Opinion Andrew Gaff or Chris Mainwaring?

[avishka5]

https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-c...as-west-coasts-greatest-wingman-ng-b88904283z

Stumbled across this article just then. I've never seen Mainy play so I'm just interested to see who posters rate higher as a wingmen.

 

[jatz14]

https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-c...as-west-coasts-greatest-wingman-ng-b88904283z

Stumbled across this article just then. I've never seen Mainy play so I'm just interested to see who posters rate higher as a wingmen.

Think I would take Gaff personally, although I suspect that would be a minority view. Gaff has better disposal for mine, I always thought Mainwaring tended to just pump it forward a bit to much.

 

[YEOLO]

If Gaff signs that new contract and finishes his career as an Eagle then I think he and Matera should be named as the two wingmen in our GOAT time. If he leaves after this year then I think Mainwaring will edge him (incentive to stay for Gaffy!)

 

[squashface]

Matera > Gaff > Mainwaring

 

[darksquare]

Certainly Gaff for our current gameplan. Mainwaring played more exciting football, but it was pretty unsophisticated - beat your opponent, burn him off, hoof it forward. The intercept marking defences of today would have eaten it up.

Matera in another class altogether.

 

[ziad]

Think I would take Gaff personally, although I suspect that would be a minority view. Gaff has better disposal for mine, I always thought Mainwaring tended to just pump it forward a bit to much.

Correct. Completely different. Mainwaring was a contested beast on the wing. I decline to compare apples with oranges.

 

[paran]

Tough call, Mainy was 2xAA, while Gaff has the 1xAA and Club Champion. Mainy has 2 more permierships tho. At this stage, probably Mainy, but Gaff has a few years left.

 

[former lurker]

Have always been of the opinion you cant compare players from different era's and im not going to. Thise of you who never saw Mainy play , your loss. He was an absolute champ , far more than grab ball and pump it forward as has been suggested. He played on Dipper ( vic legend ) and flogged him . Was highly regarded in the East and all clubs wanted him on their list . Was incredibly loyal to our club as witnessed by his celebration with Cousins. Deserves total respect at our club.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Certainly Gaff for our current gameplan. Mainwaring played more exciting football, but it was pretty unsophisticated - beat your opponent, burn him off, hoof it forward. The intercept marking defences of today would have eaten it up.

Matera in another class altogether.

So what it's irrelevant how defences would play him today, but more so how much better he was than players in his era/

 

[Tom_Thumb]

It's no secret I'm no Gaff fan but I can clearly remember more frustration with Mainy, he bombed long into the forward line all day long and didn't have the precision Gaff has with his left foot. Mainy was a faster runner but didn't have anywhere near the tank Gaff has with us now. As for who takes the CLub Champion of all time spot only Mainy because he has premierships to his name.

 

[Trouto]

Matera > Gaff > Mainwaring

agree

might chuck Embly in there too

 

[dave123]

Sorry mainwatimg was fab at just throwing I on the boot high and wide .....he could no hit a target very well

The rug as he was affectionally known for his chest .....was awesome

But gaff is sublime ...gaf does t look quick as he has the funny running gate but he’s actually quicker than you realise

Matera was as good as Judd in my view .....others will disagree but the kid from the bush could play

Mainy was aweome but in terms of status ...rank him along with embley or Braun

 

[dave123]

So what it's irrelevant how defences would play him today, but more so how much better he was than players in his era/

Gaff must “blows people up”

He runs so hard that after a while oppo just can’t go with him

Like peak marathon runner at the 35 km mark.,....just puts his foot down and the opposition just shake their heads and go ...nah cant go with you mate

There’s only a handful of guys that blow people up......loook at his interview on the ground after the bulldogs win

He was not huffing...puffing ....looked like he could play another game

 

[Marlin01]

I’m not going to compare Gaff and Mainy, but this how I’d describe Mainy for those that never saw him.

Mainy was a product of his time. He was a physical beast who would take a huge battering, keep going and give plenty back. This aspect of his game would not have as much use in today’s game. That’s not to say that if he was playing today, he wouldn’t have been able to adapt. He would have.

