Southby vs Silvagni

[Shinboners]

Hi all

We over at the North board have been trying to put together our best North team. Everything was going well until we got to trying to decide who was our greatest full back, Mick Martyn or David Dench. It got me wondering, who do you guys think is the best Carlton full back, Geoff Southby or Steve Silvagni?

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Actually Shinners, this was posted some months back on the main board. I think it may have been Grendel's topic?

Opinions were somewhat divided. I think Silvagni won the count but copped heaps more flak as well. Only saw Southby play for a couple of seasons so I went for Silvagni. I am an admirer of freakish play. He has had some absolute shockers and cost us matches as well but the good outweighs the bad. He was a consistent performer against Lockett, Dunstall and Ablett. 1,3 and 4 on the goalkickers scoreboard so he gets the nod.

[Bernie]

Southby existed in an era of major thugs ( Ricky McLean, N. Balme for starters ) but he had some sensational protection - Vin Waite, Swan Mackay, Rags Gould, Kevin Hall ( very mean ). He did struggle a bit with the seriously talanted and never went forward. Remember in those days full backs were generally pretty ordinary and Geoff certainly wasn't as good as Dench.
SOS has had to play in a less than successful Carlton era ( no Hunter, Doull etc )against some amazing players .. and go forward to win the odd game. He is by far the better choice.

[ptw]

I actually think Ben Hart is the best in the comp at the moment and has been for the last few years.

ptw