Who has been the most valuable player in 2018?

[Trojan82]

I feel like there hasn't been enough Nankervis in this thread.

In the game we played V Richmond the time he spent off the ground we dominated centre clearances. Without Nankervis Richmond really fall back into the pack.

The MVP? Maybe not. Gawn or Grundy probably but Nankervis is an almost impossible player for Richmond to replace.

 

[00Stinger]

The ones that stick out are Riewoldt, Gawn, Grundy and Hawkins to me. If you take any of that quartet out of their teams, they slip a long way from their best football.

We would hardly win a game without Tom I reckon. Doesn't make him the best player in the comp or anything, just the most structurally significant to his side. Same with the other three. I voted for Gruny fwiw

add Buddy to that list

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[Isaac Cumming No 1]

I think Jack Riewoldt it's subjective but you've got to give some bias to the most valuable player in the most successful team I think.

 

[didaksrightfoot]

My initial thought was Grundy, but then that got quickly overtaken by Buddy. (And fair enough - this might be recency bias)

More than anyone else he wins games off his own boot, and is able to bail out his team when others arent performing - and has done so in 2 crucial games in the last 3 weeks that gives a Sydney team, that has been average for much of the season, another finals spot and a chance for a top 4 finish.

I don't think any other individual player has as much of an impact on the W-L record of their team. (Though clearly there are a few guys who you can make valid arguments about)

 

[Quinz]

I want to say Gawn and Reiwoldt for consistent brilliance across the year, in crucial positions for their side. I give Gawn the edge just.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Interesting spread.

 

[hawksalltheway]

buddy

no-one has had as much impact on a sides actual win / loss ratio than Budwar

 

[Gaben]

buddy

no-one has had as much impact on a sides actual win / loss ratio than Budwar

Yeah he has pretty much chucked Sydney on his back and carried them into a finals series, he's my pick too.

Gawn and Grundy both around the mark too. They are the 3 blokes from that list, that when taken out of their respective sides would have the greatest overall impact. Midfielders can be covered, Treloar is a perfect example of that. Collingwood loses Grundy and it's rucking with Cox as number 1 and who the hell knows as his backup. Enormous drop in quality.

 

[Checkered]

If Grundy went down, big telescopic Cox could hold his own. The midfield is good enough to cope.

Who backs up Gawn if he goes down? I remember Pederson being cover a couple of years ago but he's no ruckman.

 

[Ok Boomer]

Based on what I saw yesterday, Max Gawn has to be up there. Don't ever take him for granted Melbourne fans.

Best ruckman since Dean Cox in his prime.

 

[augie]

Would go with Grundy, Gawn or Franklin. Gawn is the best ruckman in the comp. Grundy is the best player who plays in the ruck in the comp. Both teams would struggle without them. Franklin is Franklin.

Not sure you can have a Tigers player in there as they don't rely on one player, but having said that Riewoldt is critical to their success. I also think Grimes is the one defender they can't replace.

Outside this I think Kennedy has shown how important he is to WC. And while midfielders are more replaceable, and so that counts against him, I'm not sure Hawthorn would be where they are without Mitchell.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

The two ruckmen are streets ahead. It's crazy when you consider that ruckmen have been out of vogue.

 

[MinerBoy]

Swans are having a September holiday without Buddy. As it is they are playing for top 4 this week.

So yeah, that guy .....

 

[demondavey]

Overall - Grundy, Caddy, Sidebottom, Breust, Cunnington

Melbourne - Melksham

 

[demondavey]

Gawn's been handy but Melksham makes us a four to six goal better side IMO.

Agree. His vision, decision making, field kicking inside 50 is elite.

 

[master bate]

I feel like there hasn't been enough Nankervis in this thread.

In the game we played V Richmond the time he spent off the ground we dominated centre clearances. Without Nankervis Richmond really fall back into the pack.

The MVP? Maybe not. Gawn or Grundy probably but Nankervis is an almost impossible player for Richmond to replace.

That's because Buckley did something very clever in having Cox ruck against Nank for some time and then using Grundy against Grigg. Most back up rucks aren't smart enough to convincingly beat Grigg and hit the ball to dangerous spots. Grigg bumps it to them and they drop it straight down.

All that said, Richmond's midfield had a shocker at a lot of those stoppages. No body on or smart footy. Prestia was sore, Cotchin and Lambert had off days and Jack Graham was missing = no defensive pressure or body on to force cover the Pies mids.

Ruckman are mostly replaceable depending on their opposition. Soldo can cover Nankervis against probably 10 of the rucks in the comp. Won't be as good but can do the trick.

 

[master bate]

Gawn has been immense in the ruck but his real value has been how consistent his marking is especially when used as he is lately as the kick behind the play. He's having a Rance like effect that teams won't kick it long down the line because he'll win most and half a lot of the other contests. That allows Melbourne to slow teams down.

I'm still nervous about saying a ruck is MVP, especially because Grundy is better than Gawn at ground ball contests after the hit outs and neither are super skilled ball users or great goal kickers, but both of them are having huge impact at stoppages and around the ground.

The question is can a half decent ruck stop Gawn and Grundy the way a half decent tagger can stop most of the mids? I think they probably can in the right time.

So whilst Gawn and Grundy fight it out for MVP as the guys who have added the most value to their teams this year the games most frightening players remain Dusty, Franklin and probably Jack Riewoldt.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Swans are having a September holiday without Buddy. As it is they are playing for top 4 this week.

So yeah, that guy .....

Couldn't you say the same for Grundy and Gawn?

Overall - Grundy, Caddy, Sidebottom, Breust, Cunnington

Caddy has been more valuable than Gawn?

 

[master bate]

Also someone vote for Rance. I dislike him as much as anyone but the guy changes the game. No other team can run and pressure and play with the pace Richmond do because they don't have a Rance cleaning up behind the ball.

 

[demondavey]

Couldn't you say the same for Grundy and Gawn?

Caddy has been more valuable than Gawn?

Ok well put him in then! But Caddy has been HUGE for the Tigers.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Caddy has been HUGE for the Tigers.

Not in MVP territory.

 

[Mningasimisonda]

The two ruckmen are streets ahead. It's crazy when you consider that ruckmen have been out of vogue.

I'd throw Nic Nat in too despite being out injured now.

 

[MinerBoy]

Couldn't you say the same for Grundy and Gawn?

Not at all. I don't think Grundy or Gawn had any impact on Swans making the finals.

 

[demondavey]

Not in MVP territory.

My opinion. Cheers.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

I'd throw Nic Nat in too despite being out injured now.

You can't be MVP from 15 games.