Sylvia V Tambling. The Ultimate Poll.

[parrot]

This is an interesting poll for several reasons. Both players have been extremely disappointing to date, and supporters of both teams have been frantically trying to talk them up, in the hope that their form will change. Now is the time for the direct head-to-head comparison. I think both were terrible draft decisions, but the question as to which was worse is not clear. This will be a tough one.

 

[R.I.P Jack Dyer]

This is an interesting poll for several reasons. Both players have been extremely disappointing to date, and supporters of both teams have been frantically trying to talk them up, in the hope that their form will change. Now is the time for the direct head-to-head comparison. I think both were terrible draft decisions, but the question as to which was worse is not clear. This will be a tough one.

sylvia was far from a terrible draft choice...he has been unlucky with injuries and when he has played has shown something...he will be a star for the melbourne footy club and they will have one hell of a midfield in a couple years time (Mclean, Sylvia and Nathan Jones)

 

[Bojangles17]

tambling will mature into a terrific player no later than any other of his indiginous peers...NONE of them ever make an impact as teenagers as they're bodies take some time to catch up....

Davey was 21 when he made it ...Michael Long took some time ...Tambo is travelling well in comparrison...

Incidently how Walker going, would be an intersting thread in itself...failed miserably to live up to the hype surrounding his selection

 

[Ando_4]

I'd prefer to judge both of them at the end of this season and I think both will be very good players.

Whether you wish to acknowlege it or not, Tambling improved significantly last year on his '05 season and that's set to continue.

It would be folly to write him off, as some opposition supporters seem to be hoping, on the back of half a match in February in what can only be descibed as a glorified praccy match .

How good he'll be long term time will tell but Wallace said when Bling was drafted that we'd see the best of him at 22.

 

[mathew ollaik]

sylvia!

 

[RedLegs#5]

This is an interesting poll for several reasons. Both players have been extremely disappointing to date, and supporters of both teams have been frantically trying to talk them up, in the hope that their form will change. Now is the time for the direct head-to-head comparison. I think both were terrible draft decisions, but the question as to which was worse is not clear. This will be a tough one.

Where's the 'Walker' option nerd?

 

[Jeremias]

Where's the "They're both as bad as each other" option.

Both clubs made huge draft blunders with those two.

 

[Bojangles17]

Where's the "They're both as bad as each other" option.

Both clubs made huge draft blunders with those two.

ohhh massive right offs at 19 yo...

 

[Richo83]

Where's Walker? At least Tambling is younger than both Sylvia and Walker, and is yet to fully develop physically.

 

[mark73]

I think in the long run that Tambling will be the better player and simply because there is much more scope for improvement. I've often wondered whether Sylvia's aerobic capacities will eventually be his archilles heel. He really doesn't have much pace and the modern day game of AFL is fast and getting faster all the time. He is solid and he excels at VFL level, but without genuine pace you're going to struggle in this caper unless you're a Shannon Grant type, and Sylvia isn't in that class.

 

[rick James]

I think in the long run that Tambling will be the better player and simply because there is much more scope for improvement. I've often wondered whether Sylvia's aerobic capacities will eventually be his archilles heel. He really doesn't have much pace and the modern day game of AFL is fast and getting faster all the time. He is solid and he excels at VFL level, but without genuine pace you're going to struggle in this caper unless you're a Shannon Grant type, and Sylvia isn't in that class.

Sylvia is physically very quick, he just seems to think slowly at times. Which imo is even more of a concern.

Thing is, we haven't ever seen Sylvia participate in a pre-season yet, so until he does it's hard to know what he's capable of.

Tambling has also had numerous injuries which have delayed his development.

Walker is the draft blunder of major concern, when you consider that he hasn't had injury worries at all, and is actually less effective than Clint Bartram (pick 60 last draft) as a tagger and defender.

Carlton really overpaid for a below average back pocket. Melbourne have taken a gamble on a prodigious talent with injury problems. If he comes good it could pay off, if it doesn't at least the loss is offset by the fact we got Brock McLean.

 

[mark73]

Carlton really overpaid for a below average back pocket. Melbourne have taken a gamble on a prodigious talent with injury problems. If he comes good it could pay off, if it doesn't at least the loss is offset by the fact we got Brock McLean.

Don't get me wrong, I don't consider Sylvia a draft blunder I just think from what I've seen that Tambling has more scope for improvement. When watching him play for Sandringham it's obvious that he can play football and maybe you're right in that a proper pre season will set him straight. I know first hand what thats like because we have the same problem with Blake Grima and Callum Urch. Both have tons of ability but neither can stay fit. If the trend continues, somewhere down the track Melbourne will have to make a decision on whether it's worth continuing or cutting their losses. Both Grima and Urch have been told this is definitely their last chance and as much as it's sad to see talented footballers go in the opposite direction it's also as much a reality of football. Having said that I'd assume that persisting with Sylvia for another 2 odd seasons would be the go.

 

[captain subtext]

Most Dee supporters have been realistically disapointed with Sylvia's output so far but are optimistic about his future. I'd like to see all the threads recently talking him up.
I think the player who gets talked up most that should also be in this poll is AW. It's an interesting comparison to look at his career to date against Sylvia's. One an acknowlegded star, the other a complete dud according to Carlton supporters.

Player Totals

Player          MT     K     H     D    Avg     M    Avg     HO    Avg     T    Avg     FF    FA     G    Avg     B    SC    Rat    Avg 
Andrew Walker   55    490   211   701   12.7   203   3.7     12    0.2     98    1.8    30    40     14   0.3    11    95   2910    52.9 
Colin Sylvia    36    277   122   399   11.1   134   3.7     3     0.1     83    2.3    23    31     19   0.5    11    125  1867    51.9

I think they'll all turn out ok.

