SOS, best full back ever

[albyg]

I am getting sick of hearing Sheehan etc. talking about Scarlett, Fletcher etc etc, saying they are better than SOS and that SOS would struggle these days. On SEN the other day i cant remember who it was but he went through some gun full backs and didnt mention SOS. IMO he was and still is the best to have played full back.

If Scarlett, Fletcher and these others played one on one without flooding as SOS did, against the best forwards ever, including: Lockett, Dunstall, Carey, Ablett and regularly beat them then I would give them there dues. But this guys always beat them and when was needed went forward to kick goals, no modern full back comes close. Further Scarlett and Fletcher dont get the gun forwards all the time as they like to be freed up, and when they do get the gun forwards they have a flood to help them anyway.

 

[pumped]

Fully agree. Fletcher and Scarlet are great players but SOS is still the best. Whilst his kicking was not perfect he had pace, anticipation, strength, height and above all a 100% committment to each and every contest no matter what.

Carlton have had some awesome players but to my mind SOS would lay claim to being as good as any of them.He possessed an xfactor in freakish skill but matched it with a passion and mental toughness that most gifted players cannot come close to.

 

[thylacine60]

Pointless comparisons can be so odious.

 

[as0l0]

I am getting sick of hearing Sheehan etc. talking about Scarlett, Fletcher etc etc, saying they are better than SOS and that SOS would struggle these days. On SEN the other day i cant remember who it was but he went through some gun full backs and didnt mention SOS. IMO he was and still is the best to have played full back.

If Scarlett, Fletcher and these others played one on one without flooding as SOS did, against the best forwards ever, including: Lockett, Dunstall, Carey, Ablett and regularly beat them then I would give them there dues. But this guys always beat them and when was needed went forward to kick goals, no modern full back comes close. Further Scarlett and Fletcher dont get the gun forwards all the time as they like to be freed up, and when they do get the gun forwards they have a flood to help them anyway.

we can easily check at the end of the century. if either of them make it into the team of the century, then we can begin to compare them to Silvagni. Until then, he is incomparable.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Wouldn't pay money to watch him.

But blanketed 3 thousand goalers.
He always wanted to play forward.
and could catch the pill

He had the biggest feet i have ever seen,
his boots were like flippers.

A blanket.
and they changed the rules because of it.

His misses is ok, until she talks.

Great player mind you.
But Southby for me.

 

[albyg]

Wouldn't pay money to watch him.

But blanketed 3 thousand goalers.
He always wanted to play forward.
and could catch the pill

He had the biggest feet i have ever seen,
his boots were like flippers.

A blanket.
and they changed the rules because of it.

His misses is ok, until she talks.

Great player mind you.
But Southby for me.

Never pay money to see someone stop Carey and Dunstall leading us to victory??? Not sure u really thought that through. Then if you dont like watching him carve up the opposition best would u like to see him sit on Starcevich's head a couple of times in front of 80,000.....Southby was great and i loved watching him play the little that I did, however he did get carved up a few times...only remember Silvagni lowering his colours a couple of times.....right until his last game he was great....

Anyway I have got that off my chest, SOS u were a champion.

On another note, his eldest would be nearly in his teens wouldnt he, does anyone know if he plays footy????

 

[HBF]

SOS is so much better than Fletcher & Scarlett.
SOS played on, and beat guys like:

Tony Lockett
Jason Dunstall
Peter Sumich
Wayne Carey
Matthew Lloyd
Alastair Lynch
Gary Ablett
Chris Grant

Have I forgotten anyone?

 

[thylacine60]

SOS is so much better than Fletcher & Scarlett.
SOS played on, and beat guys like:

Tony Lockett
Jason Dunstall
Peter Sumich
Wayne Carey
Matthew Lloyd
Alastair Lynch
Gary Ablett
Chris Grant

Have I forgotten anyone?

Modra - but he might have been towelled a couple of times.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

day in the park.

 

[gbatman]

Silvagnie took more contested marks against his opponents than the other greats.

That and he was more versatile as a player as he was a great forward (kicked over 200 goals).

SOS' big downfall was his kicking was a bit shabby at times but appart from that I rate him as the best I've seen.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Never pay money to see someone stop Carey and Dunstall leading us to victory??? Not sure u really thought that through. Then if you dont like watching him carve up the opposition best would u like to see him sit on Starcevich's head a couple of times in front of 80,000.....Southby was great and i loved watching him play the little that I did, however he did get carved up a few times...only remember Silvagni lowering his colours a couple of times.....right until his last game he was great....

