Our best Small Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Moderators: Saintsational Administrators, Saintsational Moderators
- BackFromUSA
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4640
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 12:38am
- Has thanked: 51 times
- Been thanked: 507 times
Our best Small Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Current captain?
Baker?
Burkey?
Dunne?
Judson?
Someone else?
Baker?
Burkey?
Dunne?
Judson?
Someone else?
AwayInUSA no longer ... have based myself back in Melbourne for a decade of Saintsational Success (with regular trips back to the USA)
"Saintsational Player Sponsor 2007 - 2018"
"Saintsational Player Sponsor 2007 - 2018"
- Mr Magic
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 12790
- Joined: Fri 04 May 2007 9:38am
- Has thanked: 801 times
- Been thanked: 428 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
50 years ago the game was played completely differently.
The specialist small back pocket was a 'negating' player selected to play on the opposition's 'resting rover'. His sole role was to stop that player from kicking goals.
The best I've seen of that position in that time were ;-
Roger Head
Wayne Judson.
As the game has evolved, that position has also evolved and today bears no resemblance to how it was played back then.
It's why people marvelled at the fact that Neil Crompton (a back pocket0 kicked the winning goal in Melbourne's last premiership win. Today it is not as remarkable for a 'small defender' to kick goals.
The specialist small back pocket was a 'negating' player selected to play on the opposition's 'resting rover'. His sole role was to stop that player from kicking goals.
The best I've seen of that position in that time were ;-
Roger Head
Wayne Judson.
As the game has evolved, that position has also evolved and today bears no resemblance to how it was played back then.
It's why people marvelled at the fact that Neil Crompton (a back pocket0 kicked the winning goal in Melbourne's last premiership win. Today it is not as remarkable for a 'small defender' to kick goals.
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Tue 28 Apr 2009 4:16pm
- Has thanked: 65 times
- Been thanked: 64 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
+1.
Totally reliable and impassable in their role.
They also had a chemistry with their full backs, ie Bob Murray and Cowboy Neale, and knew when to leave their man to fill the hole in the goal square when the FB moved up the ground.
Totally reliable and impassable in their role.
They also had a chemistry with their full backs, ie Bob Murray and Cowboy Neale, and knew when to leave their man to fill the hole in the goal square when the FB moved up the ground.
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 1316
- Joined: Sun 25 Mar 2012 9:45pm
- Has thanked: 24 times
- Been thanked: 99 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
In many ways Jeff Dunne was a pioneer.
At least he would have been if he were at a successful club.
Played the modern rebounding, attacking defender role very very well
Just played in some poor sides where plenty of people moaned about his style of play but in a better side he may have set a trend that took off much earlier than it eventually did
Was plenty of arguments about his worth and the way he played
2 B&Fs for the club is hard to argue with IMO
At least he would have been if he were at a successful club.
Played the modern rebounding, attacking defender role very very well
Just played in some poor sides where plenty of people moaned about his style of play but in a better side he may have set a trend that took off much earlier than it eventually did
Was plenty of arguments about his worth and the way he played
2 B&Fs for the club is hard to argue with IMO
- SaintPav
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 19072
- Joined: Wed 16 Jun 2010 9:24pm
- Location: Alma Road
- Has thanked: 1599 times
- Been thanked: 2015 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Nathan Burke by a mile..
Holder of unacceptable views and other thought crimes.
-
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: Tue 10 Jul 2007 11:14am
- Location: Bentleigh East
- Has thanked: 269 times
- Been thanked: 617 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
In my lifetime, Justin Peckett. Creative, rebounding, durable and rarely beaten.
Burke is the best player listed above but hardly played as a back pocket.
Burke is the best player listed above but hardly played as a back pocket.
- Con Gorozidis
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 23532
- Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 4:04pm
- Has thanked: 100 times
- Been thanked: 78 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Loved Pecko. He had two or three excellent seasons.
Baker had one or two excellent seasons.
Baker had one or two excellent seasons.
- Bernard Shakey
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 11240
- Joined: Sun 18 Mar 2007 11:22pm
- Location: Down By The River 1989, 2003, 2009 & 2013
- Has thanked: 126 times
- Been thanked: 137 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Dunne very much like Geary. got a ton of the ball because he turned it over so much.SuperDuper wrote:In many ways Jeff Dunne was a pioneer.
At least he would have been if he were at a successful club.
Played the modern rebounding, attacking defender role very very well
Just played in some poor sides where plenty of people moaned about his style of play but in a better side he may have set a trend that took off much earlier than it eventually did
Was plenty of arguments about his worth and the way he played
2 B&Fs for the club is hard to argue with IMO
Wayne Judson for me. Always reliable and rarely wasted a ball!
