Our most important 3

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I'm sure there have been similar threads on this topic, but our structure seems to have changed lately and it got me thinking who are our most important players for 2008 and beyond.

I used to have Kennelly at number 1, but I think Eski/Kennelly/Mattner almost cancel each other out now. We'll still play better if they're all on the park, but losing one of them wouldn't harm us as badly as it once would have.

Judging these things is never easy to do, but this is who I think are our most important three players are:

1. C. Bolton

He simply holds the backline together. Richards has stepped up this year and Leo remains servicable, but without Bolts I really feel that the pressure would be too much for the likes of Leo and LRT to cope with.

2. O'Keefe

There aren't many players in the league who can go with this guy all day, and most of his possessions are damaging to the opposition. He's the best contested mark in the competition and also frees up Goodes to an extent. With Rhino roaming the wing/hf area, Goodes is effectively off the leash.

3. Kirk

I see him as the new Paul Kelly in that he can inspire our guys like no one else could. When we're down at HT or 3QT you can always rely on Kirk to get us back on track and make sure our heads don't drop. His ability to get a clearance when we need it most is really underrated and most of his disposals count. It's hard to imagine a Sydney team without him in it!

 

[MF]

I did a similar thread earlier this year and rated them like this:
1. Brett Kirk
2. Adam Goodes
3. Craig Bolton
4. Barry Hall
5. Ryan O'keefe

Last season I too would have had Kennelly up pretty high but I think Malceski and Mattner are more than capable of reducing the void left in his absence. I probably would have had Bolton at number 1 last season too but I really feel this year that with the improvement of Richards, Bevan and the inclusion of Mattner that while still an integral part of our defence, we wouldn't miss Bolts as much as our midfield would miss Kirk or Goodes.

A few games on from when I originally did this thread I'd now rate them

1. Kirk
2. Goodes
3. O'Keefe
4. Bolton
5. Jolly

 

[hammo_cheersquad]

yeah good option with these 3
and great reasons too
i wouldve said :
1. Kirky
2. Craig Bolton
3. Goodesy

but a bit of a mixed season for goodesy so far, though he's getting better
and RyanO had been so consistant pretty much every game

though Goodesy definitely in top 5 along with the other three
perhaps with Jude?
though Darren Jolly is getting even better and more experienced+impressive as the rounds wear on

 

[liz]

It's a bit of a dilemma knowing how the team would cope without any of O'Keefe, Kirk, Bolts or Goodes. Because they never miss. Since Roosey took over, I think they've only missed one match between them - Bolts with a sore hammy a couple of years ago. It's a quite extraordinary achievement between them, the medical staff (and more recently, the MRP!)

 

[Bonz]

HHHmmm

I think
1. Goodes
2. Kirk
3. C Bolton


Goodes is up there because if he is on its very hard for us to loose and he also takes the best tagger every week thus leaving the likes of mc viegh free.

Kirk well inspiring also keeps oppositions main mid out of it whilst getting the ball himself.

C Bolton I agree with DeadyAkkurate if he was gone pressure would get to barry and LRT and co

Forth i would have to have ROK

fift Hall I know...his been out and we have been going alright but if he was there against the dogs or geelong early in the match we could of pt either of them away...

 

[grimlock]

At the moment it's Jolly. Spida is starting to show his age and wouldn't be able to hold down the no 1 ruck as well as Jolly was earlier this year. Everyone else we can cover to some extent.

 

[SouthSwans]

1. C Bolton
2. Kirk
3. Jolly
4. ROK
5. Kennelly/Eski/Mattner
6. Goodes
7. MOL/Hall

After that the importance level of the rest drops away a bit.

 

[Costanza_]

At the moment it's Jolly. Spida is starting to show his age and wouldn't be able to hold down the no 1 ruck as well as Jolly was earlier this year. Everyone else we can cover to some extent.

Beat me to it. Jolly might not be our most talented player, but he'd leave the biggest gap in our team if he went down. Admittedly I haven't seen any of the reserves games this year, but from what my folks have said there's noone that would comfortably step in at the moment. Spider is slowing and injury prone, and LRT is a weak imitation of a ruckman (despite trying his guts out).

Next to Jolly, probably C.Bolton and Kirk. Any of our forwards can be accounted for, but our backline and engine room would lose so much grunt, structure and leadership if we were to lose either of these.

So... 1. Jolly, 2. Kirk, 3. Bolton

Next in line would be Goodes, O'Keefe, Hall, Tadgh and Malceski.

 

[carsoutback]

Well it depends on what you mean by "important", If the question is who has to fire for us to have any hope of the beating Geelong (away) and/or winning a premiership against them or anyone else, it would be IMO:
1. Hall
2. Goodes
3. Kirk
(with apologies to Craig Bolton & Malceski)

Let's be honest, if Geelong are "on", we wouldn't get close to them without ALL of these guys being at their very best. Not by their 2008 form either, but as good as they have ever played during their careers.

 

[AG]

1. Tadgh Kennelly
2. Craig Bolton
3. Brett Kirk
4. Adam Goodes
5. Ryan O'Keefe

Defense is important and we don't have as much depth in the backline as other areas. So Kennelly and Bolton are the most important. Kennelly is the best decision maker in the team and his skills are first class. Bolton best 1-on-1 defender. Kirk for leadership and contested possession. Goodes is our playmaker and has the capacity to swing momentum. O'Keefe has the biggest engine in the comp and is the crucial to the way we set up.