Our 7 Most Important Players?

[TheLeftFist8]

Given the year-long (or should i say career-long) debate on Ian Perrie which is obviously topical today, i got to thinking about how important he is to our side, which then got me to thinking...

who are the most important players to our side in 2007 (Bode and Hentschel excluded)? Let's limit it to the Top 7 (around a third of the side).

This is not necessarily our best players but those we cannot do without, those whose absence will badly affect the side. In other words, if you could magically exempt 7 players from injury, who would they be?

For mine (not necessarily in order):

1. Ben Rutten
2. Simon Goodwin
3. a fit Mark Ricciuto
4. Andrew McLeod
5. Ben Hudson
6. Nathan Bassett
7. Ian Perrie

Nathan Bock would be close competition for Perrie but is yet to be proven to be at Perrie's level in the key forward posts, though he has more flexibility down back.

Obviously the list is skewed to the talls, reflecting the better depth we have with midfielders. Bassett is in not because there is no-one else to play his role but that he is, at this stage, so much better at the role which is so important to the team.

 

[jo172]

I'd be thinking of including Shirley and Edwards in there, not sure over who to throw out, probably Tyse for Pez.

 

[melbournemartin]

Surely that opening list confirms Edwards's constant underrating.

 

[tribey]

I'd be thinking of including Shirley and Edwards in there, not sure over who to throw out, probably Tyse for Pez.

Without Pez we'd be absolutely screwed structurally - obviously if Hentschel, Roo and Kmac were fully fit and firing Ian would drop down a bit. But at present I'd say Sarge is very much in our top 7.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

I'd be thinking of including Shirley and Edwards in there, not sure over who to throw out, probably Tyse for Pez.

Yep good options, though i think Edwards is in our 7 best players, his absence could be covered.

Shirley would be in my top 10...at the start of the year i would have said he is a very good player but one whose role could be filled by others equally as well...but i reckon he has improved even further this year, especially with some quality attacking disposal and clearances.

 

[Damp Squarie]

So Perries in - I agree.

Rutten must be there... or there is no S in structure

I think Griffo !!
If he went down a Maric would not replace ...or Meesen.

Griffo the Weapon!!

 

[jenny61_99]

Hmmm a "fit" Mark Riccuito. An enigma if ever there was one. If you were to say Mark Riccuito of the last few years, I'd say yes. But are we going to get that same level of fitness (and performance) ever again? I think the injury he is currently fighting, puts him on borrowed time. For that reason, I don't believe he is going to be as influential as he has been in the past, and therefore I wouldn't include him in the top 7 "couldn't do without" players.

I agree with all you have listed and probably put an Edwards or a fit Birdman in the list in his place.

 

[J.Gallagher #1]

1. Ben Rutten
2. Nathan Bassett
3. Nathan Bock
4. Robert Shirley
5. Scott Thompson
6. Brett Burton(fully fit)
7. Ben Hudson

I dont see that Goodwin, Mcleod, Edwards, Ricciuto(especially), are in our most important players we have plenty of guys that can do a very good job through the midfield so Goodwin and Edwards are not in there.

Roo well we have Welshy as our forward and he is filling in for Roo very nicely. Mcleod is far from it in my opinion as we have so many players that can provide the same sort of run off Half Back.

 

[WheresGroomgone]

1. Ben Rutten
2. Nathan Bassett
3. Nathan Bock
4. Robert Shirley
5. Scott Thompson
6. Brett Burton(fully fit)
7. Ben Hudson

I dont see that Goodwin, Mcleod, Edwards, Ricciuto(especially), are in our most important players we have plenty of guys that can do a very good job through the midfield so Goodwin and Edwards are not in there.

.

Interesting to see how everyones opinions differ and of course getting 7 out of 30 odd players is hard but for mine, both Goodwin and Mcleod must be in there so...my list is the current playing crew, as in not injured.
1.Mcleod
2.Goodwin
3.Edwards
4.Rutten
5.Bassett
6.Perrie/Bock
7.Thompson

I know I cheated with the Bock/Perrie siamese twin thing but either needs to be in the top seven.

 

[CarnCrows]

1. Rutten - Everything down back will change
2. Hudson - even with Griffs surprise form
3. Shirley - The best tagger
4. Goodwin - gun & always first tagged
5. Burton - one of a kind
6. Johncock - best reader off the packs & versatile
7. McLeod - Others can play his position - but no-one can play his "free" defender role and still keep his opponent down.

Bode & Hentchel would definately be in that list if not excluded.

 

[kimirocks]

Until I saw the no Rowdy, he was my number 1 with a bullett.

1. Rutten - Without a shadow of a doubt
2. Huddo - He controls the midfield, what a gun
3. Stiffy - So very very important to our structure whether up forward or down back.
4. Shirl - Never flashy, but this season has stepped up massively
5. Burton - How we miss him when he isn't fit, he's special he is.
6. Sarge - Extremely important to our forward structure
7. Thommo - A bit from left field, but Edwards and Goodo play well every game, but Thommo is more a barometer of our performance. He is tough, non-compromising, a real ball-winner, and if he hasa shocker, more often than not, so will Adelaide.

 

[Crow-mo]

Until I saw the no Rowdy, he was my number 1 with a bullett.

