Murray MiddletonRound Ten
June 2nd 2008 10:05
At the beginning of the season I selected the top fifty players in the competition. Although 2008 is only halfway through, there is one player who I owe an apology to. While this player was ranked number twelve in my top fifty - a seemingly high position - I seriously underestimated the contribution that he makes to his club. The player is Simon Black. The question that now must be asked is: Is Simon Black the best player in the competition?
The eleven players that I selected above Black were: Judd, Brown, Pavlich, Riewoldt, Kerr, Goodes, Cox, Bartel, Cornes, Ablett and Brad Johnson. Chris Judd has played well for Carlton. His presence alone has lifted the Blues to a respectable position on the ladder. However his performances continue to be limited by his persistent groin injury. Brown and Pavlich are great players. It is always difficult to compare key forwards to midfielders. Having watched Brisbane this season, it has become clear that Black is the hand that feeds both Brown and Bradshaw. Without Black, Brown's performances would suffer.
Pavlich is a natural leader who is the one Fremantle player who can hold his head up high. However Pavlich, like St. Kilda's Nick Riewoldt has missed several crucial shots for goal this season. A true champion always delivers when it counts. Black has won a Norm Smith Medal (he collected 39 disposals in the 2003 Grand Final) and has always performed on grand final day for the Lions. Daniel Kerr has struggled this season. For years he has benefited from the tags placed on Judd and Cousins. Although Kerr is a damaging player - and still potentially one of the better midfielders in the competition - I must concede that I overrated him. It is also worth mentioning that Kerr is a ticking time-bomb off the field. In his spare time Simon Black works at a soup kitchen for the homeless.
Adam Goodes has won two Brownlow Medals and could easily finish his career with another one or two (particularly considering the tribunal's blatant favouritism). While Goodes is a remarkable athlete, his performances sometimes lack consistency. Earlier this season Paul Roos called on his champion midfielder to lift his game. Has Leigh Matthews ever publicly asked Simon Black to do the same? Dean Cox is the number one ruckman in the competition. He is a gifted athlete who possesses skills that belie his build. Cox has been great for three seasons. There is little doubt that he will continue to deliver for the Eagles. However Black has performed at a similar, if not better, level than big Cox for almost a decade.
Jimmy Bartel won last year's Brownlow Medal. He is the one player in this group who rivals Black in terms of modesty. Bartel loves the contest and was a deserved winner of last season's ultimate honour. However Bartel has so far been unable to re-produce his form from 2007. This might be because of the tags that he receives every week. However Black - who came second to Bartel in last year's Brownlow - consistently beats the tag. This is because he is an inside/outside player. Black is the best player in the league on the bottom of a pack, but equally as good in the open with the ball in hand. Even the best taggers in the league can only stop Black in one of these areas.
Chad Cornes' performances cannot be faulted. Despite his team's poor form, Corners has continually put his body on the line for the cause. It is, however, worth mentioning that Power coach Mark Williams gives Cornes a license to roam the field. Corners plays forward, back and in the midfield, depending on his preference at any given time. Every player in the competition would love this freedom. Black does not have it. He is a selfless player who demonstrates a more team-oriented approach than Cornes. Can anyone imagine Black doing what Cornes did in last season's preliminary final?
Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson has struggled this season. Although he has been playing injured, there is litle doubt that his capabilities are diminishing. In truth, Johnson is no longer in the fifty best players in the competition. He is a wonderful leader who deserves a premiership as much as Robert Harvey and Matthew Richardson. It was wrong to rank Black below Johnson. The one player from my top ten who gives Black a run for his money is Geelong's Gary Ablett. In the Cat's 86-point loss to Collingwood, Ablett was the one player who refused to give in. Unlike Bartel, Ablett has re-produced his form from 2007. If anything, he has improved. Ablett is faster than Black and, perhaps, more damaging. However he lacks Black's defensive capabilities. Black is more fierce at the contest. If Ablett is able to sustain his form, there is every chance that he will be remembered as a better player than his father.
Lance Franklin is a rare talent. His performances so far this season have been superb. He is on track to kick one hundred goals, which would be an amazing achievment. However Franklin has never been tested on Grand Final day There is every chance that he will get his opportunity this season. In last season's elimination final victory over Adelaide Franklin kicked the winning goal (his seventh). It was a promising sign, but he hasn't proven anything yet. Simon Black clearly belongs among the elite players in the competition. He is playing his guts out this season, despite carrying a chronic groin injury. No one deserves success more than Black. His record speaks for itself:
3 Premierships
3 All Australians
3 Best and Fairests
1 Brownlow Medal (1 runner up)
1 Norm Smith Medal
The defence rests.
