James Hird: Robert Harvey One Of The Greats

[st_Trav_ofWA]

An indication of him being under-rated was his shock(in my opinion) omission

from the Age's recent 50 alll-time greats.

that's a total indictment on whoever wrote that article. Was it Sheahan?

a worse slap in the face was Winmars omission from the top 50 WA players of all time list ffs they had malaxos on that damn lists !!!

[st.byron]

An indication of him being under-rated was his shock(in my opinion) omission

from the Age's recent 50 alll-time greats.

that's a total indictment on whoever wrote that article. Was it Sheahan?

a worse slap in the face was Winmars omission from the top 50 WA players of all time list ffs they had malaxos on that damn lists !!!

probably because he didn't finish his career back at South Freo, back in the WAFL, "like all good WA boys should". That's nuts isn't it. The first indigenous player to play 200 games and with the skills he had, he'd have to be in there.
Trav, could you PM me the venue for watching the game v. the filth tomorrow?
I may be able to slip away from work. Depends if I can get someone to fill in for me.
By the way Trav, India 1/71 after 14 oves v. Sri Lanka. Another blazing start. I'm actually supporting your boys because I support anyone who plays Sri Lanka. I reckon it's a crime that Chuckerlitharan is still playing test cricket.

[perfectionist]

Bit hypocritical from Sheahan seeing he has never rated Harvey at all. Just look at the lists of "best players" that he has produced over the years.

not so sure...
sheahan did put Harvey ahead of Buckley in his top 50 players ever.
from memory, harvs = 30, bucks =35...

He's a legend and a model ambassador of what makes our game great.
We're all very lucky to have watched the greatest Saint ever.

Yes, you are right - on both counts. Apologies to Mike Sheahan. I was thinking of the drongos in The Age.

[st.byron]

Bit hypocritical from Sheahan seeing he has never rated Harvey at all. Just look at the lists of "best players" that he has produced over the years.

not so sure...
sheahan did put Harvey ahead of Buckley in his top 50 players ever.
from memory, harvs = 30, bucks =35...

He's a legend and a model ambassador of what makes our game great.
We're all very lucky to have watched the greatest Saint ever.

Yes, you are right - on both counts. Apologies to Mike Sheahan. I was thinking of the drongos in The Age.

Out of interest, who did he have as 1,2 and 3?

[WayneJudson42]

Why get upset when media tools don't rate him? In the end, I'd say it's more important how his peers judge him.

Just ask Hiird and Archer.

media are retarded. lets be honest.

if u dont rate harves as the best you have no idea about footy.

Mate, he may not even be the greatest ever at St Kilda TBH.

Think Doc, Plugger, Winmar, Stewart.

... let alone the best ever. Big call IMO

[davidgrantfan]

""[Sad part is that he could probably play again next year.""
quote]

Yes , I think he could. RL said as much, and Roo etc wanted him to.

It will feel really empty when Harves isnt playing anymore , but I like to think that Harves and RL are both confident that we have the younger players who can come to the fore.

[Con Gorozidis]

media are retarded. lets be honest.

if u dont rate harves as the best you have no idea about footy.

Are you talking ALL TIME?

i mean in the grouping of "the best" whatever that means. media has actually been pretty good. i loved the hird stuff. i almost teared up reembering harves over the years.

[perfectionist]

Out of interest, who did he have as 1,2 and 3?

Carey, Matthews and Whitten.

I can't rate blokes who played before 1960 and of those I have seen, I rate Matthews as the best. Here is a link to Sheahan's top 50:

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default ... wsid=55909

[st.byron]

Why get upset when media tools don't rate him? In the end, I'd say it's more important how his peers judge him.

Just ask Hiird and Archer.

media are retarded. lets be honest.

if u dont rate harves as the best you have no idea about footy.

Mate, he may not even be the greatest ever at St Kilda TBH.

Think Doc, Plugger, Winmar, Stewart.

... let alone the best ever. Big call IMO

Better than Winmar. In the same stratosphere as Plugger and Stewart.

