Best player of the 21st century?

[Pistol Night]

For those astounded that someone could rate Pendlebury ahead of Martin, here are some raw facts for you to consider.

Let's start with who has performed best across a full season more regularly. Here is the list ranking the best individual seasons for the players:

View attachment 2346132

So in summary, Pendlebury has 2 of the best 3 seasons, 3 of the best 5, and 12 of the best 20 seasons. Martin has 3 of the worst 4 seasons completed across the respective players' careers.

An remember, the above list considers finals performances.

On Finals performances, there is no doubt Martin produced one of the most amazing stretches of finals performances across a 4 year career. Let's now look at a ranking of the top performances in finals games across the respective players' careers, remembering Martin's best finals were played as a 26 to 29 year old (Pendlebury didn't play in a single final as a 26 to 29 year old):

View attachment 2346136

People are sometimes amazed to learn that great players have great finals catalogues - that's what makes them great. If we look at the above list, we can see that despite Martin regularly being lauded as the best finals player of the 21st century, Pendlebury's catalogue isn't too bad either, and stacks up to be very competitive with Martin's catalogue (despite Martin playing 12 finals at the peak age of 26 to 29, compared to Pendlebury's 0 finals at the same peak age.

We can then consider AA's and Club Best and Fairests - and guess who has the upper hand on that front?

View attachment 23461389 occasions

So Martin 9 x top 3 for a club that finished top 4 on four occasions; Pendlebury 13 x top 3 for a club that has finished top 4 on 9 occasions.

It astounds me that so many people refuse to acknowledge the legacy that Pendlebury is continuing to build - he was playing elite footy well before Martin debuted, and remains as one of his club's most important players long after Martin last influenced games of football.

If people don't rate Pendlebury higher than Martin based on all the data above, what more does Pendlebury have to do before his career is done to overtake him? Or have you stopped counting, and Pendlebury can't do anything to overtake him, just because?!?

Pendlebury only has to do one thing - Not play for Collingwood ever

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

For those astounded that someone could rate Pendlebury ahead of Martin, here are some raw facts for you to consider.

Let's start with who has performed best across a full season more regularly. Here is the list ranking the best individual seasons for the players:

View attachment 2346132

So in summary, Pendlebury has 2 of the best 3 seasons, 3 of the best 5, and 12 of the best 20 seasons. Martin has 3 of the worst 4 seasons completed across the respective players' careers.

An remember, the above list considers finals performances.

On Finals performances, there is no doubt Martin produced one of the most amazing stretches of finals performances across a 4 year career. Let's now look at a ranking of the top performances in finals games across the respective players' careers, remembering Martin's best finals were played as a 26 to 29 year old (Pendlebury didn't play in a single final as a 26 to 29 year old):

View attachment 2346136

People are sometimes amazed to learn that great players have great finals catalogues - that's what makes them great. If we look at the above list, we can see that despite Martin regularly being lauded as the best finals player of the 21st century, Pendlebury's catalogue isn't too bad either, and stacks up to be very competitive with Martin's catalogue (despite Martin playing 12 finals at the peak age of 26 to 29, compared to Pendlebury's 0 finals at the same peak age.

We can then consider AA's and Club Best and Fairests - and guess who has the upper hand on that front?

View attachment 23461389 occasions

So Martin 9 x top 3 for a club that finished top 4 on four occasions; Pendlebury 13 x top 3 for a club that has finished top 4 on 9 occasions.

It astounds me that so many people refuse to acknowledge the legacy that Pendlebury is continuing to build - he was playing elite footy well before Martin debuted, and remains as one of his club's most important players long after Martin last influenced games of football.

If people don't rate Pendlebury higher than Martin based on all the data above, what more does Pendlebury have to do before his career is done to overtake him? Or have you stopped counting, and Pendlebury can't do anything to overtake him, just because?!?

Cool novel bro.

Dusty was the best when and where it mattered.

 

[Pistol Night]

Cool novel bro.

Dusty was the best when and where it mattered.

Vegas with Swanny?

 

[bobs head soup]

PS Dangerfield has 966.

Bontempelli 778.

Neale 782.

Pendlebury 914.

I just took career totals as listed by draftguru.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

LEAVE PENDLEBURY ALONE!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mr Meow]

I just took career totals as listed by draftguru.

It isn't accurate.

AFL Player Statistics

AFL player statistics.

www.wheeloratings.com

You need to click on individual players. For older players you'd need them to have been playing in 2012, find them there and then click on them.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Your kisses taste runny?

Wtf

 

[Pistol Night]

Wtf

Stop editing my posts flog

 

[Fadge]

Cool novel bro.

Dusty was the best when and where it mattered.

Didn't the 2018 Preliminary Final 'matter'?

What about the 2022 Elimination Final? Didn't that 'matter' either?

What about the Elimination Finals between 2013 and 2015? Let me guess - they didn't 'matter'?

At the start of 2025, Pendlebury had played 240 of the best 400 games across the players' respective careers. He is now up to 244 of the best 400 games played by either Martin or Pendlebury. How many games does he need to get to, to overtake Martin - Is 300 of the best 400 required?

