Peter "Under-rated" Caven

[tribey]

Just gave my copy of Rockin' Footy a second look. It starts off showing selected highlights of the 1997 Finals Series, and during the Adelaide vs WCE Qualifying Final at AAMI there is a neat highlight where Peter Caven runs the lines from halfback and sends the ball into our fifty for Mods to take a screamer.

Got me thinking...

How ripped off was Peter Caven to not get the All-Australian CHB guernsey that year? Talk about an absolute travesty of justice as far as these awards go.

Looking through the statistics:

CAVEN, Peter 1997 AFL Season Statistics
Games: 22
Kicks: 264
Handballs: 94
Disposals: 358 (16.27 per game)
Marks: 116 (5.27 per game)
Goals: 6
Tackles: 30 (1.36 per game)
*AFC Minor Round Ladder Position: 4th (13-9)
*AFC Points Conceded: 1769 (1st in League)

Now let's compare Cavo's record to the defender who did get the AA guernsey, Michael Sexton of Carlton.

SEXTON, Michael 1997 AFL Season Statistics
Games: 18
Kicks: 236
Handballs: 82
Disposals: 318 (17.66 per game)
Marks: 93 (5.16 per game)
Goals: 4
Tackles: 13 (0.72 per game)
*CFC Minor Round Ladder Position: 11th (10-12)
*CFC Points Conceded: 2045 (11th in League)

Now for the hell of it, let's peruse Port Adelaide's nomination - Darren Mead.

MEAD, Darren 1997 AFL Season Statistics
Games: 22
Kicks: 157
Handballs: 107
Disposals: 264 (12.00 per game)
Marks: 50 (2.27 per game)
Goals: 1
Tackles: 22 (1.00 per game)
*PAFC Minor Round Ladder Position: 9th (10-11-1)
*PAFC Points Conceded: 2017 (10th in League)

Whilst I'm aware these statistics don't tell the entire story (access to a spoils statistic would be helpful), all things considered Peter Caven was the best defender in the league's best defence in the Premiership side.

His numbers (apart from Sexton shading him on average disposals) are better than both Sexton and Mead's and it could be argued that the two latter men would have seen more of the ball down back and thus has greater opportunity to rack up stats being in such comparitively poor defences overall.

They struck retrospective Brownlow Medals once the countback system was abolished - with my tongue planted firmly in cheek, the time has come to award Cavo a retrospective 1997 AA CHB guernsey.

 

[Portia]

Nah, should've been Mead. He was awesome in 1997, and spoils don't seem to count as possessions.

I'd be happy for you to give Caven a back pocket instead of Heuskes. Either way, Sexton getting the nod was a joke.

 

[Portmanteau]

None of those stats really reflect a CHB's performance...

You'd have to get spoils and rebound from 50 stats, although I'd suggest you'd have to watch every game of all thre guys to get any idea of who to pick. Truly the only way to see a player's impact on any given game.

 

[marvin]

It's funny you brought this up, because I was watching the 2nd half of the 97 GF again the other night, and the brilliant rebound that Cavo provided off half back really came flooding back.

Sadly, AA selection as much as anything often comes from reputation rather than performance, and both Mead and Caven outperformed Sexton in 97. Sexton, however, was part of that dominant Carlton 95 team and got picked on who he was as much as what he did in 97.

 

[-WWJD-]

I was a huge Caven fan, wore the number 44 on the back of my jumper and still can't believe how he missed out on All Australian selection in 97. He didn't just blanket his opponents, he gave us great drive from the back half. I absolutely loved the guy, honest, hard worker. I remember Kerls kicking up a stink when Cavo missed out and didn't drop it until after the 98 season.

 

[DaveW]

Unfortunately I think Caven is still better remembered for getting his head smashed by Tony Lockett's elbow than for quelling Carey in the '98 Grand Final.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I ahve to agree with dyertribe. Cavo was ripped of in 97. He deserved it more that anyone else.

 

[Nige_Bix]

I have to agree with what you said dyertribe, PC was a sensation in those premiership years. He was probably as well performed as any other "born-again-player" at his 3rd club.

Many supporters like myself doubted his recruiting when he 1st came especially re the Locket incident and he didnt do much straight away [similar to McCartney in a way], but the way he played in those in two seasons in particular, was a huge factor in our success.

Good post

 

[NikkiNoo]

my sister was another one who had the number 44 on her guernsey - she has none at the moment as there are none at the moment that are in Captain Caveman's class. Any time he got the ball and did that fabulous rebound from defence or snuck down to kick a goal we used to chant 'onga bonga' in true Captain Caveman Fashion. Plus loved it one time when we were in the shed and got players to sign her guernsey, i remember all the double takes they did looking at the number, as if completley surprised. I think it was Smart who stated "oh my god, Cavo has A fan!"

Agree that in 97 he was robbed - not only those stats that are listed above, but what about the number of goals he kicked too? How many did sexton or mead kick in comparision? But the best moment was at the mcg in 1998 when we were sitting near some north supporters - one stood up and yelled at us in the first half "Get Caven off, he's useless". My sister took great delight in standing up and replying in the last quarter "get Carey off, he's useless!" - great memory.

 

[maccas_no1]

I stil think that Caven should have won the Norm Smith Medal in 1998 he played a blinder of a game on Carey and ultimately shut Carey down

Result Back to Back Flags for the AFC

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by NikkiNoo
Agree that in 97 he was robbed - not only those stats that are listed above, but what about the number of goals he kicked too? How many did sexton or mead kick in comparision?

If you're talking about 1997 alone, the goals all three men kicked that season are listed.

 

[Jars458]

All three would have been quality candidates

The huge rip off that year was Hueskes beating McLeod to the back pocket spot.

McLeod was hardly beaten in a a singel contest all year, never mind beaten in a whole quarter or a game. That for mine was his best season.

 

[Mong]

1997

HB: McLeod.....Caven.....Smart

They don't get much better than that.

 

[-WWJD-]

Originally posted by maccas_no1
I stil think that Caven should have won the Norm Smith Medal in 1998 he played a blinder of a game on Carey and ultimately shut Carey down

No way. I love Cavo and he played great, but Benny Hart was robbed I tell ya!! He kept us in the game in the first half.

 

[Crow-mosone]

Cavo was great, but his best strength was running off his man, and reading the play from a dominant, running back line. he wasn't a real man on man defender in the way some are.

Personally I though Sexton was better, but Cavo had a great few seasons also.

 

[maccas_no1]

Originally posted by acg_204*
No way. I love Cavo and he played great, but Benny Hart was robbed I tell ya!! He kept us in the game in the first half.

Yeah having thinking about it yeah I agree but hwta would I know I am a MORON

 

[apollo_creed]

One of the greatest myths in footy is the fact that Wayne got towelled up GF day 98. Admittedly Caven had the better of Carey, but Wayne could have easily ended up with four had he kicked a bit straighter.

Caven certainly had the better of the King that fateful day but Wayne's influence was quelled in the second half for a large part due to the absolute dominance of the Adelaide midfield and running backs. The supply really wasn't there.

FWIW from a Roo supporter I'd of given the NS to Darren Jarman, six?? goals in a grand final is just invaluable.