The Top 6

[Johnny Member]

I've been harping in about our lack of real talent for a while now.

The best teams, have genuine guns. Funnily enough, the more guns - the better the team.

Funny that.

Plenty of teams have 'peaked' in terms of the development of their list - but just haven't had the top end talent to go from a top 4-6 team to a GF or premiership team.

That's where I saw us being in 2019 unfortunately.


However, the last month has had me changing my mind a bit.

The following guys now, I see as potentially being part of a seriously good 'top 6' in a few years time:

Gresham
Carlisle
Steven
McCartin
Acres
Billings
Hickey


That's not bad. We'll need more, but 7 is a decent start.

[CQ SAINT]

I've been harping in about our lack of real talent for a while now.

The best teams, have genuine guns. Funnily enough, the more guns - the better the team.

Funny that.

Plenty of teams have 'peaked' in terms of the development of their list - but just haven't had the top end talent to go from a top 4-6 team to a GF or premiership team.

That's where I saw us being in 2019 unfortunately.


However, the last month has had me changing my mind a bit.

The following guys now, I see as potentially being part of a seriously good 'top 6' in a few years time:

Gresham
Carlisle
Steven
McCartin
Acres
Billings
Hickey


That's not bad. We'll need more, but 7 is a decent start.

You wouldnt include Seb Ross or Membrey?

[Mr Magic]

Interesting that the AFLPA has include Billings, Membrey and Dunstan in its top 50 'Under 22'.

I reckon that Josh Bruce is going to become an even more valuable player to us after Roo entually retires.

[Johnny Member]

I've been harping in about our lack of real talent for a while now.

The best teams, have genuine guns. Funnily enough, the more guns - the better the team.

Funny that.

Plenty of teams have 'peaked' in terms of the development of their list - but just haven't had the top end talent to go from a top 4-6 team to a GF or premiership team.

That's where I saw us being in 2019 unfortunately.


However, the last month has had me changing my mind a bit.

The following guys now, I see as potentially being part of a seriously good 'top 6' in a few years time:

Gresham
Carlisle
Steven
McCartin
Acres
Billings
Hickey


That's not bad. We'll need more, but 7 is a decent start.

You wouldnt include Seb Ross or Membrey?

No.

I don't rate Membrey much. Seems to tighten up when the heat is on. Has kicked most of his goals against weak opposition too.

Having said that, he might be a handy forward in a good team hopefully. But no, I don't see him as a 'top 6' sort of guy. I see him as a complimentary player (ie. a B grader).


I did overlook Ross. If he continues to improve then yeah, he could be a 'top 6' sort of guy. But although he's been good this year, he's the type of player currently that if he's in your 'top 6', then you're not going to be very good. If he's a B Grader, then you're probably a very good team.


Remember, I'm not talking about guys that are in our 'top 6' right now. Right now, we're not good enough. The 'top 6' we have now aren't good enough - hence why we're 9th and mile off the top 6 teams.

I'm talking a Premiership 'top 6'. Like Hodge, Mitchell, Franklin, Roughead, Rioli, Burgoyne, Gibson type 'top 6', or Ablett, Bartel, Enright, Scarlett, Selwood, Chapman. That level of 'top 6' that is generally required to win a flag.

[Johnny Member]

Interesting that the AFLPA has include Billings, Membrey and Dunstan in its top 50 'Under 22'.

I reckon that Josh Bruce is going to become an even more valuable player to us after Roo entually retires.

Bruce is a good one.

His form this year hasn't been as exciting as last, but if he can stick a few and kick straighter he'd definitely be in that list on his best form.

[bigcarl]

Almost everyone tightens up under pressure, particularly when trying to slot goals. In fact I'm struggling to think of anyone who is immune.

[CQ SAINT]

Harsh call on Membrey. Who stood against pressure in that list other than Hickey. Dont say Billings FFS.

[CQ SAINT]

Harsh call on Membrey. Who stood against pressure in that list other than Hickey. Dont say Billings FFS.

Jack Stevens is top 20 in the league. He is already there. Zeb is trending that way too.

[freely]

In terms of potential, what about White and Freeman? (I'm guessing Freeman will either be A-grade or No-grade - should be clear enough by this time next year!)

[markp]

Weller...?

[Johnny Member]

In terms of potential, what about White and Freeman? (I'm guessing Freeman will either be A-grade or No-grade - should be clear enough by this time next year!)

