Top 50 for the Purists

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I know bias comes into play. But I don't think anyone goes above Daicos when it comes to the art or poetry of the game. Most people will only remember his forward stint, but it was in the midfield where Daicos' true magic came. Seriously some of the s**t he did far away from the goals, whilst less sexy - was so much more impressive than the goals.
 
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Most amazing part of that was that Scott Lucas handballed it. Much like Moorcroft’s mark came from a right footed Scott Lucas kick.

But I digress. Great list. One player that I’d add without hesitation would be Darryl White. He was amazing to watch in full flight.
Good call on White. I legit somehow overlooked him. Will be amended.
 
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I know bias comes into play. But I don't think anyone goes above Daicos when it comes to the art or poetry of the game. Most people will only remember his forward stint, but it was in the midfield where Daicos' true magic came. Seriously some of the s**t he did far away from the goals, whilst less sexy - was so much more impressive than the goals.
He certainly was a smart moving centreman when I first started watching the footy intently. My memory of that is largely why he sits at 4.

He’s so close to number 1 here that it doesn’t really matter. Maybe his slight waddle which gave him his low centre of gravity made him appear less ‘silk’ to me than the 3 above him.
 
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I was trying to emphasise how those last 4 traits, whilst aesthetically pleasing in their own right, are at the other end of the spectrum for what I am attempting with this list.
Which is why I'm slightly confused that you'd have powerful athletes like Franklin, Goodes, Koutoufides, Martin, Fyfe and Timmy Watson so high on your list (or even in your Top 50). Dusty is the most 'pure' footballer of that lot, but raw power and athleticism is what elevates them all from the standard, journeyman footballers.

When I look at the traits at the 'other' end of your spectrum, I can think of a few champion footballers you haven't even listed.

How about Sam Mitchell? What have you got against him? He wasn't a quick, athletic, smooth-moving excitement machine, but you claim these aren't the required attributes for your list. (I call bullshit on that... :D Your top 50 is over-loaded with athletes)

- Finesse 9/10
- Grace 6.5/10
- Evasiveness/Elusiveness 9/10---so slow, but almost never collared, had a sixth sense
- Instinctiveness 10/10
- Poise 10/10
- Skill 10/10
- Making the impossible seem easy 5/10??
- Flair 6.5/10
- Deftness of Touch 10/10
- Agility 8/10 --very agile in his own way, twisting turning etc. He had superb lateral movement.
- Time Slowing/effortlessness 10/10
- Fleet footed/Light on their feet 9/10 --snail-paced, but danced his way out of trouble
- Anticipation/Game sense 10/10
- Composure 10/10
- Vision 10/10

Sammy pretty much checks all those boxes. What he lacked was the stuff you had at the bottom of your list: Excitement Inducement, Smooth Movement, Speed, Athleticism, Power


I'd also rank Luke Hodge as a 9/10 or 10/10 for most of those other attributes, but also lacking speed, power and athleticism. Not as light on his feet or evasive as Mitchell, but he was far more graceful & smooth than Nathan Buckley, who you've got at 23. Better at 'selling candy' and baulking opponents.

I think you're being a bit prejudiced against the champs who earned the 'hard man' tag. Not just Hodge and Mitchell, but also Michael Voss and Mark Ricciuto. Vossy would happily run though an opponent, but was just as likely to weave around them. He was a beautiful mover. Silky skilled, poised, agile, graceful - he had the lot. Same with Roo.


Here's some more egregious omissions and possible picks:

Brent Harvey (NM)
Garry Wilson (Fitz)
Josh Kelly (GWS)
Dean Kemp (WCE)
Daniel Kerr (WCE)
Chris Judd (WCE, Carl)
Matthew Larkin (NM)
Brad Johnson (W.B)
Mick O'Loughlin (Syd)
Alan Johnson (Melb)
Stephen Hill (Freo)
Jeff Farmer (Melb)
Michael Mitchell (Rich)

Daniel Wells (NM)

Gerard Healy (Melb, Syd)
David Wirrpanda (WCE)
Brian Wilson (Melb)
Brad Hardie (Foots, Bris)
Mick McLean (Bris)
Gilbert McAdam (St K)
Brett Heady (WCE)
Greg Anderson (Ess, Adel)



I like most of your list (good thread idea), but it's interesting to compare our different perspectives on past champion footballers.
I always thought Nathan Buckley was more of a industrious, blue collar, grunt midfielder than a silky, evasive, instinctive, finessing genius. He was a champion, but more of a fit-as-f**k hard worker like Cousins, Crawford & Hannebery who had a rocket launcher of a boot on him.

