Top Ten best VFL/AFL players seen in my lifetime

saint patrick · Fri 24 Jul 2009 12:33am

1:Leigh Matthews
2:Wayne Carey
3:Gary Ablett [Senior]
4:Tony Lockett
5: James Hird
6:Wayne Shimmelbusch
7:Nick Riewoldt
8:Rob Harvey
9:Michael Voss
10:Nicky Winmar

Just missing out:C.Judd,Buckley, Blight ,Jesalenko,Millane,Hayes,K.Bartlett,J.Nicholls,A.Mcleod,B.Lawrence Dunstall,R.Flower, R.Smith and M.Tuck

Not prepared to drop any of my top ten for anyone in the outstanding latter mentioned group

Neil Elvis Winmar in full flight was as good as anyone IMHO

Sublime skills and was rarely beaten one on one.

Riewoldt has this year reached stellar status[incredible athelete] which will be hopefully confirmed as a premiership captain soon

ausfatcat · Post: # 781413Post **ausfatcat** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 12:57am

1. Lockett
2. Carey
3. Harves
4. Ablett
5. Voss
6. Williams
7. Buckley
8. Jakovich
9. Hird
10. Roo

Really only saw the saints play before the 1990's

st.byron · Post: # 781414Post **st.byron** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 1:04am

1. Lockett
2. Ablett Snr
3. Matthews
4. Carey
5. Keith Greig
6. Voss
7. Harvey
8. Greg Williams
9. Kevin Bartlett
10. Dunstall / Hird / Bradley / Robbie Flower

I haven't put any current players in because it's too hard to compare past players who you can assess over a whole career with current players who still have things to achieve.

Beej · Post: # 781415Post **Beej** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 1:10am

1. Carey
2. Lockett
3. Ablett
4. Judd(WC)
5. Hird
6. Harvey
7. Buckley
8. Voss
9. Jarman
10. Ablett Jnr

Had a long think about it, and came to the conlcusion that Judd at WC was easily one of the best players I've ever seen in my life.

st.byron · Post: # 781417Post **st.byron** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 1:18am

OLB wrote:1. Carey
2. Lockett
3. Ablett
4. Judd(WC)
5. Hird
6. Harvey
7. Buckley
8. Voss
9. Jarman
10. Ablett Jnr

Had a long think about it, and came to the conlcusion that Judd at WC was easily one of the best players I've ever seen in my life.

Ah yes, I forgot Judd. It's because I've had a West Coast Eagles by-pass. Would have to put Judd in there after Carey. Absolute gun.

1. Lockett
2. Ablett Snr
3. Matthews
4. Carey
5. Judd
6. Keith Greig
7. Voss
8. Harvey
9. Greg Williams
10. Kevin Bartlett / Dunstall / Hird / Bradley / Robbie Flower

Armoooo · Post: # 781419Post **Armoooo** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 2:14am

Harvey number one for me, he dominated matches like no player I've ever seen, he may not have made it look as pretty as some others but IMO he was just a level above the rest of the competition, changed the game forever.

Mine would be (keeping in mind I only started watching footy seriously back in 1996 or so)

1. Robert Harvey
2. Michael Voss
3. Tony Lockett
4. Wayne Carey
5. Simon Black
6. Mark Riccutio
7. Nathan Buckley
8. Chris Judd
9. Nick Riewoldt
10. Andrew McLeod (for grand final excellence)

TimPekin'sDirtyGuernsey · Fri 24 Jul 2009 8:57am

1. Tony Lockett
2. Wayne Carey
3. Gary Ablett Snr
4. Robert Harvey
5. Greg Williams
6. Nick Riewoldt
7. Peter Daicos
8. Nicky Winmar
9. Dermott Brereton
10. Tim Watson

Just missed: Micky Conlan, Darren Jarman, Stephen Silvagni, Jason Dunstall, Bernie Quinlan

plugger66 · Post: # 781437Post **plugger66** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 9:04am

1 Plugger
2 Carey
3 Ablett
4 Matthews
5 Judd
6 Williams
7 Dunstall
8 Voss
9 Harvey
10 Hird

Tony Lockett was good as well.

