AFC's best ever player

[Kennyrocks]

I would guarantee this has been done before but instead of bumping an old thread here goes my attempt at what is a very difficult and probably foolish task to attempt.
In the spirit of Campbells Chunky's thread title (ahem), maccas game on the weekend has got me thinking about this topic again.
Possibly I'm stirring up a hornets nest here but I've considered macca to be our best ever player for some time now. Heres my best 5 and I'd be interested to hear others (go as many as you like, doesn't have to be just five).

1. Andrew McLeod
2. Mark Ricciuto
3. Shaun Rehn
4. Ben Hart
5. Simon Goodwin

Thats mine as it stands currently but i expect Goodwin to climb higher, he could even sneak up now anyway. Rehn and Hart are almost interchangable, especially given Harts 180 odd extra games. Smart probably comes in sixth.

[crows dude]

1. Roo
2. Macca
3. Harty
4. Goody
5. Tyson Edwards

Edwards for Long Gevity and Consistency in front of Rehny whos knee problems cut him short.

[crows98]

My top 5

1) Mark Ricciuto
2) Andrew McLeod
3) Tony Modra
4) Darren Jarman
5) Mark Bickley

The talent Mark Ricciuto and Andrew McLeod have to play the game of Australian rule football speaks for itself and they are clearly one and two (what ever order) in most people’s book. So I will start with number 3.

My number 3 player would be Tony Modra.

The Modra phenomenon of the early 90’s was unbelievable and I truly believe he made the AFC what we are today. He took the sport and city of Adelaide by storm and made the AFC a must have ticket. 15 years latter the AFC is able to sign its 50,000th members and Modra was the reason most signed up in the first place. Mod’s kicked 130 odd goals in 1993 and the world becomes his oyster. He only played 6 year for the crows but that’s all he needed to make a huge impact, he is my 3rd best player.

Number 4 - Darren Jarman

It’s not about the grand finals or even the 97 or 98 finals series, it’s the automatic credibility he gave the side once we got into that positions. His class and poise was a step above everyone else. That’s why he is my 4th best.

Number 5 - Mark Bickley

Mark Bickley may not make anyone else’s list but he made mine not because of his talent to win the ball or kick goals but for his heart and courage to get where he had. To go from being the last player selected on the inaugural list to being the back to back premiership captain within 7 years is truly a magnificent feat. Talent is not the only thing someone should be judged upon.

[dyertribe]

Edwards for Long Gevity and Consistency in front of Rehny whos knee problems cut him short.

Rehn was still the best ruckman in the league in 1994 and 1998 and was the barometer of the team for nearly a decade.

Has to be in any top-5.

FWIW:

1. Ricciuto - Goes without saying.
2. McLeod - Goes without saying. Roo shades it.
3. Hart - Superb defender and if not overshadowed by a gaggle of North, West Coast and Carlton defenders through the mid-to-late 1990s, would've rightly been recognised with far more than his 4 AA gongs.
4. Rehn - As I said, the club barometer for a decade.
5. Modra - Further to what C98 said, he was arguably the difference between the club becoming an off-field juggernaut or a Freo. For those too young to remember, 1993/4 was Beatlemania - except the moptop kid came from the Riverland, not Liverpool.

Goodwin and Jarman extremely stiff.

[Thewlis Dish]

Rehn was the best ruckman I've seen when at his peak.

[Jezza U Beauty]

My top 5

1) Mark Ricciuto
2) Andrew McLeod
3) Tony Modra
4) Darren Jarman
5) Mark Bickley

The talent Mark Ricciuto and Andrew McLeod have to play the game of Australian rule football speaks for itself and they are clearly one and two (what ever order) in most people’s book. So I will start with number 3.

My number 3 player would be Tony Modra.

The Modra phenomenon of the early 90’s was unbelievable and I truly believe he made the AFC what we are today. He took the sport and city of Adelaide by storm and made the AFC a must have ticket. 15 years latter the AFC is able to sign its 50,000th members and Modra was the reason most signed up in the first place. Mod’s kicked 130 odd goals in 1993 and the world becomes his oyster. He only played 6 year for the crows but that’s all he needed to make a huge impact, he is my 3rd best player.

