-
AFLW 2024 - Round 9 - Indigenous Round - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Most talented hawk of all time (not best or most decorated pure talent)
- Thread starter FB19
- Start date
- Tagged users None
hawkman
Hall of Famer
Surprised Burgoyne hasn't got a mention at least
Would have Jarman first though
Would have Jarman first though
Outside the obvious mentioned on previous pages, young Paul Hudson had talent to burn.
- Jan 28, 2007
- 1,763
- 1,516
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Other Teams
- West Ham United,Green Bay Packers.
killerspud
Premiership Player
- Aug 23, 2009
- 4,638
- 11,673
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Nov 21, 2010
- 13,833
- 18,347
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Other Teams
- Chelsea, Detroit Pistons
I didn't see footy before the 00s.
To me, Cyril is skill.
It's never fair to compare anyone to him.
If they've got the marking and the freakish goals, they probably don't have the killer defensive instincts and the tackling technique. If they've got the agility, speed and advantage kicking in open play, they probably don't have the hardball nous in tight. If they've got the highlight reel and attacking flair, they probably don't have the commitment to unselfishly putting your teammates in the best position.
No one I've seen had it all like Cyril.
To me, Cyril is skill.
It's never fair to compare anyone to him.
If they've got the marking and the freakish goals, they probably don't have the killer defensive instincts and the tackling technique. If they've got the agility, speed and advantage kicking in open play, they probably don't have the hardball nous in tight. If they've got the highlight reel and attacking flair, they probably don't have the commitment to unselfishly putting your teammates in the best position.
No one I've seen had it all like Cyril.
- Jun 8, 2015
- 1,041
- 1,727
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Oh yes he has …
(although to be fair I mis-spelled his name back on p1) …
Last edited:
- Jan 28, 2007
- 1,763
- 1,516
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Other Teams
- West Ham United,Green Bay Packers.
triangulation_squared
Debutant
- Mar 15, 2022
- 85
- 407
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Leigh Matthews kicked a goal with his first kick in the seniors when he was 16 years old, he booted 20 goals in 16 games when he was 17. Pretty hard to go past that however I never saw him play.
Buddy and Cyril were the two most talented players I have seen live in the modern era, including the 80's teams buy maybe some recency bias there. Buddy's Cale Hooker goal was an absolute gem.
Pound for pound modern talent to where they came in the draft or a trade are Sam Mitchell, Jai Newcombe, James Sicily and potentially Brian Lake.
Buddy and Cyril were the two most talented players I have seen live in the modern era, including the 80's teams buy maybe some recency bias there. Buddy's Cale Hooker goal was an absolute gem.
Pound for pound modern talent to where they came in the draft or a trade are Sam Mitchell, Jai Newcombe, James Sicily and potentially Brian Lake.
phlogiston
All Australian
- Sep 10, 2019
- 691
- 2,125
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Gosh it's so hard; looking at these names and the game has evolved so much. Poor Cyril would likely be regularly ironed out in the 1970s, and 70s blokes wouldn't have the tank for today's game.
I ended up voting for Knights (just too young to see Hudson in full flight, and Knights was my first football idol, so some bias there ) because he was such a beautiful pure footballer.
And whenever I have the urge to watch ballet, I hunt down Darren Jarman highlights: that man had the ball on a strong sometimes.
And none of the above is taking anything away from Mitch, Bud, or Cyril.
I ended up voting for Knights (just too young to see Hudson in full flight, and Knights was my first football idol, so some bias there
) because he was such a beautiful pure footballer.And whenever I have the urge to watch ballet, I hunt down Darren Jarman highlights: that man had the ball on a strong sometimes.
And none of the above is taking anything away from Mitch, Bud, or Cyril.
Sam Mitchell wasn’t born with great natural ability. His success was due to hard work and perseverance.
cryptor
Brownlow Medallist
- May 11, 2008
- 24,972
- 65,842
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
I voted Mitchell and my reasoning is that he is not at all out of place in this conversation despite having pretty unremarkable athleticism compared to the others. And that counts for a lot in AFL.
Give Mitchell the physical attributes of a Buddy or Cyril and he’d clearly be more capable than he was. Whereas the reverse strips them of their strengths.
That said I think all 3 are supreme talents that are hard to split. I feel like Buddy and Sam got the best out of themselves over 300+ games. While Cyril I think we can all agree still had unreached levels and was let down by the constant soft tissue injuries that prevented him from playing midfield.
I may have just talked myself into changing my answer to Cyril…
Pretty amazing that all these guys were Hawthorn players and these three were able to play so many years together.
(The older 3 a bit before my time)
Give Mitchell the physical attributes of a Buddy or Cyril and he’d clearly be more capable than he was. Whereas the reverse strips them of their strengths.
That said I think all 3 are supreme talents that are hard to split. I feel like Buddy and Sam got the best out of themselves over 300+ games. While Cyril I think we can all agree still had unreached levels and was let down by the constant soft tissue injuries that prevented him from playing midfield.
I may have just talked myself into changing my answer to Cyril…
Pretty amazing that all these guys were Hawthorn players and these three were able to play so many years together.
(The older 3 a bit before my time)
- Jun 28, 2013
- 32,708
- 50,317
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
EFA
- Nov 10, 2022
- 11,938
- 9,780
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Barney #3
Can't say I saw them all play, but Cyril's ability to weigh up a situation and make snap decisions that enable him to win a contest (mark the ball / dodge a tackle / secure possession for a team-mate) is unmatched from what I've seen. Not even close.
That being said, I've never seen a player win possession near the wing or outside 50 more than Buddy and still kick the goal.
That being said, I've never seen a player win possession near the wing or outside 50 more than Buddy and still kick the goal.
Similar threads
- Locked
