Analysis Rolling All-Australian team for 2021

[Gysberts2Bate]

I wouldn’t say there’s any gap between NN and Gawn at all tbh. Totally subjective as to which player you’d prefer and easily justifiable either way. Would love for Max to be picked in the starting ruck position given he’s been on the bench the past two seasons, but won’t cry myself to sleep if NN is picked ahead of him.

 

[Juddernaut08]

I wouldn’t say there’s any gap between NN and Gawn at all tbh. Totally subjective as to which player you’d prefer and easily justifiable either way. Would love for Max to be picked in the starting ruck position given he’s been on the bench the past two seasons, but won’t cry myself to sleep if NN is picked ahead of him.

elect this guy to negotiate peace in the middle-east!

 

[Seeds]

2021 AFL League Total Clearances Leaders

2021 AFL League Total Clearances Leaders.

www.footywire.com

Mind You if your talking main stats Nicnat is actually 5th overall for clearances behind only Libba, Parish, Oliver and Laird

Gawn ranked 49th which is also behind other ruckman in Hickey, Darcy and Grundy in that particular stat

gawns ahead of him in disposals though. So if nicnat is leading clearances it just means gawn is smashing him even more in other disposal stats.


net result. Gawn finds more of the ball.

 

[ams4crows]

If there's 20 seconds left on the clock in a game and you're team is 5 points down and there's a forward 50 stoppage or centre bounce I am 100% picking NicNat as the ruckman in that situation.

I don't care how good Gawn is around the ground a ruckmans job is to deliver clean ball to its midfield and there is no one in the league better at that than NicNat

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Gawn has an off day and suddenly he’s second ruck in the AA? Please. He’s been utterly dominant for 10 out of 13 games the side sitting a game clear on top of the ladder.

Cool your jets. It would take an almighty slump for our Max to be dislodged from the starting AA ruck position. Aint gonna happen. The bloke is a superstar.

Nic Nat has polled coaches votes in two more games than Gawn…

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

If there's 20 seconds left on the clock in a game and you're team is 5 points down and there's a forward 50 stoppage or centre bounce I am 100% picking NicNat as the ruckman in that situation.

I don't care how good Gawn is around the ground a ruckmans job is to deliver clean ball to its midfield and there is no one in the league better at that than NicNat

The only time we’ve been in that situation this year Gawn very easily tapped the ball down to Petracca to put us inside 50 against Adelaide, so I think we do okay NN’s ruck work is glorious to watch though

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

If there's 20 seconds left on the clock in a game and you're team is 5 points down and there's a forward 50 stoppage or centre bounce I am 100% picking NicNat as the ruckman in that situation.

I don't care how good Gawn is around the ground a ruckmans job is to deliver clean ball to its midfield and there is no one in the league better at that than NicNat

Who are you taking for the other 119 minutes and 40 seconds?

 

[Alesana]

gawns ahead of him in disposals though. So if nicnat is leading clearances it just means gawn is smashing him even more in other disposal stats.


net result. Gawn finds more of the ball.

Yeah except Gawn isn't exactly known for his field kicking is he... I'd rather anyone else getting the ball around the ground than the ruckman

 

[Lampers]

Dismissing Nic because he doesn't take loose marks at half back is like bagging Adam Gilchrist for not taking wickets.

His only serious shortcoming is his inability to play more than about 70% - however that's more likely due to the power/bullocking athlete he is

Worst. Analogy. Ever.

I do love how the Eagles supporters have rolled in and done exactly what they said they would.

Focus in on what Naitanui is good at, ignore/dismiss/justify what he’s poor at.

Why is it so hard to admit he’s really good at a couple of things, the best for his position at those things, and really bad at lots of other things? It’s only the truth.

 

[Lampers]

Yeah except Gawn isn't exactly known for his field kicking is he... I'd rather anyone else getting the ball around the ground than the ruckman

Trying to support Naitanui by calling Gawn a terrible field kick?

