Nice Little Article

[thylacine60]

Balance and perspective.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/short-memories/2008/04/30/1209234957097.html

 

[Thrawn]

I always have time for Jake Niall's articles, he seems to be one of the very few journalists with any credibility left.

 

[Cruiser23]

Great read, puts into persepctive that some people these days are a little premature when comparing players. One of the better articles i've seen this year.

 

[Charbzilla]

Great read. Thanks for that!

So who can put together the goal averages and disposal average for the players for the past 150years. Who rates as the best goal kicker (based on averages) of all time? etc

 

[candiehappy]

Spot on article, cuts out a lot of the BS being thrown around. As he said, greatness is proven over a career, not a few games, or even a few years. GA Senior was better than junior, but the debate is out for another 10 years.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

You can't work off averages either. In the early part of the century, scoring was nigh on impossible.

The argument people use is that if you place a Franklin or Ablett Jr into any team from a past era, their athleticism and fitness would dominate. The problem with this thinking is that if Franklin or Ablett Jr were around then, they wouldn't be provided with great training and fitness regimes. They might not be professionals as the money is limited and you have to hold a full time job.

If you brought Bob Pratt forward to 2008, he would struggle to get a kick. If he was brought up under modern coaching and training however, his natural feel for the game might win out.

Like any generation, their era is the best era.

 

[HBF]

That's 2 great articles I have read by Jake Niall in the past week or so. Pound for pound, the best footy journo in the country.

 

[Charbzilla]

some of his work:

http://www.realfooty.com.au/experts/jake-niall/

 

[WeAreHatedAgain]

What about Patrick Smith

Don't you rate him just as highly?

 

[Smell The Glove]

What about Patrick Smith

Don't you rate him just as highly?

Hate, not rate.

 

[Monkey King]

The argument people use is that if you place a Franklin or Ablett Jr into any team from a past era, their athleticism and fitness would dominate. The problem with this thinking is that if Franklin or Ablett Jr were around then, they wouldn't be provided with great training and fitness regimes. They might not be professionals as the money is limited and you have to hold a full time job.

The other problem with such thinking is that the game was a lot more physical. I get the feeling guys like Neil Balme would have stitched up Buddy had he played during the 70's.

 

[blues4flag]

The other problem with such thinking is that the game was a lot more physical. I get the feeling guys like Neil Balme would have stitched up Buddy had he played during the 70's.

Whilst I get the feeling that with superior fitness and conditioning, Franklin would have a day out.

 

[Monkey King]

I get the feeling guys like Neil Balme would have stitched up Buddy had he played during the 70's.

Whilst I get the feeling that with superior fitness and conditioning, Franklin would have a day out.

Trouble is trying to exploit that when you're unconscious

 

[thylacine60]

Great read. Thanks for that!

So who can put together the goal averages and disposal average for the players for the past 150years. Who rates as the best goal kicker (based on averages) of all time? etc

As the article mentions Peter Hudson has them all covered for goals per game. 5 + I think. Extraordinary.

Trouble is trying to exploit that when you're unconscious

Very good.

 

[btdg]

Great article. Its amazing how much bs gets thrown around these days, often by reporters trying to create a story

I loved the 'Scarlett is better than Silvagni' comparisons they had a week or two ago. Silvagni had more brownlow votes, premierships, best and fairests, All-Australian jumpers, had kicked more goals himself (ie was more versatile), and played on and against superior opponents. Yet some journalist still thought it was possible to write an article comparing the two? The same goes for Buddy/Carey comparisons. Carey took his team to 7-straight preliminary finals, won 2 premierships, and was undisputedly the best player in the competition for much of his career. Franklin has... looked really good this season up to round 5....

 

[Blue Dawn]

Great read. Thanks for that!

So who can put together the goal averages and disposal average for the players for the past 150years. Who rates as the best goal kicker (based on averages) of all time? etc

Hudson and Coleman actually have the highest per game goal averages - not that that's definitive in every way.


Love, hate and champion are the three most abused words today.

 

[Ezayyak]

It was a fantastic article. Hit the nail on the head really (pardon the pun). It is quite incomprehensible that Scarlett could be compared to Silvagni, especially when Silvagni had the better of full-forwards in the golden age of full-forwards.

I remember when Essendon was declared the greatest side of all-time after they came back from 69 points against the Kangas. Essendon went on to lose 5 of their 9 nine games. As good as the Cats are, it really is a slap in the face to teams who have created dynasties, ie Carlton at the turn of last century, the Pies in the 20's, the Dees in the 50-60's, the Hawks in the 80's and dare I say it the 3 peat Lions.

 

[thylacine60]

Hudson and Coleman actually have the highest per game goal averages - not that that's definitive in every way.


Love, hate and champion are the three most abused words today.

Also "basically", "absolutely" and " floccinaucinihiliplfication".