Mr Magic · Post: # 781443Post **Mr Magic** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 9:18am

The best non-Saints players I have seen since the early 1960's (my Saints bias makes it impoassible to fairly compare non-Saits players with Saints players)
1. Matthews
2. Carey
3. Jesaulenko
4. Gary Ablett (sr)
5. Skilton
6. Knights
7. Brereton
8. Flower
9. Silvagni (steve)
10. Watson

Very close:-
Hird, Buckley, Voss, Farmer (Polly), Madden (Simon) Dunstall, Cable, Dempsey, Hart, Williams, Jarman (Darren)

These were obviously great players but were past their prime when I saw them:-
Whitten, Barassi

#1GILL · Post: # 781446Post **#1GILL** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 9:28am

im only 16. So i'll do a post-2000 one:

1. Voss
2. Buckly
3. Hayes
4. Judd
5. Hird
6. Roo
7. Cousins
8. C. Cornes
9. Bartel
10. Ablett(only so low down as he has only been good for 2-3 years, most of the others played fantastic footy over 5+, some like hayes and roo are still going)

st.byron · Post: # 781569Post **st.byron** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 3:26pm

1. Lockett
2. Ablett Snr
3. Matthews
4. Carey
5. Judd
6. Keith Greig
7. Voss
8. Harvey
9. Greg Williams
10. Kevin Bartlett / Dunstall / Hird / Bradley / Robbie Flower

I could have also put John Nicholls in there. I remember him but was a bit too young to really appreciate what a great player he was.
Nicholls played 328 games, captained 3 premiership teams and holds the record for the most games for the big V (31).

Darrel Baldock · Fri 24 Jul 2009 4:53pm

1 Carey
2 Baldock
3 Ablett snr
4 Lockett
5 Harvey
6 Brereton
7 Hird
8 Voss
9 Dunstall
10 Riewoldt
Each had the ability to change the course of a game by their own efforts, none more so than Carey, who I would curse, knowing I was witnessing a rare greatness and from someone who possessed no humility about his talent. Which made it worse. By the end of his career I believe Riewoldt may be number one and he is modest about his skills and a team orientated player. As for no.2... I AM DARREL BALDOCK!!!

HarveysDeciple · Fri 24 Jul 2009 5:06pm

1. Tony Lockett
2. Wayne Carey
3. Robert Harvey
4. Gary Ablett Snr
5. Michael Voss
6. James Hird
7. Jason Dunstall
8. Greg Williams
9. Mark Riccuito
10. Nathan Buckley/Steven Silvagni

Winmar7Fan · Post: # 781614Post **Winmar7Fan** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 5:16pm

1 T Lockett
2 W Carey
3 G Ablett (senior)
4 N Winmar
5 R Harvey
6 K Greig
7 K Bartlett
8 M Tuck
9 R Glendenning
10 P Daicos

Young Georgie · Fri 24 Jul 2009 5:17pm

1. W. Carey (doesn't sit well but have to admit it)
2. R. Harvey (no matter what)
3. P. Daicos (sublime touch)
4. G Ablett Snr (holy hell)
5. M. Voss (field marshall)
6. T Lockett (awesome)
7. K. Bartlett (enduring hunger)
8. J. Hird (x factor specialist)
9. C. Judd (unstoppable WCE)
10. L. Matthews (skilled mongrel)

nathan000 · Post: # 781618Post **nathan000** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 5:20pm

