We never saw the best of 'em

[Mr Ripper]

Who are the players that, for one reason or another, have not been able to reach the heights that their natural talent should have allowed? I've picked out three for starters, please feel free to add some more.

Neale Daniher is an obvious choice. A reigning B&F and captain-elect after 1981, only to have his career decimated by a series of knee injuries.

Peter Motley is said by some to have been the best of the croweating triumvirate lured to Princes Park in 1986, but had his fledgling career halted by that horrific car accident during the 1987 season.

Brendan 'Billy' McCormack. Sublime skills. Arguably recruit-of-the-year in 1989. Alas, he succumbed to the lure of the golden arches.

 

[CJH]

In another post, John Coleman was lambasted for not qualifying to be considered as the greatest FF of all time. If that is true, then he is a definite candidate for this topic.

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This is a hallucination and these faces are in a dream. A computer generated environment; a fantasy island you can do anything and not have to face the consequences.

 

[Grendel]

Two that i remember from the late seventies early eighties were Richard Walter and Andy Bennett.

Walter was being groomed to take over the ruck from Don Scott when he did the dreaded knee. Until then he had been progressing really well. Big and fearless with a powerful tear through style. It took us four years to find another ruckman to replace him.

Andy Bennett came over from SA (cant recall which club) after tearing apart the Vics in an interstate game. He to did a knee and ended up playing a handful of games before being shipped of to the Saints i think.

There are others, but those two for some reason stick out.

Jonas at north was another.

 

[Mobbs]

Mark Dwyer from Fitzroy's 80's.

 

[servo]

Peter Motley was more highly regarded than Kernahan or Bradley and Andy Bennett was from South Adelaide.

Peter Jonas would have been in the Ablett class had he not broken two legs.

Early 70's Footscray player Dennis or Neil Sacshe (brothers, I can't remember which one). Was paralysed after a clumsy attack on the ball. He was in his 1st or 2nd year after moving from North Adelaide. Was veryuhighly regarded in SA.

Barrie Robran was tragically cut down by Leigh Matthews in a state game. I know he was already in his late 20's but he was a superstar.

Player for Central Districts, Greg Edwards kicked 100 goals prdominantly from a forward pocket. He was only 19 years old when he lost an eye during a trial game the next year. Had signed a Form 20 (was it?) with Carlton I think. The year was 1981.

Lee Walker's career was littered with injuries but when fit looked very good.

Aaron Keating broke his pelvis after winning the 1997 premiership never to be seen again.

There are many more running thgrough my head but that will do now.

 

[JUBJUB]

PAUL LYNCH at Geelong.

He had the potential to be in the top ten players in the league but his hammies are knackered.

I doubt anyone will risk picking him up in the DEC draft.

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"He is a loathsome offensive brute,yet I can't look away".

[This message has been edited by JUBJUB (edited 25 November 2000).]

 

[Woofer]

Neil Sachse (?) was just starting to look like a good footballer when he was unfortunately injured

 

[Magpie-Fletch]

Darren Millane.

A young rageing bull who wast taken from us all too soon. He was an incredible player who had the ability to take control of a game with either a bone-crunching shirt front, a freakish goal or a high flying mark.

 

[Denno]

I agree with Paul Lynch. Others in my view:

Brad Boyd
Stephen Oliver (was that his name?)
Adam Saliba (He showed a bit - from what I can remember)
Alistair Lynch

 

[Olmy]

I reckon John Barker (Fitz, BL, Haw), is very much an underrated player. Out of the '96 squad I believe he was just as talented as anyone - Boyd included.

It was unfortunate, for Barker, that in his time with the Roys, he was only able to experience a club which was constantly in turmoil on and off the field, and probably didn't have the opportunities that other players had (ie: to be apprenticed under senior players).

Although throwing him in at the deep end was successful, had he been able to play alongside a mentor such as P.Roos, I think he would have developed into a renowned player.

His one season at Brisbane was a wasted year, as were those that he spent in the reserves under Ken Judge.

In 2000 he showed some of the form of his Fitzroy days, and looks to be settling in to senior football again.

However, if he were drafted by a club who didn't have the misfortunes of Fitzroy (and been given more opportunities than the Hawks and Brisbane - ie: drafted by Essendon), I believe Johny Barker would have proven to be an excellent player at the top level by this stage.

Let's hope he can still achieve that (although belated)!

Go Johny Barker!!!

 

[Mr Ripper]

Denno nominated:
Adam Saliba (He showed a bit - from what I can remember)

Yeah, mostly around the midriff IIRC!

