Best utilities of the modern era

[PieLebo87]

As everyone in Australia knows, utilities are now almost becoming a commodity rather than a necessity as cost of living increases. So I thought we should take a look at some of the best utilities we’ve had grace the football field in the last 25 years.

The two that come to mind are Adam Goodes and Matthew Pavlich

Matthew Pavlich

Age

42

Ht

192cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

11.3

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

2.6

4star

G

2.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

16.8

4star

K

12.8

5star

HB

4.0

3star

M

8.8

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

3.4

5star

. Both are absolute greats/legends and could go into any position on the ground and play elite football.

Is there anyone else I might’ve missed from the last 25 years that has now retired?

At the moment, the only utility that comes to mind is Mark Blicavs

46

Mark Blicavs

Age

33

Ht

198cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

M/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.5

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

1.7

4star

D

11.1

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.9

3star

CL

0.1

2star

D

8.6

3star

K

2.0

1star

HB

6.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.6

4star

CL

2.0

4star

- not quite in the same breath as Goodes and Pav, but the most complete utility in the game at present.

There are dual position players like Ziebell (mid/def), Bont and practically every team has a 2nd ruck that plays forward too, but Blicavs is a more accurate definition of a utility.

Who else is there?

Also, whilst I’ve got you, how do I bring my gas bill down from $24,000?

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

From Richmond, Marlion Pickett

50

Marlion Pickett

Age

32

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.0

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

5.5

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.3

5star

CL

1.5

4star

D

11.7

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

5.0

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.6

4star

CL

1.3

4star

D

12.8

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

5star

CL

1.6

4star

, Noah Balta

21

Noah Balta

Age

24

Ht

194cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

6.7

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.9

4star

MG

236.3

4star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

5.3

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.3

1star

MG

233.0

4star

D

7.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

217.4

4star

and Shaun Grigg.

 

[theasian]

Chad Cornes is an obvious one.

Played KPD,KPF & Mid to a high standard

 

[theasian]

It also depends a lot on how you classify a utility.

If it's someone who plays 3 positions to a high standard like KPD/KPF/Mid or KPF/Mid/Ruck Goodes,Pav & Cornes are the only three i can think of fthe 21st century.

Hird played KPF/Mid but never really played KPD while though Kouta could play in any of the three positions He mainly played Mid.

If you include guys who could play HB/HF/Mid you have a lot like Hodge, McLeod, Wanganeen, Shaun Burgoyne

9

Shaun Burgoyne

Age

41

Ht

186cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.0

4star

K

9.9

4star

HB

8.1

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

3.8

5star

MG

162.7

3star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.6

2star

HB

4.4

3star

M

1.7

2star

T

2.6

4star

MG

162.7

3star

D

6.2

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

1.2

2star

T

1.6

4star

Byron Pickett

Byron Pickett

Age

46

Ht

179cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.6

3star

K

9.2

4star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.8

4star

No current season stats available

D

12.2

3star

K

8.6

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

0.6

3star

, Goddard etc.

 

[Sean_09]

True utilities are a bit of a dying breed, since most players now have developed in multiple roles. Midfielders either go HBF for their skills or push forward, forwards rotate through the mid and developing keys are trialed at most ends and in the Ruck.

That said, Blicavs is probably the best over the last 5 years. Luke Jackson

9

Luke Jackson

Age

22

Ht

199cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

3star

K

3.3

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

's probably the next in line if his development continues and stays injury free in his Mid/Key Fwd/Ruck Hybrid role.

 

[RuFiO]

Nick Daicos

 

[HugeJohnson]

Chad Cornes went alright. Justin Westhoff

39

Justin Westhoff

Age

37

Ht

199cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.4

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.9

4star

CL

0.8

3star

D

10.4

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.4

2star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.9

3star

CL

0.8

3star

D

12.0

3star

K

8.4

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.8

3star

supremely underrated as a player also. Won us games as a forward, defender and from the wing/ruck. He literally did it all.

 

[HeHateMe]

For us over our 3 peat era Roughead was huge for us. Started off as a Swingman Fwd/Def, then became a pretty dominant Ruck/Fwd for a few seasons, eventually became a high impact Big Body Mid towards the end, before illness struck him down.

