Pick 1: Kennedy or Riewoldt? (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Pick 1: Kennedy or Riewoldt?
Jon Anderson
Herald Sun
June 09, 2010 7:13PM

PICK 1: THE competition's buzz player in Jack Riewoldt or Carlton's sacrificial lamb in Josh Kennedy?

THE competition’s buzz player in Jack Riewoldt or Carlton’s sacrificial lamb in Josh Kennedy?

Have your say with Jon Anderson in his live blog, from 9am tomorrow.

Both have abilities every AFL club would trade heavily for and in Kennedy’s case already have after the Blues took him with Pick 4 in the 2005 National draft.

After two years of development with a young man who was very popular at Visy Park, Carlton had to give up a lot to bring Judd back across the Nullabor and Kennedy was part of the deal.

He has now made his mark with West Coast as a lead-up CHF who rarely misses from set shots. A blue-collar worker who gets the job done.

Riewoldt on the other hand is flamboyant and exciting, a kid who has given the Tigers some hope in a winter of discontent. So who would you pick?


Jack Riewoldt

Club: Richmond
Age, height, weight: 21, 195cm, 93kg
Games, goals: 57, 92
Playing honours: NAB Rising Star nominee 2008
Draft history: Pick 13 in the 2006 National draft
Career stats (per game): 8.4 kicks, 2.8 handballs, 11.2 possessions, 3.0 marks, 1.6 goals.

Strengths: A rare ability to judge an overhead contested mark. Good mover for a big bloke but on size, is he a genuine key forward or more of a third tall?.

Weaknesses: Not overly quicky and like most young marking options, can have his quiet games.

Josh Kennedy

Club: West Coast
Age, height, weight: 22, 194cm, 99kg
Games, goals: 56, 81
Playing honours: Carlton pre-season Premiership in 2007
Draft history: Pick 4 in 2005 National draft. In 2007 traded by Carlton for Chris Judd
Career stats (per game): 7.1 kicks, 3.0 handballs, 10.2 possessions, 5.4 marks, 1.4 goals.

Strengths: Honest, hard-working centre half forward in the traditions of Earl Spalding or Mark Maclure. Despite his suttering run-up, a very good set shot.

Weaknesses: Adequate at ground level rather than good. Somewhat mechanical across the ground.

VERDICT:

Riewoldt by a short half head. He has that extra bit of magic that most big men don’t possess. And there may be more upside with him given the way his career has progressed this year. But Kennedy is the type of key forward you could build a side around. Just ask Carlton how much they would love him now.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/pick-1-kennedy-or-riewoldt/story-e6frf9ix-1225877617700

[wayne]

Why Jack wins (trying not to be biased)

Unlike most talls, Jack can thrive in the wet because of his smarts and ability at ground level (soccer skills).
He keeps his feet, he could be in a 3 on 1 marking contest and contest the mark, land on his feet and kick the goal, while his opponents fall over or lose where the ball is.
When was the last time he gave away a free kick in a marking contest? He is incredibly strong one and one and does it legally and usually wins.
Super smart, the tap on to Astbury against Melbourne is just one example that comes to mind.

[richmondrules]

Remember his recent found ability to tackle also. Something rare in a KPF.

[Mr Magic]

Jaaaaack but good comparison.
These two are the standout young KPFs currently.

[Infamy]

I'm sure we're biased here, but given Riewoldt has had his breakout year almost a full year younger than Kennedy, you'd have to go with him. I still think in a couple of years time when Carlton still hasn't won anything, they will regret trading Kennedy away for Judd.

[Francois Jackson]

I'm sure we're biased here, but given Riewoldt has had his breakout year almost a full year younger than Kennedy, you'd have to go with him. I still think in a couple of years time when Carlton still hasn't won anything, they will regret trading Kennedy away for Judd.

one can only hope.

i can hear them already the ethnics from the north calling SEN blasting the Blues for giving away Kennedy.

[MADTIGER2010]

Kennedy is actually 196cm 

[Owl]

I'm sure we're biased here, but given Riewoldt has had his breakout year almost a full year younger than Kennedy, you'd have to go with him. I still think in a couple of years time when Carlton still hasn't won anything, they will regret trading Kennedy away for Judd.

one can only hope.

i can hear them already the ethnics from the north calling SEN blasting the Blues for giving away Kennedy.

What exactly do you mean by 'the ethnics' ?  Ethnic is an adjective so you will have to put a noun after it or it doesn't make sense. Ethnic Italian, Chinese, Caucasian, Indian, etc..

[crannyvegas]

Kennedy is actually 196cm 

Measure him yourself??

[MADTIGER2010]

Kennedy is actually 196cm 

Measure him yourself??

I've always known his height as 196cm since he was at Carlton. He looks close to 2m tall. The WC site says 196cm too