Best CHB in 2008

[am Bays]

Bottom line R&B I respect your knowledge and advocay for one of your better players who as I have said consistantly in this debate is one of the best backmen in the competition.

Now we can argue about rankings, games styles and possession till the cows come home but at the end of the day what is inseputable is that Fergusson is a bloody good footballer.

I still maintain you flooded in Rd 4 as well as rd 15.

[redandblack]

You think Round 4 was a flood?

Round 15 - Now that's a flood

Actually, TM, we've only 'flooded' once this year, in that R15, which was a 'super-flood'.

I think that all teams flood now, in the sense of getting players to get back behind the ball as quickly as possible.

With respect, the evidence isn't there for a flood in Round 4. We actually led at half-time by a few points after a fairly open first half. You then kicked so many goals in the second half that there definitely wasn't a flood of any sort.

[redandblack]

Sorry TM, I missed the in your reply

[am Bays]

Rd 4 flood or numbers behind the ball - call it what you want - you certainly got players back into our forward 50 that made it harder for our midfielders to hit targets - certainly more so than any other side has against us this year.

Yes I agree in the 2nd half it became more open once fatigue set in and your players found it harder to get back and fill up the space.

[redandblack]

The half-time score was 7.6 WA to 7.5 Glg, which was the equal highest aggregate half-time score of that round.

14 goals in a half is hardly 'flooding' material and if it is, then obviously either Glenelg were doing the same, or all sides that round were flooding.

[bosvit]

Rd 4 flood or numbers behind the ball - call it what you want - you certainly got players back into our forward 50 that made it harder for our midfielders to hit targets - certainly more so than any other side has against us this year.

Yes I agree in the 2nd half it became more open once fatigue set in and your players found it harder to get back and fill up the space.

Maybe Fergie was every where in the first half and it made it appear that there were more players behind the ball?

Obviously with running so much in the first half he tired dramatically for the second.....

But I do think it is harder to get touches in the back lines in a poor team than in a good team, because with our leaky defence, especially early in the season, it is much easier to find a target away from the key defensive players. As most of the top teams have 3+ potent forwards and we really only have 1 strong defender (The Ferg) and 1 rebound defender in Cupido his job is harder than most CHB each week IMO.

Another string to his bow, as you mentioned he does rebound well out of defence and is still able to get back and mark the CHF when our midfield turns it over to your half back line more often than not.

[whufc]

TM, you obviously haven't seen much of Ferguson, judging by that statement.

His official stats last Saturday:

10 Kicks

17 Handballs

13 Marks

Apart from that, he's taken Mark of the Year and possibly the next best 3 or 4 'courageous' marks.

Stats can be misleading, but for a CHB, those stats are outstanding. Have another look at them.

He's taken 'Mark of the Year' have they awarded this already. I thought there was still a few more minor round games plus finals to go as well.

[redandblack]

Impossible to beat it, whufc

[wycbloods]

Forrest does a job each week on the 2nd tall. Rarely beaten but isn't the best CHB in the league.

R&B given you club's forwards and midfield performances this year i.e. the amount of ball that gets into the westies backline the fact that he gets 30 touches each week is not surprising. If Ferguson was any good he'd be getting 40 touches a week...

Also given the flooding tactics that Westies play - the amount of Westies players in the backlines allows ferguson to zone off his man and get relatively easy possessions. Not that I blame your club for looking for him as a go to person in the defence as he is well skilled and one of your better players. My point is your game style allows him to pick up possessions for more readily than a McLeay, Schell, Rudolph and Bown. So spare me the stats details Fergusson gets compared to other backmen in this league.

Yes he's a good player and is definately one of the better backmen in the competition but having seen clubs this year I stand by the fact that Schell and Mcleay are the two best CHB in the comp.

Forrest is rarely beaten, but has had players like Chambers, Warren, Passador, Waterhouse, Hargay kick bags on him...even with Mules, Rudolph and Panoz down back to help out...

I **** love the bloke...he has been an absolute stalwart for our club...

Back to the discussion about CHB's...based on what I've seen this season, I reakon no one is the standout CHB.

This is why i rate Ferguson so highly. He doesn't have the quality help that a Rudolph, Mcleay and Sherwood have the pleasure of having week in week out. Ferguson has to beat his own man and then help out the other defenders not have people help him.

[Mic]

Shane Schubert.

[redandblack]

Another really good performance by Ferguson today. I think even the Norwood fans will agree he beat Rowe comfortably and gave great rebound.

He's a long way in front of any other CHB.

[bosvit]

Andy Collins must be reading the site because he made the same claim at presentations tonight R&B

[bundy]

If Ryan Ferguson played in a consistently winning side he would be high up in the medal votes.

[Thiele]

Ferguson is the best

[Big Phil]

Ferguson is the best

When fully fit and at his best, Daniel Schell throws a pretty good challenge up for that mantle i reckon...

[TigerBoss]

I'm not sure if he's classified as a true CHB but Zac Hier of the Eagles is quite an impressive player...saw his efforts yesterday in shutting down Duldig and Grima and getting a bit of the footy himself.

[CENTURION]

Ferguson is the best

When fully fit and at his best, Daniel Schell throws a pretty good challenge up for that mantle i reckon...

averages about 7 marks per week & then has the skill to go forward & kick goals, he must be close to number 1, in my one-eyed, totally un-biased expert opinion

[wycbloods]

Andy Collins must be reading the site because he made the same claim at presentations tonight R&B

Yes he did Bosvit maybe he is a poster on here .

[redandblack]

As much as I think Ryan Ferguson is the best CHB in the league, I also think that Clint Alleway is probably the best CHF.

Today, they were direct opponents. North were dominant all day.

I'd suggest that Alleway showed he's a top player, but that Ferguson won that battle pretty convincingly.

He's comfortably the best recruit West have had for a long time and is easily the best CHB in the league.

[Wedgie]

West should win the best CHB, best rookie, best player and the premiership this year IMHO.
They were sensational today.
Full marks to everyone involved at West this year, easily the most impressive side in the competition.