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Didn't the 2018 Preliminary Final 'matter'?

What about the 2022 Elimination Final? Didn't that 'matter' either?

What about the Elimination Finals between 2013 and 2015? Let me guess - they didn't 'matter'?

At the start of 2025, Pendlebury had played 240 of the best 400 games across the players' respective careers. He is now up to 244 of the best 400 games played by either Martin or Pendlebury. How many games does he need to get to, to overtake Martin - Is 300 of the best 400 required?

What

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Is there a word that describes being obsessed while falsely accusing others of being obsessed?

I think we now have that word. When you do that you are fadging.

Fadge

 

[Chronz]

I'm going to need some of Theoretical Ruse special statistical data to make my final decision in this fred.

 

[Seeds]

GAJ not my cup of tea, so I'll never have him number 1.

Franklin then.

Also right that gaz rejected due to emotional "not my cup of tea" reasons rather than anything objective. Its really the only other answer.

 

[Seeds]

I'll name by Top 5 players of the 21st century no bias.

Gary Ablett Jr
Lance Franklin
Dustin Martin
Patrick Dangerfield
Chris Judd

I want to put Bontempelli above Judd because I think he would have surpassed Judd by the time his career is over but as it stands for now that's my top 5.

How could bont surpass him? He is about to turn 30. We have already seen the best of him. If he aint better then judd now he never will be.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

I'm going to need some of Theoretical Ruse special statistical data to make my final decision in this fred.

Here are the only stats you need to decide between Scott and Dustin if it comes down to that:

Dustin 3 Norm Smiths from 3 Grand Finals v Scott zero Norm Smiths from 4 Grand Finals

Dustin 3 Ayres Medals v Scott zero Ayres Medals

Dustin Greatest season ever played Number 1 rated player, 147 total coaches votes, Brownlow with then record votes, Ayres Medal with record votes per final, Smith Medal, Dyer Medal, Premiership v Fadge reckons Scott played some good seasons on his spreadsheet.

 

[Seeds]

Here are the only stats you need to decide between Scott and Dustin if it comes down to that:

Dustin 3 Norm Smiths from 3 Grand Finals v Scott zero Norm Smiths from 4 Grand Finals

Dustin 3 Ayres Medals v Scott zero Ayres Medals

Dustin Greatest season ever played Number 1 rated player, 147 total coaches votes, Brownlow with then record votes, Ayres Medal with record votes per final, Smith Medal, Dyer Medal, Premiership v Fadge reckons Scott played some good seasons on his spreadsheet.

Got it. Dustin martin greatest ever player of all time.
Gary ayers and andrew mcleod equal second greatest players of all time.

 

[Chronz]

Here are the only stats you need to decide between Scott and Dustin if it comes down to that:

Dustin 3 Norm Smiths from 3 Grand Finals v Scott zero Norm Smiths from 4 Grand Finals

Dustin 3 Ayres Medals v Scott zero Ayres Medals

Dustin Greatest season ever played Number 1 rated player, 147 total coaches votes, Brownlow with then record votes, Ayres Medal with record votes per final, Smith Medal, Dyer Medal, Premiership v Fadge reckons Scott played some good seasons on his spreadsheet.

Wow! Now I'm convinced.

Scott just edges out Martin on longevity and output season on season. I don't know what I'd do without Hoyney's true statistical data input to theoretical output points. It's made this all too clear!

 

[Lunchtime]

Martin for me too.

Always turned up when it mattered most.
Didn't need to stat pad, converted possession into scores.
Won it all three times with less help than other candidates from dynasty sides.
Did it with a basket case club.
Did it his own way and wasn't a robot.

Careful, Fadge will probably get offended that you have Dusty rated so high.

 

[Lunchtime]

Cool novel bro.

Dusty was the best when and where it mattered.

This stat alone seems to bother Fadge a great deal..

 

[MagpieExcalibur]

This stat alone seems to bother Fadge a great deal..

Dusty was 100% one of the best players this century and clutch when it counted but Ablett Jr and Pendles are probably slightly better on consistency into their 30s (through no fault of Dusty's that kidney injury robbed him of most likely playing now tbh)

 

[Quinz]

For me there's two tiers
S+ Franklin Ablett Judd
S Fyfe Dangerfield Martin

 

[MagpieExcalibur]

For me there's two tiers
S+ Franklin Ablett Judd
S Fyfe Dangerfield Martin

shame all 3 of their careers ended due to injury

 

[Lunchtime]

Not even top 20. Bloke was VFL tier for first half of his career and then gave up when it got to hard when Richmond started losing and he got to the wrong side of 30.

VFL tier for the first half of his career?

From 2010 to 2016, Martin averaged 24.5 disposals & just under a goal per game (0.9) and you call that "VFL tier"? In that period he also got 98 Brownlow votes,

Surely your post is trolling?

 

[RUNVS]

The only debate is between Ablett and Franklin. No one else comes close.

 

[MagpieExcalibur]

The only debate is between Ablett and Franklin. No one else comes close.

wonderful players but Dusty/Pendles are in the conversation