North’s greatest players night. Boomer picked ahead of Blight...embarrassing and disgraceful

[BF Tiger]

1021 so you are talking about the top ~15%. And then if you eliminated all the players that didn't crack 50 games, which was the cutoff, it's really not that exclusive a club. I don't think even the more successful clubs would be able to get to 150 without naming some very average players

You're probably right, so maybe clubs just shouldn't do it.

Just as a comparision Richmond have had 1165 players. 66 have played 150+ games, 143 have played 100+ games and 306 have played 50+ games.

A lot of names in the 150+ category are unrecognisable to me, but I'd be happy to say they automatically are in Richmond's greatest 150 players.

Some in the 50 to 100 game bracket who might make a best of list include Ian Stewart and Ivan Maric. A lot of others are debatable and probably depend who in the 100 to 150 game career don't make the list (maybe Ben Holland, Ty Vickery, Kayne Pettifer, Luke McGuane,...)

 

[Grrr]

I’d have Blight behind Jezza on that criteria.

Yes, Jezza was one of them. Hart was probably another.

 

[Aramis]

It’s a fair call, ‘teams’ win premierships not individuals. Damien Martyn played in 2 winning cricket World Cup squads but I wouldn’t consider him a “legend” of the sport.

Big difference between 2 world cups and 7 AFL premierships.

 

[manicmagpie]

I do love that they had to spell this out:

Only on-field achievements were considered with off-field work, contributions, awards or accolades deemed irrelevant. Similarly, incidents, behavioural issues and legal matters do not detract from a player’s worthiness with regard to rank and ultimate list position.

 

[HAPPY BUDDHA]

Big difference between 2 world cups and 7 AFL premierships.

Not really, same amount of years as champs and still a team award.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

More importantly how is he above Gavin Urquhart? Bloke was better than Pendlebury I heard.

 

[Catters 070911]

I would have taken out Anthony Stevens and Les Foote, and replaced them with Glenn Archer and Barry Cable.

I have never understood the lack of respect for Boomer. In any other sport, a player who is the games-record holder is held up as a Legend and revered.

Just recently, the NRL celebrated Cameron Smith being the first player to play 400 games. Even other states, who didn't want Storm in the league, celebrated Smith as an all-time great.

But Harvey is downplayed and maligned.

Look at Brent Harvey. Being so small would have meant that him even getting drafted and playing ONE game would have been an achievement, but he played more than any VFL/AFL player who has ever lived.

It's not like he was carried to 432 games either. He was still playing well in his last season, and hardly ever missed games, meaning that he was durable, a clean player and good enough to be picked every week. He wasn't gifted games or carried to the record.

I think he doesn't get the love, because the media hate North Melbourne, for not going to the Gold Coast. Also, Harvey doesn't play media street, and try to get his head on camera every five minutes.

He also stood up to Dermie, who idiotically called Brent Harvey "selfish" for not passing to a teammate, despite kicking the goal anyway. Harvey called him out on it, so Derm's media mates all went after Harvey on it, and minimised or ignored his achievements.

No, Brent Harvey being named in the Top ten isn't disgraceful. What is disgraceful is that Harvey is underrated, despite what he has achieved and given to the game.

 

[Catters 070911]

Surely any one of the Krakouer brothers was better than Hervey too

The one who sold drugs?

 

[Catters 070911]

Blight is one of the greatest players of all time. I can't think of a better player at North.

Og and he's the equal best small forward the game has ever seen (equal with Bartlett) despite playing midfield for much of his career.

Wayne Carey says "Hello".

 

[Catters 070911]

Was there any tension between Anthony Stevens and Wayne Carey? Any fisticuffs?

Also, did Carey sneak off with Stevens' date to the bathroom?

 

[Tas]

It seemed to be enough to make Noths team of the century

Team of the century and this award had different selection criteria.

