ELITE MIDFIELDERS 2013

[Kavliaris69]

My definition of being an elite midfielder is someone who has dealt with tags and constantly beaten them. On that basis, only Pendlebury, Ablett and Watson have done that in recent times and are what I regard as "elite". There are tonnes of players that run rampant without attention and look like superstars, i.e Johnson, Jack, Stanton, Barlow, Deledio and Hodge but until they consistently attract taggers week in and week out and beat them, it's hard to put them in the same category as the three I mentioned.

Would add Mitchell and J. Selwood to your list. The rest are just A grade (which is still pretty damn good).

I am just sick of people calling Swan elite. No where near Pendles. He is to Pendles as Nathan Burke was to Robert Harvey. Runs hard get plenty of it but not enough class to finish off right.

 

[The Prosecutor]

I agree with you totally. Most teams have one elite player and plenty of A grades. There are probably only 4 "elite" mids in the whole comp that can produce serious quality posessions, clearances, etc. Ablett, Mitchell, Selwood and Pendles. They are true mids that have proved their elite abilities. The rest of the so called "elite" are A grade players.

If Watson doesn't sit amongst those four, then I have no idea what elite is.

 

[pie chucker]

I'd argue the Murphy is not elite this year. Actually he's been disappointing as I thought he'd take the step to elite this year.

 

[d-mac3276]

Dyson Heppell is good but far from elite, you are missing quite a few better midfielders than him (Ablett, Deledio, O'Keefe, McVeigh, Thompson, Sloane, Mundy, Fyfe, Griffen, Boyd etc.)

Give it time and he'll be above all of em, bar Gaz

 

[quin_stick]

I'd argue the Murphy is not elite this year. Actually he's been disappointing as I thought he'd take the step to elite this year.

Agree, so many people rate him as elite, but I just can't see what separates him from the likes of Rockliff/Stanton/Dal Santo/Wells etc etc etc

 

[Watson_my_mind]

My list of best mids in the comp:

1) Ablett
2) Pendlebury
3) Mitchell
4) Watson
5) Selwood
6) Kennedy
7) Dangerfield
8) Swan
9) Murphy
10) Cotchin
11) Deledio
12) Judd
13) Swallow
14) Beams
15) Griffen
16) Hodge
17) Thompson
18) Johnson
19) Boak
20) Jack
21) Fyfe
22) Stanton
23) Hannebury
24) Boyd
25) Martin

 

[Dazb86]

For mine there is only one elite midfielder in the league.

Gary Ablett.

 

[anhtuan4]

Do people actually think Zakka, Heppell & Goddard are on par with either Watson, Pendles or Gaz?

 

[HeavyPop]

That's right it was more than a year ago. He shredded Collingwood a new one this year

Correct, but consistency is what makes someone elite, something Stanton has yet to show.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Correct, but consistency is what makes someone elite, something Stanton has yet to show.

Consistency is hardly something Stanton lacks.

 

[HeavyPop]

Consistency is hardly something Stanton lacks.

He had 20 or less touches 7 times last year, I'd argue that implies he is inconsistent.

 

[port_adelaide_1870]

Ollie Wines stiff not to get a mention

 

[joop]

Sloane > heppel, Stanton, barlow

 

[Spanish_Fly]

My list of best mids in the comp:

1) Ablett
2) Pendlebury
3) Mitchell
4) Watson
5) Selwood
6) Kennedy
7) Dangerfield
8) Swan
9) Murphy
10) Cotchin
11) Deledio
12) Judd
13) Swallow
14) Beams
15) Griffen
16) Hodge
17) Thompson
18) Johnson
19) Boak
20) Jack
21) Fyfe
22) Stanton
23) Hannebury
24) Boyd
25) Martin

Wow, great lst, as a Tiges supporter I would have Cotchin around the 5-8 mark, but otherwise an excellent list.

 

[The King!]

Elite to me means a select group, the best of the best who have been doing it in the position for a reasonable amount of time at the elite level.

Ablett leads the group by a mile for mine, then you would not throw many others in it, watson obviously, pendlebury, j.selwood, swan maybe, judd at his best maybe drifiting out of the group, that sort of player

 

[Spitta09]

OP if Brent Stanton is elite then chuck Sam Gibson in there for North

 

[kenneje]

OP if Brent Stanton is elite then chuck Sam Gibson in there for North

Haha. It's a good point, there's plenty of great midfielders out there who aren't in the 'elite' bracket. Jack, Bolton, Sewell, Burgoyne, Boyd, Beams. Stanton is in this bracket, no way does he sit with Ablett, Watson, Mitchell, Pendles and Selwood...Laughable

 

[Tigers_fan24]

Thread needs more Richmond supporters claiming delidio is better than Stanton.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...d1=1484&tid2=6&pid2=1347&type=A&fid1=S&fid2=S

stats don't lie - they're pretty much neck and neck in regards to the numbers. Arguable that lids is slightly ahead imo due to uncontested possessions, 1 percenters and disposal efficiency - depends which stats you value more??? I am not doing to declare that anyone is "better"

 

[indy nile]

For mine there is only one elite midfielder in the league.

Gary Ablett.

Exactly. No other player is in Ablett's class. If Pendlebury, Watson and co are elite, then Ablett must be MegaElite or something

 

[tazaa]

Lack of Griffen disappoints me.

Brad Scott knows the score:


http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/eagle-eye-on-daws-haul-20130511-2jff0.html

Not if you support West Coast, Hawthorn or Essendon he doesnt.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Ollie Wines stiff not to get a mention

Since he was destroyed by Vlastuin, I guess that the latter is stiff too!

 

[Astro Bomber]

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...d1=1484&tid2=6&pid2=1347&type=A&fid1=S&fid2=S

stats don't lie - they're pretty much neck and neck in regards to the numbers. Arguable that lids is slightly ahead imo due to uncontested possessions, 1 percenters and disposal efficiency - depends which stats you value more??? I am not doing to declare that anyone is "better"

I go by dreamteam points Stanton wins
But seriously. Stanton uses his kicks more and still goes at very good efficiency and very low clangers. Tackling is another bow he has added to his game this year.

 

[matty lloyd the champ]

OP if Brent Stanton is elite then chuck Sam Gibson in there for North

You don't honestly think Gibson is anywhere close to Stanton do you?

 

[Astro Bomber]

You don't honestly think Gibson is anywhere close to Stanton do you?

Yep. Stanton even shats all over Wells (like for like), his only equivalent at North is Swallow.
As they say, stat's don't lie:
http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...d1=1649&tid2=6&pid2=1347&type=A&fid1=S&fid2=S

 

[theflea]

Deledio had no impact on the game at all. That doesn't mean he is not an elite midfielder however. One average game does not mean he is an average player. Nor does, 2 or 3 or even a whole season. If you work on this criteria no player in the history of the game is elite.

yep true but just on the no influence point he made mundy have no influence so while he didnt really either he tied 2 players up for 1.