Number 4 - Darren Jarman

It’s not about the grand finals or even the 97 or 98 finals series, it’s the automatic credibility he gave the side once we got into that positions. His class and poise was a step above everyone else. That’s why he is my 4th best.

Number 5 - Mark Bickley

Mark Bickley may not make anyone else’s list but he made mine not because of his talent to win the ball or kick goals but for his heart and courage to get where he had. To go from being the last player selected on the inaugural list to being the back to back premiership captain within 7 years is truly a magnificent feat. Talent is not the only thing someone should be judged upon.


I was waiting for somebody to mention Godra. I went to quite a few Crows games in the first few years after they came into the comp, and that guy was amazing. Was it 125 he kicked one year ?

Who's 2nd on your club's all-time goalkicking and how far behind ?

[James_37]

I was waiting for somebody to mention Godra. I went to quite a few Crows games in the first few years after they came into the comp, and that guy was amazing. Was it 125 he kicked one year ?

Who's 2nd on your club's all-time goalkicking and how far behind ?

129 in a season including finals, kicked the most in the season including finals but Ablett just had him in the minor round. As for 2nd on our list that'd have to be Ricciuto, probably 150-200 odd behind, then it would be Welsh I'd say, closely followed by D. Jarman.

[pjcrows]

Ricciuto
Rehn
McLeod
Modra
Jarman

[IddyBiddy]

1. Roo - The complete player, leadership, skill, poise, strength, impact, game winning ability the only player on this list with all in equal amounts.
2. Mcleod - Sublime player, having watched a lot of games from outside of Adelaide I can tell you that opposition supporters have the utmost respect and admiration for him also.
3. D Jarman - Perhaps the most skilful player ever to wear the tri-colour. His role in two premierships is stuff of legend, I'll never forget it.
4. Modra - Anyone old enough to know will agree that if you had to beg borrow or steal, you got to a crows game to see him play. These were the days of when a game was sold out, it was sold out and there wasn't a seat in sight, people would go early to reserve their seats and all the talk was on Mods. I guess back then I took for granted how good he was. I think people still do.
5. S Rehn - For all that is said about Cox, I personally think Rehn is as good if not better. Three Knee Reco's and he still threw himself in, legend of a man.

[Vader]

I was waiting for somebody to mention Godra. I went to quite a few Crows games in the first few years after they came into the comp, and that guy was amazing. Was it 125 he kicked one year ?

Who's 2nd on your club's all-time goalkicking and how far behind ?

Adelaide's Top 10 Goalscorers
440 - Tony Modra
292 - Mark Ricciuto
270 - Scott Welsh
264 - Darren Jarman
247 - Andrew McLeod *
208 - Brett Burton *
163 - Tyson Edwards *
150 - Peter Vardy
129 - Ian Perrie
128 - Matthew Liptak

* Does not include goals scored in the 2008 season.

[Crow-mo]

for me:

McLeod
Roo
Smart
Modra
Rehn

[Crow-mo]

amazed at the amount of people plumping for Hart over Smart.

both great players, but Smart was clearly ahead. easily our most important players in the first couple of years, as the only one who stood up, king canute style in the face of the early onslaughts.

for the first 10 years of the club, imo, he was the clubs best ever player.

[Crowboy#32]

1. Roo
2. McLeod
3. Modra
4. Hart
5. Jarman

[Eastern Crow]

1. Roo
2. Macca
3. Goodwin
4. Hart
5. D Jarman

[Carl Spackler]

Shaun Rehn still No. 1 for mine. Has had the most influence of any player over the most successful times at our club.

1995 - Rehn out with knee - AFC garbage
1996 - Rehn out with knee - AFC garbage, coach gone
1997 - Rehn back playing - AFC premiership
1998 - Rehn playing - AFC premiership
1999 - Rehn out with knee - AFC garbage, coach gone

Join the dots on those.

