Opinion Sydney Team of the 21st Century

[bedford]

I’m happy to debate that one with you caesar88.

In my view (and I hardly missed a game in the 90’s and 00’s so I saw a lot of Kirk!) there’s a certain romanticism about Captain Kirk - because his dedication and heart could never be questioned. And he played in a golden era.

But I don’t believe Kirk was a better AFL player than any of the mids selected in that team. If anything, Fosdike might be the more unlucky of the two.

Totally agree and i love Kirky

 

[caesar88]

I’m happy to debate that one with you caesar88.

In my view (and I hardly missed a game in the 90’s and 00’s so I saw a lot of Kirk!) there’s a certain romanticism about Captain Kirk - because his dedication and heart could never be questioned. And he played in a golden era.

But I don’t believe Kirk was a better AFL player than any of the mids selected in that team. If anything, Fosdike might be the more unlucky of the two.

You won't get any arguments from me on Fosdike. I thought he was an absolute gun.

But I think Kirk, along with many from his generation, have fallen victim to recency bias. Kirk & Bolton for example are spoken about like they were just tough nuts with minimal talent. Athletic talent, sure. I wouldn't want them competing in track & field events for my country, nor would they be getting an invite to any Combines. But footballing talent, I'd put theirs up against this current lot any day of the week. Watch any game from that era and look at the precision and efficiency with which we spread from the contest or rebound from defensive 50 or hit targets inside 50 by hand & foot, and then tell me those players weren't bloody talented.

 

[Bonz]

The team that was posted.

Jude made the bench.

B: Nick Smith, Craig Bolton, Leo Barry
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery
HF: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Ryan O'Keefe
F: Michael O'Loughlin, Barry Hall, Tom Papley
Foll: Jason Ball, Adam Goodes, Kieren Jack
I/C: Jude Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Jared Crouch, Nick Malceski
Sub: Luke
Parker

Agree with Pyke over Ball (but close call), Jetta over Crouch is a strong maybe (I think in another few seasons Gulden will be walking into the team).

Honestly think it's a great effort (but I would replace Jude with Parker then have him on the field instead of Jack).

 

[bedford]

The team that was posted.

Jude made the bench.

B: Nick Smith, Craig Bolton, Leo Barry
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery
HF: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Ryan O'Keefe
F: Michael O'Loughlin, Barry Hall, Tom Papley
Foll: Jason Ball, Adam Goodes, Kieren Jack
I/C: Jude Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Jared Crouch, Nick Malceski
Sub: Luke
Parker

Agree with Pyke over Ball (but close call), Jetta over Crouch is a strong maybe (I think in another few seasons Gulden will be walking into the team).

Honestly think it's a great effort (but I would replace Jude with Parker then have him on the field instead of Jack).

Jetta no way and LRT before Rampe everyday of the week

 

[McGowan3]

I’m happy to debate that one with you caesar88.

In my view (and I hardly missed a game in the 90’s and 00’s so I saw a lot of Kirk!) there’s a certain romanticism about Captain Kirk - because his dedication and heart could never be questioned. And he played in a golden era.

But I don’t believe Kirk was a better AFL player than any of the mids selected in that team. If anything, Fosdike might be the more unlucky of the two.

Fosdike over Kirk is sacrilege against one of the founders and the main driver of the Bloods Culture.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

You won't get any arguments from me on Fosdike. I thought he was an absolute gun.

But I think Kirk, along with many from his generation, have fallen victim to recency bias. Kirk & Bolton for example are spoken about like they were just tough nuts with minimal talent. Athletic talent, sure. I wouldn't want them competing in track & field events for my country, nor would they be getting an invite to any Combines. But footballing talent, I'd put theirs up against this current lot any day of the week. Watch any game from that era and look at the precision and efficiency with which we spread from the contest or rebound from defensive 50 or hit targets inside 50 by hand & foot, and then tell me those players weren't bloody talented.

Don’t disagree with your point re: talent, but the entire selected midfield is from that same era, with Parker the only overlap to the modern team.

Who do you believe goes out for Kirk?

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Fosdike over Kirk is sacrilege against one of the founders and the main driver of the Bloods Culture.

Fosdike and Kirk played across the same era & in the same sides.

To suggest Kirk drove the Bloods culture but “Fearless Fosdike” didn’t is a bit silly.

I don’t think I’ve seen many tougher players than Nic Fosdike.

 

[bedford]

Fosdike and Kirk played across the same era & in the same sides.

To suggest Kirk drove the Bloods culture but “Fearless Fosdike” didn’t is a bit silly.

I'd have Maxfield over Kirk if it came to that , now there is the driver of the Bloods culture

 

[Bonz]

Jetta no way and LRT before Rampe everyday of the week

I think I may of rated Jetta a bit higher than most, was an incredible POD and versatile.

I adore LRT, but for 14/25 games of the season would select Rampre before him due to his versatility (just LRT on grand final day).

 

[McGowan3]

Fosdike and Kirk played across the same era & in the same sides.

To suggest Kirk drove the Bloods culture but “Fearless Fosdike” didn’t is a bit silly.

I don’t think I’ve seen many tougher players than Nic Fosdike.

