Why is Cyril Rioli so highly rated?

[HappyChappy35]

Players from Geelong I would pick before Rioli

1. Hawkins
2. Selwood
3. Bartell
4. Johnson
5. Taylor
6. Enright
7. Motlop
8. Varcoe (when he's playing)

So no, I wouldn't say he is one of the first picked.

Further, his selection in the AA team embarrassed the competition. Kevin Bartlett and Garrard Healy were probably doing the stats for this one, it's the only way it makes sense.

Agree with that except Motlop. Don't get me wrong, Motlop has been fantastic and is starting to become a key component of our side (his pace, ability to set up goals, and run through the middle aids us in more ways than some people think), but still has a way to go before reaching Rioli's level.

Motlop is only a 4th year player, and even then wasn't receiving regular game time until last season. Has only really cemented his spot in our best 22 this year. Has the potential to catch Rioli though, maybe even surpass him, and would probably be handier at Geelong than Rioli based on the role he performs.

Varcoe ahead of Cyril is very debatable too. The rest are no-brainers though.

 

[forwardflanker]

Agree with that except Motlop. Don't get me wrong, Motlop has been fantastic and is starting to become a key component of our side (his pace, ability to set up goals, and run through the middle aids us in more ways than some people think), but still has a way to go before reaching Rioli's level.

Motlop is only a 4th year player, and even then wasn't receiving regular game time until last season. Has only really cemented his spot in our best 22 this year. Has the potential to catch Rioli though, maybe even surpass him, and would probably be handier at Geelong than Rioli based on the role he performs.

Varcoe ahead of Cyril is probably debatable too. The rest are no-brainers though.

I accept this

Motlop will be a star of the game in the future and I am quite certain that he will be a better player than Rioli.

When Varcoe is fit and on the park he is a gun. He also has Cyril covered in GF's imo

 

[Hodgepodge]

He also has Cyril covered in GF's imo

LOL no, if you're playing a Grand Final tomorrow and you pick Varcoe ahead of Rioli you'd be escorted to the Melbourne clinic. Varcoe has played a very good Grand Final, but that's 1 out of 3 or 4 attempts, and without getting any sort of tag.

Whereas Rioli played a good Grand Final in his first year. Was well tagged in the other one but again that's just the sort of attention Varcoe doesn't get.

 

[forwardflanker]

LOL no, if you're playing a Grand Final tomorrow and you pick Varcoe ahead of Rioli you'd be escorted to the Melbourne clinic. Varcoe has played a very good Grand Final, but that's 1 out of 3 or 4 attempts, and without getting any sort of tag.

Whereas Rioli played a good Grand Final in his first year. Was well tagged in the other one but again that's just the sort of attention Varcoe doesn't get.

Rioli got like 10 possession in his first GF. I think it's you who is the looney

 

[HappyChappy35]

Feel the same way about Varcoe and Hawkins but what can you do?

Outside of Geelong supporters not that many people rate Varcoe highly, rather unfairly I feel, so for a start you're incorrect on that account.

Hawkins hasn't produced his 2012 output thus far this season (partly because we actually have a plan B going I50 now rather than the "bomb it to Hawkins" approach we took last year) but almost won last year's Coleman for a reason. How you can call that overrated I don't know.

I accept this

Motlop will be a star of the game in the future and I am quite certain that he will be a better player than Rioli.

When Varcoe is fit and on the park he is a gun. He also has Cyril covered in GF's imo

I'm certain he'll be a very good player in future but not sure about being better than Rioli (don't really care whether he is or not anyway). Too early to tell at this stage, plus Rioli was already an absolute gun in his 2nd/3rd season.

And as much as I've loved Motlop's efforts this season, it's easy to forget how many Geelong supporters wanted him dropped not too long ago (I wasn't one of those people BTW).

 

[ESKIE]

Eddie is better

 

[Hodgepodge]

Rioli got like 10 possession in his first GF. I think it's you who is the looney

When did we start judging games only by possessions?

 

[vonn]

Look no further than Rioli's last game where he was the difference.

In my view, he is the best one on one player in the league and certainly, the best tackler in the game. It is Bruce McAvaney-ish to try and explain the game or a player's worth by using meaningless statistics that have little correlation with what we see with our eyes and what un-folds on the field.

Furthermore, if he were playing for Geelong he would be the first picked.

Best tackler in the game? Are you legit?

 

[detox]

Best tackler in the game? Are you legit?

Quite comfortably.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Best tackler in the game. Best at defensive pressure.

Jetta is so quick but his defensive work is lacking. Betts is mercurial but he rarely does much away from the forward 50. Milne goes close but he is on the decline.

Doesnt rack up possessions but its what he does with them that impresses the majority of players, coaches and pundits outside of this forum.

If i was selecting a 22 from the league, he would be in the first 5 i picked.
Buddy
Selwood
Dangerfield
Taylor
then Rioli

Best small forward in the comp

 

[Holy Rioli]

Was rated in the top 5 of the official AFL player ratings here:

http://www.afl.com.au/stats/player-ratings/ratings-hub

Firstly, I'd like to point out to Hawthorn posters before they try and jump all over me that this isn't a troll thread simply because it's been started by a Geelong supporter. It's a genuine question I have.

Can't quite manage to put my finger on why so many footy fans (especially on BF) and those in the media rate him in their top 5/top 10. What exactly is the criteria people rate Rioli on?

I'm not discounting his skills or athleticism, which are some of the best in the competition. Just questioning why so many people think this is the be-all and end-all when it comes to rating him. His impact for large periods of games is suspect, especially when Hawthorn aren't travelling well, and bobs up quite a bit only when it's required or when the Hawks are firmly on top. In addition to this he only averages 18 touches a game, well behind most premier midfielders and top 10 players.

