Key Position Players

[Big Phil]

Thought I'd start this thread so we can read comments on the game review threads about the game and discuss KPP players on here...

To make all parties happy, I'd say the following:

Best KPP in the league - Daniel Havelberg from Central

Seriously, it is without doubt that Ryan Ferguson IS the best CHB in the SANFL and Clint Alleway would have to be in the top 3 best CHF in the competition.

Roury Kirkby gets better and better by the game for the Bays, Daniel Schell is certainly up there and is a proven performer and Sam Rowe is very talented at CHF for Norwood.

Daniel Havelberg holds CHB down really well for the Dogs when not playing forward while when fit, James McLeay from the Double Blues in very good across half back.

Of course, supporters of different clubs will have stronger opinions of their players then others so I figured if we all ontinue the chat on this thread here ladies and gentleman, there will plenty of interesting and though provoking discussion...

Cheers...

[godoubleblues]

I know it is only early but for influence on a game Alleway must be at the top, if not, then bloody close
Thurstans has been darn good so far this year

[redandblack]

Good move, Phil and I think youve summed it up fairly well.

The definition of Key Position is also interesting. Does that restrict itself to CHF and CHB, or does FB and FF come into it.

If so, Chambers would be well up there.

PS: Was Havelberg on young Daniel Webb last Saturday when Webb went to CHF?

[Squawk]

The definition of Key Position is also interesting.

I agree. For example, what about the pie and pasty seller at the exit of Richmond Oval?

[Jimmy]

chambo!!!

[Adelaide Hawk]

Sam Rowe is very talented at CHF for Norwood.

He'd be a chance, but by the time our midfielders get the ball to him, he's got 4 opponents hanging off him.

[Wedgie]

Is it realy fair to compare positions lime Centre Half Back to Centre Half Forward? Isn't it like comparing a back pocket to a forward pocket?
I know when I played Footy CHF was the hardest spot to play and CHB one of the easiest.
Why not compare CHBs to other CHBs and CHFs to other CHFs?
Even then comparison can be unfair if you have a CHF who plays CHF in a more traditional team set up as opposed to one who plays in a high flood game and has to move more and comstantly battle 4 or 5 others when the ball is sent forward.
I know players get moved around these days depending on team needs but it's pretty obvious where they play a majority of their Footy.

[redandblack]

Good post, Wedgie.

I agree totally.

[CENTURION]

What about the fact that Schell is the best key MULTI-position player? He has proven his worth, both in attack & in defence, time & time again.

[mal]

IF all the KPP players played at thier best in any one game I would choose Emu Gill
We have all forgotten Danny Schell as well ?

[whufc]

If i could have any KPP player from another club at Centrals it would have to be Clint Alleway.

He has single handly won numerous games for North whether that be as a forward or the occasional game in the ruck.

[on the rails]

If i could have any KPP player from another club at Centrals it would have to be Clint Alleway.

He has single handly won numerous games for North whether that be as a forward or the occasional game in the ruck.

...and he has at times last year played at CHB, played periods of many games as a follower and now with adding the role of ruckman surely makes him the most versatile and best KPP in the league?

[Jimmy]

while chambo is the best FF in the league...id go with alleway for the best all-round KPP over schell...schell if he was fit would be ahead tho.

bloody herring could have been there by now but he is just too inconsistent and plain not good as the others...however works well with JJ across the HF line.

[on the rails]

This is another one of those arguements that in reality there is no right or wrong in terms of who we think is best, regardless of our own bias towards our own clubs player(s).

I think since Schell started playing both fwd and back that a number of players have been used in that manner - Havelberg being the other Centrals versatile KPP. Whether those two could also play in ruck for an extended period if they had to and be effective has yet to be seen but I suggest Schell certainly could - at least back a couple of seasons ago when he was younger and carried less injuries. Also could you play them as a follower / ruck rover?

Certainly across most clubs there are KPP who can play at either end - generally either CHF or CHB. Those would include:

Centrals - Schell and Havelberg
North - D. White, Gill and Davis
Norwood - Rowe
Glenelg - T. Grima and Kirby. Just on Kirkby he could also play as a follower IMHO, very athletic and mobile for a KPP
West - Ryan Ferguson
Eagles - McKenzie - whilst not the traditional KPP he has played at CHB and CHF on occasions. H may be a tad under height to hold down those spots for long periods or over a season but given he also plays as a follower and rebounding flanker he is probably the most versatile non KPP player in the league and an elite player in this comp.
Sturt - Thurstans, Herring as a maybe? Pity Coad is not at Unley still - he was damn good both ends of the ground and could also play on ball.

