Hardest man to play AFL/VFL

Remove this Banner Ad

Beau Waters, just check out a highlights video of him.
His courage probably cost him 50-100 games.
Memorable collision with Johno Brown when they both went hard at it and knocked each other out but kept trying to get up.
Probably the toughest of the modern era. At the very least he's in the conversation. Not a sniper either, played the ball.

Dale Morris and Nathan Buckley were underrated in the toughness stakes. Buckley played out a game with a broken jaw without complaint.
Morris played a final with a fractured leg and years later played the GF with two fractured vertebrae. Never shirked a contest.
 

Roobound

Club Legend
North Melbourne - 2013 Daw, Black and Gibson Player Sponsorship
Aug 16, 2009
2,328
3,541
melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Byron Pickett was hard when the opposition wasn't looking. Yeah, he hit hard, but he wasn't ever Joel Selwood hard/courageous .

Find some footage where he squibbed it ..... If not then stop inventing history.

He went when it was his turn & he gave it out....he was feared because he would hurt you & you would always see players checking to see where he was.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Captain_Bender

Premiership Player
May 21, 2015
4,495
6,761
AFL Club
Richmond
Who the hell cares about your club. WTF has it got to do with Bob Chitty or the 1945 GF ?
We were discussing a GF between two proper VFL foundation clubs....not a plastic newcomer like your lot.

What is it about insecure tiggy fans, they feel left out and want everything to end up about them.
Lol how insecure are you
 
Jun 29, 2006
20,125
22,135
Nthn Beaches
AFL Club
Sydney
Other Teams
BBGFC and LRGC
go shoot up some 15 year old hitler youth against a beaten germany?

if thats brave sign me up as a coward
What would he have done there though given the war finished months earlier ?!
WTF. Chitty was on age to serve anytime during the war.
You gibbons do realise that Bob Chitty had 4 or 5 brothers who all served, including one killed in Nth Africa. His brother Peter is one of Australia's most celebrated war heroes having been held at Changi before death marched along with many others to build the Burma Railway, and survived. His Changi Brownlow Medal for "Geelong" is one of Australia's national treasures and greatest sporting feats. His brothers were the true "Hard Men". Bob Chitty stayed home to play footy and earn some coin. Reputation of targeting any talented youngster on the ground, which he did in that 45 GF. He got his desserts when he tried to square off with a true hard man and champion footballer (and cricketer) Laurie Nash, who knocked him out one on one. Nash served in New Guinea, was finished by then, but didn't need the knuckle. Chitty's contribution is only significant because Carlton's only chance of beating either South or Collingwood that season was to go the knuckle. Which they did in two finals.

He was simply the Robby Muir of his day...anyone can throw a punch or stick their elbow out. Doesn't make them tough courageous or hard. They were afraid of Jack Dyer as well, but Dyer was a proper celebrated footballer with serious talent, like Nash and others of the day.
Chitty is an overblown story based on Carlton winning the 45 GF against the odds...by going the knuckle in the finals. Legend has it that he was using the point post to stay upright when the ump gave him a free kick right in front of goal after the game was in the bag. When you win the game you get to write "heroic" songs and poems about it.
Plenty of true hard guys in all era's to celebrate without idolising the odd thug.
Morning rant over.
 
Last edited:

woosha24

Norm Smith Medallist
Apr 5, 2015
6,715
11,183
AFL Club
West Coast
Beau Waters was pretty f*cken hard. You had to knock him out cold to get him off the ground for any length of time.



Check out 1.08 in that video. Lights are on but no one's home, no idea what the f*ck is going on, still wants the ball. Absolute machine.
 
Last edited:

Chubberson

Cancelled
BeanCoiNFT Investor
Apr 12, 2011
1,721
1,893
radelaide
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Find some footage where he squibbed it ..... If not then stop inventing history.