The eleven players that I selected above Black were: Judd, Brown, Pavlich, Riewoldt, Kerr, Goodes, Cox, Bartel, Cornes, Ablett and Brad Johnson. Chris Judd has played well for Carlton. His presence alone has lifted the Blues to a respectable position on the ladder. However his performances continue to be limited by his persistent groin injury. Brown and Pavlich are great players. It is always difficult to compare key forwards to midfielders. Having watched Brisbane this season, it has become clear that Black is the hand that feeds both Brown and Bradshaw. Without Black, Brown's performances would suffer.
Pavlich is a natural leader who is the one Fremantle player who can hold his head up high. However Pavlich, like St. Kilda's Nick Riewoldt has missed several crucial shots for goal this season. A true champion always delivers when it counts. Black has won a Norm Smith Medal (he collected 39 disposals in the 2003 Grand Final) and has always performed on grand final day for the Lions. Daniel Kerr has struggled this season. For years he has benefited from the tags placed on Judd and Cousins. Although Kerr is a damaging player - and still potentially one of the better midfielders in the competition - I must concede that I overrated him. It is also worth mentioning that Kerr is a ticking time-bomb off the field. In his spare time Simon Black works at a soup kitchen for the homeless.
Adam Goodes has won two Brownlow Medals and could easily finish his career with another one or two (particularly considering the tribunal's blatant favouritism). While Goodes is a remarkable athlete, his performances sometimes lack consistency. Earlier this season Paul Roos called on his champion midfielder to lift his game. Has Leigh Matthews ever publicly asked Simon Black to do the same? Dean Cox is the number one ruckman in the competition. He is a gifted athlete who possesses skills that belie his build. Cox has been great for three seasons. There is little doubt that he will continue to deliver for the Eagles. However Black has performed at a similar, if not better, level than big Cox for almost a decade.
Jimmy Bartel won last year's Brownlow Medal. He is the one player in this group who rivals Black in terms of modesty. Bartel loves the contest and was a deserved winner of last season's ultimate honour. However Bartel has so far been unable to re-produce his form from 2007. This might be because of the tags that he receives every week. However Black - who came second to Bartel in last year's Brownlow - consistently beats the tag. This is because he is an inside/outside player. Black is the best player in the league on the bottom of a pack, but equally as good in the open with the ball in hand. Even the best taggers in the league can only stop Black in one of these areas.
Chad Cornes' performances cannot be faulted. Despite his team's poor form, Corners has continually put his body on the line for the cause. It is, however, worth mentioning that Power coach Mark Williams gives Cornes a license to roam the field. Corners plays forward, back and in the midfield, depending on his preference at any given time. Every player in the competition would love this freedom. Black does not have it. He is a selfless player who demonstrates a more team-oriented approach than Cornes. Can anyone imagine Black doing what Cornes did in last season's preliminary final?
Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson has struggled this season. Although he has been playing injured, there is litle doubt that his capabilities are diminishing. In truth, Johnson is no longer in the fifty best players in the competition. He is a wonderful leader who deserves a premiership as much as Robert Harvey and Matthew Richardson. It was wrong to rank Black below Johnson. The one player from my top ten who gives Black a run for his money is Geelong's Gary Ablett. In the Cat's 86-point loss to Collingwood, Ablett was the one player who refused to give in. Unlike Bartel, Ablett has re-produced his form from 2007. If anything, he has improved. Ablett is faster than Black and, perhaps, more damaging. However he lacks Black's defensive capabilities. Black is more fierce at the contest. If Ablett is able to sustain his form, there is every chance that he will be remembered as a better player than his father.
Lance Franklin is a rare talent. His performances so far this season have been superb. He is on track to kick one hundred goals, which would be an amazing achievment. However Franklin has never been tested on Grand Final day There is every chance that he will get his opportunity this season. In last season's elimination final victory over Adelaide Franklin kicked the winning goal (his seventh). It was a promising sign, but he hasn't proven anything yet. Simon Black clearly belongs among the elite players in the competition. He is playing his guts out this season, despite carrying a chronic groin injury. No one deserves success more than Black. His record speaks for itself:
3 Premierships
3 All Australians
3 Best and Fairests
1 Brownlow Medal (1 runner up)
1 Norm Smith Medal
The defence rests.
| 68 |
| Vote |
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Murray Middleton
AFL Talk