Who is the best you've seen at Essendon

[Mero]

I've been going since a little tacker at Windy Hill.
In fact, Round 7, 1972, Essendon v StKilda, who we beat by 7 goals, but they flogged in that year's Elim Final.

The best player I've seen in Black and Red in those 30 some years is James Hird.
Now, before this gets into a love fest for the current captain, does anyone think there's been a better player in their time?

[windyhill]

Simon Madden.
And T.D would be my choice of Captain.

[bLuEMoOsE]

im hooker on Watson. Long would be right up their.

[Darealrath]

Hird by a bit - can't speak highly enough of him. Too young to have seen Madden, T.D and Watson in their primes as i was only born in '83.

Lloyd, Fletch, Mercs, Bewick, Long, Harvey and JJ are up there.

[smasha]

Brian Wood:D oh and the old Tige Sheeds:D

Sorry :)
I'd say I have fond memories of Van Der Haar taking speccies and
Watson in the 81 night grand final against carlton.
Coleman was pretty special according to my old man.
It pains me to say it but I'd pick Hird in the modern era.
Your team just looks so much better with him in the side.
Cheers.

Time for Tiges to roar in 2004!

[dodgey]

I'll say Timmy only because he has FINISHED his career.

I'll reserve my judgement on Hirdy/Lloydy being the best for a few years

[Raskolnikov]

a tie between Simon Madden and Tim Watson

if Hirdy hadn't been injured so much I'd definitely have him up there

personal favourite is Gary O'Donnell

[lufc618]

Hirdy definietly

[Stegelator]

Originally posted by lufc618
Hirdy definietly ditto (without the spelling mistakes) :cool:

[marcuz]

watson , madden and Hird....shame that we never got to see the best of Long and Leon Baker

[pazza]

Seen so many it's difficult, but I have narrowed it down this way:

Van Der Haar: Unbelievable leap;
Merrett: A ruckman who changed how CHF was played;
T. Daniher: A great leader;
Watson: Silk;
Madden: The best ruckman of the era;
Thompson: Incredible versatility;
Harvey: Courageous;
Hird: Another great leader;
O'Donnell: Took consistency to new heights;
Lloyd: Still has a long way to go, but, he's well on the way.

As you can see, I am struggling to pick the best out of that lot.

Disappointed we didn't see the best of Long, Baker, N. Daniher or perhaps even Bewick to be considered.

[chasing Amy]

on pure talent and all round Freakishness

Gavin Wanganeen

[8485]

I go back to the late 60s but I still think Hird is the best I've seen -but only just. Davis, Birt and Fraser were great. Madden, TD and Watson were brilliant. Lloyd has the potential to be up there also. The best of the lot could have been Neale Daniher - I don't think I've ever seen some one so young play well and often dominate virtually from game one.

[bacon buster]

the first game i can really remember going to was around 1989, so i haven't seen many of the players mentioned here (seen them on old tapes, but it's a different story seeing them play live)

i'd have to say hird, just a champion.

[theGimp]

Yep,
Seen a whole stack of great players since the old Windy Hill days.

Hird is pretty hard to go past as a total package player.

Although the most skillful player I have ever seen is Dean Rioli in his first couple of years. On his day of course..he was and still can be untouchable.

I am expecting a few flames from stating this as I get them from my mates.. Its just my humble opinion.

[IceTemple]

Originally posted by pazza
Van Der Haar: Unbelievable leap;
Merrett: A ruckman who changed how CHF was played;
T. Daniher: A great leader;
Watson: Silk;
Madden: The best ruckman of the era;
Thompson: Incredible versatility;
Harvey: Courageous;
Hird: Another great leader;
O'Donnell: Took consistency to new heights;
Lloyd: Still has a long way to go, but, he's well on the way.


Tough one eh pazza!

For me I grew up on Watson. I loved watching that man do his thing! Do any of you remember that night final against Carlton (I think) when Watson grabbed the ball and leaped over the players that had gone to ground amd stormed into the forward line. That my friends was bl@@dy awesome stuff!!! :cool: I still get goosebumps. ***shivers***

While I think Hird is one heck of a top footy player I still lean just ahead of him towards Watson.

