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Robert Harvey at his best or Dane Swan? Both big ball winners and clearance winners. Who would you take?
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Robert Harvey v Dane Swan
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Harvey will win this poll in a landslide, and you know that.
He's a dual Brownlow winner, has already finished his 20 year career, and he is well liked and respected by almost all in the football community. On top of that, he didn't play for Collingwood.
Dane Swan is capable of everything that Robert Harvey did on the field, and potentially more dangerous as a goalkicker, but Harvey did it for longer and has more runs on the board given that his career is already over.
He's a dual Brownlow winner, has already finished his 20 year career, and he is well liked and respected by almost all in the football community. On top of that, he didn't play for Collingwood.
Dane Swan is capable of everything that Robert Harvey did on the field, and potentially more dangerous as a goalkicker, but Harvey did it for longer and has more runs on the board given that his career is already over.
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If its any solace to you Vinnie I think Swan is almost Harveys equal post 2005.
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Dane Swan is Harvey's equal when Harvey was at his best, but few will admit that.
Swan is as good a kick or better, as effective at stoppages, as prolific a ballwinner, a better overhead mark, a more dangerous goalscoring threat and a more prolific tackler.
Swan's numbers this year were unmatched by any year in Robert Harvey's career. I don't expect anyone to agree, because Harvey's been elevated into a pantheon that few will ever admit a Collingwood player is in, but Swan is every bit the player Harvey was in his prime.
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I dont beleive the goal scoring can come into the comparison as Harvey played with one of the best full forwards of all time in Lockett then a century goal kicker in Gerhig. Delivery was a far greater priority to Harvey than his actual own goal scoring. Harvey also had to deal with far more attention from taggers with a great deal less scrutiny from umpires. Harvey ran from end to end breaking lines and rarely unlike Swan received sideways or backwards kicks to get numbers up.
Harvey at his best was unstoppable. I remember him singlehandedly mauling the Crows in the 2005 final at AAMI stadium.
I'll go with Harvey, but I say that as a big fan of Dane Swan.
I'll go with Harvey, but I say that as a big fan of Dane Swan.
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Harvey was better than Swan even before high altitude training and massive rotations. Harvey also got a lot more of his own ball.
Harvey was a product of natural ability, Swan is a product of a manufactured process.
Harvey was a product of natural ability, Swan is a product of a manufactured process.
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Good poll.
Interesting to say the least. You probably need to quantify the conditions a bit further.
If the question is who was better, or who has had the better career then despite Swan's premiership medal Harvey will win easily, simply too well liked and respected, with a war chest of individual awards.
BUT you have to remember how Harvey went about his football. He was an outstanding ball winner, who simulatneously wore his opponents into the ground - his running capacity was epic.
Re-word the question a little bit, and say who would you take today if you could get a 17 year old version? I'll take Swan. In an era of high rotation the capacity to run an opponent off his feet is lessened.
I'm voting Harvey based on the simple Harvey v Swan premise, however if I could get one now and insert into Essendon I would take Swan.
Interesting to say the least. You probably need to quantify the conditions a bit further.
If the question is who was better, or who has had the better career then despite Swan's premiership medal Harvey will win easily, simply too well liked and respected, with a war chest of individual awards.
BUT you have to remember how Harvey went about his football. He was an outstanding ball winner, who simulatneously wore his opponents into the ground - his running capacity was epic.
Re-word the question a little bit, and say who would you take today if you could get a 17 year old version? I'll take Swan. In an era of high rotation the capacity to run an opponent off his feet is lessened.
I'm voting Harvey based on the simple Harvey v Swan premise, however if I could get one now and insert into Essendon I would take Swan.
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No way, not even close. Dane Swan is a fine player but Harvey at his best was unstoppable, way ahead of swan.
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Dane Swan is a very good footballer, but we're comparing him to one of the absolute legends of the game, a two time brownlow medallist, who was absolutely unstoppable/untacklable in full flight
Swan has some way to go to be spoken in the same sentence as Harvey
Swan has some way to go to be spoken in the same sentence as Harvey
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As opposed to who exactly that has been stopping Swan for the past two years?
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Havnt seen teams running two blokes off and on the bench on Swan like they did with Harvey. In fact its argueable clubs even tag Swan a majority of the time.
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This. From the games I seen this year, most of the opposition's efforts went into Pendlebury or Didak, as they would hurt you a lot more with their possessions.
Shit poll considering one is an all time great of the game. While the other has had one elite season of football.
Harvey is the clear choice career wise but i don't think Dane Swan is miles off it. A few more years of consistent play like this one and perhaps a brownlow and they would be in the same category. Personally if i was picking a 17 year old for my team i would be thinking long and hard because I reckon Swan's game is perfect for the modern game. Having pace and great skills by foot (because of zones etc) has never been more important.
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Totally agree
Harvey will not be just a member of the AFL Hall of Fame, he'll become a legend and rightly so.
I have my doubts that Swan will even come close to the HoF.
Robert Harvey
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Unfair comparison really Harvey is in the upper tier of all time greats.
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If Swan jags another flag/MVP/Copeland in the same year he'll move ahead of Harvey.
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Swan.. he wins premierships
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That settles a few arguements football wide. So clearly Ash Hansen is better than Tony Locket.
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Locket would take his career if it meant a premiership medalThat settles a few arguements football wide. So clearly Ash Hansen is better than Tony Locket.
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gotta love the freaks who say "harveys best was better" pfft, i didnt see harvey have a year like swan just had, shortest priced brownlow favourite in history (and lets be serious, he shouldve won), coaches award, players MVP, media awards.
and to those who say "but swan gets rested more, goes to the bench all the time blah blah blah", IMO, that makes swan even better, racked up more stats than harvey ever could with a lower TOG%, swan could also kick the ball 20mtr+ too.
both great players, id be happy with either, harvey's obviously had the better career, but swans best is better and there's no doubting that.
and to those who say "but swan gets rested more, goes to the bench all the time blah blah blah", IMO, that makes swan even better, racked up more stats than harvey ever could with a lower TOG%, swan could also kick the ball 20mtr+ too.
both great players, id be happy with either, harvey's obviously had the better career, but swans best is better and there's no doubting that.
