What makes Gary Ablett Jnr such a gun?

[Farm Boy]

Whenever I've watched him play, he seems to have no stand out physical attributes. He's not slow, but he's not lightning like Dangerfield. He's not weak, but he's not a brute like Martin. He's not a bad mark, but he doesn't take them like Fyfe. He's incredibly fit, but so are many other players like Gaff. He's a decent kick, but so are players like Hurn and Suckling

Despite this, he has dominated many games and torn teams apart. He's also inserted himself into the GOAT discussions along the way.

Why then, is he so damn good? What stand out attributes does he have that make him so good? Gary Snr's were bleeding obvious, he was a freak.

What then does Jnr have that makes him such a star?

Movement. I have never seen a player move so well. He is something else.

 

[Mad_Hatter]

Good player not the greatest of all time

You should have stopped at your first ignorant post.
He's the best player since his old man and the best midfielder of the last 25 years, maybe longer.

 

[Captain_Bender]

You should have stopped at your first ignorant post.
He's the best player since his old man and the best midfielder of the last 25 years, maybe longer.

Michael Voss is better and also Dustin Martin at the same age has polled more Brownlow votes than Ablett

 

[StonesThrow]

Why is someone who's good at everything so good?

 

[aflcliche]

I have wondered the same thing. He just does everything so well and makes it look basic. This thread describes all his attributes. He is not just an accumulator, his ability to hit scoreboard as mid and danger up forward is stand out for me.

 

[PhatBoy]

Good player not the greatest of all time

If he isn’t, he’s sure in the discussion

 

[PhatBoy]

Michael Voss is better and also Dustin Martin at the same age has polled more Brownlow votes than Ablett

Did Dustin Martin spend the first 3-4 years of his career as a permanent forward? Has he topped his club’s goal kicking? Has he played in a midfield absolutely stacked with other blokes picking up votes at will?

I swear if Haydn Bunton was brought up in discussion a Tigers fan would have to pipe up with ‘but Dustin martin.’

 

[bzparkes]

Why is someone who's good at everything so good?

Because he has no standout qualities according to the OP? That's what makes him so good. All his qualitites are so standout that none of them actually do.

 

[bzparkes]

Michael Voss is better

Have a feeling Vossy might struggle to run out a game these days tbh.

 

[Kram]

Genetics in being the son of God. Mind you if you ask any Geelong fan he would have lasted right through to the rookie draft if he wasn't picked by them under father son he was that bad as a junior.

 

[Captain_Bender]

Did Dustin Martin spend the first 3-4 years of his career as a permanent forward? Has he topped his club’s goal kicking? Has he played in a midfield absolutely stacked with other blokes picking up votes at will?

I swear if Haydn Bunton was brought up in discussion a Cats fan would have to pipe up with ‘but Gary Ablett.’

fixed

 

[Boxhead_31]

Never said he wasn't a good player but he is highly overrated

Would love to know whom it is that you rate better?

 

[Captain_Bender]

Would love to know whom it is that you rate better?

Kevin Bartlett, Leigh Matthews, Michael Voss and Dustin Martin just a few

 

[Boxhead_31]

Kevin Bartlett, Leigh Matthews, Michael Voss and Dustin Martin just a few

Martin has one good year and you throw him in that company?
Wait let me guess the reply will be "But Dusty has Brownlow votes"

 

[bzparkes]

Dustin Martin just a few

Maybe when Dustin puts together a few more seasons like this one he can be considered as good as Ablett. He may end up being even better by the end of his career but reign it in until he is.

 

[Captain_Bender]

Martin has one good year and you throw him in that company?
Wait let me guess the reply will be "But Dusty has Brownlow votes"

lol Geelong supporters with their inferiority complex towards Richmond still crying that Dusty is better than Dangerfield Dusty has been a star since day one

 

[wce4premiership]

Ablett is better than Voss.

His ability to shrug tackles and keep his eyes upfield the whole time, he's always aware of what's happening and has an odd but very effective kicking action, there's little room for error in his style of kicking. Extremely good kick for goals and is quite comfortably in the top few percent for strength and explosive power while maintaining a big aerobic capacity. He was very fast in his younger days, had a zippyness to him like Cousins did, without being a speedster like White/Deledio/Jetta.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Did Dustin Martin spend the first 3-4 years of his career as a permanent forward? Has he topped his club’s goal kicking? Has he played in a midfield absolutely stacked with other blokes picking up votes at will?

I swear if Haydn Bunton was brought up in discussion a Tigers fan would have to pipe up with ‘but Dustin martin.’

Kettle black.

 

[Demonated]

lol Geelong supporters with their inferiority complex towards Richmond still crying that Dusty is better than Dangerfield Dusty has been a star since day one

Compare the resumes of Ablett and Martin. Ablett won 5 MVPs. Has lead goal kicking at 2 different clubs, has the most consecutive AA’s of all time. Martin has had 2 elite seasons, Ablett did if for the best part of a decade.

Martin would need to play the same level for another 5 Years to get to Abletts level. Not saying he can’t but so many have a great 3/4 year stretch and don’t go on with it.

The recency effect blinds people’s perceptions. Ablett is better at literally every facet of the game other than strength over Martin.

Martin has had 1 year as the best player in the game, helped by Dangerfield’s suspension. Ablett had 5-8.

 

[Captain_Bender]

Compare the resumes of Ablett and Martin. Ablett won 5 MVPs. Has lead goal kicking at 2 different clubs, has the most consecutive AA’s of all time. Martin has had 2 elite seasons, Ablett did if for the best part of a decade.

Martin would need to play the same level for another 5 Years to get to Abletts level. Not saying he can’t but so many have a great 3/4 year stretch and don’t go on with it.

The recency effect blinds people’s perceptions. Ablett is better at literally every facet of the game other than strength over Martin.

Martin has had 1 year as the best player in the game, helped by Dangerfield’s suspension. Ablett had 5-8.

Martin has been elite since he has started most of Ablett's MVPs and AA were won on name basis and Ablett leading goalkicking? please he lead the goal kicking for both clubs kicking 35, 26 and 28 goals the years he did it that's pretty pathetic and also what competition did Ablett have in the Gold Coast B&Fs?

 

[kranky al]

Watch him sell candy over and over - and over

 

[PhatBoy]

fixed

It’s a thread about Gary Ablett. So amazingly his name will get mentioned periodically.

Never mind that incidentally he is about 10th on the pecking order of beloved players from the recent era and thus his name is really not dropped that often relative to his standing in the game.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Michael Voss is better and also Dustin Martin at the same age has polled more Brownlow votes than Ablett

Lol.

 

[PhatBoy]

Martin has been elite since he has started most of Ablett's MVPs and AA were won on name basis and Ablett leading goalkicking? please he lead the goal kicking for both clubs kicking 35, 26 and 28 goals the years he did it that's pretty pathetic and also what competition did Ablett have in the Gold Coast B&Fs?

He led the goal kicking at Geelong because he was playing as a permanent small forward Einstein. That was the point being made when you first bought up the ridiculous Brownlow comparison.

 

[Captain_Bender]

He led the goal kicking at Geelong because he was playing as a permanent small forward Einstein. That was the point being made when you first bought up the ridiculous Brownlow comparison.

If Dustin Martin played a full year as a foward he would kick 50+