Opinion VERSUS - Steve Johnson vs. Paul Chapman

[Craigacat]

I am torn, however if forced to pick I'd choose Chapman.

Stevie J's pure talent is something to behold and his absolute best is superior than Chapman's for mine. He is almost what you could call an eccentric footballer - Can see a way of doing things that others can't and often chooses to do the harder thing rather than the easier/simple thing (which causes the frustrations at times ).

Chappy on the other hand has played at a high level more consistently over the journey. He was a major key to our successes by winning the ball on the inside, moving the ball on the outside and providing a physical presence around other players.


Using the car analogy:


Stevie J:

Chappy:

 

[James1970]

Chappy by a wide margin.

Just a few reasons...

* While Stevie was on the grog and getting his ankles knackered over backyard fences, Chappy demanded everyone at the club to stop friggin' about, suck it up, and get on with the job of blowing the competition away with the greatest football we've ever seen.

* During the last quarter of 07 QF, a game deserving to be called 'legendary', Chappy found himself alone near the boundary line at the Punt Rd end. A fan yelled out "We love you, Chappy". The great man turned and blew a kiss to the large Cats contingent, who all stood and cheered, blowing kisses back. The smiles and happiness of the moment - priceless.

* Loathes the Hawks as much as we do.

* Is an animal lover, especially dogs.

 

[sharks33]

Paul Chapman,

To be cliche, I think Chappy at his best was still underrated. During our Golden era there was periods where I ranked him the equal of Ablett. I felt that across the 2007-2011 period our most important player changed from time to time, sometimes it was GAZ, sometimes Scarlett, sometimes Selwood and sometimes it was Chapman. Across the last decade I consider Ablett, Scarlett and Chapman as our best players, just behind is Bartel/Selwood/Enright, followed by the likes of Corey and Johnson.

Johnno has his moments of brilliance and love him for his efforts in 2011 GF and some memorable highlights but Chapman would nearly be the most polished footballer I've seen, he could have 25 possessions that were all damaging.

 

[BotsMaster]

SJ:

CHAPPY:

Nah SJ is more likely to go sideways than straight in a straight line

If I had to pick it would be SJ.

 

[vinum coupe]

Wow. So difficult to split them.

Maybe SJ has shown himself to be more versatile.
And in a way he has held our attacking game style together since Gazza left.

I think we'll notice the loss of SJ more, so I'll choose him. Just.

 

[ATSAM]

Stevie J. More creative, leader on the field(aka Thompson way back when he said that he left to Johnson, Mooney and ?? to coach on the day). Chapman good but in the end he left.
On the cars, no contest Johnson.

 

[Lana]

Johnson's the better player but Chapman is the guy who will will your team over the line when things aren't going so well.

 

[Bobby_]

Across the last decade I consider Ablett, Scarlett and Chapman as our best players

I agree, but Enright would have to be up there along with Scarlett. He's dropped off considerably these last 18 months and sometimes we can forget (not yourself) but the general public.
Ablett Jnr, Scarlett, Enright, just an exceptional trio who were the cornerstone in helping the club win multiple premierships.

Johnson v Chappy, can't really split them. Johnson v Bartel, I'd go Johnson only just, but Chapman was incredibly clutch. Always had the ball in the dying minutes of matches. Craved the big stage, and actually still does now that he's at Essendon going on 34.

 

[Willo_]

Top thread Nic....

Hmmm
This is bloody hard... on pure talent alone I think Stevie is the most talented player in the league (or has been the last 5 or 6 years anyway) He consistently does things that other players can't even comprehend doing... but that also makes him hit and miss as he can bite of more than he can chew as well..

Chappy is/was just a warrior, you know what you are going to get from him week in week out. The best kick we had for a long time and a competitive beast.

I'd lean towards Stevie... just
I don't think Chappy was the difference between us finishing higher or lower last year, but I think if we didn't have Johnson we wouldn't have finished as high as we did.

No right or wrong answers though are there, we were very lucky to be able to watch both run round for us together.

 

[Citroin]

For me, Stevie J is the logical answer. Perhaps he's lost it now, but the ability to kick it 55 out on an angle astounds me. Chappy? Ex-gun. Has some great skills. But SJ is one of a kind. A wizard.

 

[Tysio]

Gee such a tough pair to split. Obviously I'm going to be a little bit biased and say Stevie J (being my avatar and all ). But no doubt, Chapman has been such a consistent performer for a number of years. With Chapman, you know what you're going to get, he's clean by hand and foot and rarely plays a bad game. Johnno, you don't know what you're going to get! He tries the impossible when he shouldn't, but that's the way he plays. Both these guys have made a massive impact when it's counted, indicative of them both winning Norm Smith medals. I think Chapman is more well rounded, but I think Johnno is one of the more freakish talents in the modern era which can be so hard to come by. I maybe feel as though Johnno has been the difference in more games, but that's just a guess. Both fantastic players in their own right, and will go down as absolute champions of the game, been such a privilege to watch them both play. Gonna be sad when they retire, Stevie J especially

 

[Smedts_2]

Heart says Jonno. Head says Chappy.