Old enough to repaint, but young enough to sell
- avid
- Club Player
- Posts: 1627
- Joined: Tue 11 Mar 2008 1:54am
- Location: St Kilda
- Has thanked: 19 times
- Been thanked: 86 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Jeff Dunne! I forgot all about him! Didn't he wear number 48?
He was a dashing and very different back pocket for his time.
I always loved watching Wayne Judson. Didn't look at all athletic -- a bit slow and sloppy, and unlively.
But he was reliable, and courageous, and had incredible judgement, and saved us time and time again.
He'd be my best.
Represented Victoria too.
Does Tim Pekin count as a back pocket?
Loved the Tinned Peaches. No41
He was a dashing and very different back pocket for his time.
I always loved watching Wayne Judson. Didn't look at all athletic -- a bit slow and sloppy, and unlively.
But he was reliable, and courageous, and had incredible judgement, and saved us time and time again.
He'd be my best.
Represented Victoria too.
Does Tim Pekin count as a back pocket?
Loved the Tinned Peaches. No41
- desertsaint
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 10426
- Joined: Sun 27 Apr 2008 2:02pm
- Location: out there
- Has thanked: 190 times
- Been thanked: 713 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
sean dempster for mine. AA and finished top three in our B&F 4 out of 5 years. just about the best overhead mark in the comp. One of the most professional players we've ever had, as Roo said himself “He’s the best I’ve seen in my time in footy." Underrated still.
"The starting point of all achievement is desire. "
- Joffa Burns
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 7081
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 5:48pm
- Has thanked: 1871 times
- Been thanked: 1570 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
1. Nathan Burke - attacking defender and beat his man one on one
2. Wayne Judson - state rep and took on the likes of Leigh Matthews holding his own
3. Jeff Dunne - rebounding defender and ball winner in an era of dour backmen
4. Baker - the human glove gave it everything at every contest
5. Geary - underrated player due to playing in an era where kicking efficiency is gold.
(Joffa Cunningham is a Saints great but would be howled down in this era for his kicking & Jack Daniels wouldn't have been drafted)
# Hard to rate Burke as a full time defender and Baker played up the ground as well.
Judson & Dunne were pure small back pockets.
What about tall back pockets like Brian Seirakowski & Brian Mynott?
Others to consider:
Mick Malthouse - though played his best footy at Richmond
Max Hudgton - like Dempster played tall and small and went well on small forwards such as Phil Matera in his prime
Kenny Sheldon played the small back pocket general role in defense pretty well at the saints
2. Wayne Judson - state rep and took on the likes of Leigh Matthews holding his own
3. Jeff Dunne - rebounding defender and ball winner in an era of dour backmen
4. Baker - the human glove gave it everything at every contest
5. Geary - underrated player due to playing in an era where kicking efficiency is gold.
(Joffa Cunningham is a Saints great but would be howled down in this era for his kicking & Jack Daniels wouldn't have been drafted)
# Hard to rate Burke as a full time defender and Baker played up the ground as well.
Judson & Dunne were pure small back pockets.
What about tall back pockets like Brian Seirakowski & Brian Mynott?
Others to consider:
Mick Malthouse - though played his best footy at Richmond
Max Hudgton - like Dempster played tall and small and went well on small forwards such as Phil Matera in his prime
Kenny Sheldon played the small back pocket general role in defense pretty well at the saints
Proudly assuming the title of forum Oracle and serving as the inaugural Saintsational ‘weak as piss brigade’ President.
- parkeysainter
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 2696
- Joined: Thu 20 Jul 2017 2:59am
- Location: Brighton Beach Mansion
- Has thanked: 84 times
- Been thanked: 177 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Phil Narkle hands down.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and the St Kilda FC
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and the St Kilda FC
- SaintPav
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 19072
- Joined: Wed 16 Jun 2010 9:24pm
- Location: Alma Road
- Has thanked: 1599 times
- Been thanked: 2015 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Nice list and analysis.Joffa Burns wrote:1. Nathan Burke - attacking defender and beat his man one on one
2. Wayne Judson - state rep and took on the likes of Leigh Matthews holding his own
3. Jeff Dunne - rebounding defender and ball winner in an era of dour backmen
4. Baker - the human glove gave it everything at every contest
5. Geary - underrated player due to playing in an era where kicking efficiency is gold.
(Joffa Cunningham is a Saints great but would be howled down in this era for his kicking & Jack Daniels wouldn't have been drafted)
# Hard to rate Burke as a full time defender and Baker played up the ground as well.
Judson & Dunne were pure small back pockets.
