One for the connoisseurs:
I’ve been contemplating this list on and off for a while now. I believe that one of the things that elevates Aussie Rules above many other ball sports is the artistry that players possess and the way in which they can express themselves instinctively on the field. It is one of the reasons our indigenous players are so good to watch. These players I list here are aesthetically the most pleasing players to watch in my time viewing the game (late 70s onward). They are what elevates our game above the rest. I am not looking for the most powerful, dominant, athletic, players. This is based more on the subtleties of a player’s make-up.
My criteria is based on;
- Finesse
- Grace
- Evasiveness/Elusiveness
- Instinctiveness
- Poise
- Skill
- Making the impossible seem easy
- Flair
- Deftness of Touch
- Agility
- Time Slowing/effortlessness
- Fleet footed/Light on their feet
- Anticipation/Game sense
- Composure
- Vision
- Excitement Inducement
- Smooth Movement
- Speed
- Athleticism
- Presence
- Power
...roughly in that order.
There will be a 50 games minimum and of course this will be somewhat subjective to my taste. It will aim to move from the skilled, smooth movers to the more artistically sublime.
So counting down from 50;
50/ Gerard Healy (Syd)
49/ Merv Neagle (Ess)
48/ Darryl White (Bris)
47/ Chad Wingard (Port)
46/ Gary Buckenara (Haw)
45/ Steven Motlop (Gee)
44/ Chris Lewis (WC4
43/ Adam Goodes (Syd)
42/ Tim Watson (Ess)
41/ Craig Bradley (Car)
40/ Alan Didak (Coll)
39/ Marcus Bontempelli (Foots)
38/ Kevin Bartlett (Rich)
37/ Steve Johnson (Gee)
36/ Eddie Betts (Car/Ade)
35/ Phil Krakouer (Nth)
34/ Dustin Martin (Rich)
33/ Winston Abraham (Nth)
32/ Geoff Raines (Rich)
31/ Nathan Buckley (Coll)
30/ Malcolm Blight (Nth)
29/ Robbie Gray (Port)
28/ Nigel Lappin (Bris)
27/ Gary Ablett Jr (Gee/GC)
26/ Nick Dal Santo (StK)
25/ Maurice Rioli (Rich)
24/ Anthony Koutoufides (Car)
23/ Daniel Wells (Nth)
22/ Nat Fyfe (Freo)
21/ Gavin Wanganeen (Ess/Port)
20/ Gary Ablett Sr (Gee)- was powerful, brutal and imposing which detracts a little from the requirements of this list but his finesse, instinctiveness, poise etc. are above most and he had an undoubted artistry to his game.
19/ Doug Hawkins (Foots)
18/ Sean Burgoyne (Port/Haw)
17/ Michael Long (Ess)
16/ Cyril Rioli (Haw)
15/ Simon Black (Bris)
14/ Keith Greig (Nth)
13/ Robert Harvey (StK)
12/ Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
11/ Bernie Quinlan (Fitz)
10/ Jason Akermanis (Bris)
9/ James Hird (Ess)
8/ Andrew McLeod (Ade)
7/ Darren Jarman (Haw/Ade)
6/ Mark Mercuri (Ess)
5/ Nicky Winmar (StK)
4/ Peter Daicos (Coll)
3/ Peter Matera (WC)
2/ Buddy Franklin (Haw/Syd)
1/ Robbie Flower (Melb) - poetry in motion, and possibly the only player I’ve seen who survived the highest level largely on artistry alone.
I’ve been contemplating this list on and off for a while now. I believe that one of the things that elevates Aussie Rules above many other ball sports is the artistry that players possess and the way in which they can express themselves instinctively on the field. It is one of the reasons our indigenous players are so good to watch. These players I list here are aesthetically the most pleasing players to watch in my time viewing the game (late 70s onward). They are what elevates our game above the rest. I am not looking for the most powerful, dominant, athletic, players. This is based more on the subtleties of a player’s make-up.
My criteria is based on;
- Finesse
- Grace
- Evasiveness/Elusiveness
- Instinctiveness
- Poise
- Skill
- Making the impossible seem easy
- Flair
- Deftness of Touch
- Agility
- Time Slowing/effortlessness
- Fleet footed/Light on their feet
- Anticipation/Game sense
- Composure
- Vision
- Excitement Inducement
- Smooth Movement
- Speed
- Athleticism
- Presence
- Power
...roughly in that order.
There will be a 50 games minimum and of course this will be somewhat subjective to my taste. It will aim to move from the skilled, smooth movers to the more artistically sublime.
So counting down from 50;
50/ Gerard Healy (Syd)
49/ Merv Neagle (Ess)
48/ Darryl White (Bris)
47/ Chad Wingard (Port)
46/ Gary Buckenara (Haw)
45/ Steven Motlop (Gee)
44/ Chris Lewis (WC4
43/ Adam Goodes (Syd)
42/ Tim Watson (Ess)
41/ Craig Bradley (Car)
40/ Alan Didak (Coll)
39/ Marcus Bontempelli (Foots)
38/ Kevin Bartlett (Rich)
37/ Steve Johnson (Gee)
36/ Eddie Betts (Car/Ade)
35/ Phil Krakouer (Nth)
34/ Dustin Martin (Rich)
33/ Winston Abraham (Nth)
32/ Geoff Raines (Rich)
31/ Nathan Buckley (Coll)
30/ Malcolm Blight (Nth)
29/ Robbie Gray (Port)
28/ Nigel Lappin (Bris)
27/ Gary Ablett Jr (Gee/GC)
26/ Nick Dal Santo (StK)
25/ Maurice Rioli (Rich)
24/ Anthony Koutoufides (Car)
23/ Daniel Wells (Nth)
22/ Nat Fyfe (Freo)
21/ Gavin Wanganeen (Ess/Port)
20/ Gary Ablett Sr (Gee)- was powerful, brutal and imposing which detracts a little from the requirements of this list but his finesse, instinctiveness, poise etc. are above most and he had an undoubted artistry to his game.
19/ Doug Hawkins (Foots)
18/ Sean Burgoyne (Port/Haw)
17/ Michael Long (Ess)
16/ Cyril Rioli (Haw)
15/ Simon Black (Bris)
14/ Keith Greig (Nth)
13/ Robert Harvey (StK)
12/ Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
11/ Bernie Quinlan (Fitz)
10/ Jason Akermanis (Bris)
9/ James Hird (Ess)
8/ Andrew McLeod (Ade)
7/ Darren Jarman (Haw/Ade)
6/ Mark Mercuri (Ess)
5/ Nicky Winmar (StK)
4/ Peter Daicos (Coll)
3/ Peter Matera (WC)
2/ Buddy Franklin (Haw/Syd)
1/ Robbie Flower (Melb) - poetry in motion, and possibly the only player I’ve seen who survived the highest level largely on artistry alone.
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