The most overrated players in the AFL

[Ash35 425]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Lance Whitnall.

BTW, Nathan Buckley is very very good. Not overrated IMO.

[sylvinator 96]

Without a doubt David Neitz is the most overrated player in the afl. if i were a non-demons fan he would be my number 1 and for good reason...

i believe Neitz is a goodplayer and good captain when not injured. however the fact that he attracts the best defender of the opposition, even when injured, is proof that he is way too overrated by afl players and coaches. this ractic by oppositions seems to often work in our advantage and proves a big mistake by the opposition.

Best example i can think of (though it happens every week), is when is in Rnd20 (or wtvr it was) against Geelong, when Matthew Scarlett played on a hopelessly injured Neitz for the entire match...this allowed Robbo to kick 7 goals

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Matthew Scarlett played on a hopelessly injured Neitz for the entire match...this allowed Robbo to kick 7 goals

If he had played on Robbo, Neita would have kicked 7.

Never underestimate the skipper, the opposition don't, put second best on him and he will kick a bag.

[Hards 2]

You raise a valid point about players in gun teams Pantaloons - similar to the future "careers" of Blumfield/Caracella/Heffernan from the great Essendon midfield of 2000. With the exception of Hardwick, can't think of anyone from that team who has left Essendon and gone on to better things.

Power wouldn't get 30 touches a week like a Black or a Lappin would in any team, he'd have to have the right guys around him. I guess he'd play more of Akermanis' role though in another side - that floating half-forward/wingman spot.

Neitz is hardly overrated. I would love to have seen him have a full career at CHB - that he has adapted to play FF is a huge credit to him. There aren't many players who have won AA selection both in the backline and forwardline like he has.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I think he rode on their coattails for years and would love to see how he would have gone at a lesser club as was speculated a while ago.

Des Headland springs to mind in this caregory as well, world beater at the Lions, now at Freo?

[paliosiana 0]

My top 5 would be

1 - Brendan Fevola

2 - Aaron Hamill

3 - Anthony Rocca

4 - Chris Tarrant

5 - Luke Darcy

Aaron Hamill holy cow. christ u expect heaps from him obviously. I would say J. Carr

[bjgc 0]

I'm not saying any of these players are woeful of course Brown, Hamill, Buckley and Leppitsch would walk into our side, but I think the way these players get portrayed in the media and supporters are not justified. I have to admit I don't have a particularly close look at most of these players like I do with my own team barring Buckley just due to the fact I have a lot of fanatical Collingwood fans in my family who rave about him non stop so I watch him constantly and I have have no idea why he is rated so highly. I have never seen him win a game off his talent like Voss, Hird, Carey, Lockett, Ablett but he is rated in the same breath as these players. When Collingwood were winning games I always thought Burns was more influential in the middle but Buckley got all the glory. This is why Collingwood can't win a game now due to the fact that Burns best is way behind him.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Trent Croad

[ralphii boy 0]

remember this is the most overrated player not the most hated player.

buckley has won around half a dozen b&fs, a brownlow, norm smith, rising star, captain his side to 2 Grand Finals in a row, made all australian who nows how many times and you can say he is overrated?!?

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Can't we nominate him just because we hate him?

[Oxxx 0]

Nathan Buckley has won almost every individual award that there is and carried an average team to a Grand Final 2 years in a row. As much of a FIGJAM that he is, he isn't over-rated.

I agree about Whitnall & Miller.

Fevola & Richardson are decent footballers if they have a midfield that knows how to feed them the football.

A couple that I reckon are over-rated are:

- Steven Milne: A cherry-picker who kicks alot of his goals less than 20m out. Give him no space & you can beat him easily.

- Travis Johnstone: He had good seasons in 2002 & 2005, but given the potential that everybody says that he has, it took him far too long to reach that standard and hopefully he will be able to consistently keep at this level.

Mal Michael: Was an average full-back at Collingwood, but was made to look good during Brisbane's premiership years due to them having an awesome midfield and lots of support down back.

[redman 28]

Scott Lucas for mine, hes a one footed big man who kicks the odd long goal in my opinion

Has the odd quality game but doesnt do enough for his overall rating IMO

redman

[bjgc 0]

remember this is the most overrated player not the most hated player.

buckley has won around half a dozen b&fs, a brownlow, norm smith, rising star, captain his side to 2 Grand Finals in a row, made all australian who nows how many times and you can say he is overrated?!?

You wouldn't put Collingwood B&F's in anyone's highlights would you ? Who would he have to beat ? His opponent Voss was better when he won the Norm Smith medal you can add Keating and Rocca to that as well. Woewodin won a Brownlow that's how much I respect the Brownlow. You always look a better player when you're the only good player in the team that would explain his all australian selections. The 2 grand finals appearances well I can't explain that, I can't explain how a team as bad as Collingwood can make it to 2 grand finals let alone Buckley's individual awards.

[ralphii boy 0]

it's seems clear that you dislike collingwood like most people. but that 'average' collingwood side thumped us in 01, 02 and 03. if you have a look at his stats woewodin dominated in 2000 and never has a bad player won a brownlow. and also how can such a crappy side make the grand final 2 years in row???

[Hards 2]

With all due respect to a side that played some alright footy, those Collingwood teams were pretty poor for GF sides. Weak competition years, similar to Adelaide's Premiership years. They were good, but they were hardly great.

[redman 28]

Collingwood were an average team playing above itself... look at where they are at now... a genuine

premiership side shouldnt decline so quickly, if the team is built and managed properly and has the quality

players they were supposed to have then it can be maintained for a few seasons.

They did play well in those 2 years however...

* that hurt me to say that *

redman

[Beamer 1]

Overated:

Jobe Watson - Is he even rated. I think his useless but his thought upon highly at Essendon.

Joel Bowden - His always been one to get cheap kicks.

Chris Tarrant - Again fails to deliver anything.

Underrated:

Farren Ray - Was awesome on the weekend. Found space really well.

Andrew Mackie - Best running back flanker in the league.

David Hille - Perhaps the best ruckman in the competition. Had some lean times but showing his true colours now.

[True Believer 1]

3 overrated to come to mind ( and 2 already mentioned) are Lance Whitnall and Jobe Watson. This year I think Matthew Lloyd is overrated too.!!!.... and agree that David Hille is underrated.

[GM11 702]

Nick Maxwell

Josh Fraser

Brendan Goddard

[Beamer 1]

Josh Fraser & Brendan Goddard are disgraceful excuses of Number One picks.

[H_T 2,941]

Dean Solomon

[titan_uranus 22,811]

Overrrated:

Josh Fraser

Dale Thomas

Brad Fisher

Underrated:

Max Rooke

David Hille

Corey Enright

[H_T 2,941]

Overrrated:

Josh Fraser

Dale Thomas

Brad Fisher

Underrated:

Max Rooke

David Hille

Corey Enright

Disagree with Dale Thomas.

Definitely agree with David Hille.

[titan_uranus 22,811]

Disagree with Dale Thomas.

I guess it's just my hatred for the guy that's coming through.

[H_T 2,941]

I guess it's just my hatred for the guy that's coming through.

Sometimes we hate guys for a reason....and it sometimes that they are bloody good....and we wish we had them at Melbourne.