Top 10 Fullbacks

[cjwalkley]

These fullbacks were rated on their ability to quiet a key forward and their overall influence on a game.

1 - Dustin Fletcher - long reach, good mark, very mobile and good decision making. Has to curb suspensions to really help his team.

2 - Mal Michael - very rarely beaten and always chooses the right option. Disposal skills have improved over the past few seasons.

3 - Simon Prestigiacomo - dour defender who almost always nullifys his opponent. Lack of an attacking ability loses him a few points.

4 - Jonathan Hay - very attacking full back and almost unbeatable when on song. Has too many off days to be rated any higher however.

5 - Matthew Scarlett - promising defender who is generally only beaten by the strongest of the forwards.

6 - Stephen Paxman - reliable and strong. Getting on in years and coming off a knee injury, but will still get the job done.

7 - Shane Parker - often has to match up on players much bigger and goes about the role with very little fuss.

8 - Darren Gaspar - good spoiling defender, but has ordinary disposal and no attacking nous.

9 - Ashley McIntosh - veteran who is troubled by bad knees. Still good on his day, but right in the twilight of a good career.

10 - Fraser Gehrig - consistent defender who provides a lot of dash.

 

[Lockyer24]

1. Matthew Scarlett
2. Simon Prestigiacomo
3. Darren Gaspar
4. Dustin Fletcher
5. Jon Hay
6. Ashley McIntosh
7. Mal Michael
8. Alistair Nicholson
9. Fraser Gehrig
10. Shane Parker

 

[cjwalkley]

I didn't put Nicholson in due to his knee injury, although Lamb came close.

 

[MarkT]

D.Wakelin?

I would put Hay lower on the basis that at present 2001 was outstanding but abouve the rest of his career. If he had a 2003 like 2001 He'd by right up there though.

I think Scarlett will be a bit higher in most rankings by the end of 2003. I'd have Gaspar ahead of Parker for sure.

Fletcher SHOULD definately be No1 but I am just sure that he IS. He looks like he should be better than he is and he gets a few goals kicked against him. He has a game than can make a big contribution though.

 

[FIGJAM]

I would have Prestigiacomo ahead of Michael in a second, but that's just me!

I also disagree that Gasper doesn't have "attacking nous". I actually think that's one of his strengths.

Great lists cjwalkey, but you are in danger of turing this into an intelligent forum & I have fought so hard to make it low-brow!!

 

[cjwalkley]

I guess by Gaspar's lack of attacking nous I meant he tries to attack but a lot of the time confuses himself with what he is going to do with the ball, or turns it over.

 

[Malibu#27]

Did you forget Daryl Wakelin, or categorize him as playing a different position ?


(On 2002 form)

1. Matthew Scarlett
2. Simon Prestigiacomo
3. Daryl Wakelin
4. Alistair Nicholson
5. Dustin Fletcher
6. Mal Michael
7. Ashley McIntosh
8. Jon Hay
9. Fraser Gehrig
10. Shane Parker

 

[Jars458]

N Smart played a lot at full back last year and had a great year against some key forwards in the AFL. Should definitely be in the top ten.

 

[Demon3]

1. Justin Leppisich
2. Daryl Wakelin
3. Dustin Flecther
4. Matthew Scarlatt
5. Mick Martyn
6. Chris Lamb
7. Jon Hay
8. Ashley McIntosh
9. Mal Michael
10. Darren Gasper

 

[manmountain]

It's so nice to see all these non-Collingwood supporters recognising how good Presti is!

It's almost a certainty each week - Presti will only get a handful of touches, but will keep his opponent to 1-2 goals.

Of some of the others, I think a glaring weakness in Fletcher's game is (apart from getting rubbed out a lot) he struggles against the strong body-on-body types (Neitz took him apart last year). He's a good spoiler and kills most players when they lead for the ball though.

Mal Michael is good at blocking his opponents leads and spoiling on the lead, but often gets found out in aerial contests and pack marking situations.

Scarlett is a superstar in the making.

