- Oct 2, 2016
- 2,403
- 6,819
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Great post!Didn’t read the middle pages of this thread, so apologies if this ground has been covered.
There were two pre-eminent full backs during the world war eras. Richmond’s Vic Thorp and later Collingwood’s Jack Regan were both for many years the best full back in the game. I would suggest that relative to their era these are the best two full backs in the history of the game. Loads of old timers when I was growing up considered Regan clearly the best full back in history, but they may not have seen so much of Thorp who had been finished about 5 years when Regan started in 1930. I am not sure there has been anyone comparable since, relative to their own era.
With all due respect Silvagni being named FB in the team of the 20th century looks badly wrong to me. When you consider players like Pert and Langford it is arguable whether Silvagni is even the best FB of his era. When you consider Southby it is arguable Silvagni is not the best FB Carlton has had in the period.
Thorp on all accounts I have found was considered the best Full Back in the VFL for the vast majority of his career, which spanned 1910-1925, and still a great player until the end. He retired a VFL games record holder with 263 matches and that stood for ten more years.
Dick Reynolds wrote during his time Regan was clearly the best full back he ever saw play. It is doubtful Reynolds ever saw Thorp with his own eyes as Reynolds was 10 years old when Thorp retired. Thorp is one of only six Richmond immortals, the others being Hafey(coach) Bartlett, Bourke, Hart and Dyer. Thorp was in the 1950’s recognised by a football historian as the champion player of the colony for 1916(only four clubs competed in the VFL) and 1919. This was not an official award but does show the sort of standing he had within the game.
Anyone overlooking these two players in any discussion about the best full back in history is committing a travesty.
Jack Regan “the prince of full backs” was just that.
Tall, athletic, fast, a superb mark and brilliant kick. Out marked opponents to win the ball and drive it forward. That’s why umpires kept rewarding him.
Five times a top six Brownlow finisher from full back!
No one else comes close
127 career Brownlow votes from full back!
No one else comes close.
He’s not just the best. He’s the best and no one else is close.