Player Watch #24: Ben Griffiths - retired effectively immediately

[Roachy8]

Reflecting on the beg fella's great 2014, & just for a bit of Christmas fun, predicting a massive year in 2015 for the big Griff!
Brings some very unique skills to the table with his big grabs & looooooooong kicking...

Oh - & different sizes bit some similarities to one of our greatest ever centre-half-forwards...

Merry Christmas campaigners!

 

[GoTigers2015]

Loved his goal against the Saints. He has the X Factor, but needs to get more involved. Hopefully last season experience and a good pre-season will give the confidence to take the next step.

 

[RememberRoyce]

The fact they both marked the ball in those photos is where the similarities end!

Coming off an extremely low base, Griff had an improved year. Still not sold though. The day he rips a game apart instead of just a few nice things here and there I will believe.

Believe he can be a long term player, not he might be as good a player as the great man!

Thanks for remembering Royce though! !

 

[SpudsLoveChild]

I hope he does.
Actually, I don't care which of Ben or TV takes over at CHF and dominates.
I just want at least one of them to come good.

 

[Tiger_man322]

The fact they both marked the ball in those photos is where the similarities end!

Coming off an extremely low base, Griff had an improved year. Still not sold though. The day he rips a game apart instead of just a few nice things here and there I will believe.

Believe he can be a long term player, not he might be as good a player as the great man!

Thanks for remembering Royce though! !

He is certainty a better option than Vickery atm. Better mark, better kick (60m no problem for Griff), Better ruckman. Better option up forward.

 

[bigstyletiger]

Hasnt shown he can play deep forward and beat a man though. Ty has done that on occasions. Griff gets his contested marks roaming as an unmarked ruckman and his marks as a forward outside 50 where there is more space. Not sure what his tank is like but i think his best bet is to become a running machine where he can use his running to burn opponents. That still leaves a spot for ty in a drew petrie roll close to goal. JR create havoc with a licence to roam

 

[Mogwai]

Gotta feel for him though, he showed promise as a backman in 2012, then pantsed by Casboult in R1 2013, and again reintroduced to the AFL as a bonafide Ruck/Forward in 2014.

If we hadn't kept throwing him around he'd be already up there with Carlisle as the premier up and coming forward.

 

[Infamy]

If he can keep up his rate of improvement (even only 50% of the improvement that he showed in 2014) then we should have our long term CHF. Really hope he comes on as he has teased he can as he could be a huge weapon for us.

 

[THE_GUN]

Too much expectations from Big Ben IMO - I hope he plays 15-20 games and kicks 25-30 goals in 2015

2016 is going to be the year he destroys teams (Remember he has just turned 23)

 

[partycorolla]

Too much expectations from Big Ben IMO - I hope he plays 15-20 games and kicks 25-30 goals in 2015

2016 is going to be the year he destroys teams (Remember he has just turned 23)

Most sensible post in this thread. If TV does the same and JR is JR then we will have a pretty potent forward line....

 

[Reservoir tiger]

Still a fair way behind vickery for mine. I think he is getting a pretty good run on here and from all supporters in general....Very average output for the year I thought. Has all the tools but needs to start using them.

 

[leekok]

Is he the longest kick in the comp? very handy at times

 

[The Rusty Trombone]

So glad we locked him up he has some serious skills . I hope he gets to play 80% chf this year while Maric toughs it out in the ruck !

 

[theflea]

Too much expectations from Big Ben IMO - I hope he plays 15-20 games and kicks 25-30 goals in 2015

2016 is going to be the year he destroys teams (Remember he has just turned 23)

But he does have to do this this level tho.

 

[Woodstock]

I just wish he had a bit of mongrel about him, this seems to be holding him back IMHO.

 

[tiggywigs]

Yes.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Could argue his ability to stand up at crucial times late in games with two crucial marks and calm head won two close games and allowed RFC to play finals .
Unique quality few have and when they realise it they become absolute superstars .

 

[Joker91]

He is certainty a better option than Vickery atm. Better mark, better kick (60m no problem for Griff), Better ruckman. Better option up forward.

No he isn't. The only thing he is better than Vickery at is contested marking and bombing the ball.

 

[unfoley926]

Think Griffo is more athletic but less aggressive Vicks plays more crash and bash, both can kick accurately Griffo being the longer kick.

Leave Vicks in the goal square Griffo CHF... Would have loved if he turned it on CHB though.

Then enters the Bean and Macca

 

[Jade's_]

He is certainty a better option than Vickery atm. Better mark, better kick (60m no problem for Griff), Better ruckman. Better option up forward.

Goal tally says differently

 

[juss]

No he isn't. The only thing he is better than Vickery at is contested marking and bombing the ball.

Griffiths is comfortably better than Vickery. Vickery is a lazy cherry picker that decides to put in some effort about once every 4 games.

 

[theflea]

Could argue his ability to stand up at crucial times late in games with two crucial marks and calm head won two close games and allowed RFC to play finals .
Unique quality few have and when they realise it they become absolute superstars .

Agree, when players finally realise they belong at the level, and that they can be very good at the same time, then they finally have the weapons to dominate their opponents.

 

[theflea]

Griffiths is comfortably better than Vickery. Vickery is a lazy cherry picker that decides to put in some effort about once every 4 games.

Imo saying comfortably better isn't right. I think they are different players anyway but right now TV is ahead or at least level in terms of output, but nowhere near 'comfortable ahead', but each to their own. Each player has their strength, which is different to the other which hopefully means they gel together.

 

[THE THIN MAN]

Bottom line is both Vickery and Griffiths need a drastic improvement in 2015 or one of them will be trade bait.

Can not keep two under performing forwards in the squad of players.

 

[Joker91]

Griffiths is comfortably better than Vickery. Vickery is a lazy cherry picker that decides to put in some effort about once every 4 games.

Yeah nah, you're wrong.

Vickery averaged more disposals and goals this year (once again)

Vickery has kicked bags on multiple times. Griffiths never has.

Vickery is actually very smart in close and usually finds the right option by hand or foot. Griffiths plan A is to bomb the ball 60 meters (nothing wrong with that) but saying he is better than Vickery is genuinely laughable.

Obviously he has all the tools and potential to be a very good player but potential and ability are two different things and at this current stage of there career Vickery has a lot more runs on the board.

Vickery>>>>Griff