Jade
Smug lives here.
- Jul 8, 2008
- 34,628
- 53,707
- AFL Club
- Essendon
I was just reading the Mike Sheahan article regarding sharing the Anzac Day clash between clubs (another thread, done many times over Sheahan you twit), when something caught me:
"One great full-back, Essendon's Dustin Fletcher, will play his 14th Anzac Day fixture tomorrow. Scarlett, an even better full-back, won't ever get to play on the MCG on the biggest day of the home-and-away season."
Says friggin who??
Before someone points out the bleedingly freakin obvious - yes, I am an Essendon supporter (who else was going to pick out the above line, really).
It seems that there are a number of commonly held beliefs in footy, including BigFooty, that from what I can tell actually haven't been quantified. You know the type I mean, things assumed as fact that when you actually look at them, are perhaps as not as clear cut as they seem.
Who says Scarlett is better then Fletcher? Why is it just ASSUMED?
Dustin Fletcher is held in absolute reverance at Essendon, alongside and possibly ahead of Matthew Lloyd, just below James Hird for players that have played in the last twenty years.
So here's a couple things I looked at:
DISPOSALS:
Over the course of their respective careers, Fletcher and Scarlett have averaged approximately the same (around 14) disposals per game. But look a little deeper...
Scarlett peaked in disposals in 2007 and 2009, coincidentally in years when Geelong won the flag. So in a great side, Scarlett performed.
Fletcher on the other hand, has gotten his hands on the ball more as Essendon dipped on the ladder. He peaked in 2007.
The inference I'm making here, that Scarlett has gotten his hands on the ball MORE when his team mates are playing well. Fletcher has lifted in deeper times.
OPPONENTS:
This doesn't need much explanation. Scarlett has played on the best of his generation, but Fletcher has played on some of the greatest of all time. Lockett, Dunstall, Modra, Carey, Kernahan amongst others.
LONGEVITY:
I understand I am selling Scarlett short here, as he may very well go on to play as long as Fletcher has. As it is Fletcher has been an exceptional player for a longer period of time.
PREMIERSHIPS:
Both have two premierships. Importantly, Fletcher has his in what would be considered two different sides (ie. 2007 and 2009 Geelong were virtually the same side).
Both have a B&F. Fletcher got his in the most successful season by a team in history.
__________________________________________
I am not trying to downplay Scarlett as a player, but I am absolutely amazed that it is taken as a given that Scarlett is the superior.
What do you think?
"One great full-back, Essendon's Dustin Fletcher, will play his 14th Anzac Day fixture tomorrow. Scarlett, an even better full-back, won't ever get to play on the MCG on the biggest day of the home-and-away season."
Says friggin who??
Before someone points out the bleedingly freakin obvious - yes, I am an Essendon supporter (who else was going to pick out the above line, really).
It seems that there are a number of commonly held beliefs in footy, including BigFooty, that from what I can tell actually haven't been quantified. You know the type I mean, things assumed as fact that when you actually look at them, are perhaps as not as clear cut as they seem.
Who says Scarlett is better then Fletcher? Why is it just ASSUMED?
Dustin Fletcher is held in absolute reverance at Essendon, alongside and possibly ahead of Matthew Lloyd, just below James Hird for players that have played in the last twenty years.
So here's a couple things I looked at:
DISPOSALS:
Over the course of their respective careers, Fletcher and Scarlett have averaged approximately the same (around 14) disposals per game. But look a little deeper...
Scarlett peaked in disposals in 2007 and 2009, coincidentally in years when Geelong won the flag. So in a great side, Scarlett performed.
Fletcher on the other hand, has gotten his hands on the ball more as Essendon dipped on the ladder. He peaked in 2007.
The inference I'm making here, that Scarlett has gotten his hands on the ball MORE when his team mates are playing well. Fletcher has lifted in deeper times.
OPPONENTS:
This doesn't need much explanation. Scarlett has played on the best of his generation, but Fletcher has played on some of the greatest of all time. Lockett, Dunstall, Modra, Carey, Kernahan amongst others.
LONGEVITY:
I understand I am selling Scarlett short here, as he may very well go on to play as long as Fletcher has. As it is Fletcher has been an exceptional player for a longer period of time.
PREMIERSHIPS:
Both have two premierships. Importantly, Fletcher has his in what would be considered two different sides (ie. 2007 and 2009 Geelong were virtually the same side).
Both have a B&F. Fletcher got his in the most successful season by a team in history.
__________________________________________
I am not trying to downplay Scarlett as a player, but I am absolutely amazed that it is taken as a given that Scarlett is the superior.
What do you think?
