Opinion Ranking the greatest players of the last 50 years.

[Aristotle Pickett]

I would rank them:

1.Wayne Carey
2. Tony Lockett
3. Gary Ablett senior
Equal 4th . Leigh Mathews, Dustin Martin, Lance Franklin
7. Gary Ablett junior
8. Nathan Buckley
9.Jason Dunstall
Equal 10th. Greg Williams, Chris Judd

 

[RUNVS]

The problem is 50 years is too much for most of us. I was born in 1988, and did not really start watching the AFL very regularly until the early 2000's so while I know of certain players and them being greats of the game, I have no way of telling who was better out of Gary Ablett Snr and Tony Lockett for instance.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Martin would be lucky to be 4th best in his era let alone 4th best over 50 years.

Franklin, Ablett Jr and Judd all clearly better. Hodge is one who was as impressive in big moments and matches as him, and was actually a great leader as well.

 

[RUNVS]

Martin would be lucky to be 4th best in his era let alone 4th best over 50 years.

Franklin, Ablett Jr and Judd all clearly better. Hodge is one who was as impressive in big moments and matches as him, and was actually a great leader as well.

Yep, the suggestion that Martin is better than Ablett Jnr or Dunstall is pretty absurd.

 

[My Tilly]

Leigh Matthews was a superior footballer to Dustin Martin. He was doing what Martin did in 2017 for the best part of a decade. Not just a brief 2-3 period of time.

James Hird is a bit underrated too. I'd have him ahead of Diesel Williams and Buckley.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Adam Goodes couldnt get a gig over Diesel?

And the date range starts before the AFL era even began..

Or is this the best players who have represented a Victorian AFL club?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I would rank them:

1.Wayne Carey
2. Tony Lockett
3. Gary Ablett senior
Equal 4th . Leigh Mathews, Dustin Martin, Lance Franklin
7. Gary Ablett junior
8. Nathan Buckley
9.Jason Dunstall
Equal 10th. Greg Williams, Chris Judd

FFS, You’ve got the GOAT, Lethal, equal 4th.

 

[Pistol Night]

FFS, You’ve got the GOAT, Lethal, equal 4th.

"You''d be nothing without us Leigh"
"Yeah you're right Leppa, id only be the player of the century"

 

[Muddiemoose]

The problem is 50 years is too much for most of us. I was born in 1988, and did not really start watching the AFL very regularly until the early 2000's so while I know of certain players and them being greats of the game, I have no way of telling who was better out of Gary Ablett Snr and Tony Lockett for instance.

The game is so different now as well, coaching strategies, fitness, rules and everything else

A full forward used to get away with sitting around 190cm where now even players who are 195 are midfielders and on the cusp of being a short key position player and that’s before we even talk about rucks that are pushing well past 200cm

Although it’s all still Aussie rules comparing a modern player to one 50 years ago would be like comparing an AFL player to one who plays divvy 2 local

It’s like the old 100 goal a season thing, it’s not that todays players couldn’t kick 100 goals it’s that the circumstances around how the game is played essentially prevents it

Even comparing peak players 10 years ago to today is an oranges vs apples comparison

 

[Bungeye]

The problem is 50 years is too much for most of us. I was born in 1988, and did not really start watching the AFL very regularly until the early 2000's so while I know of certain players and them being greats of the game, I have no way of telling who was better out of Gary Ablett Snr and Tony Lockett for instance.

If you're from Sydney, you had to be living under a rock if you didn't know who Tony Lockett was in 1996.

I mean, I was born in 1987 and that's one of my first memories.

 

[Sphynx]

Carey is the very definition of "stats" don't tell the full story and it will be interesting to see how these discussions are viewed in 30-40 years when it's not so fresh in people who watched him recently in their lifetimes.

Probably similar to Whitten, Royce Hart, etc are all viewed now I guess.

He'd sit far more favorably with modern advanced statistics, like score involvements, goal assists, contested marks etc. He only had CM for a portion of his career. He was a score generating monster.

It's a shame there's not complete footage of every single game in history, even someone as recent as Carey, as you would think AI would solve this in time and they'd be able to analyse and compile historical advanced stats quite easily.

He doesn't sit statistically with the likes of Franklin, Lockett etc when you talk goal averages, but if you watched him you knew.

He pretty much defined that modern CHF position, the previous decades (Particularly the 80's) was just lead out FF's in acres of space.

You didn't have key forwards popping up on half back lines or kicking runnings goals working back in transition.

Matthews, Ablett Snr and Carey will always be the mount rushmore to me, the only one I've ever considered a chance and I'm still on the fence in elevating him there is Ablett Jnr.

