How good was Craig Bradley?

[STFU Donnie]

First and last time I think I'll ever agree with MK. Fantastic footballer, oozed class and skill. Shame his Port games aren't counted by the VFL, far more deserving of the greatest number of games plaudit of than the bearded stick insect from Hawthorn.

You mean the guy who played in ELEVEN grand finals and won SEVEN flags, including FOUR as Captain, all of which are records? Is that the guy you mean? Really?

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

As opposed to Tuck - the worst player in history to play 400+ games

He wasn't replying to you, but:

You mean the guy who played in ELEVEN grand finals and won SEVEN flags, including FOUR as Captain, all of which are records? Is that the guy you mean? Really?

Toss of the coin really. KB was more talented, Tucky was a better team player. Let's just say that no duds have ever made it to 400.

 

[Papa G]

You mean the guy who played in ELEVEN grand finals and won SEVEN flags, including FOUR as Captain, all of which are records? Is that the guy you mean? Really?

Maybe you should start a poll as to who was the better footballer?

 

[STFU Donnie]

I was saying Boo-Radley.

Is that you Scout?

 

[iluvparis]

He wasn't replying to you, but:



Toss of the coin really. KB was more talented, Tucky was a better team player. Let's just say that no duds have ever made it to 400.

FFS - I could have played in 3 flags if I was at Hawthorn in the 80s!

 

[STFU Donnie]

FFS - I could have played in 3 flags if I was at Hawthorn in the 80s!

Yes, if you had been there, you would have been an outstanding player. No passengers in that Hawks era.

 

[Macca19]

Bradley wasn't even the 2-3rd best player at his club, let alone the AFL. Williams, Kernahan, Silvangi, Carey, Ablett, Dunstall, Hird, Voss, Ricutto, Buckley, Riciutto, Harvey... could go on. Great player, but behind these guys.

Should have said midfielder. Voss, Hird, Ricciuto, Williams played their best footy outside of the 90s.

 

[iluvparis]

Yes, if you had been there, you would have been an outstanding player. No passengers in that Hawks era.

Chris Wittman board

 

[Military_man]

He was a good player if he was playing today he would win a brownlow

 

[blueboy25]

Used to shirk a lot of contests which meant his body didn't cop the hammering more courageous players did and hence his longevity. Absolute seagull.

Sounds like your talking about Robbie Flower

 

[Mocca]

I haven't posted on BigFooty in nearly a decade, but I'm hanging around this week just to get the feel of what people are saying about the Grand Final.

There seems to be a lot of angst from 'neutral' supporters about arrogant, annoying Hawthorn fans, and a consequential hope that Sydney wins. Fair enough, some Hawthorn supporters are painful to deal with.

But I come in here to read about how Craig Bradley is rated, and someone has a go at Michael Tuck. You know, because it's Tucky's fault that the AFL games record is decided on and calculated in such a way that he has that record instead of Bradley.

Some Hawthorn fan comes in and defends Tuck's record, an astonishing record that stacks up against any player in the history of the game. And this poster is the one that cops the abuse. Not the one denigrating an absolute legend of football, Hawthorn and the VFL/AFL, but the guy that defends him.

If that's the standard of behavior and discussion that Hawthorn supporters have to put up with, it's no wonder you're only left with the geese that bait and bite back.

For the youngsters, here's a quick tip to help you judge whether the old coot you're talking to knows anything about football: If they denigrate or downplay the skill, ability, durability, adaptabiliy, tenacity, leadership or achievements of Michael Tuck, smile politely and walk away. The person you're talking to is an idiot.

* * *
You can apply the same test to the subject of this thread - Craig Bradley was an absolute champion, and doesn't get anywhere near enough credit for his ability to be a top-level player for nearly two decades. Wonderful footballer, a prototype of the hard-running midfielder that is now so prevalent.

 

[00Stinger]

Would be one of only 2 or 3 I'd put ahead of him.

Lol. Over rating him a bit there I think. he was a star, but there is no way he was in the top 2-3 players of the 90's. Top 20 more likely

 

[STFU Donnie]

I haven't posted on BigFooty in nearly a decade, but I'm hanging around this week just to get the feel of what people are saying about the Grand Final.

There seems to be a lot of angst from 'neutral' supporters about arrogant, annoying Hawthorn fans, and a consequential hope that Sydney wins. Fair enough, some Hawthorn supporters are painful to deal with.

But I come in here to read about how Craig Bradley is rated, and someone has a go at Michael Tuck. You know, because it's Tucky's fault that the AFL games record is decided on and calculated in such a way that he has that record instead of Bradley.

Some Hawthorn fan comes in and defends Tuck's record, an astonishing record that stacks up against any player in the history of the game. And this poster is the one that cops the abuse. Not the one denigrating an absolute legend of football, Hawthorn and the VFL/AFL, but the guy that defends him.

If that's the standard of behavior and discussion that Hawthorn supporters have to put up with, it's no wonder you're only left with the geese that bait and bite back.

