Tim Watson or Robert Harvey?

[Old Skool]

Both are considered rightfully amongst the second tier of the greatest onballers after the Buntons, Skiltons, Reynolds's and Matthews etc..

Who was the better player?

 

[Murraj1966]

Harves.

Bias aside?

Harves.

 

[pazza]

Harvey just.

Both are genuine champions so it's damn near impossible to compare the two and probably don't need to.

 

[scottwade]

Watson.

Probably didn't get as many disposals as Harvey, I just always felt he was more dangerous with the ball than Harvs and had a greater ability to influence a game.

 

[Gone Critical]

Great comparison. Loved Watson from day 1 as a 15 yo which I can't really say for any other Ess player. So dynamic but perhaps in the long run left you feeling he didn't quite become the player I expected

Harvey was a warrior, bled himself dry every week. At his peak I can remember watching him play for Victoria and thinking he was just at a different level from all the other champs of the day. He shimmied around them like they were standing still.

He gets my nod but love them both. Watson was never quite the best player going around, Harvey clearly was for a couple of seasons. His best eclipsed Tims and he did it for longer

 

[donbooger]

Great comparison. Loved Watson from day 1 as a 15 yo which I can't really say for any other Ess player. So dynamic but perhaps in the long run left you feeling he didn't quite become the player I expected

Harvey was a warrior, bled himself dry every week. At his peak I can remember watching him play for Victoria and thinking he was just at a different level from all the other champs of the day. He shimmied around them like they were standing still.

He gets my nod but love them both. Watson was never quite the best player going around, Harvey clearly was for a couple of seasons. His best eclipsed Tims and he did it for longer

Convincing argument, tipped me over the edge. Harvey for me as well.

 

[Slattery_20]

Not a bad one.
GC summed it up well. In terms of absolute peak, in terms of performances in big games & finals it'd be very hard to split... but Harvey clearly did it more consistently, for longer, in worse teams.
I would (many would) argue Watson was bloody close to the best player when Brad ****ing Hardie won a BL... 1985, Watson ran 3rd or 4th, he was the best player in the flag side, won the B&F... but he missed the two years after that.
Harvey was just incredibly resilient. Freak.
Would agree that Watson was slightly more damaging, but that'd be because he was a fair bit bigger & often started a kick closer to goals.
Both would be guns in any era.

 

[Donakebab]

Watson was seen by many as amongst if not the best player in 1980, 1985 and 1989 in spite of not taking a Brownlow home. He did take the MVP in 1989. If he had a longer purple patch joining these years together like Harvey did it would be more remembered, unfortunately the injuries over '86-'87 diminished this.

Voted Timmy as I felt he was more damaging by foot and near the goals, if I was to take a player now it would be him as I think he could slot into the modern game perfectly and simply because he's always been my favourite player. Can totally understand people choosing Bangers though, both absolute superstars of the game. Great poll.

 

[Powered Up]

If I had to pick one for Port it would be Harvey, But if Port picked T Watson and then got J Watson under F&S that would be a winner.
but Harvey was a machine, just ashame he never really hurt teams on the score board.

 

[Sin City]

Harvey, a bit underrated on BigFooty, one of the greats.

 

[Bigeasy]

I saw both players at their best and I'd take Timmy circa 79-85, was more dynamic and inspirational.

Watson, just.

 

[Old Skool]

Harvey.

His best was better and he did it longer.

Watson only pips him on offensive impact.

 

[richoatthedisco]

Two of my favourite non-Tigers. Loved Timmy-Timmy Watson when I was a kid, loved Harvey who's a couple of years older than me. Harvey probably just for consistency but Watson was more dynamic. Two absolute champions. I disagree they're below the likes of Bunton et al, who dominated a much smaller field of players. Right up there, all-time greats both.

 

[a_fighting_fury]

Loved watching both players, both are legends of the game, but Harves over Watson for me. Harves had a finese that Watson lacked.

 

[Chewy]

Robert Harvey was one of greatest footballers ever to play the game. He was the 90's version of Chris Judd or Haydn Bunton. Untouchable. I've always thought he was underrated on these boards. People forget how amazing Harvs was at his peak from 1992-1999. They mainly remember his last 10 years and forget his first 10 years. They judge him by how he played from 2004-2008 (aged 33-37)

Watson retired at the age of 30, then came back at the age of 32 when he was serviceable in Essendon's 93 flag. Unlike Harvey, people mainly remember Watson for his play while he was still in his twenties.

I rate Timmy on a par with champions like Mark Ricciuto, Craig Bradley, John Platten, Michael Tuck, Ben Cousins, Gerard Healy, Paul Kelly, Garry Hocking and Peter Matera. I'm being somewhat generous and making allowances for the serious knee injury he suffered while at his peak. Don't forget, Harvey was also struck by injury while at his peak (persistent hamstring problems from 1999 onwards)

Watson was an explosive footballer and a great ruck-rover, but outside of Windy Hill, I can't recall Timmy ever being unanimously rated as the game's best player like Harvey was. He did win the MVP trophy in 1989, but Gary Ablett was clearly the best player that year and a mid-year suspension cost him.

 

[MightyMark]

I'd go Harvey. Would easily rate him amongst the elite mid fielders of all time, his running ability alone was immense, but he had the skill and smarts to back it up. Absolute legend of the game.

 

[willoblue]

2 superstars & despite being labelled just below the top tier, either could easily fit into that category.

I had to go Harvey as he was the pre-Judd version of the hip shaking clearance specialist, combined with the most awesome gut running I have seen.

Hopefully for the Saints, Rob has sons the way Great Timmy had Great Jobe.

overall 2 awesome players & a great poll