[st.byron]

Out of interest, who did he have as 1,2 and 3?

Carey, Matthews and Whitten.

I can't rate blokes who played before 1960 and of those I have seen, I rate Matthews as the best. Here is a link to Sheahan's top 50:

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default ... wsid=55909

Going off topic here Perfectionist, but I'd put Garry Ablett ahead of Matthews. I used to go to Geelong games just to watch Ablett. Have never seen such a freak. He was tough too and had a fair dose of mongrel inhim. Hard to compare players I know, but for mine Ablett was just a total freak.

[howlinwolf]

Back to the original post.

Hird was an incredible player. Similar to Harves in some respect.
Intelligent,courageous and a dedicated clubman.

I have always admired James Hird and his summation on Harves reinforces what I think of him.
Take note of what these types of people say about Harves. That's what counts. Hird would know.

An interesting statement from Tania regarding Harves too.
What lady wouldn't see those incredible qualities Robert has though ?

A role model for us and I'm bubbling with pride being a Sainter.

[perfectionist]

Back to the original post.

Hird was an incredible player. Similar to Harves in some respect.
Intelligent,courageous and a dedicated clubman.

I have always admired James Hird and his summation on Harves reinforces what I think of him.
Take note of what these types of people say about Harves. That's what counts. Hird would know.

An interesting statement from Tania regarding Harves too.
What lady wouldn't see those incredible qualities Robert has though ?

A role model for us and I'm bubbling with pride being a Sainter.

Totally agree. James Hird was a wonderful player. He showed that there were many routes to skill. He would caress the ball rather than brutalise it. Like you, I reckon his opinion is well worth noting.

[Winmarvellous]

a worse slap in the face was Winmars omission from the top 50 WA players of all time list ffs they had malaxos on that damn lists !!!

THAT WAS A JOKE!!!

Back to the post, and it shows both the class of James Hird, and the manner in which Banger is held. I'm sure he couldn't care less what others think, but a a past footy player, I know I'd rather the respect of my peers than those on the sidelines. Ask anyone who played against him to name their starting 18 of players they played with/against, I bet Harves would be there. That's all that counts in my book.

[saintbrat]

Harves rates Hird the same- when asked by Mike Sheahan which of the voss, Hird, Buckley he would take he said Hird- because he could turn and win a game on his own effort.

[mbogo]

Well - Hird is talking unlike any other person from Ess I have ever heard!
And he speaks TRUTH!
Winmar should easily make the WA top ten - obviously the reporters over there were too busy kicking Quokas than watching Nicky in the 80s and 90s!
Ridiculous - I had never heard this before.

[Winmarvellous]

Winmar should easily make the WA top ten

While I love Nicky, to say he should EASILY make the top 10 is a big call. We've had some pretty good players over the years (Cable, Farmer, Michael etc.) I'd pick him there, but I don't know if it's my personal bias coming through or not.

[The OtherThommo]

Until recent years I've always regarded The Doc as the greatest player we've had. Many have rated Stewart above him, but I have one rationale - The Doc was the world's smallest CHF, yet the best of his era and an extraordinary leader. If he had been allowed to play as a centreman, how great would he have been. Yet, could Stewart, who was basically the same size as The Doc, have played, thrived, even survived, playing at CHF? My view - not a chance.

I took great delight when I saw the many times stroked Doc do an interview last year. He was asked if he still followed St.Kilda or the AFL. His response was priceless. He said not much but he still liked watching St.Kilda play because he loved watching Robert Harvey play football. Sheer unbridled joy, that's what he's given the game. Sublime skill and unchallenged strength of mind.

The kudos Banger gets from teammates and peers ensures his place with the absolute greats. Who would anyone rather get rapped by; Carey, Archer, Buckley, Hird, Voss, Knights, Malthouse, Johnson, Lockett, Parkin, et al, OR
Sheahan, Connolly, Brererrrrrrrrrrton, Robinson, Ralph and their ilk?