For the youngsters, here's a quick tip to help you judge whether the old coot you're talking to knows anything about football: If they denigrate or downplay the skill, ability, durability, adaptabiliy, tenacity, leadership or achievements of Michael Tuck, smile politely and walk away. The person you're talking to is an idiot.

* * *
You can apply the same test to the subject of this thread - Craig Bradley was an absolute champion, and doesn't get anywhere near enough credit for his ability to be a top-level player for nearly two decades. Wonderful footballer, a prototype of the hard-running midfielder that is now so prevalent.

I didn't think I copped any abuse. People are free to banter with me as long as it doesn't get personal.

 

[DanA]

Bradley was a very good player but his best wasn't on the level of other greats. I don't think he'd rate that high a mention but for being at the right clubs at the right time and the length of his career.

For example Koutafides, Budha Hocking, Matera, Deisel, P.Kelly and Mcleod I thought we better players at their best but taking in Bradley's level of consistency and longevity he may well edge past them. Week in week out, year after year he was a good player.

 

[Donakebab]

Should have said midfielder. Voss, Hird, Ricciuto, Williams played their best footy outside of the 90s.

Hird, Voss and Williams all won Brownlows in the 90's. Ricciuto got 3 90's AA, Voss 2, Hird 2, Williams 2. Williams played in the same side and played much better footy during the 90's.

Bradley played from 1985-2002, think comparing against the names I've mentioned is more than acceptable.

 

[Blue Dawn]

Pace to burn with great endurance and durability made Bradley a good player.

Sublime disposal by foot, lightening instinct and rat cunning made him an all-time great!

Never known a player who, when running with the ball through the 50, would always slot the goal (or seemingly) like Bradley. Deadly dangerous with the ball and a perfect foil to blokes like Dominator, Diesel and Ratts.

Seriously kids, do yourself a favour, and YouTube the (albeit limited) footage they have of Craig Bradley in action.

 

[bringbackbucky]

What a moo you are. Doubt you ever watched him given these comments. While physical contact certainly wasn't a feature of Braddles game and it was rarely his role to do so, I saw him put his body on the line for the Blues whenever it was required; he always went we he had to go.

Bradley was right up there with the best of his era and like Platten, doesn't seem to get the kudos he deserves when mentioned alongside more recent mids. Super fit and had a modern-day gut running ability that was more unique back in his day. Great skills on both feet too. What I miss most about Braddles is seeing him stream forward and plonk goals from 55m with ease. Carlton haven't had anyone who could consistently do this since he retired and I'd just become so accustomed to it.

Here's my favourite Bradley moment. I was on the same wing at this game and the crowd went bananas knowing they just seen something special. Outrunning Matera at that stage was a feat in itself.

Hey I was at that game as well. On a school footy trip - was sitting right on the wing where he grabbed the ball. What a legend!

I have vague memories of some bloke selling bags of peanuts and you threw the coin at him and he threw the nuts to you. Did that happen or was it a dream?

 

[jonoman89]

There's nothing wrong with being an outside runner if that's your role. Bradley had Diesel, Ratten, Brown etc. to get under the packs when he was playing, his job wasn't to win ball.

One of the best outside runners the game has seen. One of the first players to take his career professionally as well....didn't drink and did a ton of training outside the club.

 

[gbatman]

Also a gun cricketer. Craig Bradley was an out and out freak.

 

[Altum Volantes]

He was a great player in the 90s, one of the real class players.

To compare him to his peers, I would rate him better than Michael Long and not quite as good as Peter Matera.

 

[Macca19]

Hird, Voss and Williams all won Brownlows in the 90's. Ricciuto got 3 90's AA, Voss 2, Hird 2, Williams 2. Williams played in the same side and played much better footy during the 90's.

Bradley played from 1985-2002, think comparing against the names I've mentioned is more than acceptable.

Bradley won 4 AAs through the 90s. His record stacks up.

 

[Spluff]

Better than Kepler.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Better than Kepler.

Blasphemy.

 

[Silvagnis]

He was a good player if he was playing today he would win a brownlow

Better than good.

I feel dirty for agreeing with you for possibly the first time.

For someone who many consider soft, Bradley certainly did a good job playing on Buddha Hocking in the 1995 GF and Matera in the H & A season. Wasn't a true seagull and downhill skier like Brent Harvey who is a frontrunner. Better kick than Shane Crawford who was another gutrunner, but won a Brownlow. One of my favourite sights was Braddles bouncing and unloading to Sticks or kicking the goal from a mile out.

You mean the guy who played in ELEVEN grand finals and won SEVEN flags, including FOUR as Captain, all of which are records? Is that the guy you mean? Really?

Great point.

How many flags did Bob Skilton win?

 

[Blue Dawn]

He was a great player in the 90s, one of the real class players.

To compare him to his peers, I would rate him better than Michael Long and not quite as good as Peter Matera.

Pffft - every bit as good as Matera and did it for twice as long. Bradley won 7 AA to Matera's 5. These two were the respective wings on any 'team of the 90s' though without doubt.

To bbb you weren't dreaming mate. The Peanut guy at PP was legendary. Could throw bags of peanuts with unerring accuracy through the windows of corporate boxes way up on the top level of a stand from the boundary down on the ground!