"Selection criteria:
- Players must have played 50 games or more in the VFL/AFL era. No games limit was applied in the VFA era
- The three primary attributes for selection are on field achievements, longevity and sustained excellence

There are three selection methodologies:
- A points system. Particular achievements, accolades and awards attract a certain amount of points and weighting.
- Eyewitness accounts. Past players, administrators and coaches were consulted across as many eras as possible.
- Third-party commentary. All forms of media."

I don't agree with the criteria or how it was weighted but it is what it is. Someone like Syd Barker, who our best and fairest is named after, also didn't make the top 10.

As Carey said during his speech, awards and what order people come are subjective and I agree.

Of the players I have seen play I think the top 5 should have been Carey, Greig, Dench, Blight and Cable. I never saw Syd Barker, Allan Aylett or Les Foote play but Syd Barker was captain of the club during the invincibles era where we won 4 premierships and were unbeaten for a 58 game winning streak in the VFA, it was this period that was the catalyst for North joining the VFL/AFL. I think any system which excludes the guy you name your B&F award on is inherently flawed.

We have 23 AFL Hall of Fame players, two being legends in Blight and Cable. I think unless you have an absurd number of legends, they should be in your top 10 players. Carey will eventually become a legend and I think Greig and Dench will as well in time so I think those should be locked in the top 5.

My top 7 players I have seen play:
Carey
Greig
Dench
Blight
Cable
Glendenning
Schimmelbusch

I think Barker, Foote and Aylett should be in that top 10 but I don't know where as I never saw any of them play.

When it comes to Harvey, he is a victim of playing the majority of his career in shit sides, if he was a bit younger and came into the side around 1990 instead of 1996 or was in the 70s era side then he would have had the talent around him to take advantage of his talent a lot more and he would have padded out his resume with more premierships and other individual accolades. Hawthorn produced a number of Hall of Famers who were pretty fortunate of being at the right place at the right time, they were good players but the wealth of talent around them flattered them significantly as individuals.

 

[Engimal v3]

More importantly how is he above Gavin Urquhart? Bloke was better than Pendlebury I heard.

*is

 

[W.C. Fry]

LOL. But having Cousins, a convicted criminal, on the payroll and around the club was fine. And now this:

Cousins is alleged to have told her: “I’m going to kill you. I’m going to take your life and your freedom and the things you love the most.”

The Brownlow medallist also allegedly said he was going to bury her car “where she would survive for a couple of days, then he would bring the kids to play so she would hear them but would not be able to get to them”.

Did they serve wine at this function? Plastic cups only I assume on Carey's table.

 

[The Donners]

There’s an argument Stevens wasn’t top 10 in his era let alone the entire history of North.

Carey
McKernan
Archer
Harvey
Schwass
Simpson
Martyn
Rock
Blakey
King

 

[Goggin Our Best]

Team of the century and this award had different selection criteria.

"Selection criteria:
- Players must have played 50 games or more in the VFL/AFL era. No games limit was applied in the VFA era
- The three primary attributes for selection are on field achievements, longevity and sustained excellence

There are three selection methodologies:
- A points system. Particular achievements, accolades and awards attract a certain amount of points and weighting.
- Eyewitness accounts. Past players, administrators and coaches were consulted across as many eras as possible.
- Third-party commentary. All forms of media."

I don't agree with the criteria or how it was weighted but it is what it is. Someone like Syd Barker, who our best and fairest is named after, also didn't make the top 10.

As Carey said during his speech, awards and what order people come are subjective and I agree.

Of the players I have seen play I think the top 5 should have been Carey, Greig, Dench, Blight and Cable. I never saw Syd Barker, Allan Aylett or Les Foote play but Syd Barker was captain of the club during the invincibles era where we won 4 premierships and were unbeaten for a 58 game winning streak in the VFA, it was this period that was the catalyst for North joining the VFL/AFL. I think any system which excludes the guy you name your B&F award on is inherently flawed.

We have 23 AFL Hall of Fame players, two being legends in Blight and Cable. I think unless you have an absurd number of legends, they should be in your top 10 players. Carey will eventually become a legend and I think Greig and Dench will as well in time so I think those should be locked in the top 5.

