rugmop
Senior List
This. Easily the best ruckman I've seen in 65 years of watching footy.
-
AFLW 2024 - Round 3 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Who's the best Indigenous player ever?
- Thread starter Always Ballin
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Aug 6, 2021
- 6,835
- 12,531
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
I’m in my mid 20s so obviously can’t comment too much on someone like Polly Farmer, however I think Buddy has put together a case that is pretty hard to argue with.
As a key forward his output and longevity put him streets ahead of everyone in his era, when you consider that he has a legitimate case as the best key forward of all time. From purely subjective areas I’ve never seen a player with his combination of size, strength, speed, agility and skill.
If I had to rank it I’d go:
Franklin
Goodes
McLeod (was my idol as a kid so potentially biased)
As a key forward his output and longevity put him streets ahead of everyone in his era, when you consider that he has a legitimate case as the best key forward of all time. From purely subjective areas I’ve never seen a player with his combination of size, strength, speed, agility and skill.
If I had to rank it I’d go:
Franklin
Goodes
McLeod (was my idol as a kid so potentially biased)
Sttew
Brownlow Medallist
He isn't the best key forward of all time. A champion, yes.
- Aug 6, 2021
- 6,835
- 12,531
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
It’s always impossible to argue across eras but it think he has a case.
His stats of course will never be as impressive as someone like Lockett or Dunstall (has won as many Coleman medals and has more AA jackets though) as the game has made it harder for key forwards. However he is so far ahead of any other key forward in his era, purely looking at goals per game the only guy that gets near him is Fev and he played over 100 games less.
Not saying he is the best, I haven’t seen enough of those older guys to know but he definitely has a case.
MowShow
Club Legend
- May 10, 2012
- 1,780
- 2,780
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Oh dear...
Different era’s, so unless you’ve watched all these 4 players live, it’s very subjective.
If the experts put Polly up there at the top, there’s nothing I’ve seen that would make me change their conclusion.
Last edited:
- Mar 31, 2011
- 1,646
- 3,345
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
Warren Campbell.
Big Bad Basil >>>>>>> Benny Vigona >>>>>> Warren Campbell.
Sttew
Brownlow Medallist
Spot on. I never saw John Coleman or Gordon Coventry or Dick Reynolds. I know they were greats. There are posters on BF who never saw Gary Ablett Snr, IMO the most exciting footballer ever and a genuine great
Polly ...........
..............
.............
Daylight
...........
..........
The Rest
..............
.............
Daylight
...........
..........
The Rest
Not even in the same postcode as Polly.
South of the Yarra
Premium Platinum
- Jul 23, 2006
- 11,827
- 20,506
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Polly Farmer by the length of Flemington and then Buddy and Barry Cable
- Dec 5, 2017
- 2,189
- 5,218
- AFL Club
- Richmond
Of all the names mentioned, as great as they are, Buddy is the only one in my opinion that would genuinely be in the conversation for the top 5 players of all time so that makes him the indigenous goat.
Sttew
Brownlow Medallist
You’ve got a high mighty opinion of yourself!
- Dec 5, 2017
- 2,189
- 5,218
- AFL Club
- Richmond
Lol, just an opinion. Didn’t mean it to read otherwise
- Oct 25, 2006
- 25,540
- 38,835
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- B.S.C youngboys.. Borussia Dortmund
- Jul 18, 2011
- 4,003
- 2,980
- AFL Club
- Essendon
If he's indeed indigenous - Wayne Carey.
Otherwise Goodes. He could play effectively in any position on the ground.
But my favourite was Peter Matera. Freak.
Otherwise Goodes. He could play effectively in any position on the ground.
But my favourite was Peter Matera. Freak.
ferrisb
Brownlow Medallist
Indigienous. Not disingenuous...
Buddy is the best player I’ve seen in my 27 years of watching regularly.
Granted Lockett and Dunstall were in the back end of their careers.
But Buddy’s career is sensational
Granted Lockett and Dunstall were in the back end of their careers.
But Buddy’s career is sensational
Probably Buddy but you could argue Cable or Farmer.
VinnieB
Norm Smith Medallist
- Oct 28, 2021
- 7,084
- 10,852
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
South of the Yarra
Premium Platinum
- Jul 23, 2006
- 11,827
- 20,506
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Franklin is not even the greatest player in his position, Farmer is. I am not watering down Buddy's career, he is a great of our game but Farmer was better.
Didn't see S Michael or Polly Farmer in their prime so imo its a toss up between Buddy and Goodes.
Kicking 1000 goals in the modern game Buddy is ~30% better than the next best forwards in the same time period (JK WCE/JR Rich) that's huge out performance.
Goodes probably sold short a bit in that he was so versatile his position and role changed multiple times through his career, mobile ruck, mid/fwd, key forward and he excelled at pretty much all of them.
Kicking 1000 goals in the modern game Buddy is ~30% better than the next best forwards in the same time period (JK WCE/JR Rich) that's huge out performance.
Goodes probably sold short a bit in that he was so versatile his position and role changed multiple times through his career, mobile ruck, mid/fwd, key forward and he excelled at pretty much all of them.
- Mar 23, 2007
- 34,930
- 23,534
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Other Teams
- Man U, Canucks and 49ers
Buddy.
