Is Sam Gilbert the most underrated player in the comp?

[lewdogs]

I know that people rate Gilbert at some level, from very good to gun, but watching his first three games this season I think he's just about the best defender in the AFL at the moment. His marking is superb, ferocious tackler, and he constantly sets up St Kilda's rebound from defence with smart and insightful play.

I would take him over any other defender at the moment...thoughts?

 

[mysainters]

Agree, he is up there amongst the better defenders who are in really good form this year. If he can keep it up, I can't see him missing AA again.

He must be underrated, at least by opposition coaches, because he has been able to run around on his own.

 

[Gibbo_88]

Definitely wouldn't take him over Drummond at this stage.

 

[die hard dee]

i think if he is made to be accountable he gets found out easily. Can only play one role and it is as a loose man, and i think with Roo out and possibly Sam Fisher being moved to the forward we will see Gilbert start to get found out

 

[JeffDunne]

Other than Roo I reckon most of our players are under-rated. It's usually the way with St Kilda, high scoring forward gets all the love and a player like Harvey needs a decade before anyone rates him.

Sam Fisher was in All Australian form long before he was ever discussed for the position.

Lenny Hayes is the most under-rated player at St Kilda.

 

[Butane]

Is under-rated the most over-rated word on bigfooty? Discuss.

 

[Stifler's mom]

He's possibly the most one sided player in the comp too. Kicks it on the full a lot on his 'good' side and when pushed onto his right side tries to kick left footed bananas.

Loose man role rarely seems to be lauded. He does however mark a lot of opposition kicks which is great for Supercoach.

 

[lewdogs]

i think if he is made to be accountable he gets found out easily. Can only play one role and it is as a loose man, and i think with Roo out and possibly Sam Fisher being moved to the forward we will see Gilbert start to get found out

Sam Fisher has been out for most of the season and he is still dominating. Also, he is actually quite good one-on-one, it is something he has improved on a lot, fast as lightning so it's hard to lead against him.

Also, that two-step rugby shimmy is a delight.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Nahhh, it's still Enright, isn't it? Or Sewell, maybe?

Let's face it, as soon as a player is mentioned by the media (or on Bigfooty) as being underrated, that's the official notice that they have jumped the shark as an underrated player.

Gwilt might be sneaking up on some people this year though...

 

[AFaiL]

He's possibly the most one sided player in the comp too. Kicks it on the full a lot on his 'good' side and when pushed onto his right side tries to kick left footed bananas.

Loose man role rarely seems to be lauded. He does however mark a lot of opposition kicks which is great for Supercoach.

32 possessions, 20 marks on Friday. I'll take a few bad kicks in all that any day of the week.

Hasn't got a right foot, but it could be worse. He could be like Cloke and not have a left foot.

Rugby background, probably still working on his kicking. He is a super player, and who gives a stuff what the footy world thinks.

 

[mysainters]

Gwilt might be sneaking up on some people this year though...

Nice to hear people are starting to notice our Jimmy.

He is proving just how important it is to get about 50 senior games under your belt, he is growing in confidence and his footy in defence has been great this year.

 

[Joffaboy]

He's possibly the most one sided player in the comp too. Kicks it on the full a lot on his 'good' side and when pushed onto his right side tries to kick left footed bananas.

This is very close to the truth, except Clint Jones would have him covered for one sidedness.

Many teams have worked him out in the sense that they force him onto his right foot.

Collingwood did it well on Firiday night especially in the first half.

In saying that, it shows the signs of a very good player who uses his strengths to read the play and take 20 marks, and not just the cheap ones out back in defence. He cut off many a Collingwood forward thrust on friday night with he reading of the play.

he is also an excellent tackler and has a huge sidestep, both skills learnt from when playing Rugby League in SE Queensland.

I think he is pretty rated.

 

[Papa G]

Nahhh, it's still Enright, isn't it? Or Sewell, maybe?