If Judd maintained his West Coast level, he'd have been a chance also. Although, if Carey maintained his pre-injuries level from about pre 1995, we'd be having a single discussion.

No one else on the same tier as those 3 imo.

 

[Pistol Night]

If you're from Sydney, you had to be living under a rock if you didn't know who Tony Lockett was in 1996.

I mean, I was born in 1987 and that's one of my first memories.

"Mum" "Dad" "Plugger"

 

[Sirlemsip]

The top 5 players are generally unanimous in their membership (though obviously people have a different order). Though when making comparisons between Lockett, Dunstall and Buddy you really cant split them by a huge margin. All of those players are in Tier 1.

The second group of players in Tier 2 you can raise arguments to be in the top tier but miss out, sometimes just to a lack of longevity at their peak (e.g. Judd) or because there is just too much of a gap between them and Tier 1 members.

After that, there is a larger group of players in the third tier that were all absolutely elite players, but again there is a gap to the next tier for various reasons (Consistency, Longevity, Injuries, Lack of high peak, lack of Team success, etc).

Tier 1: Leigh Matthews, Gary Ablett Snr, Gary Ablett Jnr, Wayne Carey, Tony Lockett, Buddy Franklin, Jason Dunstall
Tier 2: Judd, Goodes, Voss, Buckley, Hird, N. Riewoldt, Scarlett, R.Harvey, Martin, Cox, Black, Pavlich, Hodge, G.Williams, Lloyd, Fyfe, Dangerfield, Neale, Cripps, McLeod, Kernahan, Gawn
Tier 3: Ricciuto, S.Mitchell, Pendlebury, J. Selwood, Rance, Tredrea, Akermanis, Betts, C.Rioli, J.Riewoldt, T.Hawkins, B.Harvey, Cousins, JJ.Kennedy, Bontempelli

Rankings are always very subjective and depend on what a person values - Stats, Premierships, Leadership, etc. Not just within the tiers, but some people obviously would want players up or down a tier a well.

Yes, I'm also sure I missed a bunch of players who can slide into Tier 2 or 3., particularly those closer to the start of the '50 year' period.

 

[zyzzbruh]

Adam Goodes couldnt get a gig over Diesel?

And the date range starts before the AFL era even began..

Or is this the best players who have represented a Victorian AFL club?

I would rank them:

1.Wayne Carey
2. Tony Lockett
3. Gary Ablett senior
Equal 4th . Leigh Mathews, Dustin Martin, Lance Franklin
7. Gary Ablett junior
8. Nathan Buckley
9.Jason Dunstall
Equal 10th. Greg Williams, Chris Judd

I know i may sound biased, but with genuine objectivity i have never seen a better player than Adam Goodes grace the footy field. The guy was an athletic masterpiece and did everything at an elite level. No one compares, he was a mile better player than Franklin. Probably the only player in history who had the attributes to do everything and so should be acknowledged in the tier list imo. It's not like he was just good at a lot of things like a Bontempelli - he was genuinely elite at literally everything.

There is always going to be nostalgia bias around the old school players of whom some on the list were great, but also limited players - and let's be real most throw names like Matthews despite not even being born when he played, not saying he shouldn't be there but most can't speak on it. And fanfare bias around recent media popular players who think good finals performances is all you need to be considered a goat.

Martin turned it on for 3 years at the right time, a superb chapter, but prior to that he never lived up to expectations so can't be at the pointy end for me, but still on the list for sure.

Judd, great player but i never quite saw the extravagance in his play perceived by his fanfare. Great, but vanilla in comparison to some midfield greats and even modern types who can kick goals - there is no chance he is on a tier list ahead of Goodes.

Ablett jnr and Goodes are up top for me can't split em, Buckley next, Carey next, followed by the old school goalkickers who I can't put up top because they simply did not have it all, Franklin to 10th, Judd drops out and probably falls into the 20's.

 

[zyzzbruh]

The top 5 players are generally unanimous in their membership (though obviously people have a different order). Though when making comparisons between Lockett, Dunstall and Buddy you really cant split them by a huge margin. All of those players are in Tier 1.

The second group of players in Tier 2 you can raise arguments to be in the top tier but miss out, sometimes just to a lack of longevity at their peak (e.g. Judd) or because there is just too much of a gap between them and Tier 1 members.

After that, there is a larger group of players in the third tier that were all absolutely elite players, but again there is a gap to the next tier for various reasons (Consistency, Longevity, Injuries, Lack of high peak, lack of Team success, etc).

