Gibbo_88
Premiership Player
In the spirit of this thread being ridiculously too early...Lions should have drafted Conca or Heppell ahead of Polec, can't break into the team and now he goes and injures his knee.
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I agree that Heppel looks a better prospect and probably the best so far out of the class but it in no way reminds me of Tambling over Buddy.
I don't know if much has changed since draft day regarding this debate. Richmond had their reasons to avoid Heppel knowing full well he would probably come in and play some very good footy early on.
Like Selwood to Geelong, Essendon could get a bargain. Or Richmond's recruiters could be spot on.
While I don't tend to agree that stats should always be used, the fact that Heppel does more inside 50's and rebound 50's is a telling one.
The best performed players right now are:
1. Swallow
2. Heppell
3. Conca
4. Darling
With not much splitting them
But it is useless to compare them now it is far too early.
Also Conca has not been anywhere near Swallow's level in terms of inside work, or getting hard balls, although Conca has been better outside.
Heppell 2011
Ranked number 1 for kicks
Ranked number 1 for marks
Ranked number 1 for handballs
Ranked number 1 for Disposals
Ranked number 5 for inside 50's
Ranked number 7 for tackles
On performence everybody should have Heppell at number 1.
Swallow and Darling the next best.
Ranked 50th for goals contributed
Name me an 18 year old KP forward who has done as well as Darling in his first year in say the last 15 years
Darling's performance has been the equal of heppell in a position that is considerably harder
I know people are going to pump up their own players, but I'm struggling to think of a 1st year KPP that has performed as well as Darling has to date to start his career over the last two decades.
This.
I know people are going to pump up their own players, but I'm struggling to think of a 1st year KPP that has performed as well as Darling has to date to start his career over the last two decades.
Darling and Heppell clearly the standouts in regards to performance to date.
Scott Cummings started pretty strongly.
Kicked bags and bags of goals in the ressies (think he kicked 12 the week before getting picked) before forcing his way into the seniors then kicked 8 on debut and averaged 3 goals per game in his first season.
Hurley is at least his par (only played 9 games in his first year) has dropped off quite a bit through injury but his games in the first year were outstanding, people were talking him at as the next big thing and still are to a certain extent based mainly on his first season form. Maybe not as good up forward, but I have never seen a 1st year player so trusted as a genuine KP swingman where ever he was needed most.
This.
I know people are going to pump up their own players, but I'm struggling to think of a 1st year KPP that has performed as well as Darling has to date to start his career over the last two decades.
Darling and Heppell clearly the standouts in regards to performance to date.
Id say Smith would be the leader atm, in the same way Darling is an amazing KPP Smith is a first year ruckman who is killing it atm.
How many other 21 year old ruckman are this good? This kid has all the talent to be the best ruckman in the game in a couple of years and i would say he is already in the best half dozen in his position in the game.
For me he will win the Rising star, ahead of Heppel and Darling.
Whether or not that translates into number 1 at the moment i dont know, i guess you need to compare the overall package for that, but based purley on performance so far he is my number 1
He is a great first year player but he wasn't in the draft mate.