Plugger - Sheer Joy

[jaxons]

Just finished watching this.....great viewing.

[Vazelos]

Superb!

[Devilhead]

His hands / marking is phenomenal

[roskilde]

He was such an imposing figure even as a lighter youngster. It's amazing to watch.

Has there ever been a better kick for goal in the history of the game?

The action is so simple and compact. He also had one of the strongest kicks you'll ever see so unlike so many others he's not stretching when he's kicking from 50 he's just going through his normal motion.

Great vid.

[George27]

It would be hard to imagine today the emotion of round 1 1984 at Moorabbin. We had been such a crap team for so long ( last decent season was 78). We were still pretty awful ( and went on to get the wooden spoon that year and in 85 and 86).

We lost that day, BUT I remember it as a day of unbridled excitement, because a star had been born . Tony had done a few good things in 83 as a 17 year old ( as this excellent video shows) but to have an 18 year old ( only 18 years and 1 month) kick 7.4 was extraordinary. Suddenly we all had new hope.

What a journey he took us on in the ensuing years . Plenty of frustration for him and us, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world !

[remboy]

I went a,pre season in 84 and he kicked 5 from memory. He just gave me something to look forward to.
I also remember an interview with John Kennedy Snr in 85 where was asked if he could have one player who would he take and he said Lockett.
Even then he was anazing. Best kick for goal I've ever seen, great skills, and the only player who could win a game on his own.

[saynta]

and the only player who could win a game on his own.

Same applied to the doc.

[bigcarl]

Thanks for this.

An amazing player.

Notice how, even as a teenager, his head is dead still while taking a shot. He has the target fixed in his mind’s eye and is totally focussed on it through impact.

Part technique, part pure concentration. Today’s players could learn a lot from this.

I don’t expect ever to see a footballer as good again.

[bigcarl]

How about the blond tips?

[howlinwolf]

Thanks Jaxons.

What a player ! Ticked every box as a full forward.
His kicking style should be in the football text book.

Why is it so difficult to replicate ?
There's been plenty of skillful players since but I don't recall many as good a kick.

[stevie]

The GOAT

[bigred]

Yeah could play a bit the boy.

How good is the footage from the brownlow.

[saynta]

Thanks Jaxons.

What a player ! Ticked every box as a full forward.
His kicking style should be in the football text book.

Why is it so difficult to replicate ?
There's been plenty of skillful players since but I don't recall many as good a kick.

Heatley next best.imho.

[st.byron]

Thanks for posting. Memories memories. Standing in the outer amongst the mob. Footy was so suburban and different. Best Saints player I ever saw. Not only great hands and kick. He had a great leap and was really quick over a short distance.

[saintkid]

My old man said many supporters would swap from one goal side of the ground to the other side every quarter at Linton Street so they could be as close to him as possible, such was the brilliance of Lockett. Reckons footy was so much more fun to watch then.

[ace]

Now if only Max can clunk 'em and kick 'em like Plugger.

[bigcarl]

My old man said many supporters would swap from one goal side of the ground to the other side every quarter at Linton Street so they could be as close to him as possible, such was the brilliance of Lockett. Reckons footy was so much more fun to watch then.

He is right about all of that

[The Fireman]

Still upsets me to this day that he left for the swans saw every game he played

[bigred]

My old man said many supporters would swap from one goal side of the ground to the other side every quarter at Linton Street so they could be as close to him as possible, such was the brilliance of Lockett. Reckons footy was so much more fun to watch then.

Its true. You could see the crowd move at the qtr breaks.

He is the GOAT. There is no other player ever, that completely owned a position like he did.

[SaintPav]

At 18, he was monstering more mature opponents and was our first special player since Balldock.

It was a very dry period that.

Ring any bells?

[stevie]

Did any of you go to the game at the G early in 1987 when Plugger kicked 12 out of 14 and we lost to the Dees? Have never seen any footage of that game. It was the most goals kicked in a losing side until Ablett broke it with 14

The Doc said afterwards it was one of the greatest performances he had seen by any player ever.

[fugazi]

Tend to forget what a great leap he had.

[Munga]

At 18, he was monstering more mature opponents and was our first special player since Balldock.

He was 17! It didn't take the opposition long to put two on him... and it didn't take Plugger long to beat both of them.

I watched all of this video tonight instead of the match on tonight, so much better.

I started following the Saints in 1994, so a couple of questions for those of the 80s...

How good were Grant and Cunningham?

What was Docs influence in bringing in the gun youth, Loewe, Winmar, Burke?

Was Winmar a star from the start?

And what the hell was with the 25m line in Perth??


The debate on the GOAT is ridiculous. Plugger was beating gun defenders 2 on 1 and bagging 5 goals when he was 17... playing for Victoria at 19, MVP, Coleman medal, and the only full forward to win a Brownlow medal... all by 21. Cruelled in many ways after that, yet still went on the be the greatest goal scorer of all time.

[bigcarl]

Did any of you go to the game at the G early in 1987 when Plugger kicked 12 out of 14 and we lost to the Dees? Have never seen any footage of that game. It was the most goals kicked in a losing side until Ablett broke it with 14

The Doc said afterwards it was one of the greatest performances he had seen by any player ever.

I was there. He kicked 12.3 or similar. His radar was a little off. From memory, conditions weren’t great.

[bigcarl]

At 18, he was monstering more mature opponents and was our first special player since Balldock.

He was 17! It didn't take the opposition long to put two on him... and it didn't take Plugger long to beat both of them.

I watched all of this video tonight instead of the match on tonight, so much better.

I started following the Saints in 1994, so a couple of questions for those of the 80s...

How good were Grant and Cunningham?

What was Docs influence in bringing in the gun youth, Loewe, Winmar, Burke?

Was Winmar a star from the start?

And what the hell was with the 25m line in Perth??


The debate on the GOAT is ridiculous. Plugger was beating gun defenders 2 on 1 and bagging 5 goals when he was 17... playing for Victoria at 19, MVP, Coleman medal, and the only full forward to win a Brownlow medal... all by 21. Cruelled in many ways after that, yet still went on the be the greatest goal scorer of all time.

David Grant was a good player. Though he wasn’t that tall, he was an excellent high mark. Played mostly as a half back, but I remember him being switched forward on occasion and kicking a bag.

I assume you are asking about Joffa Cunningham (his brother Daryl also played for us). Well Joffa was a Moorabbin cult hero, a favourite in some very poor 1980s teams. A real goer who used to get a lot of the ball. Kicking was a bit hit or miss.

Winmar was a star from his very first game. Lined up at half forward and it was apparent very early that he was a special player. His understanding with Lockett was something to behold.