Ben Cunnington vs Tom Liberatore

[the big lebowski]

I wouldn't say it was a standout game for Cunnington. He's been producing that sort of quality for almost 14 consecutive weeks of AFL footy. In those 14 weeks he's had one poor game and one injury game. The rest have all been 20+ disposal games.

These two will be two of the elite contested ball and clearance winners for the next decade.

I thought he was the reason we held on. Stood up when we really needed it. The thing is (like JZ) I just see so much improvement in him over the next few years.

 

[Dazb86]

Both have had 1 quiet game this year. Both teams would be very happy with their respective players.

Ben has faced Gee PA HAW SYD COLL placed 2,3,4,5 and Bris 13th
Tom has faced gee rich freo adel bris 2, 7,8 12,13

Just pointing out that let's wait until they have both played the best midfields.

Bit like PORT being 5-0 but they had played GC GWS and MEL

I'm happy to wait and see.

As it stands Libba has still had more disposals than cunnington with a game in hand.

He's been really good this year so far. To suggest the poll is a joke is pretty stupid.

 

[Daz]

Top 15 in avg Contested Possessions: Kennedy Ablett Liberatore Boyd O'Keefe Fyfe Swallow Watson Priddis Dangerfield Cunnington Pendlebury Cotchin Thompson Hayes

Top 15 in avg Clearances: Liberatore Swallow Priddis Kennedy O'Keefe Cunnington Mundy Boak Moloney Fyfe Pendlebury Jones Redden Hayes Ablett


Fair to say they're in good company.

Cunnington going at 10% less TOG than all of those (bar Priddis) and also has his stats dragged down by the Brisbane game when he got knocked out early and didn't play midfield.

So yeah, continuing on with the general theme of this thread, they're both guns.

 

[Bazzar]

Im still on the Cunnington bandwagon.

If i could have one at Richmond it would be Cunners in a heartbeat. (would still love Libba though)

 

[GarnerSmash]

The two best young inside mids in the comp.

 

[Snake_Baker]

I'm happy to have one, and I would be happier to have both of them.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I'm happy to have one, and I would be happier to have both of them.

Great way to put it.

 

[the big lebowski]

I'm happy to have one, and I would be happier to have both of them.

There would be way too much grinding if that was the case.

 

[ArjenTheGreat]

Viney's shoulders will be rooted by the time he's 20. Carrying that club as he does.

But that's enough off-topic jibes at Melbourne from me.

Fair enough.

How good is Ben Cunnington's fend off and general cleanliness though.... seriously, he is exceptional.

 

[ManOfClay]

Almost as good as Liberatore's ability to keep his feet and dish out to a free man, nine times out of 10.

 

[ArjenTheGreat]

Almost as good as Liberatore's ability to keep his feet and dish out to a free man, nine times out of 10.

Libba has many special talents too.

 

[the big lebowski]

Fair enough.

How good is Ben Cunnington's fend off and general cleanliness though.... seriously, he is exceptional.

It's underrated. People jizz over martins but Cunners is just as good.

He did it against rioli and got away with it, but didn't realise rioli would come back for more. Ones enough Ben. Ones enough.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Can't wait to watch these two (hopefully) go head-to-head this weekend.

 

[KillaKanga]

Can't wait to watch these two (hopefully) go head-to-head this weekend.

Be a very interesting contest. Blood rule might be the only thing to seperate them. Both will want to impress.

 

[Roobound]

Almost as good as Liberatore's ability to keep his feet and dish out to a free man, nine times out of 10.

This is not quite right otherwise his outside game is very poor as he currently goes @ 69.7DE.
Not a slight on him he gets the ball where its not easy to distribute. Currently 90 out of 142 possessions have been contested that's a high number for a kid. Looking forward to seeing him play on the weekend.

 

[ManOfClay]

This is not quite right otherwise his outside game is very poor as he currently goes @ 69.7DE.
Not a slight on him he gets the ball where its not easy to distribute. Currently 90 out of 142 possessions have been contested that's a high number for a kid. Looking forward to seeing him play on the weekend.

Almost 70% DE is pretty impressive I think - compare it to some of the more high profile guys like Cotchin etc - I may be wrong but I have seen some of their DE figures and it didn't look great.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

For the role he plays ~70% DE is quite good, but that said, it's a stupid statistic that really doesn't mean much at all.

 

[Roobound]

Almost 70% DE is pretty impressive I think - compare it to some of the more high profile guys like Cotchin etc - I may be wrong but I have seen some of their DE figures and it didn't look great.

70% is right on the league average. Not all players in the league get such high contested numbers as young Tom either.
l would expect this number will not increase for a while either. As Boyd is slipping slightly down the other side of the hill, Tom could find himself with a tag in 2 years if he keeps going the way he is.

 

[Igloo]

l would expect this number will not increase for a while either. As Boyd is slipping slightly down the other side of the hill, Tom could find himself with a tag in 2 years if he keeps going the way he is.

He's already had one this year, against Richmond. Something he's going to have to learn to deal with. I expect it will happen a lot in his career.

 

[Joshen]

Both had a bad moment in todays game. Ben shaded Tom though I thought.

 

[Daz]

Fair anticlimax that one.

 

[Kcrack]

I heard Libba's name called a fair bit, what were the stats?

 

[Igloo]

I heard Libba's name called a fair bit, what were the stats?

Libba - 14 touches, 3 clearances, 6 tackles, 10 contested possessions.
Cunnington - 18 touches, 9 clearances, 4 tackles, 12 contested possessions.

Hardly even noticed either of them. Quite surprised at Cunnington's 9 clearances, tbh.
Neither of them did anything particularly good. You'd probably give it to Cunnington on stats alone, but neither had much of an influence.

 

[Kcrack]

Libba - 14 touches, 3 clearances, 6 tackles, 10 contested possessions.
Cunnington - 18 touches, 9 clearances, 4 tackles, 12 contested possessions.

Hardly even noticed either of them. Quite surprised at Cunnington's 9 clearances, tbh.
Neither of them did anything particularly good. You'd probably give it to Cunnington on stats alone, but neither had much of an influence.

Agreed.

 

[Daz]

Pretty easy to miss the good work Cunnington does given most of his possessions are handballs in congestion. That said, he didn't have one of his better days today. Just the 72% TOG again.