Rudest/Nicest player you've met?

[demondavey]

Nicest - Shane Edwards.
Rudest- Nick Stevens.

Most of his ex partners would concur

 

[demondavey]

Excluding football-adjacent events, these blokes in 'the wild' left the following impressions:

Neil Kerley, Ken Hunter, Jimmy Buckley and Simon Black had time for everyone.

Richo and Ben Harrison were terrific despite the fact some of the boys were annoying the crap out of them in the mid-90s.

Kept it together well despite being under the influence: Arnold Briedis, Andrew Lovett, Sharrod Wellingham, Stevie Motlop, Daisy Thomas, Leigh Montagna, Sam Fisher.

Bob Murphy was the worst. Marc Murphy was also a jackass.

80/20 rule applies. Mostly nice.

I am pretty left and Bob Murphy is an absolute flog. How he is on the ABC I’ve no idea. God I miss Red.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Anthony Rocca same

He used to own a pizza place across the road from Melbourne Uni. I was in there one day and blow me down, there was Anthony serving pizzas, clearing tables, copping heat from the manager just like anyone else. This is while he was playing at Collingwood. Got lots of good bloke credit for me for actually getting his hands dirty and helping out. Oh, and he was pleasant and affable while serving to boot.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Have heard nothing but wonderful things about Crawford.

Perhaps one of the best stories I heard was one about a young boy who had lined up for ages to get an autograph and say hi but freaked out and froze up when he got to Shane. Shane apparently told his dad to wait around later and then had a kick of a footy with the boy when there was nobody else around.

Stuff like that hits you in the feels.

I remember reading a story that a random Hawthorn fan was waiting to catch the bus to the footy when a car rolled up to the bus stop. Driver wound down the window and offered a lift to the game. Shane Crawford was the driver.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

I remember reading a story that a random Hawthorn fan was waiting to catch the bus to the footy when a car rolled up to the bus stop. Driver wound down the window and offered a lift to the game. Shane Crawford was the driver.

That was on the footy show too. Crawford and the guy he gave the lift to were on it.

 

[Jane Doe]

Agree about Milne. Played cricket against him. Is a flog. Met a spaced out Phil Matera at a grand final a few years back. Seemed a nice bloke.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Yeah he is an absolute flog. By far the absolute worst player I’ve met. You’d think he’d developed a cure for cancer (permanently) and not just kicked lots of goals.

I’ve seen him around the traps, he is just an absolute grouch. He’d steal a Christmas present from under you tree if he could.

Yep, i learnt early never to meet your heroes.

It has served me well to not put people on pedestals

 

[HawkerHurricane]

Peter Matera was awesome.

I met him in 1991 when we stayed at the same place that WCE were having their preseason, not far from Hillarys in Perth. Matera had only played a few games in his first year, We actually didn't even know who he was. He couldn't have been more friendly to the small bunch of us 15 year olds who were sniffing around trying to get a look at the team. He invited us to the gym one evening where the whole squad was playing basketball, introduced us to everyone, got everyone to sign some bits of paper he scrounged from somewhere, all the time we thought he was a trainer or something!
Then he had his break out year that season, finished 4th in the Brownlow, All Australian! Absolute ripper of a guy..

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

I met him in 1991 when we stayed at the same place that WCE were having their preseason, not far from Hillarys in Perth. Matera had only played a few games in his first year, We actually didn't even know who he was. He couldn't have been more friendly to the small bunch of us 15 year olds who were sniffing around trying to get a look at the team. He invited us to the gym one evening where the whole squad was playing basketball, introduced us to everyone, got everyone to sign some bits of paper he scrounged from somewhere, all the time we thought he was a trainer or something!
Then he had his break out year that season, finished 4th in the Brownlow, All Australian! Absolute ripper of a guy..

What a champion. I didn't know he came 4th in the brownlow in 91. Turley 2nd and him 4th. Good year.

 

[HawkerHurricane]

What a champion. I didn't know he came 4th in the brownlow in 91. Turley 2nd and him 4th. Good year.

just dug this out! Matera signed it first with a dodgy pen, he then went and got another one for the rest of the squad to use!

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

just dug this out! Matera signed it first with a dodgy pen, he went and got another one!
View attachment 2506272View attachment 2506273

Awesome!!!!!!

 

[demondavey]

What a champion. I didn't know he came 4th in the brownlow in 91. Turley 2nd and him 4th. Good year.

Can’t imagine Turley winning a Brownlow.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Can’t imagine Turley winning a Brownlow.

Wasn't far off

 

[HawkerHurricane]

Anyone met Willie Rioli?

haha, yeah we did after a WCE game, before he had debuted..
It was in the supermarket in Balga, he was still in his smart suit, with about 6 litres of Coke (Cola) under his arms!
I recognized him, said g'day, and he stopped to chat for a bit, happy to answer a few questions about how he was going, injury wise.
I met him again after the 2018 GF at a preseason training session down in Busselton. He ran back from the bus to sign my kids Premiership poster, so 2 out of 2 meetings, nice guy!

 

[HawkerHurricane]

Jezza McGovern let me push past him at Malaga markets. Such a top bloke.

Scott Cummings was a massive self blower when I met him. Complete f. Wit.

McGovern is hilarious, ripper of a bloke!

 

[sabso]

just dug this out! Matera signed it first with a dodgy pen, he then went and got another one for the rest of the squad to use!
View attachment 2506272View attachment 2506273

Well done getting a big heady

 

[NAB777]

I'll throw Ray Chamberlain in here as a good guy - met him several times over the years (live in the same area/go to the same gym).

He's an extravert and the type to engage in conversation with anyone. You only have to look in his direction and he'll find a reason to say hello.

He is one guy I couldn't stand until I met him. My opinion of him has done a 180. Ripper of a guy.
Bit of a lesson for me.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

He is one guy I couldn't stand until I met him. My opinion of him has done a 180. Ripper of a guy.
Bit of a lesson for me.

Yeah I heard that. Everyone loves him

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Chamberlain was a funny campaigner on Open Mike. I always enjoyed his umpiring antics as well.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Jamie Graham was a nice quiet dude.

 

[Bedi]

Michael Walters good bloke prob mentioned already.

Sumich champion

Jakovich good bloke

Guy Mckenna was an arrogant flog.

Sav Rocca good bloke

Anthony Rocca same

where/how do you meet all these players?

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

where/how do you meet all these players?

Just over time. Going to the footy at different venues. In town. Growing up as well. Just life.

 

[Pistol Night]

Chamberlain was a funny campaigner on Open Mike. I always enjoyed his umpiring antics as well.

Got that dorky dad vibe but at least he tries to be human. I like him

 

[Bedi]

Just over time. Going to the footy at different venues. In town. Growing up as well. Just life.

I've met very few over the journey, so guess i need to get out more.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

I've met very few over the journey, so guess i need to get out more.

It's no big thing mate. Nothing wrong with being a home body either. And tbh some of the footballers people have met are obnoxious xunts. I've heard a few stories.