Doss
Ass
- Aug 1, 2011
- 75,214
- 112,305
- AFL Club
- Essendon
There's enough misery around here at the moment to fill all of the saddest of guts in the world, so I'd like to celebrate a true legend of Essendon just for something of a relief from all that.
And, just for once, let's keep this one free of moaning about our current terrible state; every other thread on this board is full of it so we can take a break from that here, please.
Anyway, my father is a 56 year old Richmond supporter, and he says that Simon Madden is in the top five players he's ever seen, from any club, in his almost 50 years of following football. My father's word isn't exactly gospel, but that is pretty high praise. And he also says without any hesitation that he is the single best ruckman he's ever seen. The ruck work was second to none, he was basically an extra midfielder he was that mobile, and he also kicked the small matter of 575 goals over his 378 games, in 19 seasons.
It really was an incredible career.
When we think of that golden 1980s era for our club, we think of Madden, Watson and Terry Daniher as probably being our biggest three champions, with profuse apologies to the likes of Baker, Harvey, Thompson, Salmon, Duckworth, Van der Haar, Hawker and no doubt others perhaps just a rung below the very top echelon.
Unfortunately, as someone born in 1988, Simon retired when I was just four and so I have no memory of him playing; in fact I started following the season after he retired. If there was just one Essendon player I missed out on seeing that I wish I could have, it would be a three-way tie between Madden, Reynolds and Coleman for me; I couldn't narrow it down any more than that.
But unlike the other two there certainly is plenty of footage around of Madden:
How's this for a mark:
Post 1984 Grand Final interview:
Just absolutely taking the piss here - go to 1:55 in for some Madden magic from 1991:
I've had the pleasure of meeting him a handful of times, and he's always struck me as a very down-to-earth and decent man. The type who will give nearly anyone the time of day. And, well, that can be kind of cool when you meet someone who, alongside Hird, is probably our single greatest living player.
The great man is 60 now. For those who are a little older and got to see him, please share your memories and any other footage or clips you can find.
What made him so great? Have you seen a better ruckman in your time?
And, just for once, let's keep this one free of moaning about our current terrible state; every other thread on this board is full of it so we can take a break from that here, please.
Anyway, my father is a 56 year old Richmond supporter, and he says that Simon Madden is in the top five players he's ever seen, from any club, in his almost 50 years of following football. My father's word isn't exactly gospel, but that is pretty high praise. And he also says without any hesitation that he is the single best ruckman he's ever seen. The ruck work was second to none, he was basically an extra midfielder he was that mobile, and he also kicked the small matter of 575 goals over his 378 games, in 19 seasons.
It really was an incredible career.
When we think of that golden 1980s era for our club, we think of Madden, Watson and Terry Daniher as probably being our biggest three champions, with profuse apologies to the likes of Baker, Harvey, Thompson, Salmon, Duckworth, Van der Haar, Hawker and no doubt others perhaps just a rung below the very top echelon.
Unfortunately, as someone born in 1988, Simon retired when I was just four and so I have no memory of him playing; in fact I started following the season after he retired. If there was just one Essendon player I missed out on seeing that I wish I could have, it would be a three-way tie between Madden, Reynolds and Coleman for me; I couldn't narrow it down any more than that.
But unlike the other two there certainly is plenty of footage around of Madden:
How's this for a mark:
Post 1984 Grand Final interview:
Just absolutely taking the piss here - go to 1:55 in for some Madden magic from 1991:
I've had the pleasure of meeting him a handful of times, and he's always struck me as a very down-to-earth and decent man. The type who will give nearly anyone the time of day. And, well, that can be kind of cool when you meet someone who, alongside Hird, is probably our single greatest living player.
The great man is 60 now. For those who are a little older and got to see him, please share your memories and any other footage or clips you can find.
What made him so great? Have you seen a better ruckman in your time?