 

[JUBJUB]

Wasn't Adam Saliba jailed a few years ago.
Something to do with driving offences ?

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"He is a loathsome offensive brute,yet I can't look away".

 

[Bulldogsroar]

Originally posted by Woofer:
Neil Sachse (?) was just starting to look like a good footballer when he was unfortunately injured

Big call he only played 1 and a bit games ,


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" I can resist anything.........except temptation."

 

[Bulldogsroar]

Kelvin Templeton , in 1980 he won the Brownlow playing at Centre Half Forward in the bottm team and kicked approx 75 goals !
Injury in a 1981 pre season night game ruined his career,who knows how great he could of been


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" I can resist anything.........except temptation."

[This message has been edited by jboyar (edited 25 November 2000).]

 

[servo]

jboyjar?????

Did you read the title of this thread at all???????????

So you reckon we did see the best of Neil Sachse before his tragedy do you????

Wake up!!!! The guy was a star in SA before moving over to Vic or doesn't that count??

As for Adam Saliba, he had other problems. Should have taken up gardening with all he new about weeeeeeeeeeds.

 

[dees01]

We will never see the best of David Schwarz. After three knee reconstructions he has done well to be just playing again. In 94 he was sensational and was the main reason we made the Grand Final. Many experts were saying he was going to be the next superstar and then the knee problems began.

 

[walshy1993]

dees schwatz is as good as he is ever going to be

olmy john barker was never a backman or a ruckman, thats why he never reached his potential at fitz/bris
as soon as he was played up forward at haw he stared, and i think he will get better

never saw or will see the absolute best of wanganeen, he ruined his career by going to port were to much pressure was put on him, he also just doesnt have the personality to be a captain

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Neale Daniher was only going to get better and better. He is a standout for this topic.

Peter Motley had the makings of one of the blues greats. I still shake my head when I think about what he and the club missed out on.

I believe we did get to see Darren Millane at his raw best but we missed out on the opportunity to see him put the finishing touches to a masterpiece of a career. I'm sure he would have continued to show consistency and the football smarts that comes with experience.

 

[Olmy]

Originally posted by walshy1993:

olmy john barker was never a backman or a ruckman, thats why he never reached his potential at fitz/bris
as soon as he was played up forward at haw he stared, and i think he will get better

Yeah, in his time with the Roys, he was used sparingly across HF - which, I thought worked well (I don't know why he wasn't given CHF on a weekly basis). There were a couple of games where he was amongst the goals, and was taking marks - providing a target.

Initially, his game was suited more the the back half, and he showed a bit there with the Roys, but probably isn't quite up to cutting it there now (he's developed into a different player).

Barker's style is more of a running, tall player. Similar to P.Roos (when he played as a floating backman), but not in the same class. Barker's skills are generally quite good, and he has the pace to be a worry to most other tall backmen.

Despite the fact that he, reportedly, wasn't happy in Brisbane, I am still disappointed that the Lions didn't try to persuade him to stay on. He would still fit in across that HF line.

Hawthorn should do well with him.

 

[Bee]

I would have to say Peter Motley. One of the most haunting images that will stay with me forever, was the sight of Motts in a wheelchair after the 1987 GF. He was surrounded by the rest of the team and they placed the Premiership cup in his lap.

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

John Coleman would be the runaway unbackable favourie for

'We never saw the best of them'

a favourite of mine from recent times is Wade Chapman who played 51 games for the Swans 1995-1999. The real hero of the Swans 1996 campaign, he was absolutely fearless in his attack on the balland played like the was no tomorrow, unfortunately there was and chronic groin and thigh injuries cut him down while still a 24 yo.

 

[Olmy]

How about Jamie Lawson of the Swans? Cut down with a serious leg injury at the point where he, and the Swans looked to be set for glory.

 

[Guest]

Having watched Peter Motley come up through the Sturt reserves as a 16 year old and dominating games then, I'm sure he would have been one of the best to go over to Vic from SA. He was also a terrific bloke to go with it.

A few of his State of Origin games would have given the Victorians a taste of just how good he was.

 

[CJH]

Richard Lounder

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This is a hallucination and these faces are in a dream. A computer generated environment; a fantasy island you can do anything and not have to face the consequences.

 

[Paul D]

Brendan McCormack did win best first year player in 1989. He also didn't mind a bourbon & coke at Donvale reserve.

What about Tim Rendell, Matts younger and taller brother.