[Geoffa32]

Roo
Cant say much more about the Great One that has already been said

Macca
Sublime skills, should have a Brownlow, thanks Freo.

Smart
His run from half back was the start of the "modern" game. A pioneer.

Rehn
Best Ruckman in AFL era. Great Tap and Presence around the ground

Modra
Freak. Strongest Crow ever. Great second efforts. Made the impossible possible. Bought people to the game.

D Jarman
Skillfull and a match winner in our two best days.

Edwards
Mr Consistancy.

Rutten
AA in second year. Best Full back ever at the club. Without him the backline would not function.

[chelseacarlton]

darren jarman easy
he was truly sublime in every aspect of the game

[chelseacarlton]

darren jarman easy
he was truly sublime in every aspect of the game

only reinterating what some of you guys have already said
he won those flags for you
forget about the rest
one of my alltime favourite players regardless of team jumpers:p

[thed]

darren jarman for;
a) result 97/98
b) the pleasure off watching the smooth class
c) making middle age weight gain acceptable

[MickyCrow]

God how do you split Macca and Roo- completely different players, but each the best (possibly ever) and what they do/did

Roo the grunt hardnut midfielder and heroic captain who led from the front, dove on the ball and crashed through the packs

Macca, an absolute diamond whose brilliance on the field is unsurpassed

How can you honestly compare and split them?

[jo172]

If we're just talking about players who have played for the AFC I think Carey needs to rate a mention :p

But seriously:

1. Roo
2. Rehn
3. Godra
4. Mcleod
5. Jarman

Smart, Hart, Goodwin all honourable mentions.

[jenny61_99]

As with Micky Crow, very hard to split 1 and 2. Both individually brilliant in their own right. Both capable of winning the game off their own back. But for me the difference will always be class and sheer genius. And that has to go to Andrew McLeod.



Andrew McLeod: Very few players have the amazing brilliance that this man has shown (and continues to show) with our club for over 10 years. Every time he gets the ball you just know he's capable of magic. He makes the difficult look easy, the impossible look possible. And he's a genuine and humble man to top it off.
Mark Riccuito: Captain courageous with a capital C. Fantastic leader, exceptional footballer and hard as nails.
Darren Jarman: Like McLeod, Jarman had the ability to play the big games well. A freak in front of goals with incredible skills.
Tony Modra: What can you say about Godra. Greatest ever goal kicker for our team.
Shaun Rehn: The big fella had a heart as big as Phar Lap and courage as tough as Roo's.

Honorable mentions to Smart, Bickley, Hart and Goodwin.


* just noticed someone else used the impossible look possible line! :o

[BunjiMac]

1. McLeod: Has there been a better clutch player in the modern era? Great players play great matches in the biggest games.
2. Roo: Personifies the heart and soul of the club, a great leader
3. Jarman: Smartest player i have ever seen.
4. Rehn: Greatest AFC Ruckman
5. Modra: He did some ridiculous things, and 129 goals in a season? were never going to see that again.

[doppelganger47]

Jarman and McLeod equally.
also, honourable mentions to Roo and Modra.

[Coopers]

1 Roo
2 Mcleod
3 Hart
4 Smart
5 Rehn.

Unlucky:
6 Goody
7 Mods
8 Jars
9 Edwards

In 10 years time:
1 porps
2 rutten
3 Tippet
4 VanB
5 Chicken Man

[Coopers]

Rehn was the best ruckman I've seen when at his peak.

I think he may have ended his career with the "best ruckman of all time" tag if it wasn't for 3 knees.

Such a pity. Even so, he was damn good.

For a while there, our sole kick-in strategy was "Aim for rehn, expect him to take a contested Mark". And somehow, it still worked every time. :)

[writeoff]

I think the best player to wear the Crows' tri hoops was D Jarman. I wouldn't say he was the best player for the AFC, but for what he could do on the oval between the first and final siren I think Jarman was unmatched.