I haven't seen either play.

[WellardSaint]

Harsh call on Membrey. Who stood against pressure in that list other than Hickey. Dont say Billings FFS.

Jack Stevens is top 20 in the league. He is already there. Zeb is trending that way too.

#notjackstevens

[Johnny Member]

Harsh call on Membrey. Who stood against pressure in that list other than Hickey. Dont say Billings FFS.

Jack Stevens is top 20 in the league. He is already there. Zeb is trending that way too.

Yep, and I expect Jack to still be there in 2-3 years when the other are also.

[gurubob101]

Harsh call on Membrey. 42 goals for the season as the 3rd banana. Currently 11th in the Coleman in front of a lot of high profile big names including Rioli Breust Johnson and Hogan who the media fawn over on a weekly basis. An amazing year and likely to get better with experience. AA in 2016 is not out of the question IMO.

[saynta]

Harsh call on Membrey. 42 goals for the season as the 3rd banana. Currently 11th in the Coleman in front of a lot of high profile big names including Rioli Breust Johnson and Hogan who the media fawn over on a weekly basis. An amazing year and likely to get better with experience. AA in 2016 is not out of the question IMO.

You make a valid point.

[Jacks Back]

The way you guys are frothing at the mouth you would think next year that the St Kilda team WILL be the AA team. Actually that sounds pretty good.

[terry smith rules]

By the end of 2017

D Roberton will be clearly in our best 6 and getting talked about as AA

[Johnny Member]

By the end of 2017

D Roberton will be clearly in our best 6 and getting talked about as AA

A bit of a case in point there though TSR.

If we have a guy clearly in our 'top 6', if we're to be any good they MUST be genuine AA players that are regularly talked about and regarded at that level.


If we have a guy in our top 6, that is merely being talked about as AA, we're probably not going to be good enough.

If that makes sense?


Having said that, and this may have been what you weer alluding to - I wouldn't expect us to be a threat until 2018-2019 anyway so having a guy in our 'top 6' and being talked about as AA in 2017 is a pretty good thing.

[spert]

I checked the goal kicking list and Membrey doesn't have "only against weak opposition" after his name? Probably one of our smarter players with ball in hand.

[CQ SAINT]

I checked the goal kicking list and Membrey doesn't have "only against weak opposition" after his name? Probably one of our smarter players with ball in hand.

You lead, catch tha ball, turn around and kick a goal. He has done that very well. Better than most of the players his size in any team.

Maybe next year Johnny Member will rate Membrey little better.

[Johnny Member]

I checked the goal kicking list and Membrey doesn't have "only against weak opposition" after his name? Probably one of our smarter players with ball in hand.

We're not discussing the goa llicking list though.

We're discussing the future 'top 6' that will be good enough to challenge for a flag.


If you're not able to kick goals against good opposition, you can feast out on weak opponents, but in finals when you play against good opposition, you can be found out. Hence the comment (and the figures below) being relevant to the discussion at this point in time:


Description Opponent Result G
Round 22 Richmond Win 55-46 2
Round 21 Sydney Loss 76-146 1
Round 20 Carlton Win 122-51 5
Round 19 North Melbourne Loss 62-85 0
Round 18 Western Bulldogs Win 75-60 2
Round 17 Melbourne Win 110-74 4
Round 16 Essendon Win 109-98 5
Round 15 Gold Coast Loss 68-108 2
Round 14 Geelong Win 93-90 1
Round 12 Carlton Win 110-78 5
Round 11 Adelaide Loss 45-133 1
Round 10 Fremantle Win 101-67 3
Round 9 Essendon Win 109-63 3
Round 8 West Coast Loss 29-132 0
Round 7 North Melbourne Loss 75-82 3
Round 6 Melbourne Win 135-96 5

[CQ SAINT]

I checked the goal kicking list and Membrey doesn't have "only against weak opposition" after his name? Probably one of our smarter players with ball in hand.

We're not discussing the goa llicking list though.

We're discussing the future 'top 6' that will be good enough to challenge for a flag.


