Diesel v Judd

[Thrawn]

One of the things you see said not infrequently among the peanut gallery is that Williams wouldn't make it in today's AFL because he was too slow.

I think that's rubbish. Yes, he wasn't fast but when you have the innate football smarts that he had, that overrides a lack of pace. And, to this day, have you ever seen someone who could pinpoint a target by HAND forty metres away regularly? I can't really think of any player who had (or has had since) that particular skill so down pat.

He'd make it today and still be a star.

Reminds me of the argument that Silvagni wouldn't make it because he'd always get a free kick against him.

 

[HalloweenJack]

One of the things you see said not infrequently among the peanut gallery is that Williams wouldn't make it in today's AFL because he was too slow.

I think that's rubbish. Yes, he wasn't fast but when you have the innate football smarts that he had, that overrides a lack of pace. And, to this day, have you ever seen someone who could pinpoint a target by HAND forty metres away regularly? I can't really think of any player who had (or has had since) that particular skill so down pat.

He'd make it today and still be a star.

Polly Farmer. He and Greg Williams were the best exponents of handball.

 

[Quazza]

 

[thylacine60]

Polly Farmer. He and Greg Williams were the best exponents of handball.

Barry Cable went alright too, TWD.

 

[Doss]

Reminds me of the argument that Silvagni wouldn't make it because he'd always get a free kick against him.

Yeah, which is equally rubbish. When you're that good, you adapt.

I would put SOS and Diesel in the 'that good' category. Jason Dunstall is another. Someone like Justin Madden I'm less certain on- his main weapon was that he was extraordinarily tall. His skills were okay for a guy that big, but certainly not on the level of, say, a Dean Cox. And, he was slow. Would he be found out in the modern game? Well, maybe not 'found out', but I don't think he would have stood out quite as much.

He'd still more than hold his own because of his exemplary tap work and the fact that outpointing someone who is 206cm tall is going to be very hard for most. But I can't help but wonder how he'd go with the quicker pace of the game. I'm just not sure he'd be as dominant today.

 

[thylacine60]

Imagine how Doss would go if there were online footy forums in the 80's? Would smash it out of the park. Pretty sure.......

 

[1981]

For the record I have Diesel ahead of Judd because he was a better user of the ball and off both feet almost just as good.
But it is splitting hairs.

 

[TGR]

Williams for me. I think the more years go by, the media focuses more on his playing indiscretions than just how bloody good he was.
Saw the game like no one else and is criminally underrated when it comes to the best players ever.