No Gavin Exell ...

[jim boy]

Exell was a tryer, but not really of premiership quality and was in a team that ranged from superstars to players who would struggle to make the wooden spooner's best 22. Would usually get the third defender and could sometimes exploit that.

 

[darren forssman]

Speaking of Exell, whatever happened to Marcus Baldwin?

or darren jackson.

from memory he had a couple seasons in the ressies where he could 100 goals (or close to) but only ever played 2 games.

 

[Registered User]

Look out! A three-year-old thread. When looking for Billy's 11-goal game at the Gabba on Youtube, I found the full match.
Exell kicked 5 that day, but I guess there were a ton of opportunities for The Cats in such a big score.

So, Gav obviously had some ability, right? He kicked 63 goals in 1989, including 9 against Hawthorn, followed by 8 against The Saints, which was part of 36 goals in 6 consecutive games. He was also given the "treasured" #17, so he must've had something.

Why did he only play 58 games (including 5 for Fitzroy)? Injuries? Did his form simply drop off? Both? I suppose there are many, many similar stories.

http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/G/Gavin_Exell.html

 

[Seeds]

Let us turn back to "happier" times for a moment.

Does anyone know why Gavin Exell was dropped for the 1989 finals series after the qualifying final v Essendon? He may have only kicked one goal in that game but should he have been dropped?

Is this the only case where a 60-70 goal forward would be dropped for crucial finals games. Was our goal-kicking machine that strong? History says yes... we kicked 22 goals in the first semi against the Dees, 24 against Essendon in the prelim and 21 goals in the GF after his departure.

Could you imagine Essendon dropping Scotty Lucas in 2000?

Let's not forget Exell bagged 9 against the Hawks in round 6 in 89. And followed up with another huge bag against the Saints in round 7. Could he have been the difference?

Exell broke his leg against the Hawks in that fateful last round of 1987. He would have had motivation to go ballistic in the GF!

Gavin Exell (he of a magnificent mullet) could have been the man.

Of course Exell was part of the replacement full forward structure in early 1991 when Ablett retired for half the season. Playing out of the square in tandem with Dwayne Russell. And Billy Brownless lurking across half forward. It proved successful for a while. Had it continued Exell could also be commentating on channel 9.

Then we got rid of him, he went to Fitzroy, he got poked in the eye and never played again in the AFL.

That's my take on it anyway...

Blight also dropped modra in the finals. Not a fan of full forwards.

 

[CarAttack]

Look out! A three-year-old thread. When looking for Billy's 11-goal game at the Gabba on Youtube, I found the full match.
Exell kicked 5 that day, but I guess there were a ton of opportunities for The Cats in such a big score.

So, Gav obviously had some ability, right? He kicked 63 goals in 1989, including 9 against Hawthorn, followed by 8 against The Saints, which was part of 36 goals in 6 consecutive games. He was also given the "treasured" #17, so he must've had something.

Why did he only play 58 games (including 5 for Fitzroy)? Injuries? Did his form simply drop off? Both? I suppose there are many, many similar stories.

http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/G/Gavin_Exell.html

I remember the great man well. Pretty good player but it was always going to be tough as a full forward in a team that had Bill Brownless, Gary Ablett and even Bruce Lindner from time to time.
If my memory serves me right, he went to Fitz for more opportunity and probably would have got it but his career was ended by a very serious eye injury ( or along those lines ) hence only the 5 games for the Roys.
Pretty sure he played country footy into his 40's as well and kicked a few tons.

 

[Registered User]

I remember the great man well. Pretty good player but it was always going to be tough as a full forward in a team that had Bill Brownless, Gary Ablett and even Bruce Lindner from time to time.
If my memory serves me right, he went to Fitz for more opportunity and probably would have got it but his career was ended by a very serious eye injury ( or along those lines ) hence only the 5 games for the Roys.
Pretty sure he played country footy into his 40's as well and kicked a few tons.

Thanks. Interesting

 

[The rabbi]

Thanks. Interesting

As I remember it. Excell used to lead very well early in that year and played very well at full forward. Later on he seemed to want to wrestle players deep in the forward line rather than lead out. His form fell as a result.