I would argue that a sign of the times starting to change is seeing a player whose name is not Nathan Jones being recognised by opposition fans as having quality.

On BF there is a thread titled "Create a best 18 using one player from each club". Upon opening it I was preparing myself for a list of teams with N Jones on the bench. Instead, this is what I found on the first two pages:

FB: Eric Mackenzie (WCE) / Alex Rance (RICH) / Jimmy Webster (STK)

HB: Pearce Hanley (BRIS) / Daniel Talia (ADEL) / Dyson Heppell (ESS)

R: Todd Goldstein (NMK) / Gary Ablett (GCS) / Scott Pendlebury (COLL)

M: Nathan Fyfe (FREM) / Joel Selwood (GEEL) / Robbie Gray (PTA)

HF: Luke Parker (SYD) / JESSE HOGAN MELB) / Jake Stringer (WBD)

FF: Luke Breust (HAW) / Jeremy Cameron (GWS) / Troy Menzel (CARL)

B: Gibson (Haw), Lonergan (Geel), Simpson (Carl)

HB: Hurn (WC), Rance (Rich), Hanley (Bris)

C: TYSON (Melb), Dangerfield (Adel), Heppell (Ess)

HF: Wingard (Port), Franklin (Syd), Crameri (WB)

FF: D. Smith (GWS), N. Riewoldt (STK) , Ballantyne (Fre)

R: Goldstein (NM), Pendlebury (Coll) , Ablett (GC)

Patful (GWS) Rance (Rich) Talia (Adel)

Murphy (WB) Taylor (Geel) Yarran (Carl)

Goddard (Ess) Pendlebury (Coll) VINEY (Melb)

Riewoldt (St K) Franklin (Syd) Gray (Port)

Zorko (Bris) Roughead (Haw) Le Cras (WC)

Goldstein (NM) Ablett (GC) Fyfe (Freo)

B: Patfull (GWS) / Mackenzie (WCE) / Hanley (BL)

HB: Simpson (Carl) / Talia (Adel) / HOWE (Melb)

C: Steven (StK) / Selwood (Geel) / Heppell (Ess)

HF: Martin (Rich) / Franklin (Syd) / Fyfe (Frem)

F: Dahlhaus (WB) / Roughead (Haw) / Gray (PTA)

R: Goldstein (NM) / Pendlebury (Coll) / Ablett (GCS)

B: JETTA (Melb) Talia (Adel) Gibson (Haw)

HB: Gibbs (Carl) Taylor (Geel) Ellis (Rich)

C: Macrae (WB) Watson (Ess) Harvey (NM)

HF: Franklin (Syd) Kennedy (WCE) Zorko (Bris)

FF: Wingard (Port) Riewoldt (St K) Ballantyne (Frem)

Fol: Mumford (GWS) Ablett (GC) Pendlebury (Coll)

FB: Michael Johnson (FREM) ~ Eric Mackenzie (WCE) ~ Sean Dempster (STK)

HB: Chris Yarran (CARL) ~ Alex Rance (RICH) ~ Daniel Rich (BRIS)

C: Steven Motlop (GEEL) ~ Travis Boak (PTA) ~ Daniel Wells (NMK)

HF: JEFF GARLETT (MELB) ~ Buddy Franklin (SYD) ~ Gary Ablett (GCS)

FF: Jake Stringer (WBD) ~ Jarryd Roughead (HAW) ~ Eddie Betts (ADEL)

R: Shane Mumford (GWS) ~ Dyson Heppell (ESS) ~ Dane Swan (COLL)

B: Patful (GWS), Rance (Rich), Mackenzie (WC)

HB: Hanley (BL), Talia (Adel), Heppell (Ess)

C: Steven (St K), Selwood (Geel), JONES (Melb)

HF: Fyfe (Freo), Roughead (Haw), Bontempelli (WB)

F: Gray (PA), Franklin (Syd), Menzel (Carl)

R: Goldstein (NM), Ablett (GC), Pendlebury (Coll)

Hogan, Tyson, Viney, Howe, Jetta, Garlett and Jones.

Rewind two years and four out of the seven weren't at the club, Jetta rating a mention would've been utterly fanciful, and Howe would've only been included as a speccy specialist, certainly not on a HBF.

Yes, Clark and Frawley would've previously made people's sides. But to have three youngsters in Tyson, Viney and Hogan already being rated highly enough to make these lists is another small sign that things are moving in the right direction and the load is finally starting to be shared around.

Some may not give a rats but I found it interesting. It points towards building a list that is cause for some well founded confidence.

Edited December 8, 201410 yr by P-man

I would argue that a sign of the times starting to change is seeing a player whose name is not Nathan Jones being recognised by opposition fans as having quality.

Hogan, Tyson, Viney, Howe, Jetta, Garlett and Jones.

Rewind two years and four out of the seven weren't at the club, Jetta rating a mention would've been utterly fanciful, and Howe would've only been included as a speccy specialist, certainly not on a HBF.

Yes, Clark and Frawley would've previously made people's sides. But to have three youngsters in Tyson, Viney and Hogan already being rated highly enough to make these lists is another small sign that things are moving in the right direction and the load is finally starting to be shared around.

Some may not give a rats but I found it interesting. It points towards building a list that is cause for some well founded confidence.

...and Hogan yet to play a game.

I'm with you 'P-man' the tide is slowly starting to turn. Let's hope a few of the other new boys can join the list in the next couple of seasons.

The one that picked Tyson is a good judge mate.

Whoever picked Jetta knows his footy.

The one that picked Garlett, also picked Yarran and Betts.

Obviously a die hard Carlscum journo.

Interesting, yes but how many reps would there be from the Dees if the rules were not: '....one player from each club"! We may not rate a mention.

Its not MFCSS syndrome nor am I being cynical its just that while we are now loaded with potential it will be a while (several years?) before we earn the respect of other teams' players or footy fans in general.

The is to be expected. There are plenty of midfielders which would be preferred to Jones to a typical outsider.

The is to be expected. There are plenty of midfielders which would be preferred to Jones to a typical outsider.

Whilst it might be true that Jones gets omitted due to there being better options from other teams, I can assure you that two years ago it would've been Jones or nobody as far as MFC midfielder options go. With due cause.

LH - we are clearly a long, long way from 'mission accomplished'. Just appreciating the baby steps along the way.

Edited December 8, 201410 yr by P-man

The is to be expected. There are plenty of midfielders which would be preferred to Jones to a typical outsider.

That might be true but he'd be in any midfield in the comp right now.