Who has the better list going forward, Gold Coast or GWS?

Better list going forward?

  • Gold Coast

    Votes: 60 53.6%
  • GWS

    Votes: 52 46.4%

  • Total voters
    112

Matchu

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Thread starter #1
Keeping in mind that GWS are a year behind the Gold Coast. GWS also have cap and list concessions that far exceed the Gold Coast's.

A few names for the Gold Coast that are/could be superstars: Ablett, O'Meara, Martin, Prestia, Bennell, Thompson and Dixon.

A few names for GWS the could be superstars: Cameron, Ward, Patton, Coniglio and Whitfield (Buddy?).

Several things to factor in here. Will both teams be able to hold on to their players? Will GWS get Buddy? When will Ablett start to decline? Will Jack Martin be as good as Jaeger O'Meara?

In my opinion, Gold Coast have a better midfield while GWS have better forwards. For this reason I give the nod to the Gold Coast's list but that may change if GWS get Buddy.
 

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djrossie

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#2
The midfield talent of the Gold Coast with Jack Martin waiting in the wings is pretty imposing. But then GWS just need to have something half decent in the midfield if they have a forward line with Buddy and Cameron in it. Can't really say at this point.
 

Tas

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#4
How they recruit and trade over their first 5 years will be as critical as the initial handouts they received. It is too early to tell really.
 

Matchu

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Thread starter #5
How they recruit and trade over their first 5 years will be as critical as the initial handouts they received. It is too early to tell really.
Fair call. Hypothetically, if GWS sign Buddy, does that put them ahead of Gold Coast straight away?
 

djrossie

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#6
Fair call. Hypothetically, if GWS sign Buddy, does that put them ahead of Gold Coast straight away?
No because Buddy's is coming from one of the best teams. You'd have to wait and see what he can do on a lower team and see if the group as a whole can improve significantly to give them the upper hand.
 

PumpyChowdown

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#10
Gold Coast have the better list.

GWS have gone about it arse-about. In modern footy, the forward line is the least important. Defence and the Midfield is where games are won and lost. If you can keep your opponents from scoring (good defence) and maintain control of the ball and move it forward (good midfield) you'll kick a winning score more often than not.

If you have a dominant midfield, then they will kick a bunch of goals (see Sydney/Geelong) and they will also pump the ball into the forward 50 enough that even average forwards will get opportunities to score.

Suns have that midfield and are developing that defense.

All the Giants have are the best young key forwards in Australia. Average midfield and terrible, terrible defense. As I said - arse-about.
 

Tas

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#11
Fair call. Hypothetically, if GWS sign Buddy, does that put them ahead of Gold Coast straight away?
GC seem to have a much stronger midfield, I don't think they need Buddy with Patton and Cameron, they would do much better improving their midfield which is still getting molested too much at present.
 

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TennisPlayerAndy

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#12
Gold Coast have the midfield covered.

GWS very strong up forward.

Both need some work in the backline.
 

estibador

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#13
I don't know their lists well enough to judge who has the better depth, but in terms of top end talent GC look to have it all over GWS at the moment.

If I was raiding a combined top 5 from the two Cameron is the only Giant I'd take. I'd even pick zero-gamer Martin before anyone else on the Giants list.
 

Kram

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#14
All the Giants have are the best young key forwards in Australia. Average midfield and terrible, terrible defense. As I said - arse-about.
I guess one thing is that at least KP players have a lot of trade value, which could help to balance up the list.
 

Matchu

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Thread starter #19
Scott Clayton recruiting manager since 1991, 20 years experience before being appointed to build the list.
Steve Silvagni recruiting manager since 2011, 0 years experience before being appointed to build the list.
Clayton certainly seems to be the mastermind behind it all. McKenna will get the credit if they live up to expectations but Clayton is probably just as responsible for the hypothetical success.
 

timtamWB

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#20
GC have a far better midfield, with Martin still to come. Need to find another KPD or two though, and a couple of KPF's as well. Assuming Lynch/May/Day and the like can develop then their list is looking good.

Of course everyone knows GWS' forward line should be amazing. Their midfield should still be pretty damn good, but it doesn't have as many gamebreakers as Bennell, O'Meara, Martin (potentially), even Prestia. Down back they struggle as well.

So GC.
 

StonesThrow

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#21
GC got their midfield covered for a long time even without Ablett. Bennell, O'meara, Prestia, Martin, Swallow, McKenzie and another top 5 mid this year. That's at least 3 elite mids and the 4 potentially elite all under 21. Then you still have guys a few senior guys rotating through such as Ablett, Stanley and Rischitelli.

They also have what appears to be 3 top line young Rucks in Smith, Nicholls and Gorringe and my favourite Dixon who will be an imposing forward and I believe the best of them. Add to them the KPP's of Day, Lynch, Thompson and May who all have shown talent. I believe their big men are handsomely covered to the point where I don't see some of them getting a look in.

All they need is probably another decent tall defender and a good medium forward to compliment Matera.

GWS to me still have a lot of unknowns. Cameron, Coniglio, Treloar and Ward are the only picks so far you know are going to be stars. Highly likely for Tomlinson, Hoskin-Elliot and Whitfield but the rest you still need another season to tell.

GC are going to have success much earlier but I don't think many can tell just how GWS will track.
 

dumb

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#22
i and others can probably remember GWS earned the early plaudits for their list, seeing as they were seen to be chasing more experience. as it turns out, simply having experience doesn't mean the players will be good enough to play a role.
basically i have no idea but i watch both sides' development with interest.
 

Righteo

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#23
Midfields are becoming more and more important the way the AFL is changing. GC have a far better midfield in terms of top end talent than GWS.
Yep, Gold Coast also have pretty good KPP stocks themselves. With the beastly midfield they're forming their forwards will get more than enough opportunities to kick goals. It won't be too long before their midfield will be good enough to release Gazza up forward either.
 

Cursed_Cat

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#25
I think you've got it pretty spot-on StonesThrow.

Gold Coast are clearly on the right path, they still need a few pieces to their positional puzzle but their midfield will be 'elite' very very soon. As you alluded to, there's still some jostling for spots amongst the talls; Smith and Dixon have already been pretty serviceable and will only improve and others will no doubt bob up (Day looks very likely).

GWS are more of an unknown quantity but shouldn't be underestimated imo.
The wheelings and dealings of the upcoming off-season could potentially narrow the gap between these two clubs (or widen it; GC have proven to be pretty canny so far, damn them).
If GWS were to land Buddy Franklin, or perhaps a couple of very solid first-22 types, they could potentially find more on-field focus and intent.

Patton's knee injury was unfortunate because it robbed us of a chance to see he and Cameron in action together; and surely GWS management must be intrigued by the prospect of adding Boyd to that mix - I wouldn't be trading away that #1 pick if I were them, despite their paucity of experienced players.

Their midfield is a little less glamorous, but given a couple more pre-seasons they will be a pretty hard-nosed unit, provided they can all be retained. Whitfield looks impressive, certainly as impressive as David Swallow was in his first season. The likes of Treloar, Adams, Dyson and Hoskin-Smith will start to come into their own sooner rather than later too.

If Davis and Ward can continue to provide good leadership (Davis missed a few games this year again) then I don't think GWS are far behind GC at all given their comparative experience; the gap is pretty narrow.
 
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