Carey or Ablett

[Corn Cobbers]

More like the Wilt Chamberlain of the AFL, mate. Jordan was the highest scorer when he was dominating but also one of the best -if not the best outright-defensive guards of his generation. A team player, paradoxically. Chamberlain has achieved stats in the court that will never be surpassed. But Jordan won way more NBA titles than him. Six to two, hence he is widely considered the best player ever even if, statistically speaking, he is inferior to Chamberlain.

Same story with Carey vs Ablett. It wasn’t Ablett who was really playing for the Cats. It was the Cats playing for him, providing an ultimately unsuccessful platform to exhibit his individual footy skills. Hence the lack of premierships, which was anything but accidental. In a list which needed much more cake than frosting, he provided extra frosting. Not a team player. Not fit for purpose.

The purpose for a team sport of 22-23 players per team is to win flags. No circus acts and freaky goals, leading to no real achievements whatsoever. Carey was way more of a footballer’s footballer than Ablett. North Melbourne’ whole offensive game was based around him. Not only him kicking goals but creating goals for his teammates as well. Pagan’s paddock was Carey’s paddock. No Carey, no premierships for North. An excellent, excellent player. Both cake and frosting. What Nick Riewoldt tried to be his whole career, without ever achieving it.

That’s why Pagan flopped at Carlton. Wayne was not there. Clearly Carey way, way better than Ablett...

Crikey

You know Geelong weren't doing much til Ablett came along, no GFs after 1967, then all of a sudden 4 in 7 years, with Ablett a massive factor in those finals runs, they're not making any of those GFs or even finals without Ablett

That era put Geelong on the map and laid the ground work for the success they've enjoyed this century, assisted by Ablett's offspring

Carey was a magnificent leader but on the field Ablett could do everything Carey could do, plus more

 

[Lingsface]

More like the Wilt Chamberlain of the AFL, mate. Jordan was the highest scorer when he was dominating but also one of the best -if not the best outright-defensive guards of his generation. A team player, paradoxically. Chamberlain has achieved stats in the court that will never be surpassed. But Jordan won way more NBA titles than him. Six to two, hence he is widely considered the best player ever even if, statistically speaking, he is inferior to Chamberlain.

Same story with Carey vs Ablett. It wasn’t Ablett who was really playing for the Cats. It was the Cats playing for him, providing an ultimately unsuccessful platform to exhibit his individual footy skills. Hence the lack of premierships, which was anything but accidental. In a list which needed much more cake than frosting, he provided extra frosting. Not a team player. Not fit for purpose.

The purpose for a team sport of 22-23 players per team is to win flags. No circus acts and freaky goals, leading to no real achievements whatsoever. Carey was way more of a footballer’s footballer than Ablett. North Melbourne’ whole offensive game was based around him. Not only him kicking goals but creating goals for his teammates as well. Pagan’s paddock was Carey’s paddock. No Carey, no premierships for North. An excellent, excellent player. Both cake and frosting. What Nick Riewoldt tried to be his whole career, without ever achieving it.

That’s why Pagan flopped at Carlton. Wayne was not there. Clearly Carey way, way better than Ablett...

Thanks for your analysis I just meant in terms of something no one had ever seen, all kids wanted to play like him, the biggest name in the game. He was iconic, a genuine superstar. The only other player like that but no where near the level was Modra.

Also if football was a 5 man sport, I think Ablett would have at least 6 titles.

 

[Simche]

Carey probably the best ever at his best in one of the most difficult to play positions (back when those were still a thing) while Ablett is probably the most freakish talent I've ever seen.

It's Ablett for me. Carey didn't dominate well into his 30s like Ablett did either, and while he played deeper into the forward line the older he got, he didn't move from the wing to full forward to be selected in the Team of the Century (and I'd still have him there).

 

[tastiger]

Carey

On VOG-L09 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Vdubs]

It's a complete and utter distortion of history to say Ablett ''kicked 600 goals from a wing''.

He played wing in his first year at Geelong (15 games) and played forward for the rest of his career. Half-forward for the bulk until his last few years.

Tell us what position Ablett played in 1989 when he kicked 14 goals v Tigers...
Who does that?
Only GAS. Wing.
He was devastatingly, brutally brilliant.
And when he went fulltime FF, 93, 94, 95- 120 goals each year.
He was ridiculously superior to any player that has ever played.

 

[Trav 20]

Tell us what position Ablett played in 1989 when he kicked 14 goals v Tigers...
Who does that?
Only GAS. Wing.
He was devastatingly, brutally brilliant.
And when he went fulltime FF, 93, 94, 95- 120 goals each year.
He was ridiculously superior to any player that has ever played.

For accuracy - He kicked 9 from the wing and then went forward and kicked another 5.

An incredible effort.

Carey for me, although Ablett was more individually brilliant.

