Universal Love Which midfield is better?

[romeoh]

Hocking was a fantastic player, tough and talented and I had a lot of time for him but I don't have him pegged as a great finals player.

 

[HappyChappy35]

The second midfield by the length of the Flemington straight, if there can be any comparison made. Midfield set-ups were much different during the time of Bairstow, Couch, and Hocking.

 

[footscore]

Up the medication Robert

that doesn't offend me
But unfortunately I take it you totally backtrack on your little rant in the trade rumors thread the other day?
Ya know, how great Goddard is and he'll be one of Essendon's top 3 players and all.

The offer was there and you have obviously refused but I kinda knew you would so she's all good.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Hocking was a fantastic player, tough and talented and I had a lot of time for him but I don't have him pegged as a great finals player.

Yes, it was a tragedy for him and the club that he never once went into a finals series fully fit.

 

[footscore]

Yes, it was a tragedy for him and the club that he never once went into a finals series fully fit.

maybe this was part of the reason why 1993 will always remain a wonderful opportunity lost as we were cherry ripe in terms of injuries and all players were playing at a terrific level and some say we would have given the baby Bombers a good run for their money having gone 1-1 with em throughout the year

 

[GloblFotbalCrsis]

the more recent midfield has to take the cake because they have more depth along side them in Kelly, Ling, Corey, Chapman and SJ all champions in there own right. a champion midfield is made up of more then the three people at the opening bounce

 

[Vdubs]

Hocking was a fantastic player, tough and talented and I had a lot of time for him but I don't have him pegged as a great finals player.

Brilliant Prelim final in 89, and even better in 94, we would not have got to the 94 GF without his efforts v NM.
But, 89 GF, a little overawed, and got hit;
92, average GF;
94, got corked/targeted by Woosha as the guy in our team to stop, and he was off the ground for most of the game.
95, had one to forget, severe white line fever.

 

[Vdubs]

I'll firstly rate them in order.

1. Ablett
2. Hocking
3. Couch
4. Selwood
5. Bartel
6. Bairstow

It would be closer than a lot of people think. It's probably due to people forgetting just how good the first group were.

Hocking and Couch are among the best 5 midfielders I've seen at the club (couch was a ball winning freak, with some of the best foot passing the club has seen)

Ablett v Bairstow - Ablett too many tricks.
Selwood v Hocking - Hocking would beat him in every aspect of the game. Toughness, skill, marking, kicking etc. Is the 3rd best player I've seen play for the club.
Bartel v Couch - Couch for me was the better player.

It's probably too tough to call as an overall package. I'd take the former if Bourke was rucking at full fitness.

Totally agree with every assessment there.

 

[David the Cat]

Brilliant Prelim final in 89, and even better in 94, we would not have got to the 94 GF without his efforts v NM.
But, 89 GF, a little overawed, and got hit;
92, average GF;
94, got corked/targeted by Woosha as the guy in our team to stop, and he was off the ground for most of the game.
95, had one to forget, severe white line fever.

My recollection is he went down early in the Carlton game (95) and couldn't compete......now I am not so sure....one of us is arse about!

 

[Goggin Our Best]

De


Definitely Judd, Cousins, Kerr and Cox.

I agree -i think the 4 eagles mentioned was easily the best ever combination . And the proof in the pudding is in the eating -and when the lions were winning those flags -one team use to regurlarly thrash them (plus 10 goals) and at the Gabba -and that was the Eagles -and the Eagles were sometimes not in the 8 in those years . The Eagles had an unbelievable record over the Lions -when the Lions were a powerhouse . I hope Roger the stats man posts the Eagles win /loss record against the Lions -when the Lions were winning those flags

 

[manboob]

I agree -i think the 4 eagles mentioned was easily the best ever combination . And the proof in the pudding is in the eating -and when the lions were winning those flags -one team use to regurlarly thrash them (plus 10 goals) and at the Gabba -and that was the Eagles -and the Eagles were sometimes not in the 8 in those years . The Eagles had an unbelievable record over the Lions -when the Lions were a powerhouse . I hope Roger the stats man posts the Eagles win /loss record against the Lions -when the Lions were winning those flags

They played each other 4 times 2001,2002,2003 for a 2 all record. From 2004 onward Eagles had the wood 7 in a row. But the lions weren't a powerhouse then.

 

[vinum coupe]

that doesn't offend me
But unfortunately I take it you totally backtrack on your little rant in the trade rumors thread the other day?
Ya know, how great Goddard is and he'll be one of Essendon's top 3 players and all.

The offer was there and you have obviously refused but I kinda knew you would so she's all good.

I wasn't trying to offend. Maybe that's what separates us.
You yourself have mentioned you are taking medication and it's helping with what ever mental problems you have.

And the medication has failed if you need to bump a Geelong thread and bring up Goddard. WTF?
Stop trolling, you'll just end up seeing red again.

By the way, I saw the entire careers of both midfields, something you did not.

And no I'm not back tracking on what I said about Goddard. But I'm not about to put $500 on hold for 12 months to win a bet.
That's dumbness.

You seriously need to have a think about the problems you have with any player or coach that isn't affiliated with Geelong.
It's clouding your judgement. Not that I'm sure you had any after your comments that Whitecross needed to get weeks for the Selwood bump

 

[Vdubs]

My recollection is he went down early in the Carlton game (95) and couldn't compete......now I am not so sure....one of us is arse about!