1. Rutten - Without a shadow of a doubt
2. Huddo - He controls the midfield, what a gun
3. Stiffy - So very very important to our structure whether up forward or down back.
4. Shirl - Never flashy, but this season has stepped up massively
5. Burton - How we miss him when he isn't fit, he's special he is.
6. Sarge - Extremely important to our forward structure
7. Thommo - A bit from left field, but Edwards and Goodo play well every game, but Thommo is more a barometer of our performance. He is tough, non-compromising, a real ball-winner, and if he hasa shocker, more often than not, so will Adelaide.

 

[James23]

1. ben hudson
2. ben rutten
3. andrew mcleod
4. mark ricciuto
5. graham johncock
6. robert shirley
7. simon goodwin

 

[Crow-mo]

how can anyone put roo there?

we didn't have him for most of last year, maybe not this year, maybe never again...

he ain't so important to us anymore.

 

[James23]

if i had to pick who i would want in my team first before anyone.. he would be right up there, that is why.

 

[Southerntakeover]

how can anyone put roo there?

we didn't have him for most of last year, maybe not this year, maybe never again...

he ain't so important to us anymore.

Good point, but youd have to hold that your captain is one of your most important players. We are still a worse side without having him out there...

 

[TheLeftFist8]

how can anyone put roo there?

we didn't have him for most of last year, maybe not this year, maybe never again...

he ain't so important to us anymore.

Long answer...

For multiple reasons we have failed to advance beyond the prelim in the past two years, including issues specific to the day (i.e. Bassett's poor game) and other issues which are ongoing which need to be improved. The two major ongoing ones IMO are:

First our midfield depth, being unable to match it with (specifically) West Coast for an entire game. While we may have gone backwards a little initially by giving our youngsters more prominence, i believe it will pay off at the end of the season with players like Knights, van Berlo, Thompson, Reilly, and (the not so young) Shirley all already improving their form/input compared to last year. I also believe our ruckmen are an overall improvement compared to last year, though Clarke was special with his tapping ability. While the cream of our midfield crop is not as good as Judd and Kerr, overall to put an arbitrary rating on it, i reckon our midfield by the end of the year will be ~85% as good as theirs, whereas last year it would have been around ~70% if depth is taken into account.

Secondly, our forward line potency. IF Mark Ricciuto is fit enough to play as a forward again (and last i heard that is the plan ) then he will make a huge difference to our ability to post a winning score against the other top sides (in conjunction with an improved midfield giving more and better inside 50's and an ongoing stingy defence). I have often wished to see blokes like Welsh and Perrie not contend with the best defenders. As 2nd and 3rd option forwards they would be a handful. Put a fit Burton and a decent small into the mix (Thompson/Edwards/Porplyzia/Johncock) with a tall pocket (Stevens or Bock/resting ruckman) and we have a potent mix. I reckon Ricciuto could average 2.5-3 goals per game, not to mention the better match-ups for Welsh and Perrie and the other tall.

Therefore, Ricciuto in my mind could be the one key (in the absence of Hentschel and Bode) who would transform one of our two major concerns into a possible premiership forward line, thus making him IMO in our top 7 most important players! (Not to mention the unquantifiable leadership qualities he would add in those big games). We could win it without him on any given day but he would make a bigger difference than most others on the list.

 

[Crow-mo]

if i had to pick who i would want in my team first before anyone.. he would be right up there, that is why.

if I had my choice, I might pick Shaun Rehn...

 

[Crows #1]

I think that its interesting how people's top 7 are so different. To me that indicates that we have a good squad and can cover most players.

My top 7 are:
Rutten - Only player who can stand all the key forwards, especially the big, quick ones.
Burton - Gives us something different.
Johncock - Covers the small forwards who can cut a team up on their day.
Hudson - Hard around the stoppages.
Riccutio - yes, we can survive without him, but when he plays, he will probably take the best defender, freeing up Welsh, Perrie, etc.
McLeod - Run off half back sets us up. Can play any position.
Edwards/Goodwin - hard to split, both very valuable, but can be covered.

For something different, if Welsh brings his A game to the ground, he gives our forward line something different, especially if not played as one of the two key forwards.

Rutten is a clear #1, after that, it gets a lot more even.

 

[Damp Squarie]

I think that its interesting how people's top 7 are so different. To me that indicates that we have a good squad and can cover most players.

Its a good point.
Im surprised Im the only one that rates Griffin in terms of "the creek we would be up without a paddle" if he got injured.

 

[Mad Dog]

ok - so definition is "important" in terms of maintaining our structure - so excuse my bias to the big guys - an they are the cornerstone of structure.

Truck
Perrie
Macca
Bassett
Shirley
Goodwin
Welsh

 

[- PC -]

For that reason, I don't believe he is going to be as influential as he has been in the past, and therefore I wouldn't include him in the top 7 "couldn't do without" players.

.

I would have him in just for his presence and how he makes others walk taller

 

[Crow-mo]

I would have him in just for his presence and how he makes others walk taller

is this before or after the loaves and fishes thing?

 

[- PC -]

is this before or after the loaves and fishes thing?

Probably after... I get hungry easy

 

[jenny61_99]

I would have him in just for his presence and how he makes others walk taller

Don't get me wrong - I love the man like you all do AND I hope I am wrong and he comes back and plays another 50 games! I just think we have shown that we CAN win without him enough times now to make the point.