Just want to see why people rate him so highly, that's all. I think that people look at his skills too much and sometimes glance over his effort/output in the process. Thoughts?

There was a game in late September 2008 Hawthorn vs Geelong - watch it, 1st season player, 25th game overall. Outside of GAJ name another Geelong player that performed better than him that day...

 

[Holy Rioli]

Agree with that except Motlop. Don't get me wrong, Motlop has been fantastic and is starting to become a key component of our side (his pace, ability to set up goals, and run through the middle aids us in more ways than some people think), but still has a way to go before reaching Rioli's level.

Motlop is only a 4th year player, and even then wasn't receiving regular game time until last season. Has only really cemented his spot in our best 22 this year. Has the potential to catch Rioli though, maybe even surpass him, and would probably be handier at Geelong than Rioli based on the role he performs.

Varcoe ahead of Cyril is very debatable too. The rest are no-brainers though.

Any mods following this? Stating Varcoe is better that Rioli is clearing trolling!

 

[Bardo State]

Agree with that except Motlop. Don't get me wrong, Motlop has been fantastic and is starting to become a key component of our side (his pace, ability to set up goals, and run through the middle aids us in more ways than some people think), but still has a way to go before reaching Rioli's level.

Motlop is only a 4th year player, and even then wasn't receiving regular game time until last season. Has only really cemented his spot in our best 22 this year. Has the potential to catch Rioli though, maybe even surpass him, and would probably be handier at Geelong than Rioli based on the role he performs.

Varcoe ahead of Cyril is very debatable too. The rest are no-brainers though.

This is why Rioli is under-rated on BF. His one deficiency is his consistency throughout games and low disposal count (even though he probably leads all other small forwards in these areas) and Varcoe's name is thrown into the ring? Really? The player who is less consistent than Rioli, gets less touches and provides none of his defensive or contested work? Really?

 

[vonn]

Quite comfortably.

If we're just talking about pure tackling, Bolton has him covered quite comfortably. Rioli isn't even the best in your team - I'd have Sewell above him.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Best tackler in the game? Are you legit?

 

[Bardo State]

If we're just talking about pure tackling, Bolton has him covered quite comfortably. Rioli isn't even the best in your team - I'd have Sewell above him.

When Rioli tackles you, you STAY tackled

 

[Holy Rioli]

If we're just talking about pure tackling, Bolton has him covered quite comfortably. Rioli isn't even the best in your team - I'd have Sewell above him.

I accept that Bolton has had a few games where the tackle numbers have been huge...but have you actually compared the two when it comes to technique?? Rioli's tackling technique is the best in the league by a long way even compared to ex rugby players like Karmichael. Combine his reflexes with the technique and you just don't even take him on he will get you every time!

 

[vonn]

So?

 

[Hodgepodge]

Oh ok, 19 tackles is about quantity, we're talking about quality here. Rioli imo is the best tackler in the league and probably already one of the great tacklers the game has seen.

 

[Harris Specter]

He's extremely effective for a player who has such a high percentage of his possessions contested. He's a big goal assist player. He's a goal kicker. He's probably the best tackler in the game. He can go into the middle and win a clearance. He's unselfish and also a smart player.

If it weren't for the hamstrings Rioli would be a full-time midfielder by now, so it's a shame we'll probably never see what might have been, but what we'll get is good enough anyway.

Until you mentioned Rioli, I thought you were talking about Josh Kennedy.

Honesty, he's way too inconsistent to be top 5.

 

[HappyChappy35]

Any mods following this? Stating Varcoe is better that Rioli is clearing trolling!

Point out where I said Varcoe was better than Rioli.

This is why Rioli is under-rated on BF. His one deficiency is his consistency throughout games and low disposal count (even though he probably leads all other small forwards in these areas) and Varcoe's name is thrown into the ring? Really? The player who is less consistent than Rioli, gets less touches and provides none of his defensive or contested work? Really?

Varcoe is consistent and provides enough defensive effort for mine, particularly now that he plays more as a midfielder. Also averaged more disposals than Rioli prior to 2012 when he was cruelled by injury.

Again, not arguing that Varcoe is the better player (which he isn't, forwardflanker is the man you want to debate that against). Just pointing out that he is quite a capable player in all those areas, except for contested work.

 

[vonn]

I accept that Bolton has had a few games where the tackle numbers have been huge...but have you actually compared the two when it comes to technique?? Rioli's tackling technique is the best in the league by a long way even compared to ex rugby players like Karmichael. Combine his reflexes with the technique and you just don't even take him on he will get you every time!

When Rioli tackles you, you STAY tackled

There's a very easy reason why his tackling numbers have been huge, it's because his tackles stick, he's pretty much made a career out of it. Rioli is a great player and his tackles, particularly run-downs (only because of his speed) are great viewing - but saying he's a better tackler than Jude? Please.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Until you mentioned Rioli, I thought you were talking about Josh Kennedy. Honesty, he's way too inconsistent to be top 5.

Nobody's questioning your honesty here, and probably top 5 is too high, but the whole list is a shambles so the rankings are pretty much irrelevant anyway.

 

[vonn]

Oh ok, 19 tackles is about quantity, we're talking about quality here. Rioli imo is the best tackler in the league and probably already one of the great tacklers the game has seen.

Lol, how can a tackle be more 'quality' than another? We aren't talking about goal assists or anything here, if you bring your opponent down - that's it. I understand some can be at more critical times than others and some can be HTB, but that's got nothing to do with tackling technique - just time and place.

 

[MarkCatsFan]

Cringed hard at that commentary