molsey wrote:
I'd argue his form is definitely elite but the question to me is is elite a time based measure? Do you need to perform at the top level for x years, or x games?
Is that what you're trying to answer Tyrants?
well yeah... is playing elite games = elite player? if not, how many games before you are? season? etc etc
that would be one way to take the debate... and thats what has been touched on a bit in patches. Otherwise the thread belongs in TalkingPlayers.
Everyone is tradable, agreed.... the decisions on who are tradable are subjective, just like who is "elite" and who isn't.
I think definitions like "elite" are most important at re-contracting and trade-time, like you said. There are a few ways to measure the "value"
of a player (and "elite" is a value judgement):
1) 1 on 1 vs opponent
2) number of stats (ie, kicks or goals)
3) trade value
4) salary at present club
5) salary offered by other clubs
They're not perfect, but they are measures.
A guy like Judd ranks enormously on all 5. Whitnall is beating his opponents at the moment and getting good stats. He gets paid pretty well by Carlton, but trade value and salary offered is uncertain... now, they are victims of things like age.
Salary, though, is a proxy (as I was saying) for expected output. items 1 and 2 should marry with 4... when they do (or 1 and 2 exceed 4) they're doing well vs expectation.
But, the another key variable is time. Whitnall hasn't done well over recent seasons marrying 1 and 2 with 4, and has suffered a lot in 3 and 5 because of it.... on a performance over time chart, Whitnall wouldn't be hitting 'elite' level.... but IS time an important variable?
If time isn't important, than salary can't be a valid measurement... because the club will offer you based on your average output, not (generally) on the spikes of high output... opposition clubs can offer on the spikes (like Carlton with Kosi last year), but generally not your current club, unless forced into a position of paying above the level to retain you..... but then age/inexperience/potential plays a part in that as well.... you can factor that out of Whitnall because he's not getting any younger.
So, in summary... if time isn't a factor, than either is salary and Whitnall IS elite... and "elite" is temporal.
if Elite is not temporal, and its enduring, then you'd have to say Whitnall could not be considered an elite player at the moment, but potentially could be in future