Apologies to Port and South fans can’t really see any players from your clubs that you could compare to the above list but feel free to add any you may think fit the bill. That goes for any other players I may have missed from the above clubs.

[Big Phil]

Whilst he is not in the Central league side at the moment, due to an interrupted pre-season because he got married, you could possibly add Heath Lawry to the list for the Dogs as well.He was recruited from Williamstown in the VFL where he mainly played as a key defender then came over to Elizabeth and played the early part of his SANFL career as a CHF, before being switched back into defence in recent seasons.

He has won 2 Premiership medals, one against North as a CHF and last year against Sturt as a full back. He has also spent some time over the years pinch hitting in the ruck when needed.Others that have been or are capable of playing both key posts at either end of the ground would include recently retired star Yves sibenaler. He started his career as a key forward and kicked 5 goals from FF on league debut before being transformed into a magnificent defender.

Retiring at the end of 2008 after severe knee and ankle injuries, another flexible KPP player for the Dogs was Jeremy Aufderheide. Jezza won a couple of Premiership medallions as a key defender and of course did magnificently well to make his way into the 2008 GF side after a long battle with injuries, but he was another who also played as a forward. I remember he played some reserves football at FF and he kicked 7 goals in a league trial once against the Maggies at Elizabeth.

Justin Hardy, also currently in the Central reserves side, this time due to injury and form, is also capable of having an impact at both ends of the ground. Mainly recruited as a key defender, Justin has played all of his league footy for the Dogs in defence but was recruited from Tasmania were he did spend some time up forward including a couple of bags of 7 goals when playing for the Devils in the VFL.

2nd gamer Damian Hynes is also another one that has spent some time at both ends. Currently holding down full back in the Dogs league side, the local Smithfield lad played a lot of reserves and underage football as a key forward and has seemed to make thw switch well into defence. something I think Roy Laird and the club seem to have a good knack at doing.

Great to see young Damian Hynes playing league football this year, especially considering he had an indifferent season in the reserves last year, so much so he was dropped to the Under 18's late in the year as one of their overage players which consequently saw him miss out on playing reserves finals with the Dogs. Will done Hynsey.

[human_torpedo]

Im probably going to get hammered for this, and in no way am I putting him in the league that you have above mentioned, but the Eagles Todd Miles will be one of the ones to watch in terms of KPP/Ruck. Once he settles in a position I think he will flourish, he has shown versatility in defence, attack and even in the ruck. Given a year or 2 of further development in matches, as well as his body, I think he will be right up there in a couple of years.

For the record, Id have to say Alleway on a consistent basis is simply supreme. Gill can win a match in 10 minutes, but only does it once or twice a year, if that. Damon White is another one, Gee North have some KPP options dont they?

As an Eagles fan, it would be remiss of me not too mention Schell, as painful as it is to say that he would be right up there, heaven knows he has stitched us up enough over the past decade. I have seen first hand the talent of this bloke, so he too would be in the top eschelon id say.

[Big Phil]

I'd have to agree with you regarding Miles torpedo, he has shown some great versatility and once he gets some consistancy into his game, he'll be a very good league footballer.

I reckon he is a little underestimated by the oppositon and perhaps their supporters, but no doubt would be held in high regard by the Eagles coaching staff.

Also at the Eagles, Stuart Hill has some versatility also, I have seen him play key forward, key back and ruck in various league and reserves games over the last couple of seasons...

[human_torpedo]

Hilly is another one that hopefully will develop with time and effort. The Eagles seem to have a plethora of young talent who can develop into key roles. Lee Staple is another you can add too Miles and Hill, Development with match time and work on his body will hopefully see him turn into a good league footballer, possibly getting onto an AFL list.

Where does Salter fit into the KPP discussion? Im ot throwing his name in the ring, merely putting the feelers out on him. I rate him highly, he is a class act with unlimited match winning potential. Is he a Key Forward, or more a smaller type forward? He seems to attract the beter defender each week from the opposition..

[Aerie]

Miles has proven very valuable for his versatility, but I wouldn't even have him in the Eagles team as a KPP only. Most useful having a run in the ruck and being used to patch up other positions when needed. Doesn't have the skills to be a league standard KPP IMO.

Grocke is underestimated around the competition. Has been a very good CHF for us for a number of years now. Salter can't really be included because he is on an AFL list, but he would be up there.

I think Alleway is the best KPP in the competition. Actually, with White and Gill also, North just about have the top 3.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Key Position players... what are they?