He went when it was his turn & he gave it out....he was feared because he would hurt you & you would always see players checking to see where he was.
I never said he was soft, who's inventing history? All I'm saying is he doesn't warrant being in this thread for hardness or being courageous. The guy was dirty and took the man over the ball, he could've put his head down and got the footy in the biglands contest but he bumped him in the head cause he bitched out of trying to get the ball.
 

jezzatigerbrent

Team Captain
Aug 16, 2009
393
925
Melbourne
AFL Club
Carlton
WTF. Chitty was on age to serve anytime during the war.
You gibbons do realise that Bob Chitty had 4 or 5 brothers who all served, including one killed in Nth Africa. His brother Peter is one of Australia's most celebrated war heroes having been held at Changi before death marched along with many others to build the Burma Railway, and survived. His Changi Brownlow Medal for "Geelong" is one of Australia's national treasures and greatest sporting feats. His brothers were the true "Hard Men". Bob Chitty stayed home to play footy and earn some coin. Reputation of targeting any talented youngster on the ground, which he did in that 45 GF. He got his desserts when he tried to square off with a true hard man and champion footballer (and cricketer) Laurie Nash, who knocked him out one on one. Nash served in New Guinea, was finished by then, but didn't need the knuckle. Chitty's contribution is only significant because Carlton's only chance of beating either South or Collingwood that season was to go the knuckle. Which they did in two finals.

He was simply the Robby Muir of his day...anyone can throw a punch or stick their elbow out. Doesn't make them tough courageous or hard. They were afraid of Jack Dyer as well, but Dyer was a proper celebrated footballer with serious talent, like Nash and others of the day.
Chitty is an overblown story based on Carlton winning the 45 GF against the odds...by going the knuckle in the finals. Legend has it that he was using the point post to stay upright when the ump gave him a free kick right in front of goal after the game was in the bag. When you win the game you get to write "heroic" songs and poems about it.
Plenty of true hard guys in all era's to celebrate without idolising the odd thug.
Morning rant over.
people who don't know their history and exactly what it was to go through a war have no comprehension of exactly how tough Bob Chitty was..... I think he went on to play Ned Kelly in Australian film as an actor because of his legendary toughness and hard chiselled looks
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

mcnulty

Norm Smith Medallist
Sep 18, 2019
6,372
9,370
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Heard a story from “Rocket” Rod Maynard, Crows defender isn’t the early to mid 90s. Was the third defender to have a crack at Lockett one day, who had something like 8 half way through the third quarter down at Moorabbin.

So the ball starts wheeling down the wing again and Rocket, back in the goalsquare and no doubt feeling a bit isolated, grabs a fist full of jumper. Without looking at him, Plugger says, “Mate keep that up and we’re both missing the next 6”.

He was a scary man.
 
Jun 29, 2006
20,125
22,135
Nthn Beaches
AFL Club
Sydney
Other Teams
BBGFC and LRGC
people who don't know their history and exactly what it was to go through a war have no comprehension of exactly how tough Bob Chitty was..... I think he went on to play Ned Kelly in Australian film as an actor because of his legendary toughness and hard chiselled looks
Why don't you tell us more instead of pretending. If you only "think" he played Ned Kelly in the worst movie in all cinematic history, you obviously know s**t about s**t anyway.
Legendary toughness and hard chiselled looks ? Are you 12years old ? He was a legendary thug. Nothing more.

Yeah its a tough gig that acting. Sounds like you're impressed by it. All that makeup and spending hours in front of a mirror practising how to act. That sort of legendary courage and bravery is something we can all admire.
Next you'll be saying that dodging serving his country in the field was brave. Why would he though, why whip up to help with a last line of defence for your country when you can put coin in the pocket, clip a few youngsters when they arnt looking, and preserve those legendary "hard chiselled looks".
He was probably staying home for unselfish reasons... to circle the wagons, protect all the women folk, and send home a few quid. I should honour his bravery.
His brothers were the hard tough men.
 
Last edited:

Luv_our_club

Norm Smith Medallist
Feb 14, 2017
6,883
12,955
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Budda Hocking.

Ugly tough.

GO Catters

Buddha was tough, yes... but he was not scary.

I raise you Gary "Connan the Barbarian" Ayres, who was tough and scary. He almost never raised his hands... never had to.

The 1980's Hawks - Dipper, Dermott, Langford, Dunstall - all said Ayres was made of granite.
 

