I was having a chat with a mate of mine who grew up first barracking for the Filth, before realising his IQ was too high to support them and he decided on supporting North instead.
Anyhoo, he said he was very impressed in what he has seen in Big Mac playing this season and said he reminded him of his boyhood hero, Len Thompson.
Definitely a compliment, even if Thompson played for the villains. Mind you, Thompson was before my time, so it's hard for me to see how accurate this comparison is.
For those of you who saw the game in that era, any thoughts?
McEvoy - the next Len Thompson?
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Sainternist
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ace
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Len Thompson was unusually tall for his era.
Ruckman were typically 190-195cm but Thompson was much taller around 200cm.
Players in general are 5 to 10cm taller now compared to players of the early 70s but are also far more fit and mobile.
Thompson had the same sort of advantage in height that Sandilands has today.
The thing about Thompson was that despite being taller than his opponents he was more mobile than them too.
He could mark and even kick better than most other ruckmen.
But a ruckmans job was easier bak then.
They would sit across the half back line and outmark the centre half forwards.
This was possible because the game was much slower and was more like kicking from one pack to another pack.
If my memory serves me right he even won a Brownlow.
Yep, just looked it up -was 1972.
Ruckman were typically 190-195cm but Thompson was much taller around 200cm.
Players in general are 5 to 10cm taller now compared to players of the early 70s but are also far more fit and mobile.
Thompson had the same sort of advantage in height that Sandilands has today.
The thing about Thompson was that despite being taller than his opponents he was more mobile than them too.
He could mark and even kick better than most other ruckmen.
But a ruckmans job was easier bak then.
They would sit across the half back line and outmark the centre half forwards.
This was possible because the game was much slower and was more like kicking from one pack to another pack.
If my memory serves me right he even won a Brownlow.
Yep, just looked it up -was 1972.
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Dr Spaceman
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As are Thompson and McEvoy. Both have 2 vowels. Unless you count Y which is sort of a vowel.Dr Spaceman wrote:The names Ben and Len are similar thoughplugger66 wrote:Nothing like Thompson unless Ben played in the 70's. As Ace said he had an advanyage in height and was very fast for a guy that tall at that time. Ben isnt tall and isnt fast for todays footy.
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St DAC
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Len Thompson was a very mobile, very tall ruckman who for his times was a revelation in how a ruck could play. Very quick for his size, very mobile, could cover lots of ground and play almost as a large midfielder or ruckrover type.
Ben is mobile but not quick, and is as yet nowhere near as good a tap ruckman as Thompson.
Can't see much comparison myself. But if Ben ends up having anywhere near as good a career as Thompson he'll have done very well indeed.
Ben is mobile but not quick, and is as yet nowhere near as good a tap ruckman as Thompson.
Can't see much comparison myself. But if Ben ends up having anywhere near as good a career as Thompson he'll have done very well indeed.
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Junction Oval
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Junction Oval wrote:They both move in a similar style - a bit lumbering. Probably all tall ruckmen move the same way!
...actually reminds me a bit of graeme fellows....
.everybody still loves lenny....and we always will
"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society,"
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However, freedom of expression is not encouraged in certain forums.
JPBF's old man was a little before my time. My comment on him in the other thread was more to see if he's one of the recent signings on this board, I was hoping for a bite. No luck unfortunately...stinger wrote:Junction Oval wrote:They both move in a similar style - a bit lumbering. Probably all tall ruckmen move the same way!
...actually reminds me a bit of graeme fellows....
But I do like the boy McEvoy- one of my favourite Saints. Hell, I reckon I'd even like him if he played for Carlton.
pretty piss poor way to smoke someone out...imhfo....Grantaire wrote:JPBF's old man was a little before my time. My comment on him in the other thread was more to see if he's one of the recent signings on this board, I was hoping for a bite. No luck unfortunately...stinger wrote:Junction Oval wrote:They both move in a similar style - a bit lumbering. Probably all tall ruckmen move the same way!
...actually reminds me a bit of graeme fellows....
But I do like the boy McEvoy- one of my favourite Saints. Hell, I reckon I'd even like him if he played for Carlton.
.everybody still loves lenny....and we always will
"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society,"
However, freedom of expression is not encouraged in certain forums.
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bobmurray
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Re: McEvoy - the next Len Thompson?
The next Len Thompson...do you mean he'll end up playing for 3 clubsSainternist wrote:I was having a chat with a mate of mine who grew up first barracking for the Filth, before realising his IQ was too high to support them and he decided on supporting North instead.
Anyhoo, he said he was very impressed in what he has seen in Big Mac playing this season and said he reminded him of his boyhood hero, Len Thompson.
Definitely a compliment, even if Thompson played for the villains. Mind you, Thompson was before my time, so it's hard for me to see how accurate this comparison is.
For those of you who saw the game in that era, any thoughts?
Will we pick up a player in the SSP window 
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saint tash
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