I agree the Norm Smith medal is just one game, but a player winning multiple times, as Hodge has done, demonstrates a history of rising to the occasion when it matters most. Choosing between Hodge and Riewoldt was extremely difficult but for me it came down to reliability … Hodge's ability to perform in the big moment as opposed to Nick's horrible goal kicking which I'm sure led to him missing vital goals at times when his team needed them most. His poor kicking for goal was a major flaw for a player who played most of his career as a key forward and IMO it puts Hodge just ahead of him.
Plugger Lockett WAS a hack though....
Toumpas was significantly worse than Morton. Morton was serviceable in the early stage of his career and you could argue that we stuffed his development during that period. Toumpas simply looked like a fish out of water from day dot.
In a world where Norm Smith medals and Premiership Medals to you club captain count.
except for when he was named AA captain after a brilliant season where many rated him one of the best in the comp.
He was deservedly in the discussion for best player at his club, but i would never have even given him that nod. Franklin, and Mitchell were comfortably ahead in my eyes and Burgoyne and Roughhead at stages were on par. A hawthorn great, but not an AFL great.
Won't you look silly when he gets inducted in to the AFL hall of fame in a few years then.
I agree that he will be, but it'll be a decision based on aura and leadership rather than pure football.
so leadership, sacrificing your game to play a role for team success, these things shouldn't be considered when assessing how a good a player is? We've already been told that being the best player in a grand final on multiple occasions (and had over 30 touches and 2 goals in another) isn't allowed to count.
It all counts, but would he be viewed as a great leader if he wasn't leading a great team - probably not. Guys like Riewoldt, Ablett, Franklin, Dangerfield will be automatic hall of fame selections due to consistent on field dominance over a long period of time. It wouldn't have mattered what teammates they had. Hodge will be a Hall of Fame member because he was a bloody good player over a long time, stood up big time in big games, played in a team who were good enough to get to and win big games and he also had an aura of leadership about him. I rate the others significantly higher as footballers, because I don't think they needed to be in a great team to be considered great. For me, hodge is a different kettle of fish, because him being considered great was relient on him playing in a great team.
Output of dowler > output of thorp
Farren Ray, while he didn't ever become a champion, still played 209 AFL games and was a very serviceable player. Certainly not a doozie.
Ray was better than both of those spuds combined by 99%
I think the only objective way to rank them is on output. Yes injury plays a factor.
