Opinion Elite Potential on our List

[Blind Turn]

I'd probably just have Merrett (who already is elite), Ridley if we let him play as a general defender rather than key, Martin if he is moved up the ground, and maybe Caddy.

Some of our other names (Langford, Redman, Durham, Caldwell, Draper) are capable of being good to very good but won't ever be A-Graders/elite.

Agree with all but the Durham assessment. I think he’s a champion of the game if he believes it.

 

[faible]

But again, Langford’s best year is still not to the level I am speaking of. I’m talking about champions of the game status. We haven’t had them since Hird and Lloyd. Where’s the next one coming from? I don’t think it’s Langford or Redman. We need to set our sights higher. Sure, at their best they are guns in their position. We will accept that as good enough in a chalkenging team. But we need a handful of players reaching higher than that around them. A Bont, a Neale, a Curnow, and a Harris Andrews and suddenly you’re a premiership team.

I agree that we need to find someone that’s the level above just being one of the better players in their position.

I think Langford is a little underrated, medium forward-wise there’s not many providing the goals each week he does, there’s just not much help for him. Caddy is only a second year player so the hope would be Wright can return to the goalkicking form he has a couple of seasons ago.

 

[jdstorm]

But again, Langford’s best year is still not to the level I am speaking of. I’m talking about champions of the game status. We haven’t had them since Hird and Lloyd. Where’s the next one coming from? I don’t think it’s Langford or Redman. We need to set our sights higher. Sure, at their best they are guns in their position. We will accept that as good enough in a chalkenging team. But we need a handful of players reaching higher than that around them. A Bont, a Neale, a Curnow, and a Harris Andrews and suddenly you’re a premiership team.

Lloyd especially had a lot of help as spearhead on one of the best teams ever assembled.

He was a great player no doubt but if you plugged in a modern day 200cm version of him onto this team he’d not be overly effective because no one can kick an entry pass.

one of the biggest issues with this side is it’s unbalanced list makes many players look worse then they are and hides the overall talent level due to obvious deficiencies that are easily exploited.

If Harris Andrew’s played for Essendon he’d be getting goals kicked on him with some regularity.

Even do it all larger mids can get doubled/tagged and have their impact stifled. It’s a team game and team synergies trump talent more often then not

It’s why average players on good teams get overrated (see tigers trade haul) and good players on poor teams get undervalued

 

[Cold Sober]

And great players get slaughtered by mediocrity.
Jakes 42 goals with absolute shit up ground service was not given the credit it deserved.

 

[Blind Turn]

Lloyd especially had a lot of help as spearhead on one of the best teams ever assembled.

He was a great player no doubt but if you plugged in a modern day 200cm version of him onto this team he’d not be overly effective because no one can kick an entry pass.

one of the biggest issues with this side is it’s unbalanced list makes many players look worse then they are and hides the overall talent level due to obvious deficiencies that are easily exploited.

If Harris Andrew’s played for Essendon he’d be getting goals kicked on him with some regularity.

Even do it all larger mids can get doubled/tagged and have their impact stifled. It’s a team game and team synergies trump talent more often then not

It’s why average players on good teams get overrated (see tigers trade haul) and good players on poor teams get undervalued

Team game or not you need those who elevate the team.

Lloyd is close to the best mark at full pace the game has ever seen. He’s also one of the best set shots we’ve seen. He could make goals out of nothing at ground level and brings others around him into the game. He’d have risen above the mediocrity without doubt.

 

[Happyskeret]

Not saying he is in the same league as others you mentioned but I would have loved to see Michael Hurley in a premiership contending side. He was was an elite backman imo especially in his younger days with his lovely pinpoint passes on either side of his feet. Later on he was much more kick down the line but even at a young age he could hold his own in a marking duel with the big boys.

 

[Happyskeret]

Team game or not you need those who elevate the team.

Lloyd is close to the best mark at full pace the game has ever seen. He’s also one of the best set shots we’ve seen. He could make goals out of nothing at ground level and brings others around him into the game. He’d have risen above the mediocrity without doubt.

Very good set shot including the long set shots until he tore that hammy off the bone.

 

[Blind Turn]

Not saying he is in the same league as others you mentioned but I would have loved to see Michael Hurley in a premiership contending side. He was was an elite backman imo especially in his younger days with his lovely pinpoint passes on either side of his feet. Later on he was much more kick down the line but even at a young age he could hold his own in a marking duel with the big boys.

Hurley and Hooker both great players for our club, no doubt. Both AA backmen. A tier below the best of the best though. Hurley’s inability to mark consistently overhead due to scaphoid issues early in his career probably robbed us of him being the player he could’ve been. Him and Ryder were the two I was excited about in that era and neither really became what I hoped. Very good careers but tantalisingly short of the gamechangers I envisaged.

 

[Happyskeret]

Hurley and Hooker both great players for our club, no doubt. Both AA backmen. A tier below the best of the best though. Hurley’s inability to mark consistently overhead due to scaphoid issues early in his career probably robbed us of him being the player he could’ve been. Him and Ryder were the two I was excited about in that era and neither really became what I hoped. Very good careers but tantalisingly short of the gamechangers I envisaged.

It does make me wonder if he played for another club would have that potential been reached? I remember on his first or second game him out marking Tredrea. He also was a tough matchup for Nick Riewoldt who I greatly admire.

 

[jdstorm]

Team game or not you need those who elevate the team.

Lloyd is close to the best mark at full pace the game has ever seen. He’s also one of the best set shots we’ve seen. He could make goals out of nothing at ground level and brings others around him into the game. He’d have risen above the mediocrity without doubt.

