Who's the best Indigenous player ever?

[rugmop]

Polly Farmer - his impact on how the game is played was profound. Nobody else has had such impact

This. Easily the best ruckman I've seen in 65 years of watching footy.

 

[Soggy2112]

I’m in my mid 20s so obviously can’t comment too much on someone like Polly Farmer, however I think Buddy has put together a case that is pretty hard to argue with.

As a key forward his output and longevity put him streets ahead of everyone in his era, when you consider that he has a legitimate case as the best key forward of all time. From purely subjective areas I’ve never seen a player with his combination of size, strength, speed, agility and skill.

If I had to rank it I’d go:

Franklin
Goodes
McLeod (was my idol as a kid so potentially biased)

 

[Sttew]

I’m in my mid 20s so obviously can’t comment too much on someone like Polly Farmer, however I think Buddy has put together a case that is pretty hard to argue with.

As a key forward his output and longevity put him streets ahead of everyone in his era, when you consider that he has a legitimate case as the best key forward of all time. From purely subjective areas I’ve never seen a player with his combination of size, strength, speed, agility and skill.

If I had to rank it I’d go:

Franklin
Goodes
McLeod (was my idol as a kid so potentially biased)

He isn't the best key forward of all time. A champion, yes.

 

[Soggy2112]

He isn't the best key forward of all time. A champion, yes.

It’s always impossible to argue across eras but it think he has a case.

His stats of course will never be as impressive as someone like Lockett or Dunstall (has won as many Coleman medals and has more AA jackets though) as the game has made it harder for key forwards. However he is so far ahead of any other key forward in his era, purely looking at goals per game the only guy that gets near him is Fev and he played over 100 games less.

Not saying he is the best, I haven’t seen enough of those older guys to know but he definitely has a case.

 

[MowShow]

pre 2005 - 1. McLeod, 2. Franklin, 3. Goodes

Oh dear...

 

[masai tu]

Maybe I’m underrating Polly but I’d have Buddy, McLeod and Goodes ahead of him.

Different era’s, so unless you’ve watched all these 4 players live, it’s very subjective.

If the experts put Polly up there at the top, there’s nothing I’ve seen that would make me change their conclusion.

 

[Private Hudson]

Warren Campbell.

 

[masai tu]

Warren Campbell.

Big Bad Basil >>>>>>> Benny Vigona >>>>>> Warren Campbell.

 

[Sttew]

Different era’s, so unless you’ve watched all these 4 players live, it’s very subjective.

If the experts put Polly up there at the top, there’s nothing I’ve seen that would make me change their conclusion.

Spot on. I never saw John Coleman or Gordon Coventry or Dick Reynolds. I know they were greats. There are posters on BF who never saw Gary Ablett Snr, IMO the most exciting footballer ever and a genuine great

 

[LordLucifer]

Polly ...........

..............

.............

Daylight

...........

..........

The Rest

 

[LordLucifer]

Maybe I’m underrating Polly but I’d have Buddy, McLeod and Goodes ahead of him.

Not even in the same postcode as Polly.

 

[South of the Yarra]

Polly Farmer by the length of Flemington and then Buddy and Barry Cable

 

[Tackle Bag]

Of all the names mentioned, as great as they are, Buddy is the only one in my opinion that would genuinely be in the conversation for the top 5 players of all time so that makes him the indigenous goat.

 

[Sttew]

Of all the names mentioned, as great as they are, Buddy is the only one in my opinion that would genuinely be in the conversation for the top 5 players of all time so that makes him the indigenous goat.

You’ve got a high mighty opinion of yourself!

 

[Tackle Bag]

You’ve got a high mighty opinion of yourself!

Lol, just an opinion. Didn’t mean it to read otherwise

 

[guruisatiger]

andrew mcleod

Andrew Mcleod

Age

49

Ht

181cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.8

5star

K

13.1

5star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

2.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.0

1star

T

1.6

4star

 

[Foxx]

If he's indeed indigenous - Wayne Carey.
Otherwise Goodes. He could play effectively in any position on the ground.
But my favourite was Peter Matera

Peter Matera

Age

57

Ht

183cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.8

5star

K

14.0

5star

HB

4.9

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.4

4star

G

0.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

12.2

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.6

3star

G

0.6

3star

. Freak.

 

[ferrisb]

Wayne Carey

Indigienous. Not disingenuous...

 

[reubski23]

Buddy is the best player I’ve seen in my 27 years of watching regularly.

Granted Lockett and Dunstall were in the back end of their careers.

But Buddy’s career is sensational

 

[masai tu]

Of all the names mentioned, as great as they are, Buddy is the only one in my opinion that would genuinely be in the conversation for the top 5 players of all time so that makes him the indigenous goat.

Cough, cough, cough ......

Check out the team on the century.

 

[TW Sherrin]

Probably Buddy but you could argue Cable or Farmer.

 

[VinnieB]

Leon Davis

Leon Davis

Age

44

Ht

177cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.5

3star

K

10.2

4star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.1

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

5.0

1star

K

3.6

2star

HB

1.4

2star

M

1.2

2star

T

0.4

3star

G

0.4

3star

 

[South of the Yarra]

Of all the names mentioned, as great as they are, Buddy is the only one in my opinion that would genuinely be in the conversation for the top 5 players of all time so that makes him the indigenous goat.

Franklin is not even the greatest player in his position, Farmer is. I am not watering down Buddy's career, he is a great of our game but Farmer was better.

 

[Tippett2Goal]

Didn't see S Michael or Polly Farmer in their prime so imo its a toss up between Buddy and Goodes.

Kicking 1000 goals in the modern game Buddy is ~30% better than the next best forwards in the same time period (JK WCE/JR Rich) that's huge out performance.

Goodes probably sold short a bit in that he was so versatile his position and role changed multiple times through his career, mobile ruck, mid/fwd, key forward and he excelled at pretty much all of them.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Buddy.