If not the 'best', but most talented Player - G Ablett snr. He was also the most mercurial.
I read this often 'most talented' but it takes more than talent to kick 1000 goals in under 250 games.
He was also a brilliant finals performer.
The lack of premierships may have pegged him back but it takes more than one player to win premierships as his son can attest to.
I think the most talented player I have ever seen is Lance Franklin. I don't rate him near the best however as he's yet to dominate an entire finals series and he has a limited aerial game.
The best players were so good overhead. Leigh Matthews was only 178cm tall but he was a superb mark against bigger opponents and could pluck a pack mark every now and again.
Carey and Kernahan were dominant CHF's.
Carey was a lot more dynamic as he could jump pretty high and had a left foot like Ablett.
Hird was another player who dominated in big games on a very consistent basis. Very slow but he could kick either side and was also a brilliant aerialist. Underrated somewhat as I would rate him above Buckley, Voss and Ricciuto.