My top 7 players I have seen play:
Carey
Greig
Dench
Blight
Cable
Glendenning
Schimmelbusch

I think Barker, Foote and Aylett should be in that top 10 but I don't know where as I never saw any of them play.

When it comes to Harvey, he is a victim of playing the majority of his career in s**t sides, if he was a bit younger and came into the side around 1990 instead of 1996 or was in the 70s era side then he would have had the talent around him to take advantage of his talent a lot more and he would have padded out his resume with more premierships and other individual accolades. Hawthorn produced a number of Hall of Famers who were pretty fortunate of being at the right place at the right time, they were good players but the wealth of talent around them flattered them significantly as individuals.

Ithink you have got the top 7 spot on

The number of games played - and the weighting of that can skewiff things

You look at Glen Archer - he was a very good player - and would have played alot of games - however if you compare him to Brent Crosswell ( and i dont know how many games he played for NM ) but he played alot of good games for NM and was versatile - and i would pick him ahead of Archer because i reckon he was more talented

 

[Professor Knowall]

I would have taken out Anthony Stevens and Les Foote, and replaced them with Glenn Archer and Barry Cable.

I have never understood the lack of respect for Boomer. In any other sport, a player who is the games-record holder is held up as a Legend and revered...

Hmmm... I agree with your Harvey comments - given his longevity and the fact he was still playing good footy to the end, he belongs in the top 10, even though IMO both Krackour brothers, Kelovich and Crosswell at their best were all better players.

However, though I agree that Stevens should be replaced by Cable on the list, no way known can Les Foote, Norths best ever player until Blight came on the scene and an out and out champion, could be replaced by Archer. Foote was a far, far superior player to Archer - he was regarded as the most skilful player in the VFL in his day and despite playing 2 seasons in his prime in the country (not unusual in the 1950's when country clubs offered more money than the VFL clubs), still won 4 club best and fairests (one for St Kilda).

 

[underthestars]

Did someone really just compare boomer with cameron smith? smith is an all time great, captain of club, state and country. he won two Dally Ms (league's brownlow) 11 years apart, The Golden Boot (international player of the year) twice, and nrl hooker of the year 7 times. he is the only player to kick 1,000 goals in the nrl, and the highest points scorer in nrl history.
Boomer is a pretty good footballer that remained good enough to make his teams best 22 for a very long time.
Incomparable. That's why one is so lauded and one relatively ignored.

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

Thought they only put Stephens in the top 10 so he could have a bust up with Carey on the dais.....






...i will let myself out.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Tripod Nahas robbed.

 

[NMFC 1811]

But still I’m sure a few guys there kept a closer eye on the wife or GF if Wayne was nearby.

Cousin’s may be a total lost cause but I’d still have more trust in him with my missus over Carey.

I’d have more trust in Carey over Cuz with my PIN number though

 

[Americanpies]

Call me crazy but I can see Zurhaar someday possibly making this list. He might not be at Sam Walsh level in terms of skill and ability, but he has that hardness and mongrel of Archer and is becoming a cult hero already.

 

[BF Tiger]

Call me crazy but I can see Zurhaar someday possibly making this list. He might not be at Sam Walsh level in terms of skill and ability, but he has that hardness and mongrel of Archer and is becoming a cult hero already.

Only has to play 60 games and be better than Waite was in those games and he's on the list. It's probably a given.

 

[HAPPY BUDDHA]

I’d have more trust in Carey over Cuz with my PIN number though

I’m sure the event was all paid for beforehand.

 

[Engimal v3]

Tripod Nahas robbed.

I actually loved Robbie Nahas. Had a go, if nothing else.

 

[Muddiemoose]

I actually loved Robbie Nahas. Had a go, if nothing else.

Yeah
100% had a soft spot for him as well
Not every player is gonna be a Brownlow medalist it’s guys like that who bring the team together