Our A Grade players post premiership

[daics_35]

We had about 3 A grade players before the 2010 flag, now that we have won it, who do you guys think are A Grade players. Pre the flag I would have only said Didak, Swan and Pendles are our only A Grade but now that we have won it you could probs at another 6-10 players in that category. For me the players that would be in the A Grade category now would be Sidebottom, Obrien, Thomas, Maxwell, Ball, Jolly. You can also add Johnson to that list but for me he just misses out.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

I think you're going way overboard.

You were right with the original assessment of who our A-Graders are.

Johnson? Seriously?

Dale Thomas and Darren Jolly are the only two others you can make an argument for.

 

[i_hate_scams]

thomas and jolly for the moment

 

[doppleganger]

Didak, Swan, Pendles, Jolly and Maxwell our A-graders

1st 3 all would agree on.

Jolly is in top 3 rucks in the game......that is A-grade.
Maxwell, ultimate leader and just makes the team better

After them Thomas, H.Shaw, Cloke, Harry and Ball would be pushing it

Sidey, Beams, Dawes and Reid will get there in the future.

 

[Stifler's mom]

thomas and jolly for the moment

Personally Daisy needs to back it up for at least another year to be an A grader.

Harry O + Heater very close.

Sidey will also make it for sure. In time.

 

[Bay Pie]

Didak, Swan, Pendles, Jolly and Maxwell our A-graders

1st 3 all would agree on.

Jolly is in top 3 rucks in the game......that is A-grade.
Maxwell, ultimate leader and just makes the team better

After them Thomas, H.Shaw, Cloke, Harry and Ball would be pushing it

How I see it too.

 

[OwDannyBoi]

Didak, Swan, Pendles, Jolly and Maxwell our A-graders

1st 3 all would agree on.

Jolly is in top 3 rucks in the game......that is A-grade.
Maxwell, ultimate leader and just makes the team better

After them Thomas, H.Shaw, Cloke, Harry and Ball would be pushing it

Sidey, Beams, Dawes and Reid will get there in the future.

Swan & Jolly - yes
Dids, Pendles, Thomas, Maxwell, Shaw & Harry - close
The rest - you're dreamin'

 

[Kirby]

Pendles and Dids are as A grade as they come dannyboi.

Jeepers.

 

[Appin Vet]

Pendlebury is definately an A grader. Remember the Brownlow? He almost outpolled Swan in the end. Sure Swan won the Copeland (his3rd), 3rd in the Brownlow and AFLPA MVP, but Pendlebury is just as important to the team as Swan is.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[vjknight]

Didak, Swan, Pendles, Jolly and Maxwell our A-graders

1st 3 all would agree on.

Jolly is in top 3 rucks in the game......that is A-grade.
Maxwell, ultimate leader and just makes the team better

After them Thomas, H.Shaw, Cloke, Harry and Ball would be pushing it

Sidey, Beams, Dawes and Reid will get there in the future.

i'll agree too.

remember thats the very reason it has made our TEAM great - no reliance (perceived or otherwise) on the core group. the top 3 all had a poor GF1 for one reason or another, the other 19 did enough to give us another chance - GF2 everyone stepped up - you know the rest.

2-5 years time could see any number of A graders on our list.

 

[OwDannyBoi]

Pendlebury is definately an A grader. Remember the Brownlow? He almost outpolled Swan in the end. Sure Swan won the Copeland (his3rd), 3rd in the Brownlow and AFLPA MVP, but Pendlebury is just as important to the team as Swan is.

Just my humble opinion.

I agree that Pendles is very important to the team, I just don't rate him as an A grader when evaluated individually.....yet.
Everyone has there own unique set of criteria in judging such issues so I fully understand how people would see Dids & Pendles as A graders, But I don't.

This is the beauty of opinion, there is no right'n'wrong.