 

[Noidnadroj]

Tell us what position Ablett played in 1989 when he kicked 14 goals v Tigers...
Who does that?
Only GAS. Wing.
He was devastatingly, brutally brilliant.
And when he went fulltime FF, 93, 94, 95- 120 goals each year.
He was ridiculously superior to any player that has ever played.

This is a myth. I’ve heard Malcolm Blight interviewed about this. He said he started wing/HF and kicked a few early, so when Blight realised he was ‘hot’ he moved him permanently forward.

14-goals is freakish from anywhere, but whilst it makes for great folklore, only a few were from wing.



Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Trav 20]

This is a myth. I’ve heard Malcolm Blight interviewed about this. He said he started wing/HF and kicked a few early, so when Blight realised he was ‘hot’ he moved him permanently forward.

14-goals is freakish from anywhere, but whilst it makes for great folklore, only a few were from wing.



Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Multiple reports in this short video say he kicked 9 from the wing.

 

[Vdubs]

This is a myth. I’ve heard Malcolm Blight interviewed about this. He said he started wing/HF and kicked a few early, so when Blight realised he was ‘hot’ he moved him permanently forward.

14-goals is freakish from anywhere, but whilst it makes for great folklore, only a few were from wing.



Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

sorry, "only" 9 from the wing, then he went hf.

 

[The 747]

Carey. GAS amazing but the whole North team of that era was built around Carey.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Ablett was a unique player, yes he would move around the centre of the ground but he was never a midfielder. I will call say if you had to give him a name, roaming half forward is most accurate, he was probably a little bit like Martin now without the centre bounces - he basically just plays anywhere in the front half of the ground.

Then he went to full-forward full time.

 

[Vassp]

Gas, freak of nature, Carey freak of nature. Saw them both play.
id say Carey was the bigger game player, Gas was not as influential in big games, gas did destroy the tigers in our dark years, he kicked close to 30 goals in two games. When he is that mood it’s like watching superman vs men.
id say only Lockett would be in that group.

 

[Burtyl78]

Hate the flag argument, seriously one player out of 18 on the field, it’s not the nba when you are one of 5 on the court, Ablett a freak

 

[Vdubs]

Part of the selection criteria is character. Perhaps they feel he doesn’t meet this part. Barry Cable would be lucky he’s already in.

Lethal don't you mean?

 

[Toump Ass]

Kicking 8.22 (6.15 to half time) was what lost it, not just Wayne.

And the duck leading the way with more behinds than any other of his teamates.

 

[LuckyBounce!]

Ablett

 

[Schauermann]

My favourite Ablett story is that he was off his face at a pub in Richmond and refused to leave, so the bar staff just booted everyone else out and served him until the sun came up when they eventually got onto someone from the Cats who sent someone to pick him up. Few hours later he kicked a dozen at the G.

Ablett.

Until somebody tells me a better Carey story.

 

[Freddy Swift]

Lethal don't you mean?

Why would I mean Lethal?

 

[Vdubs]

Why would I mean Lethal?

2 guesses

 

[Freddy Swift]

2 guesses

What because he was a bit of a wild man on the field? I don’t recall Lethal getting into any trouble off field. Unlike Ablett, Carey and Cable. Whether that should have any bearing on whether they become Legends or not, who knows, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the AFL take it into account.

 

[Vdubs]

What because he was a bit of a wild man on the field? I don’t recall Lethal getting into any trouble off field. Unlike Ablett, Carey and Cable. Whether that should have any bearing on whether they become Legends or not, who knows, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the AFL take it into account.

Lethal had a criminal record, as did Nicholls
Cable has not been charged yet. My apologies- only heard about Cable now that you brought it up.
The AFL have certainly taken into account Ablett and Carey.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

What because he was a bit of a wild man on the field? I don’t recall Lethal getting into any trouble off field. Unlike Ablett, Carey and Cable. Whether that should have any bearing on whether they become Legends or not, who knows, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the AFL take it into account.

Ha, bit of a wild man.

He was an absolute thug who took joy in belting blokes that weren’t looking or weren’t expecting it.

We can appreciate the full range of what he was without detracting from his abilities.

 

[JimmyBC]

Carey

 

[Freddy Swift]

Lethal had a criminal record, as did Nicholls
Cable has not been charged yet

What was his criminal record for apart from the Bruns incident which was on field?

Nicholls is probably lucky to be in there also. No Cable hasn’t been charged, he’s refusing to answer any questions.

I don’t particularly care if these people are made legends or not, but the AFL is all about image and they would care about the backlash they might get from the public and the media.

 

[Freddy Swift]

Ha, bit of a wild man.

He was an absolute thug who took joy in belting blokes that weren’t looking or weren’t expecting it.

We can appreciate the full range of what he was without detracting from his abilities.

Wow when I called Leigh Matthews a thug in another thread I was told off in no uncertain terms by a Cat supporter. Said as a Richmond fan I had no right to call anyone a thug. Perhaps the Cat fan is too young to remember Neville Bruns.