As a junior he was quite a skilful player and on the slight-framed side. He became a physical beast because that’s what the game at the time and Malthouse demanded. This is a time when gut punches attracted absolutely no scrutiny from the tribunal and a head-high shirtfront was a good and fair bump, as long as you kept your elbow in.

Putting your head over the ball when a player can legitimately charge you head on took enormous courage and that became a higher priority than being able to hit a target in the corridor on your non-preferred. To be able to do both like Kempy was very rare. It also ended up in Kempy retiring experiencing constant dizziness and headaches.

The game plans in those days concentrated more about gaining territory rather than maintaining possession. Bombing it long around the boundary, knocking it over the line and resetting from the throw-in was a logical and successful tactic. Toward the end of Mainy’s career, tactics became more advanced and I suspect that’s where Mainy’s “slam it on the boot” reputation came from.

 

[WCE_phil]

I based it on gaff being a 1 club player and end of career at which point i'd take gaffy. At this stage Mainy still just has him covered.

 

[Turboman1994]

Gaff just has the class and consistency that seperates him from mainy quite easily. If gaff stays an eagle I could see him pushing into top 5 best mids we have ever had and an ATG

 

[WCE_phil]

Gaff just has the class and consistency that seperates him from mainy quite easily. If gaff stays an eagle I could see him pushing into top 5 best mids we have ever had and an ATG

I don't think he's near the top 5 personally. Judd, Cousins, Kerr, Matera, Kemp is pretty set for me at this stage barring some real high end seasons from either shuey or gaff. I see gaff as leading the pack of guys after those 5.

 

[Chris_6678]

Mainy will always be a better Ch 7 sports reporter than Gaff will be when Gaff is taking over Barich in 2026.

 

[oak79]

If Gaff signs, barring injury, he will likely be our first 300 gamer.
That would put him up there with the greats of the club.

 

[DanWCE]

I don't think he's near the top 5 personally. Judd, Cousins, Kerr, Matera, Kemp is pretty set for me at this stage barring some real high end seasons from either shuey or gaff. I see gaff as leading the pack of guys after those 5.

Gaffs eventual body of work will be his contributing factor. He will play twice as many as Judd did for us, and almost all at a pretty high standard.

 

[campaigner___]

its gotta be mainwaring-gaff-embley-mutimer

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Gaff must “blows people up”

He runs so hard that after a while oppo just can’t go with him

Like peak marathon runner at the 35 km mark.,....just puts his foot down and the opposition just shake their heads and go ...nah cant go with you mate

There’s only a handful of guys that blow people up......loook at his interview on the ground after the bulldogs win

He was not huffing...puffing ....looked like he could play another game

I was merely making a point about saying zone defences now would kill mainys i50s where as maybe then some of gaffs strengths wouldn’t be as great.

I didn’t witness all of mainys career but I would probably take gaff on our best ever team wing.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

I’m not going to compare Gaff and Mainy, but this how I’d describe Mainy for those that never saw him.

Mainy was a product of his time. He was a physical beast who would take a huge battering, keep going and give plenty back. This aspect of his game would not have as much use in today’s game. That’s not to say that if he was playing today, he wouldn’t have been able to adapt. He would have.

As a junior he was quite a skilful player and on the slight-framed side. He became a physical beast because that’s what the game at the time and Malthouse demanded. This is a time when gut punches attracted absolutely no scrutiny from the tribunal and a head-high shirtfront was a good and fair bump, as long as you kept your elbow in.

Putting your head over the ball when a player can legitimately charge you head on took enormous courage and that became a higher priority than being able to hit a target in the corridor on your non-preferred. To be able to do both like Kempy was very rare. It also ended up in Kempy retiring experiencing constant dizziness and headaches.

The game plans in those days concentrated more about gaining territory rather than maintaining possession. Bombing it long around the boundary, knocking it over the line and resetting from the throw-in was a logical and successful tactic. Toward the end of Mainy’s career, tactics became more advanced and I suspect that’s where Mainy’s “slam it on the boot” reputation came from.

And hence why half our crowd groan when we switch back after we just switched. They only grew up in the territory era and haven’t adapted

 

[Candiru]

Mainwaring still at the moment. But Gaff could become the first Eagle to play 300 games. That would change things.

 

[kerr87]

Embley easily the most damaging - great mark, run and carry, goals etc. where does he fit?