Kevin Bartlett

[worthy]

Kevin Bartlett
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As one of this country's most legendary sportsmen, Kevin Bartlett is also one of Melbourne's most respected and experienced broadcasters.

A great conversationalist and true legend, Bartlett played 403 games for Richmond from 1965 to 1983 and kicked 778 goals. He was a member of 5 premiership winning teams, the Norm Smith Medallist in the 1980 Grand Final and also won five Best and Fairest awards in 1967, 1968, 1973, 1974 and 1977. Bartlett is a true leader having captained Richmond in 1979 and Victoria in 1980. He also coached Richmond from 1988 to 1991.

Barlett was inducted to the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996 and was made an AFL Legend in 2000. He was also selected in the Richmond Team of the Century in 2000, inducted into the Richmond Hall of Fame in 2002 and was made a Richmond Immortal in 2003.

"KB's" status and respect in the football community is recognised by his membership in the AFL's Rules Committee, All Australian Selection Panel, Hall of Fame Selection Panel and National Rising Star Selection Panel.

A true great of the game, outstanding record and list of achievements, B&F's in Premiership years with a very good list of players he beat out for.

Why isn't he often spoken about as one of the greats? He is in Richmond circles but seems to be often overlooked by other supporters.

Interested to hear others thoughts.

 

[rayven]

Worst skills ever for a 400 gamer

You would think after 50 games someone could handball.

 

[chas]

a lunatic thats hated for hating his own club LOL

 

[Murray]

Talks a lot of crap amongst the far to infrequent gems

 

[Moss Rocket]

Great player, struggles on radio, the carry on about not turning up to Richmond gigs certainly doesn't help.
A bit like Tucky, played plenty of games but will never be remembered as a Carey, Diesel etc. Durable but not the complete package.

 

[JUBJUB]

a lunatic thats hated for hating his own club LOL

Lots of people hate Richmond.Why should KB be any different ?

 

[Dean3]

Let's start a thread so that everyone who doesn't barrack for Richmond can take armchair potshots at a 400+ game legend.

 

[Pessimistic]

Tucky has SEVEN premiership medallions.

Lucky overrated hack

 

[Lonie_from_50]

"Rockets the ball"

Nah, he has had a career which shows he is a legend of the game. Good to see him still involved in the game (at times).

 

[tomthetiger]

Not often youll find an old man who can keep up with the modern game !

 

[Bring-Back-Powell]

"Rockets the ball"

"Milne dances on a dollar"

 

[Murray]

Let's start a thread so that everyone who doesn't barrack for Richmond can take armchair potshots at a 400+ game legend.

Go on then

 

[Chewy]

Bartlett is in the Hall Of Fame and was elevated to Legend status.
There is no bigger accolade he can receive, unless he was elevated to the Channel 9 commentary team.

I reckon it comes down to style. He wasn't tough like Matthews, he didn't take big speccies like Ablett. He's probably in the same boat as Jason Dunstall. He was so good at what he did, super efficient, yet remained unappealing to the opposition fan because his "magic" wasn't obvious. He mostly invoked feelings of dislike as he ran past yet another pack, collected yet another loose ball, or received yet another handball and ran into yet another open goal. Even if he was collared, you couldn't catch him "holding the ball". He would throw it out in front of himself, spread his arms, appeal for "holding the man" and then regather. Too smart. Too quick. Too good.

He should've won 1 or 2 Brownlow Medals. This would've helped his standing in the game. Winning the medal automatically elevates the winner in most people's eyes, even if all they've done is receive votes from white maggots.

 

[itsintheblood]

This thread is truely laughable. Those of you who mock KB's achievements truely are totally clueless. No idea whatsoever. His dispute with the club revolves around him being sacked as coach. Nothing more, nothing less. He's let it go on for far too long and that's a real shame.

His playing ability and his standing as a great of the game cannot be questioned.

 

[Sedat!]