It's a real pity there's no Dunstall, Lockett or Ablett for these guys to test themselves against. Apart from Lloyd and Lynch (who aren't quite as good), there's no real "spearhead versus full-back" duels these days.

 

[Falchoon]

I'm not personally a big fan of Matthew Scarlett. He is a tad undersized for the bigger forwards but gets around it by continually pushing his opponent under the ball with a hand on a bicep. Probably pushes the boundaries of the rules more than any other fullback and that is saying something.


Though I must admit he is flourishing under the Gieschen "it's only a free if all 3 umpires see it system (fingernail to the throat not included , plus the emergency umpire must see it in the forward line to make it 4 system"

 

[Pessimistic]

Originally posted by cjwalkley
These fullbacks were rated on their ability to quiet a key forward and their overall influence on a game.

1 - Dustin Fletcher - long reach, good mark, very mobile and good decision making. Has to curb suspensions to really help his team.

2 - Mal Michael - very rarely beaten and always chooses the right option. Disposal skills have improved over the past few seasons.

3 - Simon Prestigiacomo - dour defender who almost always nullifys his opponent. Lack of an attacking ability loses him a few points.

4 - Jonathan Hay - very attacking full back and almost unbeatable when on song. Has too many off days to be rated any higher however.

And the three above him don't have 'off' days ?

How about when fletcher gets so badly beaten shhedy moves him out of defence so his 'confidence' doesn't get bruised ? - he was very ordinary until he got to the 200 game mark.

And they are all average compared to the fullbacks of a few years ago - not surprising since there are very few gun FFs at the moment

 

[knuckles]

Fletcher at 1 is wrong in many ways. Negating full forwards is the job of a FB. Presti does this significantly better.

Somebody else get the stats. And they better support my theory

 

[jim440]

Matthew Croft!

 

[Jars458]

Originally posted by jim440
Matthew Croft!

The star of the 1998 Grand Final Record front cover along with Wayne Carey.

whatamistakatomaka.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Originally posted by cjwalkley
I guess by Gaspar's lack of attacking nous I meant he tries to attack but a lot of the time confuses himself with what he is going to do with the ball, or turns it over.

utter crap!

cheers!

 

[noodle]

Originally posted by FIGJAM
I would have Prestigiacomo ahead of Michael in a second, but that's just me!

that's because you're a pies fan.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by cjwalkley
2 - Mal Michael - very rarely beaten and always chooses the right option. Disposal skills have improved over the past few seasons.

A very good FB, but anyone that gets beaten by none other than Daniel Schell deserves a bit of laugh.

 

[Nic]

Originally posted by manmountain
It's so nice to see all these non-Collingwood supporters recognising how good Presti is!

Absolutely! Got done a couple of times last season, but overall would've had the least goals per game kicked on him, I'd think. Feel free someone to actually drag up any stats.

 

[jefffff34]

I don;t know what order I'd have it all but I'd prefer Presti over Fletcher in a second.

Given that, Fletcher is a much more versatile player.

 

[Scarlett Pimp]

Originally posted by manmountain
Scarlett is a superstar in the making.

Damn straight.
His international experience shall prove invaluable, and he will be one of the league's premier defenders for years to come.

 

[vergs]

Max Hudghton usually does a decent job at full back and is very underrated.

 

[Fraser]

Originally posted by vergs
Max Hudghton usually does a decent job at full back and is very underrated.

I'm surprised that most opposition supporters don't rate Fraser Gehrig that well...?

From memory of last season, he slaughtered both Rocca's, keeping them to only a couple of touches and 0 goals, kept Kouta to nothing, and kicked a goal of him, and kept Neitz to only 4 touches and 2 goals.

Infact, I can't recall any forward kicking a bag on him.

I would have him in my top 10 anyday!

 

[Catman]

Originally posted by Scarlett Pimp
Damn straight.
His international experience shall prove invaluable, and he will be one of the league's premier defenders for years to come.

A disgrace that he missed out on AA selection behind the media's lovechild Pavlich.

 

[Kenny_01]

Originally posted by Catman
media's lovechild Pavlich.