Opinion Where do Gawn, Petracca, and Oliver rank in our all-time greats?

[danster168]

Not rating Harvey highly because he isn't quick, that's like saying diesel Williams wasn't really that good because he wasn't quick, foot speed means nothing if you haven't got the brains to use it, anticipation is more important than speed

when did I say I don't rate Harvey highly? I said I rate Tauru higher and I think Lindsay will be better. People hear what they want to hear I guess.

 

[Dancing Potato]

Trying to rank players across the entire history of the football feels like a pointless endeavour.

So many players of the past that would be too slow and not athletic enough for today's game. So many current players that would be too soft or unskilled for yesteryear.

Stat lines look completely different and the number of teams and players in the competition increasing makes comparing the number premierships and individual accolades pointless as well.

 

[Topkent]

Trying to rank players across the entire history of the football feels like a pointless endeavour.

So many players of the past that would be too slow and not athletic enough for today's game. So many current players that would be too soft or unskilled for yesteryear.

Stat lines look completely different and the number of teams and players in the competition increasing makes comparing the number premierships and individual accolades pointless as well.

Pfft mods back in the day wouldn't have been so on the fence

 

[Scythe]

Trying to rank players across the entire history of the football feels like a pointless endeavour.

So many players of the past that would be too slow and not athletic enough for today's game. So many current players that would be too soft or unskilled for yesteryear.

Stat lines look completely different and the number of teams and players in the competition increasing makes comparing the number premierships and individual accolades pointless as well.

Max Gawn

 

[Scythe]

Trying to rank players across the entire history of the football feels like a pointless endeavour

Also cop that, Headless

 

[Dancing Potato]

Pfft mods back in the day wouldn't have been so on the fence

ManGAGF

 

[PerfectFooty]

Pfft mods back in the day wouldn't have been so on the fence

This was entirely my style

 

[Bluelegs]

Also cop that, Headless

He ranks them as equally nice.

 

[SugarHealey]

I think Langford is excellent

Will we give him a nickname.?

What about Will'e... Langford. That might suit danners.?

Will he, or Won't he.?

 

[FootyBot13]

Are you guys telling me that it'd be highly difficult to compare Gawn, Oliver and Petracca to likes of (opens Wikipedia) Charlie Streeter, Ivor Warne-Smith, Stan Wittman, Bob Johnson Snr and Albert Chadwick?

 

[Headless]

Thread's delivering in all sorts of exciting new ways.

 

[Proper Gander]

Thread's delivering in all sorts of exciting new ways.

Was this what you anticipated Less?

 

[Johnny Karate]

Bloke on demonland compared Oliver to Ablett snr

Fair comparison in terms of off field proclivities.

 

[Johnny Karate]

Further, I don’t think it’s outrageous to suggest Gawn might not be top 10. Of modern day players you could easily have Flower and Lyon before his cooked back ahead of Max. Neitz wouldn’t be far off either, 2 x AAs as a key forward/swingman, all time games and goals record too.
Past players are much harder to judge but Norm Smith is often forgotten as possibly Melbourne’s best ever player because of his goat coaching record. Then names like Warne-Smith, LaFontaine, RDB, Cordner x 2, Williams, McMahen, Dixon, Spencer, Adams and Mann are all huge at the club.

Not saying Gawn isn’t great but recency bias is real in sport. Like campaigners who argue about Messi and CR7 being the goat soccer players. Like those who came before never existed.

 

[Bluelegs]

Fair comparison in terms of off field proclivities.

Ablett would still have Oliver covered there.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Lyon and Neitz are more comparable to Trac, dudes who spent a few years around the top 10 players in the league. Gawn is way ahead.

 

[The Dr]

Lyon and Neitz are more comparable to Trac, dudes who spent a few years around the top 10 players in the league. Gawn is way ahead.

Agreed. Best or at worst top 2-3 in his position in the league for about 12 years is unreal.

 

[schmuttt]

Further, I don’t think it’s outrageous to suggest Gawn might not be top 10. Of modern day players you could easily have Flower and Lyon before his cooked back ahead of Max. Neitz wouldn’t be far off either, 2 x AAs as a key forward/swingman, all time games and goals record too.
Past players are much harder to judge but Norm Smith is often forgotten as possibly Melbourne’s best ever player because of his goat coaching record. Then names like Warne-Smith, LaFontaine, RDB, Cordner x 2, Williams, McMahen, Dixon, Spencer, Adams and Mann are all huge at the club.

Not saying Gawn isn’t great but recency bias is real in sport. Like campaigners who argue about Messi and CR7 being the goat soccer players. Like those who came before never existed.

Yeah, it is outrageous. Gawn is in the conversation for best ever in his position, how many other MFC players in history can say the same? I mean how many can say they were the best at their position just in their era?

 

[ray_purchase]

**** that he is. Top 10 most overrated of all time maybe

Two time AFLCA player of the year. I guess every opposition coach overrated him too.

 

[Demon Attack]

I've said it before but we won 5 flags in 6 years in the 1950s half that team must be as good or better than these blokes.

In my memory (90s onwards) they are top 5 with Neitz and May. Stynes, pre-knee Ox, Wiz, Lyon and hopefully Koz all in the conversation too. Yze, Bruce, Green tier below.

 

[SugarHealey]

Thread's delivering in all sorts of exciting new ways.

Was this what you anticipated Less?

 

[SugarHealey]

Ablett would still have Oliver covered there.

gAblett snr would have Oliver covered in every way... on-field... off-field, at training... you name it, he's got him by the straight.

 

[SugarHealey]

Ablett would still have Oliver covered there.

gAblett snr would have Oliver covered in every way... on-field... off-field, at training... you name it, he's got him by the straight.

 

[SugarHealey]

Yeah, it is outrageous. Gawn is in the conversation for best ever in his position, how many other MFC players in history can say the same? I mean how many can say they were the best at their position just in their era?

Gawn is one of the greats of AFL rucks.

But i think dCox has him covered. just.

Cox was exceptional, on the run with ball in hand kicking for goal.

 

[SugarHealey]

I've said it before but we won 5 flags in 6 years in the 1950s half that team must be as good or better than these blokes.

In my memory (90s onwards) they are top 5 with Neitz and May. Stynes, pre-knee Ox, Wiz, Lyon and hopefully Koz all in the conversation too. Yze, Bruce, Green tier below.

2 tiers below, imv.