Gawn is OK as a field kick for a ruck, not great, not terrible. Have a look at Naitanui’s field kicking efficiency. It’s appalling.

 

[GatesOfHell]

If there's 20 seconds left on the clock in a game and you're team is 5 points down and there's a forward 50 stoppage or centre bounce I am 100% picking NicNat as the ruckman in that situation.

I don't care how good Gawn is around the ground a ruckmans job is to deliver clean ball to its midfield and there is no one in the league better at that than NicNat

That’s not the relevant question. The relevant question is - if you’re going with one ruckman in your Grand Final side this weekend who do you pick? Not for a 20 second cameo but for a full four quarter performance encompassing all aspects of ruck craft, filling the hole, taking marks around the ground, going forward at a pinch etc. The answer is Gawn every day of the week and three times on a Saturday. He’s the more complete player by some margin over Naitanui.

 

[Alesana]

Trying to support Naitanui by calling Gawn a terrible field kick?

Gawn is OK as a field kick for a ruck, not great, not terrible. Have a look at Naitanui’s field kicking efficiency. It’s appalling.

Where did I support NN in my post? It goes for any ruckman.
And NN's field kicking isn't great either, that's why you'd prefer him getting clearances under pressure with his kicks. Thought this would've been obvious.

 

[Blackas87]

Dismissing Nic because he doesn't take loose marks at half back is like bagging Adam Gilchrist for not taking wickets.

It’s more like would take a wicket keeper that’s better at the specific job of wicket keeping than Gilchrist but can’t bat?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Worst. Analogy. Ever.

I do love how the Eagles supporters have rolled in and done exactly what they said they would.

Focus in on what Naitanui is good at, ignore/dismiss/justify what he’s poor at.

Why is it so hard to admit he’s really good at a couple of things, the best for his position at those things, and really bad at lots of other things? It’s only the truth.

I don't dismiss them - there's plenty he is bad at - his field kicking is loopy as an example

Hence the Gilchrist analogy - not being able to take wickets is a non factor because it isn't his role. Equally i don't bag Josh Kennedy for his inability to win clearances.

His role is to help us win the ball at a ruck contest and move it forward so we score - that's his job - and he is damn near unbeatable at it.

But if you like your marks at half back - more power to you.

 

[Alesana]

It’s more like would take a wicket keeper that’s better at the specific job of wicket keeping than Gilchrist but can’t bat?

Do you mean like hitouts to advantage? Because that's a ruckmans specific job, and NN has Gawn beat there too. I like how you're supporting NN in your post

 

[Seeds]

I don't dismiss them - there's plenty he is bad at - his field kicking is loopy as an example

Hence the Gilchrist analogy - not being able to take wickets is a non factor because it isn't his role. Equally i don't bag Josh Kennedy for his inability to win clearances.

His role is to help us win the ball at a ruck contest and move it forward so we score - that's his job - and he is damn near unbeatable at it.

But if you like your marks at half back - more power to you.

If He was unbeatable at it he wouldn’t be losing hits outs per game to Gawn

hell Rhys Stanley beat Nic Nat this year. Stanley can’t even get a game at the moment.

 

[Blackas87]

Do you mean like hitouts to advantage? Because that's a ruckmans specific job, and NN has Gawn beat there too. I like how you're supporting NN in your post

That’s what I’m saying, Nic Nat can wicket keep, he can’t bat like Gilchrist though

 

[The Falcon Strike]

If He was unbeatable at it he wouldn’t be losing hits outs per game to Gawn

hell Rhys Stanley beat Nic Nat this year. Stanley can’t even get a game at the moment.

Hit outs per game is a function of opportunity.

You could be the best keeper in the world - if no one nicks the ball - you aren't taking catches.

And hitouts are largely irrelevant if they don't lead to your team getting an advantage one would have thought - but hey tappity tap tap.