Could you imagine Hird running around in that team!? OHHHH!! He would fit right in with the old tough nuts of yesteryear IMO, unlike some of the players going around now.

[Cooldude]

A tie between Tim Watson and Jimmy Hird

[pazza]

Originally posted by IceTemple
Tough one eh pazza!

For me I grew up on Watson. I loved watching that man do his thing! Do any of you remember that night final against Carlton (I think) when Watson grabbed the ball and leaped over the players that had gone to ground amd stormed into the forward line. That my friends was bl@@dy awesome stuff!!! :cool: I still get goosebumps. ***shivers***

While I think Hird is one heck of a top footy player I still lean just ahead of him towards Watson.

Could you imagine Hird running around in that team!? OHHHH!! He would fit right in with the old tough nuts of yesteryear IMO, unlike some of the players going around now.

Barely remember it (being a feww months short of turning 6 at the time!)

Watson was my favourite (shared by probably half of the Essendon population throughout the 80's and early 90's I would suggest), but, it's damn hard to pick.

[anonymous Joe]

Hird

[jeab]

hirdy,always gives 100%

[Dan26]

I've been following Essendon since 1981, and the best players I have seen are, in order:

Champions : Upper Echeleon
1. James Hird
2. Simon Madden

Champions : Just a little below the big two.
3. Matthew Lloyd
4. Terry Daniher
5. Tim Watson

Execptionally good
6. Gavin Wanganeen
7. Bomber Thompson
8. Michael Long

Two players that are Essendon greats, but I personally don't rate that highly are Dustin Fletcher and Gary O'Donnell. I didn't think Gary was as hard at the ball as he could have been.

[windyhill]

Agreed on O`Donnell, never a big fan.

[topdon]

James Hird

[pazza]

Originally posted by WA ROO
Graham Moss
3 Fairest & Bests
1 Brownlow
not bad and none of you rate him
why?

I was too young to have seen him play (was only alive for his last year at the club).

[8485]

Originally posted by WA ROO
Graham Moss
3 Fairest & Bests
1 Brownlow
not bad and none of you rate him
why?


Humblest apologies - I completely forgot about him. Had 4 great years, a Brownlow and completely dominated ruckmen such as Dempsey, Scott, Ditterich, etc. The first really top ruckman that I remember. I didn't really rate Don McKenzie - a trier but that's all.

[Runknisse]

Where do I start?

1) Max Crow
2) Paul Hamilton
3) Andrew Underwood
4) Michael Werner and finally
5) Anthony Antrobus

Wait.........you said crappiest of all time right?
Best I've seen? hhmmmmm

1) James Hird
2) Simon Madden
3) Tim Watson
4) Terry Daniher
5) Michael Long

My old man was a Glen Hawker freak. Loved him until he went to Carlton. His heart was broken.

[windyhill]

Glenny Hawker, The Hawk, left foot, right foot, who knew ?? Gun footballer. His lasting gift to the E.F.C was when he left for the filth we were able to grab Micky Long with the pick. Hated seeing The Hawk in that filthy uniform, but he did stuff all for them and we got another champion out of it. Essendon win.

[M29]

In my football watching life time James Hird, then maybe Lloyd. I always thought Bewick was good value, in the same catergory as Long.

I only vividly remember the other players being Daniher and Madden etc. Videos are handy.

[Pornstar]

Originally posted by windyhill
Agreed on O`Donnell, never a big fan. Wasn't O'Donnell the player you tried to dry root after the 93 gf?

[windyhill]

Poor bloke, he was the nearest Essendon jumper.....

[Napier_Street]

Did anyone mention either of these 2 champs from the west

1) G. Moss

and

2) Leon Baker


Both only played about 4 seasons each but what impact they both had. (Mossy being a Brownlow Medalist).

Baker on his day was unstoppable. Anyone who saw Essendon demolish Collingwood in the 84 Preliminary Final at Waverley will remember Baker cutting them to ribbons.

[Runknisse]

Loved Bakes!!!