1. D Jarman - peerless player of sublime skills. Did things on the football field that I still struggle to believe even though I saw it live and later over & over again on video.
2. A McLeod - class. Always makes things happen. Big game player.
3. M Riccuito - all heart. The very model of a perfect player. Tough, team orientated & had the ability to lift himself and the performance of those around him.
4. A Modra - Mr Excitement. Famous for his high flying but his soccer goals always amazed me more.
5. S Goodwin - is showing this year what a great player he is having performed at the highest level on the halfback, in the midfield and now up forward.

Honourable mentions: Rehn, Edwards, Smart, McGuinness, Rutten

[johnnypanther]

Macca/Roo
Rehn
Modra
Smart

[topjars]

Define Best? - Its pretty difficult.

Best all round player IMO was Roo.

[RealSlimShady]

I would guarantee this has been done before but instead of bumping an old thread here goes my attempt at what is a very difficult and probably foolish task to attempt.
In the spirit of Campbells Chunky's thread title (ahem), maccas game on the weekend has got me thinking about this topic again.
Possibly I'm stirring up a hornets nest here but I've considered macca to be our best ever player for some time now. Heres my best 5 and I'd be interested to hear others (go as many as you like, doesn't have to be just five).

1. Andrew McLeod
2. Mark Ricciuto
3. Shaun Rehn
4. Ben Hart
5. Simon Goodwin

Thats mine as it stands currently but i expect Goodwin to climb higher, he could even sneak up now anyway. Rehn and Hart are almost interchangable, especially given Harts 180 odd extra games. Smart probably comes in sixth.

I believe a clubs success is measured on premierships and for that reason alone you could not look past the best player to wear number 3 for the Crows. He would have to be in the top 5 at least.

[RealSlimShady]

Define Best? - Its pretty difficult.

Best all round player IMO was Roo.

Without a doubt Roo was the best all-round player for the crows and high up there in all VFL-AFL history. Lets hope he pumps out a couple of boys so we can finally use the father-son rule around 2025 :)

[Armesy]

1. Robert Shirley ( amazing skills, takes mark after mark)
2. Chad Rintoul (very hard accountable player who never gave up)
3. Randal Bone ( very mobile big man who would lay loads of tackles in the forward line to lock it in.)
4. Aaaron Keating ( Unlucky not to win 2 preimierships)
5. Rodney Maynard ( Still winner medals at age 70)

[crows dude]

1. Robert Shirley ( amazing skills, takes mark after mark)
2. Chad Rintoul (very hard accountable player who never gave up)
3. Randal Bone ( very mobile big man who would lay loads of tackles in the forward line to lock it in.)
4. Aaaron Keating ( Unlucky not to win 2 preimierships)
5. Rodney Maynard ( Still winner medals at age 70)

How can you include Robbie Shirley and Rocket Maynard together with the other three who were all duds.

Rocket was a champion. You must be too young to remember how good he was.
and
Shirls has given this club 130 games of service. Will never be a star but has been a good honest and reliable contributer for us.

[ExpectToWin]

1) Scott Hodges
2) Simon Tregenza
3) David Brown
4) Darren Smith
5) Greg Anderson

;)

[footy4ever]

Roo
Normy smith (twice)
D.Jars
Edwards
Goody

[Vader]

1) Scott Hodges
2) Simon Tregenza
3) David Brown
4) Darren Smith
5) Greg Anderson

;)

Gee, I wonder what they all have in common?

[Armesy]

Ha Ha it was a joke crows dude. I dont think anyone would include those players in their top 50, except maynard.

[dyertribe]

Gee, I wonder what they all have in common?

With the exception of Trigger, Ando and Doreen, woefully under-utilised by Graham Cornes?

[marvin]

With the exception of Trigger, Ando and Doreen, woefully under-utilised by Graham Cornes?