Sorry. This is getting ridiculous. Fosdike was an outside endurance player. To say he was a tough, physical player is not true, especially in comparison to Kirk who was twice a Bob Skilton Medallist, including the 2005 Premiership year. Agree Fosdike was a fine player but he didn't have as much impact as Kirk.

 

[McGowan3]

The team that was posted.

Jude made the bench.

B: Nick Smith, Craig Bolton, Leo Barry
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery
HF: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Ryan O'Keefe
F: Michael O'Loughlin, Barry Hall, Tom Papley
Foll: Jason Ball, Adam Goodes, Kieren Jack
I/C: Jude Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Jared Crouch, Nick Malceski
Sub: Luke
Parker

Agree with Pyke over Ball (but close call), Jetta over Crouch is a strong maybe (I think in another few seasons Gulden will be walking into the team).

Honestly think it's a great effort (but I would replace Jude with Parker then have him on the field instead of Jack).

Both Mumford and Jolly were better than Pyke and Ball as rucks. Mumford could arguably be in the team. Huge for us in the four years he played.

 

[bedford]

Sorry. This is getting ridiculous. Fosdike was an outside endurance player. To say he was a tough, physical player is not true, especially in comparison to Kirk who was twice a Bob Skilton Medallist, including the 2005 Premiership year. Agree Fosdike was a fine player but he didn't have as much impact as Kirk.

Fosdike was better when it really mattered

 

[McGowan3]

Fosdike was better when it really mattered

LOL

 

[McGowan3]

Fair few cases of amnesia happening here at the moment. Was a while back but Fosdike over Kirk takes the cake.

 

[bedford]

Fair few cases of amnesia happening here at the moment. Was a while back but Fosdike over Kirk takes the cake.

In the GF ffs

 

[McGowan3]

In the GF ffs

Kirk was good in Gfs. played well in 2005 and put us on his back in second half of 2006. Fosdike was excellent in both. Laughable to say kirk let us down when it really mattered.

 

[McGowan3]

I think I may of rated Jetta a bit higher than most, was an incredible POD and versatile.

I adore LRT, but for 14/25 games of the season would select Rampre before him due to his versatility (just LRT on grand final day).

LRT has to be in

 

[Bonz]

LRT has to be in

Oh agreed 100% he has to be in the team (no doubt about that).

I'm just not saying he starts ahead of Rampe on the field

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I'd have Maxfield over Kirk if it came to that , now there is the driver of the Bloods culture

I remember having a really nice chat to Kenny Williams at Kieran Jack’s farewell game.

Kenny was effusive in his praise for Stuey Maxfield.

And Kenny had more insight that any of us!

 

[bedford]

Kirk was good in Gfs. played well in 2005 and put us on his back in second half of 2006. Fosdike was excellent in both. Laughable to say kirk let us down when it really mattered.

Where did i say he let us down ! i love Kirky and had a bit to do with him before he was drafted , what's laughable is making things up

 

[Callipygian]

I'm generally appreciating (and mostly agreeing with) the knowledgeable contributions of McGowan3 .

Definitely Kirk has to be in the team. For me he is in the starting team and pushes Kizza to the bench. I'd omit Malceski (since we already have Kennelly and I think it's line-ball between that pair). I'm also weighing up Lloyd v Crouch. Crouch is tougher and stronger and better at defending but I'm probably taking Lloyd since there are plenty of hard nuts in the team already (anyway Jakey is a hard nut in his own way). It's relevant that Crouch played a fair chunk of his career last century and that Lloyd won 2 Bob Skilton medals AND 2 Adam Goodes trophies. After that Maxy may be the toughest omission.

 

[RUNVS]

The team that was posted.

Jude made the bench.

B: Nick Smith, Craig Bolton, Leo Barry
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery
HF: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Ryan O'Keefe
F: Michael O'Loughlin, Barry Hall, Tom Papley
Foll: Jason Ball, Adam Goodes, Kieren Jack
I/C: Jude Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Jared Crouch, Nick Malceski
Sub: Luke
Parker

Agree with Pyke over Ball (but close call), Jetta over Crouch is a strong maybe (I think in another few seasons Gulden will be walking into the team).

Honestly think it's a great effort (but I would replace Jude with Parker then have him on the field instead of Jack).

They included Nick Daicos in the 21st century best 23, but did not include Gulden because he is too young, despite being older than Daicos and having just as many AA's.

 

[caesar88]

They included Nick Daicos in the 21st century best 23, but did not include Gulden because he is too young, despite being older than Daicos and having just as many AA's.

Nick Daicos is arguably the best player in the competition. Anyone with that claim walks into their club's team of the century every day of the week.

Also Collingwood have missed the top 8 in ten out of the 24 years this century. Swans have missed the top 8 just four times this century. So the depth of talent we've had has been far greater than Collingwood's this century. (Their top end - with Buckley, Swan, Pendlebury and now Daicos - has obviously been exceptional though.)

 

[zyzzbruh]

LRT has to be in

This is pure romance. He would've been in the worst team of the 21st century for a big portion of his career. Turned his fortunes around exceptionally but he is no where near the best 22. That's not taking anything away from his GF performance.

Ted Richards should be ahead of Grundy, Rampe and let alone LRT. I'd argue he was a more dominant KPD than even Bolton and Leo. Grundy was Ted's wingman, but Ted was definitely the main character.

 

[bedford]

LRT easy over Rampe , without him it might be 92 years