My Best Saints Team of the Last 50 Years

[Mr Magic]

Having read the Hun's latest version of the 'Greatest AFL Team' and beig 'gobsmacked' again at the failure to put the playe I consider to be The Saints best ever (the Doc) in the team I decided to sit down and work out the best Saints players I've seen in the last 50 years.

B Roger Head, Verdun Howell, Danny Frawley
HB Trevor Barker, Sam Fisher, Robert Elphinstone
C Nicky Winmar, Ian Stewart, Lenny Hayes
HF George Young, Nick Reiwoldt (vc), Darrell Baldock (c)
F Stephen Milne, Tony Lockett, Stewart Loewe
R Carl Ditterich, Robert Harvey, Ross Smith
I/C Barry Lawrence, Peter Everitt, Brendan Goddard, Kevin Neale

Unlucky to miss out
Nathan Burke
Glenn Elliott
John McIntosh
Wayne Judson

[Con Gorozidis]

That is one heck of a team mr magic.
Would be unbeatable as far I am concerned.

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Would have John Mcintosh in there before about 6 or 7 of those players , he was an absolute star who was cut down in his prime, could nearly play anywhere!

[Bazza1970]

Would love to see that forward line on the park.

[FQF]

Would love to see that forward line on the park.

Might be a bit top heavy? No defensive pressure either.

[BackFromUSA]

McIntosh over Loewe in my team ... but a close call. VERY very good team.

Neil Roberts would have taken CHB if he had played in the last 50 years.

[Apples]

Having read the Hun's latest version of the 'Greatest AFL Team' and beig 'gobsmacked' again at the failure to put the playe I consider to be The Saints best ever (the Doc) in the team I decided to sit down and work out the best Saints players I've seen in the last 50 years.

B Roger Head, Verdun Howell, Danny Frawley
HB Trevor Barker, Sam Fisher, Robert Elphinstone
C Nicky Winmar, Ian Stewart, Lenny Hayes
HF George Young, Nick Reiwoldt (vc), Darrell Baldock (c)
F Stephen Milne, Tony Lockett, Stewart Loewe
R Carl Ditterich, Robert Harvey, Ross Smith
I/C Barry Lawrence, Peter Everitt, Brendan Goddard, Kevin Neale

Unlucky to miss out
Nathan Burke
Glenn Elliott
John McIntosh
Wayne Judson

Very Good team Mr Magic, for me I have David Grant fractionally ahead of Rob Elphingstone

I think I might be able to find a spot for Max Hudgston, probably at CHB and Sam Fisher to the back pocket replacing Roger Head.

Also would have Jeff Sarau on the bench instead of Spider Everitt, can you imagine the mayhem with Big Carl and Pup Sarau on the ground at the same time

Very stiff to miss are
Daryl Griffiths
John Bonney
Val Perovic (did not quite play enough games with the Saints to qualify)
Russell Greene (ditto)
Justin Peckett
Frazer Gehrig

[bergsone]

Having read the Hun's latest version of the 'Greatest AFL Team' and beig 'gobsmacked' again at the failure to put the playe I consider to be The Saints best ever (the Doc) in the team I decided to sit down and work out the best Saints players I've seen in the last 50 years.

B Roger Head, Verdun Howell, Danny Frawley
HB Trevor Barker, Sam Fisher, Robert Elphinstone
C Nicky Winmar, Ian Stewart, Lenny Hayes
HF George Young, Nick Reiwoldt (vc), Darrell Baldock (c)
F Stephen Milne, Tony Lockett, Stewart Loewe
R Carl Ditterich, Robert Harvey, Ross Smith
I/C Barry Lawrence, Peter Everitt, Brendan Goddard, Kevin Neale

Unlucky to miss out
Nathan Burke
Glenn Elliott
John McIntosh
Wayne Judson

Burke..back pocket
R.Murray..FB
Howell..b/flank instead of Elphinstone
McINTOSH ..chb

G.Burns is also often overlooked

Just my opinion

[evertonfc]

B Kevin Neale, Max Hudghton, Trevor Barker
HB Brendan Goddard, John McIntosh, Nick Dal Santo
C Nicky Winmar, Ian Stewart, Lenny Hayes
HF George Young, Nick Riewoldt (vc), Darrell Baldock (c)
F Stephen Milne, Tony Lockett, Stewart Loewe
R Carl Ditterich, Robert Harvey, Ross Smith
I/C Stewart Loewe, Verdun Howell, Nathan Burke, Fraser Gehrig

- Loewe because he could play as second ruck and also a much better forward than Everitt.
- Gehrig because he could play full-back (2nd in B&F in 2002) and led our goal-kicking for five years at a time when we already had Milne and Riewoldt.
- Hudghton, in my view, is the outstanding full-back of the club's history. Unbelievably underrated. Hardly ever monstered and beat nearly everyone.
- Dal Santo is a club great. Ninth on the list of all-time games. I hope nobody lets his trade to North colour a wonderful career. Ditto Goddard, another 200+ game great.
- Maybe you could only choose one of Ross Smith or Nathan Burke, but at the peak of his powers, Burke was an exceptionally tough, strong player and deserves his place. A warrior.