We used to joke the Roughead could play anywhere because at one point or another we had seen Clarko swing him into pretty much every position.

 

[HeHateMe]

Burgoyne is another obvious one for us, was our breakglass in case of emergency player. He would be sent where ever we needed the support to help us with the game, be it lock down on someone in defence, the centre square to win an important clearance or forward to kick a match winner.

 

[HeHateMe]

Gunston is another I think deserves a mention, He played alot of roles and would swing around alot during the game. In a time that it was less common then it is today.
He would play as a deep lead up forward, a high half forward, across the wings and as a intercepting Half Back, often all in the same game.

 

[Yoda_]

Scott Lucas

Scott Lucas

Age

46

Ht

192cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.5

4star

K

12.4

5star

HB

3.1

3star

M

6.0

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

1.9

5star

No current season stats available

D

17.2

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

4.8

4star

M

6.6

5star

T

0.6

3star

G

4.4

5star

won a club B&F at either end of the ground. Cale Hooker

26

Cale Hooker

Age

35

Ht

198cm

Wt

103kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.2

4star

K

8.2

3star

HB

8.0

5star

M

6.3

5star

T

1.8

4star

MG

213.6

3star

D

11.8

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

6.0

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

0.8

1star

MG

107.0

2star

D

14.6

4star

K

3.2

2star

HB

11.4

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

4star

was pretty handy at either end with a club leading goal kicker and an AA at the other.

Pretty sure James Hird won a Brownlow as a fwd/mid and ended his career as an AA off the half back flank.


Just from my club..


Chad Cornes was the ultimate anywhere man. Brendon Goddard may appear to be a utility but seemed to fix holes everywhere for the Saints at one stage

 

[RonnieRaven]

The hoff my favourite
As OP stated Goodes and Pav a few levels above everyone else

 

[Sean_09]

For us over our 3 peat era Roughead was huge for us. Started off as a Swingman Fwd/Def, then became a pretty dominant Ruck/Fwd for a few seasons, eventually became a high impact Big Body Mid towards the end, before illness struck him down.

We used to joke the Roughead could play anywhere because at one point or another we had seen Clarko swing him into pretty much every position.

Great shout, Roughead was exceptional

 

[Clark G]

Out of the current players, Harry Himmelberg is having a very good season and appears just as comfortable down back as he is up forward.

 

[Schauermann]

"Kepler Bradley has played as a forward, defender, wingman, ruckman and even ruck rover."

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Matthew Richardson

Matthew Richardson

Age

49

Ht

195cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.0

4star

K

10.9

4star

HB

3.1

3star

M

8.0

5star

T

0.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

15.0

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

5.8

4star

M

7.8

5star

T

0.8

3star

.

 

[Billy ray]

Alinta

 

[M Malice]

Shaun Burgoyne

9

Shaun Burgoyne

Age

41

Ht

186cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.0

4star

K

9.9

4star

HB

8.1

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

3.8

5star

MG

162.7

3star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.6

2star

HB

4.4

3star

M

1.7

2star

T

2.6

4star

MG

162.7

3star

D

6.2

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

1.2

2star

T

1.6

4star

.

 

[Lingsface]

Blitz is the best of the last 10 years, some potentials coming through I think, Cox from Essendon Darcy from Bulldogs Blakey from Swans Owens St Kilda Rayner from Brisbane.

 

[iameviljez]

The difference between a utility nowadays vs historical usage, is that generally the last six players picked in the 22 are utilities, in order to "slot in" around the best players in the club, who will almost universally play their best positions.

When I think of a utility, I think the player in question needs to either:

• Be able to play deep in both the forward line and the backline (i.e. Gavin Wanganeen, Pavlich, Steven Silvagni), or
• Be able to play as a genuine ruck, midfielder, and forward line or backline.

Hence, IMO, guys like Jason Blake

Jason Blake

Age

43

Ht

189cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

6.3

2star

HB

6.8

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

2.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.2

4star

, Leigh Brown and Cam Rayner don't really qualify IMO. Nor does Jimmy Bartel, in the interests of fairness.

 

[HairyO]

Burgoyne
Rough
Gunston

The ability to move them around as needed was a huge part of our success.