You undersell Robbie Flower's athleticism. Sure, he played with a ton of finesse and artistry, but underpinning all of that was his incredible athleticism - he may have been skinny as a rake, but he was like a gazelle: super quick, beautifully balanced and he could launch over packs. He was real all-rounder type - he probably excelled at everything he dabbled in. He would've made the grade in any sport.
 
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T G M

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Which is why I'm slightly confused that you'd have powerful athletes like Franklin, Goodes, Koutoufides, Martin, Fyfe and Timmy Watson so high on your list (or even in your Top 50). Dusty is the most 'pure' footballer of that lot, but raw power and athleticism is what elevates them all from the standard, journeyman footballers.

When I look at the traits at the 'other' end of your spectrum, I can think of a few champion footballers you haven't even listed.

How about Sam Mitchell? What have you got against him? He wasn't a quick, athletic, smooth-moving excitement machine, but you claim these aren't the required attributes for your list. (I call bullshit on that... :D Your top 50 is over-loaded with athletes)

- Finesse 9/10
- Grace 6.5/10
- Evasiveness/Elusiveness 9/10---so slow, but almost never collared, had a sixth sense
- Instinctiveness 10/10
- Poise 10/10
- Skill 10/10
- Making the impossible seem easy 5/10??
- Flair 6.5/10
- Deftness of Touch 10/10
- Agility 8/10 --very agile in his own way, twisting turning etc. He had superb lateral movement.
- Time Slowing/effortlessness 10/10
- Fleet footed/Light on their feet 9/10 --snail-paced, but danced his way out of trouble
- Anticipation/Game sense 10/10
- Composure 10/10
- Vision 10/10

Sammy pretty much checks all those boxes. What he lacked was the stuff you had at the bottom of your list: Excitement Inducement, Smooth Movement, Speed, Athleticism, Power


I'd also rank Luke Hodge as a 9/10 or 10/10 for most of those other attributes, but also lacking speed, power and athleticism. Not as light on his feet or evasive as Mitchell, but he was far more graceful & smooth than Nathan Buckley, who you've got at 23. Better at 'selling candy' and baulking opponents.

I think you're being a bit prejudiced against the champs who earned the 'hard man' tag. Not just Hodge and Mitchell, but also Michael Voss and Mark Ricciuto. Vossy would happily run though an opponent, but was just as likely to weave around them. He was a beautiful mover. Silky skilled, poised, agile, graceful - he had the lot. Same with Roo.


Here's some more egregious omissions and possible picks:

Brent Harvey (NM)
Garry Wilson (Fitz)
Josh Kelly (GWS)
Dean Kemp (WCE)
Daniel Kerr (WCE)
Chris Judd (WCE, Carl)
Matthew Larkin (NM)
Brad Johnson (W.B)
Mick O'Loughlin (Syd)
Alan Johnson (Melb)

Stephen Hill (Freo)
Jeff Farmer (Melb)
Michael Mitchell (Rich)
Daniel Wells (NM)
Gerard Healy (Melb, Syd)
David Wirrpanda (WCE)
Brian Wilson (Melb)
Brad Hardie (Foots, Bris)
Mick McLean (Bris)
Gilbert McAdam (St K)
Brett Heady (WCE)
Greg Anderson (Ess, Adel)



I like most of your list (good thread idea), but it's interesting to compare our different perspectives on past champion footballers.
I always thought Nathan Buckley was more of a industrious, blue collar, grunt midfielder than a silky, evasive, instinctive, finessing genius. He was a champion, but more of a fit-as-f**k hard worker like Cousins, Crawford & Hannebery who had a rocket launcher of a boot on him.

You undersell Robbie Flower's athleticism. Sure, he played with a ton of finesse and artistry, but underpinning all of that was his incredible athleticism - he may have been skinny as a rake, but he was like a gazelle: super quick, beautifully balanced and he could launch over packs. He was real all-rounder type - he probably excelled at everything he dabbled in. He would've made the grade in any sport.
 

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Some fair points raised there.
I definitely would include many of those.
Robbie was a fairly handy tennis and squash player. I still think he belongs at number one but you are right that he was extremely athletic as well.
 
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Which is why I'm slightly confused that you'd have powerful athletes like Franklin, Goodes, Koutoufides, Martin, Fyfe and Timmy Watson so high on your list (or even in your Top 50). Dusty is the most 'pure' footballer of that lot, but raw power and athleticism is what elevates them all from the standard, journeyman footballers.

