Hardest man to play AFL/VFL

[chaddles]

Who would be the toughest, most courageous, and most feared player that you have ever seen play football?

Leigh Matthews would be the first name that comes to mind- he played it tough, hard and dirty at times but when it came to his turn to take a hit he never backed down. Plus he was a great player and kicked over 900 goals.

 

[Penski]

You could certainly have different players for each of the attributes you have listed.

I would have my most courageous as Gavin Brown, yet he is certainly not most feared.

 

[BIGBEZ]

Who would be the toughest, most courageous, and most feared player that you have ever seen play football?

Leigh Matthews would be the first name that comes to mind- he played it tough, hard and dirty at times but when it came to his turn to take a hit he never backed down. Plus he was a great player and kicked over 900 goals.

WTF! Matthews courageous?????
Good thread, but you lost me there!

 

[Topdock65]

Big Carl from Saints ....VFL

WAFL : Basil Campbell- South Fremantle.....

 

[BIGBEZ]

Big Carl from Saints ....VFL

WAFL : Basil Campbell- South Fremantle.....

Carl was feared by all, even at the age of 20!

 

[worthy]

WTF! Matthews courageous?????
Good thread, but you lost me there!

Never saw him pull out of a contest, always put his body on the line and took his hit when he had to, don't get blinded by the fact he dished out plenty and overlook the fact he copped plenty.

 

[Roddy]

Never saw him pull out of a contest, always put his body on the line and took his hit when he had to, don't get blinded by the fact he dished out plenty and overlook the fact he copped plenty.

Absolutely spot on. Lethal for me. He didn't get his nickname for nothing...

 

[dan warna]

players I hated from opposition teams:

leigh Matthews, Michael Voss, Glen Archer, Barry Stoneham, John Worsfold, Dipperdemenico, brett Rattan, Roger Merrett, Paul kelly, Riccouto, Bairstow...

i think thats a fair collection of hardmen

 

[MinerBoy]

How would I know? It's not like I've seen every player to have ever played the game.

 

[worthy]

Massive list to choose from, some that come to mind quickly:

Courageous - G. Brown, M. Harvey, Platten.

Hard - Carl. D, R. Muir, Mathews, Dipper, Milane.

Dirty - Rhys-Jones, G. (the sniper) Williams +^ the Hard section.

 

[Bloben]

Ryan Lonie

 

[BIGBEZ]

Never saw him pull out of a contest, always put his body on the line and took his hit when he had to, don't get blinded by the fact he dished out plenty and overlook the fact he copped plenty.

He once drove is knees into a famous Sth Australian's back, causing him to have a permanent disability and retire from football, I think it was Barry Robram or similar going from memory, this was in the days of state football, he never played a state game since, always claimed injury, they were gonna lynch him in S.A, now if thats not 'pulling out of a contest', I dont know what is!
Check football history if you dont believe me, but I dont care, I know the truth!

 

[Roughie]

Ryan Lonie

Nathans harder

 

[slatts4215]

Absolutely spot on. Lethal for me. He didn't get his nickname for nothing...

I thought he got the nickname because he loved taking cheap shots in back play. He will always be a disgrace to the game.

 

[rainman06]

Bryce Gibbs

 

[starkravenmad2]

I thought he got the nickname because he loved taking cheap shots in back play. He will always be a disgrace to the game.

Not sure you would say he took cheap shots besides the bruns incident...People always forget Matthews took a hell of alot of punishment for someone who while built like a tank was not a very big player and like all hard men never bitched and moaned like alot of players and people on here do....must admit though always hated him as a player because he was so hard and good lol
other hard men from that era were people like Balme, Bourke ,Brown, Big Carl Muir and later years dipper ,bretton, Hocking ,Abblet and lockett among many others
But id say the best and bravest of the lot was Bobby Skillton who was as fair as they come,braver than most,and a victim so many times because of iy and he just kept going attacking the ball without flinching and who Teddy Whitten fixed up many times on the field but they remained best friends of it which just shows how the men of those days played and lived

 

[the avoca drover]

players I hated from opposition teams:

leigh Matthews, Michael Voss, Glen Archer, Barry Stoneham, John Worsfold, Dipperdemenico, brett Rattan, Roger Merrett, Paul kelly, Riccouto, Bairstow...

i think thats a fair collection of hardmen

I was agreeing with you until I read Bairstow. I always thought Jim Jess and Mick Malthouse were pretty hard in their day, not forgetting Ron Andrews.

 

[Stereophonic]

DIPPER

 

[chaddles]

I thought he got the nickname because he loved taking cheap shots in back play. He will always be a disgrace to the game.

Nickname came from Lethal because if you were near the ball he was going to put you on your arse!!

Speaking of dogs- Mark Yates when he blindsided Brereton on GF day, plus Abletts cheap ribshot to Dipper to puncture his lung. You tried filthy tactics that day and all it did was make the Hawks stronger. Thanks for the premiership .

Dermie has to up there with the hardest players, Paul Kelly would have to be my favourite clean hardmen to watch. Inspirational.

 

[Eddie Dingle]

Lethal was tough but was a sniper as well.

Brereton was as hard as they come.

Millane was hard at it.

Thats my top 3.

 

[Hoffy95]

Buddha Hocking

 

[Chewy]

Current day from Hawks: Campbell Brown, Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell are a good trio

Leigh Matthews
Robert DiPierdomenico
Gary Ayres
John Platten
Andy Collins

Gary Ablett
Jack Dyer
Glen Archer
Tony Liberatore
Terry Daniher
Ron Barassi
Tony Shaw
Gavin Brown
Francis Bourke
Murray Weideman
John Nicholls
Laurie Fowler
John Worsfold
Mark Ricciuto
Michael Voss
Paul Kelly
Adrian Fletcher
Garry Hocking
Stephen Silvagni

 

[claf-43]

Just add Michael Wilson their and that list is about perfect

Stuffed up shoulders in 04, still hit harder then anyone.

Cant KPP be hard men too? Surely Brown, Tredrea Hall should get a mention....

 

[ipk086]

Definately without a doubt.. Matthew Lloyd.

 

[Maddhew]

Darryn Cresswell