Who Is The Best Player You've Seen?

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JackFlash

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Stephen Michael.

Hands down better than anyone else, ever.

Also told the VFL to GAGF.

Legend.
And by doing so, never proved a goddamn thing against the best players in the country who were playing in the best competition in the country... which was the VFL. Michael was certainly a great player, however would not be included in any greatest ever WA team, the same goes for the best SA player to never player in the VFL, Barrie Robran. No doubt both players would've improved their game considerably by playing three or four seasons against the best. You have to play against the best to be considered one of the best.
 

PowerForGood

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And by doing so, never proved a goddamn thing against the best players in the country who were playing in the best competition in the country... which was the VFL. Michael was certainly a great player, however would not be included in any greatest ever WA team, the same goes for the best SA player to never player in the VFL, Barrie Robran. No doubt both players would've improved their game considerably by playing three or four seasons against the best. You have to play against the best to be considered one of the best.
What an interesting opinion.
 

Scotland

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What an interesting opinion.
Not really. A lot of Victorians think this way.

FWIW Stephen Michael won the Tassie Medal for the best player in SOO and was captain of the AA side. People rate him higher than guys like Glendinning, Rioli etc. who had long and distinguished careers in the VFL for a reason.
 

PowerForGood

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Not really. A lot of Victorians think this way.

FWIW Stephen Michael won the Tassie Medal for the best player in SOO and was captain of the AA side. People rate him higher than guys like Glendinning, Rioli etc. who had long and distinguished careers in the VFL for a reason.
Yeah, lived in Melbourne for 6 years and many really think that VFL was the only real comp in Australia, ever.

And any evidence to the contrary is usually answered with "yeah, but we didn't take it seriously and didn't really try". eg John Abley was a three times All Australian Full Back when there were only State Games to assess (equal to Ted Whitten and Ron Barassi) yet I know that Vics would just say "but he didnt play in Victoria".
 

Jakksynn

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Not enough love for Chris Judd in this thread. His best was better than GAJ imo, just couldn't maintain that level like GAJ did
 

JackFlash

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What an interesting opinion.
I'm going on the past records of Farmer, Marshall, Moss, Blight, Cable, Fitzpatrick, Kernahan, Bradley, Platten, etc. All legends of the game and proven great players in the VFL. Many of the great South Australians never had the balls to come here at all and match it with the very best. Ebert and Cornes came too late for example. Robran resisted altogether! Brian Peake finally came over from WA at age 28 and was just above average here, generating the unkind nickname "pasties"! I saw him play some blinders though and clearly he was once an incredible player. He probably should've made the move in 1978 after winning the Sandover in 77'. Stephen Michael almost made it to Geelong after winning 3 B&F's in a row for South Fremantle, he chose to stay at home and win 2 Sandover's in a row and a flag. Good for him.
 

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Reginald Perrin

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And by doing so, never proved a goddamn thing against the best players in the country who were playing in the best competition in the country... which was the VFL. Michael was certainly a great player, however would not be included in any greatest ever WA team, the same goes for the best SA player to never player in the VFL, Barrie Robran. No doubt both players would've improved their game considerably by playing three or four seasons against the best. You have to play against the best to be considered one of the best.
It's difficult to improve on perfection.

Played in plenty of SOO games and is in the WA and Australian Hall of Fame.

The VFL wasn't the best competition in the country anyway, it was just better financed and promoted.
 

Scotland

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I'm going on the past records of Farmer, Marshall, Moss, Blight, Cable, Fitzpatrick, Kernahan, Bradley, Platten, etc. All legends of the game and proven great players in the VFL. Many of the great South Australians never had the balls to come here at all and match it with the very best. Ebert and Cornes came too late for example. Robran resisted altogether! Brian Peake finally came over from WA at age 28 and was just above average here, generating the unkind nickname "pasties"! I saw him play some blinders though and clearly he was once an incredible player. He probably should've made the move in 1978 after winning the Sandover in 77'. Stephen Michael almost made it to Geelong after winning 3 B&F's in a row for South Fremantle, he chose to stay at home and win 2 Sandover's in a row and a flag. Good for him.
So basically you have NFI.

Haydn Bunton Sr dominated the VFL, then moved to WA and dominated the WAFL. Then even played for Port in the SANFL after WWII. Does only the VFL part of his career count?
 

JackFlash

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It's difficult to improve on perfection.

Played in plenty of SOO games and is in the WA and Australian Hall of Fame.

The VFL wasn't the best competition in the country anyway
, it was just better financed and promoted.
That's just nonsense, of course it was, otherwise why are we here today? The VFL was where you proved your worth as a footballer. Those that came over won flags, B&Fs and premierships. Those who didn't are forever B graders. Harsh, but true!
 

JackFlash

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So basically you have NFI.

Haydn Bunton Sr dominated the VFL, then moved to WA and dominated the WAFL. Then even played for Port in the SANFL after WWII. Does only the VFL part of his career count?
Sorry if history and the truth hurts, but that's how it is. Obviously Bunton was too good for the WA League. Players often moved to the VFA here in Victoria which was probably just as strong as the SA and WA Leagues in the 1930's. The best players from WA, SA and Tasmania came to Victoria to prove themselves, to make their name, to play against the very best in the country. Those that didn't are just a footnote in footy history.
 

Scotland

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Sorry if history and the truth hurts, but that's how it is. Obviously Bunton was too good for the WA League. Players often moved to the VFA here in Victoria which was probably just as strong as the SA and WA Leagues in the 1930's. The best players from WA, SA and Tasmania came to Victoria to prove themselves, to make their name, to play against the very best in the country. Those that didn't are just a footnote in footy history.
So yeah, as above - NFI.
 

Snake_Baker

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Carey is the best all round player I have seen. There wasn't really a flaw in his game.

Ablett Snr. for pure skill.

Matthews was obviously a colossus, but I only got the back half of his career.
 
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Craig Bradley was an absolute road warrior. Not the best, but with near on 500 games was definitely the most durable midfielder we'll ever see. People laud Brent for his record, but doesnt come close to Craig if you factor in his SANFL record.
 
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