Tier 1: Leigh Matthews, Gary Ablett Snr, Gary Ablett Jnr, Wayne Carey, Tony Lockett, Buddy Franklin, Jason Dunstall
Tier 2: Judd, Goodes, Voss, Buckley, Hird, N. Riewoldt, Scarlett, R.Harvey, Martin, Cox, Black, Pavlich, Hodge, G.Williams, Lloyd, Fyfe, Dangerfield, Neale, Cripps, McLeod, Kernahan, Gawn
Tier 3: Ricciuto, S.Mitchell, Pendlebury, J. Selwood, Rance, Tredrea, Akermanis, Betts, C.Rioli, J.Riewoldt, T.Hawkins, B.Harvey, Cousins, JJ.Kennedy, Bontempelli

Rankings are always very subjective and depend on what a person values - Stats, Premierships, Leadership, etc. Not just within the tiers, but some people obviously would want players up or down a tier a well.

Yes, I'm also sure I missed a bunch of players who can slide into Tier 2 or 3., particularly those closer to the start of the '50 year' period.

Very rational way of looking at it. I still think you tier 1 players are too specialised and should be reserved for the more versatile ones, hence why i value goodes so highly.

I also think Jezza Cameron is worthy enough to join one of those tiers.

 

[Sirlemsip]

Very rational way of looking at it. I still think you tier 1 players are too specialised and should be reserved for the more versatile ones, hence why i value goodes so highly.

I also think Jezza Cameron is worthy enough to join one of those tiers.

Jezza definitely Tier 3.

I agree that Goodes is one of the players closest to Tier 1 that isn't in there (in my list).

 

[flyinghi64]

Toooooo hard.
But will say James Hird get's severely under-rated in these type of polls.
Guy was the absolute definition of a match winner when it mattered.
Maybe because I'm an Eagle supporter and he always seemed to save his best for us

 

[South of the Yarra]

Leigh Matthews number one

 

[Art Vandelay_]

The top 5 players are generally unanimous in their membership (though obviously people have a different order). Though when making comparisons between Lockett, Dunstall and Buddy you really cant split them by a huge margin. All of those players are in Tier 1.

The second group of players in Tier 2 you can raise arguments to be in the top tier but miss out, sometimes just to a lack of longevity at their peak (e.g. Judd) or because there is just too much of a gap between them and Tier 1 members.

After that, there is a larger group of players in the third tier that were all absolutely elite players, but again there is a gap to the next tier for various reasons (Consistency, Longevity, Injuries, Lack of high peak, lack of Team success, etc).

Tier 1: Leigh Matthews, Gary Ablett Snr, Gary Ablett Jnr, Wayne Carey, Tony Lockett, Buddy Franklin, Jason Dunstall
Tier 2: Judd, Goodes, Voss, Buckley, Hird, N. Riewoldt, Scarlett, R.Harvey, Martin, Cox, Black, Pavlich, Hodge, G.Williams, Lloyd, Fyfe, Dangerfield, Neale, Cripps, McLeod, Kernahan, Gawn
Tier 3: Ricciuto, S.Mitchell, Pendlebury, J. Selwood, Rance, Tredrea, Akermanis, Betts, C.Rioli, J.Riewoldt, T.Hawkins, B.Harvey, Cousins, JJ.Kennedy, Bontempelli

Rankings are always very subjective and depend on what a person values - Stats, Premierships, Leadership, etc. Not just within the tiers, but some people obviously would want players up or down a tier a well.

Yes, I'm also sure I missed a bunch of players who can slide into Tier 2 or 3., particularly those closer to the start of the '50 year' period.

As good as he was Scarlett wasn't even the best defender in his team.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

1. Ablett snr
2. L Matthews
3. Carey
4. Lockett
5. G Williams
6. Ablett jnr
7. Judd
8. Franklin
9. Goodes
10. Voss

On SM-A225F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[GROTTO]

Where does Kane Cornes figure in this list?

 

[Bungeye]

"Mum" "Dad" "Plugger"

Duck taught me how to walk

 

[Forward Press]

Dunstall and Lockett are obviously elite and definitely top 10 material, but in my view Buddy sits above them, and comfortably, because he was far more well rounded and did more than just kick goals (admittedly the first two kicked them in absolute buckets). However, I can understand people that rank those two above Buddy and Carey due to the sheer volume of goals.

Dustin Martin in the top 5 though is laughable. He is not in the same league as both Abletts, Carey, Matthews and Buddy.

 

[Robroy22]

Where does Kane Cornes figure in this list?

Tier 411

 

[Robroy22]

Daicos snr should be ahead of Bucks in my book.

And the junior one will be there too one day.