Opinion Elite Potential on our List

[Nifft]

Not getting into the amount of quality players we have on the list too much but I would say that being elite has to include some kind of consistency at a certain level.

My tiers would be something like this

Legend
Superstar
Elite
Great
Good
Above average
Average
Below average
Bad

Good players can look like great players for a stretch of time but water finds its level and they drop back down to the good tier. That's what makes them only good, not great.
Similarly players can play below their level for stretches.
As time goes on if your playing more lower tier football than your perceived level then you just become that tier (good player strings multiple years together of average football then the good tier looks to be the aberration).

Zach is a great player who looks like he is elite, at times, but cannot string it together enough to be considered truly elite. Not enough game winning performances or moments.

We also have a few players with elite traits, but at some point actual performance has to be what they are. Injuries also play a role, I don't consider you "elite" if you play a 3rd of seasons looking really great in those games but your missing a bunch, best ability is availability so that knocks you down in the ranks (Eg. Ridley).

Agree with what you're saying. Consistency has to be considered rather than just potential, which is why I don't think McGrath or Parish are elite even though they have some elite traits. I do believe Zach has done enough to be considered elite, even though he has the occasional off game.

Would you consider Hird a Legend? The best player I've seen is Ablett Snr, so I'd say he's the benchmark for legend status.

As an aside I hate the way the news articles throw around the term superstar. They're probably doing it for clicks, but every second article seems to talk about how some "superstar" is training the house down or is injured etc.

 

[Agronomus]

My memory of Hird in ‘92 was his marking ability at the time and his ability to drift across with superior judgement. His last 2 games that year were a nice little taster for what was to come but at that early point we all thought he was going to be an undersized key forward.
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I think a lot of us saw what we wanted to see

 

[Agronomus]

If we had a starting midfield of Tsatas, Durham & H.Reid with Caldwell as the fourth midfielder we could win finals

 

[Blind Turn]

I think a lot of us saw what we wanted to see

Well, he was being named as a ChF and took 15 marks as one in his second game.

 

[Mercurial89]

Agree with what you're saying. Consistency has to be considered rather than just potential, which is why I don't think McGrath or Parish are elite even though they have some elite traits. I do believe Zach has done enough to be considered elite, even though he has the occasional off game.

Would you consider Hird a Legend? The best player I've seen is Ablett Snr, so I'd say he's the benchmark for legend status.

As an aside I hate the way the news articles throw around the term superstar. They're probably doing it for clicks, but every second article seems to talk about how some "superstar" is training the house down or is injured etc.

I don't quite trust my eye when it comes to Hird, he was my favourite player and obviously played for us so I feel I'm not exactly impartial in putting him in a category.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

I honestly think that Nick Martin (wing), Ridley, Kako and Caddy are the only ones with the talent to be the best in their positions.

 

[Blind Turn]

I honestly think that Nick Martin (wing), Ridley, Kako and Caddy are the only ones with the talent to be the best in their positions.

Reid would be the other but is such an unknown quantity in many respects. Taylor, Andrews, and Weitering have a strong hold on that mantle.

 

[faible]

Reid would be the other but is such an unknown quantity in many respects. Taylor, Andrews, and Weitering have a strong hold on that mantle.

The version of Reid that didn't get injured and has played and developed consistently would be a pretty elite KPD.

You're looking at a > 2m tall KPD with a good tank, massive reach to make him an elite intercept player, and that's a good kick of the ball.

He'd probably struggle in a wrestle against your big monsters, but he'd be a fantastic defender in most situations.

 

[Blind Turn]

And if we’re presently talking best in their positions’, this is where players like Cox can’t be considered as being in the conversation for potentially reaching the heights of the elite in the competition. He has nowhere to fit and unless you can find a fit you will likely never get there. Adam Goodes and Pavlich would be the closest to achieving that rare feat. Goodes was tried in many positions but somehow managed to become elite while still being used everywhere. It’s why I hold him in such high regard. Pavlich was elite wherever he played from very early on. Cox will need to channel Goodes to ever get there or otherwise aim a little lower and channel Blicavs.

 

[Milanista28]

There may be some supporters and plenty of opposition who think we are 16th but I would say the majority around here think we are 8th to 12th and that is our problem. Enough talent to win games but no super stars , not enough genuine leaders and lacking the mental toughness to take the next step in recent years. Add that to the revolving door of coaches. The after effects of the saga. Lack of spending in player development until very recently and a list manager who was not in the wort 5 or 6 but not in the best 6 or 7 and you have us. Middle of the road flat track front runners who like the game played on our terms but struggle otherwise.

I was reading the Richmond board over the draft period and some of their fans refer to us and the Saints as treadmill teams. Made complete sense.

 

[Rick Ross]

And if we’re presently talking best in their positions’, this is where players like Cox can’t be considered as being in the conversation for potentially reaching the heights of the elite in the competition. He has nowhere to fit and unless you can find a fit you will likely never get there. Adam Goodes and Pavlich would be the closest to achieving that rare feat. Goodes was tried in many positions but somehow managed to become elite while still being used everywhere. It’s why I hold him in such high regard. Pavlich was elite wherever he played from very early on. Cox will need to channel Goodes to ever get there or otherwise aim a little lower and channel Blicav

For my boy Cox, I still feel he’s part of the discussion based upon “potential”


Totally agree until he gets a role and makes it his (with performance) and dominates he’s no where near elite.

 

[jdstorm]

Reid would be the other but is such an unknown quantity in many respects. Taylor, Andrews, and Weitering have a strong hold on that mantle.

Ridleys best position is Sweeper. That Scicily/Stewart role.

Different position/role to what those guys do which is more about holding space and outmuscling in a drop zone

 

[Duckworth]

Too much talk of Reid. More likely to be delisted than reach elite at this stage. Surely you have to do more than be picked high in the draft to have elite potential.

 

[Blind Turn]

Ridleys best position is Sweeper. That Scicily/Stewart role.

Different position/role to what those guys do which is more about holding space and outmuscling in a drop zone

Reid, not Ridley.

 

[crackers65]

Reid, not Ridley.

How does anybody know what Reid is capable of?

 

[Blind Turn]

How does anybody know what Reid is capable of?

We don’t. Hence why a said ‘unknown quantity’. However, there is no doubt he has the tools to be considered a ‘potential’ star in defence. We all know what’s working against him.

 

[Foxx]

Only obvious superstar for mine would be Durham.

 

[Foxx]

I honestly think that Nick Martin (wing), Ridley, Kako and Caddy are the only ones with the talent to be the best in their positions.

Does Caddy's kicking for goal concern you?

 

[Agronomus]

Could we trade our 2 2025 first rounders for pick 1 and guarantee Will Duursma? 191cm gun midfielder

 

[ant555]

List analysis: Which club has the most All-Australians, top-10 picks?

Which club has the most All-Australians, and which has the most top-10 picks?

www.afl.com.au

 

[The Devils Advocate]

Does Caddy's kicking for goal concern you?

Matthew Richardson was still elite. Nick Riewoldt etc.

 

[ant555]

Does Caddy's kicking for goal concern you?

You can be an elite player and not be the best set shot at goal.

 

[Foxx]

You can be an elite player and not be the best set shot at goal.

Provided you can still average 2-3 goals a game.

 

[Foxx]

Matthew Richardson was still elite. Nick Riewoldt etc.

Yeah can still be elite with an average kick at goal, but still need to average 2-3 goals a game.

 

[thebigboy]

Does Caddy's kicking for goal concern you?

10 games is an awfully small sample size to go off isn’t it? It’s a skill that can be easily improved