Top 7 ‘Surprise Packets’ of the AFL Season so far

[half back 0]

A great list here with Jamar being recognised for his efforts and honerable mention to James Frawley for missing out -

He has single handedly beaten players like Jolly, Fraser, Brogan etc and put Melbourne into winning positions.

[No16 1]

He definitely deserves to be in that list. His partnership with beamer has been one of the key reasons for the clubs improvement this year.

[Deeoldfart 8,082]

I know I am biased, but I would have Chip in there at #5.

[jnrmac 20,206]

I think Barlow should be 1.

Pods has been great but he has a stellar midfield delivering to him.

And having two RIchmond players in there? I don't think so.

[4jacks 0]

No, Chip shouldn't be in there... nowhere near being a surprise packet for those in the know.

[Juicebox 628]

Before coming into the AFL J Pod had kicked X amount of goals in the VFL and has been a bonafide full forward for about a decade. Hardly surprised to see him kicking goals with a Geelong midfield sending his way.

Great story? yes. Surprised? no. I think Melbourne as a team has surprised a lot of people. Hard to single out too many individuals.

[45HG 1,559]

No, Chip shouldn't be in there... nowhere near being a surprise packet for those in the know.

I hate saying this, but, "correct"

[Deeoldfart 8,082]

No, Chip shouldn't be in there... nowhere near being a surprise packet for those in the know.

Fair call I guess, but how many outside MFC are 'in the know'? ...... and anyway, in my book, a similar statement could be made about the Russian.

[Deeoldfart 8,082]

I hate saying this, but, "correct"

I hate saying this 45, but, "fair enough"........ Bring on the footy!

[4jacks 0]

a similar statement could be made about the Russian.

True, but an 8-year battler suddenly coming good is more surprising than a 4-year youngster having a breakout year. But yeah, Jamar did show some good form when he played last year, so it hasn't been completely out of the blue.

[Deeoldfart 8,082]

True, but an 8-year battler suddenly coming good is more surprising than a 4-year youngster having a breakout year. But yeah, Jamar did show some good form when he played last year, so it hasn't been completely out of the blue.

Agree with that 4jacks. Also, it's probably not much more than 12 months ago that some around here were arguing that Chip was a waste of an early draft pick. Certainly, his potential was rarely (if ever) acknowledged in the media, and I suspect many in the wider football community would have known of him more as Spud's nephew than as a young / developing Melbourne player.

[Eth 4]

Haha, my mate from school wrote that, he said Frawley was the unluckiest

[Tony Tea 2,809]

Frawley might not be a "surprise packet" to us Demon affycondos, but he should definitely be in The Big Tip half-year all-Australian backline. Scandalous omission. I will write to my local representative.

[s-t-i-n-g-a 439]

I think Barlow should be 1.

Pods has been great but he has a stellar midfield delivering to him.

And having two RIchmond players in there? I don't think so.

And Barlow has had the AA ruckman putting it down his gob.

I think they are both great.

[Carlos Danger 380]

And Barlow has had the AA ruckman putting it down his gob.

I think they are both great.

Barlow is an elite midfielder and Sandilands being in the ruck takes absolutely nothing away from that. He is miles ahead in the "surprise packets" stakes as far as I'm concerned. Brownlow contention in your first year of AFL footy, regardless of age, is incredible to say the least. Podsiadly is a great story too, but his efforts so far this year don't even come close to Barlow.

Good to see the Russian get a mention too, but I don't think Edwards and o'hAilpin are worthy of making the list. Mumford easily over either of them.

[Wonaeamirri=STAR 1]

Hey everyone.

I actually wrote that article. Thanks for posting it up halfback.

I also wrote a Jamar one, just posted it up on the main board.

@ Jnr Mac - You can't deny Jack Riewoldt this season, he has been the biggest improver. Edwards suprises most people, last year he was not a certain selection and was up and down. This year he has been consistent and leads the in smothers and his attack has been good. Chip Frawley was very unlucky to miss. The game were he towelled up Brown was superb. With these sort of things, you can't always fit everyone in.

@Juicebox. A few people who follow the VFL knew about the J-Pod before this season but most of the footballing public didnt. If I told you a 28 year old could come into the AFL from the VFL and who had been rejected by two clubs before hand and make a Geelong team even better, you would have thought I was on the [censored]. Melbourne have improved this year and should have defeated Collingwood twice and the dogs and should be in the eight at the moment.

@Deeloldfart. Jamar has been more of a suprise to the footballing public than Chip Frawley. Most people knew Frawley was a talent and it was just time when he would delevop into a gun player.

@eth38. good to see you here mate. Should have told me about this thread earlier

@Godemons. Do you contribute to The Big Tip? In a week or too, I'll try and muster up my own All Australian team and see how I go. Chip Frawley will be up there.

@Stinga. Nice avatar.

@Dee Nutz. Everyone thought Carlton were stuffed when Fev left but apart from the last couple of weeks O'Hailpin has been more than servicable. Edwards is another suprise packet. Players like Mumford, Kennedy, Varcoe etc could have got a place but were unlucky. With these sorts of things, its hard to judge overall and get it all right.