When I look at the traits at the 'other' end of your spectrum, I can think of a few champion footballers you haven't even listed.

How about Sam Mitchell? What have you got against him? He wasn't a quick, athletic, smooth-moving excitement machine, but you claim these aren't the required attributes for your list. (I call bullshit on that... :D Your top 50 is over-loaded with athletes)

- Finesse 9/10
- Grace 6.5/10
- Evasiveness/Elusiveness 9/10---so slow, but almost never collared, had a sixth sense
- Instinctiveness 10/10
- Poise 10/10
- Skill 10/10
- Making the impossible seem easy 5/10??
- Flair 6.5/10
- Deftness of Touch 10/10
- Agility 8/10 --very agile in his own way, twisting turning etc. He had superb lateral movement.
- Time Slowing/effortlessness 10/10
- Fleet footed/Light on their feet 9/10 --snail-paced, but danced his way out of trouble
- Anticipation/Game sense 10/10
- Composure 10/10
- Vision 10/10

Sammy pretty much checks all those boxes. What he lacked was the stuff you had at the bottom of your list: Excitement Inducement, Smooth Movement, Speed, Athleticism, Power


I'd also rank Luke Hodge as a 9/10 or 10/10 for most of those other attributes, but also lacking speed, power and athleticism. Not as light on his feet or evasive as Mitchell, but he was far more graceful & smooth than Nathan Buckley, who you've got at 23. Better at 'selling candy' and baulking opponents.

I think you're being a bit prejudiced against the champs who earned the 'hard man' tag. Not just Hodge and Mitchell, but also Michael Voss and Mark Ricciuto. Vossy would happily run though an opponent, but was just as likely to weave around them. He was a beautiful mover. Silky skilled, poised, agile, graceful - he had the lot. Same with Roo.


Here's some more egregious omissions and possible picks:

Brent Harvey (NM)
Garry Wilson (Fitz)
Josh Kelly (GWS)
Dean Kemp (WCE)
Daniel Kerr (WCE)
Chris Judd (WCE, Carl)
Matthew Larkin (NM)
Brad Johnson (W.B)
Mick O'Loughlin (Syd)
Alan Johnson (Melb)

Stephen Hill (Freo)
Jeff Farmer (Melb)
Michael Mitchell (Rich)
Daniel Wells (NM)
Gerard Healy (Melb, Syd)
David Wirrpanda (WCE)
Brian Wilson (Melb)
Brad Hardie (Foots, Bris)
Mick McLean (Bris)
Gilbert McAdam (St K)
Brett Heady (WCE)
Greg Anderson (Ess, Adel)



I like most of your list (good thread idea), but it's interesting to compare our different perspectives on past champion footballers.
I always thought Nathan Buckley was more of a industrious, blue collar, grunt midfielder than a silky, evasive, instinctive, finessing genius. He was a champion, but more of a fit-as-f**k hard worker like Cousins, Crawford & Hannebery who had a rocket launcher of a boot on him.

You undersell Robbie Flower's athleticism. Sure, he played with a ton of finesse and artistry, but underpinning all of that was his incredible athleticism - he may have been skinny as a rake, but he was like a gazelle: super quick, beautifully balanced and he could launch over packs. He was real all-rounder type - he probably excelled at everything he dabbled in. He would've made the grade in any sport.
I’m using poetic license when I say Robbie ‘survived largely on artistry alone’ (its only fair in a thread like this). I’m aware that he was also an immense athlete.

The criteria I used is only a guide and I included athleticism because that also contributes to an overall aesthetic enjoyment.

The players you mention as power athletes were so much more than that. Each of them had other attributes that elevate them. Watson glided across the turf with an arched back, with a cocky upright posture and he loved the baulk or feign before a raking accurate kick forward. Buddy is the ultimate complete tall footballer and is aesthetically everything you’d want in a tall player. Koutoufides could pick the ball up one-handed and pirouette out of congestion with ball above his head.

You lower Buckley unnecessarily imo. He was a prototype footballer who just looked the part as much as any player ever has. His slightly bent elbows as he held the drop punt on the run, ready to kick, was a silken sight to behold.

Mitchell, from my assessment, was nothing special to look at in action but his footy intelligence gave him space and time and he worked hard on perfecting his skills by foot. I think you overrate his agility, finesse and lightness of foot. Don’t get me wrong, he’s definitely in the next batch with Judd and co but below Kerr and Farmer.