Topkent

Confirmed ITK Drafting King
Aug 29, 2010
61,059
84,969
Canada
AFL Club
Melbourne
Other Teams
Winnipeg Jets
Gotta respect Johnno Brown, his concussion was so bad that he facial reconstruction with plates put in and missed months. Only to come back in what his 3rd game back? And go back with the flight again to take a mark and ended up being KOd.

Bloke was insanely brave.
 
Jul 13, 2015
36,308
40,471
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Heard a story from “Rocket” Rod Maynard, Crows defender isn’t the early to mid 90s. Was the third defender to have a crack at Lockett one day, who had something like 8 half way through the third quarter down at Moorabbin.

So the ball starts wheeling down the wing again and Rocket, back in the goalsquare and no doubt feeling a bit isolated, grabs a fist full of jumper. Without looking at him, Plugger says, “Mate keep that up and we’re both missing the next 6”.

He was a scary man.

Ablett was the same. Give a warning. Then find a way to hurt.

Courageous - Peter Hudson was repeatedly punched in the head by Full Backs who simply were unable to match his skill. Never shirked a contest. Never lashed out. Never sought payback.

Modern times Selwood but I do wonder when courageous is replaced by reckless.

Hard - Dipper. Played with punctured lungs and nearly died. Didnt slow down.

Modern times Im not sure if we have seen anything like the hard men of old. That said, the speed players move at mean even the fair hits do damage.
 

Nugett

Norm Smith Medallist
Apr 2, 2017
6,183
7,260
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Buddha was tough, yes... but he was not scary.

I raise you Gary "Connan the Barbarian" Ayres, who was tough and scary. He almost never raised his hands... never had to.

The 1980's Hawks - Dipper, Dermott, Langford, Dunstall - all said Ayres was made of granite.

read a story about a player that was traded into the club during the 80’s. Can’t remember the players name, as to who it was. The story went, that on his first day at the club, he went to the gym, after doing a set of reps, he spat on the floor. Within seconds Ayres confronted him, told him to clean it up, and if he ever did that again he would knock his ******* head off. Ayres was a tough uncompromising person both on and off the field, with a high level of professionalism. It’s probably why he was never a successful AFL coach as he demanded the same standards, that he set himself Which were pretty high.
 

Nugett

Norm Smith Medallist
Apr 2, 2017
6,183
7,260
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Hardest is a bit ambiguous. Is it the hardest player to play on? Could be it be players that are perceived to have courage. Or is it the players that are deemed more tough?

for me the players that i have seen or heard about that could be deemed in this category, would be Tony Locket, Diesel Williams, Peter Hudson and Wayne Carey. All of them would be hard to play on or match up on, as they were all so skilful at what they did. None of them would shirk the contest and would quite often win. All of them could lift their team up. All of them had the ability to make their team better than what they should of been. That’s what made these players hard, it was these attributes.

if we are talking about courage there are so many names that come to mind. Selwood who is always in the thick of things, and is probably the best courageous player currently (hate saying that!) Jordan Lewis, especially the game he played where he was knocked out, and later came back on. (Fortunately there is more information regarding head injuries, so instances like this will never happen again). Luke Hodge especially for his 2008 finals series, where he was playing with sore ribs. Dermie and Dipper in the 89 grandfinal. Brad Hardie especially for standing up to Walls in the Lawrence Angwin training session (Also quite often put his body on the line in games). Paul Kelly who’s courage was unquestioned.Jono Brown. Along with a lot more that has been mentioned in this thread

then we have the tough players and legends who were not afraid to dish it out, but also receive it. Your Leigh Mathews, Jack Dwyers, Bobby Skillton, Dermie, Ayres, David Rhys Jones, Tony Locket, Diesel Williams, Billy Duckworth and to a slightly lesser extent Campbell Brown.

if I am to choose only one player, I would say Locket. He was tough to match up on. He could be uncompromising in a contest. If he received a hit, he gave it back, with interest added. Locket was both intimidating and intelligent enough, where he didn’t have to put his body on the line to be courageous. So Locket wins it for me.
 

robjude

Debutant
May 27, 2010
104
240
AFL Club
St Kilda
Another very tough little man was Nathan Burke. wore a helmet due to previous concussions. And rumour has it that he played half a season with a broken thumb. Just a clean courageous player.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Back