gerry atric wrote:
Ironic that the pick we gave Geelong for Mick Mansfield they used on an 18 yr old Chappy. We prefer our Geelong recruits to be injury prone and past their best. You'd only go for him if he is going to be part of the 2014 premiership, and we have 8 sides from last year ahead of us and a few behind us breathing down our necks. We need significant improvement rather than some icing.
I agree- it is ironic and painful that that pick got them Chapman. The Mick Mansfield situation was a huge mistake, so from a Carlton perspective it makes one wary of obtaining/trading in Geelong players.
The difference is that Mansfield was a pretty good player-whilst Chapman is a champion of the game. He is above nearly all other players in terms of what he is capable of in finals. He demonstrated it in the match against Port a few weeks back when he kicked 4 goals. They only won by 16 points and the next best goal kicker for Geelong was Hawkins - 2 goals.
I have no doubt in my mind that Geelong would have made the grand final this year if Chapman hadn't been suspended. He is that much better than any other small forward in the game (even if half injured).
BTW - Chapman shouldn't have been suspended and the suspension of players for harmless bumps is a blight on the game... History has been decided though and Hawthorn are premiers...how things could have been different. I am not sure how good he is going forward- but purely on his record to date - few can even get close to Chapman. If picking a team from 2002-onwards - he would be about the first I would pick.
Then again, maybe he wouldn't like playing for the Blues, and would be more suited to a team with a proven record of finals success...Hawthorn or Sydney (neither of which would take him for financial reasons?).....who really knows...all I know is when I think of a footballing champion - I think of Chapman. History will judge him well- I hope.