For me it was Eagles Chris Judd. Nearly 6-3 with absolutely blazing explosion. Nobody was faster in his prime.
The hype was unprecedented. Had them making promos like this;
Epic.
Leigh Mathews, could change a game by himself, kicked goals was a rover , full forward a defender, totally tough and relentless , played in an era where you could lose your life in many ways, and not from a heavy motor car styled collision like they say our super speedy motor car footballers do now? They always have.
He read the game , he had one touch pick up , even a fumble got back into his hands.
In general people like Judd , Franklin, Lockett, Dunstall, even Deisel Williams who came close along with Sam Mitchell, for latter years, Mathews was the complete package, he instilled fear into his opponents he gave no quarter and expected none , courageous like Dermott B or Nick Reiwolt, tough and more dangerous than Robbie Muir because Leigh could hurt you and beat you at the footy too, not just ruin your health.
Fearsome probably only Jack Dyer might scare more , or Mopsy Fraser.
But Leigh Mathews won games of football for most of the time.
He didn't have to, nor went out to target any one necessarily . He was naturally hard.
( one occasion maybe and there was a reason)
Football wise , he was devastating, four time Premiership Coach , premiership player, from out of the wild days.
Best that ever was, by a long shot.