Scott West vs Anthony Stevens

[SweetLeftFoot]

Two similar players of a similar era.

Who would you take and why?

For mine, obvious bias included, I'd still take Stevo.

Scotty West was a gun and this is no slight on him, but I think Stevo was more versatile: could play as a tagger, a gut busting outside runner, extractor and also - as his superior goal kicking record shows - bob up forward with important goals. West was more one dimensional.

Also, Stevo was the ultimate team man (insert Carey gag here) and you always sensed he would do anything, up to an including playing a GF with a broken ankle, for the team, where Scott West played more for Scott West.

People will disagree, it may turn out that more people click the Scott West button than the Stevo one, whatever, I'm just interested in people's opinions.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

Scotty West = 324 games, 104 goals. Five AAs, seven best and fairests.

Anthony Stevens = 292 games, 127 goals. AA once, two club best and fairests (including in 1999), 1996 and 1999 premiership play.

 

[The OBSTacle]

These two are very hard to split.

Stevens was the more rounded player.

 

[carntheroos4eva]

Anthony Stevens was awesome. You only have to have a look at both premierships he played in.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

These two are very hard to split.

Stevens was the more rounded player.

Indeed. Scotty West was a gun and would have walked into the North premiership sides (especially the 99 one).

But Stevo did have a bit more to his game IMO.

 

[Frothies Mcveigh]

I'd take Scotty West.

 

[the distributer]

very good player was stevens, but west was just off being a champion, west by a bit IMO.

 

[RedWhite&Blue]

Forgodsake get off the Doggies' coat tales. You're alone on the AFL scrapheap, we left you there years ago. I won't even comment on this thread other than to say it's an insult to West to be compared to Stevens.

 

[Jaeger]

Scott West because he was a much better footballer.

 

[CalWard Is Money]

Worst poll ever...

West by a long, long way

 

[The_Flying_Egg]

Also, Stevo was the ultimate team man (insert Carey gag here) and you always sensed he would do anything, up to an including playing a GF with a broken ankle, for the team, where Scott West played more for Scott West.

He spent his whole career getting the hard ball dishing it out to the runners and he's a selfish footballer?? He was the least glamorous player in the league, totally unselfish footballer, lead the league in handballs time and time again.

He spent his first year as a forward more than capable of kicking a goal and then spent the rest of his career giving the ball to others. I don't understand how someone who spent their career distributing the ball to others can be viewed as someone who played for themself??

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

Worst poll ever...

West by a long, long way

I've never said West was poor or anything like that. I said he's walk into the North sides of the era.

But there is not as much distance as you claim. Nowhere near it.

 

[Bulldog1954]

This is gonna be good, a whole thread of "but Stevens won two premierships"

Pretty close as players however

 

[Donakebab]

Scott West because he was a much better footballer.

Summed it up perfectly.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

This is gonna be good, a whole thread of "but Stevens won two premierships"

Pretty close as players however

I'm not mentioing it.

Your second senetnce is bang on the money but.

 

[Mofra]

West leading comfortably, as expected.

Stevens was probably borderline champion - West would be a definate champion.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

I reckon Stevo had an undeserved 'battler' image, real 'Shinboner' stuff, when he was far classier a player than that.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

No it is not.

Now, please stop trlling the thread.

If you think Scott Wrst was a better footballer, please explain why.

 

[Dazb86]

West and by a fair margin IMO. AA 5 times is nothing to sneeze at. Could have walked into any team of the 90's and been the #1 inside midfielder. Ultra consistent and reguarly racked up big numbers in the days before it was a common thing. Might have been a one trick pony (less versatile than Stevens) but it was a damn good trick. West could have been used as a tagger but it would have wasted his talent which was winning the ball in a contested situation. Always high up in the brownlow count also which shows his consistency.

The 90's version of Simon Black with a worse kick.

*This view is from somebody who watched him week in week out*

 

[Jaeger]

I never went to a game and thought "Stevens is really cutting us up", as I did plenty of times with West.

 

[mess]

Seeing as you're the flog who brought this up, at least Stevo's missu got done by the best player in the history of the game.

Et tu, Lethal?

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

West and by a fair margin IMO. AA 5 times is nothing to sneeze at. Could have walked into any team of the 90's and been the #1 inside midfielder. Ultra consistent and reguarly racked up big numbers in the days before it was a common thing. Might have been a one trick pony (less versatile than Stevens) but it was a damn good trick. West could have been used as a tagger but it would have wasted his talent which was winning the ball in a contested situation. Always high up in the brownlow count also which shows his consistency.

The 90's version of Simon Black with a worse kick.

*This view is from somebody who watched him week in week out*

I think the view that West excelled at one trait well beyond what Stevo did at any facet is a fair comment. Though Stevo was probably rated the best tagger in the game at one point.

But Stevo was good enough across the board playing a number of roles to be AA and win a B+F in a premiership year.

Its an interesting one.

 

[CalWard Is Money]

I've never said West was poor or anything like that. I said he's walk into the North sides of the era.

But there is not as much distance as you claim. Nowhere near it.

Ah, yes there is...how about you take your hand off it for a sec.

West 7 time B&F
Stevens 2 time B&F

West 5 time AA
Stevens 1 time AA

West 175 Brownlow Votes (5 top 5 finishes)
Stevens 62 Brownlow Votes

West 8200 + Possessions
Stevens 6000 Possessions

West averaged 28.09 possessions across 11 finals
Stevens averaged 22.12 possessions across 17 finals

Do I need to continue???

Luke Darcy was a great clubman, captain, best and fairest, AFL MVP etc...He was a champion of the Club.

However, I don't start ridiculous polls comparing him to Gary Dempsey.

 

[Dazb86]

I think the view that West excelled at one trait well beyond what Stevo did at any facet is a fair comment. Though Stevo was probably rated the best tagger in the game at one point.

But Stevo was good enough across the board playing a number of roles to be AA and win a B+F in a premiership year.

Its an interesting one.

Dude Cameron Mooney was A.A in a premiership year... Not knocking Anthony Stevens as he was a GOOD player just not one of the best in the competition at that time which West was.

The dogs of the 90's had 5 or so great players that carried a collectively mediocre team on their backs. Norths talent was far more spread out plus an out an out champion of the sport hence the success you had.

 

[Bulldog1954]

West averaged 28.09 possessions across 11 finals

That was one of the great things about West, our players obviously are not renowned for their finals performances but West's game definitely went up a notch when it mattered. In our two losing prelims of 97,98 West got a combined 68 disposals