Chappy was the difference between winning and losing a few more times I'd say (a sort of Nathan Jones at a competent club) whereas I'd say that Stevie has been an underachiever over his career. (don't kill me, that's just an opinion).

Hard to believe only one B&F between them. God we've been lucky.

 

[Claude Balls]

Very close call but Chapman for me.

Despite Johnno being as mercurial a star as we've seen, Chappy's combination of heart, toughness, and skill was even more precious.

 

[David the Cat]

When SJ coaches us to a premiership, people may change their minds,.

 

[you pick one]

v

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Chapman easily - just a better all round footballer - Chapman was a beautiful kick - Johnson isnt - Chapman was a sure ball handler - Johnson isnt - sometimes SJ has to 2 grab his marks

Chapman for mine was a better half forward than SJ - and a better centreman - that game against the Eagles a few years back at Subiaco - Chapman went into the centre after half time and was outstanding - even though Geelong lost

So its Chapman for mine - and by the way - when the Cats finished him up - i thought it was a good decision by the club - Corey Gregson with pick 47 - things are looking allright at the Cattery

I'm not sure where Gregson comes into the equation since we drafted him the year after Chappy left for Essendon.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Oh and if we're making a selection while they were both at their best, then it's SJ comfortably. As good as Chappy was, SJ was on a level above.

 

[ChookNorris]

in terms of ability Johnson is probably the most skillful player I've seen at the club since Gary Senior. He's the most idiotic genius I've ever seen as well. As much as I love the human penls, johnno for mine.

 

[SJ]

For me, Stevie J is the logical answer. Perhaps he's lost it now, but the ability to kick it 55 out on an angle astounds me. Chappy? Ex-gun. Has some great skills. But SJ is one of a kind. A wizard.

I don't think he's ever kicked goals from there.

I would be surprised if he's kicked more than five goals from outside 50 (without bouncing) in his career.

 

[Catatonic Shock]

On pure talent and skill SJ by a fair way, and that's nothing against Chappy who was an awesome talent.
On heart and will and determination I'd go Chappy.
On will to win and competitiveness I have them even.
I can't split them!
Uhhhh I'll go SJ, just.

Make the next one easier please Gysenn !

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

v

How about you pick one.

 

[year of the cat]

Impossible to answer. Just comes down to personal bias I think.

But I do know over the course of their careers, I've had far more "tear out my hair" moments with SJ but also far more exhilarating "how the f did he do that!" moments as well. As far as entertainment is concerned SJ by a country mile. If you had to "pick someone to go to war with" then Chappy. SJ would either annihilate an entire army single handedly or accidentally shoot himself in the foot.

 

[you pick one]

How about you pick one.

No contest Johnson.

 

[Craigacat]

Thread got me thinking... Maybe your choice between these players says something about your footy personality?

Almost everyone is acknowledging the difficulty in splitting these two guys. Perhaps the tie-breaker in this exercise is whether you tend to appreciate a more skillful/freakish/enigmatic type footballer (i.e. 'Type A'), or rather a hard-edged/honest/workhorse style of player (i.e. 'Type B') ?


Examples:

Type A:

• Steve Johnson
• Jimmy Bartel
• Steven Motlop
• James Kelly
• Nakia Cockatoo
• Mathew Stokes
• Travis Varcoe
• Gary Ablett, Snr.

• Cyril Rioli
• Nic Naitanui
• Tony Modra
• Michael Long
• Peter Daicos
• Alex Jesaulenko

Type B:

• Paul Chapman
• Joel Selwood
• Harry Taylor
• Tom Lonergan
• Gary Ablett, Jnr.
• Cameron Ling
• Tom Harley
• Garry Hocking

• Luke Hodge
• Brendon Goddard
• Paul Kelly
• Glenn Archer
• Kevin Sheedy
• Ron Barassi

This is not to say that we only like players from our own footy personality type. It is probably more often a subtle tendency. I admire the A's and a couple of them would be among my favourite players of all-time. But I probably levitate towards admiring the B's more. The A players who are out of the box and become champions are unbelievable to watch, but unless they have some level of consistency, can become very frustrating to the supporter.

Also, I reckon premiership teams are built around the B players. Obviously there are more ordinary B players in the game compared with top A types. But you still tend to see the flag winning teams chock full of consistent B's, with the A's as the icing on the cake.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

On pure talent and skill SJ by a fair way, and that's nothing against Chappy who was an awesome talent.
On heart and will and determination I'd go Chappy.
On will to win and competitiveness I have them even.
I can't split them!
Uhhhh I'll go SJ, just.

Make the next one easier please Gysenn !

The two B boys... Bartel vs Brown or is that too easy

But yeah this one was pretty bloody hard!

Corey v Ling??