the thought of the day...

[ptw]

Ken Farmer is the Greatest Full Foward to have played the game.

Discuss.

ptw

 

[Dan26]

Ha ha, good one.

Do you think he is? In your honest opinion, how many goals per game do you think he would have averaged in the VFL, hypothetically?

P.S. Hudson and Coleman averaged 5.6 and 5.5 goals per game in the AFL (or the VFL as the current competiton was "named" back then) Ken Farmer averaged 6.3 (I think) in the SANFL.

So, what do you think Farmer would have averaged? Lockett and Dunstall couldn't average 5!

 

[ptw]

well...let's see now...(yes he did average 6.33 goals per game)

he average 5.0 against Victoria in state games...so how about that for openners. This of course was against the best full-backs Victoria could muster (including Jack Regan who was inducted into the Hall of Fame). Coleman of course played against the best...and also the worst full backs in Victoria.

If he averages 5.0 against your best what would have average against your average ?

oh and from the AFL hall of fame....

JACK REGAN (Collingwood)

12/9/1912-11/8/1988
Known as the 'prince of full-backs' he took on and defeated some of the
greats of the 1930s.
Playing career: 1930-1943, 1946
Games: 197
Goals: 3
Player honors: 3rd Brownlow Medal 1934 (eq.); club best and
fairest 1936; capt 1940-1941, 1943; premierships 1935, 1936.

-------

KEN FARMER (North Adelaide)

25/7/1910-5/3/1982
The most prolific goalkicker in South Australian foot-ball history with
1419 goals. Never held goalless and kicked 100 goals in a season for
11 consecutive seasons.
Playing career: 1929-1941
Games: 224
Goals: 1419
Player honors: North Adelaide captain 1934-35, 1937-38, 1941;
North Adelaide leading goalkicker 1929-1941, SANFL leading goalkicker
1930-1940 (1932 drew with J. Owens Glenelg).
Coaching record: North Adelaide premierships 1949, 1952.

oh...and just for good measure...

GORDON COVENTRY (Collingwood)

25/9/1901-7/11/1968
Greatest goalkicker in the game’s history until Tony Lockett broke
his record in 1999. A hero during Collingwood’s most successful
era, accumulating goals at an incredible rate. His strength was his
major asset in turning opportunities into goals.
Playing career: 1920-1937
Games: 306
Goals: 1299
Player honors: club best and fairest 1933; club leading goalkicker
1922-1937; VFL leading goalkicker 1926-1930, 1937; 100 goals in a
season 1929, 1930, 1933, 1934; premierships 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930,
1935.

--------

BOB PRATT (South Melbourne)

31/8/1912–6/1/2001
High-leaping full-forward who kicked a record 150 goals in 1934.
Brilliant mark and kick who exuded confidence and spearheaded South
Melbourne during a successful era for the club.
Playing career: 1930–1939, 1946
Games: 158
Goals: 681
Player honors: club leading goalkicker 1932–1936, 1939; VFL
leading goalkicker 1933–1935; 100 goals in a season 1933, 1934,
1935; premiership 1933.

now...

Coventry never had to play against Regan (obviouly) and if we assume Regan was the best FB of the time (consistent Vic representative and Hall of Fame inductee). Coventry averaged 4.24. Pratt...who did play against Regan averaged 4.3. I do not know what Pratt averaged against Regan, although that ould be very interesting to know.

So...Farmer 5.0 against Regan (lets say the best) and 6.33 overall.

Coventry 4.24 (not always against the best) and Pratt 4.3 overall.

Hard to argue that Farmer was not above these two.

just FYI.....(I will get on to these)

--------
PETER HUDSON (Hawthorn)
19/2/1946
A freakish full-forward who just kept accumulating goals. Made brilliant
use of the body, was deadly accurate and had an amazing ability to read
the play. Holds the best goals per game average (5.59) in VFL/AFL history
and in 1971 matched Bob Pratt’s record for most goals in a season with
150.
Playing career: 1967–1974, 1977
Games: 129
Goals: 727
Player honors: 2nd Brownlow Medal 1971 (eq.); club best and
fairest 1968, 1970; club leading goalkicker 1967–1971, 1977; VFL leading
goalkicker 1968, 1970, 1971; premiership 1971.

----------
JOHN COLEMAN (Essendon)

28/11/1928-5/4/1973
Champion full-forward who was a high-flying goalkicking genius. His
strength one-on-one was brilliant and he was not intimidated by any
opponent. His playing career was tragically cut short by a knee
injury.
Playing career: 1949-1954
Games: 98
Goals: 537
Player honors: club best and fairest 1949; club leading goalkicker
1949-1954; VFL leading goalkicker 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953; 100 goals
in a season 1949, 1950, 1952; premierships 1949, 1950.
Coaching record: Essendon 1961-1967 (games 134, wins 91, losses
40, draws 3) premierships 1962, 1965.
----------


ptw




[This message has been edited by ptw (edited 04 May 2001).]