Jimmy Allan leaves North Adelaide

It has been officially announced that Jimmy Allan is returning to Victoria at the end of the season. A huge loss to North and the SANFL.

Thanks, rig.

He's had an unbelievable record and certainly made a huge impact.

The amazing thing about James Allan is people STILL try to tell you he doesn't win the hard ball. A terrific player who will be very hard for North to replace.

Congratulations on a great SANFL career.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:The amazing thing about James Allan is people STILL try to tell you he doesn't win the hard ball. A terrific player who will be very hard for North to replace.

Congratulations on a great SANFL career.

Totally agree, on all fronts AH...

A champion player who will go down in history as one of the great modern day players...

Congrats on his great career and good luck in the future, James...

One of the most common arguments I've had with fellow SANFL fans over the years surrounds James Allan and his perceived lack of impact, with the three Magarey Medals also being thrown up as "not in the same league as Robran/Head/Moriarty".

As I always point out - if anyone can list a more worthy winner in each of his Magarey years, then by all means do so.

His contested ball percentage is one of the highest in the competition and he regularly hurts the opposition with his sheer amount of possession and usage of the ball.

I've been going to SANFL games since a very small boy and saw plenty of the champions along the way close-up. James Allan is right up there with the best we have seen. Sure, the SANFL is different now with 2 AFL teams in the state, and one less SANFL team, but all a player can do is beat what is there at the time, and Allan has set a standard that we may not see again, in terms of impact.

I'll happily join those who don't rate Jimmy Allan anywhere near Ebert and Robran, CK.

That doesn't take anything away from his achievements. He works really hard and deserves the acclaim, but I'm really not sure that he's as dangerous a player as his stats would seem.

As for his MM's, I agree, it's hard to name another player better and he can only be better than the other (approx) 360 players each year.

And yes, I did see Robran and Ebert.

And a special prize to the first poster to suggest I also saw Moriarty

redandblack wrote:And a special prize to the first poster to suggest I also saw Moriarty

How about Alby Green?

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

redandblack wrote:And a special prize to the first poster to suggest I also saw Moriarty

How about Alby Green?

or Captain Cook

i just wonder if Alleway would've gone on if he was still captain this year

any player in any team that has a record like his should be applauded not criticised, every champion of any era still had his flaws....just didn't see them too often

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

redandblack wrote:And a special prize to the first poster to suggest I also saw Moriarty

How about Alby Green?

Yes, saw most of Alby's career, of course

Fantastic career.

I'm too young to have seen Robran or Ebert but he goes down as one of the best (if not the best) footballers I have seen in my 20 years of watching footy.

What do posters think it was that stopped AFL clubs from drafting a player so dominant at state league level?

Well done to James Allen on a great career at SANFL level.

One of my pet hates is rating players from days gone past, different conditions, different training methods and like it or not the SANFL is not as strong as it was before the interference of the AFL.

Flag No.9 wrote:What do posters think it was that stopped AFL clubs from drafting a player so dominant at state league level?

He was actually on Geelong's list before he came to North. He wouldn't have had the necessary pace for a player of his size. Also his kicking wasn't up to standard when he first arrived but it improved markedly.

All the same there are ex Geelong team mates of him who played 50 or 60 games of AFL footballer who have then come to the SANFL and not had nearly the same impact.

Even this year he has played with AFL listed players at North who have now played AFL games but aren't in the same class as Allan as a player.

As an aside at the North AGM of 2007 when quizzed about recruits, Andrew Jarman stated that Jimmy Allan would win the 2007 Magarey Medal. So his ability must have been known even before he played an SANFL game.

COrrect, rig.

West were chasing him at the time, but couldn't compete with North's offer, so his ability was well known.

The fact that he didn't play AFL is their loss and I always think of Ian Callinan when this question is raised.

I think the AFL clubs would be well advised to look more carefully at players who might not be as athletic as some, but who are natural footballers and have a good work ethic like James Allan.

His football nous and ability would have seen him succeed at that level, I'm sure.

I think he's a bit harshly judged when people say his disposal isn't great so he's not always value for touches.
Firstly, when you get as many touches as he does, they don't all have to be top quality...he's getting it going your way 40 times a game.
Secondly, the emphasis on kicking has only really come about in the last few years, post floods and clusters. If you look back at SANFL footage from the 70s and 60s you'll see a lot of pretty ordinary kicking going on.

Flag No.9 wrote:I think he's a bit harshly judged when people say his disposal isn't great so he's not always value for touches.
Firstly, when you get as many touches as he does, they don't all have to be top quality...he's getting it going your way 40 times a game.
Secondly, the emphasis on kicking has only really come about in the last few years, post floods and clusters. If you look back at SANFL footage from the 70s and 60s you'll see a lot of pretty ordinary kicking going on.

His disposal in the last few years has improved markedly. I can only ever remember his disposal being poor in 2007, since then, and I have seen every game he has played, I can only remember one bad kick in 5 seasons.

The greatest player in the league since Ebert and Robran without a doubt!

Better than Kernahan? McGuinness? McIntosh?

much better

I think MUCH better is stretching things a little bit.

A lot better then

bigclock wrote:The greatest player in the league since Ebert and Robran without a doubt!

Ebert never used to be mentioned in the same breath as Robran whilst the two were in their prime. The comparison was always between Robran and Jesaulenko as to who was the best player in Australia.

robranisgod wrote:

bigclock wrote:The greatest player in the league since Ebert and Robran without a doubt!

Ebert never used to be mentioned in the same breath as Robran whilst the two were in their prime. The comparison was always between Robran and Jesaulenko as to who was the best player in Australia.

I tend to agree Ebert was rubbish

Enough with the trolling thanks.

bigclock wrote:The greatest player in the league since Ebert and Robran without a doubt!