"Milne dances on a dollar"

"Lights, camera, action, Brenty Harvey, take a bow"

"Thrill of the grass"

 

[Secco]

This thread is truely laughable. Those of you who mock KB's achievements truely are totally clueless. No idea whatsoever. His dispute with the club revolves around him being sacked as coach. Nothing more, nothing less. He's let it go on for far too long and that's a real shame.

His playing ability and his standing as a great of the game cannot be questioned.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's the 1st time I've agreed with 100% of what you said.

KB is a legend

 

[Chewy]

This thread is truely laughable. Those of you who mock KB's achievements truely are totally clueless. No idea whatsoever. His dispute with the club revolves around him being sacked as coach. Nothing more, nothing less. He's let it go on for far too long and that's a real shame.

His playing ability and his standing as a great of the game cannot be questioned.

2 things:

You drop the "e" when you convert "true" to "truly".

No one is mocking KB's achievements. Read the bloody thread! One person deliberately used the old gag about not handballing (his nickname was Hungry) and then a few people commented on his media skills and current day persona.

The original question is a reasonable one. KB is one of the all time greats of the game, unquestioned. Yet why is his name never mentioned alongside Skilton, Stewart, Matthews, etc ? There must be reasons for this.

Care to answer ?

 

[Dean3]

2 things:

why is his name never mentioned alongside Skilton, Stewart, Matthews, etc ?

It is.

End of thread.

 

[davefromjerra]

Great player, struggles on radio, the carry on about not turning up to Richmond gigs certainly doesn't help.
A bit like Tucky, played plenty of games but will never be remembered as a Carey, Diesel etc. Durable but not the complete package.

Bartlett was a lot better player than Diesel and Tucky. He wasn't the kind of player you would ever trade or the kind of player to spend 3 seasons in the seconds. Seemed to be the Brownlow favourite just about every year in the early seventies and deserves to be remebered as one of the best of all time.

 

[hotpie]

I doubt anybody with a clue about football underrates him.

 

[worthy]

Let's start a thread so that everyone who doesn't barrack for Richmond can take armchair potshots at a 400+ game legend.

Fool, that's not what this threads purpose is about, driving to work this morning Chrisso and Miffo were talking about how Judd will likely be remembered as one of the best and then they got onto Bartlett and went through his list of achievements (which are outstanding), and I thought he doesn't get a lot of recognition, people tend to focus on his life after footy which is completely irrelevent when rating his career achievements, he has a record which wouldn't be bettered by many, what are your thoughts.

 

[Dean3]

I thought he doesn't get a lot of recognition

You thought wrong. There are my thoughts.

 

[worthy]

This thread is truely laughable. Those of you who mock KB's achievements truely are totally clueless. No idea whatsoever. His dispute with the club revolves around him being sacked as coach. Nothing more, nothing less. He's let it go on for far too long and that's a real shame.

His playing ability and his standing as a great of the game cannot be questioned.

Oh FFS, the thread is not laughable, maybe some replies are, the thread is about how he doesn't get the recognition his career achievements suggest he should.

 

[Jumpin' Jimmy]

Great player, struggles on radio, the carry on about not turning up to Richmond gigs certainly doesn't help.
A bit like Tucky, played plenty of games but will never be remembered as a Carey, Diesel etc. Durable but not the complete package.

KB and Tuck achieved as much or more on the field than Canary, Thugga Lockett and others can only dream of. Only difference is they did not go around shagging and smashing faces in to gain constant media attention. Same goes for Dermititis Brereton and Sham Newman.

As for turning up to gigs you can say the same about Carey and Ablett.

 

[hotpie]

Oh FFS, the thread is not laughable, maybe some replies are, the thread is about how he doesn't get the recognition his career achievements suggest he should.

Depends who you talk to. There are a lot of goldfish around in these boards who cant remember what happened last week, let alone footballers from the 1970's. He definitely has enormous respect as a player, arguably and unfairly diminished by his media profile and his estrangement from the club, and his failure as a coach.