Some interesting threads going round - trade this player, trade that player, to tank or not to tank, CSC in strife, and so on.
I need a change.
I know that I support the very best club in the AFL. Carlton is the only Club I have ever supported or ever will. But there are supporters out there (can you believe it?) that feel much the same about their club as I feel about mine.
So I got to thinking about it. How can we make direct comparisons? A comparison that has less to do with emotion and more to do with reality.
So I got to thinking that it might be useful to look at all AFL clubs and come up with some empirical measure/evidence for what makes them great - or otherwise.
Let's get away from the motherhood statements that talk about CULTURE, about PRIDE IN THE JUMPER, and all those other attributes that, frankly, will be claimed by every other club.
For a moment, let's get away from the number of PREMIERSHIPS won, or wooden spoons awarded when we compare our club with any other.
Let's, just for a change, look at how well clubs have managed their players. Good players arrive on the doorstep of every club at some time or another - but how successful has that club been at realising the potential of those players?
How many players have left a club to become champion, or at least good, players at some other club? For the purpose of this exercise - the reason that they left should not be taken into account. Whether they jumped or were pushed really makes no difference. They left to fight for another club, another jumper. Oh, and let's make it, say, 40 games played for their new club to qualify.
We need a time frame - so let's have a look at the 15 years between 1990 and 2005.
For example - St Kilda: lost Plugger, Wakelin 1, Wakelin 2, Everitt, Barry Hall, Lappin (and probably others).
Dockers: lost Bell, White, Clement, Abraham (not sure that Winston qualifies with games played), Croad, Sinclaire.
These are a few that spring to mind with just two of the clubs.
It would be interesting to tap into that vast football knowledge at TC to complete the picture. Pick a club - any club, and see how many you can come up with.
We could allocate 1 point for each player - and, like in golf, highest number loses - lowest number wins.
I will keep a tally - and on Friday afternoon publish the results.
Go to it.
_________________ Princes' Hill Expatriate
|