Players that changed the Game

[MC Extra Dollop]

Craig Bradley did this 17 years ago. Braddles used to play on the likes of Hocking and Matera whilst getting the ball himself. Gary O'Donnell was a great run with midfielder too.

Bradley moved to the backline and played as a sweeper long before Mcleod made that switch.

Really? Craig Bradley played as a tagger? I have to plead ignorance here, but I stand corrected if so.

 

[HolyRioli]

3 pages in and no mention of Joel Bowden? Single handedly changed the kick in rules after his hilarious performance against the bombers a few years back

Rushed behind rule as opposed to kick in. Was as much a combination of Bowden and the Hawks defence in the 08 GF (11 rushed behinds from memory).

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

From Carlton..

Greg Williams, made handballing a weapon of mass destruction.

Kouta. Led the way for pure athletes to be selected at the draft over pure footballers. Leigh Matthews said Kouta was the perfect person to clone to be your ultimate footballer.

Williams begun his handballing at Geelong and then really cemented his game changing stature at the Swans. His Carlton years were the twilight where he cashed up once he was past his best...

 

[Jamie007]

Williams begun his handballing at Geelong and then really cemented his game changing stature at the Swans. His Carlton years were the twilight where he cashed up once he was past his best...

Not that where he played matters, but just FYI...
At Carlton, he managed to win a brownlow and a premiership where he was BOG with 5 goals.. He also came Runners up in a brownlow (lost by 1 vote) which now has come to light that the umpire in charge, refused to give him a vote because of a personal vendetta.. In that game, he racked up 43 odd possessions. But yeah, wayyyyy past his best when he got to Carlton..

 

[NakedDeadGuy]

Polly Farmer, Kevvy Bartlett obvious ones.

Bernie Smith Geelong - back when back pockets were the resting ruckman & a dour, slow veteran, Smith could have been a centreman, and played accordingly. Won a brownlow from the position. Trying to think of comparisons, whilst at different levels I'll go with Wnaganeen, Brad Sholl, Johncock, Kenny Hinkley is probably the best I can come up with, even though he played off half back.

 

[Thaihawk]

I'm surprised that we've had 50 odd responses and yet no mention of the great Jack Dyer. He was credited as the player who introduced the drop punt into footy.

 

[hoddo22]

Agreed with cousins not really counting.

Cox is the first to mind along with adam goodes.

Goodes started the "recruit the athletes" period
Cox the "midfielder ruckman"

Some players are too good to have a trend follow their success ie: buddy, ablett, judd

Can't really draft for those players.

Not quite. I remember him trying to tag Kouta who was 5 years ahead of him at the time. He was the first athlete come footballer, by quite a bit.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

stynes was probably the first to do this, but cox definately took it to another level and beyond.

still no ruckman runs like cox was in our grand final years.

lulz at youth. Peter Moore says hi...

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

Not that where he played matters, but just FYI...
At Carlton, he managed to win a brownlow and a premiership where he was BOG with 5 goals.. He also came Runners up in a brownlow (lost by 1 vote) which now has come to light that the umpire in charge, refused to give him a vote because of a personal vendetta.. In that game, he racked up 43 odd possessions. But yeah, wayyyyy past his best when he got to Carlton..

hahaha got me... he was good at Carlton, yet maybe because of the small ground, I just remember him absolutely dominating at Sydney... his work with Healey and Murphy and Mitchell was just outstanding...

 

[Liam Boy]

David Dench was probably one of the first goal-kicking key defenders.

 

[cartel]

Matthew Scarlett changed full back with his ability to back himself to peel off his opponent and set up play further up the ground, rather than just stop his man kicking goals.

 

[toeknee2]

Silvagni was doing that when Scarlett was in nappies.

The ruck duelling rules were changed because of Harry Madden.

The game itself changed when Kouta got going. Never before had we seen such a player and we blues fans were lucky enough to have him.

