Analysis Where does Buddy Franklin rank amongst the greats?

[Happy Mastenator]

Better than Dustin Martin?

Yes. Dusty has had a good peak (helped by the Norm Smiths), but only AA 4 times.

 

[TheUnicorn]

Better than Dustin Martin?

I honestly feel Dusty is pretty overrated *Flinches* Paying a guy 1.5mil or whatever it is to play 4 games a year is crazy.

 

[carloss]

I honestly feel Dusty is pretty overrated *Flinches* Paying a guy 1.5mil or whatever it is to play 4 games a year is crazy.

Maybe we need to starting paying that...........

 

[RUNVS]

Yes. Dusty has had a good peak (helped by the Norm Smiths), but only AA 4 times.

Martin took forever to reach his peak. He was a solid player for many years but it took him longer than most to find his top form.

 

[Fadge]

Is he in the same group as Ablett snr, Lockett and Carey, or just behind?

Add Coleman and maybe Hudson to that list, and I have Buddy just behind those 5.

Matthews also definitely ahead of him, then you have to work out how many midfielders are ahead of him. I've got a handful without even thinking - Bunton Jr, Reynolds, Skilton, Ablett Jr, Stewart.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

If I recall correctly, Jason Dunstall tried to change his kicking style early in his career when he was missing goals ,and apparantly Buddy wasn't happy about it.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

If we were including VFL i would say maybe top 15? if it were just AFL i would have to say he's top 5

If we were saying AFL I would say top 2 if not number 1.
If we were saying Aussie Rules Football then he would be top 10-15.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Martin took forever to reach his peak. He was a solid player for many years but it took him longer than most to find his top form.

Lets not ever be America where they define greatness by premierships, how actually good a player you are whether you are in the premiership side or the bottom side is all that matters. Ablett senior is still well ahead of every player I have ever seen. Just my opinion but I don’t even have any player close to him.

 

[SleepingGiant]

I honestly feel Dusty is pretty overrated *Flinches* Paying a guy 1.5mil or whatever it is to play 4 games a year is crazy.

Okay mate. Just because he elevated beyond anyone in history for 4 games goes not make the home and away poor. He is already the GOAT.

 

[TheUnicorn]

Okay mate. Just because he elevated beyond anyone in history for 4 games goes not make the home and away poor. He is already the GOAT.

His Home and away season isn't poor but it's not even remotely close to being in the discussion of "Best of all time" I personally would rather a player play 20+ games a season not 4, You gotta get there first.

 

[gbatman]

Hate ranking the greats because the game changes so much. Just like to say "right up there".

 

[HairyO]

Okay mate. Just because he elevated beyond anyone in history for 4 games goes not make the home and away poor. He is already the GOAT.

Q: Where does Buddy rank?
A: Dusty is the GOAT.

Never change, Richmond supporters.

Dusty is probably the 4th or 5th best player of the last 20 years. He is miles outside the top 10 for players in my lifetime.

But do keep up the fapping.

 

[gbatman]

Is Franklin the best forward of the last 15 or 20 years? Has to be pretty close.

 

[Sprout]

I find it staggering that 17% of people don’t think Franklin makes the top 20.

Some fans seem reluctant or incapable of recognising greatness when it’s in front of them. The rose tinted glasses come out when looking in the past rather than the present.

Needless to say, we’ve all been fortunate to watch Franklin play the game. For me he’s in the top 5 players to ever strap on a boot. The dude is a freak among freaks.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

I find it staggering that 17% of people don’t think Franklin makes the top 20.

Some fans seem reluctant or incapable of recognising greatness when it’s in front of them. The rose tinted glasses come out when looking in the past rather than the present.

Needless to say, we’ve all been fortunate to watch Franklin play the game. For me he’s in the top 5 players to ever strap on a boot. The dude is a freak among freaks.

I agree, he is definately at least top 10 of all time for me.
He's a unique player that's never been seen before who will kick 1000 goals from a half-forward role, and he plays up the ground as well.
There is probably bias from oppo supporters as he is still playing and there's a few bitter Hawk supporters who resent him.

 

[RUNVS]

Is Franklin the best forward of the last 15 or 20 years? Has to be pretty close.

