Current List Vs 2000 GF team

[frosty]

Wallis was immense for that whole 2000 season. His work at CHB was exceptional. He always had talent (as opposed to just being a brute), but across his whole career, I reckon that was the only 25 games where he consistently put it together.

[wimmera1]

Anyone who thinks Wallis cost us that game hasn’t seen the goals we missed.
If he went back and took the kick there’s no guarantee that we convert anyway.
Pretty sure if Mercuri kicks the ball anywhere near straight from here to your nearest wall then that would have made a bigger difference.

[Crazy_Bomber]

@frosty

Wallis was immense for that whole 2000 season. His work at CHB was exceptional. He always had talent (as opposed to just being a brute), but across his whole career, I reckon that was the only 25 games where he consistently put it together.

And played what, 1 game in 2001? I think Lloyd, Fletcher, J Johnson and Caracella were the only players that even got close to their 2000 seasons. After being such important contributors in 2000 Wallis and Long between them alone barely played 6 games.

[darkknightpheonix]

@frosty

@Eastie_Boi1

Definitely think there’s some players from 2000 who get rated waaaaaaaay higher than they were because of the side they played in + the whole nostalgia thing people have for bygone eras.

Really depends though. How much does “playing your role in the team” count. Someone like Heffernan, who had a negative role most weeks, and didn’t get a heap of the ball, but who when he used it was reliable. Head to head you’d say there were plenty of players who would be better options. But none of them would actually bring the same skillset as Heffernan to the side. Of course Merrett or Shiel are better players, but does a side need the Heffernan role player more than another offensive weapon?

this is what it boils down to for me.

I’ll raise you a wallis to your heff example.
wallis was a hard nut who would belt people for fun, was a ■■■■ footballer though. But one thing he had and made others do was walk taller cos of it.

So the likes of hardwick, solly, mj esp in the backline, but others across the field also walk taller and know that if ■■■■ hits the fan, they will come and help out and at worse get even at some point.

now you replace him with say a hurley who is obviously a better defender and player across his career. you don’t get that same mental advantage cos hurley wouldn’t actively try to hurt someone and while he may stand up for his mates if push comes to shove, there is a difference between knowing someone will hurt someone else and get even, as apposed to just standing up if someone pushes you around.

If all things were equal, fitness, gamestyles of the era I’d say 2000 team ■■■■■ all over the current day version, even this year because they held no fear mentally of anyone or anything in that period. Their drive to be better would obviously play a huge part too.

I know it’s not a who would win debate, just pointing out that changing the dynamics by simply picking a “better” player on paper wouldn’t result IMO in the same outcomes.