The OtherThommo wrote:The Doc, then daylight. Played just over 100 games for us as a 5ft 10' CHF. All Aust Capt once, VC once, when they played Carnivals once every 4 odd years and only then had an AA side.
Holmesby wrote an early book where he named the Top 100. From memory had Doc 3, behind Stewie and Plugger. I had the argument with Russ, and he admitted he never had an answer to the question "How would Doc have gone if he'd played in the middle, and could Stewie have played at CHF anywhere near as well (they were around the same size).
Doc was the AFL king pin. When he went on WoS, everyone basically bowed in his presence. A wonderful footballer, a glorious man and the best leader a football club could want. Smart, sharp and truly respected.
He did some truly extraordinary things on field. None more so than his ability to play hurt (e.g. '66 finals series).
He stands alone in my mind. But, each to their own, of course.
Well said ToT (IMHO)
Nobody who didn't see him 'live' can ever truly appreciate what he was capable of doing on a football field.
And when the ground was wet/muddy, he was simply unstoppable.
He made champions of the game look like amateurs with the way he baulked past them and controlled a wet, greasy, heavy football.
Much like Plugger in his heyday, when opposition teams played St Kilda all they seemed to concentrate on was 'how do we stop Baldock?'
His skills were sublime.
His football nous was incredible
His 'presence' on the field was uplifting to both the team and the fans.
Plugger was a 'beast' (with plenty of skill)
Doc was a skilled surgeon who sliced and diced the opposition into submission.