I highly doubt that given what happened towards the end of his career.

He’s basically patient zero for the team culture that we are trying to finally undo.

 

[Blind Turn]

It does make me wonder if he played for another club would have that potential been reached? I remember on his first or second game him out marking Tredrea. He also was a tough matchup for Nick Riewoldt who I greatly admire.

He’s also also kicked a goal from outside 50 on his left foot to seal the win that put the Hawks out of finals in 2009 in the Lloyd/Sewell game which made me sit up and take notice.

 

[Blind Turn]

I highly doubt that given what happened towards the end of his career.

He’s basically patient zero for the team culture that we are trying to finally undo.

You’re thinking about the Lloyd who was winding down with a dodgy hamstring and being played out of position by Knights, whereas I’m thinking of peak Lloyd of the late 90s/early 2000s. I’m pretty sure you’re aware of the version we’d love to see at our club right now.

 

[Happyskeret]

He’s also also kicked a goal from outside 50 on his left foot to seal the win that put the Hawks out of finals in 2009 in the Lloyd/Sewell game which made me sit up and take notice.

I also thought for a period of 4 to 5 years Hooker and Hurley were arguably the best two combo of key defenders for any side in the game. If they played for another club with that form it could have netted them a couple of flags.

 

[jdstorm]

You’re thinking about the Lloyd who was winding down with a dodgy hamstring and being played out of position by Knights, whereas I’m thinking of peak Lloyd of the late 90s/early 2000s. I’m pretty sure you’re aware of the version we’d love to see at our club right now.

Still the same person/brain.

Any team would love a modern version of Lloydy. I just think that on this team we’d speak about him like we speak about Max King on the saints.

Good player but you want more production

 

[Blind Turn]

Still the same person/brain.

Any team would love a modern version of Lloydy. I just think that on this team we’d speak about him like we speak about Max King on the saints.

Good player but you want more production

I’m not one to usually belittle a post by someone but mate, seriously?

 

[jdstorm]

I’m not one to usually belittle a post by someone but mate, seriously?

Maybe King is a bad example. The point I’m trying to make is that I just don’t think our transition play is any good and we’d find ways to make his life hard with our poor F50 entries/turnovers.

think hed be in the 40-50 goal range and not the 60+ range the real elite KPP get to in good sides. And his as seen on TV personality doesn’t inspire any confidence that he’d be a transformative culture guy

 

[JayJ20]

I don't see any elite potential other than Caddy yet. Caddy is a tough match up, but is there anyone else that makes opposition coaches nervous to go up against? I see it with Daicos, JHF, Harley Reid, Warner, Darcy, Mac Andrew etc but don't see anything from our list at that level. Jobe Watson is the only player that I believe was a superstar of the competition since Lloyd, Lucas and Hird. Maybe I'm a bit tough on Merrett, but his two main weaknesses (kicking goals and breaking tags) prevents him from being the player that can win the game on his own at any time the way Bont, Danger, Fyfe, Martin can/could.

I look through the list and don't see that superstar yet. Tsatas could have been that player if his kicking wasn't atrocious or if he was a contested beast like Dangerfield.

It's why I'm all in on the Harley Reid or Dyson Sharp bandwagon. We need to have one of them on our list as we have the A- to B+ grade talent to complement them.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

I don't see any elite potential other than Caddy yet. Caddy is a tough match up, but is there anyone else that makes opposition coaches nervous to go up against? I see it with Daicos, JHF, Harley Reid, Warner, Darcy, Mac Andrew etc but don't see anything from our list at that level. Jobe Watson is the only player that I believe was a superstar of the competition since Lloyd, Lucas and Hird. Maybe I'm a bit tough on Merrett, but his two main weaknesses (kicking goals and breaking tags) prevents him from being the player that can win the game on his own at any time the way Bont, Danger, Fyfe, Martin can/could.

I look through the list and don't see that superstar yet. Tsatas could have been that player if his kicking wasn't atrocious or if he was a contested beast like Dangerfield.

It's why I'm all in on the Harley Reid or Dyson Sharp bandwagon. We need to have one of them on our list as we have the A- to B+ grade talent to complement them.

Yes. yes you are

 

[bombreys]

Merrett is unquestionably elite for mine. I'd rate Ridley elite as a third defender too. Martin may be an elite winger with a full season there - or perhaps is ceiling is just a level below elite.

As for potential, the obvious one is Caddy. Maybe Kako.

 

[boncer34]

Mercurial89 Zerrett is elite.

Please discuss

 

[windyhill]

Clearly positioning ourselves for Harley's homecoming, elite potential through the roof. Kako crumbing off Nate one to watch for.

 

[Mercurial89]

Mercurial89 Zerrett is elite.

Please discuss

Zach is a really good player.

 

[eth-dog]

Aside from Merrett who we all know I'd have the following as potential superstars:

Elijah Tsatas, Isaac Kako, Jordan Ridley*, Archie Roberts, Nate Caddy, Zach Reid, Nic Martin.

*He kind of is but he can't stay on the park.

These guys provide game breaking ability more than anyone else on the list for me, whether it be through elite disposal, speed, decision making or whatever. I see a lot of debate over Durham here but for me he's a very good player who has flexibility to play inside or outside but doesn't have any outstanding attributes.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Zach is a really good player.

Come on Merc you can do better than that

 

[crackers65]

Still the same person/brain.

Any team would love a modern version of Lloydy. I just think that on this team we’d speak about him like we speak about Max King on the saints.

Good player but you want more production

Don’t mention King in the same breath as Lloyd. Matty actually delivered, where as King only ever threatens to produce.