I went to the 94 game, disaster, I should say, it was Ablett's birthday and definitely Worsfold got Buddha, our MVP, a beauty. The 95 GF, Riccardi went down early with a Hammy. I didn't go that one, swore not to go again until we were the best team. Took a while longer than hoped, but 07 was the big O.

 

[footscore]

mental problems
WTF?
It's clouding your judgement.
That's dumbness
Whitecross needed to get weeks for the Selwood bump

you need to stay out on the golf course a little more often mate.
Use all that 178cm/78kg's to your full advantage, takes time as you know all about.

 

[Seeds]

no contest. Our midfield combo was the best of the modern era bar Brisbane lions 01-04, yes even better than 80's hawks, although I think ablett jnr would beat Voss in his prime. Brisbane in their prime had better midfield depth than ours.

Really? We had Ling (probably the best tagger the game has seen), Corey, Kelly and Chapman as midfield depth. I'm not even counting Johnson or Enright or Milburn.

Brisbane had Ashcroft, Lappin, Hart and Power. I would take our lot in a heart beat.

 

[Seeds]

I went to the 94 game, disaster, I should say, it was Ablett's birthday and definitely Worsfold got Buddha, our MVP, a beauty. The 95 GF, Riccardi went down early with a Hammy. I didn't go that one, swore not to go again until we were the best team. Took a while longer than hoped, but 07 was the big O.

Thats showing your support for the team

 

[Seeds]

I think Bairstow is getting some harsh calls in this thread. I rate him about the same as I rate Corey. Different players though. When Bairstow was on he could seriously tear teams up, when he was off though he was definately off. People remember him too much for his 92 Grand final performance when we he was played out of position and we now know that he was severly injured before the game and shouldn't of even been out there. Playing an injured Bairstow on Matera when we had Riccardi in the wings is probably even worse then the stuff up we made by playing an injured Stokes on Hodge or putting Steven Hocking on Brereton.

 

[Seeds]

If we are going to do proper midfield comparisons we should pull the whole list out.

ninties team:
Hocking, Couch, Bairstow, Bews, Riccardi, Bourke, Barnes, Ablett Snr (played mostly midfield in 92), Pickering, Scott.

noughties
Ablett Jnr, Bartel, Selwood, Corey, Chapman, Ling, Ottens, Kelly, Wojo, West.

 

[FredLeDeux]

I think Bairstow is getting some harsh calls in this thread. I rate him about the same as I rate Corey. Different players though. When Bairstow was on he could seriously tear teams up, when he was off though he was definately off. People remember him too much for his 92 Grand final performance when we he was played out of position and we now know that he was severly injured before the game and shouldn't of even been out there. Playing an injured Bairstow on Matera when we had Riccardi in the wings is probably even worse then the stuff up we made by playing an injured Stokes on Hodge or putting Steven Hocking on Brereton.

Correct, except you forgot to say "an injured" Steven Hocking.

 

[romeoh]

I went to the 94 game, disaster, I should say, it was Ablett's birthday and definitely Worsfold got Buddha, our MVP, a beauty. The 95 GF, Riccardi went down early with a Hammy. I didn't go that one, swore not to go again until we were the best team. Took a while longer than hoped, but 07 was the big O.

I went to all of them and you were lucky to miss 1995 -my brother and I were speechless from about quarter time-till maybe the following weekend. Worst ever. Worsfield was an A1 thug. Should have picked up at least 1 flag in that era. 92 perhaps.

 

[footscore]

I think Bairstow is getting some harsh calls in this thread. I rate him about the same as I rate Corey. Different players though.

how and why did Toby retire anyways, do you know?
He only played 150 games and his final season in 94 was absolutely fantastic and then start of 95 pre season....he vanished

 

[FredLeDeux]

how and why did Toby retire anyways, do you know?
He only played 150 games and his final season in 94 was absolutely fantastic and then start of 95 pre season....he vanished

New coach Gary Ayres told him to sling his hook.

 

[footscore]

have to wonder why the club even looked at appointing Ayres in the first place, they would have known where the players sit and Bairstow would have been an important contributor for 2 years more.

 

[Vdubs]

have to wonder why the club even looked at appointing Ayres in the first place, they would have known where the players sit and Bairstow would have been an important contributor for 2 years more.

Look at his pedigree and what Geelong was apparently lacking back then.
Ayres was from the most successful era ever, a premiership player multiple times, a dual Norm Smith medallist, tough, uncompromising, former captain;
Geelong was flashy, soft, and to a lot of outsiders, in need of harsh reality and toughness, both of which Ayres would be capable of. We weren't ready for him, and his methods were over the top. Wish he'd coached Hawthorn instead, interesting they've never gone with him. What he did at Geelong, he also did at Adelaide.

 

[Vdubs]

If we are going to do proper midfield comparisons we should pull the whole list out.

ninties team:
Hocking, Couch, Bairstow, Bews, Riccardi, Bourke, Barnes, Ablett Snr (played mostly midfield in 92), Pickering, Scott.

noughties
Ablett Jnr, Bartel, Selwood, Corey, Chapman, Ling, Ottens, Kelly, Wojo, West.

Ablett snr OUT. Bruns IN
Wojo OUT. Rooke IN.
Wojo looks like a mid, never did.