A lot of the players you’ve mentioned are right up there in the mix. Kelly, Farmer, Kerr, McLean and Wells are probably closest. I wanted to give Kelly a bit more of my time before inclusion. I liked Greg Anderson but he was awkward and one-dimensional. LOL at dough-boy Hardie though. He was a smart player but aesthetically pleasing he was not. Each to their own I suppose.
 
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He was also the most highly skilled player on our list throughout the 80's....and that includes Buckenara.

He could sell candy to the candy man ffs.
I rate Platten as one of the best players I have seen but he personally wasn’t footy porn to my eyes. Those who liked watching Tiny Tim thread daisy chains may disagree though.
 
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I rate Platten as one of the best players I have seen but he personally wasn’t footy porn to my eyes. Those who liked watching Tiny Tim thread daisy chains may disagree though.

He should be in your top 20 & is a major over-sight on your behalf.

No takesey-backseys on the back-peddling now.
 
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Sorry....But according to your own criteria, then there's no chance in hell he's outside that top 20.

Also.....where the hell is the greatest aerialist & VFL-porn super-star Peter Knights ffs?
Knights was 70s porn. I only watched 80s era onward. Knights, like John Holmes, did his best work in the 70s and became a bit lame in the 80s. But from what I remember he was very close to this list. Closer than Platten.
 
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Knights was 70s porn. I only watched 80s era onward. Knights, like John Holmes, did his best work in the 70s and became a bit lame in the 80s. But from what I remember he was very close to this list. Closer than Platten.

You've got Robbie Flower in there at number 1, who was also at his peak in the late 70's to early 80's.

Your street cred is running thinner with every post you make.
 
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You've got Robbie Flower in there at number 1, who was also at his peak in the late 70's to early 80's.

Your street cred is running thinner with every post you make.
Knights was injured a lot and struggled to recapture his 70s form during the 80s. I remember him having a good season in 1983 but he was no more watchable than VanderHaar of the same era. The graceful soaring Knights of the 70s was long past unfortunately. Flower was still dancing and weaving his magic up until the day he retired.
 
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So high in fact, that one's eye-brows disappear entirely off one's forehead.

Doesn't even belong on the list.
Now you’re just being an agitating campaigner. I’ve clearly stated that this exercise is a subjective one based on my taste. Just because your beloved Knights and Platten don’t appear here you’ve gotten all offended. It’s not like this list hasn’t got its fair share of Hawk players that appealed from an aesthetic perspective. Mercuri was sublime to watch. Pure, smooth-moving aesthetic eye candy. I think I’d have a lot of support in that.
 
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Now you’re just being an agitating campaigner. I’ve clearly stated that this exercise is a subjective one based on my taste. Just because your beloved Knights and Platten don’t appear here you’ve gotten all offended. It’s not like this list hasn’t got its fair share of Hawk players that appealed from an aesthetic perspective. Mercuri was sublime to watch. Pure, smooth-moving aesthetic eye candy. I think I’d have a lot of support in that.

He fails the test of your own criteria as stipulated in your O/P.

Wouldn't even make the Top 100 FFS.

Now you're just having a laugh at every footy historian & pundits expense.

Platten was twice the player & the eye candy Mercuri could ever hope to be.
 
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He fails the test of your own criteria as stipulated in your O/P.

Wouldn't even make the Top 100 FFS.

Now you're just having a laugh at every footy historian & pundits expense.

Platten was twice the player & the eye candy Mercuri could ever hope to be.
Then go and make your own list and stop procrastinating by filling this thread with petulant nonsense just because your precious Hawthorne doesn’t dominate this one.
 
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Then go and make your own list and stop procrastinating by filling this thread with petulant nonsense just because your precious Hawthorne doesn’t dominate this one.

That has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the placement of Mercuri at number 6 on your list.

Which is one of the most absurd & outlandish claims I've seen in many a time, given the list of names who follow him.

Utterly delusional.
 
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That has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the placement of Mercuri at number 6 on your list.

Which is one of the most absurd & outlandish claims I've seen in many a time, given the list of names who follow him.

Utterly delusional.
There are ways of approaching a discussion about the merits of someone’s subjective views of the game without being contemptuous. Mercuri was, in my view, Essendon’s most watchable player in my time. By dismissing the possibility that someone could hold this view, considering how undeniably skilful and smooth-moving he was makes you come across as delusional. You don’t have to agree with my rating of him here but these lists are created with the purpose of generating discussion. What you’re doing is outright dismissing my personal preference which is a bit odd really.
 
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