Montagna vs Dal Santo

[RW&B]

Twice in the last few weeks I have been asked by friends who support opposition teams "Who has been the better player, Joey or Dal?"

Interested in everyones thoughts.

[PADDLEPOP1001]

I would probably go for Dal but Joey seems to be getting better with age !

[Old Mate]

I like that Joey has a bit of mongrel and hardness and tends to hit the scoreboard a bit more often but I prefer Dal's skills and creativity. Dal just IMO. Doesn't waste a disposal.

[Griggsy]

In the past Dal Santo quite easily imo because he is a very crafty player. more recently for us it would be Joey. Dal really got stuck on the hard tags and really affected his output. Think he is going well at NM now that he isnt tagged so much.

Just remembering us with congested ball I never really felt as calm as when DalSanto had the ball. Before him was Harvey, both just knew what to do with it without thinking about it.

[Enrico_Misso]

I think Dal (our 9th highest game player) has slightly better skills, especially handball and moves better.

But Joey (our 23rd highest game player) has a better work ethic, is more reliable, more of a leader, a better kick and goal sneak.

By the time Joey is finished will will have had 250+ great games from each of them.

[fugazi]

I reckon Joey is underrated in the competition. How many times do you see him ice a goal from 45 meters, on a tight angle after a gut busting run down the wing.

Great user of the ball, and has been ultra consistent for many years now.

Having said that, Dal has superior skills by foot and has probably got the nod just in front. Struggles with the close tag as we all know.

[Con Gorozidis]

Joey for me.
I cant be bothered looking up the stats but Joey seems to kick many more goals.
Hes more damaging imo.

[Rosco]

during the FA period i was asked by my boss how i felt about losing NDS. i said all things being equal (i.e. either wanted to leave), i would rather nick was leaving than joey. i stand by that, given what each player has left to give, including that joey will probably help bring through the youngsters better than NDS (can't teach what nick has, but can teach what joey has developed into).

[Rosco]

Joey for me.
I cant be bothered looking up the stats but Joey seems to kick many more goals.
Hes more damaging imo.

i thought so too.

but

NDS - 266 games - 143 goals - 0.54 goals per game

Joey - 217 games - 135 goals - 0.62 goals per game

so yeah, but not by as much as i thought

and tbh, less than you would have liked from either

[Con Gorozidis]

Joey for me.
I cant be bothered looking up the stats but Joey seems to kick many more goals.
Hes more damaging imo.

i thought so too.

but

NDS - 266 games - 143 goals - 0.54 goals per game

Joey - 217 games - 135 goals - 0.62 goals per game

so yeah, but not by as much as i thought

and tbh, less than you would have liked from either

wow. Im surprised by that.
there u go. Joey seems like he kicks more.
Well if I can reassess id say they are very even players. Hard to split.
Both durable and rarely injured as well.

[saintbrat]

Joey for me.
I cant be bothered looking up the stats but Joey seems to kick many more goals.
Hes more damaging imo.

i thought so too.

but

NDS - 266 games - 143 goals - 0.54 goals per game

Joey - 217 games - 135 goals - 0.62 goals per game

so yeah, but not by as much as i thought

and tbh, less than you would have liked from either

wow. Im surprised by that.
there u go. Joey seems like he kicks more.
Well if I can reassess id say they are very even players. Hard to split.
Both durable and rarely injured as well.

Joey had to work harder and for longer to get to be a regular in the saints side..

[saint-stu]

I reckon Dal has been consistently good for a very long period of time.
Monty has slowly improved and gotten better with age.

They are both great kicks. I'm surprised there is only a slight difference in goals per game. I would have thought Monty slotted them more reliably, but maybe that just on recent form. I wonder how they compare for behinds kicked?

Very tough to decide. Huge fan of both.

[supersaints]

I think Joey has stepped up since Dal left.
He cops the hard tag better much than Dal , and (seems) to work harder around the ground.
He's been an absolute gun sinde Dal left, leading the young un's by example.
Maybe he always felt he lived in Dal's shadow?

Makes the move of NDS more pallitable, certainly another unexpected positive from the trade

More than happy with Joey

[Teflon]

I too think Joey has stepped up since Dal gone

Dal's skills sublime, decision making also super so he gets the nod for mine

There's a reason oppo sides tagged Dal more than Joey....... 15 Dal disposals in your front half equal many shots on goal. I watched him last week drill a chest pass into Petrie on the lead off 1 step.... still miss him but understand its best for all he went and wish him all the best

Hate North though and he looks pox in that jumper.... And Boomer "hog" Harvey....... don't get me started....

[spert]

Both skilled players, but NDS's inability to shake a strong tag was always his weakness, and I feel Montagna just works that little bit harder.

[desertsaint]

Up until this year I'd have said Dal. But for some reason I reckon Joey has gone well past him now.

[BigMart]

Very hard for any player to 'break' a tag

Dal copped hard tags for a reason.... He can play.... And damage

Goals.... Never really concern me.... Creation of goals does... Both do a fair bit of that

Both had A Grade seasons and elite seasons

Both outstanding

In a bracket below

Nick R
Stands on his own
Lenny Hayes
2nd on his own
Sam Fisher
3rd on his own

Nick D and Joey next

[BigMart]

Maybe because he left StK?

He is having a great year at nth ...... Possibly leading their B&F

[st_Trav_ofWA]

just my opinion but i think Dal is the better player ...

i kinda liken it to the WCE big three mid fielders of Judd Cousins and Kerr ... Judd and Cousins were the standouts (bit like us with Lenny and Dal) and Kerr a great player in his own right but just a tad behind the other two .. thats where i see Joey

Dal copped the hard tag and i think that helped Joey now Dal is gone it looks more like Steven is going to cop the hard tag so again i think that will help Joey

[gringo]

Nicky Dal probably always has had more style with his disposals and stands out because he moves like a dancing panther in slow motion. Joey has always been more of a high output old school mid. Both win more inside ball than you imagine and both are A graders. It's almost impossible to split them. I love Joeys work rate and Dals skills. Joey because he's still here.

[noob]

Surprised Nick Dal Santo never won a best and fairest considering he never got Injured. I remember a game against Melbourne a 6-7 years ago where he kicked 4 or 5 in one quarter. In his prime he was better than Montagna.

[bergholt]

during the FA period i was asked by my boss how i felt about losing NDS. i said all things being equal (i.e. either wanted to leave), i would rather nick was leaving than joey. i stand by that, given what each player has left to give, including that joey will probably help bring through the youngsters better than NDS (can't teach what nick has, but can teach what joey has developed into).

Very much agree with that last sentence. Dal strikes me as not the best mentor because most of his standout skills were evident from his first game - he worked hard but his path was always clear. On the other hand, Joey could have ended up a mediocre small forward if he hadn't discovered a real willingness to work in his fourth season. That "penny drop" moment is hopefully something he passes on to blokes like Newnes and Billings.