In rucking alone - i'd take Nic over pretty much any ruckman I have ever seen. So then it comes down to does his clearance and bullocking work at the contest outweigh the defensive marks, or around the ground play others possess.

 

[baby pluto]

That’s not the relevant question. The relevant question is - if you’re going with one ruckman in your Grand Final side this weekend who do you pick? Not for a 20 second cameo but for a full four quarter performance encompassing all aspects of ruck craft, filling the hole, taking marks around the ground, going forward at a pinch etc. The answer is Gawn every day of the week and three times on a Saturday. He’s the more complete player by some margin over Naitanui.

Naitanui is the obvious answer, unless your team is lacking good KPP’s and wingmen. What use is Gawn being good in all of those things if the team already has players that can do them far better, e.g rather Gaff linking up than Gawn, McGovern can fill the hole fine.

There is not a single player more impactful at stoppages than Naitanui, there are plenty better around the ground than Gawn. The two players probably fit their teams very well in this regard as eagles clearly need the midfield help whereas Melbourne is quite stackedin that area.

 

[eth-dog]

Naitanui is the obvious answer, unless your team is lacking good KPP’s and wingmen. What use is Gawn being good in all of those things if the team already has players that can do them far better, e.g rather Gaff linking up than Gawn, McGovern can fill the hole fine.

There is not a single player more impactful at stoppages than Naitanui, there are plenty better around the ground than Gawn. The two players probably fit their teams very well in this regard as eagles clearly need the midfield help whereas Melbourne is quite stackedin that area.

Odd argument given Lever has been the best intercept player this year and Langdon a top 5 winger this year at a minimum

 

[baby pluto]

Odd argument given Lever has been the best intercept player this year and Langdon a top 5 winger this year at a minimum

Think a lot of Levers intercept marks come from the pressure up the ground. Not too discredit his season as he’s been fantastic but I’d much rather McGovern (and Gawn) filling that hole in the defence late in games.

Langdon had a really good year I personally don’t think Gawn adds much to Melbourne by getting disposals in general play. His biggest benefit with around the ground work is his ability to win the long down the line ball, an area eagles go alright in considering the marking options available.

Naitanui is the obvious choice if you need to strengthen your midfield. However, the Dogs for example would probably benefit greater from Gawn than Naitanui.

 

[eth-dog]

Think a lot of Levers intercept marks come from the pressure up the ground. Not too discredit his season as he’s been fantastic but I’d much rather McGovern (and Gawn) filling that hole in the defence late in games.

Langdon had a really good year I personally don’t think Gawn adds much to Melbourne by getting disposals in general play. His biggest benefit with around the ground work is his ability to win the long down the line ball, an area eagles go alright in considering the marking options available.

Naitanui is the obvious choice if you need to strengthen your midfield. However, the Dogs for example would probably benefit greater from Gawn than Naitanui.

Yeah, now you're just making excuses for your poor argument.

 

[Bulldog1954]

If there's 20 seconds left on the clock in a game and you're team is 5 points down and there's a forward 50 stoppage or centre bounce I am 100% picking NicNat as the ruckman in that situation.

If there’s 20 seconds left on the clock in a game and my team is 5 points up and my ruckman is pushing back to take the match saving pack mark or to kill the contest I am 100% taking Gawn.

 

[Lampers]

Think a lot of Levers intercept marks come from the pressure up the ground. Not too discredit his season as he’s been fantastic but I’d much rather McGovern (and Gawn) filling that hole in the defence late in games.

Langdon had a really good year I personally don’t think Gawn adds much to Melbourne by getting disposals in general play. His biggest benefit with around the ground work is his ability to win the long down the line ball, an area eagles go alright in considering the marking options available.

Naitanui is the obvious choice if you need to strengthen your midfield. However, the Dogs for example would probably benefit greater from Gawn than Naitanui.

TLDR Eagles best!

 

[Big 0]

Does Rory Laird get a look in? Been really good this year from what I've seen