Paul Kelly,
Listen to Rocket Eade talk about how well respected he was at Sydney and the things he did on and off field. Eade still says he is the greatest player he has coached.
One story I remember him telling was of when Kelly was first picked up by the Swans and he had moved to Sydney as an 18 yr old and shared a place with a young guy who was an apprentice tradey.
The kid soon quit and moved home leaving Kelly to live by himself in the big smoke by himself, with no mode of transport and some distance from training. He would catch public transport to training a trip that took him at least an hour each way.
If that wasn't enough for him, a kid by himself, in a new place, no family or friends, their was a senior player, who Rocket would not name, who insulted Kelly every training and told him 'just give up, go home, you'll never make it'.
To think he pushed himself to be the best he could be and win a Brownlow along the way is a great story. But noit just that, we has probably the most respected player in the league in his time, right up there with Robert Harvey. The way he went about it. Lead from the front, from start to finish.
There were also stories of how Kelly would push himself so hard in games that he was physically unable to keep fluids or food in his body for hours after games due to the efforts he went to week in week out.
Forget about guys with natural talent, think of the every day guy who busts his gut and never takes a backward step or looks sideways.
Paul Kelly was Captain Inspirational.