 

[Del35196]

The game itself changed when Kouta got going. Never before had we seen such a player and we blues fans were lucky enough to have him.

What changed? Kouta was good (in his prime) but not sure if he was as good as your saying.

 

[theyellowsash]

jack dyer invented the drop punt.

 

[Plugger35]

Robert Harvey invented running, before him players just walked.

 

[Old Skool]

Matthew Scarlett changed full back with his ability to back himself to peel off his opponent and set up play further up the ground, rather than just stop his man kicking goals.

Matthew Scarlett changed full back by not playing full back.

 

[cartel]

Silvagni was doing that when Scarlett was in nappies.

The ruck duelling rules were changed because of Harry Madden.

The game itself changed when Kouta got going. Never before had we seen such a player and we blues fans were lucky enough to have him.

So no player could change the game unless the played for Carlton?

Silvagni didn't do it to the extent Scarlett did/does.

 

[Tex_21]

David Dench was probably one of the first goal-kicking key defenders.

Laurie Nash was arguably the greatest 'swingman' to ever play the game (and according to Jack Dyer, the greatest player to ever play the game). He was switching between CHB and CHF in the 30's. And dominating.

 

[The Passenger]

lulz at youth. Peter Moore says hi...

tell him i say hi

give his last game was played when i was 2 i'm quite comfortable not being entirely familar with his playing style.

but rest assured give his two brownlow medals i'm well aware of his status in the game, if it makes you rest any easier with the "youth" of today. his ommission from the collingwood team of the century was a pretty tough call.

as an aside i'm quite happy with being called a youth. it was only last night i was lamenting how long it had been since i was asked for id, after the doormen to the pub i was at carded about all ten or so people in front of me and let me through....

 

[masai]

Dean Cox was the first that came to mine. Redefined the role of the ruck man to be more than just a ruck, but effectively another midfielder.

/QUOTE]


Yep Cox is good but he is not revolutionary, ditto with Stynes.

I regularly watched TI play the mobile ruck role many years before the above two, very much ruck roving.

Polly probably at times played a role similar to TI.

Polly was way ahead of his time.

 

[kane249]

Yep Cox is good but he is not revolutionary, ditto with Stynes.

I regularly watched TI play the mobile ruck role many years before the above two, very much ruck roving.

Polly probably at times played a role similar to TI.

Polly was way ahead of his time.

Agree with this, Cox hasn't really broken new ground as being the first mobile ruckman he's just taken it to new levels with his fitness and running ability but hasn't really broken new ground.

 

[Knight Ryders]

Northey for getting Irish players to come and try AFL and Sheedy for introducing Aliens to AFL.

I think Primus as stated was a huge reason for a change in the ruck, but Steven King was also very dominant because of this tactic at the time. Injury and rule change hindered his career as he looked like being one of the best.

 

[Wallaby]

No player altered modern football more than Wayne Carey.

He is the reason for the paddock, and the resulting flood.

In the 60's, Tom Hafey played the Paddock - it was called 'Kick it to Royce and get out of his way'.

I don't think giving a dominant forward space to work in really qualifies as changing the game - it was probably first done the week after the first guy ever kicked more than 2 goals in a game.

And from that comes the flood. or as it used to be called 'Stacking the Backline'.

Charlie Pearson would me my nomination - he was supposedly the first player to jump on opponents back and shoulders to take marks (1880s). Apparently 'caused great screams from female spectators worried for his safety'.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Joel selwood and his drawing of free kicks

used to be duck the head = play on, so he drops to his knees leading to the free, which other players have began copying

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Dean Cox was the first that came to mine. Redefined the role of the ruck man to be more than just a ruck, but effectively another midfielder.

/QUOTE]


Yep Cox is good but he is not revolutionary, ditto with Stynes.

I regularly watched TI play the mobile ruck role many years before the above two, very much ruck roving.

Polly probably at times played a role similar to TI.

Polly was way ahead of his time.

Who's TI?