Your all time favourite "GOP" for the Saints?

markinUSA · Post: # 673151Post **markinUSA** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 11:47am

Hi

It's the off-season, so I was thinking about all-things Saintly... and I was thinking about favourite players of the past and the present.

Well, it's too easy to ask people who their all time favourite player is because it comes up to the usual suspects - the high profile players. Eg Harves, Plugger, Nicky, maybe Nathan Burke or Stewart Loewe, G Train, etc.

SO... to change the course of this kind of discussion. Someone who wasn't widely recognized as a 'star', but whose play touched you in some way.

For instance, my fiance Molly always talks about how Clinton Jones' mark (the one with his face smashed half across his head) so inspired her, that it made him her favourite player.

I'm still thinking about mine... there have been quite a few over the years. And the ones you get to meet and chat to seem to rise suddenly in your opinion, don't you think?

Anyway, while I ponder mine... I'd love to hear from you all, and I think it would be interesting, because it shows a lot about us as fans - who we like the most, of the 'ordinary' players.

(Having said that, anyone who actually gets to play footy professionally is hardly an 'ordinary' player).

I will say that Jason Blake's match-winning game this year really made me very happy for him... even though he's not one of my all time favourites... I was just so happy to see him do so well. But I thought that might be an example of a player who is not widely recognized as a 'star' of the team, but whose play might have impressed you.

Cheers
Mark

claystreet · Sun 16 Nov 2008 12:15pm

Maxy nuff said

yipper · Post: # 673160Post **yipper** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 12:21pm

Gary Odgers for me. Played in the 80's - he just worked his arshe off for the team. Very determined player, could win the hard ball and knew how to lay a tackle. He was a very good player for us - well respected by his peers.

Eastern · Post: # 673162Post **Eastern** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 12:24pm

Was Greg Burns a GOP? or was he better than that? !!

Little Dozer · Sun 16 Nov 2008 12:43pm

David Grant.

markinUSA · Post: # 673165Post **markinUSA** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 12:44pm

My gut feeling was that Greg Burns was more than a GOP; not sure, but I thought he was a centreman, and he got a fair bit of the pill. But it's a long time ago and I was young then.

bigcarl · Post: # 673166Post **bigcarl** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 12:47pm

Eastern wrote:Was Greg Burns a GOP? or was he better than that? !!

he was way better than that. burnsy was a gun in some very ordinary teams and doesn't qualify as a GOP.

also, no way is maxy or was david grant a GOP.

max has been one of the best defenders in the comp over many years; grant was very talented and always a top 5 or top 10 player for us.

my favourite GOP was TS40.

currently the title goes to clinton jones and james gwilt also deserves consideration.

some will disagree, but i rate jason blake as a class above a GOP.

blake held down chb with distinction this season and can also play in nearly every other position on the ground, including ruck.

he's been a walk up start under two coaches with wildly different philosophies about how the game should be played. that speaks volumes for his versatility.

Enrico_Misso · Sun 16 Nov 2008 1:18pm

markinUSA wrote:For instance, my fiance Molly always talks about how Clinton Jones' mark

Wow I didn't hear Molly was engaged,

Bernard Shakey · Sun 16 Nov 2008 1:54pm

Gary Colling GOP who became captain.

BakesFan · Post: # 673186Post **BakesFan** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 2:04pm

Brett Bowey went alright.
I used to enjoy watching Mick Dwyer too.

johnpeterbudgefanclub · Sun 16 Nov 2008 2:26pm

Greg Burns a GOP? No sir'ee. Not even slightly. I loved the way he went about his game. Tough, hard at it and no-nonsense. Not overly endowed with pace but u knew he would give it his all every time he took to the field.

And yes I am basing on this having personally seen him play a number of times.

GOP = Tim Elliott anyone????

Mick Dwyer? Or was he better then that. I'm thinking he probably was.

Eastern · Post: # 673200Post **Eastern** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 2:30pm

johnpeterbudgefanclub wrote:
GOP = Tim Elliott anyone????

