Tim Watson doesn’t think Collingwood’s Jack Crisp gets enough credit for his performances in big games.
The star midfielder was honoured with Collingwood’s Best Finals Player following the 2023 premiership, but Watson doesn’t think he gets his dues from the wider football media.
Crisp kicked at least one goal in each of Collingwood’s finals wins and averaged 22.3 disposals across September. He also saved his best for last, kicking two huge goals to go with 25 disposals, seven marks and four inside 50s in the Grand Final win.
According to official player ratings, Crisp was ranked as Collingwood’s second-best player in the Qualifying Final, third-best player in the Preliminary Final and second-best player in the Grand Final.
But it wasn’t just 2023 where Crisp shone in September, with Champion Data revealing that he is the third-highest ranked finals player since the rating system began, behind just Dustin Martin and Dane Swan.
As a result, Watson thinks Crisp should get more recognition and he discussed why with Garry Lyon on SEN Breakfast.
Lyon: “Is there a story that was missed out of last year's footy season?
“Before we get underway again this year, is there one you just want to back over this because you didn’t think we quite thought this through enough last year?”
Watson: “There is one that got lost a little bit … I think it was post-Grand Final.
“You (Fox Footy's On The Couch) put up a list, and I was thinking about this the other day, it had the top five rated finals players since Champion Data ratings began.
“It was, 1 – ‘Dusty’ (Dustin Martin), 2 – ‘Swanny’ (Dane Swan), 4 – Adam Goodes, 5 – Cyril Rioli.”
Lyon: “That’s good company.”
Watson: “But three was Jack Crisp.”
Lyon: “That's exactly what I was talking about.”
Watson: “I nearly jumped out of my recliner when I saw that.”
Lyon: “That didn’t get enough attention.”
Watson: “Not at all. Players get their reputations on the back of great performances in big games, but I don't know that he's actually got his desserts even on the performances that he’s displayed.”
Lyon: “He nearly won a Norm Smith.”
Watson: “He was another fine performer in last year's Grand Final.
Lyon: “Give Jack Crisp his dues.”
Watson: “Yes. How many times do we talk about Collingwood and have spoken about Collingwood in the last two years? We talk about Darcy Moore, we talk about Pendlebury, we talk about Sidebottom, and we’ve talked about the Daicos boys.
“We talk about everybody else, but he hardly ever gets a mention.”
The two-time best and fairest winner will hope to play his 209th consecutive game in black and white when the Magpies face the Giants in Opening Round on Saturday, March 9.