Anyway I have got that off my chest, SOS u were a champion.

On another note, his eldest would be nearly in his teens wouldnt he, does anyone know if he plays footy????

I missed all of that sunshine.

Yes he was outstanding.

Couldnt kick over a lolly jar.

Sefta could nail in 90.
'til balme back arsed him.

and i will back this up,
what Balme did in '73 is perhaps the most cowardly thing,
i have ever seen on a football oval.

And i am genuine when i say that.

 

[Swampfox]

Of all the positions in the AFL/VFL team of the century the full back selection of stephen silvagni was the selection that created the most controversy

that for starters tells you something

SOS was a great player and nobody denies that fact

Most people born around the Jack Regan era thought he was the best

Those who didnt see Regan play but saw Geoff Southby or David Dench play thought they were better than SOS

Its all conjecture just like Mike Sheanan,s top 50

IMO the section panel selelcted for the task was flawed

Even Carltons team of the century included Southby as a back pocket alongside SOS at Full back is ironic

My pick was Southby

 

[sosos]

The sniping at the TOC fullback is disrespectful to the memory of a superb player.

You were the best SOS and no arguments can be made against the selection.

Back in your sad little boxes sooks.

 

[pumped]

To those who found him boring what about his dashes down field where his intuitive abilities often left champions like Carey standing flat footed. He may have been a fantastic negator but this should not take away from his great rebound ability.

 

[gbatman]

Those who found SOS boring are those who don't appreciate all aspects of footy. They are the type who just like seeing marks and kicking goals.

 

[Korn]

It is such a stupid comparison when he said SOS will struggle today so therefore Fletcher and Scarlett are better full backs. Lockett and Dunstall would have struggle in today's game too so does that mean the current forwards are better than them?????????

 

[Thrawn]

It is such a stupid comparison when he said SOS will struggle today so therefore Fletcher and Scarlett are better full backs. Lockett and Dunstall would have struggle in today's game too so does that mean the current forwards are better than them?????????

Those who think SOS would struggle in today's game assume he is not good enough to adapt.

 

[Faz 2000]

In general, people in footy have short memories.

Already, not 10 years retired, Silvagni is rated lower than the Fletchers and Scarletts of today. Which is rubbish. Silvagni had both of those excellent players covered, comprehensively in my opinion, as a defender. And yes, he played on several all-time great forwards, and in general had a good record. Any fullback that plays 300+ games is going to cop some hidings, and Silvagni got his from Lockett and Modra, mostly. But most of those guys will tell you he was the toughest opponent they ever played on.

But likewise, there were ~100 years worth of players before Silvagni, and some amazing fullbacks in that time (including one or two at Carlton!), that may well have been a "better" player.

Give it 10 years and nobody will be talking about Scarlett being the best.

 

[Pamam]

Give it 10 years and nobody will be talking about Scarlett being the best.

they will be saying Jamison!!

 

[griggisalegend]

they will be saying Jamison!!

ill stick with pauly bower

 

[koutamarto]

In general, people in footy have short memories.

Already, not 10 years retired, Silvagni is rated lower than the Fletchers and Scarletts of today. Which is rubbish. Silvagni had both of those excellent players covered, comprehensively in my opinion, as a defender. And yes, he played on several all-time great forwards, and in general had a good record. Any fullback that plays 300+ games is going to cop some hidings, and Silvagni got his from Lockett and Modra, mostly. But most of those guys will tell you he was the toughest opponent they ever played on.

But likewise, there were ~100 years worth of players before Silvagni, and some amazing fullbacks in that time (including one or two at Carlton!), that may well have been a "better" player.

Give it 10 years and nobody will be talking about Scarlett being the best.

Exactly. Great post.
Judd has been struggling with injury 4 12 months and already ppl have forgotten what a player he was and will contnue to be. or they chose to live in denial.

 

[Faz 2000]

Exactly. Great post.

I've been getting that a lot recently. Must not be busy enough at work.

Judd has been struggling with injury 4 12 months and already ppl have forgotten what a player he was and will contnue to be. or they chose to live in denial.

And if I hear someone ask "is Gary Ablett Jnr better than his dad?" or "is Buddy Franklin better than Carey/Lockett/Dunstall/anyone?" again this season I'm going to punch them in the throat. Get back to me in about 250 games and 800 goals. Idiots.

 

[bourbons]

Wouldn't pay money to watch him.

Carey vs Silvagni in the mid 90s was worth the price of admission alone.