Not even, at the highest level

GOP = Jayson Daniels. Added bonus is that he's a RANGA !!

bigcarl · Post: # 673202Post **bigcarl** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 2:35pm

johnpeterbudgefanclub wrote:Mick Dwyer? Or was he better then that. I'm thinking he probably was.

could have been a VGP. had a heap of ability that wasn't fully realised imo.

saintbrat · Post: # 673203Post **saintbrat** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 2:36pm

Troy Schwarze

battye · Post: # 673220Post **battye** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 3:13pm

Troy Schwarze.

Why he was delisted God only knows. Very unlucky.

milney044 · Post: # 673231Post **milney044** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 4:10pm

I had a soft spot for Jo McLaren for some reason, dunno if anyone remembers him..late 90s?
Gavin Mitchel did a few exciting things, although was never going to make it.
It's weird i liked Bakes when he was bald and running around in the #29, in and out of the side a fair bit.

Muir_32 · Post: # 673235Post **Muir_32** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 4:24pm

A few spring to mind here.. I always enjoyed watching Robert Mace. tough and rugged...................Kain Taylor, who was a scragging type player..and also Russel Jeffrey was ok too, when he first came to the club..

TassieJones · Sun 16 Nov 2008 4:42pm

Shane Birss

Does Jamie Shanahan count as a GOP? always liked him

Gershwin · Post: # 673242Post **Gershwin** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 4:43pm

Jason Cripps and a long time ago Ian Synman and Brian Mynott.

stinger · Post: # 673244Post **stinger** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 4:47pm

so many......ross smith.......stuart trott.....jimmy guyatt....both youngs.........cowboy......my favorite though would be .....muir.......without a doubt.....

stinger · Post: # 673245Post **stinger** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 4:48pm

TassieJones wrote:Shane Birss

Does Jamie Shanahan count as a GOP? always liked him

cost us a grand final.......he should have knocked that prick jarmen out......

Eastern · Post: # 673247Post **Eastern** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 4:56pm

stinger wrote:so many......ross smith.......stuart trott.....jimmy guyatt....both youngs.........cowboy......my favorite though would be .....muir.......without a doubt.....

stinger. Did you forget to have your nana nap today?

Ross Smith is a Brownlow Medalist and Cowboy is a club legend. Both a long way above & beyond GOP's IMHO !!

sainter35 · Post: # 673248Post **sainter35** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 4:57pm

stinger wrote:so many......ross smith.......stuart trott.....jimmy guyatt....both youngs.........cowboy......my favorite though would be .....muir.......without a doubt.....

Jesus Stinger the thread is about good ordinary players (GOP) and you've listed Brownlow Medalists, Best and Fairest winners and leading goalkickers.

Guess I'll nominate Robert Harvey.

evertonfc · Post: # 673252Post **evertonfc** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 5:04pm

Little Dozer wrote:David Grant.

Sheesh, I don't think you can be a GOP and make All-Australian.

Favourite GOP...

I'll take Brett Voss any day of the week.

stinger · Post: # 673253Post **stinger** » Sun 16 Nov 2008 5:04pm

Eastern wrote:
stinger wrote:so many......ross smith.......stuart trott.....jimmy guyatt....both youngs.........cowboy......my favorite though would be .....muir.......without a doubt.....
stinger. Did you forget to have your nana nap today? Ross Smith is a Brownlow Medalist and Cowboy is a club legend. Both a long way above & beyond GOP's IMHO !!

they were very good players...not out and out champions like roo, banger, baldock, plugger, stewie, ditterich, and cuz....

...the champion tag is handed out to easily imho........stick by what i say...and ross and cowboy are acquaintances of mine......had lunch with cowboy more than once.....they are exactly the type of player that jack dyer invented the tern for.........

Your all time favourite "GOP" for the Saints?

Your all time favourite "GOP" for the Saints?

Re: Your all time favourite "GOP" for the Saints?