Heppell vs Darling

[kaiserchief13]

This isn't about who had the better 2011, it's about which player you would want at your club in 2012 and beyond.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

I voted too close to call.

Based on this year you would say Heppell, purely because Darling hasn't been given an opportunity as a 'pure' key forward.

So there is still a bit of a question mark over him there for mine.

But, always take the quality talls over the quality smalls.

I think Darling could become an excellent KPF, but I'd have to see him play as a key target before I'd say 'definitely him over Heppell'.

 

[Rocky_Star_Pro]

Well it depends, teams who need quality KPP will choose Darling. Teams who need a classy defender/midfielder will choose Heppell.

Personally I prefer Heppell, Essendon have their KPP stocks full and it wouldn't make sense adding in another KPP to our side

 

[The Bomb]

This isn't about who had the better 2011, it's about which player you would want at your club in 2012 and beyond.

In the 2010 AFL Draft every team including West Coast would have picked Heppell over Darling, nothing has changed after the year Heppell has just had.

 

[Spartan]

In the 2010 AFL Draft every team including West Coast would have picked Heppell over Darling, nothing has changed after the year Heppell has just had.

A KPP having the impact Darling has had hasn't changed anything?

I'll bet Juddy's VISY deal that Darling would go alot earlier if the draft was re-done tomorrow.

 

[The Bomb]

A KPP having the impact Darling has had hasn't changed anything?

I'll bet Juddy's VISY deal that Darling would go alot earlier if the draft was re-done tomorrow.

So would Heppell , still Darling would not go earlier than Heppell.
Swallow and Heppell would be #1 & #2, would be interesting to see who would be picked 1st out of Day, Lynch and Darling. Lynch when he could get out on the park looked excellent as the #1 focal point in a very ordinary team.

 

[the distributer]

Heppel 'may' become a decent mid, at this stage he's played mostly as a HB, being a good HB doesn't mean he'll become an elite mid.

Darling 'may' become a decent KPF, no team and i repeat, no team would take Heppel over Darling, and it doesn't matter how strong a teams KP stocks are, a young promising KPF is worth atleast 2 promising young HBs, the Bombers could offer Heppel + their first round DP for Darling, and they'd be knocked back, and they know it, Heppels had a great year and all that, but when an 18/19 yr old KPF shows promise he becomes muchhhhh more valuble than HBF of the same age, sorry Bomber fans.

 

[The Bomb]

Heppel 'may' become a decent mid, at this stage he's played mostly as a HB, being a good HB doesn't mean he'll become an elite mid.

Darling 'may' become a decent KPF, no team and i repeat, no team would take Heppel over Darling, and it doesn't matter how strong a teams KP stocks are, a young promising KPF is worth atleast 2 promising young HBs, the Bombers could offer Heppel + their first round DP for Darling, and they'd be knocked back, and they know it, Heppels had a great year and all that, but when an 18/19 yr old KPF shows promise he becomes muchhhhh more valuble than HBF of the same age, sorry Bomber fans.

KPP vs the rest From the same drafts I would take

I would still take Swallow, Heppell and Gaff before Darling.
Martin, Fyfe, Trengrove before Butcher, Carlisle and Reid.
Hurley and Naitanui before any in their respective drafts
Cotchin before Kreuzer
Dangerfield before Henderson
Gibbs, Boak before Hansen and Gumbleton
Selwood befor Riewoldt

Best player from a draft is still the best way to go, and so far Heppell is clearly the better player of the 2.

 

[the distributer]

KPP vs the rest From the same drafts I would take

I would still take Swallow, Heppell and Gaff before Darling.
Martin, Fyfe, Trengrove before Butcher, Carlisle and Reid.
Hurley and Naitanui before any in their respective drafts
Cotchin before Kreuzer
Dangerfield before Henderson
Gibbs, Boak before Hansen and Gumbleton
Selwood befor Riewoldt

Best player from a draft is still the best way to go, and so far Heppell is clearly the better player of the 2.

KPFs take time, if they show promise in their first year it's a very, very good sign, Hepp looks like being a gun but his type is much easier to find than a gun KPF.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

Darling is a bruiser... It's hard not to like that in a player.

Heppell is great, but hard-hitting over graceful is usually preferred.

