I dont think Carey is in the top 100 players to play the game

[HongKongRoo]

I know I missed most of his career but from a stats point of view Wayne Carey wasn't that impressive, not compared to other players of his era anyway and I don't get why he is held in such high regard.

He would bring other players into the game. If he didn't mark it he would tap it to advantage for his crumbers. He would clear the way for other key forwards. In the wet he would get 20+ and 15 marks as a CHF. He could kick goals from outside fifty and his field kicking was elite. He would run back with the flight of the ball and take marks that he had no right to take. Contested marks in the forward 50 are gold. Stats don't tell the when and the how of the actions. In the 90's they didn't keep record of score involvements or pressure acts or kicking efficiency but he would have been elite in all those areas. An arrogant twat and a dog of a bloke but the best footballer I have ever seen play.

 

[HongKongRoo]

I am just going by stats, that is true, but his stats just don't look that impressive to me considering he was in the era of Lockett, Dunstall, Lloyd, even Rocca, an era where kicking large bags of goals was common place.

They are all full forwards. Carey played CHF, compare him to Richardson or Lowe or Grant

 

[Shane Heard]

You gotta rate a superstar on how many times he was beaten by his opponent and shut down for the day.

In Carey’s case it was a very rare occurrence.

Jakovich was the only one capable of doing it on numerous occasions.

 

[Shane Heard]

He would bring other players into the game. If he didn't mark it he would tap it to advantage for his crumbers. He would clear the way for other key forwards. In the wet he would get 20+ and 15 marks as a CHF. He could kick goals from outside fifty and his field kicking was elite. He would run back with the flight of the ball and take marks that he had no right to take. Contested marks in the forward 50 are gold. Stats don't tell the when and the how of the actions. In the 90's they didn't keep record of score involvements or pressure acts or kicking efficiency but he would have been elite in all those areas. An arrogant twat and a dog of a bloke but the best footballer I have ever seen play.

A perfectly explained summary of the value Carey brought to his team.

 

[HongKongRoo]

You gotta rate a superstar on how many times he was beaten by his opponent and shut down for the day.

In Carey’s case it was a very rare occurrence.

Jakovich was the only one capable of doing it on numerous occasions.

Only because Carey wanted to arm-wrestle Jakovich. Massive ego thing. If he had of run off him he would have beaten him every time.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

I don't think Bill gates and the Amazon guy are in the top 100 Richest people in the world

 

[Papa G]

Only saw the back end of Leigh Matthews career when was a little steelo haired thug, so I didn't really get the chance to assess his greatness, but I watched all of Carey's career and he'd be the first bloke I'd pick if I was starting a team from scratch.

 

[M Malice]

Couldn't agree more, over rated.

 

[Cursed Cat]

You gotta rate a superstar on how many times he was beaten by his opponent and shut down for the day.

In Carey’s case it was a very rare occurrence.

Jakovich was the only one capable of doing it on numerous occasions.

Nah, no way - you rate the superstars on how many games they help you win via their sheer talent.

Either way, Carey was still very close to top of the tree.

I saw basically all of Gary Sr's career and I reckon its only personal bias and aesthetics that has me rating Sr ahead by a hair.

Carey at his best was unstoppable, and played as a genuine CHF for most of his career (played a bit deeper later on) - easily the best CHF I've seen.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Quite a strange thread, Wayne Carey was one of the all time greatest players, there is not a player playing today or since he retired you could even put in a comparison with him.
Easily top 10 of all time and there would be many have him top of the tree.
You could not have less knowledge about the sport to think otherwise.

 

[catscratchfever]

Garbage discussion and thread. OF COURSE CAREY IS IN THE TOP 100, 10 ten in fact and probably Top 5 or so.

 

[Shane Heard]

Only because Carey wanted to arm-wrestle Jakovich. Massive ego thing. If he had of run off him he would have beaten him every time.

Was all part of the show wasn’t it.

Jakovich didn’t fear Carey and was the only player Carey felt slightly intimidated by.

Made him work for every mark.

Anyway, people can sit and debate until the cows come home about who is “the best”.

