The best 20 footballers in the AFL

[Rohan_]

1) Simon Black
2) Micheal Voss
3) Luke Darcy
4) Shane Crawford
5) Jason Akermanis
6) Nathan Buckley
7) Andrew McCleod
8) Jason Johnson
9) Ben Cousins
10) Peter Bell
11) Nick Riewoldt
12) James Hird
13) Nathan Brown
14) Matthew Lloyd
15) Nigel Lappin
16) David Neitz
17) Paul Williams
18) Justin Leppitsch
19) Travis Johnstone
20) Steven King

 

[Portmanteau]

1) Michael Voss
2) Andrew McLeod
3) Simon Black
4) Anthony Koutoufides
5) Nathan Buckley
6) Nigel Lappin
7) Jason Johnson
8) Shane Crawford
9) Justin Leppitsch
10) Glen Archer
11) Matthew Primus
12) Jason Akermanis
13) Nick Riewoldt
14) Gavin Wanganeen
15) Brent Harvey
16) Nathan Brown
17) Chris Judd
18) Paul Williams
19) David Neitz
20) Ben Cousins

 

[dougthelegend]

is this just u'r opinion or are u basing it on something - cause for mine there's a number of poor selections in there. I'd have Hird above JJ for one - and Voss above Black, i would think that at least would make sense i will leave the rest my probs for the moment!

 

[eagleskickass]

Chriss Judd AHEAD of Cous already?

I would do my own top 20 but i would get it TERRIBLY wrong, just querying how that is so?

 

[dougthelegend]

Originally posted by eagleskickass
Chriss Judd AHEAD of Cous already?

I would do my own top 20 but i would get it TERRIBLY wrong, just querying how that is so?

same here mate, i will just pick away at other ppls!
i would have Hird in the top 5 at least, even though he didn't have a great season bcause of injury mainly - he's still all class and should show that with an injury-free 2003.

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by eagleskickass
Chriss Judd AHEAD of Cous already?

I would do my own top 20 but i would get it TERRIBLY wrong, just querying how that is so?

Cousins is a receiver who gets most of his ball in the back half. Judd on the other hand, is far more damaging.

 

[Zombie]

1. M.Voss
2. N.Buckley
3. M.Primus
4. J.Akermanis
5. A.McLeod
6. W.Tredrea
7. S.Crawford
8. J.Leppitsch
9. D.Fletcher
10. L.Whitnall
11. J.Francou
12. B.Ratten
13. L.Darcy
14. S.Black
15. S.Goodwin
16. M.Lloyd
17. B.Cousins
18. J.Brown
19. B.Johnson
20. T.Johnstone

I came up with this list based on if all players were disbanded and there was a massive draft who I woud pick in order.

 

[LionsForever]

Rohan_ thats a huge wrap on Simon Black getting number 1 ahead of Michael Voss, thats awesome that you recognised Simon Black for alot of his skills he puts hard work into. Simon Black is probably my favourite player but I wouldnt put him ahead of Michael Voss. Maybe slot him into 2nd or 3rd.

 

[Nic]

Travis Johnstone certainly has gone up in some people's estimations.

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by Nic
Travis Johnstone certainly has gone up in some people's estimations.

That's what BigFooty plugs will do for ya...

Next: David Menscch and Shane Parker sneak into sabre_ac's top 20!

 

[Kenny_01]

1. M. Voss
2. J. Akermanis
3. A. McLeod
4. S. Black
5. W. Tredrea
6. N. Buckley
7. N. Brown
8. S. Crawford
9. L. Darcy
10. B. Johnson
11. J. Johnson
12. J. Leppitsch
13. B. Cousins
14. M. Pavlich
15. M. Primus
16. J. Francou
17. M. Lloyd
18. J. Hird
19. D. Neitz
20. B. Harvey

 

[Portmanteau]

RE: Tredrea, I love the man, but until he's beaten Leppitsch and Archer he's sitting at #21.

 

[Lockyer24]

My Top 20 players in the league (not best in 2002)
1. Michael Voss
2. Nathan Buckley
3. Andrew McLeod
4. Simon Black
5. James Hird
6. Luke Darcy
7. Shane Crawford
8. Ben Cousins
9. Matthew Lloyd
10. Jason Akermanis
11. Warren Tredrea
12. Nigel Lappin
13. Nathan Brown
14. Josh Francou
15. Brad Johnson
16. Jason Johnson
17. Nick Riewoldt
18. Steven King
19. Adem Yze
20. Brad Ottens

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by Lockyer24
My Top 20 players in the league (not best in 2002)

Therefore Kouta would get a gig would he not?

