What do you think?

They are all still relatively young, and for the role Kreuz is in a virtual infant. But will they get to this level?

I have seen Murph dismanle teams for patches and just be unstoppable, and Gibbs and Kreuz have shown polish and ability to dominate periods.

I look at other teams and see other young exciting talents and wonder whether they will eclipse our #1's? It concerns me. Watching teh North game I could see some of their kids being harder, faster and more polished than many in our list and they've not had the relative riches in drafting as we have.

So let's say they will all get to a Gary Ablett, Chris Judd, Nick Riewoldt and jon Brown type of status. What do they need to do to get there? Perhaps a bit of hardness (Gibbs and Murph more than Kreuz as his intent at the ball is commendable)? More comnsistency perhaps?

Not until they stop being lazy every couple of games and merely trying to 'get by' looking for Judd to carry them (Kreuzer excluded).

ATM from where I sit only Murph can become the best in the game. Gibbs isn't quick enough and Kreuzer isn't good enough or skilled enough.

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Gibbs will be the best player as he has so much polish, as he gets older (He is only 21!) he will dominate games.

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#23: Lachlan Henderson

You need express speed to be the best midfielder IMO, Gibbs doesn't have this and never will. He should model his game around that of Ratts'.

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Do you though? He isn't *that* slow, and he is by far the best disposer of the ball. I think him and Murph will as they become older more mature players will play their strengths of each other beautifully.

Any way their are plenty of Elite mid's without extreme leg speed.

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#23: Lachlan Henderson

Jimmy Bartel won a brownlow 2 years ago

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I agree with this, he and Murph will complement each other perfectly in the coming years and so will Lucas.



Not sure about plenty, there are some though. No reason why Bryce wont become elite, I think he could be already if they'd just play him there. I just think without that burst of speed he wont be the best. I also think Murph's disposal is the best and by quite a lot. Gibbs isn't very quick hand to foot IMO and struggles (just a little) when he has to kick quickly as do many. For Murph though it isn't so IMO.

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there's no reason why gibbs can't get to goddard's level with a bit more intensity. murphy could get to montagna's level with a much improved running capacity and workrate. kreuzer will be as good as cox around the ground though not so sure about his ruckwork. it takes something really special to become the best player in the league and while i doubt anyone of these boys will get there (and it's unfair to expect that from them) if i had to choose one i'd say gibbs. all 3 could easily go on to become top 10 players.

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

Kruezer will be the best out of the 3. I think most people dont realise how much upside the kid has. His scope for improvement is massive and I think his role is the hardest to master.

Spot on Brock, Kruzer is the best of the 3 and will be the best player in the AFL in 2-3 seasons.... he is a gun

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Matty Kruzer you star!

Murphs will one day be the best in the game... very shortly. IMO... Simmo will get to #1 in the game before Kruez OR Gibbs... I can just see more consistence improvements in Simmo week in week out compared to them.

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Bring back David Clarke

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The question was will either of them be the number one player in the game, not the midfield. Goddard and Hodge are getting pretty close now and neither of them have express speed. Speed is overrated. Gibbs is a completely different player to Ratts I don't see any similarities.

Personally I'd be happy if the three of them at some stage of their careers are rated in the top 10 in the competition and I think that's achievable for all of them.

Well if you're not the number one player in the comp in the midfield then you aren't the best in the game are you?

As far as Ratts and Gibbs go they're very similar. Neither are very quick but both are excellent in and under players with brilliant peripheral vision and are both just as competent as receivers. They are both very capable of getting the right mix of both inside and outside balls. Gibbs is stronger than Ratts was overhead but you could argue that Ratts was a harder tackler and perhaps had quicker hands. Gibbs is more skillfull that Ratts was. IMO

As for Goddard, he is quicker than Gibbs and he has height and athleticism on him, two very different players. Hodge is a very good player but he will never be the best there is IMO, because he doesn't have that burst of speed.

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Reiwoldt was considered the best player in the comp before he got injured, ditto Jonathan Brown... last time I checked they weren't midfielders. You don't need to be a midfielder to be the best player.

On current form Hodge is the best player in the competition at the moment. Like I said speed, that is foot speed, is overrated. I'll take a footy brain over leg speed any day and Hodge has it in spades. Apart from Judd and Ablett I don't see many players that combine both that can claim to be the best in the competition.

I never said you have to how hard is it to understand? For Bryce to be the best in the comp he needs to become the best midfielder FIRST and then you can consider whether he's as good as the key position players going around. IMO he never will be due to his lack of speed. Simple as that. If you can't comprehend what I'm saying then you have issues.

As for Hodge, he's having a purple patch yes but he'll start to cop some attention very soon. He's behind Ablett AFAIC. If he was quick, a different story but IMO the best mids are the ones that can win their own ball and carry it forward with speed and break the lines. If you can't do this then you're not number one IMO. No matter how good your other strengths are.

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James Hird was the best midfielder in the comp for a long while and he never had speed of legs. He had speed of mind, and an innate ability to read the play.

I'm not saying Gibbs will be as good as Hird. What I am saying is that you can be the best midfielder in the comp and not have amazing speed.

Gibbs is probably the most polished player in the AFL today.

Been a bit dissapointed with Kreuz this year to tell you the truth...

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