 

[mattys123]

Here's my estimation of our A-Graders;

Current A-Graders; (when 100% fit, or close enough to it)

Pendlebury
Swan
Didak
Jolly (there just aren't many class rucks around anymore)

Potential A-Graders (next 3-4 years);

Harry (First All Australian this year, could become even more attacking in 2011)
Thomas (very close to A-Grade already, one more year and he'll be there IMO)
Beams (watch his home and away performance, 6th in the copeland)
Reid (There aren't many quality CHB's in the league, and the best 2-3 players in the AFL in each position are A-Graders IMO)
Sidebottom (his finals performances are gobsmackingly good for a 2nd year player)
Chris Dawes (he's an outsider, but he has the body, and the skills, he just needs to grow into a "monster")
Tom Young (Hey, he won the VFL B & F as an 18 yo, the sky's the limit for him)


Maxwell, Shaw etc are players who will always just be a little short of A-Grade, but they are still bloody good footballers.

For mine, Thomas will make the "A-Grade" list sometime in the next 2 seasons for sure, and at least one of Beams and Sidey will make it also, if not both. I put Reid and Dawes there because KPP's are worth their weight in gold, and both have the potential to improve "out of sight" over the next 3-4 seasons.

 

[Quicky]

The OP is getting a bit ahead of itself I think.

I'd judge Swan, Pendles, Didak and Jolly as our only A-Graders.

Thomas needs to back up his effort from the second half of the year in 2011 to make it.

At this stage the only other players with a realistic chance of being A-Grade next year would be Shaw and Beams for mine.

Some others have the potential but I see them getting there in 2011 as a long shot rather than probable.

We have plenty of B+ talent however.

 

[Frankie23]

I still can't believe how many peeople underrate our list, even our own supporters!

Remember we are not talking about superstars/champions of the game, simply A-graders.

Swan, Didak, Pendlebury, Thomas, Jolly, O'Brien and Maxwell all easily qualify for the 'title'. All had stellar years this year to cement their claims as A-graders. It is interesting how some people don't have Thomas in their cause it was only his 'first' year of elite footy. Fact is his year was outstanding and you would have him in the top 20 players in the AFL. At the current moment going on that form he is an A-grader, it doesn't matter what he does next year, at this point of time he is in that bracket.

Ball is close but due to his kicking is a rung below. I expect Cloke, Shaw, Sidebottom and Beams to progress to A graders next year or in 2012.

 

[jonbe54]

The OP is getting a bit ahead of itself I think.

I'd judge Swan, Pendles, Didak and Jolly as our only A-Graders.

Thomas needs to back up his effort from the second half of the year in 2011 to make it.

At this stage the only other players with a realistic chance of being A-Grade next year would be Shaw and Beams for mine.

Some others have the potential but I see them getting there in 2011 as a long shot rather than probable.

We have plenty of B+ talent however.

Yep 4 A's and 10 or so B's are more than a match for 2 A's and a couple of B's and a host of c's

 

[Swooop]

Maybe there needs to be a definition of what an A grader is first before we can meaningfully debate who is and isn't.

Some may think it means elite, others just next rung down.

I think if you're an A grader, you should be able to walk into any other side in the comp, and be at least talked about for AA.

IF that were the basis ( and there's probably better indicators!!) then Pendles, Swan and Didak are all A graders.

Thomas, Jolly, Heater, Harry, Maxy, Reid, Sidey and Wellingham would be half a step down and would make any team, as opposed to 'walking in,' IMHO.

I think Thomas, Reid, Sidey and Wellingham, Jolly and probably N Brown really enhanced their standings over the finals, but possibly only Thomas and Jolly may have become an A grader, as a result ( on that definition )

 

[Swooop]

It would seem GWS consider Swan and Pendles A-Grader's aswell....this better not happen....

http://*******.com/2ag9s28

Pendles is the next captain probably, after Maxy, and may 'do a Bucks' and coach a bit later aswell...hence don't think he'll turn his back on that opportunity.

Swannie's age may be a factor and although he's a great player, not sure if he's as marketable as some others.

Thomas is a chance, now he's really stepped up to the next level and obviously his marketability is huuuge, so he is a risk, but again, he strikes me as 100% committed and we are lucky in that we are a great club, one that you'd be incredibly reluctant to leave...play as a mercenary in front of 15,000 or play as a hero, adored by 75000...sure money is important, but comes at a great cost.

Ablett did leave for the $, but as we've all just heard, the coach wasn't even talking to him!! No wonder that tipped him into leaving.

 

[Knightmare]

I would have had: Swan, Pendlebury and Didak. Then Thomas elevated into that top bracket considering his brilliant season and how much of a difference maker he has been.

