David EdwardsGoodes The Best, But Does This Equal The Flag?
September 26th 2006 11:05
Well the biggest award night in the AFL, the Brownlow, has come and gone. The usual has occurred, such as some players enjoying themselves a bit too much in front of the cameras and some media organisations focusing way too much on the fashion, but it was also the biggest night in the line up for the Grand Final. As Adam Goodes snapped up the award for the most valuable player in the AFL league this season, questions automatically were asked about this meaning victory for the Swans, and anyone with a real sense of the sport have to say no.
Whilst Goodes fully deserved the award due to his blitzing role in the Swans line up, it does not mean that he will be able to win the Swans back to back premierships. First of all, the side that the Brownlow medallist plays on rarely wins the flag. Ben Cousins won it last season, yet was unable to convert that to a premiership, likewise for Chris Judd the season before, where the Eagles did not even get to the last game of the season. In fact, over the past 20 years only four players from the premiership side have won the Brownlow.
Secondly, there is the constant phrase thrown around the league that ‘the side is bigger than just one player’ (usually when the star is injured) which is in fact true. Regardless of how talented, or how much influence they can perform on a game, anybody and everybody is no better than their last game. Looking at the Swans over the past year alone is a perfect example. Barry Hall was on fire all throughout 2005 in the home and away rounds, but was barely on the radar during the finals. Michael O’Loughlin was in a word, mediocre during last year’s grand final, and their young star of the 2005 finals, Nick Davis, was so bad this year he was dropped from the squad for a decent chunk of the season. The Grand Final is no different than any other match, any player can rise or fall under the pressure.
What will win Sydney the flag is how they play as a side, and not the individual effort of a single player. Goodes can determine a match result with a brilliant passage of play, but that could happen to one of the other 35 players on the ground. Whilst his ability on the ground will definitely either help or hinder how the Swans finish this year, just because he was named as the best player this year doesn’t mean he will be able to swing the premiership cup back to the harbour for a second straight year. Before any Sydney supporters do get ahead of themselves because of the performance of Goodes this season, just keep in mind that not only did a West Coast player win the Brownlow last season, with Ben Cousins, but their current captain Chris Judd also won the best on ground medal, whilst being on a losing side.
Until next time, sports minds.
Whilst Goodes fully deserved the award due to his blitzing role in the Swans line up, it does not mean that he will be able to win the Swans back to back premierships. First of all, the side that the Brownlow medallist plays on rarely wins the flag. Ben Cousins won it last season, yet was unable to convert that to a premiership, likewise for Chris Judd the season before, where the Eagles did not even get to the last game of the season. In fact, over the past 20 years only four players from the premiership side have won the Brownlow.
Secondly, there is the constant phrase thrown around the league that ‘the side is bigger than just one player’ (usually when the star is injured) which is in fact true. Regardless of how talented, or how much influence they can perform on a game, anybody and everybody is no better than their last game. Looking at the Swans over the past year alone is a perfect example. Barry Hall was on fire all throughout 2005 in the home and away rounds, but was barely on the radar during the finals. Michael O’Loughlin was in a word, mediocre during last year’s grand final, and their young star of the 2005 finals, Nick Davis, was so bad this year he was dropped from the squad for a decent chunk of the season. The Grand Final is no different than any other match, any player can rise or fall under the pressure.
What will win Sydney the flag is how they play as a side, and not the individual effort of a single player. Goodes can determine a match result with a brilliant passage of play, but that could happen to one of the other 35 players on the ground. Whilst his ability on the ground will definitely either help or hinder how the Swans finish this year, just because he was named as the best player this year doesn’t mean he will be able to swing the premiership cup back to the harbour for a second straight year. Before any Sydney supporters do get ahead of themselves because of the performance of Goodes this season, just keep in mind that not only did a West Coast player win the Brownlow last season, with Ben Cousins, but their current captain Chris Judd also won the best on ground medal, whilst being on a losing side.
Until next time, sports minds.
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