What about tall back pockets like Brian Seirakowski & Brian Mynott?
Others to consider:
Mick Malthouse - though played his best footy at Richmond
Max Hudgton - like Dempster played tall and small and went well on small forwards such as Phil Matera in his prime
Kenny Sheldon played the small back pocket general role in defense pretty well at the saints
What about Garry Odgers?
Holder of unacceptable views and other thought crimes.
- Enrico_Misso
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 11662
- Joined: Tue 13 Jun 2006 12:11am
- Location: Moorabbin Chapter of The Royal Society of Hagiographers
- Has thanked: 315 times
- Been thanked: 720 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Plugger should be on the back pocket list.
Didn't he stick some oeuvre dourves in Linday Fox's back pocket at a club function?
Didn't he stick some oeuvre dourves in Linday Fox's back pocket at a club function?
The rest of Australia can wander mask-free, socialise, eat out, no curfews, no zoning, no police rings of steel, no illogical inconsistent rules.
They can even WATCH LIVE FOOTY!
They can even WATCH LIVE FOOTY!
- prwilkinson
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 1999
- Joined: Tue 21 Sep 2010 12:17pm
- Has thanked: 67 times
- Been thanked: 132 times
- saintsRrising
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 30093
- Joined: Mon 15 Mar 2004 11:07am
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 711 times
- Been thanked: 1234 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
desertsaint wrote:sean dempster for mine. AA and finished top three in our B&F 4 out of 5 years. just about the best overhead mark in the comp. One of the most professional players we've ever had, as Roo said himself “He’s the best I’ve seen in my time in footy." Underrated still.
Sean and Max Hudgton were our two best pockets in this stint.
Wayne Judson probably the best of the smaller back pockets. Was also selected to play State Football in this position.
Flying the World in comfort thanks to FF Points....
- saintsRrising
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 30093
- Joined: Mon 15 Mar 2004 11:07am
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 711 times
- Been thanked: 1234 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
HBF and wing.prwilkinson wrote:Does Aussie Jones count as an attacking back pocket?
Flying the World in comfort thanks to FF Points....
- saintsRrising
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 30093
- Joined: Mon 15 Mar 2004 11:07am
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 711 times
- Been thanked: 1234 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
You may be thinking of Mark Jackson who got in trouble for placing lit objects in sponsors pockets.Enrico_Misso wrote:Plugger should be on the back pocket list.
Didn't he stick some oeuvre dourves in Linday Fox's back pocket at a club function?
Flying the World in comfort thanks to FF Points....
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed 21 Sep 2011 6:06pm
- Has thanked: 91 times
- Been thanked: 32 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Hard to pick as back in the day the back pocket would mind the second or resting rover whereas in recent years its a free for all because of rotations and forward structures. Wayne Judson probably of that era and in more recent times Frankie Peckett.
- BackFromUSA
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4640
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 12:38am
- Has thanked: 51 times
- Been thanked: 507 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Edited post title to say small back pocket. Will create new topic for the best tall back pocket.
AwayInUSA no longer ... have based myself back in Melbourne for a decade of Saintsational Success (with regular trips back to the USA)
"Saintsational Player Sponsor 2007 - 2018"
"Saintsational Player Sponsor 2007 - 2018"
- BackFromUSA
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4640
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 12:38am
- Has thanked: 51 times
- Been thanked: 507 times
Re: Our best Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Where did Bill Mildenhall play. Mostly back pocket I would have thought. Where does he rank?
AwayInUSA no longer ... have based myself back in Melbourne for a decade of Saintsational Success (with regular trips back to the USA)
"Saintsational Player Sponsor 2007 - 2018"
"Saintsational Player Sponsor 2007 - 2018"
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4302
- Joined: Fri 15 Sep 2006 10:35am
- Location: earth
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1426 times
Re: Our best Small Back Pocket in the past 50 years
Jeff Dunne in one year polled 13 votes in the Brownlow, polling in 13 games. He had two amazing seasons in defence and was then thrown into the midfield. After that his form deteriorated and he retired in his lat 20s
- Con Gorozidis
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 23532
- Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 4:04pm
- Has thanked: 100 times
- Been thanked: 78 times
Re: Our best Small Back Pocket in the past 50 years
I think AJ counts.
Jeff Dunne was a gun.
Wasted in s*** teams sadly.
Jeff Dunne was a gun.
Wasted in s*** teams sadly.
- Linton Lodger
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2467
- Joined: Mon 18 Aug 2014 2:07pm
- Has thanked: 86 times
- Been thanked: 256 times