Matthew Scarlett or Chad Cornes?

[Big Nasty]

which one is the best defender in the league?

 

[Blacky]

I don't think Cornes would be in the top ten.

 

[Blacky]

Guys like Glass and Rutten would have something to say about this.

 

[DapperDon]

I don't think Cornes would be in the top ten.

he'd be top 10 but not top 5.

Scarlett was the best but has lost his touch over the last couple of seasons.

So neither of them are the best

 

[tin can sam]

Scarlett is number 1, Cornes isn't a defender.

guys like Clement, Glass and Rutten are better defenders.

 

[RooBuoy]

What a stupid poll.

 

[Edd1e]

They play differnt postions

Scarlett is a good old fashioned FB.

Cornes is a CHB/Floating defender who can play forward. Reads the play, and the ball in the air as good as anyone.

They are both among the elite in their respective positions...

 

[Cassius_Clay]

James Clement.

Poll closed.

 

[Big Nasty]

James Clement.

Poll closed.

So overated It aint funny. Wont handle the new in the back rule this year

 

[sabre_ac]

Neither are the best defender in the league.

Though Scarlett is a hell of a allot better player than Cornes.

Cornes would have to be one of the most overated players going around, bit like McPhee.

 

[Big Nasty]

Scarlett not only take's apart the best Full Forward's in the league, but while doing so he loves running off that opponent and playing the loose man in defence. Would have to be the only defender capable of winning a match with such single handed dominance.

 

[betterthanu]

rutten and glass would be a better poll. And glass would prob win on last years form

 

[Big Nasty]

rutten and glass would be a better poll. And glass would prob win on last years form

Scarletts the best Defender since SOS. Glass and Rutten have had a decent couple of years but seriously need another all australian each to compare with Scarlett.

 

[Ricketts]

One is one of the best defenders in the league, and the other can't defend.

Hmmm...

 

[OBJECTIVE]

Definately Scarlett. Cornes is a great player but as a defender he is not in the same league.

 

[Papa G]

Scarlett is the better defender, Cornes is the better player.

 

[DeeHughMan]

scarlett is geelongs best player and the best full back in the league. he is much more creative than others just an out right gun.

cornes is more of a floating defender. quality player but not anywhere as good a defender.

scarlett for me.

 

[OBJECTIVE]

Scarlett is the better defender, Cornes is the better player.

Your statement is almost contradictory

Scarlett is a better defender AND a better player. Unlike Cornes, he can lock down quality key forwards, yet he can still play the loose man in defence role and create from the back line as well as any other in the AFL.

 

[Partridge]

he'd be top 10 but not top 5.

Scarlett was the best but has lost his touch over the last couple of seasons.

If so I haven't seen it. Last year alone he thrashed Gehrig, Hall, Pavlich, Richardson and Thompson. Not a bad group of key forwards I would have thought. Just because Geelong were crap doesn't mean their best defender was.

 

[Papa G]

Your statement is almost contradictory

Scarlett is a better defender AND a better player. Unlike Cornes, he can lock down quality key forwards, yet he can still play the loose man in defence role and create from the back line as well as any other in the AFL.

No it isn't. Scarlett plays in defense and is good in that role. It's a role he seems born to do. I doubt he would have a huge amount of success in any other role. Cornes is a far more skilled player who can play a variety of roles. Scarlett is a better full back than Cornes will ever be, but if you played them head to head on any other part of the ground, Chad would tear him a new one.

 

[Kings Army]

Your statement is almost contradictory

Scarlett is a better defender AND a better player. Unlike Cornes, he can lock down quality key forwards, yet he can still play the loose man in defence role and create from the back line as well as any other in the AFL.

Both very good players. Cornes would nearly have the best hands in the comp.

 

[OBJECTIVE]

No it isn't. Scarlett plays in defense and is good in that role. It's a role he seems born to do. I doubt he would have a huge amount of success in any other role. Cornes is a far more skilled player who can play a variety of roles. Scarlett is a better full back than Cornes will ever be, but if you played them head to head on any other part of the ground, Chad would tear him a new one.

Certainly Cornes is more versatile I agree, given that he has played forward with success for extended periods of time. Yet Scarlett is still very versatile, we just haven't seen it as much because he is so good down back and is not required anywhere else. In the back half, he can play as a stopper, a loose man, a playmaker, a ringmaster... anything. Everynow and then he sneaks forward to kick a goal as well. And in what manner do you mean Cornes is more skilled? Kicking? Handballing? General dexterity? Scarlett would be regarded as one of the best kicks down at Geelong and is equally adept at the other form of disposal.

I think you are severely underrating Scarlett's ability as an all-round player. Don't pay him the insult of categorising him as a stopping-defender only, along with Presti!!

 

[Andre]

No it isn't. Scarlett plays in defense and is good in that role. It's a role he seems born to do. I doubt he would have a huge amount of success in any other role. Cornes is a far more skilled player who can play a variety of roles. Scarlett is a better full back than Cornes will ever be, but if you played them head to head on any other part of the ground, Chad would tear him a new one.

Exactly.
Scarlett in defense > Chad in defense (overall though Chad better as the rebounding defender)
Chad forward > Scarlett forward
Chad in midfield > Scarlett in midfield

So if I had the coaching job at a club other then Geelong or Port and both were up for trade at a low price and could only get one, unless my club desperately needed a full back, I'd grab Chad since I know I could throw him in the midfield or forward as well to plug a problem.

 

[Claude Balls]

Exactly.
1. Scarlett in defense > Chad in defense (overall though Chad better as the rebounding defender)
2. Chad forward > Scarlett forward
3. Chad in midfield > Scarlett in midfield

So if I had the coaching job at a club other then Geelong or Port and both were up for trade at a low price and could only get one, unless my club desperately needed a full back, I'd grab Chad since I know I could throw him in the midfield or forward as well to plug a problem.

Your comparisons are unfair because Scarlett has not been used in the same positions that Cornes has. The reason for this is because he is SO good at playing his fullback/loose man role in defence. It's like comparing Dean Cox to Ben Cousins in terms of 'who is a better player', and then saying cousins plays the roving role better Or more precisely, like saying Luke McPharlin is a better player than James Clement because he can also go forward... i.e. the only reason stopping Clement going forward is he is so damn good in his current role that it would be a waste.

On your points:

1. True, Scarlett is by some margin the better defender - yet you can't resist qualifying your statement by saying that Cornes is the better overall defender as he rebounds... spare us. Scarlett can rebound and can get 30 possessions whilst limiting a gun forward, which Cornes can't do. How can you possibly say Cornes is the overall better defender when he can't actually defend. He is simply a loose man who has been given a license to run out of the back half by his coach, similar to Joel Bowden. How would he go lining up in the goal square on a red hot Barry Hall, Fraser Gehrig, Brendan Fevola or David Neitz? He'd have a bagged kicked on him without a doubt. Scarlett is the better player in defence by a country mile.

2. Chad cornes is the better forward, true

3. Midfield - who the hell would know, Scarlett never plays there. Once again, like comparing Cox and Cousins, or even like comparing players of differenet eras

 

[Richard MacSellar]

is the question in relation to kicking for goal 5 metres out???

if so id choose matthew scarlett.

however, if it was for best defender...then id still choose matthew scarlett.