Best small forward of all time?

[saintkildaman]

Mike Sheehan just listed his top 5 small forwards of all time, it was a lot closer then I expected. His 5 were;

Eddie Betts: 250 games, 469 goals*

Stephen Milne: 274 games, 574 goals

Jeff Farmer: 249 games, 483 goals

Peter Daicos: 250 games, 549 goals

Phill Matera: 179 games, 389 goals

*= still playing

 

[HalloweenJack]

Daicos - and it is not close.

 

[VineyIsLORD]

Cracking thread. Small forwards are my favourite players to watch.

I'd say for body of work its Daicos.

At absolute peak though, no small forward was as terrifying for the opposition as Jeff Farmer in the late 90s.

9 goals in less than a half against Collingwood was a highlight. Commentators often use the term 'explosive' to describe someones athleticism, but for Farmer it was genuine. He could take speccies as well as anyone, goal from anywhere, either on the run or set shot. Very strong and fast for his time too. When he was 'on' he was the definition of a gamebreaking player. There was literally nothing you could do to stop him.

Milne, Matera and Betts all worthy candidates too. From memory Phil Matera was an absolute deadeye dick.

 

[reggie]

Daicos played a fair portion of his career in the midfield too and invented most of the trick shots that are now common place by all places

 

[windyhill]

Wouldn't say Daics was small, especially compared to the others listed. Bewick deserves a mention.

 

[bombersfan4000]

Wouldn't say Daics was small, especially compared to the others listed. Bewick deserves a mention.

t i use to love Bewick back in the day, but probably played more up in the midfield than of those listed.

 

[bombersfan4000]

Eddie Betts: 250 games, 469 goals*

Stephen Milne: 274 games, 574 goals

Jeff Farmer: 249 games, 483 goals

Peter Daicos: 250 games, 549 goals

Phill Matera: 179 games, 389 goals


all players were/are stars
but cant help to think that Milne & Farmer's off-field incidents will tarnish their on field reputation in how good they were
Matera wasn't as good as Peter & played for WC so he wouldnt get the full recognition down in Victoria

 

[Jukesy85]

I rate Milney highest, although maybe because I saw a large chunk of his career and didnt' see any of Daicos', while I don't rate Farmer or Matera nearly as highly as the other two, and Betts still has a fair few years left in him so might be unfair to compare to the others imo.

 

[a_shot_on_ehlo]

With all of them at their best Farmer would be my pick, most destructive and unstoppable.

Across a whole career I would take Betts though, good chance he will play another 4+ years and end up with the best record by a mile.

 

[Sando22]

Loooove Eddie Betts but love the Jeffrey a little bit more.
Kicked 76 goals the year we made a GF and missed a couple of games also.
At his best he was probably the most spectacular IMO. Never saw Daicos but his record is amazing.
Farmer took speccy's every week too

 

[The Joker]

Milne for consistency
Matera for accuracy
Farmer for wizardry

Didnt see Daicos in his prime.

Eddy because he is 29 and the others are old campaigners...

 

[Jade]

I still think Milne.

Shit of a bloke, but a great player.

 

[ManOfClay]

Cyril will be seen as.

Of those five I agree with jade though

 

[hawkman]

Daicos was 1cm shorter than Ablett Sr

 

[Bardo State]

Not sure Milne every cracked a top 10 B&F finish at the Saints. Might have snuck in as 9th or something somewhere. I certainly count against him that he was never seen as one of the best players at his club. He was relentlessly consistent but he never put together the type of football that someone like Betts has in the past couple years. He's someone whose reputation has grown since he left the game and not all of it has been deserved imo.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Out of Milne and Betts, I would probably lean towards Betts now. Both tremendous offensively and with both they could crumb, or be left 1-out inside 50 and be super-dangerous, but Eddie being much better than Milne defensively puts him ahead IMO.

 

[james Dean]

Funny how a few years ago Betts was viewed as a tool with shorts that were too big, no he is being referred to as one of the all time greats..

 

[Seb78]

Daicos by a fair margin. Having said that not sure he was that small

 

[DrEvil_]

Has anybody mentioned Cyril yet?

 

[Jade]

Has anybody mentioned Cyril yet?

Worth a mention...

 

[ManOfClay]

Has anybody mentioned Cyril yet?

Literally six posts above yours

 

[DrEvil_]

Literally six posts above yours

I feel that wasn't sufficient.

 

[Canada]

Matera a clear fifth.
What about Mathews and Bartlett? They played a lot down there.
Of the list Daicos.

 

[Canada]

Matthews 332 games, 915 goals
Bartlett 403 games, 778 goals
Matthews numbers are unbelievable if he is considered a midfielder.

 

[Damon_3388]

Funny how a few years ago Betts was viewed as a tool with shorts that were too big, no he is being referred to as one of the all time greats..

Funny how he's also had his three best seasons, and three of the best seasons as small forward has had consecutively over the last 30 years, since then too.