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by Kenny_01
1. M. Voss
2. J. Akermanis
3. A. McLeod
4. S. Black
5. W. Tredrea
6. N. Buckley
7. N. Brown
8. S. Crawford
9. L. Darcy
10. B. Johnson
11. J. Johnson
12. J. Leppitsch
13. B. Cousins
14. M. Pavlich
15. M. Primus
16. J. Francou
17. M. Lloyd
18. J. Hird
19. D. Neitz
20. B. Harvey

So you do agree that McLeod is better than Black and Buckley is better than Cousins after all Kenny?

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by Zombie


So you do agree that McLeod is better than Black and Buckley is better than Cousins after all Kenny?

 

[Kenny_01]

Originally posted by Zombie


So you do agree that McLeod is better than Black and Buckley is better than Cousins after all Kenny?

Yes.

But not easily, as you say.

And I said I would prefer Cousins in my side than Buckley because he is younger. Same goes for Black. I put McLeod there for what he has done in the past. He was pretty dissapointing this season.

 

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by Lockyer24
My Top 20 players in the league (not best in 2002)
1. Michael Voss
2. Nathan Buckley
3. Andrew McLeod
4. Simon Black
5. James Hird
6. Luke Darcy
7. Shane Crawford
8. Ben Cousins
9. Matthew Lloyd
10. Jason Akermanis
11. Warren Tredrea
12. Nigel Lappin
13. Nathan Brown
14. Josh Francou
15. Brad Johnson
16. Jason Johnson
17. Nick Riewoldt
18. Steven King
19. Adem Yze
20. Brad Ottens

If this top 20 is not the best in 2002, then where the hell is Kouta, Ratten and Whitnall? At least Ratten should be there.

 

[Blues4Life]

Originally posted by Thrawn


If this top 20 is not the best in 2002, then where the hell is Kouta, Ratten and Whitnall? At least Ratten should be there.

That's a fair point, Ratten is easily one of the best midfielders in the competition and I'd rather have Whitnall in my side then Ottens.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

1. M.Voss
2. N.Buckley
3. S.Black
4. A. Macleod
5. D.Fletcher
6. J.Akermanis
7. S.Crawford
8. M.Primus
9. B.Cousins
10. L.Darcy
11. M.Lloyd
12. W.Tredrea
13. B.Ottens
14. J.Francou
15. J.Leppitsch
16. S.King
17. B.Johnson
18. N.Lappin
19. J.Johnson
20. N.Brown

 

[ozzult]

Originally posted by GhostofJimJess
1. M.Voss
2. N.Buckley
3. S.Black
4. A. Macleod
5. D.Fletcher
6. J.Akermanis
7. S.Crawford
8. M.Primus
9. B.Cousins
10. L.Darcy
11. M.Lloyd
12. W.Tredrea
13. B.Ottens
14. J.Francou
15. J.Leppitsch
16. S.King
17. B.Johnson
18. N.Lappin
19. J.Johnson
20. N.Brown

No Hird?

 

[Mocca]

I went back and dug up my 20 from the start of the season. It wasn't as embarrassing as I remembered.

"20 - Dustin Fletcher
19 - Chris Grant
18 - Jason Johnson
17 - Robert Harvey
16 - Jason Akermanis
15 - Shane Crawford
14 - Brad Ottens
13 - Scott West
12 - Brett Ratten
11 - Simon Black
10 - Jonathan Hay
9 - Ben Cousins
8 - Peter Everitt
7 - Anthony Koutoufides
6 - Matthew Primus
5 - Nathan Buckley
4 - James Hird
3 - Andrew McLeod
2 - Matthew Lloyd
1 - Michael Voss"

Obviously I'd like to do away with Peter Everitt, while Ottens and Hay's stocks have clearly fallen. But not a bad effort. Maybe Francou and Tredrea could come in - I've underrated the Power.

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by ozzult


No Hird?

As harsh as it may sound, I don't think Hird has done enough over the last two seasons to earn a start in anyone's 22 based upon reputation alone. You could pick a handful of better half-forward flankers and now there are two better captains in the competition. His stock has fallen markedly. A better season in 2003 would no doubt change this feeling.

 

[Falchoon]

Originally posted by Thrawn


If this top 20 is not the best in 2002, then where the hell is Kouta, Ratten and Whitnall? At least Ratten should be there.

Would Robert Harvey be better than Ratten?

Still averaged almost a Brownlow vote a game this year!

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Yeah ozzult ... no Hird.

I'd definitely pick Fletcher, Lloyd and Johnson before the injury-prone Hird ... and I think 3 Bomber players is plenty in any Top 20. (Except possibly an Ugly Top 20 - Barnard, Fletch, Moorcroft and JJ are walk-ups for that little baby!!)

I think for too long the Essendon bookends, and Johnson, and possibly even Mercs when he's fit have dominated games without getting the kudos that's attributed to Hird. And nowadays the "impact" seems to have gone out of him being an "impact player".

And, while we're on it, for too long commentators have gone into raptures over things that James has done on the ground, that other players, Essendon or not, consistently do on the footy field without all of the fuss and attention ....