Hawks greatest ever Centreman

[Grendel]

Okay a few more to choose from than the clear cut choices of FB and CHB!

Edwards, Wallace Buckenara Allan Jarman. Going back i think mention should be made of Poole who i think played centre/rover.

Okay for me, best centre ive seen at the Hawks easy was Jarman. That doesnt mean he gets the vote though. I mean Jars was simply the most skilled bloke ive seen pull on the Hawthorn jumper. His troulbe was he didnt get enough time in the middle because Ben was doing such a great job there when 'Jars' first arrived. Ben was more a workhorse but what a workhorse. One of the hardest running players ive seen. Shame that he left under the circumstances that he did.

Bucky was similar to the Allan/Jarman situation. Had to wait until the workhorse Wallace left the side before he could get into the middle. But once he was there...whooooo.

Of course that leave Brendan Edwards. The man many credit with the introduction of total professionalism into football. The first of the 'ultrafit' footballers. Who brought to Kanga Kennedy the tools and ideas through his (Edwards) knowledge of physical fitness, the means to create the first Hawthorn Premiership side.

Im going with sentiment and the old timers. Edwards gets my vote. He retired at 26/27(?) because he wanted to make some money (sounds ironic in this day and age) from his gym buisness. He was a 2 time B&F winner, he was the champion centre of his time. Wallace great though he was, did have poor disposal and i also didnt like how he left the club. Bucky, Jars and Allan all didnt have quite enough time in the middle to claim it.

So its Edwards for me.

Thoughts?

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Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.

[This message has been edited by Grendel (edited 22 February 2001).]

 

[goatmaster]

Centre is a difficult one to pick because the game has changed 7 there really is no such position anymore -they are all midfielders.
Of the 5 you named -
Didn't see Edwards but I have seen the 61 GF tape & he could play. He actually retired after the premiership in 61 (remember very few players played until into their 30's then ) Came back in 63 & smashed a knee (days before kneee reco's nigh nigh Brendan
Wallace - Was a real heart & soul player but skills were poor.
Buckenera- best finisher I have ever seen. If you wanted someone to kiick a goal to save your life & had the choice of who Bucky for me. State Games , Finals the pressure never got to him.
Allan - Wonderful player skills & work ethic were great. Don't konow whether he played long enough for us (or at all really as he gave the Dockers only one year really before the knes went.
Jarman - Can't have him - skills as good as anyones bar Bucky but really only had 1 good year(95).
Funny coincidence isn't it though that they all left or in the case of Bucky tried to for another club bar Edwards.
Wonder how much different Wallace's leaving was really to Allan or Jarman because as time went by players lack of loyalty to anything but themselves has become legendary.
At the end of all this I will go for Edwards but Bucky has to be in the side somewhere.

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

Didnt see Edwards play, but from all reports he was the man, and tragically retired early, but my vote is for Terry Wallace, no one racked up possessions like Terry, he didnt get them by playing wide, he was at the bottom of most packs, who could forget him getting a shiner in a GF tight in the forward pocket, cleverly staying down to allow Barney to take the kick and goal. Wallace kicking although not penetrative was accurate. Terry for me

 

[elt]

Never saw Edwards but have heard plenty about him. From all reports he was an absolute champ.

But for mine it has to be Bucky. Finishing skills like no-one else and he could get the pill too. His ability under pressure was amazing, particuarly in PFs

 

[Pessimistic]

I saw Allan and Jars. When those guys got the footy you new that 80% of the time something would happen. The excitement levels rose perceptably. We're starting to get that again with Chick and Crawf

 

[Danny Chook Fan Club]

Brendan Edwards: Again, I'm too young to have seen him, but I'm told by those who watched his whole career that he was just outstanding, and a big game player in the Ayres style.

I haven't watched the whole tape for a long time (who can watch it with the pathetic commentary?), but apparently Edwards had something like 40 kicks in the Grand Final in 1961, absolutely outstanding in those days of kick and mark, stop/start football.

The fact that he retired and we went downhill shortly afterwards also swayed me - the only other player on Grendel's list who was impossible to replace was Jarman - Plough had Bucky, Bucky had Allan, Ben had Jars - but rightfully, Jarman only played centre for a couple of seasons and can't really be considered.

Quick note re Jars - I remember him being outstanding from 1992 onwards, and just not being played in the right position. By the time he was in the middle, we were dire elsewhere and he spent too much time in the back half because that's where the ball was. I'm with Grendel - THE best skilled and most exciting player I've seen.

But Edwards gets the vote.

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He's blonde, he's quick
He's got a massive ... err ... kick
Danny Chook! Danny Chook!


[This message has been edited by Danny Chook Fan Club (edited 22 February 2001).]

 

[RogerC]

Can't have Wallace. He was a very hard worker, but when you're looking for the BEST, you'd like someone with better disposal. He had too much of the Adrian Fletchers for mine.

Buckenara - well, as some of you have already said, great finisher and a dead eye in front of goal, so I'd want him somewhere within range.

Jarman and Allen probably didn't spend enough time there to warrant a real judgment on them. But you're right about Jarman; incredible skills. I'd like him, if anywhere, nearer goal as well.

That leaves Edwards. I only really have anecdotal evidence, but it sounds compelling. He's my choice.

[This message has been edited by RogerC (edited 22 February 2001).]

 

[ricohawk]

Brendan Edwards...I saw his last 20 odd games and he really could play. But my main reason is that the great Ron Cook once told me that he was the best player he'd seen and that he was largely responsible for the club's obsession with super-fitness...and that's where it all started eh guys !!

-Rico

 

[dutchy_rules]

didnt see edwards play so for mine it would have to be wallace.... didnt need to be a great finisher with all the other skilled players around him but he sure knew how to get the ball.... bucky surely will mostly be remembered as a dangerous half forward where he did the finishing.... and although jarman and allen were great players i would still go with wallace....