We haven’t got much footage of Coventry and Coleman to compare to big Gaz, Carey, Dustall and Plugger unfortunately.

But all were consistent performers, incredibly talented and possessed aggressive focus most us mere mortals could only dream about having on the field of battle.

 

[gingernuts]

stats are like mini skirts, reveal a lot but hide the best bits

 

[ABSOLUTE MADMAN]

I know I missed most of his career but from a stats point of view Wayne Carey wasn't that impressive, not compared to other players of his era anyway and I don't get why he is held in such high regard.

If you want a recent example. Tom Boyd's stats were not that impressive in the 2016 Grand Final. His impact that day was unmatched.

 

[Shane Heard]

If you want a recent example. Tom Boyd's stats were not that impressive in the 2016 Grand Final. His impact that day was unmatched.

Yes indeed...and Carey has dozens of those games. A lot of them in the wet too on a cold Friday night.

He was a powerhouse of a player Hard to tackle, hard to spoil and hardly ever went to ground.

And most of his career was played functioning as a semi alcoholic who drank copious amounts of ale basically 7 days a week and living with the mental demons of a horrific childhood.

A freak of nature. Flawed.

But one hell of an Australian rules footy player.

 

[ClintEastwood]

Hard to assess as a Carlton supporter as Carey never got the better of SOS.

Plus Kernahan betters him on all key stats including goals per game and (by a margin) goals per game in finals.

Way to go, comparing a centre half forward with a full forward, in an era when they were vastly different positions. Just stupid.

Carey was one of the most dominant, game-changing players I've ever seen, that's for sure. Out of him and Abblet senior for #1.

 

[ClintEastwood]

Yes indeed...and Carey has dozens of those games. A lot of them in the wet too on a cold Friday night

Yep, he didn't get the nickname "Duck" for nothing.

 

[Jables]

stats are like mini skirts, reveal a lot but hide the best bits

Besides most other sports where stats clearly show the best player.

 

[Hawk_francais]

Wouldn't have got a game with any other team

 

[HTPunter]

Besides most other sports where stats clearly show the best player.

Do they now?

 

[Drewie11]

Will always be a crows player that spent some time at North

 

[My Tilly]

God I miss watching Ablett and Carey play live.
Nothing has come close since.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Your key stats don't include kicks (Carey 11.8 v Kernahan 11.2), handballs (Carey 4.7 v Kernahan 3.1), finals appearances (Carey 23 v Kernahan 18), AA nods (Carey 7(4 as Captain) v Kernahan 2) or club B&F's (Carey 4 v Kernahan 3)? Because they sure seem like key stats to me. There's plenty more as well in Carey's favour.

Considering that Carey played far more of a role around the ground than Kernahan, it's not surprising that Sticks just shades The King in goals per game in the regular season (Carey 2.7 v Kernahan 2.9). Kernahan does stretch the lead in this stat category in finals as you suggested (also not surprising though, given Carey played CHB), but is well behind Carey in other areas:

Carey average in finals: 18 disposals, 7 marks, 2.6 goals, 2 behinds, 1.2 tackles.
Kernahan average in finals: 13 disposals, 7 marks, 3.6 goals, 1.7 behinds, 0.8 tackles.

Not sure what Kernahan beats Carey in at all aside from goals, your post is a little misleading. Not to mention that none of this discusses the pure impact on a game that Carey could have. He could play any position on the ground and turn a game on it's head. This is why past players etc. talk about Carey as one of the best ever, Kernahan is rarely even mentioned.

Kernahan was AA 5 times, 3 of them were under they old carnival system prior to 1991. His years were 1985, 1986, 1988 (carnival system) and then 1992 and 1994 under the current system. Much tougher in the carnival era. He was 31 when named AA for the last time.

Carey was AA for the first time in his 5th season and was named for the last time in 2000 when he was 29 years old. All of his AA's came under the annual system that we see now.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

And pray tell, when was the last time a CHF won the Brownlow?

Kelvin Templeton?

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

If you are in the school yard you pick Senior. Better in The air. We are playing kick to kick right?

He's a Tiger's supporter, Snr mentally and physically scarred them.