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Nic Nat and Max Gawn

Bobby McKenzie
in Melbourne Demons

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Posted

Really bad break for Nic Nat. Hope he recovers quickly and plays again.

Given Max Gawn's rise to the premier ruckman in the Afl for at least the last two seasons has anyone given thought that if we had chosen Nic Nat  instead of JW Maxy most probably wouldn't be in our team and possibly playing for another club. So we made the right choice I reckon. Just food for thought. I know who is the more valuable player.

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    I don’t rate Nic Nat as a fantastic player, but I certainly see why fans (and media) love him.  

    With that said, knowing the attachment and devotion that he has to his family, he would have been traded back west after his first contract over here was up.

    But in response to the op, I honestly haven’t thought about the ‘what if we had taken nic nat’ for a very long time.

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    36 minutes ago, hells bells said:

    Bailey Fritsch > Nik Nat

    No.

    6 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

    I don’t rate Nic Nat as a fantastic player, but I certainly see why fans (and media) love him.  

    With that said, knowing the attachment and devotion that he has to his family, he would have been traded back west after his first contract over here was up.

    But in response to the op, I honestly haven’t thought about the ‘what if we had taken nic nat’ for a very long time.

    I spoke to Jim Stynes at a function just before the ‘08 draft, he was worried about the go home factor as well. It was a big factor in picking Watts, even though I had the feeling NicNat was rated higher.

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    Nic Nat is the most overrated and overhyped player in the league. He has a neat highlight real but if he looked like Jack Fitzpatrick and played for Gold Coast you would hardly hear of him.

    Edited by FarNorthernD

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    9 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

    Nic Nat is the most overrated and overhyped player in the league. He has a neat highlight real but if he looked like Jack Fitzpatrick and played for Gold Coast you would hardly hear of him.

    He is an exceptional tap ruckman when fit and for him to do what he's done on 60% TOG this year is very impressive.

    The perception of him being overrated was in part due to the 2012 AA guernsey he got when he didn't deserve it.

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    • Like 4
    1 hour ago, McQueen said:

    He is an exceptional tap ruckman when fit and for him to do what he's done on 60% TOG this year is very impressive.

    The perception of him being overrated was in part due to the 2012 AA guernsey he got when he didn't deserve it.

    And that was a Gerard Healy special

    He stans for Nic 

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    •  
    1 hour ago, McQueen said:

    He is an exceptional tap ruckman when fit and for him to do what he's done on 60% TOG this year is very impressive.

    The perception of him being overrated was in part due to the 2012 AA guernsey he got when he didn't deserve it.

    Gawn averages 46 hit outs this year against NNat 30

    Gawn has more marks 4.8 to NNat 1.7 a match

    17 disposals to 11

    And whilst Nic Nat has 110 less disposals than Max for the season he has more clangers - 56 to MG 41. About the only stat Nic Nat wins in is average tackles. 

    I appreciate that stats aren’t everything but this is a complete drubbing. I would love to know the score involvements for each.

     And having Max on the ground for 85% of the time means we have the luxury of an extra runner whereas NN’s average of 57% means they have to carry an extra ruckman. 

    Yet despite all that Nic Nat was, till recently, in the conversation for All Australian along with Max and Grundy. He is the definition of overrated as far as I’m concerned 

     

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    • Like 2
    12 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

    Gawn averages 46 hit outs this year against NNat 30

    Gawn has more marks 4.8 to NNat 1.7 a match

    17 disposals to 11

    And whilst Nic Nat has 110 less disposals than Max for the season he has more clangers - 56 to MG 41. About the only stat Nic Nat wins in is average tackles. 

    I appreciate that stats aren’t everything but this is a complete drubbing. I would love to know the score involvements for each.

     And having Max on the ground for 85% of the time means we have the luxury of an extra runner whereas NN’s average of 57% means they have to carry an extra ruckman. 

    Yet despite all that Nic Nat was, till recently, in the conversation for All Australian along with Max and Grundy. He is the definition of overrated as far as I’m concerned 

     

    Was he though?

    Its been pretty obvious he has been a rung or 2 below Max and Brodie all year.

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    28 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

    Gawn averages 46 hit outs this year against NNat 30

    Gawn has more marks 4.8 to NNat 1.7 a match

    17 disposals to 11

    And whilst Nic Nat has 110 less disposals than Max for the season he has more clangers - 56 to MG 41. About the only stat Nic Nat wins in is average tackles. 

    I appreciate that stats aren’t everything but this is a complete drubbing. I would love to know the score involvements for each.

     And having Max on the ground for 85% of the time means we have the luxury of an extra runner whereas NN’s average of 57% means they have to carry an extra ruckman. 

    Yet despite all that Nic Nat was, till recently, in the conversation for All Australian along with Max and Grundy. He is the definition of overrated as far as I’m concerned 

     

    I don't disagree with you for a second that Max is the superior ruckman and as you've pointed out in your last sentence, the media pump Nic up more than anyone and it's essentially what earned him the guernsey back in '12 when I think it was Sauce Jacobs to wear.

    But Nic Nat's ruck taps can be sublime and on par with Gawn's this year.

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    21 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

    Gawn averages 46 hit outs this year against NNat 30

    Gawn has more marks 4.8 to NNat 1.7 a match

    17 disposals to 11

    And whilst Nic Nat has 110 less disposals than Max for the season he has more clangers - 56 to MG 41. About the only stat Nic Nat wins in is average tackles. 

    I appreciate that stats aren’t everything but this is a complete drubbing. I would love to know the score involvements for each.

     And having Max on the ground for 85% of the time means we have the luxury of an extra runner whereas NN’s average of 57% means they have to carry an extra ruckman. 

    Yet despite all that Nic Nat was, till recently, in the conversation for All Australian along with Max and Grundy. He is the definition of overrated as far as I’m concerned 

     

    The reason his TOG is so low is because he’s been building his fitness base back up throughout the year. He was averaging 65% the last three weeks, which while still low compared to Gawn and Grundy was approaching the 70%+ the Eagles would’ve been aiming for come September.

    Naitanui doesn’t spend as much time on the ground and frankly with his hitout win percentage he doesn’t need to. It’s no coincidence that the Eagles are flying this season with what was considered to be a weakened midfield compared to last season. A big reason is the dreadlocked bloke in the middle. 

    Even putting aside his freakish ability in the ruck, there are certain players that make the team walk taller and he’s one of those That can’t be denied. The Eagles record with and without him playing speaks for itself.

    The view that NicNat is overrated is an extremely outdated one. He’s a star.

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    If you think he is overrated, take a look at West Coast's performance when he is and isn't in the team. They are a top 4 side with, mid-table without. Which says just as much about Nic Nat than it does of WC. That sort of influence on a team cannot be understated. I think he's a very good player that can totally alter the defensive structure of a team.

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    Anyway, he's out for the rest of the season so in my mind that means Max takes precedence.

    AA inclusion should be based on your impact all of season.

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    Your Honour what is the Verdict ?  It is Max Gawn hands down.  Thank you your Honour, I rest my case.  

                                                                                              CASE DISMISSED.

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