Best number 7 ever

[plugger66]

Just noticed Lenny has now played 230 games the same as the great Nicky Winmar. Who gets the nod as our best number 7 ever. not discounting Trotty of course.

[older saint]

As mush as i love Hayes work Neil Elvis was before his time

[plugger66]

I will go for Leonard.

[jonesy]

For pure brilliance and excitement you'd have to go Winmar.
For pure output you'd have to go Lenny.

It's pretty similar to Ablett senior/junior debate. One was more brilliant,the other more consistent.

Lenny has given his all and more for the club. Whilst Nicky,although we still love him and he loves us,brought the club down a few times.

It's a good debate topic

[satchmo]

Cuz for me, but Lenny can still do something about it.

[mbogo]

I agree with Satchmo Lennie can grab the title if he is BOG against Swan and Ablett in some important games.
Particularly ONE game.

[Dan Warna]

Winmar for me for genius, a pleasure to watch, and his marking was breathtaking and his goals and passing was brilliant.

Lenny is a great of the club also.

Its like trying to pick between two diamonds of different cut and shape but both of similar value.

[borderbarry]

No one for Alan Squires?

[Bernard Shakey]

No one for Alan Squires?

I knew Alan Squire quite well. Never saw him play, but he was a gentle giant. Sadly passed away a few years ago.

For mine this is a flawed debate because Nicky gave so much joy in an era where we were mostly down. Lenny is a completely different player who just relentlessly gives his all.

I'm calling it a draw.

[matrix]

pretty much what Dan and Bernard said

(plus thats the only two players i know wearing the number 7)

[plugger66]

No one for Alan Squires?

I knew Alan Squire quite well. Never saw him play, but he was a gentle giant. Sadly passed away a few years ago.

For mine this is a flawed debate because Nicky gave so much joy in an era where we were mostly down. Lenny is a completely different player who just relentlessly gives his all.

I'm calling it a draw.

How is it flawed. You picked a draw. Im pretty sure we are allowed draws. I think it just happened recently.

[georgie girl]

Both awesome!!! Both in my list of favourite all time players!

[AlpineStars]

Probably Lenny a bit more consistant than Cus.

[saint3d]

St Kilda has the best number 7 ever. It beats every other club's number 7.

[mbogo]

Lennie could be anything - but he took a few years to develop.
Winmar was a virtual star from the first game he played with us.
I remember seeing him and after one or two games I asked a mate "who IS this guy" and he says " dunno but he played for Freo and they say he got 7 goals in a quarter of football last year"
Is this true? When Nicky was only 19 or so?

[maverick]

Great topic, Winmar was one of the best, special, as BS says in an era that where we only had individuals...

Lenny though is in the top 5 I have seen, his last few years have been as good as anyone (except Roo) at our club.

Lenny just.

[Bardon Saint]

Nicky was my favourite player growing up (followed by Harves and Plugger). Lenny is my favourite player now. Just so courageous. Just love him.

Very different contributions to their respective teams. If I had to chose one to include in today's team it would be Lenny.

Although today's team could do with an indigenous, fast, line breaking, goal kicking half forward/ wingman.

[stinger]

put nicky in our currenr side...and the flag would ours...but i will not choose between them.......trott..?.nah...he was a deserter....

[mbogo]

put nicky in our currenr side...and he flag would ours...but i will not choose between then.......trott..?.nah...he was a deserter....

Yeah - he could fill all the holes we have in our current side - clearances - goals - pace - X factor - superb tackling.
But who would wear number 7?

[Bernard Shakey]

Lennie could be anything - but he took a few years to develop.
Winmar was a virtual star from the first game he played with us.
I remember seeing him and after one or two games I asked a mate "who IS this guy" and he says " dunno but he played for Freo and they say he got 7 goals in a quarter of football last year"
Is this true? When Nicky was only 19 or so?

He came from South Fremantle and started at Moorabbin in Plugger's Brownlow year 1987 at the age of 21. Not sure about the 7 goals in a quarter.

[Enrico_Misso]

It is not even as simple as trying to make the "impossible" choice between
- the elegance and skills of Elvis
- versus the grunt and determination of Lenny.

As the OP alluded
- Stewie Trott was a more than handy player, a former captain, and just about as courageous as Lenny.

And just to complicate it further, the great Wels Eicke also wore number 7.
To amass over 200 games over 17 seasons in that era (100 years ago, fewer games per season) must have made him a very special player.
(Against Wels is that he didn't really "own" number 7 as he actually began his career before numbers were introduced, and then wound up wearing six different numbers including "7" for three seasons).

So there are actually four top shelf "7" players in our history

[Bernard Shakey]

Brian Walsh was no slouch from '56 to '64 and I did see him play.

Also Doug Cox was a fair player.

Still can't split Nicky and Lenny.

[Winmarvellous]

Gotta go with Nicky. Although both are in my top 4 favourite Saints of all-time.

[The Sainter]

When I selected my best ever Saint team on this forum after watching them play since about 1954 I put both in my side leaving out Brownlow winner Ross Smith for Hayes, that's how i rate Lenny but Winmar in my humble opinion was the better as he had everything including being able to play full forward on odd occasions. The way Goddard has played the last 2 years I may have to put him in next time but it will not be Nicky or Lenny he would be replacing that's for sure.

[Thinline]

Len. I just like his kind of player.