Whilst the era didn't yield a premiership, it's impossible to overlook the richest run of wins in the clubs history - 2003-2012, a decade when we won more games than we lost every single season.

I do feel that, unfortunately, may of our recent crop are getting judged harshly on their final years, when they were unable to have much of an impact (Gehrig, Burke, Hudghton). They deserve to be remembered at their peak.

(If it was an actual game, looking at that bench, I would probably ditch Howell for Sam Fisher, because he would release Dal/BJ up into the midfield.)

[stevie]

Would love to see that forward line on the park.

Centreline is unstoppable too. I have the Saints Team of the Century painting from 2001 and I've always looked at and reckoned that team would go pretty close to beating any other teams best ever.

[St Plugger]

That forward line wouldn't need "Defensive Pressure", they'd provide "Scoreboard Pressure". Also don't forget Bob Murray for Full Back and Verdun "Snowy" Howell to Back Flank.

[spert]

I would just pick the '66 team- they did it all!

[borderbarry]

, I quite like Mr Magic;s team, but I would have Burkey in there instead of Roger Head, and Darrel Griffith on the flank instead of Eel. I would be one of the few that have seen all of these players play. Stiff to miss out would be Glenn Elliott. Jeff Sarau, David Grant, Greg Burns, Super Duper, and many others.

[Dave McNamara]

Having read the Hun's latest version of the 'Greatest AFL Team' and beig 'gobsmacked' again at the failure to put the playe I consider to be The Saints best ever (the Doc) in the team I decided to sit down and work out the best Saints players I've seen in the last 50 years.

B Roger Head, Verdun Howell, Danny Frawley
HB Trevor Barker, Sam Fisher, Robert Elphinstone
C Nicky Winmar, Ian Stewart, Lenny Hayes
HF George Young, Nick Reiwoldt (vc), Darrell Baldock (c)
F Stephen Milne, Tony Lockett, Stewart Loewe
R Carl Ditterich, Robert Harvey, Ross Smith
I/C Barry Lawrence, Peter Everitt, Brendan Goddard, Kevin Neale

Unlucky to miss out
Nathan Burke
Glenn Elliott
John McIntosh
Wayne Judson

Great post Mr M!

Ok, so obviously such a topic calls for possible alternatives to be thrown out there.

John McIntosh definitely... even with only 50-odd games. (I didn't seen Carl's earlier career, so don't rate him like many others do, and Spider could have been anything... and that's the problem. Jeff Sarau very unlucky to miss too IMHO.)

More controversy... I'd have Graham Gellie and Bruce Duperouzal ahead of the very unlucky Tipper. (I realise that only one season before the knee went can be held against Gellie.)

Barry Lawrence, Bob Murray and probably Darryl Griffiths ahead of Spud and Elphinstone.

Wayne Judson?

Great gets in mentioning George Young and Glenn Elliott.

I'd add Greg Burns, John Bonney, Rod Owen and David Grant to the unluckies.


So that'd be...
INS: B. Lawrence, Bob Murray, John McIntosh, Graham Gellie, Owen.
OUTS: Elphinstone, Frawley, Ditterich, Everritt, Milne.
EMERG: Super Duper, Burns, Billings.

Great thread Mr M. It'll be interesting to see what other names get thrown into the hat.



PS: Which 'version' of the Cowboy did you mean to include?

[Mr Magic]

PS: Which 'version' of the Cowboy did you mean to include?

All versions Dave.
As an 'enforcer he was as effective as any to have played the game.
As a FB he was tremendous
As a FF he was great (in his era)
As a footballer he was highly skilled.
Many know him the way he looks now.
I can remember him when he would 'fly' for marks in a 'Barker' like fashion.

Much more than a 'tough guy' was our Cowboy.
And as for our poster Cowboy18, I wish he would return and post more often.
IMHO the funniest poster on saintsational

[howlinwolf]

Fantastic side MM !
Good work.
I especially love the inclusion of George Young who was one my favourite players as a youngster.
I'm not sure how Loewe would go in a pocket right next to plugger ?

Question for you ? Who would be coach of this team ?
Would have to be Yabby I would think. Hopefully in 10 years time we could say Allan Richardson

[perfectionist]

B. Barry Lawrence, Bob Murray, Nathan Burke
HB. Trevor Barker, John McIntosh, Justin Peckett
C. Ross Oakley, Ian Stewart, Nicky Winmar
HF. Darrel Baldock, Nick Riewoldt, Ian Cooper
F. Stephen Milne, Tony Lockett, Peter Everitt
R. Lazar Vidovic, Robert Harvey, Ross Smith
I/C Stewart Loewe, Lenny Hayes, Brendon Goddard, Joel Smith

[Gershwin]

I always enjoy thinking about how the backline would go against the forward line.