What? Sewell has somehow become the most over rated player in the league. A couple of hits to the head a few footy show appearances and he's somehow an elite footballer. Decent footballer I grant you, but there at least half a dozen at Hawthorn alone that are better than him. Gilbert is under rated but not incredibly so. He does play that seagull defender, but he does play it well and his height and agility are major weapons.

 

[NAUGHT5]

He's possibly the most one sided player in the comp too. Kicks it on the full a lot on his 'good' side and when pushed onto his right side tries to kick left footed bananas.

Loose man role rarely seems to be lauded. He does however mark a lot of opposition kicks which is great for Supercoach.

Noticed this a bit.
Not sure what his kicking efficiency is but seems to miss quite a few easy targets.
Good player, more an athlete than a footballer.
But if he can improve his kicking then he'll be a quality player.

 

[Plugger35]

Certainly isn't underrated by me or most other Saints fans. Has almost taken over from Sam Fisher as our best defender now and is one of the best defenders in the comp. Probably should have been AA last year in my opinion and he has continued on that great form this year. If anything he has improved from last year and if he keeps up this kind of form has to be a lock for AA this year.

Has always been one of my favourite Saints players, just love the way he goes about it. Has some unique traits that he learnt playing rugby league, such as the sidestep and shoulder driving tackles. Also great in the air and ground level, just the perfect defender.

 

[wapower]

I still think it's Corey Enright.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

i think if he is made to be accountable he gets found out easily. Can only play one role and it is as a loose man, and i think with Roo out and possibly Sam Fisher being moved to the forward we will see Gilbert start to get found out

This one, how easy is it for him to stroll around half back without a man and get cheap possessions

 

[Cynic]

I still think it's Corey Enright.

Certainly more worthy a recipient that Gilbert.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I still think it's Corey Enright.

Back to back AA, Corey Enright. Who underrates him?

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

What? Sewell has somehow become the most over rated player in the league. A couple of hits to the head a few footy show appearances and he's somehow an elite footballer. Decent footballer I grant you, but there at least half a dozen at Hawthorn alone that are better than him. Gilbert is under rated but not incredibly so. He does play that seagull defender, but he does play it well and his height and agility are major weapons.

I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek there. Just showing how if a player is underrated at one point, somehow they are labelled underrated for their entire career B&Fs, AAs, Brownlows and HOF inductions be damned...

 

[The Fireman]

I couldn't care less how other people rate him but he is in my top 3 at the Saints.

 

[Silvagnis]

He's possibly the most one sided player in the comp too. Kicks it on the full a lot on his 'good' side and when pushed onto his right side tries to kick left footed bananas.

Loose man role rarely seems to be lauded. He does however mark a lot of opposition kicks which is great for Supercoach.

How does this make Gilbert any different to Nick Maxwell and O'Brien?

Gilbert would be your best tall half back flanker.

The way Gilbert zones offs and reads the play before counter attacking is first class. Better than Bower because he's a good kick and mark, but still rebounds like our running defender.

Great pick.

 

[WoGiTaLiA]

I think the knock on him is that he is a bit of a tweener and that he rarely plays a defensive role so in a way what he does gets diminished.

Most teams have a guy that is similar to him. He is what Kennelly was for the Swans when they were great. Mackie with a bit more freedom to roam. Drummond at Brisbane. Embley when the Eagles were good. What he does he is great at but it's just hard to put a true value on that rebounding loose man type. For what it's worth, Hodge did that role better than anyone I've seen do it in Hawthorn's premiership year and Gilbert isn't at the same level as what Hodge produced doing it.

Tough to rate those guys though and Gilbert is amongst the very best at what he does. The problem is that genuine stoppers tend to get the recognition. So you have a CHB and FB and normally a couple of genuine defenders which leaves only basically 2 spots for the tweeners in AA teams.

 

[crownie]

i think Paul Chapman is the most underrated.

 

[robertg22]

He may play in the back line, but I wouldn't really call him a defender....
Good player, not the most underrated in the comp though and probably not close.