Are Premiership Players over rated?

Posted on 25 June 2008 by

In round 12s team selections the West Coast Eagles had an inclusion of four premiership players, we all know that they lost by a record 135 points but the question I want to raise is being a premiership player over rated?

Is Des Headland a premiership player better than someone like Bob Skilton

Commentators and clubs raise the point that they are a premiership player, however the question is, does this make them a better player or just luckier than others?

Current over rated Premiership players

First of all lets list some modern day over rated premiership players:

  • Steven Armstrong – Has played 50 odd games and has struggled to get a game this year.
  • Cameron Mooney – Only played 10 minutes in the Kangaroos 1999 Grand Final.
  • Des Headland – Much maligned player but while a number one draft pick has not lived up to expectations.
  • Richard Hadley – In his fourth game played in a Grand Final

While Cameron Mooney has become a vital cog in Geelongs premiership team, did his value and importance as a player increase because he was lucky enough to play 10 minutes in a Grand Final? Also while Richard Hadleys confidence has been shot with ACL injuries did his price to be transfered from Brisbane to Carlton increase because he played in two Grand Finals? The same with Des Headland?

Legends who were not Premiership players

Through out the years there has been several players who were legends but were not able to win a Grand Final. Two who come to mind are leading goal kicker Tony Lockett (although did play in 1996 Grand Final) and Bobby Skilton who was a triple brownlow medal winner.

John Worsfolds Opinion

John Worsfold the West Coast Eagles coach was on the radio being interviewed by 6PR (featuring Brad Hardie) and what followed was a heated discussion about the value differences between a premiership player and someone who was not (ie: Brad Hardie).

“My point is that players get questioned as premiership players and then they carry that tag, so if you said is Brad Hardie a better footballer than players who are premiership players — I’m sure he is. John Worsfold

I personally think that being labeled as a premiership player does NOT make them a better player. What do you think? Do you think that Des Headland who played in the 2003 premiership for Brisbane is a better player than Bob Skilton who only played in one final in his football career?

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Meet Jermayn

Web designer by trade and joint owner and creator of Kick2Kick. Played football for Chapman Valley football club for ~10 injured years up in Geraldton & had the pleasure of playing in their Grand Final win in 2001. Injuries and other commitments caused Jermayn to give up playing but not his love for the great game.

1 Comments For This Post

  1. Carringbush Magpies Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    Winning premierships is what football is about, getting the team into the premiership and then winning it. Players who achieve this should be rated more highly than players who do not play in a winning premiership side. There are many players who are exceptionally skillful, courageous and gifted, and they can be judged and compared for ever, as it is impossible to line up players from different eras, different sets of rules, different game plans etc. The one thing that levels the playing field is the competition each year, and all being equal the best team and best players win the premiership. This in my mind is the only way of comparing players throughout history. Leigh Matthews played in five premiership sides and was one of the major factors that these premierships were won, but it was also that he fitted into the team, and as a team they won premierships. Bob Skilton could never achieve this, whether it was the other players in the team or not, can not be judged. It could be for many reasons that the Swans did not win a premiership while Bob Skilton was playing, but he was not good enough to emulate the achievements of Leigh Matthews and his Hawthorn team. In my opinion Leigh Matthews must be rated higher than Bob Skilton. Carringbush Magpies.

    Jermayn Reply:
    June 18th, 2009 at 9:24 am

    Thanks for your first time comment Carringbush Magpies, hope to see more.

    Now you are saying that premiership players are BETTER than non premiership players? ie: Andrew Embley is better than Nathan Buckley even though Buckley has a brownlow, captain, multiple copeland trophies but due to Embley being in the 96 premiership team he is better? or that Lloyd is better than Lockett because again he played in a winning premiership team. Even though Lockett has won a brownlow, more goals etc?

    Yes I think playing in a premiership team is the highest honour for a player (even non AFL) but it does make you a better player, just luckier…