General Bombers Talk Don The Stat: 100 Greatest Essendon Players Since 1980

[Blind Turn]

Watson was MVP in 89 & should have won the Brownlow. He & Ablett were neck & neck that year, but clearly the best two players in the comp.

Yeah, I mentioned that in an earlier post here. I’d have him a smidge ahead of Madden despite big Si being my all-time favourite player.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Yeah, I mentioned that in an earlier post here. I’d have him a smidge ahead of Madden despite big Si being my all-time favourite player.

People tend to forget this about Madden:

In addition to playing in the ruck, Madden was a handy part-time forward, kicking 575 goals in his career, a club record that stood until it was broken in 2003 by full-forward Matthew Lloyd. Madden won four Essendon best and fairest awards (1977, 1979, 1983 and 1984) and captained the side in the 1980 and 1981 seasons.

I rate him at No:1

Edit: He also wore contact lenses and always had difficulty adjusting to night conditions because he wore contact lenses.

 

[Blind Turn]

People tend to forget this about Madden:

In addition to playing in the ruck, Madden was a handy part-time forward, kicking 575 goals in his career, a club record that stood until it was broken in 2003 by full-forward Matthew Lloyd. Madden won four Essendon best and fairest awards (1977, 1979, 1983 and 1984) and captained the side in the 1980 and 1981 seasons.

I rate him at No:1

Edit: He also wore contact lenses and always had difficulty adjusting to night conditions because he wore contact lenses.

Preaching to the converted mate

I loved the big fella’s all-round capabilities and spectacular marking to boot. I just reckon that if you’re being genuinely discussed as the best player in the comp like Tim was then you probably deserve to be acknowledged as the star of your team in that era. I always remember Tim being the one talked about as our best player and vying for best in the comp when I was young and Simon was talked up as the best ruckman in the comp only. That’s the only deciding factor I went with in my personal top 10.

 

[ant555]

People tend to forget this about Madden:

In addition to playing in the ruck, Madden was a handy part-time forward, kicking 575 goals in his career, a club record that stood until it was broken in 2003 by full-forward Matthew Lloyd. Madden won four Essendon best and fairest awards (1977, 1979, 1983 and 1984) and captained the side in the 1980 and 1981 seasons.

I rate him at No:1

Edit: He also wore contact lenses and always had difficulty adjusting to night conditions because he wore contact lenses.

And the even more important point is in 1976 I got the great mans #27 on my first duffle coat. Only reason I did not get 16 seasons out of that coat was after 10 years I grew out of it. Still not too bad. No number / player change needed

Personally I think that despite how highly he does get rated he is still generally under rated. He was genuinely one of the best rucks to play the game and also kicked 30 to 40 goals most seasons.

 

[windyhill]

Madden would save a goal down back. Set up a goal in the middle. Go and kick one up forward. Would take mark of the week regularly. Goal of the week the next. Best I've seen, club/competition. Perfect footballer.

 

[Blind Turn]

And the even more important point is in 1976 I got the great mans #27 on my first duffle coat. Only reason I did not get 16 seasons out of that coat was after 10 years I grew out of it. Still not too bad. No number / player change needed

Personally I think that despite how highly he does get rated he is still generally under rated. He was genuinely one of the best rucks to play the game and also kicked 30 to 40 goals most seasons.

There’d be an argument for him being the best footballer to have been considered a first ruck in the history of the game. It could be argued that players like Dempsey, Gawn, Cox, Thompson, Farmer, Nicholls, and Dyer were all better, or as good as, Madden in their own unique style by being pure ruckmen but when it comes to being an overall great ‘footballer’ then Madden’s forward craft and spectacular marking perhaps give him the edge. The player who might have his measure is Farmer because he progressed the way the game was played with his creative handball.

 

[ant555]

Madden would save a goal down back. Set up a goal in the middle. Go and kick one up forward. Would take mark of the week regularly. Goal of the week the next. Best I've seen, club/competition. Perfect footballer.