- May 3, 2007
- 36,241
- 20,992
- AFL Club
- Fremantle
- Other Teams
- Man City, Valencia, Lazio, Panthers
he was suspended in that 1999 prelim. but i get your point.
Hardest man to play AFL/VFL
- Thread starter chaddles
- Start date
- Tagged users None
KermitJagger
Professional Thread Derailer
- May 17, 2017
- 13,946
- 43,308
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Hell of a bump!
The interesting part in this thread is all the old heads talking about the tough, 'ard blokes from bygone years. I honestly think a lot of the players now are harder than they were.
They definitely crack into the contest harder and more often, tackle and get tackled more. Less cheap shots and more genuine tough football.
Joel Selwood, as much as I hate to say it, is an extremely hard footballer. The way he draws free kicks is frustrating, but the fact he gets so many really speaks to how much contest work he does. Simply does not shirk.
Luke Hodge, biased maybe but he was definitely a hard footballer. Showing his ribs in the 2008 Grand Final then going on to win a Norm Smith was tremendous. No backward steps ever taken.
The interesting part in this thread is all the old heads talking about the tough, 'ard blokes from bygone years. I honestly think a lot of the players now are harder than they were.
They definitely crack into the contest harder and more often, tackle and get tackled more. Less cheap shots and more genuine tough football.
Joel Selwood, as much as I hate to say it, is an extremely hard footballer. The way he draws free kicks is frustrating, but the fact he gets so many really speaks to how much contest work he does. Simply does not shirk.
Luke Hodge, biased maybe but he was definitely a hard footballer. Showing his ribs in the 2008 Grand Final then going on to win a Norm Smith was tremendous. No backward steps ever taken.
Topkent
Confirmed ITK Drafting King
Nah Hodge is definently hard. Plays football like a man, gives it out but never shirked a contest and never complained. Not many blokes play the game like him anymore.
- Jun 22, 2008
- 24,580
- 21,273
- AFL Club
- Geelong
Except for that one time in a SOO game, after he'd taken Cable out, when he put in some short steps going back with the flight, when no-one was within 20 metres of him and he did a one armed, short armed jab in effort to mark the ball.
Josh Hunt style hey?
- Jun 22, 2008
- 24,580
- 21,273
- AFL Club
- Geelong
When I think of hard footballers I have them in 2 categories, the crash and bask of a Voss or Selwood or the aerial bravery of the likes of Gavin Brown or Ken Hunter. Rowdy or KHunter couldn't lay them out but I don't think I ever saw them shirk anything.
I guess a combination of the two would be Jonathon Brown.
I guess a combination of the two would be Jonathon Brown.
- Jun 22, 2008
- 24,580
- 21,273
- AFL Club
- Geelong
Yep, exactly. Next.
Lonergan was bloody tough. After coming back from losing a kidney after backing into a pack, his first game back some 12 months later he did exactly the same thing. That takes a lot of guts. Joel Selwood, for all the hate against him plays the game *in hard and is tough as nails. Jono Brown had no fear, constistently running with the flight of the ball even after a couple of horrendous concussions. Paul Kelly of the Swans was incredibly tough- 100% at every single contest for over 300 games. Nat Fyfe's effort to play on through a broken leg was a pretty fair effort too. Dermy was hard, dirty as well, but what he did in the 89 GF took a lot of courage and personified the way he would do anything to win. McGovern in that GF in 2018, just to get on the ground with the injury he had, then recieve more cracked ribs in the game and then play the game he did was one of the most impressive things I recall watching.
Stiffy Johncock as hard as they come.
From what I've seen, cracking into a ground level contest - I can't go past the likes of Michael Voss, Paul Kelly and Joel Selwood.
I still think running back with both arms raised for the mark is the absolute summit of bravery on a footy field. I have never seen anyone do it as often as Jonathon Brown. The bloke was borderline suicidal.
Special (somewhat bias) mention to Jack Graham for what he did in the Prelim this year. I know, plenty of players have come back on the field injured, but I thought it took a special effort for a 20yr old.
I still think running back with both arms raised for the mark is the absolute summit of bravery on a footy field. I have never seen anyone do it as often as Jonathon Brown. The bloke was borderline suicidal.
Special (somewhat bias) mention to Jack Graham for what he did in the Prelim this year. I know, plenty of players have come back on the field injured, but I thought it took a special effort for a 20yr old.
Mark Harvey.
South of the Yarra
Premium Platinum
- Jul 23, 2006
- 10,960
- 18,130
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
They were tough, hard men especially those of the 20s and 30s. Many of them were playing on a Saturday arvo after working in the boot factories, breweries and abattoirs on a Saturday morning. The players of today would not cope with the struggle or disadvantage those players went on the field with. There is no comparison.
Wow that's amazing, surely there's no one these days that could handle working in an abattoir then playing footy on the weekend. Except, you know, the people that do it.
Nick Riewoldt
South of the Yarra
Premium Platinum
- Jul 23, 2006
- 10,960
- 18,130
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
I am referring to at the elite level of AFL / VFL. No they couldn’t do it. They would all be on Psych’s couches and retiring.
Cdog71
Premiership Player
- Sep 21, 2017
- 4,831
- 10,824
- AFL Club
- Richmond
Max Rooke
Stupidly brave.
Some good ones been named.
Dean Kemp - Courageous AF
Nathan Bourke ^^
Mitch Robinson - Cops plenty but he goes hard.
Todd Viney
Dean Kemp - Courageous AF
Nathan Bourke ^^
Mitch Robinson - Cops plenty but he goes hard.
Todd Viney
In the spirit of these guys Gavin Wanganeen deserves a mention. He was stupid (good - ie. never a sniper/clean as a whistle) hard.
Dipper and Dermot though are next level. Dipper didn’t even report his injuries in the 89 grand final. Just kept going. And Dermott not only got up and played - but he put his hands above his head time after time exposing his ribs after the Yates hit. They are both completely crazy.
- Oct 25, 2006
- 23,597
- 36,103
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- B.S.C youngboys.. Borussia Dortmund
Bob chitty
Captain chaos
Club Legend
- Jul 13, 2016
- 1,383
- 950
- AFL Club
- Geelong
- Banned
- #148
I would have thought Terry bright would be right up there.
Rettolalia
????
- Nov 22, 2019
- 722
- 768
- AFL Club
- West Coast
- Banned
- #149
Clearly biased, and unoriginal, but Woosha is right up there.
Wasn’t a sniper, all good clean hits in that era.
And was always willing to take one of his own, when the time came. Unlike most of the ‘hardmen’ that came after him.
Wasn’t a sniper, all good clean hits in that era.
And was always willing to take one of his own, when the time came. Unlike most of the ‘hardmen’ that came after him.
- Apr 3, 2016
- 5,384
- 10,936
- AFL Club
- Sydney
bloke cut off his finger working in a munitions factory the week of the 45 grand final.
sewed it back on himself and played. thats hard.