With the exception of Trigger, Ando and Doreen, traded for by Jack Cahill? ;)

[Ferris_rules]

1. Stephen Rowe.

2. Johnathon Ross

3. Mathew Robran

4. Tom Warhurst

5. Brett James

[KUNG FU]

Roo
McLeod
Rehn
Modra
D Jarman

Of players currently on our list, I think Rutten has the greatest potential to burst this list wide open. And if I were going to have a gamble and speculate, Tippett & MacKay wouldn't be far behind.

[Geoffa32]

1) Scott Hodges
2) Simon Tregenza
3) David Brown
4) Darren Smith
5) Greg Anderson

;)
you forgot Graham Johncock

[jo172]

you forgot Graham Johncock

Andrew Mcleod is also pretty handy for someone of that persuasion;)

[MickyCrow]

We are very fortunate to have had so many champions play for us in such a short time....


I mean look at Freo;)

[Jumbo]

Ricciuto returns this week to the Waikerie Magpies named in the forward pocket against Loxton. If anyone interested it's on Friday (Anzac day) at Waikerie with a 4pm start.

[cocka]

1. Andrew McLeod
2. Mark Ricciuto
3. Anthony Modra

Too hard to sort out the rest, but these 3 pick themselves.

[Vader]

1. Mark Ricciuto
2. Andrew McLeod
3. Tony Modra
4. Darren Jarman
5. Shaun Rehn

Roo & Macca are impossible to split. Very different players, both absolute genii who should become Hall of Fame members as soon as they become eligible.

Tony Modra was the first Crows player that the opposition teams feared. In many ways he was responsible for the respect with which the club is now held. Not to mention that he was great to watch.

Jarman is in #4 because so many of his best years were spent elsewhere - North Adelaide (before the Crows) and Hawthorn. His heroics in the two Grand Finals though cannot be underestimated.

Rehn was simply a superb ruckman, easily the best the Crows have ever had. Could have been even better if it were not for those knee injuries.

The likes of Hart, Smart, Edwards & Goodwin are/were all great players, but I believe this 5 stands out above them all.

[Coopers]

DJ is a real hard one to pick.

If you consider a finals game as any other game, I don't think he played enough games for us, and other players (macca, roo, edwards, rehn) have played awesome footy more often.

But... the guy literally won us 2 premierships off his boot - my god was he awesome in the 97/98 finals series... and those were some damn important games to the club.

[macca23]

1. Mark Ricciuto
2. Andrew McLeod
3. Tony Modra
4. Darren Jarman
5. Shaun Rehn

Roo & Macca are impossible to split. Very different players, both absolute genii who should become Hall of Fame members as soon as they become eligible.

Tony Modra was the first Crows player that the opposition teams feared. In many ways he was responsible for the respect with which the club is now held. Not to mention that he was great to watch.

Jarman is in #4 because so many of his best years were spent elsewhere - North Adelaide (before the Crows) and Hawthorn. His heroics in the two Grand Finals though cannot be underestimated.

Rehn was simply a superb ruckman, easily the best the Crows have ever had. Could have been even better if it were not for those knee injuries.

The likes of Hart, Smart, Edwards & Goodwin are/were all great players, but I believe this 5 stands out above them all.

I'll go with these too Vader for all the well argued reasons that you've given. :thumbsu:

Hart and Goody would be the stiffest not to make the top 5 IMO.

[ams4crows]

1. D. Jarman - The Magic man
2. A. Mcleod - The Rolls Royce
3. M. Riccuito - The General
4. T. Modra - The Godsend
5. S. Rehn - The Difference

[sworc36]

The best ever would have to be Roo, then Mcleod and then DJarman, Modra, Hart, Rehn, Smart, Edwards Goodwin and Bickley.
Its going to be interesting to see their boys as they develop and see how many make it into the Afl. Hopefully we will see those names running around again in the magnificant tri colours in the not too distant future.

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

1 Mark Ricciuto
2 Andrew McLeod
3 Tony Modra
4 Simon Goodwin
5 Darren Jarman

[Mad Dog]

1 - Roo


2 - McLeod

3 - Hart
4 - Goodwin
5 - Rehn