 

[MeeSo]

Walker is the draft blunder of major concern, when you consider that he hasn't had injury worries at all, and is actually less effective than Clint Bartram (pick 60 last draft) as a tagger and defender.

No injury worries at all? Walker played with groin problems all of last year.

As for Bartram he's a battler, nothing more.

 

[Richo83]

Don't get me wrong, I don't consider Sylvia a draft blunder I just think from what I've seen that Tambling has more scope for improvement. When watching him play for Sandringham it's obvious that he can play football and maybe you're right in that a proper pre season will set him straight. I know first hand what thats like because we have the same problem with Blake Grima and Callum Urch. Both have tons of ability but neither can stay fit. If the trend continues, somewhere down the track Melbourne will have to make a decision on whether it's worth continuing or cutting their losses. Both Grima and Urch have been told this is definitely their last chance and as much as it's sad to see talented footballers go in the opposite direction it's also as much a reality of football. Having said that I'd assume that persisting with Sylvia for another 2 odd seasons would be the go.

Agree mark. Having seen Sylvia a few times he looks to be one of those late bloomers that has the tools but just needs to put it all-together, like Ray.

Tambling does have a bit of scope for improvement and hopefully he'll do that. He's got pace so that's not a problem but is very inconsistent, and honestly I can't say Tambling will be a gun and hold a straight face. Tambling in a few years should be equal to a Wells, and progress to akin to a Shaun Burgoyne if gets better. It's the prospect of him becoming the next Cupido that worries me, and Richmond have a history of producing players with talent that never make it (Fiona).

 

[Heisenberg_]

Walker easy.
Lets waste a number 2 pick on a HBF/tagger who can't kick. But its ok because he can jump high yey get nowhere near marking the ball and can run fast.
HACK

 

[mark73]

Tambling does have a bit of scope for improvement and hopefully he'll do that. He's got pace so that's not a problem but is very inconsistent, and honestly I can't say Tambling will be a gun and hold a straight face. Tambling in a few years should be equal to a Wells, and progress to akin to a Shaun Burgoyne if gets better. It's the prospect of him becoming the next Cupido that worries me, and Richmond have a history of producing players with talent that never make it (Fiona).

Well Wells isn't out of the woods yet anyway. He has shown glimpses of brilliance but top players at this level are all about consistency. He has played injured and spent a lot of 2006 playing with a groin complaint, but the fact is he is up around 80 games now and he needs to do better. In his defence, when he isn't being expected to play 3 roles a game I think thats when we'll see the real Wells. He is more an icing on the cake player as opposed to a prolific ball winner. McConnell, Swallow, Smith, Grima and Trotter need to step in and give Harris, Simpson and Rawlings a chop out in the middle and then we'll see Wells (and Smith) become the receivers and consequently their abilities will be more on display as this is what they are, outside players.

 

[Deledio2Conca]

Of course Sylvia is the better player at the moment, but he has a year on Bling and they are both very young. Wait till they are 23 before making predictions.

You should be more worried about your youngsters. You could easily group Walker with those 2 as well. Has shown nothing either.

 

[mark73]

Walker is the biggest drafting blunder of the last 4 drafts. Has shown nothing after his debut game.

In a superdraft he certainly wouldn't have gone as high as he did but I don't think he is the biggest draft blunder. At the end of the day if they get 150+ games out of him then he will have served his purpose.

 

[Richo83]

Well Wells isn't out of the woods yet anyway. He has shown glimpses of brilliance but top players at this level are all about consistency. He has played injured and spent a lot of 2006 playing with a groin complaint, but the fact is he is up around 80 games now and he needs to do better. In his defence, when he isn't being expected to play 3 roles a game I think thats when we'll see the real Wells. He is more an icing on the cake player as opposed to a prolific ball winner. McConnell, Swallow, Smith, Grima and Trotter need to step in and give Harris, Simpson and Rawlings a chop out in the middle and then we'll see Wells (and Smith) become the receivers and consequently their abilities will be more on display as this is what they are, outside players.

Fair enough. A couple of good points there:

1. Consistency, which is the elusive thing that both players lack, although Tambling alot more.
2. Wells' injury
3. How Wells has had to play 3 roles when really he is a finisher rather than a pure midfielder.

Agree with those, I think Wells has been hampered A because of his injury and B because he's had to play more roles than he should. Wells could be the big improvement in 2007 if Laidley plays him right and he keeps fit. I think you under-sell Wells when you say he's not out of the woods, he averaged 19 possessions a game last year playing with a hammie. You're probably more of an expert being a roos fan but I'm impressed with Wells, after a slow start I feel hes got it together. Lets hope Tambling can do the same.

 

[rick James]

The thing with Wells is, and I might get crucified for this, but he just doesn't seem like he really enjoys his footy.

That might have been the fact he was carrying injuries though. But even still, many players carry injuries through the year.

 

[Richo83]

The thing with Wells is, and I might get crucified for this, but he just doesn't seem like he really enjoys his footy.

That might have been the fact he was carrying injuries though. But even still, many players carry injuries through the year.

What makes you think that?

 

[rick James]

What makes you think that?

Just his demeanor on the field.

 

[mark73]

Just his demeanor on the field.

I would've said he looks more unassuming than anything else, and thats mainly because he is.

 

[rick James]

I would've said he looks more unassuming than anything else, and thats mainly because he is.

Perhaps, I just never really see him playing and think "that guy loves his footy" - I'm sure he does, perhaps he just puts too much pressure on himself. Kind of like Yze when he is having an off game, he can be a bit negative.