Player Watch Gary Ablett Junior is the best player ever

Young Gun #6

Norm Smith Medallist
May 24, 2008
7,410
7,147
Melbourne
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
Other Teams
Juventus, Suns
35 years old and still taking hangers, kicking goals from 50 and nailing them from the pocket in impossible angles too.

2 x premiership player
2 x Brownlow medal
5 x Leigh Matthews medal
3 x AFLCA player of the year
8 x All Australian
3 x Club Leading Goal Kicker

hard to argue anyone was or is better than Ablett.
 

ThatsjustDappa

Premiership Player
Feb 19, 2011
3,649
4,937
AFL Club
Geelong
Same question has been asked over the last fair few years. Great to see him show his class in his twilight, good for fans and also the other punters also watching....
 

Catsace

Premiership Player
Apr 15, 2007
4,867
4,117
Geelong
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Golden State Warriors
It's a special experience being a Cat fan since the 70's and having watched both Gary Abletts....probably a name that is above all other names in footy i reckon. At almost 35 and still having the impact he has, and doing what he's doing. It's just awesome to watch.
 

HurleyHepsHird

Ghost Stories for the End of the World
Oct 2, 2011
6,606
9,178
Between the Lines
AFL Club
West Coast
35 years old and still taking hangers, kicking goals from 50 and nailing them from the pocket in impossible angles too.

2 x premiership player
2 x Brownlow medal
5 x Leigh Matthews medal
3 x AFLCA player of the year
8 x All Australian
3 x Club Leading Goal Kicker

hard to argue anyone was or is better than Ablett.
Even managing to add new tricks to his repertoire at 35.

The flying elbow to rival Martin's fend off for iconic defensive moves.
 
Last edited:
It's a special experience being a Cat fan since the 70's and having watched both Gary Abletts....probably a name that is above all other names in footy i reckon. At almost 35 and still having the impact he has, and doing what he's doing. It's just awesome to watch.
Aren't you lucky.
Both Ablett's
Both Hawkins'
Both Scarlett's
 

VictorianCrow85

Premiership Player
Jul 22, 2016
3,398
5,186
AFL Club
Adelaide
I've enjoyed his forward craft this year a lot, if geelong did it last year they may have even actually contended he's that good. Certainly big part of why the cats are running so hot but there are a few others too.
 
Feb 28, 2007
51,375
66,872
Sydney
AFL Club
Sydney
35 years old and still taking hangers, kicking goals from 50 and nailing them from the pocket in impossible angles too.

2 x premiership player
2 x Brownlow medal
5 x Leigh Matthews medal
3 x AFLCA player of the year
8 x All Australian
3 x Club Leading Goal Kicker

hard to argue anyone was or is better than Ablett.

Lance Franklin

2× AFL premiership player
8× All-Australian team
4× Coleman Medal
Peter Crimmins Medal
6× Hawthorn leading goalkicker
5× Sydney leading goalkicker
2× Brett Kirk Medal
2× AFL Goal of the Year
 

Catsace

Premiership Player
Apr 15, 2007
4,867
4,117
Geelong
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Golden State Warriors
Aren't you lucky.
Both Ablett's
Both Hawkins'
Both Scarlett's

Was a bit late to catch John Scarlett's career...indeed it was quite galling when a mid-year trade saw him go to South Melbourne for the return match at KP in '77 when the Cats lost to South...it was about the first year of me listening to them on the radio and '77 was a crappy season. But there's been some excellent F/S's at Geelong, and even going back to Leo and Michael Turner. Been a fun ride though seeing them.
 
May 5, 2016
43,464
48,499
AFL Club
Geelong
Lance Franklin

2× AFL premiership player
8× All-Australian team
4× Coleman Medal
Peter Crimmins Medal
6× Hawthorn leading goalkicker
5× Sydney leading goalkicker
2× Brett Kirk Medal
2× AFL Goal of the Year

Next best of his era, no question, but not the player GAJ is.

He was simply sublime today.
 
Feb 28, 2007
51,375
66,872
Sydney
AFL Club
Sydney
Next best of his era, no question, but not the player GAJ is.

He was simply sublime today.

I would take the best key forward of his generation over the best midfielder. Guys like Judd are at least in the conversation with GAJ but no one is in the conversation with Buddy. Buddy is a lot better than the number 2 key forward of his generation, while Ablett is only a little better than the number 2 midfielder of his generation.
 

Young Gun #6

Norm Smith Medallist
May 24, 2008
7,410
7,147
Melbourne
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
Other Teams
Juventus, Suns
Lance Franklin

2× AFL premiership player
8× All-Australian team
4× Coleman Medal
Peter Crimmins Medal
6× Hawthorn leading goalkicker
5× Sydney leading goalkicker
2× Brett Kirk Medal
2× AFL Goal of the Year

Oh sorry I didn’t know we put the Kirk medals etc in.

Ablett Jr also has
GC Captain 2011-2016
2 x Carji Greeves Medal (Geelong BnF)
4 x GC Suns Club Champion
2 x Marcus Ashcroft Medal
248 Brownlow Votes (most ever)
 
May 5, 2016
43,464
48,499
AFL Club
Geelong
I would take the best key forward of his generation over the best midfielder. Guys like Judd are at least in the conversation with GAJ but no one is in the conversation with Buddy. Buddy is a lot better than the number 2 key forward of his generation, while Ablett is only a little better than the number 2 midfielder of his generation.

That’s like saying wasim akram is miles better than the next best left arm quick though - just because he’s a lot better than the next best of his type, doesn’t make him better than someone who is the best of a large field.
 

Young Gun #6

Norm Smith Medallist
May 24, 2008
7,410
7,147
Melbourne
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
Other Teams
Juventus, Suns
I would take the best key forward of his generation over the best midfielder. Guys like Judd are at least in the conversation with GAJ but no one is in the conversation with Buddy. Buddy is a lot better than the number 2 key forward of his generation, while Ablett is only a little better than the number 2 midfielder of his generation.

The difference is:

Ablett is the best midfielder EVER not just of his generation.

Franklin is the best forward of his generation but not ever.

Doesn’t matter if there’s another gun from your generation if you’re the best in that position (and of any position) ever. All it shows is if Franklin is the best of his generation but not close to the best forward ever is the fact that Ablett Junior is playing against MORE competition when there’s more competition in his generation and he’s still the best of any.
 
Back