Ablett (senior)
Carey
Harvey
Voss
Riewoldt
Brown
Judd
Lockett
Dunstall
Hird

White Winmar · Fri 24 Jul 2009 5:27pm

1. Lockett
2. Matthews
3. Carey
4. Ablett Snr
5. Williams
6. Voss
7. Harvey
8. Winmar
9. Judd
10. Hird

Might be accused of a bit of St.Kilda bias in there, but Winmar in full flight was as good as any and didn't receive the recognition he deserved when talking about the "greats". Harvey? Enough said. Never mentioned with Hird, Buckley and Voss, but at least the equal of those and then some. Plugger? Imagine if he had prepared and presented himself the way Riewoldt does? Would've made Peter Hudson's prediction of 200 in a season come true. Still the best IMO by a mile, because of what he achieved while largely playing in mediocre or downright poor teams. Always the focus of the opposition and their best defenders. Amazing skill, presence and just plain scary!

evertonfc · Post: # 781620Post **evertonfc** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 5:30pm

Of the modern, post-VFL era

1. Carey - the only player I've ever feared walking into a ground.
2. Lockett - the best full-forward of all time.
3. Judd - the most explosive midfielder of his generation and probably of all-time. An absolute freak.
4. Harvey - the complete midfielder who changed the way midfielders played the game. Did it for two decades.
5. Voss - the best leader, perhaps ever, with fantastic ability.
6. Ablett - exciting, brilliant in a very attacking team.
7. Dunstall - not spectacular but an amazing ability to keep kicking bags.
8. Riewoldt - the best athlete the game has ever seen.
9. Cousins - had the most insane ability to lift himself.
10. Buckley - superbly talented player and a terrific leader. Edges out Hird, Akermanis, Ricciuto, Akermanis, J Brown, Silvagni and Jakovich.

saint vince · Fri 24 Jul 2009 5:36pm

Lockett
Carey
Ablett (snr)
Harvey
Hird
Voss
Jarman
Jackovich
Dunstall
Roo

st.byron · Post: # 781640Post **st.byron** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 6:21pm

saint vince wrote: Jarman

winces

stinger · Post: # 781650Post **stinger** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 6:55pm

1. doc baldock
2. leigh matthews
3. wayne carey
3. ian stewart
4. tony lockett
5. rob harvey
6. natham buckley
7. teddie whitten
8. michael voss
9. alex jesalenko
10. carl ditterich

st.byron · Post: # 781651Post **st.byron** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 6:58pm

stinger wrote:1. doc baldock
2. leigh matthews
3. wayne carey
3. ian stewart
4. tony lockett
5. rob harvey
6. natham buckley
7. teddie whitten
8. michael voss
9. alex jesalenko
10. carl ditterich

No Gablett snr Stinger? Is it because you don't like him personally or a combo of that and you don't think he was as good a player as someone like buckley?

stinger · Post: # 781663Post **stinger** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 7:32pm

st.byron wrote:
stinger wrote:1. doc baldock
2. leigh matthews
3. wayne carey
3. ian stewart
4. tony lockett
5. rob harvey
6. natham buckley
7. teddie whitten
8. michael voss
9. alex jesalenko
10. carl ditterich
No Gablett snr Stinger? Is it because you don't like him personally or a combo of that and you don't think he was as good a player as someone like buckley?

no...never a fan.......could play footy.....but wasn't a team player...only ever in it for himself......also could be beaten....comprehnsively.......none of my ten ever were........nicky towelled him up something deadful one day........

The Saintsational Man · Fri 24 Jul 2009 9:57pm

1 - Lockett.....

Then the rest.....

When it comes to football, you almost have to break down each position....

You can't compare forwards, to midfielders, to backs.....

But....if you could seperate one player from the rest, one man who was so much better than any man before, and after, him at his position, Lockett stands head and shoulders above them all.

I don't care what anyone says, he's the best & most talented footballer I have ever seen.

maverick · Post: # 781703Post **maverick** » Fri 24 Jul 2009 10:33pm

Plugger
Carey
Ablett
Voss
Hird
Harvey
Williams
Riewoldt
Judd
Buckley

Top 5 Sainters (in my time)
Plugger
Harvs
Riewoldt (reckon he will finish as no. 1)
Winmar
Hayes

special mention to Barks....