Which midfield is better?

[winty]

Was just looking at my highlights video of the 1992 season, when I realised how strong our midfield was back then, and how strong it is now, and it got me thinking, which midfield is better? The 1992 version with Barnes, Bairstow, Couch and Hocking, or the 2007 version with Ottens, Ablett, Bartel and Corey?

Both quartets have similar individual accolades, with one Brownlow medallist and several All-Australians. The only player out of the eight who hasn't been an All-Australian is Barnes.

IMO, I think it's too close to call, but if I had to pick one, I'd probably say the 1992 version, simply because they played at such a high level for a longer period of time, but in a few years that view will probably change.

What's everyone else think?

 

[re cat]

Was just looking at my highlights video of the 1992 season, when I realised how strong our midfield was back then, and how strong it is now, and it got me thinking, which midfield is better? The 1992 version with Barnes, Bairstow, Couch and Hocking, or the 2007 version with Ottens, Ablett, Bartel and Corey?

Both quartets have similar individual accolades, with one Brownlow medallist and several All-Australians. The only player out of the eight who hasn't been an All-Australian is Barnes.

IMO, I think it's too close to call, but if I had to pick one, I'd probably say the 1992 version, simply because they played at such a high level for a longer period of time, but in a few years that view will probably change.

What's everyone else think?

Did you get mail?

 

[winty]

Did you get mail?

I did. I watched the NAB Cup game before I watched the highlights video. Beats the crap out of watching Video Hits and the golf.

 

[Sttew]

Give me the 2007 mid field but only just....

Ottens = Barnes - Barnes played some great football for Geelong, esp in 1992 finals
Bartel >/= Couch - very close but my money's with Jimmy
Ablett > Bairstow - Junior gets the nod because of his finals record.
Corey < Hocking - Corey's been fantastic for the Cats, but Buddha was one of the best.

 

[BIGANT]

To hard to call for my liking... it's like the SJ vs Didak thread on the main board.
Ottens over Barnes
Jimmy over Couch...just
Gaj over Bairstow
Buddha over Corey - Hocking is regarded as one of Geel's greatest IMO and his record at the cats will be hard to toss, where as Joel now has to repeat what he did this yr for probably the rest of his career to be held in the same aplomb as Buddha!!
If you were looking at it as if these two mids were lining up against each other in a blockbuster....geez you'd get your $$ worth!!!

 

[blue5tar]

does it really matter?

 

[rocker_oz33]

To hard to call for my liking... it's like the SJ vs Didak thread on the main board.
Ottens over Barnes
Jimmy over Couch...just
Gaj over Bairstow
Buddha over Corey - Hocking is regarded as one of Geel's greatest IMO and his record at the cats will be hard to toss, where as Joel now has to repeat what he did this yr for probably the rest of his career to be held in the same aplomb as Buddha!!
If you were looking at it as if these two mids were lining up against each other in a blockbuster....geez you'd get your $$ worth!!!

yep hocking over corey any day hocking one of the best @ geelong's history and hocking went forward in his last few years and kick afew goals

 

[Hinkley29]

Current midfield wins. 1992 had no mids that could do a lock down job, that is why we couldn't beat WC in a final. Add Ling or Rooke to the 1992 midfield and it is very close.

 

[Werribee KingCat]

Current midfield wins. 1992 had no mids that could do a lock down job, that is why we couldn't beat WC in a final. Add Ling or Rooke to the 1992 midfield and it is very close.

Agreed.

Loved those teams of the late 80's and early 90's, but when it came to the crunch, they didn't get the job done.

Last year's team won the Grand Final by a record margin, largly due to a tough, skillful and smart midfield that was second to none.

 

[Hood007]

Agreed.

Loved those teams of the late 80's and early 90's, but when it came to the crunch, they didn't get the job done.

Last year's team won the Grand Final by a record margin, largly due to a tough, skillful and smart midfield that was second to none.

We didn't lose those GF's because of our midfield.
We lost them because we relied too heavily on our superstars and the tail end of our team didn't stand up.
That's the difference between those sides and the team we have today...

 

[nananana catman]

07 Model is better, outside the mentioned players we had far greater depth this year.

Riccardi had a great first year, but outside him the depth fell away quickly.

This year, Kelly, Selwood, Ling, Rooke, Stokes and Chapman all were quality players who spent time in the midfield.

 

[CoolCat75]

Footy has changed so much in 15 years, but I'd give the nod to the 07 group. Both were equally devasting in attacking the footy and winning the ball, but I think the 07 group has greater defensive skills.

 

[Werribee KingCat]

We didn't lose those GF's because of our midfield.
We lost them because we relied too heavily on our superstars and the tail end of our team didn't stand up.
That's the difference between those sides and the team we have today...

I didn't say they lost because of their midfield's, rather, the 2007 team was able to win because of their midfield.

As has been mentioned, the 2007 midfield had far greater depth.