflessly and within team rules. Through sheer weight of numbers Stringer will consequently end up with a lot more on his highlights.


I am unphased by your personal preference. This is a discussion forum and you made a statement about who is the better player at their best. I challenged that and you've taken it as a personal affront.

Not even going to bother here. Stringer's best is clearly better than Gunston's and no amount of digging on your behalf will change that. By your comedic standards, Gunston may as well be better than Ablett Snr.

 

[cryptor]

A 1 goal difference. Boy does that change everything or what?

Hmmm and yet the crux of your argument was that 1 goal difference. Convenient how it suddenly turned into a trivial difference.

Not even going to bother here. Stringer's best is clearly better than Gunston's and no amount of digging on your behalf will change that. By your comedic standards, Gunston may as well be better than Ablett Snr.

Ahh the old straw man. Not surprised to see it pop up.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Gunston comfortably ATM, I really rate the Package but he does tend to go missing at times, last year especially.

Never really had much time for Darling, good average player but nothing more.

 

[Ian Dunross]

Membrey ; )

 

[Woobla Stainz]

Wouldn't write Darling off just yet he is only 24 years old still plenty of room for improvement. Alot of KPP dont hit their straps until 26-27

 

[avishka5]

Wouldn't write Darling off just yet he is only 24 years old still plenty of room for improvement. Alot of KPP dont hit their straps until 26-27

A change of structure for the eagles might see an improvement from Darling.

 

[Woobla Stainz]

A change of structure for the eagles might see an improvement from Darling.

Yes he played his best footy when JK was out injured, and he was the main target, kicked 54 goals off the top of my head.

 

[HolyWars]

A change of structure for the eagles might see an improvement from Darling.

And Mitchell setting him up on the lead won't do him any harm either

 

[Testekill]

Stringer has the highest ceiling but Gunston is more consistent. I just feel that Darling lets the ocassion get to himself in bad ways which causes him to pull out of contests when he really needed to impact them.

 

[Bulldog Joe]

Stringer has the highest ceiling but Gunston is more consistent. I just feel that Darling lets the ocassion get to himself in bad ways which causes him to pull out of contests when he really needed to impact them.

I would say that Darling is more a Gunston style player relying on his finesse. Gunston is just better.

Stringer is a different player altogether with an athletic explosiveness, that the other 2 lack. He has the potential to be much better if he gets his body and head right.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Stringer does not have potential to be 'much' better. Rubbish. If you're much better than a consistent 50+ goal kicking HFF, who plays several roles for a triple premiership winning team, averaging 3 goals per Grand Final, then you are a godly player.

Stringer has a lot of potential no doubt and I agree that he has the most potential out of these three players. But typical once again there is the typical BigFooty overblowing going on.

Stringer needs to get his head right and get back to 2015 form.

Having said all that I think this season he will fulfill his potential and the question will be which position is he best suited to play for the Doggies - as a small forward or a midfielder resting up forward. What say you Doggies fans?

 

[avishka5]

Stringer has the highest ceiling but Gunston is more consistent. I just feel that Darling lets the ocassion get to himself in bad ways which causes him to pull out of contests when he really needed to impact them.

don't know what really happened to him since his early days. He stood up in that blues final when we needed him to and lead our attack in 2012 (in his second season when both JK and lecras was injured. He went on to boot his PB of 50 odd goals. That one lapse in concentration must have scarred him for life i guess.

 

[WCEbrody]

Might be worth revisiting...

 

[BrisDog]

No one will ever forget Darling staining his shorts whilst running back about to take a mark against the Dogs in an Elimination Final 2016. He caught a glimpse of 18 year old Josh Dunkley and pulled out like a one-nighter at the Caro RSL. He could kick 200 and we will never forget.

Stringer got fat and I have heard he has been ‘pulling-out’ of the young ladies in the North West Melbourne regularly during the ‘working’ week.

 

[The Blue Baggers]

Might be worth revisiting...

I’d take Darling ahead of the non package !!

 

[Upgrayedd]

2018 it's
Darling>Gunston>>>>>>>>>>>>>Literally playing one man down on the field and looking at the positive that at least your key forward has some space to work against the 2 on 1 he's going to cop>Stringer

 

[WCEbrody]

2018 it's
Darling>Gunston>>>>>>>>>>>>>Literally playing one man down on the field and looking at the positive that at least your key forward has some space to work against the 2 on 1 he's going to cop>Stringer

Pretty much how i see it.

Stringer has more talent in his toenail than the other 2 guys but clearly doesn't want it anywhere near enough, at the moment.