If you're not able to kick goals against good opposition, you can feast out on weak opponents, but in finals when you play against good opposition, you can be found out. Hence the comment (and the figures below) being relevant to the discussion at this point in time:


Description Opponent Result G
Round 22 Richmond Win 55-46 2
Round 21 Sydney Loss 76-146 1
Round 20 Carlton Win 122-51 5
Round 19 North Melbourne Loss 62-85 0
Round 18 Western Bulldogs Win 75-60 2
Round 17 Melbourne Win 110-74 4
Round 16 Essendon Win 109-98 5
Round 15 Gold Coast Loss 68-108 2
Round 14 Geelong Win 93-90 1
Round 12 Carlton Win 110-78 5
Round 11 Adelaide Loss 45-133 1
Round 10 Fremantle Win 101-67 3
Round 9 Essendon Win 109-63 3
Round 8 West Coast Loss 29-132 0
Round 7 North Melbourne Loss 75-82 3
Round 6 Melbourne Win 135-96 5

Yeah he didnt play high enough in a few of them games. Back pocket might have been high enough to get a kick.

With our midfield dominating those games its a real mystery that membrey couldnt do better.

[lintonstreet]

[quote="Johnny Member"]I've been harping in about our lack of real talent for a while now.

The best teams, have genuine guns. Funnily enough, the more guns - the better the team.

Funny that.

Plenty of teams have 'peaked' in terms of the development of their list - but just haven't had the top end talent to go from a top 4-6 team to a GF or premiership team.

That's where I saw us being in 2019 unfortunately.


However, the last month has had me changing my mind a bit.

The following guys now, I see as potentially being part of a seriously good 'top 6' in a few years time:

Gresham
Carlisle
Steven
McCartin
Acres
Billings
Hickey

Acres and Billings before Mav - you are delusional.

[BringBackMadDog]

I checked the goal kicking list and Membrey doesn't have "only against weak opposition" after his name? Probably one of our smarter players with ball in hand.

We're not discussing the goa llicking list though.

We're discussing the future 'top 6' that will be good enough to challenge for a flag.


If you're not able to kick goals against good opposition, you can feast out on weak opponents, but in finals when you play against good opposition, you can be found out. Hence the comment (and the figures below) being relevant to the discussion at this point in time:


Description Opponent Result G
Round 22 Richmond Win 55-46 2
Round 21 Sydney Loss 76-146 1
Round 20 Carlton Win 122-51 5
Round 19 North Melbourne Loss 62-85 0
Round 18 Western Bulldogs Win 75-60 2
Round 17 Melbourne Win 110-74 4
Round 16 Essendon Win 109-98 5
Round 15 Gold Coast Loss 68-108 2
Round 14 Geelong Win 93-90 1
Round 12 Carlton Win 110-78 5
Round 11 Adelaide Loss 45-133 1
Round 10 Fremantle Win 101-67 3
Round 9 Essendon Win 109-63 3
Round 8 West Coast Loss 29-132 0
Round 7 North Melbourne Loss 75-82 3
Round 6 Melbourne Win 135-96 5

So in all the games we got seriously flogged a guy playing as a permanent forward pocket didn't kick many goals. Obviously, he's no good, he should've started at half back, intercepted the inside 50, taken 14 bounces and slotted a couple!! Dud, delist immediately

[Teflon]

By the end of 2017

D Roberton will be clearly in our best 6 and getting talked about as AA

A bit of a case in point there though TSR.

If we have a guy clearly in our 'top 6', if we're to be any good they MUST be genuine AA players that are regularly talked about and regarded at that level.


If we have a guy in our top 6, that is merely being talked about as AA, we're probably not going to be good enough.

If that makes sense?


Having said that, and this may have been what you weer alluding to - I wouldn't expect us to be a threat until 2018-2019 anyway so having a guy in our 'top 6' and being talked about as AA in 2017 is a pretty good thing.

Good thread and exactly how I see it too
I've been more nervous, as Richo pointed out, about pushing up the ladder to quickly only to realise we have very good B, low level A graders and not enough of genuine elite. GF teams simply have enough of them. I just couldn't stand playing finals aka North but knowing deep down the true gap between us and the contenders is a chasm. Scott should be shot for badly over estimating and clearly promising more than that OK group could deliver. NOT interested in doing that - I want us top 2 again with a genuine chance and you need the right blend of quality Bs and elite to do it.

Billings still worries me -it's his size more than anything but I'm praying he's a late bloomer with the biggest flowers...

Gresham will get his attention turn but think he's hard enough to work through it

No doubt we need real cream to come in to take this group to another level and IMO we still carry a few C graders which need to be pushed out....

The test? Would they walk into Swans/Hawks starting 22 honestly...