If you could draft any player from history?

[RonnieRaven]

We need a fwd a 21 yr old buddy or Pav In our current team a dynasty in the back half of the decade would ensue.
But if it was any player at their peak id draft the ‘93 Godra.

 

[Pistol Night]

Carey minus the baggage

 

[Cdog71]

Fraser Gehrig

 

[Butcher Hicks]

Chris Grant

 

[The Sultan]

Bruce Doull.. with modern tactics hed get double didget intercept marks and 30 plus kicks to advantage every week

 

[Sphynx]

Simple question but I actually think surprisingly difficult.

This is not a "who do you think is the best player of all time" question. This is a "take any player from history and be able to draft them at 18 years old to your club for the 2023 season, who do you pick" question and I think it is different in some important ways as it requires more consideration in terms of how said player would handle the modern game compared to what the game was when they themselves played.

So for instance a popular answer could be Tony Lockett, but at 191cm and an almost non-existent tank would he be as successful in 2023 and beyond as he was in the 80's and 90's.

What about Simon Madden, the greatest ruckman of all time, he would be a good choice, but at 198cm he would definitely be on the shorter side for ruckmen of the modern game, would that hurt his chances?

Perhaps Wayne Carey, great player, but again a bit on the short side and knowing what we know would you want his personality at your club, possibly de-stablising the playing group?

What about Gary Ablett Snr? Athletic, can do freakish things and kicks a lot of goals but is only 185cm, which may have been fine a few decades ago but how many 185cm or lower Colemen medal winners have there been in the last 20 years. Would he be able to bring what made him great to the modern game as well?

What about Stephen Silvagni? Great player but again a bit undersided for a key defender in the modern game at 191cm and also what made him great are things that key defenders are not allowed to do anymore, so would that make him less influential?

So you have free choice to draft any player from history as an 18 year old into your team for the 2023 season? Who do you pick and why?

Also mods can you please not move this to the draft board as this is not a genuine draft discussion given this can't happen, but rather a best player of all time with a twist discussion.

This is an extremely weird question.

You've stated specifically for the 2023 season, which seems to indicate the rest of their careers are irrelevant.

Carey wasn't a behemoth until he was about 20.

Lockett kicked 19 goals in his first season.

Gary Ablett Snr played 6 games on a wing and averaged 10 touches a game in his first season for Hawthorn.

Simon Madden played 6 games for Essendon in 1974 and was a non entity.

Franklin was a twig in 2005 and kicked a goal a game as a half forward flanker essentially.

You're question is nothing to do with the best player of all time with a twist, but the best first year player of all time.

In terms of the AFL era, the answer should definately contain Chris Judd, Chris Grant (51 goals as a 17 year old) and John Longmire (2+ goals a game in his debut season at 17 years of age and winning the Coleman Medal at 18/19 yrs of age).

The best 18 year old (regardless of whether it's debut season or not), was probably Longmire or Tim Watson. Tim Watson had played about 50 games by that point (debuted at 15 years of age) and was a key player in an Essendon side by that point, he had 23 disposals and kicked 7 against St Kilda as an 18 year old in Rnd 2 of 1979 as an 18 year old and Longmire was kicking 4.5 goals per game at that age.

Selwood and O'Meara honorable mentions. Rowell looked like he would have joined those two injury permitting...

 

[yyou]

Adrian McAdam
He knew how to start a career!

On SM-G960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[footyfan1978]

Stephen Michael. And I will fight anybody else who tries to draft him.

You can have him after I draft Jezza.

 

[Sphynx]

Adrian McAdam
He knew how to start a career!

On SM-G960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Debuted at 22 though.

Still kicked 68 goals though in his first season....

24 touches and kicking 10 in your second game isn't a bad outing.

 

[Power Raid]

Silvagni was 194cm tall. He was much stronger than what he appeared. Super athlete.

I'm taking Leigh Matthews as he would be good for 30 disposals per game and you can probably add on about 600 career goals too.

still the best FB I've seen

There aren't too many full backs that can play against the absolute monsters, play loose and rebound and swing forward to kick goals.

 

[Power Raid]

Bruce Doull.. with modern tactics hed get double didget intercept marks and 30 plus kicks to advantage every week

would he still sport the comb over in the modern day?

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Leigh Mathews.
Imagine having 2 Leigh Mathews in the side.

 

[Percel]

Callum Urch

 

[eth-dog]

Goodes for Essendon

 

[Butcher Hicks]

In terms of the AFL era, the answer should definately contain Chris Judd, Chris Grant (51 goals as a 17 year old) and John Longmire (2+ goals a game in his debut season at 17 years of age and winning the Coleman Medal at 18/19 yrs of age).

That's a good trio there, all would contribute instanly, and Longmire could even play back if a team needed him to as well.

 

[Arr0w]

Stephen Michael. And I will fight anybody else who tries to draft him.

Same, freak, could play anywhere on the park, better version of Goodes or Kouta as that style of player

 

[RUNVS]

This is an extremely weird question.

You've stated specifically for the 2023 season, which seems to indicate the rest of their careers are irrelevant.

No you get them for their careers, but the 2023 season would be their first season at your club. You obviously would not get the best out of them in 2023 though.

 

[gab213]

Jesaulenko was a magician with the ball and could play multiple positions at an elite level. If only there was more footage of him playing, hard to have an appreciation of how special he was if you weren't watching him live.

 

[JPetro83]

geez.. what a head

 

[JPetro83]

A player that suits the modern era.. no point in drafting a plugger, Chief Dunstall or Ablett Snr

I am going to have to say Lance Franklin...

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Bruce Doull.. with modern tactics hed get double didget intercept marks and 30 plus kicks to advantage every week

Absolutely brilliant player Bruce Doull. Royce Hart did not hesitate to list Doull as his toughest opponent to beat and Doull almost always got the better of Hart I think. Hart was an incredible player himself.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

still the best FB I've seen

There aren't too many full backs that can play against the absolute monsters, play loose and rebound and swing forward to kick goals.

Second best Carlton Full Back in my lifetime, behind Geoff Southby.

 

[BRider]

Carey or Longmire for North right now - both would suit our list to a tee

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Love to see Gary “Crazy Horse” Cowton operating under modern professional standards and coaching methods. The original chaos boss long before J Castagna was a thing. Must have list item in 2023. Maybe wouldn’t be my number one pick but I would speculate on him with a 3rd rounder in an all time draft I think.

If you have ever heard a player described as “consummate” they would be fantastic to draft. Players like Chris Mew, John Rantall, consummate footballers, you would often find them smoking the cherry wood, you can’t miss with those guys. Nice second rounders in an all time draft.

You also want a nice sprinkling of “mercurial” players, so Peter Bosustow, Dustin Martin or the most mercurial of them all, Phillip Carman. Players that can do anything any time. These guys are first rounders really, truly compelling viewing.

If anyone else suggests boring campaigners like Chris Judd or Nathan Buckley so help me, I will not be responsible for my actions.

 

[Power Raid]

Second best Carlton Full Back in my lifetime, behind Geoff Southby.

It is strange.......I remember guys like Dench, Doull, Matthews etc but not Southby

I'm not suggesting he wasn't great but he doesn't ring a bell with me