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You cant compare players from 2 different eras of the game. Its like comparing Bradman and Tendulkar.
However in these scenarios I would always favour the more recent player, as sports science, fitness standards, and the speed and professionalism of the game (any game) far exceeds those from 20+ years ago.
So Jordan Butts, Dougal Howard and Lewis Melican over McGovern, Tom Stewart and Darcy Moore? InterestingJakovich, and it isn't close. I'll always pick the defender whose primary role is to stop his direct opponent. Few in the game have done it better than Jako did.
How do you apply that to Jakovich who was at the peak of physical conditioning in his era to McGovern who has been largely mocked for his conditioning throughout his career.You cant compare players from 2 different eras of the game. Its like comparing Bradman and Tendulkar.
However in these scenarios I would always favour the more recent player, as sports science, fitness standards, and the speed and professionalism of the game (any game) far exceeds those from 20+ years ago.
The shit Gov always cops hasnāt been fair. Itās never held him back as player both via fitness and strength. In fact post 2020 heās come back each preseason looking leaner and yet his body has broken down.How do you apply that to Jakovich who was at the peak of physical conditioning in his era to McGovern who has been largely mocked for his conditioning throughout his career.
Agree that the speed of the game has increased considerably, to the point our existing team canāt keep up.![]()
Fair or not with Gov, Jako was an absolute beast in his and any era of football, and the post I quoted was about conditioning.The shit Gov always cops hasnāt been fair. Itās never held him back as player both via fitness and strength. In fact post 2020 heās come back each preseason looking leaner and yet his body has broken down.
I'd hate to be a forward walking down to face a trio of Jakovich, McIntosh and McGovern. That mix would have been a sight to behold.Fair or not with Gov, Jako was an absolute beast in his and any era of football, and the post I quoted was about conditioning.
For what it is worth, I think both players redefined the sport.
Early 1990ās eagles were ultimate professionals of the day and Jako was the ultimate specimen. Redefined the strength and conditioning needed to play the game at the top level.
Gov mastered the intercept mark to the point that teams had to work out how to protect the drop of the ball better or even chaos ball it in to limit his influence.
Chad Cornes played the intercept defender role long before McGovern did.Both phenomenal players but McGovern takes the cookies for me.
While Jakovich was elite, McGovern invented the intercept defender role. Nobody before him played in the manner that he does, a defenders job was to nullify the forward with spoils and scragging.
McGovern comes along and simply outmarks the forward.
Testament to how he revolutionised the tall defender role is how many intercept defenders we have in the game today, something that 10 years ago didn't really exist.
Gov can usually just do his normal stuff while defending a 3rd tall type, or a younger player, but not vs a good player.Gov cannot lockdown on a player or maybe he can but has not been asked to??
Pretty important to be able to lock down an opposition player as a backman.