Other players if they can continue their form into next season and continue to elevate their games certainly have the opportunity to become a - graders.

But don't feel Ball for example who I very much deserved to come 5th in our B+F is an A grade. Shaw and O'Brien didn't quite have enough consistancy for my liking. Jolly came good towards the end of the season is close.

Nick Maxwell is the leagues best captain, but not an "A" grader. Fantastic in big games though and in the 1st grand final was vital.

Possible a Wellingham, Beams or Sidebottom if their development continues could be added to this group of 4. But outside of the big 4 I'd say we are a pretty even team of quality role players with good chemistry.

 

[2TONE]

to all the people who have said that pendle is close to a grade.. man what sport are you guys watching and what grass are you guys smoking . pendle will hold aloft the mantle of the leagues best player from 2011 to around 2014 will that be enough for all to stop believing the media knobs, all mostly still hold hatred and grudges from their playing days. if i recall luke darcy had a ratio of 14 cats players to 2 pies players as A graders, prior to the round 19 game and the prelim 81 points up 15 mins into the 3rd q tells me that the ratio he was talking about is full of shit. the collingwood footy club is elite, in areas, admin, coaching, players, facilities, and supporters. let know one fool you this playing list has 10 elite players who smash opposition week after week. followed by the rest who play their part with passion, and strength ,malthouse has moulded these guys as if they are cogs in a machine.

 

[ant22]

I believe the strength of our side is not the A graders its how many c and d graders have turned into b graders and at worst c graders.

For mine Swan, Pendles and Didak are A graders. Thomas is close but I think he needs to do what he did this year next year as well.

Guys like Wellignham, beams , sidebottom, Reid and Brown have a grade potential and we have a stack of very very good footballers who are b graders in shaw, obrien, maxy, johnson, ball, jolly etc etc etc.

I guess it comes down to what you consider an A grader to be. I see a graders as being the elite players in the comp. The cats still have the most(bartel, scarlett, enright, chapman and stevie j) IMO then it would be us and the saints with 3 each who are next. But IMO out strength is definately our eveness accross the ground and our discipline.

I dont subscribe to the theory that our list is currently miles ahead of others. Infact Im not sure it is any better than geelong or st kildas list but I do think we have by far the most disciplined team at the moment that best carrys out the coaches game plan. Although I do think our list will go past the other 2 because of its age. Its the ones behind us we will need to worry about.

 

[Scodog10]

IMO its only Swan, Dids and Pendles (Thomas is there as well but only on the proviso he continues his finals form into next year).

I'll probably get shot down for this, but Jolly is an A grade ruckman not an A grade footballer IMO. ATM there is a dearth of quality ruckman in the league and I think there are only 2 that when 100% fit could be considered A grade footballers and they're Sandilands and Cox (Clark is on the cusp if he can recapture his 2009 form).

 

[Pera]

I just cant believe people don't rate Pendles as an A-grader. Sure it your opinion and all that, but its an absolute load of shit. Look how well our midfield functioned in the 09 finals without him out there. This guy is probably out most important player with Jolly and this should make them both A graders.

My A-Graders are: Didak, Pendulbury, Swan, Jolly, Thomas.

If Andrew Mackie can be considered an A-grader by the crew at channel 10, and if we were judging on their criteria, then you can agree with the OP when it comes to his A-Graders.

Throw in 11 or 12 B-graders and you have yourself an almighty side.

 

[Gambit78]

Leigh Brown

are there many big, pinch-hitting, utility players that are better than he? if, in his specialised role, Leroy is one of if not the best going around, then doesn't that make him 'A-grade'?






...I'm a teacher...and it's all about the marking rubric...bane of my existence.

 

[Jair]

I thinks its the criteria of 'A grader' that is the problem here. I mean, what with "if Thomas has a great season next year he's an a grader"? He's awesome now! Isn't that what we're talking about? And I would included Harry as well. Arnt all 'All Australians' A graders? Put Jolly in with Pendles, Swan and Didak and thats 6 for me.

 

[Ed D]

For me A graders need to be consistent. Thomas had an A grade season but isn't yet an A grader for me. All Australian should mean A grade status because as we know they work on being good for more than just the year they win it, but in saying that I wouldn't list Leon Davis as A grade for example.