Gone Critical
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- Moderator
- #251
I would like to point out a few other features re my point about an average player looking better when his team has success.
Again I say I like Poppy because he is a heart and soul trier. History wouldn't be as kind to him if he were not playing in such a successful team. His finals record over the last 4 years, where Hawks have played in 4 GFs and won 3 flags, is a case in point. I looked this up a while ago when posting on the Pies board making an argument that Blair and Poppy were very similar in ability and output. Before I looked at his stats I would have said he was a really solid finals player who contributed a lot over these campaigns.
Stats, and I know they can lie, say something else. As a small forward in the last 4 GFs he has kicked one goal (2014 when Hawks kicked 21). In one GF he has had more than 10 possessions (2015). In the four finals series, where he has played either 3 or 4 games, there was only one year where he kicked more than 1 goal (2014, 3 goals). He has kicked a total of 6 goals in those 13 finals matches where his team has won 11 times.
I know stats don't tell the whole story but I was surprised how poor he has been statistically and think he has probably been spared scruitiny because the team has gone so well through these times. If Hawks were losing finals through these years more attention would have been payed to Poppy's output. He plays his role for his side and the role is one where his output isn't so important as sacrificing for the team, 1%s, chase and pressure. If he didn't have the large output of follow forwards around him that he has had at Hawthorn perceptions of his role and ability would change. Like Blair he would find you go from being a bit of a team darling when success is being had to a whipping boy and fan target when success dries up.
Again I say I like Poppy because he is a heart and soul trier. History wouldn't be as kind to him if he were not playing in such a successful team. His finals record over the last 4 years, where Hawks have played in 4 GFs and won 3 flags, is a case in point. I looked this up a while ago when posting on the Pies board making an argument that Blair and Poppy were very similar in ability and output. Before I looked at his stats I would have said he was a really solid finals player who contributed a lot over these campaigns.
Stats, and I know they can lie, say something else. As a small forward in the last 4 GFs he has kicked one goal (2014 when Hawks kicked 21). In one GF he has had more than 10 possessions (2015). In the four finals series, where he has played either 3 or 4 games, there was only one year where he kicked more than 1 goal (2014, 3 goals). He has kicked a total of 6 goals in those 13 finals matches where his team has won 11 times.
I know stats don't tell the whole story but I was surprised how poor he has been statistically and think he has probably been spared scruitiny because the team has gone so well through these times. If Hawks were losing finals through these years more attention would have been payed to Poppy's output. He plays his role for his side and the role is one where his output isn't so important as sacrificing for the team, 1%s, chase and pressure. If he didn't have the large output of follow forwards around him that he has had at Hawthorn perceptions of his role and ability would change. Like Blair he would find you go from being a bit of a team darling when success is being had to a whipping boy and fan target when success dries up.