Bartram_Class
Brownlow Medallist
It's arguable that 24 years of age should be the peak of a professional footballer's career, after six years in the system, probably between 50-100 games and the fact that few get to 100 suggests you must have a bit of talent there somewhere. Hence at 24, you'd expect them to be coming to the best 2-3 years of their career.
Who are our 24 years this year you ask? (I'll forego the fact that only having two 24 year old's is a bit of a disappointment in itself).
Daniel Bell
Colin Sylvia
Hmm.
We could argue all day which of the two has been most underwhelming, Sylvia has played 70 games, Bell 63. Bell was drafted the year before Sylvia, both first round draft picks, though Sylvia a fair bit higher obviously. Sylvia pre-2008 was dogged by OP and played a good half every year up at the GABBA and that was about it. Daniel Bell was dogged by injuries himself but looked to have turned the corner in late 2007, with a couple of great games, a three-voter against Adelaide the highlight. 2008 saw Sylvia take a couple of
stuttering steps forward and Bell a massive step back.
[Coincidentally, they are actually the same height, and play the same kind of flanker role, albeit at opposite ends of the ground]
Not to dwell in the past though, my question is where can we seen them going next year? Sylvia first...
My view on Sylvia is that he (and the coaching staff) need to give up on the Daniher idea that he will ever be fit/good enough to play a full game in the midfield. I liked him in the role he played last year, chipping about on the half-forward flank and out of the square, he is capable of a good 30-35 goals a year and plenty of games like the 4 goal effort against the Lions. Sylvia is a tremendous mark for his size, and if the ball hits the ground he is not too shabby with his pace either. Like most players, a consistent role will work wonders for Col, I shuddered when I read he wants another crack at the middle of the park. We can have the slickest midfield we want, but we need someone to finish off the work, Sylvia has the ability to do so.
Bell is even more of a conundrum. As with Sylvia, its not hard to see why he was taken early, he's got tremendous pace, tackles like a lion and is generally a pretty good kick of the thing. The problem, and its a fairly major one, is that he lacks a brain. The run-downs are past the point of being funny, the guy is gas, he shouldn't ever be run down. I'm still of the opinion that he is Best 18 if fit, but with Whelan's career drawing to an end, we need a reliable head down there and it would help us no end if Bell could develop into that role. He's a much better player than he has shown so far, and I have a funny feeling if Rivers can stay fit, the entire back line will get a lift out of it, Bell included.
Your thoughts? Where are these two headed?
Who are our 24 years this year you ask? (I'll forego the fact that only having two 24 year old's is a bit of a disappointment in itself).
Daniel Bell
Colin Sylvia
Hmm.
We could argue all day which of the two has been most underwhelming, Sylvia has played 70 games, Bell 63. Bell was drafted the year before Sylvia, both first round draft picks, though Sylvia a fair bit higher obviously. Sylvia pre-2008 was dogged by OP and played a good half every year up at the GABBA and that was about it. Daniel Bell was dogged by injuries himself but looked to have turned the corner in late 2007, with a couple of great games, a three-voter against Adelaide the highlight. 2008 saw Sylvia take a couple of
stuttering steps forward and Bell a massive step back.
[Coincidentally, they are actually the same height, and play the same kind of flanker role, albeit at opposite ends of the ground]
Not to dwell in the past though, my question is where can we seen them going next year? Sylvia first...
My view on Sylvia is that he (and the coaching staff) need to give up on the Daniher idea that he will ever be fit/good enough to play a full game in the midfield. I liked him in the role he played last year, chipping about on the half-forward flank and out of the square, he is capable of a good 30-35 goals a year and plenty of games like the 4 goal effort against the Lions. Sylvia is a tremendous mark for his size, and if the ball hits the ground he is not too shabby with his pace either. Like most players, a consistent role will work wonders for Col, I shuddered when I read he wants another crack at the middle of the park. We can have the slickest midfield we want, but we need someone to finish off the work, Sylvia has the ability to do so.
Bell is even more of a conundrum. As with Sylvia, its not hard to see why he was taken early, he's got tremendous pace, tackles like a lion and is generally a pretty good kick of the thing. The problem, and its a fairly major one, is that he lacks a brain. The run-downs are past the point of being funny, the guy is gas, he shouldn't ever be run down. I'm still of the opinion that he is Best 18 if fit, but with Whelan's career drawing to an end, we need a reliable head down there and it would help us no end if Bell could develop into that role. He's a much better player than he has shown so far, and I have a funny feeling if Rivers can stay fit, the entire back line will get a lift out of it, Bell included.
Your thoughts? Where are these two headed?
