Ian 'Nutta' Callinan

[Mopar Dog]

The Bottom AFL sides would beat the top SANFL sides by 20 goals +.

To quote Ian Callinan "Tell him he is dreaming"

I think youll find a champion team would compete very well against a team full of afl approved champions.

[Grahaml]

The Bottom AFL sides would beat the top SANFL sides by 20 goals +.

To quote Ian Callinan "Tell him he is dreaming"

I think youll find a champion team would compete very well against a team full of afl approved champions.

20 goals is way over the top. The bottom AFL sides are playing with no confidence and have injury issues. An SANFL side would give them competition but would be shaded in several areas. If an SANFL side were to have played as the 18th side this season they would almost certainly go winless.

[Grahaml]

How easily people forget the difference between AFL and SANFL. Paul Thomas went over to Essendon and looked out of his depth. Some guys manage to step up from SANFL and play roles in AFL but do you think Scott Thompson wouldn't tear an SANFL midfield apart? Tippett would monster the best defender in the SANFL while Kirkby can't get a kick on a recognised SANFL key defender. Havelberg could kick goals if the service he got was AFL standard, but with SANFL players under a little more pressure delivering the ball? He'd have to stand shoulder to shoulder with Rutten all day long.

If you want a true indication of the difference, look at Taylor Walker. Dominated the comp as an 18 year old IIRC, 4 years later struggling to get a kick at AFL level. Henderson goes from doing nothing with the crows to Centrals' best in a 1 point game against Norwood at Norwood.

I've always felt the SANFL sides would compete hard against an AFL side with two major exceptions. The size and strength of key forwards and the speed the AFL side can move the ball around. Other areas it would be a bit of a class difference clearly, but I can see SANFL players holding their own for the most part.

I think people forget easily how alot of these AFL players come back to play SANFL and dont neccessarily "GUN IT" in the SANFL. The likes of Petrenko, McKernan, Sloane, L.Thompson, Jacobs, Jaench, M.Wright, Tambling, Henderson would struggle to be in anyone top 20 SANFL players, these blokes have played a bit of SANFL and not been superstars regulary.

People are acting like every time Tippett plays SANFL he kicks a bag, that just isnt true. Taylor Walker generally stars but he is more of an exception.

Your Henderson example isnt great either because after his bog for Centrals he goes and plays for the Crows and is almost BOG for them against Western Bulldogs picking up high 20 possesions.

Your Thomas example isnt great either becuase if you speak to him he will tell you there was a massive clash between himseldf and Sheedy and he was told very early in the piece that he would be delisted at years end.

While you have mentioned Thomas you havent mentioned anything about Callinan, Duigan, Lower who have all made the step up and played decent AFL football straight away.

We have even had a case this year where one teams supporters were calling for a few of their AFL listed players to be dropped to the reserves for poor form. There are also other AFL listed players running around in SANFL reserves Matty Westoff being one of them.

You're right that a lot of those aren't SANFL superstar standard, but they're not miles away in most cases either. If they were to have played all year at an SANFL club, learn 1 system and be able to train with the team they play for all season then we'd be talking every one of them up as leading SANFL players. I based my assertions about Thomas on the games I saw him play. His kicking skills just weren't up to scratch. They still aren't. Callinan, Duigan and Lower have started well, but let's judge them after 2 years playing AFL footy. Shane Tongerie was a gun recruit for the Crows after 1 game don't forget.

But the argument isn't about whether 4 or 5 of the Crows worst players would be better than 4 or 5 of the best SANFL players. AFL sides are handcuffed by needing their backup players to also be their development players, it stands to reason they will be forced at times to play kids who aren't as good as state league players. The argument is about the Crows v an SANFL side. Those 4 or 5 weaker Crows players might lose their positions, but the 4 or 5 strongest Crows players would dominate too much.

Finally, while you want to pick on examples, Tippett playing in the SANFL? I'd love to know how many games he's played for West and when he did. I suspect he's played only the odd game returning from injury. Hardly the sort of thing to base a grandiose statement on.

[Dogwatcher]

You're right that a lot of those aren't SANFL superstar standard, but they're not miles away in most cases either. If they were to have played all year at an SANFL club, learn 1 system and be able to train with the team they play for all season then we'd be talking every one of them up as leading SANFL players.

Please remove this quote from your above statement. It may provide fodder for those who think AFL sides should have reserves teams in the SANFL

[Thunderstruck]

There are plenty of SANFL players that would more than hold their own at AFL level. Thomas is a bad example as he was very hard done by from Sheedy despite the pleads of Hird and Lloyd for him to stay on. I have no doubt if he was kept he'd still be playing AFL. Sheedy would have made a good AFL player, countless of the Central stars over the years, especially Hopwood and Slade. Not always about size..if you can play, you can play. Up to the recruiters to know if they will be good enough. Callinan in my eyes has been the best player in the SANFL since he arrived from the VFL and has finally gotten his shot, albeit a good 5 years too late but better late than never. Some AFL players get 200 games before better footballers in the state leagues even get a debut (or some not at all!)

Guys like Duigan and Puopolo are clearly AFL standard, one only has to watch them play to find that out and there is still room for improvement in both of them, especially Puopolo given his age. James Allan should at least be given a crack, his skills aren't actually that bad for someone who gets it on average 35 times a game. He'd actually improve the crows midfield.

A composite SANFL side against the crows would be a close game. The crows would no doubt have the superior fitness across the board but they are a slow side, lets face it and I have seen some SANFL games this year and they have been as fast paced as the crows at times. The 2004 SANFL GF has some of the cleanest skills and pace I have seen....but that was a bit of a clinic by Central District. On average the AFL tempo is certainly higher, the bodies are stronger and the fitness is superior across the board. But given the crows form, mental woes, gameplan woes and all round poor performances this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see a SANFL state side give them a red hot crack and frighten them. The crows should win but it wouldn't be the easy win some may think.

[SANFLnut]

An AFL side at full strength would win. What about an AFL side minus their best 6 players? The best SaNFL players are not equal to Crows guns but would comfortably be mid range players. Imagine Crows minus Thompson, Tippett, Johncock, Rutten , Dangerfield & 1 more. Then the playing field is a bit more realistic.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Do the Crows have any "gun" players? I noticed you named 5 and then struggled. I guess the other could be Callinan or Wright.

[doggies4eva]

Do the Crows have any "gun" players? I noticed you named 5 and then struggled. I guess the other could be Callinan or Wright.

Yeah, they have Callinan, Henderson, Symes and Gunston - or they would be if coached properly

[MatteeG]

Watched a bit of Cows V Cats. I reckon Callinan is better than 2/3rds of the Crows list. Hope he gets a crack for the rest of the year, if nothing more than to keep him from being promoted to the Dogs!

[sjt]

We should have taken him off at half time against the Bays, and "rested him". From a selfish perspective, would have meant more likely to play an extra game, rather than be demoted to the Crows.

[D14]

2 Points.

1) This is a similar argument to the old 'our B grade could beat our A grade' comment no one takes into account that the competition and quality of opponents is much greater in the higher grade.

2) What Crows side are we talking about? The team that beat Hawthorn at the start of the year, the team that lead Collingwood for 3 quarters or the team that is running around out there now with no confidence at all since that smashing by collingwood in that final quarter. If it's the latter then yes it would be a very close game but if its the former then the crows would win easily IMO.

[nickname]

It's funny that Craig is now saying he's "building a side". If you are building a side why would you draft a 28 year-old small? Somehow I don't think he thought he was building a side before the season started.