Each year people around the world participate in watching the global phenomenon that is the Superbowl. For many it will be the only game of American Football they watch for the year, and so for the Freo fans who are doing the same, here are some player comparisons to make viewing easier. 

Peyton Manning (Denver Quarterback) – Matthew Pavlich

Like Pavlich, Manning is renowned as a consummate professional whose attitude and competitiveness have won him praise from fans and peers alike. Both have been captains for the majority of their careers, hold a litany of records with their teams and are verifiable guarantees for the Hall of Fame. 

Cam Newton (Carolina Quarterback) – Nat Fyfe

Part of the new wave at their positions, both Newton and Fyfe possess freakish size, strength and speed that contributes to them being such a difficult matchup for opponents. Both have won awards at the highest level, Newton being a Heisman trophy winner, NFL Rookie of the year and 2015 NFL MVP while Fyfe is a Brownlow Medalist and two-time AFLPA MVP. Also, both have been “fashionistas” of late, with Fyfe’s walking cane becoming part of Brownlow lore and Cam Newton gaining attention for his now famous Versace trousers.

Josh Norman (Carolina Cornerback) – Hayden Ballantyne

Both players came from relative obscurity, Norman played at smaller university Coastal Carolina while ‘Ballas’ had to play 60 games in the WAFL before getting his shot at AFL football. Both excel with the mental aspect of their sport, often getting under the skin of opponents and taking them off their game. 

Brock Osweiler (Denver Quaterback) – Jack Hannath

The Broncos backup QB and Freo ruckman are similar in that they both stand around 200cm, have displayed enormous potential but have had to wait patiently behind all time greats at their position, Osweiler with Peyton Manning and Hannath with Aaron Sandilands.

Thomas Davis (Carolina Linebacker) – Anthony Morabito

Davis and Morabito came into their respective leagues displaying an abundance of talent but both fell to consecutive knee reconstructions. Like Freo with Morabito, Carolina stuck with Davis throughout his rehababilitation. Since then Davids has become a key contributor in the Carolina’s Superbowl run.

Luke Kuechly (Carolina Linebacker) – Matt de Boer

Both are absolute tackle machines, who always manage to find themselves at the bottom of a pile. Kuechly has led the Panthers in tackles in all of his four years in the NFL while de Boer sits third in all time tackles for Freo despite playing over a hundred less games that the two ahead of him, David Mundy and Matthew Pavlich.