Thanks everyone for the comments and Go the Dees!

Cheers

Edited June 22, 2010 by Wonaeamirri=STAR

[s-t-i-n-g-a 439]

Barlow is an elite midfielder and Sandilands being in the ruck takes absolutely nothing away from that. He is miles ahead in the "surprise packets" stakes as far as I'm concerned. Brownlow contention in your first year of AFL footy, regardless of age, is incredible to say the least. Podsiadly is a great story too, but his efforts so far this year don't even come close to Barlow.

Good to see the Russian get a mention too, but I don't think Edwards and o'hAilpin are worthy of making the list. Mumford easily over either of them.

You missed the point I was making, I didnt say who I thought was better. I was responding to Jnrmac's assertion that you can somehow discount Pods success because he is playing to the Cats midfield. Sure it helps but I thought it was a moot point as Barlow has the AA ruckman delivering to him.

Equally Pods is an elite forward and the Cats midfield takes absolutly nothing away from that. If you have seen him play live you will see he does a mountain of work off the ball and creates his own opportunities and leads the comp for contested marks in his first year despite missing three games also makes him a worthy "surprise packet" as far as im concerned. Barlow might be in contention for the Brownlow, which is essentially a midfielders award but Pods is equally in contention for the Coleman which is a forwards award.

For the record I think Barlow just shades him but to discount him because of the midfild delivering to him is short sighted and to say his efforts dont even come close is just foolish.

I agree re Jamar, Edwards, O'Halpin and Mumford.

[half back 0]

Hey everyone.

I actually wrote that article. Thanks for posting it up halfback.

I also wrote a Jamar one, just posted it up on the main board.

@ Jnr Mac - You can't deny Jack Riewoldt this season, he has been the biggest improver. Edwards suprises most people, last year he was not a certain selection and was up and down. This year he has been consistent and leads the in smothers and his attack has been good. Chip Frawley was very unlucky to miss. The game were he towelled up Brown was superb. With these sort of things, you can't always fit everyone in.

@Juicebox. A few people who follow the VFL knew about the J-Pod before this season but most of the footballing public didnt. If I told you a 28 year old could come into the AFL from the VFL and who had been rejected by two clubs before hand and make a Geelong team even better, you would have thought I was on the [censored]. Melbourne have improved this year and should have defeated Collingwood twice and the dogs and should be in the eight at the moment.

No worries it was good article and look forward to many more. Yeah Barlow has been a machine this year and really look forward to see what he polls in the brownlow

cheers

@Deeloldfart. Jamar has been more of a suprise to the footballing public than Chip Frawley. Most people knew Frawley was a talent and it was just time when he would delevop into a gun player.

@eth38. good to see you here mate. Should have told me about this thread earlier

@Godemons. Do you contribute to The Big Tip? In a week or too, I'll try and muster up my own All Australian team and see how I go. Chip Frawley will be up there.

@Stinga. Nice avatar.

@Dee Nutz. Everyone thought Carlton were stuffed when Fev left but apart from the last couple of weeks O'Hailpin has been more than servicable. Edwards is another suprise packet. Players like Mumford, Kennedy, Varcoe etc could have got a place but were unlucky. With these sorts of things, its hard to judge overall and get it all right.

Thanks everyone for the comments and Go the Dees!

Cheers

[Wonaeamirri=STAR 1]

Thanks mate.

I'll try and post my demon related ones on here more often.

[Carlos Danger 380]

You missed the point I was making, I didnt say who I thought was better. I was responding to Jnrmac's assertion that you can somehow discount Pods success because he is playing to the Cats midfield. Sure it helps but I thought it was a moot point as Barlow has the AA ruckman delivering to him.

Equally Pods is an elite forward and the Cats midfield takes absolutly nothing away from that. If you have seen him play live you will see he does a mountain of work off the ball and creates his own opportunities and leads the comp for contested marks in his first year despite missing three games also makes him a worthy "surprise packet" as far as im concerned. Barlow might be in contention for the Brownlow, which is essentially a midfielders award but Pods is equally in contention for the Coleman which is a forwards award.

For the record I think Barlow just shades him but to discount him because of the midfild delivering to him is short sighted and to say his efforts dont even come close is just foolish.

I agree re Jamar, Edwards, O'Halpin and Mumford.

I didn't miss the point, I just don't think it has much merit. Sandilands is one player, Geelong is a team full of incredible midfielders who also play other positions. If anything, J-Pod is a revelation of how much the forward line has been under-achieving.

[s-t-i-n-g-a 439]

I didn't miss the point, I just don't think it has much merit. Sandilands is one player, Geelong is a team full of incredible midfielders who also play other positions. If anything, J-Pod is a revelation of how much the forward line has been under-achieving.

Right so consider only what supports your position. I got it.

Have you noticed the improvement in our midfielders with Jamar up and going? How would our midfielders fair without him? Just as good?

Feel free to debte who has the greater influence if you like and continue to miss the point all over again.