I can't think of a better key forward of the last 20 years.

 

[RUNVS]

Also not the be all and end all of being a key forward but of the players discussed and how many All Australians they have


Lance Franklin - 8
Jason Dunstall - 7
Wayne Carey - 7
Tony Lockett

Tony Lockett

Age

58

Ht

191cm

Wt

108kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.2

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

1.8

2star

M

6.3

5star

T

0.5

3star

G

4.8

5star

No current season stats available

D

8.2

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.6

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.0

1star

G

1.4

5star

- 5
Matthew Lloyd - 5
Nick Riewoldt - 5
Gary Ablett Snr - 4
Josh Kennedy - 3
Jack Riewoldt - 3
Peter Hudson - 2

 

[HairyO]

Also not the be all and end all of being a key forward but of the players discussed and how many All Australians they have


Lance Franklin - 8
Jason Dunstall - 7
Wayne Carey - 7
Tony Lockett - 5
Matthew Lloyd - 5
Nick Riewoldt - 5
Gary Ablett Snr - 4
Josh Kennedy - 3
Jack Riewoldt - 3
Peter Hudson - 2

AA is a terrible measure. Not just because it used to be something completely different, but also because the selectors in the last 10 or so years are truly clueless flogs.

 

[Cursed Cat]

I agree, he is definately at least top 10 of all time for me.
He's a unique player that's never been seen before who will kick 1000 goals from a half-forward role, and he plays up the ground as well.
There is probably bias from oppo supporters as he is still playing and there's a few bitter Hawk supporters who resent him.

Averaged a career-low 2.4 goals per game against Geelong; I'm not surprised if most Geelong supporters don't rate him as highly as other opposition supporters as he was rarely all that damaging against us - threatening, yes, but the likes of Scarlett and Lonergan were generally able to keep him under wraps.

Not in my top 10 of all time, probably not even top 20 of those I've seen.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

Averaged a career-low 2.4 goals per game against Geelong; I'm not surprised if most Geelong supporters don't rate him as highly as other opposition supporters as he was rarely all that damaging against us - threatening, yes, but the likes of Scarlett and Lonergan were generally able to keep him under wraps.

Not in my top 10 of all time, probably not even top 20 of those I've seen.

I'd like to see the 20 players you rate ahead of him.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Also not the be all and end all of being a key forward but of the players discussed and how many All Australians they have


Lance Franklin - 8
Jason Dunstall - 7
Wayne Carey - 7
Tony Lockett - 5
Matthew Lloyd - 5
Nick Riewoldt - 5
Gary Ablett Snr - 4
Josh Kennedy - 3
Jack Riewoldt - 3
Peter Hudson - 2

That's a completely arbitrary metric; the AA team wasn't even selected annually for some of those players careers, e.g. Hudson, Ablett and Lockett.

 

[RUNVS]

AA is a terrible measure. Not just because it used to be something completely different, but also because the selectors in the last 10 or so years are truly clueless flogs.

I never said it was perfect, or even great, but it is just as good a measurement as a best and fairest or a Brownlow.

 

[HairyO]

I never said it was perfect, or even great, but it is just as good a measurement as a best and fairest or a Brownlow.

B & F is chosen by coaches. AA is chosen by Darcy, Gil and KB.

Those things are different.

Plus, decades ago AA were the players who actually played in the carnival which didnt happen every year. The best players of the year may never have been AA even though by today's measure they would.
E.G. Hudson would have 5 AA from his 6 years in the VFL plus possibly the one he got from the TFL.

 

[RUNVS]

B & F is chosen by coaches. AA is chosen by Darcy, Gil and KB.

Those things are different.

Plus, decades ago AA were the players who actually played in the carnival which didnt happen every year. The best players of the year may never have been AA even though by today's measure they would.
E.G. Hudson would have 5 AA from his 6 years in the VFL plus possibly the one he got from the TFL.

Well Jake Lloyd keeps winning Sydney's B&F and no one would claim Jake Lloyd is Sydney's best player.

 

[HairyO]

Well Jake Lloyd keeps winning Sydney's B&F and no one would claim Jake Lloyd is Sydney's best player.

Apart from the Sydney coaches....