Wondering what you all think? The stats are very similar overall. Riewoldt obviously killing it this year, but this is about overall careers. Both captains of the highest class, crazy courageous, big workrates. Both legends Jonathan Brown ---Name --- Nick Riewoldt Brisbane Lions ---Team --- St Kilda Saints Forward --- Position --- Forward 239 --- Career Games --- 247 October 29, 1981 --- Date of Birth ---October 17, 1982 31yr 6mth --- Age --- 30yr 7mth 194cm --- Height --- 193cm 102kg --- Weight --- 96kg 1999 National Draft --- Last Drafted In --- 2000 National Draft Round 2, Pick #30 --- Last Draft Position --- Priority Pick #1 Brisbane Lions --- Last Drafted By --- St Kilda Saints 9.8 --- Kicks Per Game --- 11.9 4.9 --- Handballs Per Game --- 4.4 14.7 --- Disposals Per Game --- 16.2 7.2 --- Marks Per Game --- 8.6 2.3 --- Goals Per Game --- 2.2 1.3 --- Behinds Per Game --- 1.5 1.1 --- Tackles Per Game --- 1.4 0.5 --- Hitouts Per Game --- 1.2 1.2 --- Frees For Per Game --- 1.3 1.1 --- Frees Against Per Game ---0.5
The stats say it all really. Not only was Riewoldt slightly better at peak but he's been much, much better at the end of his career. Browny's a more likable bloke and seems to have more of a cult following; he's bigger and looks less like a woman - I think as bad as that sounds it's why he's got a higher public opinion but both stats and the eyes say that Riewoldt's definitely had a better career, and was probably better at peak. Tredrea a third in the big power forwards category. Wasn't as good across his peak seasons but that one season where he just got everything right he was arguably the best in the league. Not including Pav in this either as he's a different type, really.
Yeah, personally, I think Riewoldt's ability to run all day and find ball set hims apart from Jonathan Brown in the end. That said, I think that although Brown played in three flags, he's played in some pretty awful teams - especially at his peak. If he was in a side like St. Kilda's at his peak like Riewoldt was I think he'd have produced even more than he did at Brisbane. In the end though, I'd pick Riewoldt if I had the choice purely because a guy like him with his ability to get around the ground is invaluable and, I think, it made him a better player.
Yeah riewoldt was not only a spearhead but also a link between the middle and the forward line due to his ballwinning ability and genuine footskills. Brown was power based - he lacked the ability to rack it up around and above half forward like riewoldt and his footskills and playmaking just weren't the same. Both of these blokes were predominantly CHFs. A good part of the CHF role is to be the playmaker of the team. Riewoldt was well above him in that regard. Although an argument to be made in Brown's favour is he's always had someone stealing his thunder - Lynch, Bradshaw, Fevola even. Riewoldt had Gehrig for awhile but Kozi doesn't count.
Brown was always a deeper type of CHF, one that really could've played FF (arguably to a higher level), to the same standard, whereas Riewoldt was, as you said, a genuine ball winner up the ground. If your half forward line was breaking down he'd be there to make an impact, and if ball delivery wasn't an option he'd be there kicking goals. Brown was absolutely better in that deeper role, but Riewoldt's ability to generate forward entries sets him apart imo. That's a very difficult thing to come across, so I think you've got to take him.
They're obviously not what he'd like them to be. In 2009 he was smothered by Harry Taylor, in what I thought was a Norm Smith winning performance, and Reid (was it Ben Reid who took him, or Nathan Brown?) allowed him just 2 goals over the two games in 2010 iirc, so his output was down. That smother from Heath Shaw will forever haunt him too.
They played different roles, but had to go with Riewoldt. Probably the only modern day true CHF left.