Until I see Dyson Heppell iron someone out, I'll prefer Darling

Also, Darling is a ninja:

[youtube]ijVbrAOIfmg[/youtube]

 

[Yabba]

It depends on who you think has a better ceiling. I see Heppel as having the talent to get to the same level as Pendlebury, he is a similar height, both have good skills & poise.

Darling has been very good and it's probably the things that a key forward doesn't usually do well that is most impressive. He runs well good when the ball hits the ground, puts on lots of defensive pressure. Against him though is that with Kennedy, Lynch, Cox or NicNat spending a lot of time down forward he has not had a chance to really dominate a game standing at CHF.

I personally would go for Heppel at this stage, but that is no slight on Darling who is super impressive.

 

[Slattery_20]

a young promising KPF is worth atleast 2 promising young HBs

Then surely no HB would ever go top 10, ever.

Carlton would take Hansen or Gumbie over Gibbs?
Saints would take Tim Walsh or Schultz over Goddard?
Hawks would swap Hodge for Polak?

 

[Upgrayedd]

[youtube]ijVbrAOIfmg[/youtube]

...If he did that every game i would trade him for Franklin.

 

[the distributer]

Then surely no HB would ever go top 10, ever.

Carlton would take Hansen or Gumbie over Gibbs?
Saints would take Tim Walsh or Schultz over Goddard?
Hawks would swap Hodge for Polak?

Clubs don't use top 10 DPs in the hope of getting a HB and at this stage that is all Heppel is, if and when he moves into the midfield and dominates i will reconsider, but even then i rate the gun KFs higher than the gun mids, not by much though, Heppel has something special though IMO, reminds me a bit of Hird TBH, but lets just wait and see.

 

[Slattery_20]

Clubs don't use top 10 DPs in the hope of getting a HB and at this stage that is all Heppel is, if and when he moves into the midfield and dominates i will reconsider, but even then i rate the gun KFs higher than the gun mids, not by much though.

I see what you're saying; but I'd still take Heppell ahead.
Neither are really finished products or where they'll end up - wing towards midfield, for Heppell; and proper leading out from CHF for Darling.

 

[WN123]

If the draft was held again tomorow I think Swallow would probably still go number 1. The next couple would be Darling, Heppell and maybe Gaff depending on needs.

 

[Slattery_20]

You'd think Sam Day might drop a bit, Polec might drop a bit: Tom Lynch, Heppell, Isaac Smith, Darling & Atley would be the big improvers.

 

[TheBoyWhoLived]

Close but for essendon i would still take heppell.

Darling 191cm 87kg
Heppell 189cm 81kg

When darling puts on more kg he can crash the packs more often and contested mark more.

When heppell puts on more kg he will play a more permanent midfield role.

 

[Teffy]

Darling.

Essendon basically used pick 8 to get a softer version of Daniel Pratt.

 

[Flinch]

Too close to call. But bias says Darling, simply for the fact he still has so much improvement in him. Hell we don't even know if he will be KPF, he might be a midfielder for all I know. But that is not too say Heppell won't improve, I just think that Darling has more upside.

 

[entourage]

Darling, solid KPP, got a good grab on him, decent kick. Love watching him play. Heppel had a fantastic year but for a first year big man Darling has done exceptionally well, interesting to see how he develops

 

[Rocky_Star_Pro]

Darling.

Essendon basically used pick 8 to get a softer version of Daniel Pratt.

I'd still take Heppell over Shaun 'the second coming of Judd' Atley

 

[Reminiscence]

I chose Darling, due to his competitiveness, his potential and his absolutely amazing workrate. Not to mention he has a great set of hands and always willing to throw his weight around.

Not taking anything away from Heppell though. Kid is very classy, has the poise in close quarters, as well as great footskills. Bombers got a great young one in that.

 

[Slattery_20]

Darling.

Essendon basically used pick 8 to get a softer version of Daniel Pratt.

LOL, gold Teff.
You will be seeing a bit of this in the future methinks.

 

[Jack2Johnston]

I'd take Darling as a forward as realistically the Swans dont need anymore running HBF's

However it is too close to call, Darling was played as a 3rd tall whilst im sure the Eagles longterm would like him to take a KPF role, and Heppell was just played off a HBF and I doubt that is the role the Bombers see him in long term.