In this scenario:

Head would pick up Milne. I think Milne might kick a few.
Howell would pick up Lockett. I'm thinking a bag for Plugger.
Frawley would pick up Loewe. Loewe would outmark him a few times at least.
Barker would pick up Baldock. What an amazing match-up. Can't split them.
Fisher would pick up Riewoldt. Roo would run him ragged.
Elphinstone would pick up Young. Can see Young kicking a few.

All in all got to say that the Forwards look way too strong.

[matrix]

And as for our poster Cowboy18, I wish he would return and post more often.
IMHO the funniest poster on saintsational

Here here
I won't do my team.
started following a fair bit of time After a lot of those players were in a saints jumper.

[BigMart]

Nathan Burke

4 time AA
Captain
324 games
3 B&F
State Rep


He is in the best 10 let alone 22

His total output was twice that of many listed.... If we had to compare
Roger Head, Elphingston, Goddard to Nathan Burke
No contest

The famous five.... Were head and shoulders the rest as the best for a decade
Lockett, Harvey, Loewe, Burke and Winmar.. Just rolled of the tongue....
And we played in 4 finals series and a GF in that decade

From 1987- 1999
Harvey 4 B&Fs
Burke 3 B&Fs
Lockett 2 B&Fs
Winmar 2 B&Fs
Loewe 1 B&F

That's 12 out of 13

[Mr Magic]

Nathan Burke

4 time AA
Captain
324 games
3 B&F
State Rep


He is in the best 10 let alone 22

His total output was twice that of many listed.... If we had to compare
Roger Head, Elphingston, Goddard to Nathan Burke
No contest

The famous five.... Were head and shoulders the rest as the best for a decade
Lockett, Harvey, Loewe, Burke and Winmar.. Just rolled of the tongue....
And we played in 4 finals series and a GF in that decade

From 1987- 1999
Harvey 4 B&Fs
Burke 3 B&Fs
Lockett 2 B&Fs
Winmar 2 B&Fs
Loewe 1 B&F

That's 12 out of 13

The oracle has spoken.

I apologise to everybody for having an opinion that differs from the font of all knowledge.
How dumb am I to have based my opinion on actually watching players play in an era when the game was played totally differently to the 70's, 80's, 90's, 00;s and today?
Surely I should have known better than to compare players of the 60's with other players from the same era when considering them for this team?
.
I don't recall, but how many of Burke's B&F ins came when he played in the back pocket?
Because surely if you are going to compare him with roger Head then it is as a back-pocket?

[BackFromUSA]

Now Mr Magic ... calm down ... very good point re Head vs Burke. Burke was B&F as a midfielder. BUT did play back pocket along the journey. On your argument for example Loewe should miss because he played CHF and really Spider or McIntosh should be in in the pocket.

As for back pocket ...

Head
vs
Judson
vs
Dunne

Interestingly dunne was a very early running defender, creating play from the back pocket AND a super hipster beard to boot!

[HitTheBoundary]

I too was wondering whether Jeff Dunne could get a back pocket spot.
I only remember players from the early 70's onwards (so can't compare with earlier) but IMHO Dunne is pretty under rated.

Also, think Burkie would be stiff to miss out, but I'd have him as an onballer.

Gehrig would also be hard to go past as the ultimate swing man, FF or FB.

And although Gellie only really played one year (and from then on played on one leg), it was a hell of a good year.

[Mr Magic]

Now Mr Magic ... calm down ... very good point re Head vs Burke. Burke was B&F as a midfielder. BUT did play back pocket along the journey. On your argument for example Loewe should miss because he played CHF and really Spider or McIntosh should be in in the pocket.

As for back pocket ...

Head
vs
Judson
vs
Dunne

Interestingly dunne was a very early running defender, creating play from the back pocket AND a super hipster beard to boot!

BFUSA, I can rationalise Loewe in the FPt because during his stellar career he played CHF, FF, and on the ball.
Often he would float down to the goal square, especially on those many occasions Plugger was missing through suspension!

As for Head vs Judson vs Dunne I felt that Judson was better than Dunne and that Head performed against better opposition in his era (Skilton, Clarke, Goggin etc)

John McIntosh was one of the most skilled players (for his era) that I ever saw play.
BUT it was as an onballer (a ruckrover). What made him amazing was that he was the size of a ruckman (back then) with the skills of a rover.
IIRC he never really played as a CHB/CHF in his short career.

As for Robert Elphinstone, IMHO he is one of our most underrated players.
In an era when we got regularly smashed by opposition (the 80's) he regularly beat his opponent and was often one of the few 'winners' we had.

[Apples]

I respect all opinions on this topic having posted my thoughts a few days ago. However, I would like to individualise on one player, Barry Lawrence. Nothwithstanding all the great players mentioned, Barry was a favourite of mine and I think commands a sport in the 22. He was one of the toughest hardest players I have seen, he had great skills, could play back pocket, CHB, CHF, FF, he captained the club in 74-75, and is officially named in the St Kilda and Tasmanian teams of the century.
It is said he played in the 71 Grand Final with a metal plate inserted in his arm from a break sustained in the prelim final.

Does anybody else remember Barry as I do?