Monday, August 07, 2006

Brendan Fevola vs. Barry Hall

As Chris Tarrant’s career heads in the direction of Richo v2.0, the significance and irony of Brendon Fevola being used a positive role model for Taz has not been lost on most of the media. As suggested in the last blog, we were not lucky enough to avoid The Age’s mandatory piece about player discipline (albeit Samantha Lane and not Wallsy being the guilty party) and now the Tarrant-Fevola parallels are coming as thick and fast as Tarrant himself. This, however, is not unfamiliar ground for me.

From very early in their careers, right up to the current day, my friends and I have at various times argued over who was better, or who we would have preferred in our clubs forward lines. For the most part, Richo was also included in these discussions and for the most part, he was quickly dismissed. For the record, over the last 3-4 years, I have consistently chosen Tarrant, but, as Big Fev closes in on his first Coleman medal while Tarrant has one foot on the bus back to Bendigo (Dean Solomon has saved him a seat), the choice these days is a bit clearer. So instead of whinging about Chris Tarrant, let’s get positive and see how good Fevola could be. The bar has been raised: Big Fev, or Big Bad Barry? Let’s break it down, as ripped off from ESPN’s Dr. Jack Ramsey!

Marking
Marking is usually divided up into contested and uncontested and could then be further separated into leading, 1-on-1 and pack situations. Both Fevola and Hall are essentially leading forwards, relying upon a quick first step to get that crucial break from their defender. Although both big men, neither really crashes the packs and takes the big Carey-esque marks as often as you might expect. If left alone with their opponent however, both are hard to contain.

According to pro-stats.com.au Hall has 160 marks, 33 of which were contested, while Fevola has 120 and 30 contested. Considering that Barry often pushes up the ground, Sydney’s annoying possession game plan and the fact that Carlton are a terrible, terrible team, perhaps we should grade Fevola’s stats a little easier here.
Edge: Even

Goal kicking
Two of the best proponents of the set-shot, Hall and Fevola are also very long kicks of the pig-skin. This season, Fev has kicked 69.39 while Hall has 59.31. Although most of their goals would come from marks, both have shown a good knack for kicking the ‘quick snap from the pocket’ type goal. In an inferior team, however, I’m going with the numbers.
Edge: Fevola

On the ground
It’s impossible for anyone to mark it every time it comes to them, so once it hits the deck you want your key forwards to compete, rather than reach for an oxygen mask like Anthony Rocca. This is where Fevola has arguably improved the most, chasing and harassing in the forward line, while Barry was always pretty good at this. Hall has 47 tackles for the year while Fev has 38 from one less game.
Slight Edge: Hall

Finals/Team success
No contest here, as Barry Hall lead an unlikely Sydney team, and one of the ugliest sides in recent memory, to a premiership last year. Carlton meanwhile has been floundering near the bottom of the ladder for years.
Big Edge: Hall

Physical presence
This is arguably what defines great full forwards from very good ones. During the 80’s, a period ripe with great full-forwards, most would have Lockett and Ablett ranked slightly above Jason Dunstall, simply due to the physical presence factor. Just ask John Gastev. Likewise, this was what separated Carey from other great centre half forwards of his, or any other, era. It is not necessarily about belting people, although this helps, but it is about making an impact legally and therefore forcing the opposition to always have an awareness of you. Both of these guys have it.
Edge: Even

Attitude
Big, bad, bustling Barry Hall was cast as the villain of the AFL from a young age when he started with the Saints. Since then, however, he has been a poster boy of good behaviour for the Swans, with little to no tribunal action of late and no offfield discretions, or at least none that have been published. He is unselfish on the field and has even been part of Sydney’s rotating captaincy.

This has been the most consistent season of Fev’s career to date. It is perhaps no coincidence that Fevola has said that this year he will not be drinking any alcohol during the season, having a Tarrant-esque history of off-field, binge drinking fuelled incidents. He has displayed good body language and demeanour this year despite Carltons terrible record, in a way becoming the anti-Richo.
Edge: Even

Style
Hall has had the clean shaven, skinhead look going his whole career with the ugly Spider thingy tattoo on the shoulder. Fevola has some sort of Celtic pattern type ink going on under his bicep and thankfully has recently gotten rid of the dreadlocks. Unfortunately neither has experimented with dodgy facial hair, and although Fev occasionally has stubble good enough to rival a Faith-era George Michael, as you should know, I’m a bit partial to the ol’ cheesy moustache. However, last time I watched the footy show Fevola made an absolute debacle out of it, ruining the show by hanging shit on Sam Newman and generally being an ass. Outstanding.
Edge: Fevola

Nickname
Big, bad, bustleing, Barry vs. Fev. Purely because it sounds like the convoluted names they gave to over-rated boxers during the 1940’s this is no contest.
Big Edge: Hall

Importance to team
Fevola has been one of the only bright spots in another ugly season for the Blues, while the Swans will only go as far as Hall will carry them. Without Fev, however, you get the feeling Carlton would struggle to beat the Geelong Amateurs… reserves.
Edge: Fevola

Potential/Future
Since moving to Sydney Hall has kicked 55, 64, 75 and 80 goals. This season he has 59 so is right on track to be around the 80 mark again - which feels about right for him and for Sydney. Fevola’s last 3 years have gone 63, 66, 49 and he already has 69 this season in a 3-win Carlton team. One gets the feeling on a better team Fevola could push for 100 goals in season, plus, he’s 4 years younger than Barry. Fev has more time; Hall has the runs on the board.
Slight Edge: Fevola

Overall
Tough to split these two for me, but I think I’d take Fev, although with Hall’s success and consistency I’d guess most would have it the other way around. Of course, next year the bouffant ponce, Matthew ‘Trunks’ Lloyd comes back. Plus Jonathan Brown will be well rested for ‘07, having been ruled out for the rest of this season. I’d be interested to see where everyone else rates these guys, along with Pavlich, Riewoldt, Gehrig [Don’t get me started on this joker! – Mrs. Watson], plus guys like Bradshaw, Thompson, Ottens and of course, the one and only Richo.

10 Comments:

Blogger Tee said...

Someone please ask me why I drafted Dean Solomon in the fantasy footy? Everytime I hear his name I laugh but none more than I did in your opening passage

11:07 pm  
Blogger geraldo at large said...

Dear Captain,
Who is Richo? Matthew Richardson?

When you say this is one of the ugliest Sydney sides in recent memory, do you mean that literally?

I would choose Fev.

4:55 am  
Blogger the captain said...

Yes, I learned my Solomon lesson the hard way last season.

The Swans were ugly both figuratively and literally, but I don't want to go too far into it; i'm saving my all-ugly team for another blog entirely.

10:59 am  
Anonymous Barry Hall Punch said...

No mention of my two favourite criteria:

Brain snaps and 50 metre penalties?

7:50 am  
Anonymous Australian Football said...

Barry Hall wears a prettier jumper than Fev!

8:18 am  
Anonymous Matthew Lloyd said...

What does 'bouffant' mean?

9:40 pm  
Anonymous Brendan Fevola said...

Hey Lloydy, it means 'puffed-out', like a woman's hair style in which the hair is teased to give an overall puffed-out appearance and often combed to frame the face.

Hope that helps.

11:31 am  
Anonymous Matthew Lloyd of Essendon said...

Thanks Fev

11:52 am  
Anonymous AFL said...

Brendan Fevola has better hair than Barry Hall.

Barry Hall hasn't been caught urinating on
nightspot windows
.

4:02 pm  
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12:46 pm  

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