Opinion Collingwood's greatest player of the Modern Era

[Bad Horse]

Never!
I'd share the wife first....

For that I'd expect two bottles of green...

 

[DAWESOME!!]

Buckley, then Swan.

 

[Seedsfan]

I only saw the tail end of Buckley's career so I will leave him out of this. I would have Pendlebury over Swan due to their grand final performances.
2010 Swan 21 disposals Pendlebury 19, replay Pendlebury 29 Swan 26, 2011 Pendlebury 33 Swan 20

 

[Prince_Rhodesia]

Swan > Buckley > G Brown > Burns > Pendlebury

 

[Horaceg]

Is Peter Moore too far back?

 

[Brad Goodman]

Modern era = 21st century? However you rank Buckley, Swan and Pendlebury we are privileged to have had all three.

 

[Primetime Pricey]

Modern Era would be the 90's onwards.
Its not even close. Irrelevant if u want him as coach or not, as a player Buckley is on another level to anyone else.

 

[Krueger]

Dane Swans 2010, 2011 and 2012 were simply amazing. He performed when he was surrounded by champions and his best was clearly above anyone else.

 

[didaksrightfoot]

Clearly Buckley.

(caveat: I only caught the tail end of Daics career - so can't really comment on him or anyone else pre-early 90's)

Bucks to me was the ultimate midfielder. He was a great combination of skill, IQ and power. The kind of midfielder you could look to really carry a team on his own (well, at best that 1 player can). He would do the grunt work inside, but then could kick a goal from outside 50, or hit a long target off his boot. Kind of what Dangerfield has done the last couple of years - that's how I view Bucks for his whole career.

I think Pendles has him on "slickness" (if that's even a word) and Swan has him on pure gut-running, but I would take Bucks clearly ahead of those 2.

 

[dansa]

I can only really comment on the mid 80's onwards.

Buckley clearly number one.

Swan, Pendlebury & Daicos in the next bracket.

Brown, Clement, Milane, T Shaw just below them.

 

[didaksrightfoot]

The 90s both hurt and help Buckley, he was head and shoulders our best player, but I think his legacy would be even greater if we were more successful during his career. He certainly had superior skills to Swan and was a classier player, but with Swan's ability to impact games there's not much between them. Pendlebury like Buckley is class, but he lacks the hurt of Swan and Buckley.

This.

It helped Buck's stand out from his teammates - but definitely hurt him from not having the kind of talent around him when he was at his peak that Swan (at least) was accustomed to. Given that he definitely didn't shirk any responsibility in those 2 grannies, you just wonder how differently his career would've been viewed if our team was better around that time (our top rung was good-to-very good - but it fell away very quickly)

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Nathan Buckley is on another level as best player.
He held up a poorer team, less quality on the list, and impacted game after game.
Super consistent, can't recall any poor season.
Skill levels amazing, those long kicks and precision, wow.
Almost won us the 2002 Grand Final by himself. Yes the team did well that day but Nathan took it to another level, had we won, he would be lauded as winning a grand final off his play.
Efficiency of play amazing.
Kicked goals. Led by example.

 

[jathanas]

Jason Wild > Buckley > Daicos > Brownie > Swan > Pendlebury

If Paul Williams didn't go to Sydney he'd be in that list. The guy was a jet.

Guys below them:

T Francis, Burns, The Roccas, S Russel, Sidebum, etc

 

[Linda Lovelace]

Bucks

Daicos

Pendles

Swan

In that order, then a bunch of others who are hard to separate because they were different players, including Millane, T Shaw, Francis, Jimmy C, Brown and P Williams.

 

[jmac70]

Bucks

Daicos

Pendles

Swan

In that order, then a bunch of others who are hard to separate because they were different players, including Millane, T Shaw, Francis, Jimmy C, Brown and P Williams.

I agree with this. Whilst Bucks was the greatest Daicos was the most exciting.

 

[robertg22]

Swan > Buckley > G Brown > Burns > Pendlebury

Absolutely no way Burns is ahead of Pendles in any regard. Great clubman and foot soldier but a significant step below Pendles.

 

[jathanas]

Absolutely no way Burns is ahead of Pendles in any regard. Great clubman and foot soldier but a significant step below Pendles.

I agree Pendles is silkier, and a better footballer. Burns was more than a foot-soldier though, he added professionalism and "steel".

Any other day I'd probably have Pendles ahead.

 

[robertg22]

I agree Pendles is silkier, and a better footballer. Burns was more than a foot-soldier though, he added professionalism and "steel".

Any other day I'd probably have Pendles ahead.

Pendles is probably (with Bucks) the most professional player we've ever had. Played through injuries this year that would have held most back. His toughness is hugely underrated.

 

[jathanas]

Pendles is probably (with Bucks) the most professional player we've ever had. Played through injuries this year that would have held most back. His toughness is hugely underrated.

Great point, and I wouldn't question Pendles' resilience. Burnsy had a toughness about him during the play that was rare, it was acknowledged by his teammates and opposition; he had no fear.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but when we were playing tough sides like Brisbane back then, it was Burns that would carry the flag. I give him much respect for that, and for how humble he was.

 

[jackcass]

Modern era = 21st century? However you rank Buckley, Swan and Pendlebury we are privileged to have had all three.

I think the AFL era is a reasonable fit for "modern".

Agree, we've been blessed to have all 3 but for mine Bucks ahead of Swan, Pendles with a few more years left in the tank closing fast on both.

Daicos the most freakishly talented over the same period but that's a different discussion.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Swan? Really? Ahead of Buckley or Daicos?

Surely you jest.

 

[Piestration]

Woey, no Brownlow for the Pies.
Brian Wilson? Games for Pies?

And as Buckley is not a life long Collingwood player, he will always start 20 metres back in a 21 metre race.

Yes but with ball in hand Buck's would have been able to hit Swan in the back of the head, somehow causing him to fall backwards allowing Bucks to get to the line 1st anyway.

And if we are talking the 50m line then Buck's would put it through post high and 20 rows back.

 

[BringouttheGimp]

I said this earlier.. at his peak if i had a choice Dale Thomas was on another planet.. pity it only lasted 2 yrs. At their peaks 1. Thomas 2 Swan. 3. Pendlebury.. 1% difference either way bn 2 and 3.

 

[Linda Lovelace]

I think one thing people should consider is that Bucks and Daicos are brought up in conversations about the best 22 in VFL/AFL history.

Pendles and Swan are absolute guns but are not in those conversations.

 

[Black_White]

I think one thing people should consider is that Bucks and Daicos are brought up in conversations about the best 22 in VFL/AFL history.

Pendles and Swan are absolute guns but are not in those conversations.

Yet neither a Bucks or Daicos made the team of the century. Hard to put them in the conversation for best 22.